5-minute supper!

 

Tonight, I wanted soup. But I didn't want to spend time in the kitchen, obviously. (That's what extreme burnout does to me...)

So I took stock of what I had on hand and it hit me: with just 5 minutes of work, we can have tomato soup with rice and croutons!

Here's what I did:

Tomato Soup with Rice

1-1.5 cups leftover cooked brown rice
1 large can crushed tomatoes

Water - the amount that fits in the empty can
1/2 tsp. dried onion flakes
1/2 tsp. dried garlic flakes
1/2 tsp salt
a pinch of hot pepper flakes
a couple dashes of coarsely ground black pepper

Mix it all together in a pot and heat on the stove until heated all the way through.
Serve with croutons.

Quick croutons

Several pieces of leftover challah/bread
spray oil
granulated garlic
dash of salt
dash of pepper

Cut the challah/bread into small pieces. Sprinkle salt, garlic, and pepper over the pieces of bread. Spray with oil.
Bake at 220C until golden brown.
Serve with soup or salad.

Enjoy!!

Find more quick meal ideas HERE

Great deals for you!

this post contains affiliate links, so if you click on a link and then make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. 

Here are some great deals I just found:

If you need a food processor, check out this awesome sale:

3.9 L 1250W Bosch food processor, regular price 849 NIS, on sale now for 579 NIS!

Need a laptop for under 1000 NIS? Check out this Asus laptop deal 

Here's a drip-filter 12-cup coffee maker (for those of us who think capsules are pods produce too much waste!) for under 100 NIS 

Here's a set of 2 fridge odor absorbers for 28 NIS instead of 34!

Thermoses in all sizes are on sale right now, too! Some of them are really large - 8 liters! These are great!

Things to keep in mind when you shop at KSP: Shipping will be free if you meet the minimum order amount. If you don't, you can choose a store near you for pickup to avoid shipping fees. These items ship from within Israel, so you'll never be hit with a surprise tax or import fee!

Feel free to comment below or in my public shopping group on FB and let me know what you're looking for!

Save on your Expat tax preparation!

If you're an American ex-pat like me, you know all about the yearly headache of filing your overseas tax return. Currently, this is something most of us MUST do, even if we don't like it. There's just no getting around it for now - no matter how much we complain (maybe one day it will change!). And because of the complexity of navigating tax documents issued to comply with Israeli tax law (as opposed to US tax law), it is usually NOT recommended to use automated software for filing your overseas tax return.

Or so we thought. But as of last year, there's SimpleTax – the first ever U.S. tax software for Americans living in Israel. I've had a long chat with the founder of the company, and they've worked so hard to make this service available (it's designed to work in a way that standard tax software doesn't) and I'm super excited about this development. 

SimpleTax will walk you through a friendly and intuitive interface to prepare your U.S. taxes on your own, find your highest possible refund and save money on fees - starting as low as 299₪ for a tax return + FBAR.

If your taxes are more complicated, you will most likely pay a higher rate, but still MUCH lower than the quotes I've gotten from accountants recently.

This is going to change our lives. Mostly because staying tax compliant will now be so much simpler and cheaper!

I invite you to find more details at SimpleTax. If you use my referral link (the links to SimpleTax on this site are referral links), you'll get 10% off your first tax return! If for some reason you can't open the link, simply copy-paste this link to go to their site: https://simpletax.co.il/register?referral=KOFRU. Or go to their site on your own and be sure to enter my referral code (KOFRU)

SimpleTax is also on Facebook and has plans to help US citizens in Israel navigate financial issues better. You can be sure I'll be following them and waiting for more helpful developments.

So spread the word that in 2024 we'll be doing our taxes smarter and cheaper! Use my referral code to get a great 10% discount: 

MY-CODE: KOFRU

OR CLICK HERE

מידע חשוב עבור אזרחים אמריקאים שגרים בארץ: הגיע פתרון שיחסוך לנו הרבה כסך!

החל מהשנה, אפשר למלא דו"ח מס אמריקני עם חברת סימפלטקס - ותראו חסכון אמיתי!

אפשר לחסוך עוד יותר עם מכניסים את הקוד שלי בעת ההרשמה. ההרשמה ללא עלות - רק תצטרכו לשלם עם משתמשים במערכת לדווח. השתמשו בקוד KOFRU ותקבלו 10% הנחה.

או הקליקו כאן: https://simpletax.co.il/register?referral=KOFRU

Price Controlled Foods (Updated)

I realize it's been a while since I posted an update about price-controlled food items. As you may know, the Ministry of the Economy regulates some food prices in Israel. This means that certain consumer goods cannot be sold for a price higher than the price set by the government. A few prices have even changed since my last post about this, so here's the latest update. Maximum prices on this list were verified on February 14, 2024.

Make sure you're not overpaying for anything on this list:

1. BREADS

Note: The breads on this list are very specific types of breads, and the challah is a very specific kind of challah. 

2. SALT



 3. DAIRY PRODUCTS

    Note: I've also seen packages of sliced 28% yellow cheese that are pre-packaged, 400g, labeled "price controlled 13.20 ILS"

4. EGGS




There's always talk of adding items to the list (like fresh vegetables) or making changes (like swapping whole wheat bread for the white bread), but for now, this is the list of price-regulated foods.

If your store is overcharging for any of these items (check to be sure they are in fact the price-regulated item and not a premium version) - you can report the store to the proper authority using this online form.

Hope this helps you save more money, and don't forget to follow me on Facebook and join my Kosher Frugal group for more tips!

Making Travel Plans?

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you! Thanks for your support! 

--- Retrieved from https://www.kosherfrugal.com/ ---

Who wants a getaway deal? 

I can't possibly be the only one. Life's been pretty stressful lately, and I'm not getting much sleep these days. And I know I'm not alone in dreaming of a vacation...

Of course, my dreams may or may not come true, but if you have the freedom to make travel plans right now, read on...

If you're here, you know Israelis love to travel - it's a great way to take a break from the local stress, if you have the freedom to get away!

So today, I'm sharing some links to companies that will help you plan the perfect trip, hopefully for a great price.

Look for Low-Cost flights if you can! These can be last-minute (check HERE or HERE for last minute deals) or sometimes great deals must be booked FAR IN ADVANCE - click to see deals.

Hotels can be booked together with flights, or check out Booking.com, they guarantee the best prices for any type of property and no booking fees! However, I recommend you check the cancellation policy carefully before you book anything on booking.

Rental Cars - if you're renting a car outside of Israel but driving on your Israeli license, be sure you get a rental package that insures you with your Israeli license. This is best done via an Israeli agent. I shopped around a bit and found that Issta Car Rental offered slightly lower prices than some of the others - let me know if you've found the same to be true!

Be sure to check if your credit card has any offers for you in their rewards section for overseas travel/transactions. I've even seen deals that waive foreign currency transaction fees - be sure to activate any deals they offer you before you go!

(Don't forget to get traveler's insurance that will cover you in case of a medical emergency.)

And, last thing you need to do (super important, obviously!) - pick up a new-to-you book to read during the flight or other down-time, from Eva's Used Books, based right here in Israel! And if you use code KOSHERFRUGAL, you'll get extra savings!

Hope you found this post helpful! Don't forget to follow this blog (see the sidebar on the right) and like and follow my FB page!

Check out KSP online shopping!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you! Thanks for your support! 

Today's Aliyah Tip: Sometimes the best price is at the most unexpected of places!

I like to keep my eyes open when I venture out - did a new store open near me? Which store sells random things you wouldn't really expect? Is there a place to pick up food super cheap? I take note of things I see around town so I can always try to get a deal when I can!

The same applies to online shopping. Sometimes the best deal is at a really random place.

Like KSP online!

I just discovered that they sell TONS of items online, besides computers and electronics - which is what you find if you go to their physical locations.

Right now, they're selling Adidas deodorant sprays for far less than I see them for at Rami Levy and pharmacy-type places. And that's even without a sale!

I also found a 6-pack of Orbitol toothbrushes for 10 NIS, which is less than I found them for at discount stores (think "stock" stores)!
They even make it easy to buy eco-friendly and "natural" products, like these:

Listerine Naturals Enamel Protect for 15 NIS

Listerine Naturals Gum Protect for 15 NIS

Also, this is a great way to be sure you're paying low prices for every day items:

Pack of 200 cotton swabs for 3 NIS

Pack of 50 sanitizing wipes for 5 NIS

Or buy great gifts and household goods for a great price!

They even sell Melissa and Doug toys. And Sodastream products - the 3-pack of bottles for your sodastream is priced lower than almost every place I've seen them.

Isn't this super-convenient? I love that they deliver from within Israel so there's no waiting for shipments from overseas.

If you're looking for something else, let me know, maybe I've already stumbled across a deal!

Get all the deals in my groups: Israel Deals Made Easy and Live in Israel. Shop Online, and Kosher Frugal)!

Making the most of your credit card

Did you know that most Israeli credit cards offer "rewards and benefits" to cardholders?

For a long time, I ignored mine.

And then one day, I realized that I might be missing out on some big savings. For things I might be buying anyway! 

For example, for a while, my Isracard offered a discount for purchases over a certain amount at IKEA once or twice a year, though I haven't seen this deal lately. 

You can check your Isracard offers by logging in to your account and checking the הטבות/benefits section!

I discovered that my CAL card gives me access to a number of discount vouchers, too:

like a 50 NIS Steimatzky voucher for 39 NIS!

And 100 NIS Nizat HaDuvdevan vouchers for 92 NIS!

They actually have dozens of discount vouchers, it's worth checking before you shop!

There are also MAX credit cards, and those have rewards and deals as well. So if you have one of those - be sure to check!

So go ahead, log into your credit card account - either via the app or their website and take the time to poke around. Some credit cards have access to the "regular" rewards and benefits via the app and are also part of a membership club, and you'll find additional rewards via the "club" (moadon) site. Be sure to check them all - you'll be happy to find ways to save on things you were going to buy anyway!

Happy savings!

Let me know what deals you find!

Retail therapy? Don't go broke, though!

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you! Thanks for your support! 

Do you need a diversion from everything? Sometimes the best thing to do is to give something to someone. I know many people are volunteering in countless ways, but maybe you know someone who will be comforted by a more physical gesture or gift? If so, shopping is your answer!

And here I am, with a number of cute and inexpensive gift ideas! These are from Amazon, with free shipping options to Israel (and they ship to other places too):

The best gift I found this winter, and gave to my whole family are cozy blanket hoodies! They are awesome and (I've been told that some people have even been spotted wearing them to class at college.) Right now there's a coupon you can activate to get it for even less - so hurry and take advantage of that!

These options are all $6 (about 21 NIS) or less:

"Hug this till you can hug me" pillow cover (I can think of a number of scenarios for which this pillow cover is PERFECT)

Stainless steel large Coffee thermos (I love getting people to switch over to reusable cups!)

Fancy Vanilla Coffee Turmeric Soap (washing your face with coffee? I'm intrigued!)

Paint by number kits (I couldn't believe how much more these cost locally, this is a huge savings for those who like these)

Jewelry making/Beading kit (great for fun with the kids - note: these are plastic beads)

Wooden Fruit toys (these are great for toddlers)

If you're looking for something else, let me know, maybe I've already stumbled across a deal!

Get all the deals in my groups: Israel Deals Made Easy and Live in Israel. Shop Online, and Kosher Frugal)!

Things to know about ordering from Israel: Shipping takes time, and lately they seem to be building in a lot of extra delivery time to cover worst-case scenarios, but most packages arrive earlier than the "deliver by" date.

Amazon's prices change frequently but they're really great about letting you know if an item in your cart has changed price - so if you found one and deliberated about it, you'll know if something changed when you decide to complete your purchase. Of course, if you want to lock in the sale price (all the items listed above are DISCOUNTED right now), you should click, add to cart, and buy without waiting!

Sometimes free shipping offers disappear, so please check carefully before you order. Most free shipping offers require a minimum purchase of $49. Just remember - you can avoid VAT and other import fees by staying below the $75 tax threshold for any single order! If you do go over, you will see exactly what you'll pay in taxes at checkout. I only do this if I'm actually buying a product that costs more than $75. And I don't add any other small things to these orders, because once you're over, you're over and you'll pay fees on the entire order.

For smaller purchases, I place separate orders that each total under $75.

If you're in the USA and buying a gift for someone in Israel, please follow those guidelines, too - or be prepared to prepay all taxes and fees. You'll see them before you checkout, so don't worry about surprises. You will need to enter the recipient's ID number at checkout too, so the package can clear customs.

Hope you found this helpful!

Free samples! (New ones!)

Today's deal: FREE SAMPLES!

Don't you love freebies - specifically, useful freebies!?

Of course you do!

So I'm really excited to be able to bring back the Freebie section of this blog - today I found two freebies to share with you.

First up, grab a free sample pack of Flexitol skin cream products! (These are intense skin repair creams, and really great!)

Screenshot from www.altman.co.il

Click here for your Flexitol sample

Next, you can grab a sample of Perskindol pain relief gel. They make two versions, and I believe you'll need to choose which one you want to sample - the "active" version or the "thermo" version.

Screenshot from perskindolinfo.co.il

Click here to get your Perskindol sample

You just have to fill out basic information (name, address, etc) and they'll send you a sample pack in the mail.

In my experience, they often send a coupon towards your next purchase, too.

Hope you found this helpful - if yes, please share this blog post!

And don't forget to join my groups:

Kosher Frugal (savings group on Facebook)

Great Deals Israel WhatsApp group 

See you there!

-Ester

Aliyah Tips: Lost your wallet? Useful tips inside!

It can happen to anyone. Your wallet got lost (or perhaps stolen)! You've looked everywhere, but it's nowhere to be found!

Now what?

First, make a list of all the things you had inside it that you'll need to cancel and replace.

This may include your teudat zehut, kupat cholim card, credit card, debit card, ID cards for work/school, Rav Kav, etc

Don't give up. You're going to manage. Hopefully, you didn't have anything like a LOT of cash in there!

Start with filing a report of your lost item:

• File a report with the police: CLICK HERE to file a report with the police (this link is for LOST ITEMS - it can be anything, not just your wallet) 
• File a report with Egged if you lost it on the bus or in a bus station they manage 
• File a report with Superbus if you lost it on the bus or in a bus station they manage
• Contact Nateev Express if you lost it on a bus they operate
• Contact Dan bus lines at 03-6933280 - they don't have an online lost and found form
• Contact Israel Railways if you lost it on the train
• Contact Kavim at 03-7732060 if you lost it on a bus they operate
• Contact Metropoline at *5900 if you lost it on one of their lines
• If you lost it in a mall, file a report with mall management
• Other places may accept a report as well - definitely worth checking, because you might just get a call that someone turned it in!

Next, make an appointment with Misrad Hapnim to start the process of replacing your ID card (teudat zehut). You WILL need another form of ID with you when you do this - hopefully, you have a qualifying ID, like a passport, in a safe place (tip: they may allow you to use a recently expired passport for this, AND renew your passport at the same time as replacing your TZ). It may be easier for you to get an appointment in another city - currently, some of the far-flung offices sometimes even have same-day TZ or Passport appointments available (I know this because I live in one of them!).

Next, contact your debit card and credit card issuers to block your card. You can put a 48-hour block on your card anytime 24/7 that will turn into a card cancellation if you don't update them before the 48 hours are up. They'll then send you a new card to your home address. You can do this by logging into your credit card's app, via their website, or by calling or whatsapping their customer service.

Here's how to reach them:

• Isracard
• Cal 
• Max 

To get a new kupat cholim card, the easiest thing to do is GO TO YOUR CLINIC and speak with the front desk. They can cancel your old card and, in most cases, will issue a new one on the spot (you'll want to be sure the old one is cancelled and you're not just getting a duplicate if you've connected your kupat cholim card to your bank account or credit card, because you don't want someone else to be able to charge your account for items purchased at the kupat choim pharmacy, or fill your scripts and take your meds!). If you can't go in to the clinic, you can log in to your kupat cholim app and request a new one.

Driver's Licenses can be replaced by logging in to your MyGov account. Due to a backlog, they are currently recommending downloading a PDF of your license instead of requesting a physical replacement.

Your work or school ID will have to be replaced at work or school, and shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

If you lost your Rav Kav, you'll want to cancel it and get your balance reloaded onto a new one. You can only do this for personalized cards. Anonymous Rav Kav users cannot do this. It will take a few days to process your balance transfer request. Click here to order a replacement Rav Kav 

Please let me know if I forgot anything that might be lost when you lost your wallet! I'd be happy to make sure to add it and links to helpful sites for replacing it, too.

I hope you don't lose these things, but if you know someone who's panicking after losing a wallet or similar, please share this with them so they can quickly get their stuff back in order!

If you think this is a helpful post, please share it on social media!