THE BOOK IS PUBLISHED!!!!!!!

My book was ready yesterday at the printer!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am thrilled to be at this point of my project. Even though I have been encouraged for 25 years to write a book, I never felt at peace about doing so. Plus, I was VERY busy rearing a family while practicing 'the art of frugality'.This has been a wonderful learning experience. Each and every challenge paved the way for the next step. I am still in awe, having watched the puzzle pieces fit together at exactly the right time. I could write a book about
writing a book, but first things first...............

I will be happy to ship books for Christmas gifts upon completion of the payment transaction. Should you want your book autographed and/or personalized, please make the appropriate notations.

BOOK SIGNING

Monday, December 15, 2 - 8 p.m.

*AND*
Saturday, December 20, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Pearisburg Public Library

209 Fort Branch Road

Pearisburg, Virginia

SAFE CANNING INSTRUCTIONS

I made reference to this subject in my book when I shared my friend's apple butter recipe. It is included in the 'Frugal Gifts From Your Kitchen' section. Safely preserving this wonderful treat is simple:

• place clean jars in a COLD oven


• select the lowest setting (150-200 degrees) and allow the jars to heat thoroughly, approximately 15-20 minutes


• using a wet paper towel, wipe the filled jar's rim clean


• meanwhile, pour boiling water over the canning lids


• using a canning lid lifter (or tongs), place lid on hot jar


• carefully secure the canning ring


• when the lid seals, it makes a popping sound....this may take up to an hour


• allow your homemade goodie to cool

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS METHOD IS *NOT* FOR CANNING VEGETABLES, MEATS, ETC.

Reserve Your Advance Copy Today...

Here is your sneak peek at what the cover of my book looks like. Place your advance order via the link on the right side by Paypal. If you prefer, you may mail a check or money order (payable to Wendi Meredith) to the following address: PO Box 100, Ripplemead, VA 24150

WORKSHOP ~ PRIVATE

TWO (PRIVATE) CLASSES:
'SAVING FOOD DOLLARS'
GILES HIGH SCHOOL:
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES ~

FOOD & NUTRITION
APRIL 20, 2009

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2009
10am - 12noon
Castle Rock Golf & Recreation Center
900 Castle Rock Road
Pembroke, Virginia

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

(540) 921-4292 FOR MORE INFO/PRE-REGISTER
~COST: $10 PER PERSON~

PAYABLE AT THE DOOR

GIFT GIVING:
prepare year-round for gifts to eliminate last-minute panic and additional expense

TRAVEL:
nice vacations are still possible

---------------------------------------

COUPONING WILL ALSO BE TAUGHT IF YOU MISSED PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009
10 am - 12 noon
Castle Rock Golf & Recreation Center
900 Castle Rock Road

Pembroke, VA

-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC-

-COST: $10 PER PERSON-

-PAYABLE AT THE DOOR-

FRUGAL MENU IDEAS

stretch your grocery dollar with coupons &
simple and healthy ideas that will save your family money
&
PLANNING AHEAD:
discover additional ways to plan for life events

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

Saturday, January 31, 2009
10 a.m. ~ 12 noon
Castle Rock Golf & Recreation Center
900 Castle Rock Road
Pembroke, VA

COUPONING:
learn how to stretch your grocery dollars by utilizing coupons to their maximum potential

FORMULATING A BUDGET:
develop a working budget for your individual needs

[COST: $10 PER PERSON]

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2008
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Riverview Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
219 Stoney Creek Road
Ripplemead, VA
Gift Giving Ideas
Coupon Strategies

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

Monday (11-17-08) 10am-12noon

~OR~

Tuesday (11-18-08) 7-9pm

First United Methodist Church

1101 Valleyview Drive, Pearisburg, VA

Couponing & Gift Giving

open to the public

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

Saturday, October 18, 10am-12noon (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
Gym @ Riverview Baptist Church
_Coupon Organization System
_Stretching Your Grocery Dollar
_Formulating A Budget & Getting Out Of Debt

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Giles resident offers strategy for being frugal. Wendi Meredith teaches workshops and is writing a book about her "common sense" approach to saving money.

By Amy Matzke
540-381-1674

**One of the money-saving tips Wendi Meredith offers is even when products are buy one, get one free, shoppers can still use a coupon.**

Wendi Meredith of Giles County uses a large binder with clear plastic baseball card holders to organize coupons. Meredith provides workshops to teach people how to save money and is writing a book filled with her money-saving tips.

A half-gallon of name-brand ice cream, a double pack of name-brand baby food and a pack of baby nail clippers -- all for 57 cents.

With prices rising and the country's economy in turmoil, everyone is trying to stretch their dollars, including Giles County resident Wendi Meredith. Thursday's 57 cent grocery store trip was a combination of coupon use, advertisement comparisons and a sharp eye for sales that Meredith has been using and perfecting for more than 20 years.

Meredith said her shopping strategy is simple. She makes her shopping list, scans the sale ads and checks her coupons, plans a shopping day and visits the stores with the best prices for what she needs.

Her personal best shopping trip, of which she has photos, was $1,000 worth of groceries for $162, she said, a savings of $838.

She started giving scheduled frugality workshops about six months ago -- she had been giving them informally for years -- and is writing a book filled with her money-saving tips.

"The best advice I ever got was from my grandmother," Meredith said. "She always said, 'It has nothing to do with how much money you make, but how you manage it.' "

Meredith spends about an hour a week comparing sale ads for the best prices. She cuts coupons from the Sunday papers and organizes by function -- baking, beverages, breakfast, canned goods and so on -- in a large binder using clear plastic baseball card holders so she can see them easily in the store. She also trades coupons with friends and neighbors, and donates other coupons to military bases for soldiers to use.

But coupon clipping is only part of the process, Meredith said. Her overall goal is simply to help people with what she's learned through the years, especially people who are in debt, she said.

Meredith said her system of saving is one of "common sense" -- she combines all her errands into one trip so she doesn't waste gas, she makes sure her coupon binder is up to date and organized and she shops ahead for holidays and other events, buying gifts when they're on sale.

"The one thing is, there has got to be a sense of balance," Meredith said. "If you spend hours trying to save just pennies, you're much better off just spending the money."

The best tip Meredith teaches is that even when products are buy one, get one free, shoppers can still use a coupon, said Danielle Mandell, who attended two of Meredith's workshops about four months ago at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead.

Mandell had heard about the workshops through others who had attended and decided it sounded worthwhile.

"The time that it takes to cut the coupons is the biggest time spender, but she has made that pretty easy," Mandell said.

The idea for the book grew out of the same grain of thought as the workshop -- teaching others what she's learned, Meredith said.

"People have been saying I should write a book for years," Meredith said.

The working title of the book is "The Art of Frugality."

"She has a very worldly outlook ... but she has been in a spot where she has had to pinch pennies, and that is very fresh in her heart, I think," said Catherine Leonard, Meredith's informal editor. "She's worked hard to achieve what she has."

The two met through their sons' basketball league, and Leonard agreed to edit the book after hearing about it, even though she isn't a professional. Meredith, who is self-publishing and trying to keep costs low, welcomed the offer.

"She likes to tell me she is full of stories, and this book is full of her stories," Leonard said. "Even if someone is not trying to pinch pennies, I think people would enjoy it because she's just funny."

Meredith's book is expected to be out by the end of 2008. The cost has not been set yet, and copies can be pre-ordered. The cost to attend a workshop is $10 per person. For more information, contact her at artoffrugality@hotmail.com

Photos by Matt Gentry, Roanoke Times

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

June 23 @ 6:00pm
Tender Loving Daycare
Tracking Every Dollar Of Your Budget & Meal-Planning Ideas For Busy Families

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

May 22 - 6 PM
Ladies Fellowship
Riverview Baptist Church
Indepth Couponing & Gift Giving

WORKSHOP SCHEDULED

April 24, 2008 @ 6:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall, Riverview Baptist
Ripplemead
'Overall Frugal Lifestyle'

Book Details

'**Click on image to see larger picture!**



















'The Art of Frugality' by Wendi Meredith is a 202-page book.

This book is not spread sheets, but an easy-to-follow guideline for stretching your money.

An excerpt from the beginning will give you a clear understanding........
"First let me tell you what this book is not about. It is not about investing time and energy in senseless activities that will never pay off long term. I don't reuse my aluminum foil. I don't use towels more than once before laundering. I don't wash Ziploc bags or plastic cups. I don't reuse coffee filters, envelopes or make liquid soap out of soap slivers. I don't add water to my hair spray. I don't cut my own hair. I don't buy my clothes at yard sales or make them out of feed sacks."

Fourteen chapters encompass a frugal, balanced lifestyle:

• The Art of Frugality
• Formulating a Budget And Getting Out of Debt
• Eat To Save Money
• Couponing
• The Art of Frugal Gifting
• Plan Ahead
• Traveling
• Teach Your Children
• Pass It On
• Extra Income
• "No One Wants To Be Inconvenienced"
• Sense Of Balance
• Tips And Tricks
• The Frugal Artist's Cooking Guide

Over 30 recipes are included. Inexperienced cooks can easily prepare the simple meals. Emergency pantry suggestions are outlined, avoiding costly restaurant trips. Frugal gifts from your kitchen showcase ways to prepare presents anyone would welcome.

This book is not rocket science or brain surgery, but rather a guide to build a stronger financial foundation.