Reader Question

Here's another great reader question I received recently:

Hi 4hats! I have a question for you.  I was thinking of starting my own blog but I am still a bit leary. I noticed that you have been doing yours for a few years now and slowly built up your readers, which is what I am looking to do. Did you have friends and family help you build it up, or did you follow some sort of other plan? Thanks for answering.


-Kelly

First off, Hi Kelly! Thank you so much for reading the blog and thanks for this question!

Well, let me start off by saying, I love the slow and steady pace I have been following here. I know some blogs pride themselves on increasing readership to thousands and even millions within months time, but I love that I had to work a bit for my readership. What can I say? I love a challenge.
Secondly, no, I haven't enlisted ANY help from family and "offline" friends. As a matter of fact, 99% of them don't even know I have a blog. Sounds weird, right? I know, it is weird. When I first started this, I wanted to make sure that I was doing it for me and could share whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Whether it's a nice so nice story about my sister or a good friend of mine, I didn't want to censor myself because I was afraid they would be reading. With that said, I knew that they could easily do a search and find the blog, but I just didn't want to throw it out there just to get extra hits from people that know me.
Also, once I focused even more on frugality, I figured if I have friends and family that don't care about such things, why even tell them about it? It just seemed silly to me.
I digress a bit, but what I mean to say is, if you can, try to start off by doing this strictly for YOU. Once you establish that, viewings of your blog will grow. Depending on what you want to focus on in your blog, frequent forums that pertain to that interest too. Everyone and their mama seems to have a blog, but the best part is, all of us want to see what the other is writing. Don't forget: If you don't like doing it, you can always just stop writing. No one will judge you for stopping and you won't feel obligated because you started it for you anyway.
I hope I answered your question fully! And if you ever decide to start a blog, please, PLEASE e-mail me a link. I'd love to see what you come up with.

Do you have a question you're dying to ask me? E-mail me at 4hatsandfrugal@gmail.com

ShopRite Deals 8/29 to 9/4

Butterball turkey bacon- 1.50
use .75/1 coupon from 6/27SS doubled(expires 8/31)- FREE

Post its- 1.00
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/15SS- FREE

Del monte ready-to-blend smoothies- 1.00
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/15SS- FREE
(1.00/1 printable now available here)

Friendship sour cream- 1.49
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

NEW! Carolina rice 16oz- .89
use .50/1 coupon from 8/29RP doubled- FREE(Thanks Jenny!)

Mission tortillas- 1.64
use .75/1 coupon from 8/1SS doubled- .14

Colgate Total toothpaste- 1.77
use .75/1 coupon from September All You magazine doubled- .27

Hershey's chocolate milk singles- 1.00
use .35/1 printable coupon doubled- .30

Quaker old fashioned or quick oats- 1.39
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/29RP- .39

Yoplait Greek yogurt- 1.00
use .30/1 coupon from 7/11SS doubled- .40

Eggo waffles- .99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 7/25RP- .49 each

Malt o meal cereal- 1.99
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- .49

Hammermill printing paper- 2.49
use 2.00/1 coupon from 8/29SS- .49

Perdue chicken nuggets- 1.99
use .75/1 coupon from 8/29RP doubled- .49

Utz potato chips- 1.99
use .75/1 coupon from 8/22SS doubled- .49

Oscar mayer franks- 1.99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- .99

Blue Bunny ice cream- 1.99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/23SS(expires 8/31!)- .99

Cap'n Crunch cereal- 1.99
use .50/1 coupon from 5/16RP doubled- .99

Quaker instant oatmeal- 2 for 4.00(must buy 2)
use 2 1.00/1 coupons from 8/29RP- 1.00 each

Eggland's best eggs- 1.99
use .35/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- 1.29

Silk soy milk- 2.50
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- 1.40

Frigo string cheese- 2.49
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/22SS- 1.49

Land o lakes eggs- 2.50
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/15SS- 1.50

Kraft miracle whip- 2.99
use 1.00/1 printable facebook coupon- 1.99
__________
Betty Crocker cake mix- 2 for 2.00(must buy 2)
Betty Crocker frosting- 3 for 5.00

Deal idea:
Buy 2 boxes BC cake mix
Buy 3 BC frostings
use 2 .75/2 coupons from 8/8GM doubled

Pay 4.00 for 5 items or .80 each
_________
4 day price break(Wednesday to Saturday only)

Hunt's ketchup- .77
use 1.00/2 coupon from August All You magazine- .27 each

Other deals
Tyson drumsticks or thighs- .99/lb
Top Round london broil- 1.49/lb
80% lean ground beef- 1.69/lb
whole beef tenderloin for filet mignon- 4.99/lb(this is a great price)
Borden cheese singles- .99
ShopRite Challah Bread- 1.99(usually 3.99 a loaf!)

BTFE and Target Gift card giveaway!

So, it's back to school time again. And with the return to school comes great deals at the stores on "kid-friendly" items and snacks to get us into the stores. Target is one of best stores to frequent during this time of the year because they not only give us great sales on home goods and clothing, but food items as well!

If you are aware of the Box Tops for Education program, you know that this time of year is also great when it comes to finding those red gems! Target is making it easier this year by providing a sale where they will DOUBLE your box tops when you buy participating items in their stores. You get to pick which school you want to bless with your extra goodies. Here's the catch: this sale ends tomorrow, August 28th. But, no worries. Here's what General Mills and MyBlogSpark is offering my readers:

Do you see all that swag?! This is a great prize to get us going into the fall and to ease the heart break of the start of school.  See the little prizes in the middle? Yup, you get a 25.00 Target gift card AND 25 bonus box tops along with everything else. If you are a Target "hound" you know how much you can stretch 25.00 there!


Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment under this post telling me if you participate in the Box Tops for Education program. Is it for your children's school or maybe you collect them for a friend with kids? I'm dying to know! If you don't participate, but still want to enter, go right ahead! Just let me know in the comments.


PLEASE LEAVE A VALID (JUNK) E-MAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.  I need to be able to contact the winner for more information to get your prize to you. Don't skip this step or I'll have to delete your entry.


This contest will end on Thursday, September 2nd at 10pmEST. Good Luck!

A few announcements!

Hey y'all! How's the summer going for ya? Good....Good....that's great to hear. Well, I have a few things I want to bring to your attention real quick.

Remember that post I put up a while ago asking for nominations for the Black Weblog awards? Well, I got nominated! Best parenting or family blog is my category and I am too excited. I know I've gotten a few new readers already because of the link under the category (hey newbies!) and I am very eager to see how I place in the awards. But, alas, I have to ask for another favor. Can you please go here, skip to page 3, look at the bottom and vote for 4 Hats and Frugal? Thanks darlings!

Are you suffering from giveaway withdrawl? Well, don't fret! Come back later this afternoon and I'll have a doozy of a giveaway for you.  If you collect Box tops for education, or BTFEs, then you will REALLY like this giveaway.  If you love to get free food and snacks, then you'll REALLY like this giveaway. If you like giveaways, then you'll REALLY like this giveaway. Just come back later today....trust me.

Lastly, my boy is on his way to kindergarten in 5 days! How awesome is that? If you remember the post I put up about getting him ready this summer(much to the chagrin of his pre-school teacher), you can guess that I am nervous and anxious about him going. I think he's ready but we'll see. Prepare yourself for a post (and maybe a picture or two) of how we both deal with his first days at a "real" school.

That's about it for now. See you all this afternoon for the giveaway and thanks again for checking in here on your free time. I really do love my readers!

ShopRite sneak peek- week of 8/29

Haven't done one of these in a while! I see some great coupon and non-coupon deals coming up, so I wanted to post them for you guys.

Butterball turkey bacon- 1.50
use .75/1 coupon from 6/27SS doubled(expires 8/31)- FREE

Mission tortillas- 1.64
use .75/1 coupon from 8/1SS doubled- .14

Yoplait greek yogurt- 1.00
use .30/1 coupon from 7/11SS doubled- .40

Eggo waffles- .99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 7/25RP- .49 each

Malt O Meal cereal- 1.99
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- .49

Eggland's best eggs- 1.99
use .35/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- 1.29

Other deals
Top Round london broil- 1.49/lb
80% lean ground beef- 1.69/lb
Tyson drumsticks or thighs- .99/lb
whole beef tenderloin for filet mignon- 4.99/lb(this is a great price if you like filet mignon and don't mind cutting your steaks yourself)
Borden cheese singles- .99

Quotable Wednesday

"Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are."

-Bishop Desmond Tutu

Meal Plan Monday!

Monday: Pan sauteed tilapia in a brown butter sauce with garlic spinach and brown rice
Tuesday: Homemade Salisbury steaks with home fries and corn
Wednesday: Chicken adobo with white rice and carrots
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner! Pancakes with turkey bacon, home fries, scrambled eggs and lots of fruit!
Friday: Return of homemade pizza night!
Saturday: Salad bar night! A big bowl of tossed salad topped with whatever is left in the fridge
Sunday: Dinner at my parents' house

Dessert of the Week: Ice cream with toppings! We have a boatload of ice cream from recent sales

ShopRite Deals 8/22 to 8/28

Multigrain cheerios- 1.49
use .75/1 printable coupons here, here, here and here doubled- FREE

French's honey mustard dipping sauce- 1.50
use .75/1 coupon from 8/22SS doubled- FREE (Thanks Terry!)

Honest Tea- 1.25
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- .25
use .75/1 coupon from 8/22SS doubled- FREE

Nabisco snack saks- 5 for 5.00(must buy 5)
use 2 .75/2 coupons from 8/8SS doubled- 5 for 2.00 or .40 each

Kozy shack pudding- 1.49
use .50/1 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- .49

Snyder's Grande Tortilla chips- 1.74
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/27SS- .74

Fab Ultra 2X laundry detergent- 1.88
use .50/1 coupon from 8/15SS doubled- .88

Chex cereal- 1.49
use 1.00/2 printable coupon- .99 each

Fisher nuts- 1.99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/20SS- .99

Emerald nuts- 1.99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/15RP- .99

Frigo string cheese- 2.49
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- 1.49

Nature Valley sweet and salty nut granola bars- 2 for 5.00(must buy 2)
use 2 .50/1 printable coupons doubled- 1.50 each

Silk soymilk- 2.99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- 1.89

Schick extreme 3 disposable razors- 4.99
use 3.00/1 coupon from 7/25SS- 1.99
___________
Buy 4 Betty Crocker fruit snacks, get a 2.50 catalina
Betty Crocker fruit snacks- 2 for 4.00(must buy 2)
use .50/2 coupon from 8/8GM doubled- 1.50 each

Buy 4 fruit snacks
Use 2 .50/2 coupons
Pay 6.00 and get back 2.50, so .87 each after coupons and catalina.
_________

4 Day price break(Wednesday to Saturday only)
Peter pan peanut butter- .99
use .60/1 coupon from 8/1SS doubled- FREE

Barilla whole grain pasta- .79
use 1.00/2 printable coupon- .29 each
 ________
Other Deals
Bottom round roast- 1.69/lb(rock botton price!)
Whole turkey breast- .88/lb(wednesday to saturday only)
Great Lakes chunk cheese- .88(wednesday to saturday only)

Warning: major baby cuteness ahead(view at your own risk)

OK, since I've been getting oodles of e-mails asking to see pictures of the Duchess, I decided to dedicate a whole post to an visual update for you all. I have a love/hate relationship with posts like these because I do love to see posts of cute little babies but I don't like seeing them on blogs every week. And yes, some bloggers do go overboard with the "new baby updates" when they have birth. How they have time to do so many updates with a new baby is beyond me, but I digress.

So, here's a taste of baby for you, with a little video at the end of big bro and sister bonding over a bottle. For those that can do without these posts, don't worry, I promise not to go baby crazy on here. Enjoy!

Here's the video....notice how he changes the subject to "Yo gabba gabba" once he gets bored. You gotta love this kid....

Quotable Wednesday

Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor.

-Robert Frost

Meal Plan Monday!

I feel like I'm getting back into the groove of planning!  This week should be another easy one.

Monday: Homemade hamburger helper with carrots
Tuesday: Red beans and rice
Wednesday:Chicken cacciatore with rice and broccoli 
Thursday: Spaghetti carbonara with a side salad
Friday: Off to a dinner party
Saturday: Daddy's night to cook! Lord help us!
Sunday: Slow cooker vegetable soup with grilled cheese sammies

Dessert of the week: Choco-nana pie

ShopRite Deals 8/15 to 8/21

Nesquik milk- 1.00
use .50/1 coupon from 8/1RP doubled- FREE

Blue bunny champ cones- 1.25
use .75/1 coupon from August All You magazine doubled- FREE

Reynold's recycled wrap foil- 1.99
use .75/1 coupon from 8/8SS doubled- .49

Chock full o' nuts coffee- 1.99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- .89
use .75/1 coupon from 6/27SS doubled- .49

Heluva good cheese- 1.49
use .50/1 printable coupon double- .49

Chef's requested fillet mignon- 3.99
use 3.00/1 printable coupon- .99

Athenos hummus- 1.99
use BOGO printable coupon- .99 each


Ben and Jerry's ice cream- 1.99
use 1.00/2 printable coupon- 1.49
And you can get back a 2.00 catalina when you buy 3 or more!

Nabisco chips ahoy- 1.99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 8/8SS- 1.49 each

4 day price break(wednesday to saturday only)
Aunt Jemima waffles- .99
use 1.50/2 printable coupon- .24 each

Hefty waste bags- 1.24
use 1.00/1 printable facebook coupon- .24

Nabisco football oreos- 1.99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 8/8SS- 1.49 each
________________
Right guard Total defense- 1.99
Buy 3 deos
use 2 1.00/1 printable coupons
pay 3.97 and get back 3.00 catalina! .33 each after catalina
(if you were lucky enough to get the BOGO right guard coupon in your 7/25RP, you'll have a better deal!)

Slow cooker baked beans(recipe #2!)

Now I know that some of you all might not have the time to make the slow cooker baked bean recipe I posted last summer, since you have to soak the beans and wait a while for it to cook. Well, I do have my super-secret quick baked bean recipe that I use when I either don't have dry beans to soak but have canned beans, or I just don't feel like being just lazy.  This is a recipe for when I feel like being super DUPER lazy.  Indeed. Check it out and see how stinkin' easy it is.

Slow cooker baked beans

3 cans cannelini or pinto beans
1 small onion, minced
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup BBQ sauce
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
2 slices of bacon, cut into strips(we use turkey bacon)

Chop up your onion and place at the bottom of the slow cooker.
Drain beans and pour on top of the onions.
Crumble packed brown sugar over beans.
Sprinkle bacon evenly over brown sugar.
Combine BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar and ketchup in a small bowl. Once mixed together, pour over bacon.
Cover it all with the 1/4 cup of water.
Turn slow cooker to low and cook for at least 5 to 6 hours, or on high for at least 4 hours.

Quotable Wednesday

"What I hear I forget.  What I see I remember.  What I do I know."

-Chinese Proverb

Return of Meal Plan Monday!

Wahoo! I'm so happy to finally get back to doing a weekly meal plan! It was great to have meals already made in the freezer to get us through the last weeks of pregnancy and the first few weeks of us having the Duchess as home, but now it's time to get back to business. Plus, we are basically out of ready-made meals, so I have to get back to cooking. Here's what I'm planning for this week:

Monday: Slow cooker BBQ baked beans(new recipe will be posted this week!) and cornbread
Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread
Wednesday: Chicken quesadillas with homemade salsa
Thursday: Veggie lo mein with egg drop soup
Friday: Free dinner at Baja Fresh!(combining a gift card from mypoints.com and a coupon)
Saturday: Off to my Dad's Mason picnic...free dinner!
Sunday: Dinner at my parents' house...another free dinner! lol

Dessert of the week: Slow cooker peach cobbler

ShopRite Deals 8/8 to 8/14

Blue bunny bars- 1.49
use .75/1 coupon from August All You magazine doubled- FREE

St. Ives body wash- 2.00
use 1.00/1 coupon from 7/18SS- 1.00
plus, you'll get back 1.00 catalina making this FREE after catalina!

Gum toothbrush- .99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/20RP- FREE

Butterball turkey franks- 1.64
use .75/1 coupon from 6/27SS doubled- .14

Reynolds wrap recycled foil- 1.99
use .75/1 coupon from 8/8SS doubled- .49

Mt. Olive pickles- 1.64
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/1SS- .64

Cocoa puffs cereal- 1.99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- .89
there's also another .55/1 printable here

Trix cereal- 1.99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- .89

Tropicana Trop50- 1.99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/6RP (expires 8/8!)- .99
use .50/1 coupon from 6/6RP doubled- .99

Arm and hammer 2x laundry detergent- 1.99
use 2.00/2 coupon from 7/18SS- .99 each

Smart balance milk- 2.99
use 2.00/1 coupon from 7/11SS- .99

Angel soft bath tissue(6pk double roll)- 2.34
use .50/1 coupon from 5/23RP doubled- 1.34
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- 1.34


4 day price break(wednesday to saturday)
Barilla whole grain pasta- .88
use 1.00/2 printable coupon- .38 each

Great Thinkers-- Free Economic Advice (a guest post)

The recession has hit most Americans pretty hard.  And as a result, people are scrambling to get their financial bearings.  Managing finances is a difficult thing.  And managing finances during a recession is even more difficult, but absolutely necessary.  The recommended course of action would be to take advice from a financial advisor.  But, this would be a costly venture.  And unfortunately, during these tight times, most people do not have the means to consult a professional.

This got me thinking.  When we can’t go to a professional, why not have the professional come to us? To aid us in making wise financial decisions during this crunch time, wouldn’t it be nice if we could consult some of the leading economists of the modern era?  And that too, free of cost. 

“How is this possible?” you ask. 

Read on.

I have compiled a list of ten quotes and lessons from some of the greatest economists of all time to educate, inspire, motivate and challenge us:

1. The greatest value and gains are in hard work.

Labor was the first price, the original purchase - money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labor that all wealth of the world was originally purchased. – Adam Smith

2. Making or saving money is not easy.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. – Milton Friedman

3. Think outside of the box.

Successful investing is anticipating the anticipations of others. – John Maynard Keynes

4. Your goal should be personal success, not to outdo the next person.

The root of the evil is not the construction of new, more dreadful weapons. It is the spirit of conquest. – Ludwig von Mises

5. Persevere – Don’t let hindrances deter you.

One finds limits by pushing them.  – Herbert Simon

6. Pay attention to detail – Do not overlook the little things.

Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.  – Benjamin Franklin

7. Do not run away from your responsibilities.

It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. – Josiah Charles Stamp

8. Do not limit yourself.

Joy comes from using your potential. – Will Schultz

9. Listen – Take in what others are saying and doing.

Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking. – Bernard M. Baruch

10. Act – Don’t just talk or think about it, go out and do it.

The big divide in this country is not between Democrats and Republicans, or women and men, but between talkers and doers. – Thomas Sowell

Cathryn Johnson is a content writer for http://www.onlinemba.com who gives advice on the pursuing higher education, online mba rankings and living a healthy life.  In her free time she likes travel, theater and having fun in the sun!

Quotable Wednesday

"What lies beneath us and what lies before us are small matter compared to what lies within us."


-Ralph Waldo Emerson