A Guide to Making Meals on a Budget (for the real person)

Photo by Granny's Vital Vittles

We're all on a budget.  It's not a bad word!  Let's say it together once more, loud and proud:

B-U-D-G-E-T!!

Now that we have it out in the open, we can talk freely about ways we can shave $$$ off of something we all have to do...EAT.  In this post are my suggestions for keeping your grocery shopping in-check with your family's funds.

 

Coupons

I am not a coupon clipper; I've tried and failed at the venture many times.  I'm sure I will eventually again try my hand at clipping to save cash on groceries.  Though I find most often that the coupons promoted aren't for what I normally buy, and the $.20 cents saved on a can of soup is lost in my time spent clipping/saving/organizing/double checking the correct product size.  That said, there are millions of people who clip coupons every day.  And although most of them aren't purchasing 100 bags of cheesy-poofs for a quarter, they are successfully navigating the world of saving with scissors. 

Make a grocery list and stick to it

Don't succumb to temptation

We hear it again and again, and it makes the most sense.  But I can't count how many times  I've gone to the store with nothing more than a wish list in my head.  Just like everything else in life, a list helps keep us in task and on budget.  There are great tools available to help make a grocery list that's relevant to your household.  And remember... just because there is a big display of potato chips, doesn't mean they are needed.  You didn't seem to want them while making out the list at your kitchen table, so don't succumb to temptation.

 

Make it fun!

I like to keep myself interested and challenged when it comes to the family's meals.  There are some weeks where we just don't have the time nor inclination to make everything from scratch just to keep things cheap...and that's OK!   Here are a few ways I like to keep myself interested in cooking meals on a dime.

1.  The Pantry Challenge -  Most grocery trips end up adding food to you pantry and freezer that don't get eaten by the next grocery trip.  Compound that over several weeks or months and our kitchens have a plethora of items that we need to use up.  Make a conscious decision that for a week that you're going to eat food on hand.  There's nothing more cost effect than using what was already purchased.   I'm embarrassed to say I have successfully gone 3 weeks with only purchasing milk and a few fresh fruits & veggies for my family of 4.   You'll likely eat some interesting meal combos of tuna melts with a side of cranberry sauce & rice-a-roni, but your pocketbook will thank you and your kitchen will become a blank canvas for your next shopping "theme".
2. No processed food allowed -   Contrary to popular belief, it is indeed cheaper to eat fresh food than processed food.  A good way of buying fresh yet cost effectively is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store first.  In doing this, you'll fill your cart with the necessities first, leaving little room for the processed snack foods that drain our budget.  Remember, for the same price, a bag of apples provides twice as many snacks as a box of granola bars.  Start re-thinking anything purchased in a box: Can I replace this with something fresher?  Making this an occasional weekly or monthly challenge will help you become more familiar with what produce and proteins are on sale at certain times of the year.
3. Slow cooker week - Plan a week where at least one meal a day comes from the
   slow

   

   When taking a slow cooker challenge,
   don't forget about breakfast

   cooker.  This takes prep to ensure you have the ingredients on hand and the extra 15 minutes in the morning (or evening before) to get put everything in the pot.  But the routine allows you to coach your brain into re-thinking meals on a budget.  Plus, you'll likely be able to get multiple meals out of one preparation - saving time and money.

 
 

Find a few go-to websites that you love for budget friendly recipes and ideas

One of the great things about all this internet information is the money-saving tips and tricks.  Cost effective grocery shopping is a topic on everyone's list.  The other side of this blessing is the challenge to decipher which advice can be applied to our full-time (and then some) schedules.  As much as I'd love to spend $45/week for a family of 4-6, but it's not realistic to try and shift our lifestyles for overnight soaking of dry beans, preparation of powdered milk, and creamed tuna recipes on the table. 

 

There is no shortage of articles, blogs, postings, & pins for budget foods.  There is something for everyone to reference. It won't take you long to find a few that you can relate to, but make sure to not shy away from some that might be a little out of your comfort zone such as paleo and vegan websites.   Many of these naturally lend themselves to budget conscious ideas simply because they utilize from-scratch and non processed food methods.  Keep an open mind, but selectively choose the tips you add to your daily arsenal. 

 

The Hillbilly Housewife website has been a favorite website of mine for years.  Even though I scoffed at the $45/week list earlier, she offers some great from-scratch recipes using realistic ingredients that you'll likely have on-hand.   

Think outside of the grocery store

We all have our favorite grocery store to patron.  As much as we all love shopping at the closest specialty grocery store, we have alternative supermarkets that are more cost effective.  Personally, I usually shop both in a given shopping excursion: First Aldi, then Pick n Sav or Super Walmart, lastly Brennan's Market for a fun cheese or wine to highlight a meal.  In addition to your normal routine, make sure you consider alternative venues in search for great deals. 

 

• Places like the Dollar Tree offer some really good deals on dry goods, saving 20% or more without a coupon.  
• Hit your local Farmer's Market for in-season produce, local honey, etc.  For additional cost savings, a friend recently gave me the tip to go to the market at the tail end.  None of the vendors want to haul all that stuff back to the farm, so you can negotiate some great deals by taking several things off of the hand of a single vendor.
• If you live or drive by a rural area, look for stands or yard signs for fresh garden produce and eggs.  Many times, you can get great deals on these items. If you happen to have something with which to barter (crafts or services), don't hesitate to ask!
• Ethnic food stores carry “specialty” items for much cheaper than you’d find in the ethnic section of your usual grocery store. Asian markets are great places to find inexpensive curry, sauces, or vinegars. Middle Eastern stores often carry rice, lentils, and couscous in bulk; at a Hispanic store you might find dried chilies or fresh tamales.
• Gardening:  Even with a black thumb I'm able to grow herbs in the summer which saves me lots of cash and also inspires my grocery lists and meal preparation.
• Check out your Corner Convenience Store. These are usually the stores you think of when trying to save money, but many of them are now offering bread, eggs, milk, potatoes, etc. at very competitive prices.  And it indeed is more cost effective if it saves you gas, time, and temptation of grabbing a box of dingdongs.

 

Have a few go-to cheap staple meals on hand 

Whether at holiday times or while surfing the internet, there are times when we see a

Mexican Potato Omelet
Courtesy of www.eatingwell.com

recipe that we just have to make.  Unfortunately, many times that recipes calls for ingredients that make up half our weekly food budget.  Have no fear!

 

Spaghetti, omelets, red beans & rice are a few super cheap staple meals in your kitchen arsenal,  in order to easily have the funds to make that fancy gourmet prime rib for a special occasion. 

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Changing the way you think about grocery shopping and meal preparation in order to save money can take time and much effort, but the reward is well worth it.  Take the time to find what works for you and know it can continually improve on itself.

 

 

No Cost Housewarming Gift (and 5 other inexpensive ideas)




photo courtesy of www.drunkengrape.blogspot.com
 

   I always say, "I don't wish moving on anyone."  Of course, I'm referring to the actual act of packing, cleaning, and practicing your Tetris skills while loading the trailer. Inevitably, everyone throws up their hands and exclaims, "I didn't realize I had so much stuff!"  However, the end result is usually very thrilling; a new & different living space is always emotional and exciting. 

 

When loved ones move, it's always nice to help them celebrate by giving a small housewarming gift.  But unless your kindness is a monetary gift to pay the first month's mortgage, there's really no need to spend a ton of cash.  Here are a few tips to create a thoughtful, no-cost/low-cost gift to say WELCOME HOME.

 

1. Folder of Local Take-Out Menus

Bring friends 'in the know' on
the best places to dine on the go.

If the recipients are moving to a new town, a folder with the local take-out options is my favorite housewarming idea.  It's a great way to allow for the home dweller to become familiar with their new town and the local fare. It's especially awesome if you are more familiar with the area than the recipient; you can bring them 'in the know' on the best places to dine on the go. There are a plethora of ways to go about this; customizing and investing as much or as little time & money as you'd like. 

 

2. Welcome Mat

Photo by www.housesittingvancouver.ca

Everyone needs a place to wipe their feet while welcoming their guests.  A brand new mat is always great for a new home; it sets a great tone for the new chapter in their lives.   

 

Check your local home-goods or big box store.  For less than $15 you can easily find a welcome mat that reflects the personality of the homeowner.  For a high-end look without the high-end cost, you could make a monogrammed mat for the same price, or less.

 

3. QR Code for Home WiFi

 

photo by www.tixeretnre.wordpress.com

 

I haven't yet done this, but it may quickly become my new favorite.  A framed print-out of the home's Wi-Fi info, how genius and fresh?!?!  The caveat to this: you'll need to know their Wi-Fi info and password.  And also be the type of people that don't change that info frequently. 
 

4. Fire Extinguisher

photo by www.swiss-miss.com

OK, OK... this isn't a very sexy gift.  But if you love your loved ones, perhaps you should consider it.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, less than half of American homes have fire extinguishers. The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, in the garage, and on each level of your home. Fire extinguishers should be kept in the kitchen, but 10 feet away from the stove.  Nothing kills the buzz of a new home like a fire!  For less than $20 you can give the gift of piece-of-mind. 

 

Make it fun!  You can always decorate the extinguisher!  Now, depending on who you ask, this isn't a good idea.  The Nay-Sayers Position: this is an emergency apparatus and should be treated as such by keeping all instructions in plain view on the canister for when it's needed.   My Position: if it's ugly, it's going to be hidden under a cabinet and forgotten.  If it's stylish enough to be hung in plain sight, isn't that a good thing? 

 

I wasn't able to find any ideas for decorating the extinguishers, but perhaps spray painting the red with a complimentary color of the home would be a nice personal touch.  For further inspiration, there is a company in France that creates designer canisters (at designer prices...yikes!).
 

5. Make a Meal

photo courtesy of
www.foodnetwork.com

Almost every life event is made better with a home-cooked meal, moving to a new home is no exception.  Whether you simply offer a batch or your famous cookies or you go as far as making a 3 course feast, it will be welcomed my weary, hungry movers. 

An alternative to this is to provide the base ingredients to a meal that they can prepare, such as soup in a jar so they don’t have to worry about their first dinner.

 

6. A Christmas Ornament



photo by www.dollarstorecrafts.com
 

Another place where milestones are often documented in on the family Christmas tree.  Handmade ornaments are treasured by all.  You can spend as little or as much as you'd like, but it's a shoe-in to be a favorite housewarming gift.







Big or small, expensive or free, a gift given from the heart is a treasured present, indeed!  Leave a comment and post your favorite housewarming gift idea.

 



DIY Take-Out Menu Folder

Here is a great way to create an organizer for your home or as a gift for others

 

Step 1: Choose how much you'd like to spend (or not spend)

This is the best part!!! It can totally be FREE, aside from your time putting it together.  Using repurposed materials  for the organizer and picking up the take-out menus while out doing other things is a perfect way to make keep it no-cost. Alternately, you can spend some cash and purchase a gift card or two to coincide with the menus you give. 

Step 2: Decide what restaurants to add and how you will get the menus

Depending on the location, this could be a snap...or a challenge.  My preferred method is to stop by each restaurant and pick up an authentic paper menu. This may not be feasible depending on your distance from the town, timeframe, and your patience.  And because most restaurants have some sort of website, I've found lately many restaurants don't offer a paper a take out menu.  And nowadays, you can print menu from almost any eatery; which may be the way to go. 

Step 3: The Organizer

There are tons of possibilities for the chosen vessel of your restaurant propaganda.  If you have the time and funds, there are notebooks made specifically for this.  But most of us have a few gently-used folders or binders lying around: unused school supplies, that HR binder collecting dust on your desk, even the well intended (but never utilized) accordion coupon organizer.  You can dress it up as much or as little as you want. Keep in mind any leftover craft décor supplies you might can use: ribbon, markers or paint for labeling the cover, stickers, etc.

Step 4: Assemble and give

Have fun with this project.  And maybe make up a few extra to have on-hand as last minute gifts, and one for yourself, too!

5 Ways To Use That Jar Of Pasta Sauce

Photo from www.amuse-your-bouche.blogspot.com

I need an intervention.  If you see me at the grocery store, please stop and make sure I have no pasta sauce in my cart!  I have this tendency to buy several jars of sauce on sale but neglect to purchase the noodles that are just a few steps down the aisle. Compound this over a few visits and we have a pantry problem.  

 

We've become so accustomed to donning noodles with tomato sauce, the challenge becomes how to utilize my overflowing stock without having to run back to the store for that Italian carb.  There are endless possibilities that we often forget: meatball subs, skillet chicken, pouring over polenta, potatoes, or even with roasted veggies.  Serving for serving, rice, quinoa, or kasha easily replaces any pasta without sacrificing the heartiness.  

 

Below are the ideas I liked best while searching through my recipe books and the web.  Now, some of these links are to recipes that have an extensive ingredient list for the actual tomato sauce.  If you're like me, the sauce you keep in your pantry is already seasoned in some fashion. So use these recipes more as a springboard for inspiration rather than a step-by-step instructional. 

 

1. Green Beans in Tomato Sauce

I began making this in college. It's a quick and easy way to dress up a plain bag of frozen green beans. This is a wonderful weeknight side dish to any grilled or pan fried meat.  For a bit of crunch, garnish with slivered almonds or crispy fried onions.

 

2. Baked Portabello Parmesan

I love Portabello mushrooms.   The End.

 

3. Zucchini Lasagna

Lasagna ain't just with pasta anymore! There are tons of no-noodle recipees out there, and these lasagnas are as delicious as their traditional counterpart. You can even try converting your own stand-by recipe and replace the noodles with eggplant, zucchini, or any other squash. However, make sure to compensate for the extra liquid by adding about a 1/2 cup bread crumbs or instant rice per veggie used.

 

4. Creamy Tomato Soup

This is such an obvious and easy solution, but I have yet to do it.  Such a great way to accompany a gooey grilled cheese or a peppery salad.

 

5. Spaghetti Squash Gratins with Chunky Tomato Sauce

I have a spaghetti squash on my kitchen counter begging for me to make this recipe.  Although its preparation is a bit lengthy to be classified as a weeknight fast meal, the heartiness of  this dish makes it fit for company or Sunday supper.

What am I missing? Tell me your favorite non-noodle ways to use a jar of pasta sauce.

 

Buon Appetito!

 

 

 

 

Throw an Easy Magic 8-Ball Themed Birthday Party

Magic 8 Birthday Party

Finding unique themes for kid's parties can sometimes be a challenge, and easy-to-execute ideas are even harder to come by.  They frequently end up being harder and more time-consuming than originally thought.  Below are the aspects of our Magic 8 party, I hope they provides you a few useful ways to pull off a great birthday party for your little one. 

The Inspiration

My youngest turned 8, oh how time flies!  We planned to host a birthday party for his buddies at a local rolling skating rink.  We have done several skating parties in the past, so I was looking to add a fun 80's twist.  Incorporating the Magic 8 Ball seemed like a fun homage to the classic game I spent hours playing as a kid. 

Admittedly, my son  wasn't familiar with the Magic 8 Ball.  Once I brought one home, he was on board. 

 

 

 

 The Invitation

 I didn't find many invitations or printable options online, much of the selections referred to pool balls instead of the kid's game. In searching Pinterest, I found a terrific option via Etsy;  Memories Too creates a custom printable invitation.  They simply email the customized template so you can print on any paper or card stock you choose.  For me, this was a terrific solution since they already had a Magic 8 Ball template. I just provided all the party details and they promptly emailed my order. If you plan to try and create your own printable invitation, it's a great alternative and well worth $15 in time saved.

The "Cake"

Neither of my boys are big fans of cake.  So, many of their candle-holding desserts have been alternatives to the traditional spongy frosted confection.  Requested for this birthday: M&M Cookie "Cake".  Most grocery store bakeries offer cookie "cakes" at a very reasonable price.  So to all busy parents: you're planning an entire party, so there is no shame in ordering a store made dessert.  Since I enjoy cooking and baking, I chose the homemade approach.

 

Usually, I am just as apt to bake from scratch as to use a box mix.  If you have the dry baking goods (flour, sugar, baking powder, & baking soda), there is no time or cost savings in a mix.  In my case, I needed M&M's and was running low on both butter and sugar.  So in keeping with the theme of easy, I opted for a quick and easy box version from a well known dough boy. 

Cookie mix + M&M's after
 sifting out the chips...
from scratch is looking
better all the time, right?

Unfortunately, there is no cookie mix with M&M's .  Now...at this point, I should have stuck with my core principle that scratch is just as easy.  Alas, picked up 2 mixes to make a double batch.  With no M&M premix options, I bought a bag of mini M&M's to add to the mix.  As soon as I dumped cookie packages in the bowl, I realized that both chips and M&M's was going to be too much.  So I sifted out the chips and added just the M&M's. 
 

 

It all turned out fine, the recipe was super easy.  I used 2/3 of the mixture for the "cake" and then used the rest for cookies. I don't have the pizza pan that the recipe called for, so a 12" cake pan was used.  The problem I ran into is since the cookie was super soft, I couldn't pull it out in one piece.  It had to be served in the cake pan. Which is fine, except my cake pan is well used and shows it on the outside.  So I taped some ribbon around the outside to cover most of the baking blemishes. 
 

I suggest all moms have at least the basic cake decorating equipment.  On more than one occasion, it will make you look like a hero!  For this "cake" and cookie project I used 2 frostings: 1 container of chocolate and 1 container of white. I colored a bit of the white with some icing color that I already had on hand, blue and green.   Although I highly recommend having the decorating utensils in your arsenal, I use store bought frosting.  Homemade frosting isn't difficult to make, but let's be real... unless the cake is the feature of the party,  there is no reason to waste the hour of precious time whipping up a batch of frosting.  You already get bonus points for making the darned cake and it's unlikely that any 8 year old will taste the difference whilst inhaling the sweet treat.

Not a crumb was left of the "cake" or cookies.
I gauge that as success!

I have been blessed with talented and generous family members that enjoy making birthday treats.  So admittedly, I haven't had to make a birthday "cake" in several years.  And if you have a loved one who likes doing this, seize that opportunity!  There is no shame in accepting help, and it's made with love either way.   

 

 

 

 



The Décor

 







To keep things easy, use any supplies
provided or what you already have on hand.

 After party store searching and internet surfing, I found almost no 8 Ball themed decorations (Magic or otherwise).   I did find a custom balloon option, but I wasn't willing to shell out the coin for custom.  A skating rink naturally
has an awesome party atmosphere so there was little need for too much additional decorations.  I had some dollar store table center pieces left over from my cousin's surprise birthday party, so I brought those along. The skating rink we used offers a wonderful birthday package including a reserved table with festive tablecloth, balloons, & colored plates.  If I decorating from scratch, I would probably have gone with a black tablecloth & white plates (to look like the white on the 8-Ball).  And added black balloons with a round, white circle with an "8" in the middle glued to them and perhaps an accent color to break up all the black & white.

The Party Favor

It's great to make sure party-goers have a memento of the birthday fun, but as a kid of the 80's I don't remember getting party favors and goodie bags. Nowadays it seems to be expected, and the goodie bags have become more and more ridiculous - too much candy and trinket toys that break before getting home.  I haven't completely bunked the goodie bag trend, however I strive to  give something fun yet useful, or at least something survives the car ride.

 

What else would you give at a Magic 8-Ball party other than Magic 8-Balls?  Now, I realize this isn't the most cost effective option.  But it is easy - no stuffing of goodie bags. And the best part is that any extras can be returned...no waste. I purchased some of these locally at Wal-Mart (so I have a receipt for leftovers), but most of them I bought for the same price online.

 

If this is a bit too extravagant for your party, you could go for these more traditional goodie bag offerings: Mini 8-Balls or Mini Beach Balls.  

 

Whether you throw a small backyard party or a big elaborate bash, there is always planning to do.  Keeping things simple and themed helped provide a cohesive aspect to the fun.  Magic 8-Ball for an 8th Birthday is an easy way stay on-theme.  Happy Planning!