Author Archives: Sarah Reidy
photo courtesy of amazon.com
My kids, ages 8 and 5, had seen the ad for Pop the Pig by Goliath at least a half dozen times before Christmas. Thinking that it would be an entertaining family game for the four of us, I picked it up at Toys ‘R Us for about $20.00 (that’s not cheap, either, in my book) and gave it to them before the holidays even came around. The kids were excited to play it and as we opened up the baggie of little plastic hamburgers, we all exclaimed, “Awwww!” because they were so cute. We were off to a good start. I consulted the directions to make sure we were setting things up correctly and we began a game.
Here is how the game is supposed to work: with each turn, players roll the die, feed the pig a burger and then press down on his chef’s hat the number of times shown on the bottom of the selected burger. The pig’s stomach (which actually has a balloon-type devise underneath it) is supposed to get bigger and bigger with each press of his hat, until he finally “pops,” causing his belt to open. My kids thought this concept was hysterical and could not wait to see the pig “pop.” Unfortunately, there were a few problems with getting the pig to pop, the first of which is that his hat is very difficult to press down, especially for my littler one. But with two hands, he was finally able to do this. I can’t imagine any child younger than 5 being strong enough to pull this off. The second problem is that the growth of the pig’s stomach is so negligible that it is hardly noticeable at all. We kept peering and peering at Pig’s stomach, thinking we may have detected a slight change, only to wonder if we were just imagining it! Eventually, we were able to get Pig’s belt to pop open but the stomach never really got big at all. “Are you guys sure the belly is supposed to get big?” I asked. “Look at the picture,” they said. And sure enough, the image on the front of box shows good ole Pig with a big, inflated stomach. “This game is stupid,” my daughter said. “It’s junk,” my son said. Obviously, neither of my kids have a tendency to mince words.
“Maybe ours is defective,” I said, opening up my laptop to check the reviews on Amazon. While some reviews were positive, many echoed our same concerns. The average rating was 2 ½ stars out of 5 (with 73 customer reviews). Some said the hat was too hard for their children to push down (we agree). Others said the stomach never grew (yup). One pointed out that the big explosion their child was waiting for was first just the belt opening with a click (our experience too) and that after a few games the “explosion” became reduced to clicks only with no belt popping at all. I guess we should be happy that our belt does manage to pop open. The bottom line? This game is nothing like what it looks like on the television commercial and while the concept is charming, Pop the Pig fails to deliver “pops” or laughs
Stretch-o (right) and Elastic (left)
One hot July day, my then four-and-a-half-year-old son and I went to a neighborhood yard sale, where he found the new love of his life-a scraggly-looking, brown monkey with stretchy, rubbery arms. But there was something in monkey’s sweet, wise face that struck a cord with my son and a new friendship was born. With a soft, cuddly body and stretchy arms that could be pulled back and then let go for a sling shot effect, what’s not to love? “Stretch-o,” as he would come to be named, accompanied my son everywhere. To preschool, on car rides, to the store, and of course, to bed with him every night. You know where I’m going with this, right? You guessed it. One night at bedtime, my son asked, “Where’s Stretch-o?” Stretch-o was nowhere to be found. Darn it. After a perfunctory search of the house-still nothing. “He must be at school,” I told him.
After a few days, it became clear that we were not going to find him. My son cried every time he thought about it, telling me many times during the day, “I still feel sad about Stretch-o.” I thought my heart might break. After we realized that Stretch-o may be lost good this time, the search began for his replacement. Before the invention of the Internet, if a child lost a beloved toy, parents would have to call or visit multiple stores, hoping to find an exact replica, sometimes coming back empty-handed. I have a friend whom, before the Internet was what it is today, called every Hallmark store on the East Coast to find a particular stuffed dinosaur for her son, finally locating one in Florida. But in my case, I googled “stretchy monkey arms” and was immediately rewarded with search results showing a number of online stores with Stretch Zoo Monkeys. Hooray for Amazon.com. Gotta love them. So with Stretch-o #2 on his way, things were definitely looking up.
Fast forward a couple of days when my neighbor’s son was over playing video games with my son in the basement. “We found Stretch-o!” My neighbor’s son yelled from downstairs. My son then came running up the stairs with his monkey in his arms. Stretch-o had been hiding between the television and the video game console, visible only from certain angles. “I’m so happy for you,” I said. “Now you’ll have two!” In two more days, Stretch-o #2 arrived, who was later named “Elastic.” Well, Elastic and Stretch-o made a good pair for about a week before Elastic also went missing. “I don’t care,” my son said. “I still have Stretch-o.”
That was about one year ago. Elastic never turned up, but Stretch-o is still with us, although he is a little worse for the wear after multiple surgeries with needle and thread. With his birthday approaching, my son has asked for a “brother” for Stretch-o. No longer available on Amazon, my heart skipped a beat. But thanks to the wonders of the Internet, another was found and is on its way. What did we do before we had this instant gratification known as the World Wide Web? What did our kids do? I am sure we made it through somehow, although it is hard to remember a time when we had to do research the old fashioned way and we had to deal with disappointment when we simply could not replace something valuable and rare. I am sure there is a lesson to be learned here, including that kids have to learn the value of money and possessions and to not take things for granted and yada, yada, yada. That being said… in the astute words of the credit card commercial….Stretchy Monkey from the online toy store…ten dollars, including shipping… a birthday wish coming true for my little boy….priceless.
Here are a few strategies for watching movies more cheaply at home. Since I have two children, I have developed these strategies out of necessity rather than choice, including one called “how to avoid late fees.” This one hatched out of an incident when my then three-year-old daughter cried hysterically every time I tried to return Dora’s Halloween, resulting in $21.00 in fees. And it wasn’t even Halloween! Goodbye local movie store…hello Netflix!
Netflix
The beauty of Netflix is that you can keep movies at home for as long as you want. This is especially helpful if your kids get particularly attached to a particular movie and want to watch it daily until they achieve total burn-out. If you or your child simply cannot part with a movie title, you can also decide to buy the movie for $14.00 ($20.00 for Blu-ray). Depending on if it was a new release or not, this can actually be cheaper than buying the DVD new at the store. Netflix also allows for the occasional “lost in the mail” excuse, so if your DVD never arrives back to their receiving address, you will not be charged. Plans range from $8.99 (one title out-at-a-time) to 4 out-at-a-time ($23.99). We currently have the cheapest option, but this works out great, because it also comes with the option of watching unlimited numbers of movies and television shows instantly on our PC’s. My husband picks out his choice (usually a new release) to come by mail, while the kids get to watch what they want on the laptop. Not bad for $8.99 (and no more late fees). A new option with Netflix is instant streaming to your Wii console, which we happen to have. If you have your Wii set up to wireless internet, you can watch Netflix selections on your television screen. Gotta love technology!
Blockbuster
Most Blockbuster locations offer a membership plan that comes with one free rental per month and it is free to sign up. If you can be diligent about returning your items, this movie rental chain can be a great choice. I was also able to purchase an Indiana Jones game for Wii from Blockbuster for $14.99, after my son refused to relinquish it (do you see a pattern emerging here?). Blockbuster also sends us coupons periodically for more free movie and game rentals. Thanks, guys! Blockbuster now offers a movie delivery option as well, but it is a little more expensive than Netflix and wait times are longer, in my area, anyway, for sending and receiving movies.
Redbox Rentals
Redbox rentals are available at many grocery store chains and discount stores and are only a buck (plus tax) per night. Even if it takes you a few days to actually watch the movie, it is still cheaper than most movie rental stores. It can be tricky to find certain new releases if they are in high demand, but there is a “reserve online” option where you can put a movie title on-hold until you can get there to pick it up. If you sign up for their email newsletter, you also get a code delivered to your inbox each month for a free movie.
Movie/TV Websites
If you like watching television episodes and some older movies, there are a few great websites out there where you can watch for free:
You Tube (I am not sure of the legal issues involved here, but this can be a valuable resource for hard-to-find movies and television shows).
If it is a recently-aired television show that you seek (and you do not want to pay for DVR or TiVo), then remember to check the network’s website, as you can usually find episodes of popular shows that you might have missed. I am also hearing a lot about Roku lately, but do not know much about it. If you have an opinion one way or the other, I’d love to hear from you!
Hello there! My name is Sarah Reidy and I am one of the Mom Bloggers that will be contributing to this great new website, kidsaintcheap.com. You may notice that some of my favorite topics to write about are: simple green tips you can use every day around the home and saving money while raising a family. I also like to review products every once in a while that either I or my children have used. If I like a product, green or otherwise, you will probably hear about it. If I don’t like something, you might hear about that too.
You should also know that I have one husband, two children and two English Bulldogs. The dogs might not walk on two legs, but they are definitely part of the family! By the way, we adopted Bulldog #2 over the summer, and even though this might have been a socially-conscious thing to do, it has been no walk in the park (no pun intended). Advertised as the ”perfect” five-year-old dog, Bulldog #2, otherwise known as “Pearl”, has turned out to be an almost eight-year-old with just a few teeth left and a bladder control problem. But, in the words of my wise daughter, “every dog deserves a good home”. Does this have to include toothless, incontinent dogs, too? I’ll have to keep you posted on that one.
Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions after my posts, as I love to hear from readers. Do you have any green tips of your own, product recommendations or ways to teach an old dog new tricks? Please share them with me! Until next time…
Sarah
image courtesy of freeclipartnow.com
Are you getting bored with the same three or four meals on your dinner rotation each week? I know I am. With money tight and picky kids, I feel your pain. If you are looking for some fresh ideas to feed your family that cost around ten dollars, here are five ideas that have all passed the kid test in my household, yet don’t make my husband roll his eyes and say “that again?”
1) Easy Chicken Parm
I got this recipe off the back of a bag of Tyson’s Grilled and Ready Cooked Grilled Chicken Breast Strips and modified it a bit to make it my own. It’s fast, easy, and nutritious.
Grocery List
One cup Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips or use left-over cooked chicken from another night. A bag of pre-cooked grilled chicken costs about $7.00, but will make 3 or 4 meals. Approximate cost for tonight’s meal- $2.00.
One package shredded mozzarella (I use a low-fat variety)- about $2.50.
One jar spaghetti sauce- about $3.00.
One package fresh baby spinach-about $3.00.
Optional- one package of spaghetti- about $2.00.
Approximate Cost $10.00-$12.00.
Directions: Follow the recipe for Chicken Marinara on the back of the Tyson bag or at Tyson.com
After the chicken is sauteed and the sauce is simmering, add several cups of baby spinach leaves and cover. After the spinach is cooked to your taste, sprinkle dish with mozzarella cheese and cover again until melted. Serve over spaghetti or a pasta of your choice.
2) Chicken Fried Rice
This is a fan favorite in my house and my five-year-old loves to help scramble the eggs!
Grocery List
One cup Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips (same as above)- around $2.00.
3 eggs (out of a dozen, should run you about a dollar).
3 cups instant brown rice (less than a dollar).
½ cup frozen green peas (less than a dollar).
One bottle soy sauce- about $3.00.
Approximate Cost $8.00
Directions: Saute chicken in canola oil and then scramble three eggs in the same pan. While this is cooking, make your instant rice in a separate pot. When the rice is ready, drain and transfer to the chicken and egg mixture. Cook ingredients at high heat with a little more oil until it browns up. Add frozen peas and soy sauce last and cook over low heat until peas are cooked through.
3) Crock Pot Roast
Great for days when you know you come home late from kids’ activities, this dish smells great as soon as you walk through the door. There is no need to force the kids to eat a separate serving of vegetables… it’s in there! This recipe usually makes enough for left-overs, too.
Grocery List
Pot roast (enough for 4 servings)- $6.00
Pot roast seasoning packet- $1.00
4 large potatoes- $2.00
6 large carrots- $2.00
Approximate Cost- $11.00
Directions: Cut potatoes and carrots into large pieces and place on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place pot roast on top of vegetables. Add water to seasoning packet, mix and pour over the top. Cook around 4 hours on high, then cook on low for another 1-2 hours.
4) Baked Mac ‘n Cheese
If you are sick to death of the boxed kind, try this easy and inexpensive recipe for homemade mac ‘n cheese. It is a real comfort food that will fill up your kids’ bellies on chilly nights.
Grocery List
1 (12 ounce) package macaroni- $2.00.
1 egg- about 50 cents.
2 cups milk- $1.00
2 tablespoons butter, melted- less than a dollar.
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese- $3.00
Salt and pepper to taste- pennies.
Approximate cost- $8.00
Optional: For variety, I like to add either diced ham with green peas or broccoli florets.
Directions: See allrecipes.com for complete directions. A four star recipe.
5) Bread Crumb Chicken or Chops
This recipe can be thrown together in about 10 minutes and it is a hit with my husband and both kids. When my son ate the recipe made with pork chops, instead of the usual chicken, he declared that it was the “best batch you have ever made.”
Grocery List
One package of chicken breasts (4) or Boneless Pork Chops- $6.00
½ Cup Breadcrumbs- 50 cents
½ cup milk- 50 cents.
Approximate cost- $8.00
P.S. I like to serve mine with rice pilaf and a veggie on the side.
Directions: Dip chicken or pork in milk and then roll in bread crumbs until covered. Saute in olive or canola oil, turning over frequently, until brown. Cover and cook at reduced heat until the meat is cooked completely through. Voila!
To save even more money at the grocery store, don’t forget to….
· Buy on sale. Look in the fliers each week and plan your menu choices around what is on sale each week (cut out coupons too).
· Buy fruits and vegetables in season, as they are always cheaper.
Many folks mistakenly believe that going green around the home means having to buy expensive products and make costly conversions of electronics, appliances, etc. However, there are many small things that you can do at home that really add up to a savings for you as well as for the environment. For starters, there are a few easy ways to be green and save money at the same time….
1) Charge It
And I don’t mean with a credit card. Cell phones, remote controls, hand held gaming systems, cordless phones, etc. all have their own chargers that eliminate the need for repeated battery replacements. After an initial investment, chargers pay for themselves while saving an infinite number of batteries. There is even a handy-dandy new contraption that will charge multiple items all at once (like your phone, iPod and Nintendo DS) on the same power pad. If you’d rather not buy a new charger, you can settle for rechargeable batteries instead that can be reused again and again. When it is time to get rid of old batteries, make sure to dispose of them properly and do not throw them in the trash as they contain toxic materials that are harmful to the environment. Usually, hardware stores, home improvement stores and even some libraries have receptacles for old batteries.
2) Take a Coffee (Filter) Break
Another small but meaningful change is switching to a reusable coffee filter. Many electric coffee makers come with their own permanent filters that replace the paper kind. You will save paper (and trees) and…you guessed it, you will also save money. Don’t forget to unplug your coffee maker when it is not being used because otherwise, it will still use energy, called “phantom electricity.”
3) A Light Bulb Moment
Switching to CFL bulbs is costlier at first than traditional bulbs, but they last considerably longer, which is better for your electric bill and the planet. Watch as your electric bill goes down after changing to CFL’s and you will also find yourself buying bulbs much less frequently.
4) Bottle Programs
Another way to save money while being green is to collect your bottles and cans and return them to a redemption facility or at the grocery store. If your state has a bottle bill, you will earn money back (up to 15 cents) on every bottle or can that you turn in. In my state, I can return my bottles and cans for a credit that I can use toward my grocery bill.
5) Plan Your Meals
When you plan your meals ahead of time and create a shopping list, you will actually spend less at the grocery store than if you buy on impulse or without a carefully thought-out plan. Menu planning will also cut down on the number of trips you have to make to the store each week, saving you money on gas while releasing less pollution into the atmosphere.
Making green lifestyle changes can be done in baby steps or big steps, depending on what works with you and your family. No change is too small, however, as when we all pitch in, it can really make a difference. You might be surprised how easy and affordable it can be.
