OK, so another budget post today. Because you can never know too many ways to save your hard earned cash, right? Like it or not, skating is a very financially demanding sport, and there are some expenses that we just can't cut corners on (skates, for one thing!). But how many of these skating expenditures are you shelling out too much for?

Read on for 3 ways you can save your cash, starting right now!

Yesterday espnW held a Q&A session on Twitter with USA's Ashley Wagner, and called out for questions to Tweet to Ashley. Of course, never one to miss an opportunity to get insight into the workings of a champion's mind (for both myself, and my readers!) I went ahead and Tweeted a question, knowing that the chances of being picked for these things are kind of slim.

So first of all, I want to say YAY! I'm managing to type little and often now, so naturally one of the first things I wanted to do on my computer was get down a new blog post for all you lovely readers who are being patient with me and my on-going hand injury.

Today I was warming some soup (as you do when it's so cold outside you actually avoid going out. At all), and as the seemingly-mystical vapours of Heinz's Cream of Chicken wafted up into my nostrils, it hit me that cooking recipes for busy skaters (read: skating people, especially parents) might make for an interesting topic of discussion. So here we go!

Hi there readers! Thanks for popping by today. You've either visited today because you know my weekly post happens on a Saturday, or you're here by chance. In any case, let me say: Welcome!

Unfortunately today there won't be a new post, and next week isn't looking good either. I have been suffering for almost 2 years now with chronic tendinitis in my right (dominant) hand, and wrist. It flares up in fits and spurts, and for the past two weeks it has definitely been in angry mode. This equals lots of anti-inflammatories, pain-killers, and a lot of rest (which is super difficult with your dominant hand, let me tell you!).

The idea from this post came from one of my Facebook "Likers", who is currently training on her own and asked for some tips on keeping up without a coach.

Now this, I must admit, is an area I have very little experience in. I've always taken lessons during my skating life, but I have been surrounded by many who didn't. So today I'm hoping to pull on those observations and make some savvy common-sense suggestions for getting on the ice coach-less!

Note that these tips also apply to skaters out-width their regular lesson time! If you want to read on how to stay focused and maximise your ice time when not in lessons, then read right on!