Thank you for taking part in my recent survey. I have taken your votes into consideration.
Some people commented that they would like to see more posts on selling on Ebay. Ironically, I was planning to write a post or two on that before the back to school season is in full swing. That post will be coming in the next week or two.
I am also going to do a few more posts on budgets, especially since we need to get ours back on track!
So, thanks for the feedback, and if you have any other suggestions for future posts you would like to see, let me know.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
My Freezer Cooking Plan
It is time for another round of freezer cooking. More and more I am enjoying having meals in the freezer ready to go. It greatly reduces my desire to take out or grab fast food. I wouldn't call the cooking days enjoyable necessarily, but it is so worth it to be set for the month on meals!
Here is my plan for this month (to be done over two or three days):
Day One
Make Banana Blueberry Muffins*
Make Butterscotch Banana Bread*
Cut up all of the onions
Make Turkey Sloppy Joes
Roast 5 lbs. chicken in the oven while I take a break to clean the kitchen & feed the baby
Cook up bacon
Make the filling for empanadas*
Make garlic butter & garlic cheese bread
Shred the chicken
Make Chicken and Bacon Sub
Eat one Chicken and Bacon Sub for dinner & clean up kitchen
Day Two
Set out cream cheese to soften
Stuff the Empanadas* & bake them
Make the filling for Italian Pizza Rolls*
Fill the Italian Pizza Rolls
Make the Chicken Enchiladas
Make the Stuffed Shells filling & pipe into the shells
Clean up the kitchen
Day Three
Mix the ingredients for Turkey Croquettes and let rest in the refrigerator
Chop the broccoli and red pepper
Make the Chicken & Broccoli*
Cook the Turkey Croquettes
Clean up & take a break from the kitchen until next month! (Just kidding)
All recipes with an * are taken from my Holly Clegg Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals cookbook.
Making freezer meals is labor intensive, but the pay off is worthwhile. Works for me!
I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesdays and Life as Mom.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Grocery Shopping, 6/28/10
My husband is willing to go along with just about anything financially. However, there are two things that he requires--eating out once a week and having fresh fruits and vegetables in the house (and I mean alot of them, which is a good thing, so I am not going to complain).
We are having a no spending month this month, but after 10 days of not shopping and about one or two days of no fresh fruits or vegetables, my husband insisted I go shopping. And, I was planning on doing a freezer cooking bout this week, so, well, we went over our limit for the no spending month.
Food4Less:
We are having a no spending month this month, but after 10 days of not shopping and about one or two days of no fresh fruits or vegetables, my husband insisted I go shopping. And, I was planning on doing a freezer cooking bout this week, so, well, we went over our limit for the no spending month.
Food4Less:
2 gallons milk = 4.162 cans cat food = .92
sour cream = .97
4 - 8 oz. cans tomato sauce =1.04
tofu = 2.58
2 boxes pasta shells = 3.70
2 lb. bag nectarines = 1.78
2 fresh tomatoes = .40
bag spinach = 1.98
2 lb. bag plums = 1.78
bananas = 2.72
cream cheese = 1.12
butter = 1.88
1 red pepper = 1.52
carrots = 1.50
broccoli = 3.41
fuji apples = 2.78
2 green peppers = .93
1 loaf bread = .88
pears = 2.47
2 cartons cottage cheese = 2.00
16 oz. shredded mozzarella = 3.28
12 pk. toilet paper = 5.98
canola oil = 2.06
5 lb. bag cheese = 11.98
2 cartons eggs = 1.70
2 pkgs. Grands biscuits = 3.00
baking powder = .98
orange juice = 1.24
wonton wrappers = 2.58
2 jars applesauce = 2.34
1 carton cornmeal = 1.18
2 pkgs. taco mix = .88
Total = 80.32
Dominick's (not pictured)
32 oz. yogurt = 2.49
1 pkg. diapers = 6.99
2 lbs. pork chops = 1.98
2 lbs. turkery burgers = 1.98
grapes = 2.25
Total = 14.76
Total for the week = 95.08
Total for last week = 83.00 (no post on this one but it included CVS & Tony's)
Total for the year = 2281.42 ($95.05/week)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Menu Planning, 6/27/10
I have hit upon some crazy sales at the grocery store lately--.99 cents for a pound of pork chops and .99 cents for 4 turkey burger patties. It pays to scope out the clearance section! Both of these were set to expire the day I bought them. I just put them in the freezer, and we will be enjoying them this week!
Monday--Apple Pork Chops, Broccoli & Rice
Tuesday--Turkey Croquettes & spinach
Wednesday--Slow Cooker Pork Chops, spinach & rice
Thursday--Chicken & Broccoli over noodles
Friday--Dinner out
Saturday--Yummy No Meat Burritos
Sunday--Turkey burger hamburgers, chips, corn
Breakfasts will be muesli, omelettes, muffins, and breakfast burritos
Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches.
Monday--Apple Pork Chops, Broccoli & Rice
Tuesday--Turkey Croquettes & spinach
Wednesday--Slow Cooker Pork Chops, spinach & rice
Thursday--Chicken & Broccoli over noodles
Friday--Dinner out
Saturday--Yummy No Meat Burritos
Sunday--Turkey burger hamburgers, chips, corn
Breakfasts will be muesli, omelettes, muffins, and breakfast burritos
Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Holly Clegg Trim & Terrific Freezer Meals Cookbook Giveaway!
Update: The winner is Maney G. Congratulations!
As I mentioned in my previous post about freezer cooking resources, one of my favorite freezer cooking books is Holly Clegg’s Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals.
Now that I am cooking freezer meals monthly, I go to this cookbook often. Not only are her recipes tasty both fresh and after a bout in the freezer (you can’t even tell the meals were reheated!), but they are healthy. Each recipe is packed with veggies, but the vegetables seamless blend into the meal so even my fussy 20 month old daughter doesn’t notice she is eating a healthy meal. My son has loved all of her recipes.
This cookbook contains the nutritional information and diabetic exchanges for every recipe at the bottom of the page.
The beginning of the book has a chapter on Freezing Facts and guides you as to what foods are suitable or not for freezing. She also includes a freezing guide as to how to freeze certain food and a timetable for how long each food maintains optimal freshness and taste in the freezer.
She has recipes for delicious appetizers, breads, soups and stews, sides, main meals, desserts.
I am excited to share that Holly Clegg has graciously agreed to sponsor this week’s giveaway. She will give one lucky winner a signed copy of her Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals. Whether you are a once a month cooking veteran or are new to the idea of freezing some of your meals ahead, you will love this cookbook.
To see some sample recipes from the book and testimonies from cooks who have used the book, go to Holly Clegg’s website.
To enter this giveaway, simple state why you would like to win this book or what your favorite freezer cooking resource is.
To enter a second time, become a follower on my blog or state that you already are, if that is the case.
To enter a third time, blog about this giveaway or write about it on Facebook or Twitter.
This giveaway ends July 5th at 9 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Make sure you include your e-mail address when you enter.
Remember to that there is still time to enter the giveaway for custom made Dr. Seuss invitations and thank you notes. That giveaway ends on June 28th at 9 p.m CST.
I did not receive any compensation from Holly Clegg for this giveaway.
As I mentioned in my previous post about freezer cooking resources, one of my favorite freezer cooking books is Holly Clegg’s Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals.
Now that I am cooking freezer meals monthly, I go to this cookbook often. Not only are her recipes tasty both fresh and after a bout in the freezer (you can’t even tell the meals were reheated!), but they are healthy. Each recipe is packed with veggies, but the vegetables seamless blend into the meal so even my fussy 20 month old daughter doesn’t notice she is eating a healthy meal. My son has loved all of her recipes.
This cookbook contains the nutritional information and diabetic exchanges for every recipe at the bottom of the page.
The beginning of the book has a chapter on Freezing Facts and guides you as to what foods are suitable or not for freezing. She also includes a freezing guide as to how to freeze certain food and a timetable for how long each food maintains optimal freshness and taste in the freezer.
She has recipes for delicious appetizers, breads, soups and stews, sides, main meals, desserts.
I am excited to share that Holly Clegg has graciously agreed to sponsor this week’s giveaway. She will give one lucky winner a signed copy of her Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals. Whether you are a once a month cooking veteran or are new to the idea of freezing some of your meals ahead, you will love this cookbook.
To see some sample recipes from the book and testimonies from cooks who have used the book, go to Holly Clegg’s website.
To enter this giveaway, simple state why you would like to win this book or what your favorite freezer cooking resource is.
To enter a second time, become a follower on my blog or state that you already are, if that is the case.
To enter a third time, blog about this giveaway or write about it on Facebook or Twitter.
This giveaway ends July 5th at 9 p.m. CST. The winner will be chosen via random.org. Make sure you include your e-mail address when you enter.
Remember to that there is still time to enter the giveaway for custom made Dr. Seuss invitations and thank you notes. That giveaway ends on June 28th at 9 p.m CST.
I did not receive any compensation from Holly Clegg for this giveaway.
Banana Butterscotch Muffins
My mom was kind enough to stock the freezer with muffins and bread before she left right after I had the baby. Now, we are all out, so it is time to restock. I started that process today with these yummy muffins from my Holly Clegg Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals cookbook.
Butterscotch Banana Bread (I made them muffins)
¼ cup canola oil
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ cup skim milk
½ c. butterscotch chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a non-stick 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan (or a muffin tin) with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat together the oil and brown sugar. Add the eggs, bananas, and vanilla, stirring well.
In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Gradually combine the dry ingredients and the milk with the with the banana mixture, stirring only until combined.
Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake 45 to 50 minues or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (I cooked the muffins for 18 minutes.)
Enjoy.
My giveaway this week is for a Holly Clegg Trim & Terrific Freezer Friendly Meals cookbook (where this recipe came from). Be sure to enter!
I shared this recipe at Delicious Dishes, $5 Dinners, The Grocery Cart Challenge, & Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays.
Some Link Love
A few day's ago, Lynn's Kitchen Adventures posted a delicious recipe for Copycat Orange Julius. I have not had one of those since I was a middle schooler going to the mall every weekend. Her version is delicious and has quickly become a favorite in our house!
I found the post Simple Changes Aren't Always Simple at the Simple Dollar an inspiring post about how to change bad habits in your life one step at a time so you don't become overwhelmed.
Have you read any good blog posts lately? If so, share them in the comments.
I found the post Simple Changes Aren't Always Simple at the Simple Dollar an inspiring post about how to change bad habits in your life one step at a time so you don't become overwhelmed.
Have you read any good blog posts lately? If so, share them in the comments.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Food Waste, 6/24/10
Our only food waste this week was a lone hamburger bun.
We bought 8 hamburger buns last week and used them for turkey burgers. That left us with four. On Monday we had sloppy joes (which my daughter would not eat), so there was one bun left. I went to use it for lunch yesterday when I saw one side was covered with white fuzz. Other than that, we had a good no waste week!
This week's food waste was $0.40
Food waste since February 1st: $57.28
We bought 8 hamburger buns last week and used them for turkey burgers. That left us with four. On Monday we had sloppy joes (which my daughter would not eat), so there was one bun left. I went to use it for lunch yesterday when I saw one side was covered with white fuzz. Other than that, we had a good no waste week!
This week's food waste was $0.40
Food waste since February 1st: $57.28
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
No Spending Month Week 3
It is official—as Dave Ramsey would say, “Murphy has moved into the spare bedroom.” We took our car in for an oil change and found out we need a $1100 repair. Yikes! Our car has 80,000 miles on it, which is about the point when things need to start being replaced.
Then, our phone is on the fritz. I can still use it IF I leave it in one place that requires me to cock my head to the side and not move. Seriously. In any other position there are a few sharp cracks and the phone call ends.
My son is attending a summer school program, and the tuition is due on the 28th. He will be attending a private school in the fall, and the first tuition payment is due on July 2nd.
I’ll be glad when Murphy moves out!!
No Spend Week 3
6/15
$25 CVS
$58 Tony’s Finer Foods
$20 gas
6/16
$0
6/17
$5 parking
6/18
$8 DH beer
6/19
$30 gas
6/20
$15 birthday cake (I have made my son’s birthday cake every year. This year, on the day before his birthday, he had a 3.5 hour kindergarten graduation and party followed by a 1.5 hour break before he had to go to his dance recital, which was 2 hours long. We did not get home until 9:30 at night, and I was not going to try to bake and decorate a cake. I know my limits!)
$18 dinner out (Birthday and Father’s Day meal. Read about it here.)
6/21
$0
6/22
$0
6/23
$5 public transportation
Total - $184
Total for the month - $433
Then, our phone is on the fritz. I can still use it IF I leave it in one place that requires me to cock my head to the side and not move. Seriously. In any other position there are a few sharp cracks and the phone call ends.
My son is attending a summer school program, and the tuition is due on the 28th. He will be attending a private school in the fall, and the first tuition payment is due on July 2nd.
I’ll be glad when Murphy moves out!!
No Spend Week 3
6/15
$25 CVS
$58 Tony’s Finer Foods
$20 gas
6/16
$0
6/17
$5 parking
6/18
$8 DH beer
6/19
$30 gas
6/20
$15 birthday cake (I have made my son’s birthday cake every year. This year, on the day before his birthday, he had a 3.5 hour kindergarten graduation and party followed by a 1.5 hour break before he had to go to his dance recital, which was 2 hours long. We did not get home until 9:30 at night, and I was not going to try to bake and decorate a cake. I know my limits!)
$18 dinner out (Birthday and Father’s Day meal. Read about it here.)
6/21
$0
6/22
$0
6/23
$5 public transportation
Total - $184
Total for the month - $433
Please Vote on My Side Bar
I am in the process of deciding what regular features to keep or eliminate, and while I write this blog for my own enjoyment, I also care about what my readers are interested in. So, please take the time to cast your vote on my sidebar for the features you enjoy. Likewise, if you want to leave a comment or e-mail me at momsplans {at} yahoo {dot} com about new features you would be interested in I would be glad to hear about that too. Thanks!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Is It Okay to Be Frugal on a Date?
My husband and I have been trying to save money when we eat out, so the other week, I purchased a groupon (a coupon for a restaurant purchased by a large number of people). Before I buy groupons, I generally read the comments. One struck me as funny. A man was writing about this particular restaurant and using the groupon on a date. He added, “and yes, I have dated her long enough to be able to use a groupon.”
The innuendo here is that trying to save money while on a date is a bad thing, and one can only do it after there is a certain level of intimacy and general knowledge of the other person. True, if I think back to my dating years, I would probably think it was a little strange if a man pulled out a coupon on one of the first dates, but, think about it, is that all bad? Here the man would be trying to treat the woman to a nice meal without skimping on quality.
I had a guy friend in grad school who was ridiculously cheap. He would only eat at Applebee’s, and only then when he could get the half price appetizers. He would instruct his dates to only eat from the appetizer menu. If he took a date to the dance club and ladies got in free, he would make the woman split his cover charge with him since she didn’t have to pay anything. Yes, that kind of behavior would be off putting.
However, if a guy wants to take a girl out for a nice meal and save money buy using a groupon, why do most people in society find that problematic? Potentially anyone you date could turn out to be your future spouse. Isn’t it better to date a guy who still wants to treat the lady to a nice meal without wasting a lot of money? He is not skimping on quality (unlike my friend), just on the price he has to pay. It seems that would be an attribute. I would like to know early on that a date is responsible with money.
The innuendo here is that trying to save money while on a date is a bad thing, and one can only do it after there is a certain level of intimacy and general knowledge of the other person. True, if I think back to my dating years, I would probably think it was a little strange if a man pulled out a coupon on one of the first dates, but, think about it, is that all bad? Here the man would be trying to treat the woman to a nice meal without skimping on quality.
I had a guy friend in grad school who was ridiculously cheap. He would only eat at Applebee’s, and only then when he could get the half price appetizers. He would instruct his dates to only eat from the appetizer menu. If he took a date to the dance club and ladies got in free, he would make the woman split his cover charge with him since she didn’t have to pay anything. Yes, that kind of behavior would be off putting.
However, if a guy wants to take a girl out for a nice meal and save money buy using a groupon, why do most people in society find that problematic? Potentially anyone you date could turn out to be your future spouse. Isn’t it better to date a guy who still wants to treat the lady to a nice meal without wasting a lot of money? He is not skimping on quality (unlike my friend), just on the price he has to pay. It seems that would be an attribute. I would like to know early on that a date is responsible with money.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Rotating Freezer Meals for Variety & Easier Freezer Cooking Days
While I have lamented several times that spending a few days making freezer meals is not one of my favorite activities, I absolutely love being able to just pull a meal from the freezer on the rest of the days of the month. To try to make my freezer cooking days easier, I focus on six to eight meals to prepare for the month.
While this makes my freezer cooking days a bit easier, it does create a bit of a problem. Each of us gets bored eating the same foods over and over again. To eat the same meal once a week for four weeks would lead to rebellion from both me and my son. My husband would do it, but he would be less than satisfied.
The solution for us is to not eat all of the freezer meals made in one month. I save some so that they are new to us a few months later. For instance, in March I made meatballs and turkey croquettes. We still have a serving left of each. Now that my freezer is stocked with burritos from this month’s cooking day, I will occasionally serve some of March’s freezer meals, such as the turkey croquettes, to give us variety.
Last September, I made Hamburger Soup for a freezer meal. I made 4 batches. Then I found out I was pregnant and morning sickness struck. For all 9 months, tomatoes and bbbq sauce type items were repulsive to me. I served the Hamburger Soup a few times during pregnancy, but I couldn’t even stand the smell. Last night I pulled out the last package of Hamburger Soup. (I do not advocate keeping freezer meals around for 9 months and wouldn’t have done so, had it not been for pregnancy.) My son didn’t even remember that he had eaten the meal before and proclaimed it was delicious. He wanted to make sure there were leftovers to have again tonight.
Rotating and saving some of our meals works to keep us all satisfied.
I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesdays and Life as Mom.
While this makes my freezer cooking days a bit easier, it does create a bit of a problem. Each of us gets bored eating the same foods over and over again. To eat the same meal once a week for four weeks would lead to rebellion from both me and my son. My husband would do it, but he would be less than satisfied.
The solution for us is to not eat all of the freezer meals made in one month. I save some so that they are new to us a few months later. For instance, in March I made meatballs and turkey croquettes. We still have a serving left of each. Now that my freezer is stocked with burritos from this month’s cooking day, I will occasionally serve some of March’s freezer meals, such as the turkey croquettes, to give us variety.
Last September, I made Hamburger Soup for a freezer meal. I made 4 batches. Then I found out I was pregnant and morning sickness struck. For all 9 months, tomatoes and bbbq sauce type items were repulsive to me. I served the Hamburger Soup a few times during pregnancy, but I couldn’t even stand the smell. Last night I pulled out the last package of Hamburger Soup. (I do not advocate keeping freezer meals around for 9 months and wouldn’t have done so, had it not been for pregnancy.) My son didn’t even remember that he had eaten the meal before and proclaimed it was delicious. He wanted to make sure there were leftovers to have again tonight.
Rotating and saving some of our meals works to keep us all satisfied.
I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesdays and Life as Mom.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Menu Planning, 6/20/10
Well, we survived our crazy weekend. My son did a great job at his dance recital. I was worried that he would be nervous, but he kept saying he loved being on stage and felt like a star. Obviously he doesn't get stage fright like his mother!
Monday--Sloppy Joes*, chips, corn
Tuesday--Tacos* with lettuce & tomato
Wednesday--Turkey stuffing casserole*, broccoli
Thursday--Meat lasagna, carrots
Friday--dinner out
Saturday--Salsa chicken dump tacos*, veggie
Sunday--Kielbasa & black bean stew*
All meals marked with a *denote meals already made and in the freezer.
Breakfasts will be pancakes, eggs, breakfast burritos, or breakfast sandwiches.
Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches.
Monday--Sloppy Joes*, chips, corn
Tuesday--Tacos* with lettuce & tomato
Wednesday--Turkey stuffing casserole*, broccoli
Thursday--Meat lasagna, carrots
Friday--dinner out
Saturday--Salsa chicken dump tacos*, veggie
Sunday--Kielbasa & black bean stew*
All meals marked with a *denote meals already made and in the freezer.
Breakfasts will be pancakes, eggs, breakfast burritos, or breakfast sandwiches.
Lunches will be leftovers or sandwiches.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Dr. Seuss Custom Invitations Giveaway
Update: The winner is Stacy at Moderate Means. Congratulations!
My son, who is nearly 6, loves Dr. Seuss. Since he was very young, Dr. Seuss’s books were among his favorites, especially The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. So, when I was perusing Etsy the other day I just had to stop at jjMcBean’s shop. Leah makes customized cards and thank you notes using different Dr. Seuss templates.
She has graciously agreed to host this week’s giveaway. She will create for the winner one set of invitations and thank you notes and will work with the winner on the design. These invitations are customized; the winner could use them for baby showers, birthday parties, graduations, etc. She will design the template based on information the lucky winner gives her, and the winner can print them out from the comfort of home. This giveaway is a $35 value.
To enter, visit Leah’s shop, jjMcBean, and leave a comment here stating what design you would like to win.
To enter a second time, blog about this contest or post it on Facebook or Twitter
This giveaway ends Monday, June 28th at 9 p.m. CST. Please make sure your e-mail address is included, either in the comments or in your profile. The winner will be chosen using random.org. Good luck!
I did not receive any compensation from jjMcBean for this giveaway.
She has graciously agreed to host this week’s giveaway. She will create for the winner one set of invitations and thank you notes and will work with the winner on the design. These invitations are customized; the winner could use them for baby showers, birthday parties, graduations, etc. She will design the template based on information the lucky winner gives her, and the winner can print them out from the comfort of home. This giveaway is a $35 value.
To enter, visit Leah’s shop, jjMcBean, and leave a comment here stating what design you would like to win.
To enter a second time, blog about this contest or post it on Facebook or Twitter
This giveaway ends Monday, June 28th at 9 p.m. CST. Please make sure your e-mail address is included, either in the comments or in your profile. The winner will be chosen using random.org. Good luck!
I did not receive any compensation from jjMcBean for this giveaway.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
One Pot Stuffed Pepper Soup
I like stuffed green peppers, but they always seem like a hassle to me. So, a few years ago when I saw this recipe in my Light and Tasty magazine, I knew I had to try it, and it has turned into a family favorite. (The picture doesn't do it justice!)
1 lb. lean ground beef
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups chopped green pepper
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes
2 cups water
1 can tomato paste
8 tablespons shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
In a large nonstick saucepan coated with nonstick cooking spray, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
Add garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute.
Add green pepper; cook and stir 3 minutes longer.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, water, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Stir in rice.
Remove from the heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
This meal freezes well. Make it in multiples and pop them in the freezer for later!
1 lb. lean ground beef
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups chopped green pepper
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes
2 cups water
1 can tomato paste
8 tablespons shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup uncooked instant rice
In a large nonstick saucepan coated with nonstick cooking spray, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
Add garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute.
Add green pepper; cook and stir 3 minutes longer.
Stir in the diced tomatoes, water, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Stir in rice.
Remove from the heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
This meal freezes well. Make it in multiples and pop them in the freezer for later!
I shared this post at The Grocery Cart Challenge Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Delicious Dishes and $5 Dinners.
A Summer of Giveaways!
My blog turned one year old at the end of March. I wanted to have some kind of celebration, but as I was 37 weeks pregnant and about to go on bed rest, well, I just did not have the energy. Now that I have recovered and little Delaney is nearly sleeping through the night, I am ready to celebrate!
This summer, I am going to offer a giveaway every week. The giveaways will begin on Friday night and will end 10 days after they start. It is my way of saying thank you to all of the readers who have been with me since the beginning and to the new readers who have just found my blog. I truly enjoy blogging and hope to do so for many years to come!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Food Waste, 6/16/10
This week we wasted 1/2 pound of baby carrots and one large can of tomato sauce.
I found the carrots when putting away groceries, and they were so beyond gross, I threw them away before I could take a picture.
Tonight I was putting away some canned tomatoes that I bought, so I decided to rotate my dwindling stock. I found a 28 oz. can of tomato sauce that had a use by date of February 2009. I guess I better start rotating my stock more!
This week's waste = 1.40
Waste since February 1st = $56.88
I found the carrots when putting away groceries, and they were so beyond gross, I threw them away before I could take a picture.
Tonight I was putting away some canned tomatoes that I bought, so I decided to rotate my dwindling stock. I found a 28 oz. can of tomato sauce that had a use by date of February 2009. I guess I better start rotating my stock more!
This week's waste = 1.40
Waste since February 1st = $56.88
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Flip Side of Keeping Up with the Joneses
We all know about keeping up with the Joneses and what havoc that can wreak on personal finance. When you try to keep up with the Jones’, you spend money you probably don’t have to get all the latest trappings others have, even though those others may be financially strapped.
Yet there is a flip side that no one really talks about. In the reverse, you surround yourself with people who have less than you do, and because you have more, you think you are in a much better financial position than you really are. Dave Ramsey hints at this when he routinely tells callers not to get financial advice from broke people.
I have a coworker I will call Victoria. Victoria has worked at her job for quite a few years, and she is ready to retire. (I can’t really blame her; I am ready to quit and stay home with my kids.) Victoria has struggled most of her life financially. She never really put away for retirement until 20 years ago. She has personally put away about $50,000 in a retirement fund and she will get about $2,400 from her work pension and social security a month. She is 60 now and thinks this amount of money will hold her over just fine for the rest of her life. However, she owes $70,000 on her house and has 19 years left on her mortgage. She has an emergency fund of about $2,000.
When she tells me of her plans to retire in the next year or two, I listen as she rattles off all of her financial information. I warn her that her cost of living may go up when she retires because she wants to travel and socialize quite a bit. Then there are the increased medical costs that are associated with aging.
Victoria assures me she will be just fine and once told me why she is so confident that her retirement is secure—all of her friends are retired and are getting less than she would be earning in retirement. Because of this, she feels she has no worries. She also tells me that people like Suze Orman have an unrealistic view of retirement because a person can never save as much money as Orman suggests. She scoffs at the idea of a 6 month emergency fund. Meanwhile, she is renovating a part of her house and eating out several nights a week.
We are all in charge of our financial destiny, but it is important to avoid comparing to other people. Keeping up with the Jones’ can make you feel insecure and desperate to measure up. The flip side will find you perhaps feeling overly confident and therefore prone to financial missteps.
I worry about Victoria. I hope she has a happy retirement, and I know it is important to retire while still young enough to enjoy it. I also know if she is going to go through with her plan to retire in the next year or two, she should be saving all she can, but she is not because she sees herself as much more financially secure than her friends. I hope she is not making a mistake and that she has enough to see her through many more years.
Yet there is a flip side that no one really talks about. In the reverse, you surround yourself with people who have less than you do, and because you have more, you think you are in a much better financial position than you really are. Dave Ramsey hints at this when he routinely tells callers not to get financial advice from broke people.
I have a coworker I will call Victoria. Victoria has worked at her job for quite a few years, and she is ready to retire. (I can’t really blame her; I am ready to quit and stay home with my kids.) Victoria has struggled most of her life financially. She never really put away for retirement until 20 years ago. She has personally put away about $50,000 in a retirement fund and she will get about $2,400 from her work pension and social security a month. She is 60 now and thinks this amount of money will hold her over just fine for the rest of her life. However, she owes $70,000 on her house and has 19 years left on her mortgage. She has an emergency fund of about $2,000.
When she tells me of her plans to retire in the next year or two, I listen as she rattles off all of her financial information. I warn her that her cost of living may go up when she retires because she wants to travel and socialize quite a bit. Then there are the increased medical costs that are associated with aging.
Victoria assures me she will be just fine and once told me why she is so confident that her retirement is secure—all of her friends are retired and are getting less than she would be earning in retirement. Because of this, she feels she has no worries. She also tells me that people like Suze Orman have an unrealistic view of retirement because a person can never save as much money as Orman suggests. She scoffs at the idea of a 6 month emergency fund. Meanwhile, she is renovating a part of her house and eating out several nights a week.
We are all in charge of our financial destiny, but it is important to avoid comparing to other people. Keeping up with the Jones’ can make you feel insecure and desperate to measure up. The flip side will find you perhaps feeling overly confident and therefore prone to financial missteps.
I worry about Victoria. I hope she has a happy retirement, and I know it is important to retire while still young enough to enjoy it. I also know if she is going to go through with her plan to retire in the next year or two, she should be saving all she can, but she is not because she sees herself as much more financially secure than her friends. I hope she is not making a mistake and that she has enough to see her through many more years.
CVS, 6/14/10
I am having a no spending month this month, but I also have two kids under two who go through diapers like you wouldn't believe, so I tried to spend as little money as possible getting more.
3 packs diapers = 8.49 each - 3.00 coupon for each
2 Gillette body wash = 4.00 each -BOGO coupon, earned $8 ECBs
1 Hydro 5 Razor = 8.97 - 4.00 Q, earned $4 ECBs
2 gallons milk = 2.69 each
1 CVS bathroom cleaner = 2.39
I had a CVS coupon for $10 off a $50 order and $2 ECBs.
Total OOP = 24.54
I saved $43.30, or 63.8%
I earned $12 ECBS, and I will send in a rebate for the full purchase price of $8.97 for the razor.
3 packs diapers = 8.49 each - 3.00 coupon for each
2 Gillette body wash = 4.00 each -BOGO coupon, earned $8 ECBs
1 Hydro 5 Razor = 8.97 - 4.00 Q, earned $4 ECBs
2 gallons milk = 2.69 each
1 CVS bathroom cleaner = 2.39
I had a CVS coupon for $10 off a $50 order and $2 ECBs.
Total OOP = 24.54
I saved $43.30, or 63.8%
I earned $12 ECBS, and I will send in a rebate for the full purchase price of $8.97 for the razor.
Monday, June 14, 2010
No Spending Month Update - Week Two
I am starting to feel the pinch in my no spending month. My son’s birthday is winding up costing more than I thought, and I still need to buy a Father’s Day gift. I am, however, determined not to exceed $500 for the month, even if it means we don’t spend anything for a week.
Here is what we spent in week two:
6/8
$11 lunch out. We were running several errands which took longer than we thought, so we grabbed a bite. I am beginning to notice a pattern here as we also did this last week. Maybe we need to start packing more snacks in the car.
6/9
$0
6/10
$19 dinner out. (You can read about our less than satisfactory experience here.)
$20 DH’s transportation card
6/11
$8 DH’s beer
6/12
$57 groceries
6/13
$0
6/14
$0
Total = $115
Total spent for the month = $249
Here is what we spent in week two:
6/8
$11 lunch out. We were running several errands which took longer than we thought, so we grabbed a bite. I am beginning to notice a pattern here as we also did this last week. Maybe we need to start packing more snacks in the car.
6/9
$0
6/10
$19 dinner out. (You can read about our less than satisfactory experience here.)
$20 DH’s transportation card
6/11
$8 DH’s beer
6/12
$57 groceries
6/13
$0
6/14
$0
Total = $115
Total spent for the month = $249
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Grocery Shopping, 6/13/10
There were some good clearance sales on turkey burger this week, so I stocked up. I can tell that several of next month's freezer meals will be turkey based.
Dominick's:
2 boxes cake mix = 1.50
3 boxes Kraft mac & cheese = 1.47
3 boxes Club crackers = 5.25
1 bag cat food = 9.99
18 eggs = 1.49
1 bag hamburger buns = 2.50
1 pkg. lunch meat = 1.99
bananas = 1.34
the following are not pictured:
5.5 lbs. turkery burger = 4.95
1 carton Breyers = 2.77
4 lbs. strawberries = 5.98
Total = 40.51
Jewel-Osco:
4 nectarines = 1.24
5 peaches = 1.60
2 mentos = 1.00
the following are not pictured:
20 lbs. Tidy Cat litter = 6.99
1 carton cottage cheese = 2.99
1 loaf bread = 1.69
Total = 16.40
Total for the week = 56.91
Total for the year = 2101.34 (95.51/week)
Dominick's:
2 boxes cake mix = 1.50
3 boxes Kraft mac & cheese = 1.47
3 boxes Club crackers = 5.25
1 bag cat food = 9.99
18 eggs = 1.49
1 bag hamburger buns = 2.50
1 pkg. lunch meat = 1.99
bananas = 1.34
the following are not pictured:
5.5 lbs. turkery burger = 4.95
1 carton Breyers = 2.77
4 lbs. strawberries = 5.98
Total = 40.51
Jewel-Osco:
4 nectarines = 1.24
5 peaches = 1.60
2 mentos = 1.00
the following are not pictured:
20 lbs. Tidy Cat litter = 6.99
1 carton cottage cheese = 2.99
1 loaf bread = 1.69
Total = 16.40
Total for the week = 56.91
Total for the year = 2101.34 (95.51/week)
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Menu Planning, 6/12/10
We are going to have a busy week this week. Grandma is coming into town this weekend, it is my son's birthday, Father's Day, and my son is having his kindergarten graduation and his dance recital on the same day. I am tired just thinking about it!
Monday—Turkey Burgers w/ Cheese, Corn on the cob, watermelon
Tuesday—No Meat Burritos & salad
Wednesday—Taco Salad
Thursday—Stuffed Pepper Soup
Friday—Freezer Burritos, salad
Saturday—Breakfast sandwiches, fruit
Sunday—Spaghetti & meatballs
Are you struggling with menu planning or a crazy schedule? Check out my giveaway here for a 12 week subscription to E-mealz. They do all the planning for you!
Monday—Turkey Burgers w/ Cheese, Corn on the cob, watermelon
Tuesday—No Meat Burritos & salad
Wednesday—Taco Salad
Thursday—Stuffed Pepper Soup
Friday—Freezer Burritos, salad
Saturday—Breakfast sandwiches, fruit
Sunday—Spaghetti & meatballs
Are you struggling with menu planning or a crazy schedule? Check out my giveaway here for a 12 week subscription to E-mealz. They do all the planning for you!
Friday, June 11, 2010
My Experience with E-mealz and a Giveaway
Update: The winner is sponge423. You should receive an e-mail from me shortly.
Right after I had the baby, life was chaotic and stressful. The baby was up several times in the night, I was recovering from a c-section, and we were busy taking care of three kids.
I heard about E-mealz, and signed up one day later. E-mealz is a great service, especially for those busy seasons in life. For $1.25 a week (a 12 week subscription is $15.00), you choose a menu plan based on either a particular grocery store you go to such as Publix, Kroger, etc. or based on a particular diet chose such as a plan that counts Weight Watchers points (that is the plan I picked as I try to finish losing the baby weight), is low carb, vegetarian, etc.
Then, once a week, you log into the site and print off the week's menu and grocery list. That's it. All your meals are planned for the week, and your grocery list is complete. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
I love this service. I probably won't subscribe forever, but for this busy time of life, it definitely works for me.
I have heard some people complain that sometimes the menu plans include too many processed foods. There are some processed foods on the plan, but they are easy to substitute. For instance, on my menu this week is 2 Lite Caesar salad kits. Instead of buying these, I will just take a few minutes to make my own salad. If you are a bit flexible, I don't think this is a problem.
I have also heard other people complain that it is too expensive to buy all of the groceries. For instance, my menu plan calls for 3 lbs. of chicken this week. What if chicken is not on sale? I don't want to pay more than $1.99 a pound for chicken.
If you don't stock up during sale times, this can make the menu plan a bit more expensive to follow. I combat this problem by stocking up when prices are low. Just a few days ago I found ground turkey (normally $5.99 a pound) discounted to .99 a pound. I bought 5.5 pounds. My menu this week calls for Texas Turkey Burgers. I don't have to pay a fortune to make these because I already have the discounted meat in my freezer.
My husband and I have found that following the Weight Watchers points system menu actually makes us eat healthier because the suggested vegetable servings are much larger than we would normally eat.
The Giveaway
E-mealz has generously offered one lucky reader a free 12 week subscription to try out this service. There are two ways to enter:
1. Visit E-mealz's website and leave a comment telling me which plan you would like to sign up for if you win.
2. Blog about this giveaway or post it on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you have done so.
Please make sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you. This giveaway will be open until Monday, June 21st at 9 p.m. CST.
The winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!
I did not receive any compensation from E-mealz.
I shared this at Works for Me Wednesdays.
Right after I had the baby, life was chaotic and stressful. The baby was up several times in the night, I was recovering from a c-section, and we were busy taking care of three kids.
I heard about E-mealz, and signed up one day later. E-mealz is a great service, especially for those busy seasons in life. For $1.25 a week (a 12 week subscription is $15.00), you choose a menu plan based on either a particular grocery store you go to such as Publix, Kroger, etc. or based on a particular diet chose such as a plan that counts Weight Watchers points (that is the plan I picked as I try to finish losing the baby weight), is low carb, vegetarian, etc.
Then, once a week, you log into the site and print off the week's menu and grocery list. That's it. All your meals are planned for the week, and your grocery list is complete. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
I love this service. I probably won't subscribe forever, but for this busy time of life, it definitely works for me.
I have heard some people complain that sometimes the menu plans include too many processed foods. There are some processed foods on the plan, but they are easy to substitute. For instance, on my menu this week is 2 Lite Caesar salad kits. Instead of buying these, I will just take a few minutes to make my own salad. If you are a bit flexible, I don't think this is a problem.
I have also heard other people complain that it is too expensive to buy all of the groceries. For instance, my menu plan calls for 3 lbs. of chicken this week. What if chicken is not on sale? I don't want to pay more than $1.99 a pound for chicken.
If you don't stock up during sale times, this can make the menu plan a bit more expensive to follow. I combat this problem by stocking up when prices are low. Just a few days ago I found ground turkey (normally $5.99 a pound) discounted to .99 a pound. I bought 5.5 pounds. My menu this week calls for Texas Turkey Burgers. I don't have to pay a fortune to make these because I already have the discounted meat in my freezer.
My husband and I have found that following the Weight Watchers points system menu actually makes us eat healthier because the suggested vegetable servings are much larger than we would normally eat.
The Giveaway
E-mealz has generously offered one lucky reader a free 12 week subscription to try out this service. There are two ways to enter:
1. Visit E-mealz's website and leave a comment telling me which plan you would like to sign up for if you win.
2. Blog about this giveaway or post it on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you have done so.
Please make sure to include your e-mail address so I can contact you. This giveaway will be open until Monday, June 21st at 9 p.m. CST.
The winner will be chosen by random.org. Good luck!
I did not receive any compensation from E-mealz.
I shared this at Works for Me Wednesdays.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Peanut Butter Honey Bars
Since I have given up chocolate, I often rely on peanut butter desserts. One of my favorites is OAMC Peanut Butter Bars, but I certainly can't call them healthy (though they are tasty!)
Just recently I discovered this recipe for Peanut Butter Honey Bars at Heavenly Homemakers. These are healthier because they are without the butter and powdered sugar the OAMC Peanut Butter Bars call for. They were yummy (which is why there is no picture for this post!! we ate them up). There is also a link on her blog to many other desserts made without sugar. I think I will be trying the homemade granola bars next.
I shared this post at The Grocery Cart Challenge, $5 Dinners, and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.
Just recently I discovered this recipe for Peanut Butter Honey Bars at Heavenly Homemakers. These are healthier because they are without the butter and powdered sugar the OAMC Peanut Butter Bars call for. They were yummy (which is why there is no picture for this post!! we ate them up). There is also a link on her blog to many other desserts made without sugar. I think I will be trying the homemade granola bars next.
I shared this post at The Grocery Cart Challenge, $5 Dinners, and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Check Out This Giveaway
One of my favorite discussion sites is Frugal Mom. I frequent this site to have chats with other moms via discussion board, to find frugal recipes, and to discuss ways to save money, although there are plenty of other forums. This site is a great resource.
Frugal Mom is renovating their site, and to celebrate, they are having a giveaway--a wallet from Savvy Cents and a $100 Amazon.com gift card. You can enter the giveaway here. Hurry though, the giveaway ends tomorrow morning.
Frugal Mom is renovating their site, and to celebrate, they are having a giveaway--a wallet from Savvy Cents and a $100 Amazon.com gift card. You can enter the giveaway here. Hurry though, the giveaway ends tomorrow morning.
Food Waste, 6/9/10
Our only food waste this week was about 2 cups of lettuce. We had the lettuce in our vegetable drawer and a package of chicken on the glass shelve above it. Somehow the chicken juice dripped into a crack in the vegetable drawer and got on the lettuce. I refused to eat it or let anyone else eat it after that. My husband insisted it would be fine after he peeled off a layer or two, but why take chances?
Food Waste since February 1st: $55.48
Food Waste since February 1st: $55.48
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Free Summer Reading Programs at the Library
My son and I went to our local library yesterday to sign up for their free summer reading program. For kids his age, the goal is to read 140 minutes a week, or 20 minutes a day. Every week that he completes this goal, he gets a coupon for a free kids meal at Pizza Hut or a ice cream cone at McDonald’s or a movie ticket. At the end of the 6 week program, if he has completed it successfully, he gets a book.
This provides a good opportunity for us to spend some good reading time together and to visit the library more often. To my surprise, they even have a program for babies, so I signed my daughter up. At the end of the program, she gets a free book (which at this stage, she will probably just want to eat!).
Have you checked out your local library to see what free summer programs are available?
I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesdays.
This provides a good opportunity for us to spend some good reading time together and to visit the library more often. To my surprise, they even have a program for babies, so I signed my daughter up. At the end of the program, she gets a free book (which at this stage, she will probably just want to eat!).
Have you checked out your local library to see what free summer programs are available?
I shared this post at Works for Me Wednesdays.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Grocery Shopping, 6/7/10
Most of what we bought this week was produce thanks to a well stocked freezer and freezer meals. The first two purchases at CVS and Tony's were bought last Wednesday. The last two were bought today.
CVS:
2 packs diapers & 1 pack wipes = $13.78 (used $4 ECBS, earned $4 ECBs)
Tony's:
Sorry for the dim picture. My kitchen is not conducive to afternoon pictures! 
I had 18 ECBs set to expire this week and not much in the ad that I wanted to buy, so I used them all up on things we needed.
3 boxes Nutri-Grain = $10, earned $5 ECBs
2 boxes CVS pantiliners = 5.19
1 box Cascade = 3.97
Total = 20.06, used $18.49 ECBs, earned $5 ECBs, paid $1.57 OOP
Dominick's:
2 lbs. spaghetti noodles = 1.89
3 cans cat food = 2.00 (I was overcharged .50 I notice now)
2 gallons milk = 3.98
1 carton yogurt = 2.49
1 carton ice cream = 2.99
1 Father's Day card = 1.99
4 turkey burger patties = .99
2 bunches broccoli = 1.15
2.46 lbs. bananas = 1.94
4.18 lbs. grapes = 4.14
2 grapefruit = 1.51
1 watermelon = 2.99
1 lb. organic carrots = .99
Total = 29.97
CVS:
2 packs diapers & 1 pack wipes = $13.78 (used $4 ECBS, earned $4 ECBs)
Tony's:
Sorry for the dim picture. My kitchen is not conducive to afternoon pictures!
Famous Dave's BBQ sauce = 3.69
3 small bags chips = 1.00
1 box straws = .79
1 box straws = .79
1.89 lbs. apples = 1.87
1.22 lb. broccoli = 1.56
2.05 lbs. grapes = 2.03
.87 lbs. peaches = .86
2.32 lbs. bananas = 1.37
1.04 lbs. nectarines = 1.03
3.14 lbs. oranges = 2.76
1 bag hamburger buns = .88
1 loaf bread = 1.69
1 Twinkie = 1.00
1 can apple juice = 1.29
1 bag frozen strawberries = 2.29
1 bag frozen blueberries = 2.50
1/2 lb. smoked bacon = 2.51
1/2 lb. deli ham = 1.62
1/2 lb. sliced mozzarella = 1.52
Total = 32.27
Total = 32.27
CVS:
I had 18 ECBs set to expire this week and not much in the ad that I wanted to buy, so I used them all up on things we needed.
3 boxes Nutri-Grain = $10, earned $5 ECBs
2 boxes CVS pantiliners = 5.19
1 box Cascade = 3.97
Total = 20.06, used $18.49 ECBs, earned $5 ECBs, paid $1.57 OOP
Dominick's:
2 lbs. spaghetti noodles = 1.89
3 cans cat food = 2.00 (I was overcharged .50 I notice now)
2 gallons milk = 3.98
1 carton yogurt = 2.49
1 carton ice cream = 2.99
1 Father's Day card = 1.99
4 turkey burger patties = .99
2 bunches broccoli = 1.15
2.46 lbs. bananas = 1.94
4.18 lbs. grapes = 4.14
2 grapefruit = 1.51
1 watermelon = 2.99
1 lb. organic carrots = .99
Total = 29.97
Grand total = 77.59
Total for the year = 2044.43 (97.35/week)
June No Spending Month - First 7 Days
My goal is to spend no more than $125 a week for June, so we will stay under or at our budgeted $500 spending for this month. Here is how we have done so far:
6/1
$0
6/2
$33 grocery shopping
6/3
$15 CVS (diapers & wipes)
6/4
$0
6/5
$4 at a local festival ($1 for my son to go on a ride and $3 for a dessert we all shared)
6/6
$18 for my son's haircut (I usually cut it myself, but this month he has a dance recital and is graduating from kindergarten, so I wanted it to look nice)
$12 Subway
We had no intention of going out to eat, but while we were at the mall getting my son's haircut, we ran into a few kinks. My son and 19 month old daughter were playing in the play area when another little girl wet her pants right by my daughter, who decided it would be a good idea to touch the puddle. Ewwww!! It took awhile to get her cleaned up. Then I had to nurse the baby in the car, and after all that, it was lunch time but we were still 45 minutes from home.
When we were eating lunch, there were no more high chairs available, and my 19 month old, who kept standing on her chair, fell down and hit her head. Luckily, she seems to be doing just fine. (Yes, it was one of those kind of days!!!)
$22 dinner out (you can read about that here)
6/7
$30 groceries
Total for the first week = $134.
This is a little over, but I am pleased with the progress so far. I'll post next week about days 7 through 14.
If you are having a no spending month, how is yours going?
6/1
$0
6/2
$33 grocery shopping
6/3
$15 CVS (diapers & wipes)
6/4
$0
6/5
$4 at a local festival ($1 for my son to go on a ride and $3 for a dessert we all shared)
6/6
$18 for my son's haircut (I usually cut it myself, but this month he has a dance recital and is graduating from kindergarten, so I wanted it to look nice)
$12 Subway
We had no intention of going out to eat, but while we were at the mall getting my son's haircut, we ran into a few kinks. My son and 19 month old daughter were playing in the play area when another little girl wet her pants right by my daughter, who decided it would be a good idea to touch the puddle. Ewwww!! It took awhile to get her cleaned up. Then I had to nurse the baby in the car, and after all that, it was lunch time but we were still 45 minutes from home.
When we were eating lunch, there were no more high chairs available, and my 19 month old, who kept standing on her chair, fell down and hit her head. Luckily, she seems to be doing just fine. (Yes, it was one of those kind of days!!!)
$22 dinner out (you can read about that here)
6/7
$30 groceries
Total for the first week = $134.
This is a little over, but I am pleased with the progress so far. I'll post next week about days 7 through 14.
If you are having a no spending month, how is yours going?
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Menu Planning, 6/6/10
This will mark week two of our no spending challenge, so I tried to plan for meals that use what we already have on hand or meals that I have made for the freezer. Here is the plan:
Monday--Omelet for Two, smoothies, toast
Tuesday--Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup*, peas
Wednesday--Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, canned soup with added veggies
Thursday--Turkey Croquettes*, mashed potatoes, veggie
Friday--Taco salad* (made with taco meat from the freezer)
Saturday--Sirloin Sizzler, corn on the cob, green veggie
Sunday--Chicken Quesadillas (made with Salsa Chicken Dump*)
*All of these recipes are already prepared in the freezer.
For lunches we will eat sandwiches or some of the burritos we made for the freezer.
Breakfasts will be some of the breakfast meals we made on freezer cooking day (linked above).
Monday--Omelet for Two, smoothies, toast
Tuesday--Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup*, peas
Wednesday--Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, canned soup with added veggies
Thursday--Turkey Croquettes*, mashed potatoes, veggie
Friday--Taco salad* (made with taco meat from the freezer)
Saturday--Sirloin Sizzler, corn on the cob, green veggie
Sunday--Chicken Quesadillas (made with Salsa Chicken Dump*)
*All of these recipes are already prepared in the freezer.
For lunches we will eat sandwiches or some of the burritos we made for the freezer.
Breakfasts will be some of the breakfast meals we made on freezer cooking day (linked above).
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Freezer Cooking Update
I have been cooking, and cooking, and cooking some more. My freezer, which had begun to empy out, is now stuffed once again. Here is the tally thus far:
28 No Meat Burritos
18 Freezer Burritos
14 Breakfast Burritos
3 gallon size bags of pancakes
14 Breakfast Sandwiches
1 gallon size bag of French Toast Sticks
2 gallon size bags of Crockpot Chicken, Beans & Cheese Mix
I thought I was done, but I just realized tonight that I still have 2.5 pounds of beef in the refrigerator, so it looks like tomorrow night I will finish up my freezer cooking for June with a stab at Cheeseburger Rolls.
I see that our freezer is now full of tons of burritos. I hope we don't get sick of them!
Look What I Won
I sometimes enter blogging giveaways, but very rarely do I win. A few weeks ago, I entered a giveaway at A Call to Higher Places for this cute knitted cube toy. To my surprise, I won!
My 19 month old daughter has had a great time playing with this. She asks me to play ball with her several times a day. It is soft enough that if she gets overzealous in her throwing (while she is standing a foot away from me!) no damage is done. You can check out all of Nichole's hand crafts on Etsy.
My 19 month old daughter has had a great time playing with this. She asks me to play ball with her several times a day. It is soft enough that if she gets overzealous in her throwing (while she is standing a foot away from me!) no damage is done. You can check out all of Nichole's hand crafts on Etsy.
Food Waste, 6/3/10
We went away last weekend. The forecast was for temperatures in the low 70s. Apparently that forecast changed because it was in the mid to high 80s much of the time. When we came home, our apartment was 88 degrees inside.
We had two tomatoes and two limes on the counter. They were all shriveled up and rotten when we got home. We also had a bunch of broccoli in the refrigerator that went bad.
I estimate that this week's food waste was roughly $2.25.
Food waste since February 1st: 54.48
We had two tomatoes and two limes on the counter. They were all shriveled up and rotten when we got home. We also had a bunch of broccoli in the refrigerator that went bad.
I estimate that this week's food waste was roughly $2.25.
Food waste since February 1st: 54.48
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A Change in Posting Times
I have been posting earlier in the morning for the last year, but due to our new addition, mornings are becoming very hectic. Until things settle down around here, I will be post at night instead.
Time for Another No Spending Month
Since our income is cut drastically in the summer, my husband and I decided it is time for another no spending month. We did one last June (read about it here). Like last year, we will set our budget at $500 for spending, groceries, gas, miscellaneous, entertainment, etc. Only unlike last year when we went $90 over, I intend to come in below the $500 mark.
Since I just completed several freezer meals (I'll write about that tomorrow) and we just purchased a year's worth of beef, I am confident the grocery aspect should not be too difficult. One anticipated expense is my son's birthday. We have most of his presents, but I still need to buy one, and he will probably want a party at school that we will need to pay for. There is also Father's Day and my mom coming to visit later in the month.
I'll post back every week on our progress. Would you care to join us and have your own no spending month?
Update:
First 7 Days $134
Days 8-14 $115
Since I just completed several freezer meals (I'll write about that tomorrow) and we just purchased a year's worth of beef, I am confident the grocery aspect should not be too difficult. One anticipated expense is my son's birthday. We have most of his presents, but I still need to buy one, and he will probably want a party at school that we will need to pay for. There is also Father's Day and my mom coming to visit later in the month.
I'll post back every week on our progress. Would you care to join us and have your own no spending month?
Update:
First 7 Days $134
Days 8-14 $115
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Some of My Favorite Blogs
Two years ago, I had never read a blog. However, a few months before I had my leave of absence after my daughter’s birth, I was searching for ways to save money and now I faithfully read several blogs every day. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites with you. If you have others that you recommend, let me know in the comments section.
Money Saving Mom—She offers a ton of deals to get free and cheap items. She also shares personal stories about her family’s frugal activities such as how they managed to save 100% down on a house. I check her blog several times a day. Thanks to her almost all of the photo books I got for family for Christmas were free.
Life as Mom—She covers a variety of topics from child rearing, cooking, saving money, etc. I check her blog once a day.
Milk Donor Mama—This blogger writes about her daily life and her pursuit to live a frugal life. Like me, she is now pregnant and thinking of quitting her job. I am most impressed with how many groceries she can buy and still pay so little out of pocket. I check her blog daily.
The Frugal Girl—She writes about all aspects of frugal living. She is also my inspiration for my food waste posts each week. I am sure if I did not keep track of food waste for my blog we would waste significantly more. I check this blog daily.
The Simple Dollar—This is one of the few blogs I read written by a man. He writes on all things financial with a frugal slant. He posts twice daily, and I religiously check this blog twice daily. I have just recently found this one, so I am still reading through his archives.
$5 Dinners—She posts dinner recipes she creates for her family. All of them are less than $5. She also includes her grocery trips and how she saved money. She just recently published a cookbook. I check this blog a few times a week.
Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures—Just as the title suggests, this blogger shares her cooking adventures. I have tried, and enjoyed, several of her recipes. The very first recipe I tried was her Panera Bread Broccoli Soup, and it was delicious! I check this blog a few times a week.
The Grocery Cart Challenge—She posts her weekly shopping trips and has a budget of $60 per week to feed 6 people. What I like most about this blog are her practical money saving tips. She has some great ideas for saving money that I had never thought of. I check this blog a few times a week.
Faithful Homemaking—This blogger lives out West, so I enjoy reading about a climate so different from my own. She does write about frugal living, but she also posts great activities to do with kids and craft ideas. I also can relate to her struggles as she raises three young children. I check this blog a few times a week.
Jill Cataldo—I wrote about this “coupon maven” a few days ago. I check her site every Tuesday to read about the best deals at Dominick’s and Jewel’s. It is amazing how much she can save at the grocery store!
A Full Cup—I check this site once a week to find the best deals at CVS and the coupon matches. They feature a variety of stores including Walgreens and Target.
Money Saving Mom—She offers a ton of deals to get free and cheap items. She also shares personal stories about her family’s frugal activities such as how they managed to save 100% down on a house. I check her blog several times a day. Thanks to her almost all of the photo books I got for family for Christmas were free.
Life as Mom—She covers a variety of topics from child rearing, cooking, saving money, etc. I check her blog once a day.
Milk Donor Mama—This blogger writes about her daily life and her pursuit to live a frugal life. Like me, she is now pregnant and thinking of quitting her job. I am most impressed with how many groceries she can buy and still pay so little out of pocket. I check her blog daily.
The Frugal Girl—She writes about all aspects of frugal living. She is also my inspiration for my food waste posts each week. I am sure if I did not keep track of food waste for my blog we would waste significantly more. I check this blog daily.
The Simple Dollar—This is one of the few blogs I read written by a man. He writes on all things financial with a frugal slant. He posts twice daily, and I religiously check this blog twice daily. I have just recently found this one, so I am still reading through his archives.
$5 Dinners—She posts dinner recipes she creates for her family. All of them are less than $5. She also includes her grocery trips and how she saved money. She just recently published a cookbook. I check this blog a few times a week.
Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures—Just as the title suggests, this blogger shares her cooking adventures. I have tried, and enjoyed, several of her recipes. The very first recipe I tried was her Panera Bread Broccoli Soup, and it was delicious! I check this blog a few times a week.
The Grocery Cart Challenge—She posts her weekly shopping trips and has a budget of $60 per week to feed 6 people. What I like most about this blog are her practical money saving tips. She has some great ideas for saving money that I had never thought of. I check this blog a few times a week.
Faithful Homemaking—This blogger lives out West, so I enjoy reading about a climate so different from my own. She does write about frugal living, but she also posts great activities to do with kids and craft ideas. I also can relate to her struggles as she raises three young children. I check this blog a few times a week.
Jill Cataldo—I wrote about this “coupon maven” a few days ago. I check her site every Tuesday to read about the best deals at Dominick’s and Jewel’s. It is amazing how much she can save at the grocery store!
A Full Cup—I check this site once a week to find the best deals at CVS and the coupon matches. They feature a variety of stores including Walgreens and Target.
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