Jen Boyer's career and family juggling act has been through several updates as she's worked full time with four children age 4 and younger. In the latest iteration, the Boyer family joins 8.8 million other Americans learning about unemployment first-hand. Visit Jen at JenBoyerWriterForHire.

More Articles
Topics

Life is good when your problem is how to get rid of leftover turkey

Thrifty gifts for your Thanksgiving hosts

Thrifty Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving on a budget

November challenge: rewriting archetypes

Poll: Where do you keep your thermostat?

Examiner Feeds

These websites were picked by the Careers and Family Examiner as useful resources.

View: All Sources

Secretary of State: A Woman’s Job, Huh?

The Washington Independent - 29 mins ago

We Are All Subprime Now, R.I.P.

The Washington Independent - 1 hr 37 mins ago

Governors Only Have Eyes For Obama

The Washington Independent - 1 hr 45 mins ago

Someone at CNN Should Really Be Punished for This

The Washington Independent - 2 hrs 9 mins ago

In Georgia, Palin Stumps For Chambliss

The Washington Independent - 2 hrs 18 mins ago

National Examiners

Michele Lerner
Residential Real Estate Examiner
Most Recent Post
Desperate sellers turn to raffle tickets

Jay McDonough
Progressive Politics Examiner
Most Recent Post
President Bush busy working on regulations to prevent regulation of toxic substances

Darrell Proctor
Business Examiner
Most Recent Post
Dow loses nearly 680 points; manufacturing activity at 26-year low

Kristen Houghton
Relationship Examiner
Most Recent Post
Chanukah lights and the miracle of marriage

Karen Leland
Work Life Balance Examiner
Most Recent Post
Stop being afraid to be the bad guy

Send us your topic suggestions

This article is part of National's Holiday Guide

Life is good when your problem is how to get rid of leftover turkey

3 comments

November 25, 12:14 PM

by Jen Boyer, Careers and Family Examiner

Photo courtesy of allfreecrafts.com

Whether you’re hosting or being hosted, if your finances are anything like ours you’re banking on Thanksgiving leftovers. And turkey sandwiches are great, but after a day or so you’re ready for something with a little more flavor and flair.

Don't worry. I've made it my business to scour the internet for recipes to help you clear out the fridge. For lighter fare, try the Turkey Cobb Salad or the Curried Turkey Salad. And for ideas on re-purposing everything from the cranberry relish to the skins from your mashed potatoes, click here.

To combine your desire to be the perfect guest with your host’s need for refrigerator real estate, try one of these easy recipes for turkey soup. You combine the dry ingredients in a jar and attach a recipe card, and your host does the rest. It’s a quick, inexpensive, and thoughtful gift.

Soup in a jar!

Basic Turkey Noodle Soup mix
For a more colorful presentation, try a recipe including dried peas or red lentils (on the left, in the picture above).

Topics: budget

Feed

Comments

Thrifty gifts for your Thanksgiving hosts

1 comment

November 19, 1:20 PM

By Thanksgiving, my family will be completing our fourth month of unemployment. My sister is hosting turkey day, and I am so grateful that I'm inspired to rise out of my typically sub-par etiquette and make my mother proud by keeping my elbows off the... Read More
Topics: budget , family

Thrifty Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving on a budget

2 comments

November 17, 12:15 PM

With unemployment the highest it's been since 1994, and job losses mounting, the 2008 holiday season is unlikely to be marked by lavish spending. Consumers plan to continue the trend of scaling back, according to a recent survey by the National Retail... Read More
Topics: budget , family

November challenge: rewriting archetypes

7 comments

October 31, 12:46 PM

November is National Novel Writing Month, so I expect you all to get cracking, and have a novel completed as of December 1.Too ambitious? Yeah, for me too.*****My mother has kept diaries for as long as I can remember, transcribing her thoughts into burgundy... Read More
Topics: family , writing

Poll: Where do you keep your thermostat?

19 comments

October 20, 11:03 AM

Home heating costs are set to rise almost 20% from last winter, up 65% from the winter of 2003-2004.We haven't turned on the heat yet this season. It's been mid-50s when we've gotten up the last two mornings, but by mid-day it isn't bad.Where do you set... Read More
Topics: budget

Considering infant mortality rates

3 comments

October 14, 11:12 PM

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.Unfortunately, the United States does not lead the pack in terms of minimizing infant mortality. Following is the list of countries with better rates of infant mortality (fewer babies dying per... Read More
Topics: health insurance

Diagnosis: WIC depression

9 comments

October 12, 4:44 PM

I just checked out of Giant Eagle, after a particularly soul-crushing WIC transaction. No one was mean to me. The checker was friendly and apologetic after she used some milk coupons on juice and had to go back and redo, causing an additional... Read More
Topics: budget , WIC

Domino effect

Add a Comment

October 11, 9:05 PM

I am not fulfilling my commitment as an Examiner.The guilt over my failure to post 3-5 times a week plagues me. I have ideas -- a whole list of post ideas, and our editors are thoughtful and helpful, and make good suggestions as well. It's... Read More
Topics: unemployment , careers , budget , health insurance

Breast cancer screenings for low-income women

2 comments

October 7, 12:14 AM

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and pink ribbons are everywhere. It's a rare woman who doesn't know how to do a self-check, or who isn't aware of the need for regular mammograms.However, low income women are about 15 percent less likely to... Read More
Topics: unemployment , budget , health insurance

Best places to live if you are unemployed

4 comments

September 30, 1:17 PM

A June 2008 article on Forbes.com rated the “Best and Worst Cities for Unemployment Pay.” By gathering statistics on the 40 largest cities in the United States and comparing the level of benefits available with the average cost of living... Read More
Topics: unemployment , careers , budget