Cooking With A Slow Cooker

The slow cooker can become your best friend in the kitchen. It can be used on a hot summer day to avoid having the oven on, or on a cold winter day to fill your house with delicious smells and comfort food. Either way, the slow cooker saves you valuable time in the kitchen as you put your meal together and forget about it until dinnertime.

A slow cooker is invaluable for days you know you are going to be rushed around dinnertime, yet want a home-cooked meal for your family. And don’t forget the best part about cooking with a slow cooker: Only one dish has to be cleaned!

Stews, soups, roasts, chicken, pork, beef, desserts, drinks. The possibilities of cooking with a slow cooker are endless. It’s also a great way to use old vegetables as well as cheaper or tougher meats. You just throw it in all together, add your favorite seasonings and let the meal cook on low throughout the day.

As tempting as it may be, don’t lift the lid of the slow cooker when you have it on low. The heat that escapes will extend your cooking time by as much as 30 minutes. If you are short on time, you can cook on high — just remember one hour on high is equal to two hours on low.

Here is a slow cooker recipe courtesy of Stephanie O’Dea, NYT best-selling author of the “Make It Fast, Cook It Slow” cookbooks and “Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life,” who blogs slow cooker recipes at http://www.ayearofslowcooking.com/.

Honey Garlic Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe

Servings: 4

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup honey

1. Use a 4-quart slow cooker. (If using a 6-quart, this will cook faster. Check after 3 hours on high, 5 hours on low.)
2. Put the chicken into your cooker.
3. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, then pour evenly over the top.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Serve with basmati rice and steamed or roasted vegetables.

Step 1 Of 12 Toward A Debt-Free Life

Take Stock Of Your Debt

You’re determined that this will be the year you finally pay down (or pay off) that debt. Get ready, because every month, our Do It Today plan will have you taking another step on your journey toward living a debt-free life. 

First, sit down and take stock of all your debts. Don’t let the numbers scare you; you need to do this to move forward. Get out every single credit card bill, personal loan, student loan, and any other debt you’re carrying (except your car and mortgage payments). Tally up the numbers to give yourself an idea of what you’re dealing with. 

Next, organize your debt into different categories, such as credit card debt, student debt, personal loans etc. Use a spreadsheet to list your debt, the remaining term of each loan (if applicable), the minimum payment and the interest rate.   

Finally, designate one hour each week for working on your finances. 

Your Turn: Did you take stock of all your debt? Did the numbers surprise you?

5 Ways To Pay Off A Loan Early

If you’re like most Americans, you owe money toward a large loan. Whether that means carrying thousands of dollars in credit card debt, having a hefty mortgage in your name or making car loan payments each month, loan debt is part of your life. This means you’re looking at hundreds of dollars in interest payments over the life of the loan(s). There’s also the mental load of knowing you owe perhaps tens of thousands of dollars and that you’ll be paying back the loan for years to come.

It can all get kind of depressing—but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Did you know there are simple, but brilliant, tricks you can employ to lighten the load? With a carefully applied technique, you can pay off your mortgage, auto loan, credit card debt and any other debt you’re carrying quicker than you thought possible. These tricks won’t hurt your finances in any dramatic way, but they can make a big difference to the total interest you’ll pay over the life of the loan and help you become debt-free faster.

You can free up more of your money each month, use your hard-earned cash for the things you want instead of forking it over in interest and live completely debt-free sooner than you’d dreamed. It’s all possible!

A note of caution before we explore these tricks: Check with your lender before employing any approach, as some loan types have penalties for making extra or early payments.

1. Make bi-weekly payments

Instead of making monthly payments toward your loan, submit half-payments every two weeks.

The benefits to this approach are two-fold:

• Your payments will be applied more often, so less interest can accrue.
• You’ll make 26 half-payments each year, which translates into an extra full payment on the year, thereby shortening the life of the loan by several months or even years. If you choose this method with a 30-year mortgage, you can shorten it to 26 years!
  

2. Round up your monthly payments

Round up your monthly payments to the nearest $50 for an effortless way to shorten your loan. For example, if your auto loan costs you $220 each month, bring that number up to $250. The difference is too small to make a tangible dent in your budget, but large enough to knock a few months off the life of your loan and save you a significant amount in interest.

For a potentially even bigger impact, consider bumping up your payments to the nearest $100.

3. Make one extra payment each year

If the thought of bi-weekly payments seems daunting but you like the idea of making an additional payment each year, you can accomplish the same goal by committing to just one extra payment a year. This way, you’ll only feel the squeeze once a year and you’ll still shorten the life of your loan by several months, or even years. Use a work bonus, tax refund, or another windfall to make that once-a-year payment.

Another easy way to make that extra payment is to spread it out throughout the year. Divide your monthly payment by 12 and then add that cost to your monthly payments all year long. You’ll be making a full extra payment over the course of the year while hardly feeling the pinch.

4. Refinance

One of the best ways to pay off your loan early is to refinance. If interest rates have dropped since you took out your loan or your credit has improved dramatically, this can be a smart choice for you. Contact True North to ask about refinancing. We can help even if your loan is currently with us.

It’s important to note that refinancing makes the most sense if it can help you pay down the loan sooner. You can accomplish this by shortening the life of the loan, an option you may be able to afford easily with your lower interest rate. Another means to the same goal is keeping the life of your loan unchanged and with your lower monthly payments, employing one of the methods mentioned above to shorten the overall life of your loan.

5. Boost your income and put all extra money toward the loan

A great way to cut the life of your loan is to work on earning more money with the intention of making extra payments on your loan. Consider selling stuff on Amazon or eBay, cutting your impulse purchases and putting saved money toward your loan, or taking on a side hustle on weekends or holidays for extra cash. Even a job that nets you an extra $200 a month can make a big difference in your loan.

Triumph over your loans by using one or more of these tricks to make them shorter and pay less interest. You deserve to keep more of your money!

Your Turn: Have you used any of these methods or a different approach for paying off a loan early? Tell us about it in the comments.

APP REVIEW: Cloud Storage Apps

With the incredible convenience of today’s cloud storage services, you never have to lose your files again. 

But with so many free cloud storage apps, the choices can be confusing. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular cloud storage services on the market. 

Google Drive 

Google Drive is already integrated with all Android devices, making it the natural choice for Android owners. The app also syncs automatically with Google’s G-Suite, so if you’re a Google fan, it’s easiest to go with their cloud storage. Download the companion app, Google Photos, onto your mobile device, and you’ll be able to store high-def photos in the cloud as well. 

Best Features 

Google Drive offers 15GB of free storage space, the most generous amount of all cloud storage apps. The total storage is distributed across all your Google services, like Gmail and Google+Photos, but you can choose how to split the 15GB to best suit your needs. 

Folders and files are super-easy to share on Google Drive via email or link. You can choose to send view-only files or allow for edits and comments, making teamwork almost effortless. Google Drive will also store all deleted files in the “Trash” until you empty the bin. 

Glaring Glitches 

Users complain that Google Drive’s web interface isn’t the best, and it can be difficult to use. 

Pricing 

• 15GB: Free.
• 100GB: $1.99/month
• 200GB: $2.99/month
• 2TB:$9.99/month
• 10TB:$99.99/month
• 30TB:$299.99/month 

OneDrive 

Microsoft’s OneDrive integrates directly with Windows without the assistance of any additional apps. It’s the easiest storage solution for Microsoft Office users. 

With some companion apps, OneDrive will work even harder for you. Download Microsoft’s Photo app, and you’ll be able to use OneDrive to sync pictures across all your devices. You can also install a desktop program to seamlessly transfer all kinds of folders and files to OneDrive and make them accessible from a mobile device. 

OneDrive’s mobile app is available for Android, iOS and Windows Phone. 

Best Features 

OneDrive’s outstanding feature is its file restoration, which keeps all your files until you’ve deleted them twice, a big plus for click-happy users who often mistakenly delete important files. 

OneDrive also allows you to share folders and files with non-registered users. You can choose to allow others to edit your files or to view-only. 

Glaring Glitches 

The 5GB of storage space in OneDrive’s free version can be tight if you’ve got large files to upload. Users also complain that the OneDrive app is clumsy and inefficient. 

Pricing 

• 5GB: Free
• 50GB: $3/month
• 1TB: $8/month
• 5TB: $11/month 

iCloud 

Apple’s iCloud is competitively priced and integrates seamlessly across all Apple platforms. 

Best Features 

The Mac Finder app automatically integrates iCloud Drive and allows you to store all kinds of files in the cloud. All documents created in the iWork office suite will be saved to iCloud and can be synced across all your devices. 

If you use Windows for work, but you own an Apple device, iCloud Drive will allow you to sync your Windows files so you can access them wherever you are. iCloud also allows you to restore deleted files for up to 30 days after deletion. 

Glaring Glitches 

With only 5GB of storage, iCloud’s free service might not be sufficient for your needs. 

Pricing 

• 5GB: Free
• 50GB: $0.99/month
• 200GB: $2.99/month
• 2TB for $9.99/month 

Dropbox 

Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud storage services on the market, offering a modest 2GB of free memory with ways to upgrade at no cost by referring other users. Deleted files are saved in the cloud for 3 days, so most mistaken deletions can be easily recovered. 

Best Features 

Dropbox is super-popular, largely due to its simplicity and ease of use. File uploads happen faster than most free cloud storage services and Dropbox Paper, the document collaboration technology on Dropbox, gives users a genuine feel of workplace collaboration. The app’s powerful file-search tool adds to its all-around convenience. 

Glaring Glitches 

Dropbox’s free version offers a tight 2GB of storage space. 

Pricing 

Dropbox offers a wide range of options for both private users and business owners who need shared storage space for multiple users. 

• 2GB: Free
• 1 TB, 30-day history tracking, Office 365 integration: $9.99/month
• 2 TB, 120-day history tracking, custom branding and analytics: $19.99/month
• 3TB, account transfer tools, shared team folder: $15/month/user
• Unlimited storage space, all Dropbox features: $20/month/user

 

How they stack up

  App                                  Free Storage                  Easy to Use                   File Restoration

(30 days)

Google Drive	15GB	No	Yes
OneDrive	5GB	No	Yes
ICloud	5GB	Yes	No
Dropbox	2GB	Yes	No

Your Turn: What’s your favorite cloud storage service? Tell us all about it in the comments!

Southwest Chicken and Rice Bowl

How about serving up a taste of the Southwest at the dinner table tonight? 

Yield: 4 servings
Hands-on time: 25 minutes
Total prep time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• Pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 chicken breasts, cut into two cutlets each
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2  sliced red pepper
  
• 1/2 sliced green pepper
• 1 sliced onion yellow onion
• 1 can corn kernels
• 1 can black beans drained
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon lime zest, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Directions 

1. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon coriander, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and cayenne pepper. Rub each cutlet with ½ teaspoon olive oil and spice mixture. Refrigerate for one hour, or up to 24 hours.
2. Cook rice according to package directions.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet and cook chicken cutlets over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes a side. Remove from heat.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet and cook pepper and onions until tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle mixture with remaining spices.
5. Add corn kernels, black beans and garlic, stirring thoroughly until heated, about 1 minute. Pour in cooked rice and stir until heated, about two minutes.
6. Remove from heat and add cilantro, lime zest and lime juice.

Everyday Millionaires

How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth–And How You Can Too

Money conversations can be super-depressing. Everything you read tells you that the “Great American Dream” has faded into oblivion. Everyone you talk to says that only the rich-born can get ahead and make it to the top. We ingest these lies without thinking twice. They become part of our belief systems and kill our ambition, effectively destroying any chance we have of becoming financially successful. 

Get ready to read about the truth. 

In Chris Hogan’s book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth—and How You Can Too, he destroys the most common millionaire myths that prevent ordinary people, like me and you, from achieving and maintaining financial independence. 

Hogan is a #1 national best-selling author, the host of The Chris Hogan Show, and a dynamic speaker who lectures nationwide about personal and business money management. He also serves as a beloved financial coach and Ramsey Personality at Dave Ramsey’s Ramsey Solutions company. 

Everyday Millionaires is the culmination of comprehensive research on more than 10,000 American millionaires—and the results might shock you. 

Here are some of the surprising revelations in Everyday Millionaires: 

• There is no secret sauce for becoming a millionaire.
• Most millionaires in the U.S. were not born rich.
• You don’t need to have a high-paying job to achieve millionaire status.
  

Hogan and the Ramsey Team show the world that building extraordinary wealth is not reserved for those hailing from a privileged background or holding down high-paying jobs. Instead, true wealth is a product of living with responsible principles, like spending within your means, avoiding the debt trap, investing wisely and exercising discipline with your money. 

There is no carefully guarded secret behind the nation’s most successful people. It doesn’t take a fantastic stroke of luck, a sizeable inheritance or a 7-digit salary. Anyone and everyone can achieve financial independence—and even millionaire status—by following Hogan’s guidelines while living responsibly. 

Learn how to think like the rich and you just might be the next everyday millionaire. 

Your Turn: Do your personal experiences reflect Hogan’s research? Were most of the rich people in your life born wealthy or did they build their own net worth through responsible living and hard work? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Bacon Pierogi Bake

Pierogies and bacon and cheese and tomatoes; need we say more? 

Yield: 4 servings

Hands-on prep time: 18 minutes

Total prep time: 38 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen potato and onion pierogies (such as Mrs. T’s)
• Cooking spray
• 2 center-cut bacon slices, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 cup fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
• 2/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 1/4 cup chopped and seeded plum tomato
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. Spray an 11 x 7-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray and arrange pierogies evenly in pan. Set aside.
3. Cook bacon in a saucepan over medium heat until crisp. Remove from pan and set aside.
4. Add minced garlic to drippings in pan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
5. Add cream cheese to pan, cooking for 1 minute, or until cream cheese begins to melt, stirring constantly. Slowly add chicken broth to pan, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Pour the cream cheese mixture evenly over pierogies. Sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and completely heated. Remove from oven, and top with bacon, green onions, tomato and pepper.