Free 2 Be Frugal

Menu Plan Monday...January 30

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:16:00 +0000

Breakfasts

Skinny Green Monster Smoothie (6 ww pT+)

Scrambled Egg Beaters sprinkled with shredded cheese and
4 strips of microwaveable turkey bacon--love this stuff! (6 ww pT+)

Lunches

Tuna sammies on whole wheat, nonfat yogurt, fruit (9 ww pT+)
Lightened Up Taco Salad--recipe to come, nonfat yogurt fruit (7 ww pT+)

Dinners
Lightened Up Pizza Rolls with salad
(you have to scroll way down to see recipe - 8 ww pT+ for three,
add points for salad dressing of choice)
Parmesan Linguini with Peas (9 ww pT+)
Salisbury Steak--different twist with corn and sliced bread (13 ww pT+)
Grilled Tilapia, steamed green beans, rice (9 ww pT+)
Cheesy Taco Pasta (9 ww pT+)
Lightened Up Awesome Roast Beef--recipe to come,
roasted potato, and broccoli (10 ww pT+)

Egg beaters with shredded cheese, whole grain white toast with fruit-spread,
turkey sausage links (12 ww pT+)

Snacks

Piece of fruit and 2 cheese sticks (4 ww pT+)

Herr's Tangy BBQ Popped Chips (3 ww pT+)
Quaker Stila Bites (3 ww pT+)

Special K Cracker Chips (3 ww pT+)

Treat of the Week

Helping out with a baby shower so I am making some yummy
WW-friendly goodies to share....

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip (2 ww pT+, add points for baked tortilla chips)

Weight Watchers Low-Fat Stuffed Strawberries--recipe to come! (about 1 ww pT+)

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

And the Winners...

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:22:00 +0000

...of the Ocean Spray Fruit Snack Giveaway are:

Carrie

Andrea

Grammy2Kaiden

An Ordinary Housewife

Laura Mom Reviewer

Sweetheart

Congrats! I'll be in touch shortly to get your info to get your prize pack out to you.

3 Tips for Menu Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Menu planning is hands-down one of the best money saving practices a gal can put into practice!

I find a few things to be helpful to get me doing it on a regular basis:

1. Accountability - I like to participate in a weekly blog meme called Menu Plan Monday, where hundreds of ladies share their menu plans (and tons of new recipes to try out!) every single Monday. This means I have to have my menu plan ready to post on my blog by Monday.

2. Organization - They say ten minutes of preparation will save you and hour down the road. It typically takes me about a half an hour to complete this particular task. Did I just hear groans? Ladies, DOING THIS saves me 3 hours a week! I don't go to the grocery store every day, trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Wouldn't you love to have 3 extra hours a week in your schedule to do something better than hanging around in the supermarket?

When I write my shopping list for the week, I simultaneously create my menu plan. Then when it is finalized, I jot it down on a menu planning template. Don't have one? Check out these 20 completely free printables. One of them is sure to suit your fancy. The person who compiled this awesome collection also suggest several ways to use these templates. Right now I am into using mine in a photo frame turned dry erase board. Love it!

3. Inspiration. A mom needs a good source for recipes. Or two. Or twenty. Cooking day in and day out (no matter how much you used to LOVE cooking) gets old. Doing the same ole, same ole. Eating the same ole, ole.

B-O-R-I-N-G.

Got a free couple of minutes? Surf the net and look for some recipe sites or blogs (I like . Bookmark the ones that look good. Subscribe to the awesome ones. I strive to try at least 1 new recipe weekly. I like to keep it fresh, and my family appreciates it!

Menu Plan Monday...January 23

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:26:00 +0000

Oh, people. I am so sick that sick doesn't even say it. My family has been passing around a cold (I was the lucky recipient of it for the past week and now it is phasing into a sinus infection). So my plan this week is to try to avoid eating out and totally blowing the diet and budget. Here's hoping!

Breakfasts

Cinnamon Life with 2% milk (6 ww pT+)
NEW Dulche de Leche Cheerios with 2% milk (6 ww pT+)

Lunches

An assortment of Lean Cuisine entrees with side salad and fruit (ww pT+ vary)

Dinners
An assortment of Smart Ones Satisfying Selections with extra veggies on the side
(ww pT+ vary)

Snacks

Piece of fruit and 2 cheese sticks (4 ww pT+)

An assortment of 100 calorie snack packs
(I find that most of them are around 3 ww pT+)

Treat of the Week

Yeah--not gonna happen this week. I can barely stand, let alone bake. LOL

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

Review: Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks (and a Giveaway, Too!)

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:51:00 +0000

Fruit snacks used to be a sticky subject around this house.

My son is a huge fan of them. What 6 year old isn't? But I'm not a huge fan of feeding my already-hyper kiddo foods full of red food dye. And most varieties we've found in stores contain loads of it!

But Ocean Spray has come out with a new line of fruit flavored snacks that have no food dyes, real fruit juice, and a daily dose of Vitamin C (100%). They come in two flavors: Berries and Cherries and Assorted Fruit. And for just 80 calories a pack, they make a pretty good snack.

Good news, Free 2 Be Frugal readers! The good people at Ocean Spray and MyBlogSpark are letting me host a giveaway. 4 lucky peeps will win 6 boxes of fruit flavored snacks.

Here's how to enter:

-Leave a comment here telling me which flavors you'd like to see Ocean Spray come out with next.

-Subscribe to the Free 2 Be Frugal blog.

-Follow Free 2 Be Frugal on Facebook.

-Follow Free 2 Be Frugal on Twitter.

Check back here to see who wins January 27th!

P.S. Everyone scores a money saving coupon for Ocean Spray's new fruit snacks. Click here to get your coupon to save $1.10 off 2 boxes.

*Disclosure: The prize packs were graciously given to me from Ocean Spray through MyBlogSpark. I was not given any compensation to write this post and the opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

Review: Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Keeping your New Years resolutions to eat healthier and lose weight just got easier! Weight Watchers and Dawn Foods continues to expand its line of Sweet Baked Goods to include even more sensible snack choices. Muffins, cakes, brownies, and cookies--oh, boy!

If chocolate is your craving, then the Weight Watchers Double Chocolate Muffin is the way to go. For just 4 Points Plus you can indulge a little and not regret it. And it is satisfying because each muffin contains 6 grams of fiber to fill you up.

Yearning for a blueberry muffin with your morning coffee? Then try Weight Watchers Blueberry Muffin, which is full of real wild blueberries. It too has just 4 Points Plus. Add a fresh piece of fruit and you have the perfect breakfast.

*Disclosure: I received samples of Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Goods for free due to my affiliation with MomSelect. These are my honest opinions and I was not given any payment to write this review post.

Menu Plan...January 16

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:12:00 +0000

Breakfasts

2 mini whole wheat bagels with whipped cream cheese(6 ww pT+)
Fit & Active multigrain waffles, Fit & Active turkey sausage link,
and sugar-free syrup (9 ww pT+)

Lunches

Salad with grilled chicken and low-fat Casesar dressing, clementines (6 ww pT+)
Lean Cuisine pepperoni pizza, salad with light balsamic vinaigrette dressing, clementines (11 ww pT+)

Dinners
Chicken Rollatini with Prosciutto and Cheese and salad (10 ww pT+)
Chicken Tacos with light sour cream and shredded cheese and rice (12 ww pT+)
London Broil with A-1, 1/2 baked potato with light sour cream, broccoli (12 ww pT+)
Dinner out with the in-laws - Japanese hibachi (bonus points time!)
Broccoli Pasta, salad (10 ww pT+)

Didn't get to last week...Cashew Chicken with rice (10 ww pT+)
Didn't get to last week...Fit & Active fish sticks, corn, veggies and lowfat dip (14 ww pT+)

Snacks

Piece of fruit and 2 cheese sticks (4 ww pT+)

Nonfat yogurt with 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs (4 ww pT+)
Fit and Active version of "Cheeze-It" crackers(3 ww pT+)

Fit & Active version of "Oreo" thins(3 ww pT+ each)

Treat of the Week

Diet Soda Cake (5 ww pT+)

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

Menu Plan Monday...January 9

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:29:00 +0000

Breakfasts

Cinnamon Life with 2% milk (6 ww pT+)
Fit & Active multigrain waffles, Fit & Active turkey sausage link,
and sugar-free syrup (9 ww pT+)

Lunches

Spinach Salad with grilled chicken, sliced strawberries and mandarins
with low-fat poppyseed dressing (6 ww pT+)
Lean Cuisine pepperoni pizza, salad with light balsamic vinaigrette dressing, clementines (11 ww pT+)

Dinners
Cashew Chicken with rice (10 ww pT+)
Angel hair pasta with meat sauce, salad with light balsamic vinaigrette (8 ww pT+)
Fit & Active fish sticks, corn, veggies and lowfat dip (14 ww pT+)
Egg beaters with shredded cheese, whole grain white toast with fruit-spread,
turkey sausage links (12 ww pT+)
Pasta and Broccoli, dinner roll (11 ww pT+)

Didn't get to last week...Pan-fried flounder, broccoli, rice (10 ww pT+)
Didn't get to last week...Swedish Meatballs, no-yolk egg noodles, spinach (10 ww pT+)

Snacks

Piece of fruit and 2 cheese sticks (4 ww pT+)

Nonfat yogurt with 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs (4 ww pT+)
1/2 peanut butter and banana sammie on whole grain white bread (3 ww pT+)

Fit & Active fat-free Devil's Food cookies(1 ww pT+ each)

Treat of the Week

Mini Chocolate-Chip Cookies (1 ww pT+ each)

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

Another Admission-Free Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:14:00 +0000

The first weekend of each month marks a momentous occasion---Museums On Us! This awesome program is a way Bank of America gives back to the community and its customers. Simply flash a Bank of America credit or debit card and get in to participating museums free of charge.

On their site you can even sign up to get a text or email reminder when the weekends are coming up, but you can also be sure hear to about it hear at Free 2 Be Frugal!

Priorities and the Goals Based on Them

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Author Crystal Paine (from Money Saving Mom fame) encourages readers to make a list of their priorities and then formulate personal goals from there. I have been working on this activity for the past few weeks and decided to post them here. I do so for two reasons. First, I hope to inspire you to really think through what you hope to accomplish this year. And second, I appreciate the kind of accountability that sharing your goals with thousands of people can bring!

Here is my complete list of goals for 2012, based on my 6 priorities, listed in bold:

Being a Christian

-Meet with my Life Group at least 2x per month

-Read/highlight my Bible daily

-Write at least 1 encouraging letter to someone each month

Being a wife

-Bring back monthly date nights

-Read at least 1 book on marriage

Being a mother

-Lose 30 pounds to improve my health so that I can do more with my son

-Improve the eating habits of the entire family

-Get the family to spend more time being active, at least 3x per week

-Read at least 1 book parenting

Using our money wisely

-Restrict eating out to special occasions

-Try at least one new recipe per week

-Revert back to a tighter budget

-Reinstating personal allowances for each family member

Creating experiences and making memories with my family

-Turn our spare bedroom into a scrapbook room

-Scrapbook at least 2x per month

-Experience live music at least 1x per month

-Take at least one family trip

Lifelong learning

-Read at least 4 books each month

2012, in One Word

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:38:00 +0000

I have long noticed that many, many bloggers designate one single word as a theme of sorts for the new year. An inspiration, if you will.

If you had to pick just one word, just one little word to describe your focus for the upcoming year, what would it be?

Check out mine below (Thanks to Melanie from Only a Breath for making me this graphic to remind me of mine all year long! If you're a blogger, she'll make one for you, too.)

Setting Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

A new year means resolutions for many people. And resolutions are often broken. And fast! How about setting some goals this year instead and making a plan of attack for meeting them?

Here are my top 3 overall goals for 2012, based on my list of priorities (more on that later):

1. Find an exercise routine that works for me and stick to it at least three days a week.

2. Lose 30 pounds on Weight Watchers.

3. Less stuff; more meaningful experiences.

Want to set some goal for yourself, but just not sure how to get started? Check out Money Saving Mom's post on yearly goals and then print out her free worksheets.

Menu Plan Monday...January 2

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:33:00 +0000

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday season! Free 2 Be Frugal went on hiatus for such much-needed family time, but here we are--back in 2012. On a personal note, I have rejoined Weight Watchers. Here's hoping this is my year and I can meet my goal of losing 10% of my body weight!

Breakfasts

Special K with red berries with 2% milk (6 ww pT+)
Extra Large fruit smoothie made with 2% milk (6 ww pT+)

Lunches

Salad with tuna and low-fat caesar dressing, clementine (5 ww pT+)
Pasta and Broccoli, clementine (8 ww pT+)
Healthified grilled cheese, clementine, baby carrots (9 ww pT+)

Dinners

NYE Party (bonus points!)

NYD Party (bonus points!)
Pan-fried flounder, broccoli, rice (10 ww pT+)
Chili, 2 pieces of Mom's Cornbread (10 ww pT+)
Creamy Chicken Burritos, corn (12 ww pT+)
2 helpings of Cheeseburger Pasta , baby carrots (12 ww pT+)
Swedish Meatballs, no-yolk egg noodles, spinach (10 ww pT+)

Snacks

Hot Spinach and Artichoke dip with veggie dippers (2 ww pT+)

Aldi's Fit & Active 100 calorie pack cheese crackers (3 ww pT+)

Aldi's Fit & Active 100 calorie pack chocolate cookies (3 ww pT+)

Treat of the Week

Yum Yum Brownie Muffins (5 ww pT+)

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

Free 2 Be Frugal in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

If you are a regular reader, you might be wondering, hey--where are the tips of the day? Well, my frugal friends, I have given you a frugal tip of the day for every day for the past two years. I feel a change is warranted.

I'll keep you posted...

And the winner...

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 02:04:00 +0000

...of the Inkubook photo book giveaway is:

Towanda Taylor

Congrats!

Photo Book Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +0000

I'll be sparse as we approach the holidays, but I did want to pop my head in to announce a giveaway!

(This is where I would insert a picture of the prize, ya know, if Blogger's new interface wasn't giving me a hard time...)

One lucky Free 2 Be Frugal reader will win a free photo book from Inkubook. To enter, please do one or all of the following:

-Subscribe to the Free 2 Be Frugal blog.

-Follow Free 2 Be Frugal on Facebook.

-Follow Free 2 Be Frugal on Twitter.

One winner will be chosen at random and posted here on December 27th...Good Luck!

Freebies and Coupons and Tips (Oh My!)

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:04:00 +0000

Some of my best tips come from readers. If you have a frugal living tip, freebie, hot coupon, or great deal send it my way! Click the button above and shoot me an email today.

Gotta-Have Apps for Shopping: WHERE

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:02:00 +0000

Tip of the day - hip, hip, hurray!

Wouldn't you love to know when your favorite retailers released a coupon? You can with a neat little app called WHERE. It's free--and it's available for iPhone, android, Blackberry, Palm, and Window 7 phone.

Gotta-Have Apps for Shopping: Gas Buddy

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:51:00 +0000

Tip of the day time is here!

If you're gonna run around and shop, you will be burning up extra gas for sure. That's why you'll need a very handy (and free!) app called Gas Buddy. It helps you find the cheapest gas close to where you are when you are already out and about.

It is available on iPhone and android.

And the winner of...

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:59:00 +0000

...the Money Saving Mom book giveaway is:

TREESA

Congrats!

Gotta-Have Apps for Shopping: Shopkick

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:58:00 +0000

Tip of the day time, folks!

Can you score free stuff while holiday shopping? Apparently, you can. The free app Shopkick gives you rewards or "kicks" for walking into stores like Old Navy, Toys 'R Us, Target, etc. Those kicks can be traded in for gift cards, music downloads, movie tickets, and more.

It is available for iPhone and android.

Gotta-Have Apps for Shopping: Fast Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:34:00 +0000

Time for your money saving tip of the day!

For some peeps, Christmas shopping means heading to the mall. I personally loathe shopping malls, but sometimes it is a necessary evil. If you gotta go in there, get in and out as fast as you can! How is this possible, you ask?

Fast Mall is a free app that helps you navigate through the mall to get where you need to go quickly. This app has many, many mall maps. It can even help you find the perfect route through the crowds if you need to use elevators instead of stair/escalators (i.e. if you are handicapped or have a baby stroller in tow).

It used to just be available for iPhone for but it is also available for android phones.

Gotta Have Apps for Shopping: Google Shopper

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Tip of the day time!

Amazon isn't the only company to come out with a price checker app. Google Shopper will scan any barcode and search for price comparisons from a variety of online merchants, not just Amazon.

It is free and is available for iPhone and android.

Gotta Have Apps for Shopping: Price Check!

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Tip of the day, coming your way!

They say there's an app for everything, and for that I am glad. Amazon has a free and very handy one out called Price Check. It is available for iPhone and Android. What exactly does it do?

Say your are out shopping at brick and mortar stores (aka real stores...not online stores). You see something you wanna buy, but just aren't sure if it is the best price. You know Amazon and its merchants often offer the best deals on a variety of goods. Well, with this app you can check the price on a specific item--no matter where you are!

Must-See Sites for Holiday Shopping: 1 Sale A Day

noreply@blogger.com (Your Frugal Friend, Niki) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:18:00 +0000

Tip of the day time is here again.

Have you checked out 1 Sale A Day yet? You should, and daily!

Each and every day it features a deal in the following categories: Main, Wireless, Watch, Family, and Jewelry. You can also sign up to have daily Flash Deals sent straight to your inbox. What is a Flash Sale? It is a limited time offer that features deep discounts.