Luv Saving Money – Page 10 – Life on a Budget

Vanilla Extract Kit – Holiday Guide 2022

If you’re looking for a unique gift this year, this is one that you can be certain your recipient won’t receive doubles of. And even if they do, that means more vanilla extract.

When I found out how easy it is to actually make homemade vanilla extract, I’ll never buy vanilla extract again. In this way you can control the type of vanilla extract, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and your recipient will never run out of vanilla extract.

I’ve personally given vanilla extract kits to 2 different people so far and they both loved it. Each vanilla extract kit from Native Vanilla comes with a bottle, vanilla beans, label, and recipes/instructions. It comes in a nice wooden crate that really dresses up the gift too. The one thing I added to this gift was to add a bottle of cheap vodka so the recipient can get their vanilla extract started right away. For your recipients that may want to avoid the alcohol in the extract you could offer food grade vegetable glycerine instead .

Once it’s made, I leave the vanilla beans in the jar. Then I can just top off my extract when needed with more vodka or food grade vegetable glycerine and in that way, vanilla forever. It’s real vanilla, not imitation.

I love this gift idea because it’s easy to do, useful, consumable, and I find people love learning that they can make their own vanilla.

Get the Native Vanilla extract kit here

Watch for sales too. It’s on sale 25% off until 11/14/22. But they’ve been doing sales most of this month. Also, if you’re new to Native Vanilla you can sign up for their email to get 10% off. Watch for Black Friday deals too!

Have you ever tried making your own vanilla extract? Would you consider it? If someone gifted you a Native Vanilla extract kit, would you like it?

Follow Luv Saving Money on all my social media channels to get more budget friendly gift ideas.

**This post does contain affiliate links. I will earn a small commission from sales made through my links**

Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway 2022

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again can you?

I’ve tried so many things this year and still have a few things planned. I’ve taken up a new hobby, took some chances on a few things this year, got COVID (yuck), oh and just tonight we found a little kitten in our yard. Of course it was at like 11 pm at night and my husband was at work and the kids were asleep. The kitten is safe for now and visually seems ok but I’ll be calling our vet tomorrow.

We took our first family vacation that included extended family. I started trying to learn a little bit about herbs. I’m planning to start an herb garden next year.

With everything happening this year I’ve focused more on my social media channels than the blog. I almost missed this hop and I’ve done this one every years for…I think…at least the last 5 years.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been busy or had a crazy year. So I thought why not keep this giveaway simple and something that can be used for whatever the winner needs it for.

GIVEAWAY

1 US winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card

Now check out these other blogs for a chance to win more prizes!

Monte Cristo Sandwich With Thanksgiving Leftovers

Here it is November again. I’m in the midst of trying to plan my Thanksgiving dinner as many people are. We usually have a fair amount of people over for Thanksgiving. They usually come in waves. For that reason, I set my Thanksgiving dinner up buffet style and people can just eat where they land, so to speak. Some guests have already been somewhere else earlier in the day so they may only have dessert or an appetizer. While for others, this is the main stop in my family.

I’m someone who would rather have too much than not enough when it comes to holiday meals. Plus if there’s leftovers that can be a night off of cooking, or some delicious Thanksgiving leftover recipes.

Are you looking for inspiration for a new Thanksgiving leftover recipe? About 10 years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Chef Scott Schmucker at a social media event at Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He shared a Thanksgiving leftover recipe with us that I still use to this day. It’s one of my family’s favorites.

Monte Cristo Sandwich

by Chef Schmucker

6 slices of bread

3 oz turkey sliced (can use sandwich turkey if you prefer)

3 oz ham sliced

6 oz swiss cheese sliced

4 eggs

8 oz milk

1/4 tsp salt

2 oz vegetable oil

1/4 c powdered sugar

6 oz cranberry sauce

3 leaves of lettuce

Maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place 1 slice of turkey, 1 slice of ham, and 1 slice of swiss cheese on a piece of bread. Then top with a 2nd slice of bread
In a bowl, thoroughly mix eggs, milk, and salt
In a saute pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat, add half the vegetable oil. While holding sandwich together, dip entire sandwich into egg batter making sure to soak both slice of bread. Place dipped sandwich into heated pan/skillet.
Cook until golden brown as you would french toast. Turn sandwich and repeat on other side
Place sandwich on a parchment lined sheet pan/baking sheet and place into preheated oven. Bake 8-10 minutes or until heated to 165 degrees throughout
Once removed from oven, place cooked sandwich onto cutting board and cut into 4 triangles corner to corner.
Lightly dust sandwich with powdered sugar and shingle on a large plate. Garnish with lettuce and cranberry sauce.
You can top sandwich with maple syrup or place in a dipping cup to dip sandwich triangles while eating.

Recipe makes 3 sandwiches

What do you think, would you try it? What is your favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipe?

This post does contain some affiliate links. I will earn a small commission from sales made through my links

$200 Netflix e-Gift Card Giveaway!

Anymore, I know very few people that don’t have a Netflix account. I was late on the bandwagon, I’ll admit but now we use it all the time. This would be an awesome win and definitely pay for months of a Netflix subscription.

Enter for your chance to win a $200 Netflix e-Gift Card! This giveaway is open Worldwide only where permitted, age 18 and older. This giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on 11.30.22. See below for terms and conditions

Entry -Form

This giveaway is hosted by Chatty Patty’s Place and The Review Wire. All entries will be verified—only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Any person who has won a prize (or whose household has won a prize) in any promotion sponsored by the Sponsor in the past thirty (30) days before this contest start date is not eligible to win a prize in this contest. Entrants who have created social accounts purely to enter Competitions or Sweepstakes will not be eligible to win. All social accounts used must be public. The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. A reply to the winning email is required within 48 hours before a new winner is chosen. Void where prohibited by law. One person entering per household, please.

Free 24 oz Contigo Travel Mug After Cash Back

Another deal for new TopCashBack members. If you’re not a member of TopCashBack yet, you can grab this freebie when you sign up today. I’ve been using TopCashBack for years and it’s still one of my fave cash back sites.

NEW! TopCashback is giving new members a FREE 24 oz. Contigo Travel Mug! Spend a total of $16.98 or more on a 24 oz. Contigo Travel Mug and get $16.98 in cash back! This insulated stainless steel bottle with a leak-proof lid will keep your drink hot for up to 9 hours OR cold for up to 21 hours! Share with your audience now so everyone can take advantage!

Just register for TopCashBack through this link and follow the instructions to get your free Contigo mug

This could even make a nice under $20 gift or stocking stuffer for someone! Hey free christmas gifts right?

Fine Print to Include:

Note: Transactions must contain at least $16.98 worth of purchases (before tax +shipping) to ensure the $16.98 cash back is credited to TopCashback accounts. Transactions may initially track lower, but within the 14 days after purchase it will be uplifted and turn payable at the amount of $16.98. Transactions may take up to 7 days to appear in your TopCashback account. The deal is open until 11:59pm PST on 11/4/2022 or until supplies run out; whichever happens first; applicable for purchases made directly after clicking through TopCashback. Only one TopCashback account is permitted per person. Only one freebie offer is permitted per new member. Cannot be combined with other TopCashback freebie offers. Do not close the window, open any new tabs, or use non-TopCashback approved coupons while checking out.