Genna Cockerham's Blog

Posted by Genna Cockerham

There are a ton of products available this month that help fund breast cancer research by donating a portion of their proceeds to organizations like the Avon Crusade for the Cure, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

All of the Estée Lauder Companies have special items available this month, so if you love Estée Lauder brands, now is the time to indulge. For example, the Clinique Long Last Glosswear key chain includes three lip colors, sells for $19 and donates $10 from the sale of each to BCRF in October.

Skin Care Beauty Products and Makeup Products

During the remainder of the year, there are companies that have ongoing efforts to fund breast cancer research. To learn more about which cosmetic companies have special items that help fund cancer research, read Makeup Products Help Fund Breast Cancer Research.

Under Armour and Other Workout Clothing Brands

An active lifestyle is one of the ways women can help prevent breast cancer. Get moving and spice up your workout with some new workout clothes. Did you know there are at least three popular brands of athletic clothing that help fund breast cancer research with every purchase from their special collections? Learn which brands are committed to finding a cure for cancer by reading Buy Workout Clothes that Give Back to Charities.

Join the Army of Women

Finding a cure for breast cancer is important, but Dr. Susan Love is committed to help researchers learn what causes breast cancer and what can be done to prevent it. She became frustrated when researchers said they didn’t have enough women who wanted to participate in research trials to help find the cause.

Love knew that women would help if they only knew they were needed. The Love/Avon Army of Women was born and its goal is to recruit 1 million women (and men) who are willing to receive email notifications when breast cancer research trials need volunteers. Take the time to read, Join Dr. Susan Love, Avon and the Army of Women to learn more about how women everywhere can help researchers find the causes of breast cancer.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

This week I’ve been working on a series of articles about a company that uses juice drink pouches to make new products. TerraCycle, Inc. is a leader in upcycling and has several programs for turning trash into treasure.

Recycle Drink Pouches

Instead of throwing about juice drink pouches, parents, schools and organizations can collect drink pouches and send them to TerraCycle for use in new products. To learn more about the program, read Recycle Drink Pouches from Kids’ Lunches.

Starting a School Recycling Program

As the coordinator for a Drink Pouch Brigade pilot program, I’ve been thinking a lot about the logistics, the planning and the pitfalls of running a successful Drink Pouch Brigade. All this thinking has resulted in additional articles. How to Run a Drink Pouch Brigade explains the nitty-gritty details of what is going to make our program work. TerraCycle has found that a higher price for recycled products can make consumers less inclined to buy upcycled products. Similarly, I expect that the more stink, trouble and mess the used drink pouches create the less supportive parents, teachers and administrators will be of the school recycling program. An organized system is key.

Teach Kids to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

To me, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to rely on posters to get the word out about a new school recycling program. There are many other ways to involve the children in the school in advertising the Drink Pouch Brigade. How to Publicize a School Recycling Program discusses alternatives that reduce paper waste while using the existing means of communicating between parents and schools.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

My husband is a great gardener but this year has been full of surprises.

Using Home-Grown Vegetables

Tonight I canned four pints of pickled peppers using Andrea Chesman's recipe from The Garden Fresh Vegetable Cookbook.

This strikes me as funny for several reasons. In the first place, I never thought I would be making pints of pickled peppers. In the second place, I don't like banana peppers and I never planned to have them in my garden. They were given to me as a thank you for hosting a neighborhood picnic. I guess the guy didn't really enjoy meeting his neighbors or perhaps I made a bad impression. Either way, the banana peppers were planted and they have taken off like wild. So tonight I found myself listening to an easy listening compilation that I received as one of my many freebies by mail while canning pickled peppers.

How Does Our Garden Grow?

This year, I am tempted to say our garden is growing poorly. But it's really all the fault of the tomatoes. We had high hopes for the tomatoes. My husband loving planted 22 tomato plants with tomatoes specifically for canning. I love to hate canning tomatoes. The tomatoes, which like the entire garden was planted two weeks later than intended, have developed bad spots on the bottom. We have since learned it is from uneven watering. With our well, we can't change the watering. It's heartbreaking to go out there and see red tomatoes ... with black bottoms. So our impression of our garden is very jaded.

Roasting Green Beans and Eating Cherry Tomatoes

There are some parts of our garden that are doing well. We had enough zucchini to eat some, make zucchini bread and try Chesman's Zapple pie recipe. We had more yellow squash than I care to mention, several eggplants, a couple spaghetti squash, radishes and decorative sunflowers. I canned 22 pints of bread and butter pickles. Our corn is looking good and there are lots of ripening acorn squash out there too.

The cherry tomato plant, the 100 Cherries variety, is producing cherry tomatoes by the dozens each day. Although Chesman has a roasted cherry tomato recipe, my kids are going through the cherries fast enough that we don't need to do anything but wash them.

The green beans are also producing: We've had three batches to feed our family of five. There is only one way I ever want to eat green beans and that is roasted. Chesman says that you'll never have enough green beans after you eat them roasted and she is right.

The Best Way to Eat Garden Vegetables

Actually, the best thing I learned from Chesmas is you can roast any vegetable. Want to try it? Pour a couple tablespoons of olive oil over any vegetable, mix in some salt and pepper and spread it all out on a cookie sheet. I hate to clean dishes so I just mix it up on the cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil. Put it in a hot oven until the veggies start to brown slightly. Hate cauliflower or eggplant? You won't after you roast it!

Planning Next Year's Garden

My husband and I have big plans for next year's garden. I plan to find a way to avoid planting banana peppers. Sabotage, anyone? My husband plans to run the garden all the way to the woods and add cantaloupe and maybe watermelon. I plan to skip the yellow squash and go right toward the zucchini. And there will be another 100 Cherries and twice as many green bean plants.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

I’ve written a few articles about spending time with a spouse and sharing hobbies together. Some spouses may be reluctant to share a game of golf with their partners due to being unfamiliar with the game or a low skill level. But there is no better time than the present to build a friendship with a spouse over a game of golf.

Share Time with a Spouse

In fact, whether it’s playing golf or sharing another hobby, time together is vital since Intimate Friendship Starts with Communication. It’s also a great way to spend an anniversary during hard economic times. Instead of searching for an expensive gift, Give the Gift of Time Together This Year.

Free Golf Days Available

It’s been less than a week since I wrote Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Golfers, and I’ve found something interesting in the June edition of Shape magazine. June was Women’s Golf Month and golf courses nationwide offered days with free lessons and more.

June is almost over, but it turns out there is more free golf and free golf lessons to be had. Play Golf America has lists of days and locations where golf is free this summer. There are several different types of free golf: Some free golf is for kids, some is for families and some is to support Play Golf America Days. Check out the website for where Play Golf America has free golf near you.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

In writing about marriage, I often come back to one underlying principle that seems to fit every scenario: Be respectful to your wife or your husband. Oftentimes, showing respect simply means treating a spouse as well as you would treat a stranger or a coworker.

Eggerichs’ Take on Love and Respect

One thing I love about Emerson Eggerichs’ book, Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Most Desperately Needs (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2004) is the basic assumption that both spouses are good-willed people. He really isn’t leaving clothes on the floor to make you crazy. She really isn’t picking a fight by following you around trying to talk to you.

In trying to share some of Eggerichs’ wisdom with others, I wrote Ephesians 5:33 is a Blueprint for Marriage. It is especially applicable to Christian homes, but I feel there are definitely tips to help everyone have a more successful marriage.

Jaynes’ Take on Being a Respectful Wife

Author Sharon Jaynes writes primarily to Christian women who are seeking a better marriage and deeper friendship with their husbands. In her book, Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities Every Man Longs For (Harvest House, 2005), Jaynes tells women respect is one of the key things men want with all their hearts. The Woman of His Dreams is a Respectful Wife explains Jaynes’ take on respect in marriage. How to Show Respect for a Husband gives practical tips to make respect part of everyday life.

How a Husband Shows Respect for a Wife

Although Eggerichs says a husband who is loving his wife properly incorporates respect in their marriage, it is easy for common courtesies to go by the wayside. Too often wives treat their husbands like extra children because husbands overlook basic manners and thoughtfulness. How to Show Respect for a Wife breaks down respect into appreciation, consideration and support.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

Supporters of gay marriage can express their support with the “I Love Love: I Support Gay Marriage” bumper sticker from CREDO Action.

Get “I Support Gay Marriage” Bumper Sticker

CREDO Mobile is offering a free bumper sticker to those who want to show their support for gay marriage and marriage equality. CREDO Mobile is a company that supports a progressive agenda by donating a percentage of each phone bill toward progressive nonprofits like Greenpeace, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and more.

Lambda Legal is another organization that supports marriage equality. Lambda Legal Supports the LGBTQ Community discuss the resources available for lesbians, gays and allies.

Support Gay Marriage with a Donation

Those who want extra bumper stickers for friends, family and special events may want to order the bumper stickers in larger quantities. CREDO offers five bumper stickers for $5 and bulk orders of 50 stickers for $25. These donations go toward supporting the effort for marriage equality.

Free Sample Details

Those who want to order a free sticker will need to confirm their order via e-mail and add their name to CREDO’s e-mail list to receive periodic offers and activism opportunities. The bumper sticker is 4.5 inches by 6 inches. Delivery should take 3-7 weeks.

Check out the free bumper sticker offer here.

To learn ways lesbian and gay couples can protect their partners in life, after death and during emergencies, read Documents Same-Sex Couples Need.

For more ways to find free stuff online, read How to Find Freebies, Get Free Samples By Mail.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

I’d love to share some thoughts and articles with you regarding Mother’s Day.

More Than Nothing on Mother’s Day

While recently researching articles on Mother’s Day, I came across an article that said when a woman says she wants “nothing” for a holiday, she is really saying, “surprise me.” A couple days later my husband asked me what I want for Mother's Day. When I heard myself saying I want “nothing” for Mother’s Day on Sunday, I stopped and explained. I don’t really want “nothing,” I just want nothing money can buy.

Along those lines, I wrote Communication is Key for a Happy Mother’s Day. Men aren’t mind readers. If you want a surprise, say “surprise me.” Take the time to share your feelings about the day.

Big and Small Gift Ideas for Mom

For myself, what I really want for Mother’s Day is a cup of coffee in bed. I’d like to eat lunch and dinner in relative peace, not jumping up from my own plate for every little thing. I’d like to have a nice cup of tea and conversation with his mother and grandmother. I’d like to call my mom without interruption. Basically, I’d like to turn my Mommy pager off for a few hours and let my husband handle all emergencies – imagined or otherwise.

I’d also like my husband to supervise having the kids make drawings or cards for me. It isn’t too much to ask. So I wrote Husbands Must Help Kids With Gift Ideas for Mom. There are really a lot of ways to make Mother’s Day special and husbands can help their kids with Mother’s Day plans.

Make Mother’s Day Special for New Moms

I suspect many moms feel like I do. I don’t really need something from the jewelry store to know I am special or loved. But my first Mother’s Day was a really special time for me. It’s hard to put into words how finally entering the ranks of motherhood felt. In researching Best Gift Ideas for New Moms on Mother’s Day, I found many gift ideas to make that first Mother’s Day special. I even included one of my favorite gifts that I received, a baby keepsake kit. It hangs on the wall and sometimes I can’t believe how small the baby footprint is.

I hope these articles help others to have a great holiday.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted by Genna Cockerham

I recently received a question on How to Sell Used Cloth Baby Diapers Online. The reader wants to know why the used cloth diapers she’s found are as expensive as new cloth diapers. This is a great question!

Buy Cloth Diapers From Cloth Diaper Communities

The reader did not say where she was looking to find used cloth baby diapers, but the best place to find used cloth diapers are websites like DiaperSwappers and Diaper Pin. These websites include forums for information on cloth diapering as well as for sale or trade (FSOT) forums. Diaper Pin is also a great resource for diaper reviews and how-to information.

Craigslist isn’t a bad place to look, especially for those who live in metropolitan areas. One thing to keep in mind with Craigslist is the website has many warnings about not shipping items that are for sale. So only look at local listings and expect to pick items up in person.

Know What Cloth Diaper Brands Are Hot

There are trends in cloth diapering and that means some diapers are going to fetch high prices, even when used. When I was cloth diapering my son, Peewells were extremely hot items. These hemp fitteds were sold almost immediately upon being listed FSOT. Some were even resold above the original asking price if they were in a particularly desirable print.

If you’ve looked around and chosen a cloth diaper that is extremely trendy, it will be harder to get it cheap used. If you’re using popular cloth diapers made by work-at-home moms (WAHMs), there may be a shorter supply of used diapers available. One way to tell if you’ve chosen a very trendy WAHM cloth diapers is if you see a lot of buzz on the cloth diapering forums when the WAHM is having a stocking at her store. Cloth diapers from established companies like Fuzzi Bunz may be easier to find cheap used.

Some Cloth Baby Diapers Retain a Higher Value

In addition to trends that make some cloth diapers more popular and more expensive, certain types of diapers retain a higher value. This is particularly true for diapers that are more expensive when they are new. Brand names tend to retain more value than unknown WAHM diapers, even if they work as well. Cloth diapers that start at the high end will probably be more expensive used.

This is particularly true for custom wool covers and longies. A custom-made pair of wool longies, which are hand-dyed and knit by hand, often sell for more than $100 new. While it is possible to find less expensive wool covers, anything custom that is kept in good condition will sell for a high price. Those who wish to use wool covers can buy covers made from wool sweaters or learn to make their own recycled wool covers.

Keep in Mind Shipping Costs for Cloth Diapers

If the cloth diapers that are listed for sale seem expensive, it may be because shipping costs are included in the price. Most cloth diapers are sold with postage paid (ppd) included in the price. If a diaper isn’t marked ppd and there is no shipping estimate, it is best to ask if shipping is included or not. Weight of the item is another factor that figures into the cost of used cloth diapers.

Items that weigh more cost more to mail for the cloth diaper seller. It should be easy to find cloth diaper covers like Bummis used for much less than new because they are very light and don’t cost a lot to mail. By contrast, prefold diapers are very heavy. Often the prepaid mailing boxes are the best way to go for mailing prefolds by the dozen. These boxes are more than $9, in addition to the cost of the diapers. For this reason, there may be times with a huge sale when buying prefolds new with free shipping will be a better deal than buying used prefolds.

Cloth Diaper Sellers Expect Markdowns

When looking at the price of used cloth baby diapers, consider that most cloth diaper sellers expect to have to mark down their items at least one time. The initial price will be higher than the item is likely to sell for, since marking down items is expected. It makes sense for the seller to start high because if someone takes the item at the high price they make more money. If they need to mark the item down to sell it, they still have a chance to make something on the item. I’ve heard on the cloth diapering forums that some buyers won’t even touch used items that haven’t been marked down at least once.

Also, when an item is listed at a very low price to start, cloth diaper buyers will assume something is wrong with the item. Whether the seller is simply clearing house, setting a realistic price or desperate for funds, there is skepticism among cloth diaper buyers that very low prices can equal quality used cloth diapers.

Don’t Hesitate to Ask for a Lower Price on Cloth Diapers

If you want to buy used cloth diapers for cheap, the best advice is make an offer to the seller. This is one reason cloth diaper forums have an advantage over EBay and other auctions. Send the cloth diaper seller a private message (PM) and make an offer on the item you want.

You can make a low offer, but do try to consider how much it will be for shipping. Don’t take it personally if the seller says no or says your offer is too low. You can make a slightly higher offer or try another seller.

Cloth diaper sellers may be more accepting of lower offers if you are making an offer on items listed in bulk, asking to combine shipping for multiple items or if you are paying with funded Paypal. Few sellers like to lower their price in a PM and wait for a Paypal e-check to clear. State in your PM that you have funded Paypal available if this is so, and be prepared to pay promptly if your offer is accepted.

Finding cheap used cloth diapers is not impossible, but there are several factors to consider when looking for cheap diapers. Items that are trendy or expensive when new will fetch a higher price second hand. Cloth diaper sellers expect to mark down their items and may be willing to reduce prices to sell items faster.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

The last several weeks I’ve been researching how to find free stuff online. It’s been a great excuse to sign up for tons of freebies and try different websites that offer links to get free samples online.

I’ve really enjoyed looking for free stuff and I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you about how to get free stuff and find the best freebies.

To read the tips of what I learned the hard way and to see which three websites I think are among the best to offer freebies, read How to Find Freebies, Get Free Samples by Mail.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

Join the Race for the Cure Effort

Today I signed up to Sleep in for the Cure with the Richmond Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Instead of running in the Komen Race for the Cure, I’ll have the day free to spend as I choose. As part of Sleep in for the Cure I’ll receive the Race for the Cure t-shirt and a special race bib. I will still have the opportunity to support breast cancer research by raising funds to fight this deadly disease.

Anyone Can Sleep in for the Cure

I signed up to Sleep in for the Cure as part of the Racing with Renee team, but anyone who wants to raise funds for this worthy cause can sign up as an individual. The Richmond Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure website has general information about this year’s race and fund-raising activities. If you can’t be in Richmond on Mother’s Day weekend, why not support breast cancer research by signing on to Sleep in for the Cure?

Posted by Genna Cockerham

While researching my article on first communion gifts, I came across sites that had ideas for parties for first communions and first communion invitations. What I have not had a lot of success finding is free, printable first holy communion invitations.

They Say They've Got Free Printable Holy Communion Invitations

Using Google to find free, printable Holy Communion invitations is like trying to find a needle in a haystack! There are plenty of sites in the search results that claim to have free communion invitations. However, many sites that claim to have free Holy Communion invitations simply don't offer them. Visiting the sites that came up in search results, I found many directory-style listings that were for sites selling invitations. I also found many links to "free first communion invitations" that actually went nowhere.

Become a Member to Get Free Invitations

I also found several sites that required joining in order to print the invitations. Joining meant signing up for a membership that would run roughly $20 per year after the free introductory month. You can cancel at any time, but I always forget to do it until after the introductory period is over. Also, if I'm going through the hassle of getting a membership, I'd rather just place an order with a company that will personalize and print the invitations for me. Many companies that sell First Holy Communion invitations offer discounts on shipping and it really is a once in a lifetime event.

Free Holy Communion E-Cards

Parents who are looking for free invitations to a First Holy Communion party can find free e-cards. To get some free e-cards requires signing up for a membership. Just like the printable communion invitation sites, some e-card websites offer a free trial plus a paid membership. Others, like eCardia.com, offer genuinely free e-cards. Since the world is moving faster and modern technology is getting a tighter grip on society, it may be acceptable to send e-cards to communion parties just as it is acceptable to give non-religious first communion gifts. Sending e-cards may be a great way to save some costs, especially with the younger party guests. But I have a sneaking suspicion the older family members (myself included), would prefer an old-fashioned, paper communion invitation.

Free Printable Holy Communion Invitations

The only really, truly free communion invitations I found were from Hoover Web Design. There are two designs: The Holy Communion design has a chalice and bread and the First Communion design has a cross. Truth be told, they are both pretty lame so I guess they do come with a price. But they are free.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

This week I’ve been doing research online about furloughs. When I started, I knew there had been furloughs in California and Maryland. What I didn’t know was how common furloughs are becoming for government workers and business employees.

Furloughs Not Just for Maryland and California

While the California furloughs might be the ones that have gotten the most publicity, California is not the only state that is using furloughs to meet budget shortfalls. Maryland government employees were told to take at least two days of unpaid leave: The number of off days was determined by salary. Utah, Ohio and New Jersey may be joining the ranks of states that are using furloughs. For more information on this phenomenon, read States Look to Furlough Government Workers.

University Staff Go on Furlough

It’s not just government employees who are being told to take leave without pay. Faced with budget shortfalls, several universities are turning to furloughs to cut costs. Utah State University, Arizona State University, Clemson University and John Carroll University are a few of the higher-education institutions that are using furloughs in an attempt to prevent layoffs.

Employees Told to Take Leave Without Pay

Businesses also plan to furlough workers to cut costs. Gannett, the Port of Seattle, the New York Jets and others have either told workers to take unpaid leave or negotiated with unions for voluntary furloughs. To learn more about the increasing numbers of universities and businesses using furloughs, read Businesses Look to Furloughs to Cut Costs.

How to Spend Furlough Days?

While some employees may choose to use furloughs for vacations, others will find even one day without pay can cause financial problems. Instead of soothing nerves with retail therapy and adding needless spending to a day without pay, try Cheap and Free Ways to Spend Furlough Days.

Reduce Stress on Days Off Without Pay

Those who find the current economic situation and unpaid leave depressing may find they need some ways to reduce stress. Put off days to good use by focusing on good health and relations. Read How to Reduce Stress on Furlough Days to find ideas for relaxing and healthy ways to spend furlough days.

Support Schools on Off Days

Many people choose to use furlough days to get caught up with family and give back to the community. Parents may want to support local schools by volunteering. Community members without children in the schools can also use their individual skill sets to benefit local schools. For ideas on how to get involved in local schools and give back to the community, read Are You on Furlough? Support Schools on Off Days.

As the trend to furlough workers to cut costs and prevent layoffs becomes more common, greater numbers of employees will find themselves taking leave without pay. Put time off to good use without breaking the bank by using cheap and free ideas for how to spend furlough days.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

Deciding What to Give Up for Lent

I had a hard time deciding what to give up for Lent this year. In previous years, I have given up all caffeine, eating while standing and wearing jewelry during the Lenten season. Another perennial Lenten promise is to give up using curse words. I have added saying a decade of the Rosary every day, saying specific morning prayers or reading a certain amount of the Bible. One year I listened to the entire New Testament in the car.

Give Up Working on Sunday

This year, I decided to go a different route and combine several aspects of Lent. I am giving up the internet from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and I am giving up working on Sundays. As a writer, I was finding it hard to balance work and family. I love writing, so it often doesn't feel like work. But it is labor and it can take away from the time I spend with God and my family. So this Lenten season you won't find me publishing articles on Sunday, or cleaning the bathrooms either. I'll be working on those tasks the other six days of the week.

Please feel free to join me in giving up working on Sunday and read my article on the subject, Give up Working on Sunday for Lent.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

I'll admit that I've only been eating deer meat for the past two years. For a long time, I was a snob who would not touch it. Part of the blame goes to my husband, who would try to feed me burgers made from deer meat. The gamey flavor was too much and it totally turned me off of eating venison.

But last year, a friend gave us an entire hind quarter and I didn't want it to go to waste. I decided to try making it into barbecue and I discovered that venison can taste better than beef.

Crock Pot Venison Barbecue

The first recipe that ended up being a winner for cooking deer meat was Tex-Mex Barbecue Uses Deer Meat. Unlike most venison barbecue recipes, this one does not use Worcestershire sauce or green peppers. The ingredient list is simple. The Tex-Mex spices totally disguise the venison flavor. Crock pot barbecue can use any cut of deer meat, whether it is the tenderloin, hind quarter or roast.

With this recipe, I've also included how to make venison meatballs and a trick to use deer meat for sloppy Joe or tacos.

Sophisticated Pot Pie

If you have a lot of deer meat to use up, it's easy to get tired of the same recipes. That's why this Sophisticated Pot Pie recipe is so good. The combination of flavors is amazing. As I've already mentioned, I only eat deer meat that does not taste gamey. The caraway seeds and the yogurt biscuits are so fantastic with the venison. As long as you make sure to cut the deer meat into small pieces, the cooking process makes it unbelievably tender. I've include a link to deer butchering tips in this article to help readers get the best cuts of deer meat.

Vegetable Chowder

If you're looking for a hearty winter meal, you can find one in Vegetable Chowder Uses Deer Meat. Whether you make this substantial soup on the stove top or in the crock pot, it will feed a crowd. As with many soups, Vegetable Chowder can be customized with the vegetables on hand or with staples that are already on hand. Simply add some bread and butter or biscuits and you've got a great winter meal.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

At the gym yesterday, I saw a fascinating segment on CNN. Correspondent Sean Callebs has decided to try buying all the food he needs for one month using only $176 — the highest amount a single person can receive in food stamps, according to Callebs' Living on Food Stamps blog. Food stamps are officially named the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

"The SNAP program is meant to supplement a person's food budget, not cover all food expenses," Jean Daniel, a spokesperson for the USDA, told CNN's John D. Sutter in "Tough Choices for America's Hungry." However, many people do use the SNAP program for all their food purchases.

Callebs Goes Grocery Shopping

Watching Callebs shop at the grocery store while I was working out I thought, "This guy is going to starve." Although the closed captioning couldn't quite keep up with the report, I could see Callebs purchasing a single box of Zatarain's rice mix and a can of tuna, in addition to other purchases. Callebs says in his blog he's had several people criticize him for not doing a better job but he is trying to do his best. With that in mind, I collected a few articles that might help Callebs and others who are living on the least possible amount of money.

Meal Planning Saves Money on Groceries

The best thing Callebs could do to spend his limited food dollars wisely would be to make a meal plan. Use Meal Planning to Cut Grocery Expenses covers the basics of how to go about making a meal plan.

Since his breakfast of a bowl of cereal, banana and hot tea left him hungry, Callebs could use Make a Breakfast Meal Plan to Save Money. This article discusses how to plan breakfast meals so there is some variety and lower cost. Cereal is rarely a good choice for breakfast, in terms of cost, because it also uses milk, which is expensive. Cereal doesn't necessarily keep people full for long, but quick oats are a heart-healthy, whole-grain choice that is cheap, easy to prepare and can be customized with sugar, honey or cinnamon.

Making a Weekly Meal Plan for Lunch or Dinner

How to Make a Weekly Meal Plan for Lunch and Tips for Making a Weekly Meal Plan for Dinner can also help to outline a weekly meal plan for the other meals in the day. Callebs' single can of tuna might have been a healthy choice, but it will only work for one meal. A better choice would have been a 1-pound package of Land of Frost sliced turkey breast, which sells for around $3.98 at Wal-Mart. This lean lunch-meat combined with a package of flour tortillas would have stretched further than a can of tuna and loaf of bread, since you only need one tortilla to make a wrap. Instead of a single box of Zatarain's, Callebs would have been better off purchasing a large bag of whole-grain brown rice and adding his own spices. Brown rice takes a long time to cook, but it can be microwaved in larger portions and refrigerated for a week of lunches or dinners.

Saving on Fruits, Vegetables and Milk

Callebs laments that he is missing fresh fruit and vegetables. How to Save Money on Milk and Vegetables would help him to add these items without breaking the bank. He could also benefit from How to Save Money on Meat and Bread.

Grocery Shopping Without Coupons

Callebs is focusing on purchasing generic items, and that's a great start. But How to Lower Grocery Bills Without Coupons offers other tips on how to save money at the grocery store without clipping coupons.

With the economy tightening, there is an increasing focus on frugal grocery shopping. Weekly meal plans are one of the best ways to save money at the grocery store. Combining meal planning with tips to shopping on a budget can make limited grocery dollars stretch further.

Posted by Genna Cockerham

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the stores are already stuffed with heart-shaped candy boxes and stuffed animals. Before purchasing a Valentine's Day gift, check out some of the following articles for ideas.

Buying a Valentine for a Husband or Wife

Wives who are looking for a gift for their husbands may want to read Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Husbands to get ideas for traditional gifts. For women who like to do Valentine's Day in a big way, the buying guide, Choose a Special Valentine for Husbands offers tips for extra-special gift ideas.

Husbands who need ideas should look to Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Wives for ways to personalize their gift selection.

Make a Valentine's Day Gift

Married couples and other partners may want to choose to a handcrafted Valentine this year. Make a Valentine's Day Gift for a Spouse offers inexpensive and homemade Valentines that show you care. For a Valentine's Day with a theme for a Taylor Swift fan, Make Your Own Valentine's Day Love Story tells how to use "Love Story" as the basis for a special and romantic Valentine's Day.

Keep Valentine's Day Simple

Some couples like to keep Valentine's Day low key, others are looking to share a special day on a budget. Cheap Valentines for Him and Her has 10 great ideas for Valentines that won't break the bank. Each idea is less than $10 and can help to create a romantic vibe.

Couples who give cards for Valentine's Day and other holidays may need a little help in personalizing the card. How to Personalize a Greeting Card provides practical advice for making a store-bought or homemade card special.

Give the Gift of Time

Finally, Give the Gift of Time Together This Year helps couples to come up with ways to share time together instead of buying gifts.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by Genna Cockerham

Cloth diapering my children was a great experience. I am really proud I can say I didn't buy a single disposable diaper for the entire first year of my daughter's life.

But I remember what it was like when I first began researching cloth diapers. I was so overwhelmed by all the information that was available.

I had no idea which cloth diaper to try, whether to buy new or used and even how to begin buying diapers.

Learn About Buying Cloth Baby Diapers

The first article parents who want to use cloth baby diapers need to read is How to Buy Cloth Baby Diapers. Parents who have decided to use cloth diapers can’t simply go the store and buy them. But buying cloth diapers online can be quick and easy.

It's not easy to know whether to buy new cloth diapers or used cloth diapers. Experienced cloth diapering parents may have a better feel for which items are fine to buy used, but new parents need some help. Parents can learn about the advantages and disadvantages with new and used cloth baby diapers in How to Decide Between New and Used Cloth Diapers.

Experiment with a Cloth Kitchen Before Trying Cloth Diapers

Maybe you have some fears about starting to use cloth diapers. You want to help the environment and you want to try cloth. But it can be expensive to start and it can be scary to commit to using cloth diapers. If this describes how you feel, try Need Help Deciding Whether to Use Cloth Diapers?. This article discusses how eliminating paper products and going to all-cloth kitchen can be a perfect experiment for parents who want to try cloth diapering but are scared of the commitment.

New Options for Parents Who Want to Use Cloth Baby Diapers

Think cloth diapers mean using plastic pants and pins? Think again. There are many cloth diapering options for today's parents. The following articles break down the different types of diapers and include checklists to explain which type of diaper will fit which kind of parenting and childcare situation.

Prefold Diapers Are Cheap

Prefold Diapers are Cheap, Traditional Option discusses how modern improvements have been made to these inexpensive, workhorse diapers.

Cloth Pocket Diapers Are Easy

Pocket Diapers are Convenient Cloth Baby Diapers introduces parents to pocket diapers like Happy Heinys and Fuzzi Bunz.

Fitted Diapers Offer Flexibility

Fitted Diapers Work Great for Newborns informs parents about how fitted diapers can have a place in any cloth diapering stash. Kissaluvs Size 0 is especially popular for newborn babies.

AIO Diapers Are Easiest of All

The title of Busy Parents Love All-in-One Cloth Diapers says it all. All-in-ones are the most expensive cloth diapering option but the convenience is worth it in certain situations.

Reducing Waste with Cloth Wipes

Parents who commit to cloth diapering may want to read Cloth Baby Wipes Reduce Paper Waste. Cloth wipes can save a ton of money with little added work for cloth diapering parents.

Sell Used Cloth Baby Diapers Online

One of the best parts about using cloth diapers is that when they are treated properly, they can be resold. To learn how to preserve the value of cloth diapers and learn how to resell cloth diapers, read How to Sell Used Cloth Baby Diapers Online.

I hope these articles will assist you in knowing what type of cloth diaper will be best for you and for your child.

Happy cloth diapering!

Posted by Genna Cockerham

This weekend, I found a generic food that I would call a "stinker." Most of Wal-Mart's Great Value generic products are great. I buy all generic every week and very rarely get a product that is poor quality.

I save an absolute ton of money and a lot of time using generic products because store brands with coupons usually cost more than generics. But this weekend, the Great Value corned beef hash was not good.

Since Great Value (and most other generic brands) offers a money-back guarantee and I save my grocery shopping receipts, I will not be out any money for this experiment. Other "stinkers" have included the generic refrigerated pizza dough in a tube and the generic Velveeta.

I recently wrote about using generic products and other ways to save money without coupons in How to Lower Grocery Bills Without Coupons.

Those tips are helpful for overall grocery shopping but families with children may need additional help to save money on the essentials. How to Save Money on Meat and Bread and How to Save Money on Milk and Vegetables can help parents feed their families on less without sacrificing good nutrition. Tips to Make Using a Shopping List Easier can assist parents of children who need to get used to hearing "no" at the grocery store and help others make using a shopping list more effective.

Don't sit down to make a shopping list without reading, Make a Grocery Shopping List with These Tools.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and happy grocery shopping!