How This Mom Went from Retail Management to Full-Time Blogger

Scarlet Paolicchi is a Nashville blogger and stay-at-home mom of two. Her award-winning blog, Family Focus Blog reports on parenting tips, family fun activities, eco tips, food, travel, decor, discounts, and giveaways. Find out how this biology major made the leap from retail management to full-time blogger. You started blogging in 2010, tell us a […]

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Forget Hot Dogs and S’mores — 6 Cheap (but Totally Yummy) Campfire Recipes

My first experience camping in a tent involved my rear end meeting a pile of ants.

On a hot July morning in South Carolina, I woke up covered in sweat. I escaped the tent for fresh air. That’s when it happened. As I crouched down, fumbling with something or other, I fell back. Ants! After jumping around, shaking out my clothes and sending squeals through the quiet campground, I settled down.

I only got bitten a few times but decided to cut the trip short. I needed a shower, air conditioning, some anti-itch cream and my queen-size mattress.

I later tried the whole tent thing again and learned to enjoy it. I’ve managed to avoid anthills, and I have a more comfortable sleeping bag.

But I’m still missing one thing when I go camping: good campfire food.

Now, when I venture into the wilderness with my boyfriend, we cook hot dogs over the campfire and roast marshmallows. That’s not an inventive menu at all, and that campfire diet starts hurting my digestive system after a few days.

Without getting too Food Network, I’ve compiled some affordable, simple campfire recipes for our next adventure. And they don’t require any fancy grills or cast-iron pots.

All we’ll need are some basic kitchen and camping staples.

Note: I priced the ingredients for these camping recipes at my local Publix in May 2017, so do note these prices will vary by your preferred store, location and the time of year.

1. Fireside Pizza Log

Where we camp, we usually can’t call up our favorite pizza chain for delivery. However, this pizza log looks almost as easy as that.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 can pizza dough: $2.59
• 1 can pizza sauce: $1.39
• 1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese: $4
• 1 pack pepperoni (or your favorite toppings): $3

Total: $10.98

I bet if we grabbed another can of pizza dough, we could get another pizza from the leftover ingredients. Each pizza will serve 4, putting our price per serving at $2.75.

Preparation takes place before the trip. Roll the dough into a rectangle, cover it in sauce, and top it off with cheese and your favorite toppings.

Then, roll the pizza up, carefully tucking all the edges in. Coat the foil with cooking spray before wrapping it around the pizza roll. Freeze the roll. When you head out for your trip, transfer the pizza roll into a cooler, and let it thaw before cooking.

Leaving it in the foil, place the pizza log directly in your fire pit. Cook each side for about 15 minutes.

2. Easy Bacon and Egg Breakfast

Breakfast is a camping staple, so one weekend my boyfriend and I ambitiously packed bacon and eggs. We borrowed my dad’s portable grill, and grabbed some pots and pans. This was fine, but it required some setup and cleaning.

Here are two hacks we’re going to try next time. All we need are bacon, eggs and skewers.

Here’s the intricate (just kidding) ingredient list:

• 1 pack bacon: $4.50
• 6 eggs: $1.50

Total: $6 (with leftovers)

For the bacon, lace it onto your skewer — the same skewer you’d use to roast marshmallows. (Or a stick, if you’re really roughin’ it.) Rest the skewer over your campfire and rotate it about every 5 minutes.

In about 30 minutes, you’ll have some extra-crispy and smoky bacon. Here’s what it should look like.

Pair it with scrambled eggs, which require some cooking spray or butter, a fork, a cookie sheet (optional) and a muffin tin.

Coat each muffin tin well with the spray oil or butter. Crack each egg into the muffin tin, and beat them with a fork. Add whatever your heart desires to the egg mix — mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes… more bacon.

You can also prep the eggs ahead of time by beating them in a bowl, adding veggies or other mix-ins and freezing the whole mixture in an airtight container before putting it in your cooler. If you do it this way, make sure to cook the thawed egg mixture all the way through when it’s time for breakfast.

For an even more portable version, use cupcake liners inside each muffin well — that way, you can skip the cooking spray.

Set the muffin tin over hot coals (not directly on the fire). If the bottoms seem to cook faster than the tops, cover the muffin tin with a cookie sheet or tin foil. Cook until done.

For a better visual of this camping recipe, visit Camping for Foodies.

3. S’more Banana Boats

I know I said no s’mores, but this rendition is inventive enough to include — and a little healthier (kind of).

Here’s what you’ll need per boat:

• 1 banana: about 30 cents
• 1 bag mini marshmallows: $1.50
• 1 bag chocolate chips: $2.69

Total: $4.49

I’m not going to divvy out the marshmallows and chocolate chips because you can pile those on. In total, though, each boat is likely less than 75 cents to make.

Grab your banana and cut it in half lengthwise. Place it on heavy-duty aluminum foil (or just double up the regular stuff).

Stuff that baby with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips before wrapping the foil around it.

To cook, place it over hot coals until the marshmallows and chocolate melt. Feel free to dig in on your primitive aluminum pan, as long as it’s not too hot.

4. Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Nothing warms my insides more than a hot ham and cheese sandwich, and these sweet nuggets will be easy to tote along on our next camping trip.

Here’s what you need to serve up to six:

• 1 pound deli-sliced ham: $5
• 12 Hawaiian rolls: $3.99
• 12 slices Swiss cheese: $3.29
• ½ cup butter, melted: $2.50
• 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard: 8 cents
• 1 tablespoon dried onion: 68 cents
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar: 4 cents

Total: $15.58

Roll out 6 pieces of foil, and place 2 rolls on each. Evenly divide the ham and cheese among the rolls.

Make the go-to ham and cheese condiment by mixing the melted butter, Dijon mustard, dried onion and brown sugar into a bowl. Pour the combination over the tops of the sandwiches.

Fold the foil to cover the sandwiches. You’ll have 6 little packets containing 2 small sandwiches each. Place each packet on top of warm campfire coals to cook. You’ll want to turn them frequently until the cheese is melted and the rolls are toasty. It should take 10-15 minutes.

Find the recipe and mouthwatering photos at Taste and Tell Blog.

5. Piggies Roasted in a Blanket

Again, this is very close to those hot dogs my boyfriend and I always crisp up over the campfire, but the twist on this classic makes me excited to try it. Plus, it’s almost as simple as sticking a hot dog on a stick.

Here’s what you need:

• 1 pack hot dogs: $1.75
• 1 can crescent rolls: $2.59
• Favorite condiments: varies

Total: $4.34 plus price of condiments

If you look at the pictures, you’ll figure this one out, but clarity’s sake, I’ll lay out the instructions for you. Slide your hot dog onto the skewer. Unroll your crescent rolls, and wrap 1 precut triangle around each hot dog. Wrap the hot dog loosely in foil, and roast it over the fire just like you would a normal hot dog. Repeat the process for each hot dog.

They should take 15-20 minutes to cook.

Shoutout to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for this genius combo.

6. Cinnamon Roll-Up Sticks

Cinnamon rolls on a stick? Yes, please.

At first, I thought this campfire recipe would just call for a canned cinnamon rolls wrapped around a stick, which I bet would work. This recipe is a little more involved but still pretty easy — even for me.

Here are the ingredients you need:

• 1 package crescent rolls: $2.59
• ¼ cup sugar: 9 cents
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon: 39 cents
• ¼ cup powdered sugar: 8 cents

Total: $3.15

Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Open the crescent rolls, wrap each one around a skewer, and coat them in the cinnamon-sugar mix. Cook it over the campfire for about 5 minutes. You’ll want to keep rotating it.

If you want to top these off with glaze, just mix ¼ cup powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of water. If that’s too much for you, you can buy some.

Thanks to Almost Supermom for this gem. We think you are Supermom with this recipe.

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.

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Treat Yo’ Self… for Pennies: 25 Spa Treatments You Can Do at Home

19 Things I Always Buy at the Dollar Store

While everyone has their own savings strategies when it comes to groceries and household goods, I tend to take the easy route. Instead of driving from store to store to snag deals, I do almost all of my shopping at Kroger.

My friendly neighborhood supermarket may not always have the lowest prices, but they usually do. Plus, shopping at just one store helps me save something more important than money – time.

Yet, I always make one more shopping trip each month, and that’s to my local Dollar Tree. It’s right around the corner from my house, and it has some awesome deals. Keep in mind, there are many types of dollar stores, including Dollar General. The store I’m talking about here is Dollar Tree, where everything is $1 or less.

19 Things I Always Buy at Dollar Tree

While I occasionally buy something random at Dollar Tree, I normally go there to stock up on specific essentials. Because, let’s face it, some items at Dollar Tree are so cheap it would be a sin to buy them elsewhere.

How cheap? Well, everything is a dollar or less! It doesn’t get much cheaper than that.

Here are 19 things I always buy at the dollar store:

#1: Flip-flops

It’s hard to beat $1 shoes no matter how cheap or flimsy they are. We do most of our vacations at the beach, and Dollar Tree flip-flops are perfect for those trips.

Lose a shoe in the ocean? Forget them at your hotel? Who cares?

It’s hard to stress over a pair of shoes that costs just a dollar. But really, I’ve had Dollar Tree flip-flops last for years. That’s why I keep buying them. And since most similar shoes would cost $5 or more elsewhere, you can save $4 or more per pair.

#2: Cards

I’m awful when it comes to birthdays and anniversaries, often forgetting about them until the last minute. Fortunately, I’ve learned to keep a bunch of cards in stock so I can mail them out on the fly.

Dollar Tree lets you buy two cards for $1, which makes it easy to stock up on generic cards for emergencies. I typically buy 10 cards every few months – a few for birthdays, and some for other occasions. I also buy Dollar Tree’s blank cards so I can fill them out however I want.

Since birthday and anniversary cards can easily cost $4 or more at the supermarket or drug store, this is a huge savings!

#3: Balloons

While I rarely buy balloons for birthdays and special occasions, there are times when I’ll splurge. At Dollar Tree, you can get a balloon for $1, five balloons for $5, and so on. If you don’t like any of the balloons that are already prepared, they’ll also blow one up for you.

Balloons can cost $5 and up at the grocery store, so this is an awesome deal when you need balloons for any reason. The Dollar Tree doesn’t normally have specialty balloons or large balloons in animal shapes, but the basic balloons they do have are nice.

#4: Party Supplies

Along with balloons, Dollar Tree is a great place to buy party supplies. You can buy solid color tablecloths, plastic cutlery, napkins, and more – all for $1 a package.

I always buy my kid’s birthday party supplies here. They don’t always have the most up-to-date party “themes,” and their stuff isn’t fancy, but it’s good enough for me. Dollar Tree is also a great place to buy paper plates to use for barbecues or dinners when you don’t feel like doing dishes.

#5: Wrapping Paper

If you don’t keep wrapping paper in stock, it’s easy to overspend in a crisis. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve paid $5 or more for wrapping paper in the store when I was in a hurry.

These days, we keep wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree in stock all the time. It’s only $1 per roll, and we try to buy generic patterns that can work for any occasion. I also buy holiday wrapping paper here at the end of the year.

#6: Gift Bags

Gift bags are another Dollar Tree steal that are crazy expensive at regular stores. I frequently see gift bags for $5 or more at the grocery store, yet they’re only (you guessed it) $1 at the Dollar Tree.

The selection may not be that great, but you can’t beat the price. I’ve had the best luck finding gift bags for baby showers and birthdays, but they do have cute holiday bags at the end of the year, too. It’s always smart to keep a few of these on hand. You never know when you’ll have to prepare a last-minute gift, and gift bags make the wrapping part easy.

#7: School and Office Supplies

Since my husband and I work at home, we occasionally need to buy supplies for our office – pens, pencils, Sharpies, and markers. We always find what we need for $1 at Dollar Tree. The only office supply I wish they would carry is printer paper.

We also buy some of our kid’s school supplies here. They don’t always have everything we need, but they usually have pens, paper, glue, erasers, and so on. Whether you’re trying to stock up for your own kids or simply want supplies to donate, Dollar Tree has some good deals.

• Related: Starting the School Year the Frugal Way

#8: Paint Supplies

My local Dollar Tree has an entire section full of paint brushes and supplies. They’ve got small brushes for edging or big ones for large walls, rolling pans, and roller brushes. They also have painting tape and other supplies.

Since paint brushes run about $3 to $10 (and sometimes more) at Lowe’s or Home Depot, the brushes at Dollar Tree are a steal. They may not be the world’s best quality, but they work fine for most painting jobs. Since I like to touch up the interior paint of my home occasionally, I keep these brushes on hand at all times.

#9: Medicine and First Aid

Generic Tylenol, Band-Aids, and cough drops are all things I buy regularly at Dollar Tree. They also have eye drops, medicine for kids, and first-aid supplies.

While it’s easy to assume Dollar Tree medicine is sketchy, you can check expiration dates before you buy. We’ve been using medicine and first-aid supplies from Dollar Tree for a long time, and we’ve never had a problem.

• Related: 30 Store-Brand and Generic Items I Use, and Five I Don’t

#10: Razors

Razors can be insanely expensive at the grocery store or the drug store. But, at Dollar Tree, everything is only $1!

You can buy 5-packs of the flimsy single disposable razors, or 3-packs of the nicer luxury razors. I tend to buy the 3-packs of the nicer razors because they last longer. If you’re not picky about which brand of razor you use, these are a steal.

• Related: 10 Ways to Save Money in Your Bathroom

#11: Dental Care

I buy nearly all our dental care items at Dollar Tree – things like floss, toothpaste, and mouthwash. They have plenty of name brands like Colgate and Crest, and the prices can’t be beat.

Over time, I’ve found it’s smarter to keep extra toothbrushes and toothpaste on hand. That way, I don’t wind up spending more on supplies at the grocery store. I even keep extra kid’s toothbrushes on hand for when our kids’ friends stay the night. Their kid’s toothbrushes are an especially good deal at three for a $1.

#12: Brushes and Hair Ties

My kids go through brushes and ponytail holders like it’s their part-time job. I probably buy 100 plain ponytail holders every few months. They end up in the trash, or stashed somewhere when my kids take their ponytails out.

Fortunately, it’s easy to stock up when everything is $1. I typically buy a few packs of ponytail holders, hair pins, and clips each time I visit the store.

#13: Snacks

While I’m fairly picky about the food I buy at Dollar Tree, I’m not against stocking up on cheap snacks. Whether I’m buying cookies for a party or some chips to snack on at home, Dollar Tree has a pretty good selection at $1 each.

I occasionally buy their canned goods, and I’ve been known to stock up on coffee and coffee filters there, too. Since their food options change all the time, I tend to buy whatever they have that’s a good deal.

• Related: 15 Super Cheap and Simple Snacks

#14: Seasonings

If you buy spices and seasonings often, you already know how expensive they can be. At my local Kroger, spices are usually in the $3 to $8 range depending on what you’re buying and how much.

At Dollar Tree, all their spices and seasonings are just $1. They don’t have a huge selection, but what they do offer is a good deal. I regularly buy seasoning salt, garlic salt, garlic powder, and dried basil there.

• Related: The Power of the Spice Rack

#15: Plastic Bags

Whether you need small sandwich bags or gallon-size bags for freezing, it’s hard to beat Dollar Tree pricing. They have the same bags my local Kroger offers, but for $1 each.

I try not to use too many bags, but I do keep a stash in case the kids need them for school or something special. Gallon-size bags are also especially handy when it comes to freezing soups or leftovers.

Ideally, I like to use reusable containers when I can – like, for my kids’ lunches. But there are still plenty of occasions where plastic bags come in handy.

#16: Trash Bags

I buy all our trash bags at Dollar Tree, mostly because I don’t mind the generic brands. We have a small trash can anyway, so I don’t mind the type with the flaps instead of the drawstring, either. And I certainly don’t mind the $1 price tag! After all, a box of trash bags at my local grocery store is usually $5 or more.

I also buy tiny trash bags for our bathroom trashcans at Dollar Tree. That way, I have bags available when we run out of used grocery store bags.

#17: Cleaning Supplies

While not all cleaning supplies are a good deal, Dollar Tree does offer an array of smart options for $1. I tend to buy glass cleaner, toilet cleaner, and other basic cleaning supplies there.

I also buy two-packs of those bleach packets for toilets. While those are $5 or more at the grocery store, they’re just $1 at Dollar Tree.

• Related: 10 Cheap Household Staples That Double as Cleaning Supplies

#18: Brooms and Other Supplies

Recently, I bought an outdoor broom specifically for my garage. I’ve also bought dust pans, scrub brushes, and sponges at Dollar Tree. They typically have cleaning clothes, plungers and other supplies as well.

While prices vary, it’s hard to find any of these items elsewhere for anything close to $1.

• Related: A Frugal Spring Cleaning Checklist

#19: Batteries

Batteries can be expensive depending on where you buy them. At Kroger, for example, an 8-pack of AA batteries typically costs $5.99 or more. At Dollar Tree, on the other hand, you can buy nearly any type of battery for $1.

The downside here is that the selection isn’t always that great. Plus, all of their batteries are off-brand. If you can get past those issues, you’ll save plenty of money!

The Bottom Line

If you want to save money on food and household supplies, don’t forget to check your local dollar store. While not everything they offer is an excellent deal, there are plenty of bargains to be had. And if you’re willing to make a monthly trip, you can stock up on the items that make sense and avoid paying more elsewhere.

Just be sure to check the size of each item so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison. While it’s possible to score full-size items for $1, dollar and discount stores occasionally offer a sample sizes for the lower price. It’s up to you to compare ounces or amounts of whatever you’re buying so you can ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.

Holly Johnson is an award-winning personal finance writer and the author of Zero Down Your Debt. Johnson shares her obsession with frugality, budgeting, and travel at ClubThrifty.com.

Related Articles:

• Here’s What Our $150-a-Week Grocery Budget Looks Like
• A Guide to Extreme Food Budgeting
• 12 Surprising Ways to Save On Groceries
• Eight Discount Grocery Store Strategies That Will Keep Your Food and Household Spending Low

What do you always buy at the Dollar Store? What would you add to this list?

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GFC 094: Net Unrealized Appreciation Rules

5 Budget-Friendly Tips to Help You Start a Vegetable Garden from Scratch

I love free food. It makes me excited, probably more than it should.

So the concept of gardening seems fabulous to me.

I say “concept,” because I realize actual gardening includes exposure to bugs, which kinda-sorta freaks me out. But being able to just go to my backyard and pick out fruit for a snack or veggies for lunch — without swiping my debit card — would be awesome.

I’m all for fresh food, reducing my carbon footprint and getting fresh air and exercise, not to mention having loads of extra produce to help lower my grocery bill.

The thing is… most gardens still require a monetary investment: for tools, supplies, seeds and related expenses. There goes the concept of “free” food.

Fleet Farming, a nonprofit initiative that started in Orlando in 2014, turns neighbors’ lawns into gardens, but it comes with a price: the group asks for a $500 donation to cover the costs of installing and maintaining the plot for a minimum of two years.

How to Start a Vegetable Garden from Scratch

Despite having to fork over some money, the benefits of growing your own garden are still pretty great.

There are lots of creative ways to cut down the costs of growing your own food. Fleet Farming Program Manager Caroline Chomanics offers the following five tips on to help you start a garden on a small budget.

1. Pick Up Leaves

Ever notice your neighbors raking their leaves into big piles and leaving them at the edge of their front lawns to be thrown away? Ask them if you can take those leaves off their hands!

“People throw away leaves on the side of the road all of the time that can be used as a great mulch,” Chomanics said.

Mulch acts as a barrier to block sunlight from the ground’s surface, keeping soil cooler so plants’ roots won’t overheat, according to Better Homes and Gardens.

2. Go Dumpster Diving

Raised garden beds offer a prime environment for a new garden.

They provide good drainage and also help prevent soil compaction, invasion from pathway weeds and pests such as slugs and snails, according to Eartheasy.

But purchasing wood to build one or buying one already built could be costly.

Chomanics recommends upcycling trash to be used for raised beds. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?

“Old wood, cement blocks, bookcases and other discarded items can make great structures for raised bed gardening,” she said.

3. Compost at Home

The soil in your backyard may not always be the rich, earthy stuff that’s prime for growing.

Here in Florida, what makes up the ground is mostly dusty sand — but that doesn’t stop the Fleet Farming group in Orlando.

Fleet Farming Director Lee Perry said they use compose from a nearby mushroom farm to help convert sandy dirt to dark, lush, nutrient-rich soil.

“You can compost at home by storing food scraps in a container in the freezer,” Chomanics said. “Then, when it is full, turn it in a pile in your yard.”.

“Leaves and grass clippings [as long as it’s unfertilized grass] are great additions,” she said.

Chomanics also advised contacting your local compost provider to find affordable compost. Some cities offer free compost pick-up, she said.

4. Save Seeds

While you might need to buy seeds at your local garden nursery or home improvement store to start out, save money on future planting seasons by holding onto the seeds from the plants you grow.

“Have an endless supply of seeds by harvesting seeds from your harvest,” Chomanics said. “Plants like dill, sunflower and basil offer tons of seeds that you can use every year.”

5. Use Drip Irrigation

Plants are pretty simple. They only need a few things to grow, like sunlight, soil and water. And unless your home is right on a river or creek, that water is not going to come free.

Using a sprinkler to water your garden could have you ending up with a hefty water bill if you don’t do things right.

A drip irrigation system makes sure water is not wasted by targeting exactly where the plants need it.

“Every day, water will drip to the plants,” Chomanics said. “That saves you time watering and is water friendly.”

She recommends installing a water timer hooked up to a hose with a sprinkler. Timers control how much and when your garden is watered.  

A simple garden hose timer costs about $25 through Amazon.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves the idea of having a garden, except for dealing with bugs.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, one of the largest personal finance websites. We help millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. In 2016, Inc. 500 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the No. 1 fastest-growing private media company in the U.S.

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