Spendwise Moms

Margaret's Chocolate Sauce

2012-05-31T14:27:00.000-06:00

We had some friends over for Memorial Day and they brought a very yummy homemade chocolate sauce. She said I could post it on my blog to share with anyone who is interested. It is much better than Hershey's by a long shot!

1 cube butter
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Bring to a boil and then simmer for 6 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Tastes great over ice cream!

Do you have a recipe you would like to share? Link up and share so we can try it!

$50 Weekly Grocery Challenge: Spent $48.35 so far...

2012-05-31T14:21:00.001-06:00

First Trip:

2 packages of cream cheese at 1.50 each
Tropicana Orange Juice 2.99
Ranch powder 2.46
3 Jars of Peanut butter at 3.28 each

Total for this trip: $18.29

2nd Trip:
Gallon of Fat Free Milk 1.99
Avocados 2 at 1.09 each
Mushrooms 95 cents
Bananas 74 cents
Tomatoes 1.16
Mini Cucumbers - Organic 2 at 99 cents each
Broccoli 81 cents
Tahini 6.14
Gallon of 2 percent Milk 1.99
Carrots - Organic 1.19
Buttermilk 2 at 33 cents each
Organic Sour Cream 2.59
Cardini's Dressing 3.46
Onions 42 cents
Green Peppers 2 at 50 cents each
Red Onion 86 cents
Lemons 2 at 50 cents each
Olives 93 cents

Total for 2nd trip: $30.06

Grand Total: $48.35

How did you do this week? Did you stay in your budget or get some good deals? Link up and share!

Keep it Up!

2012-05-31T10:48:00.001-06:00

One of the things that makes cleaning and decluttering much easier is to just keep things up. Rinse the dishes right away. Put the scissors back where they belong after you use them. Put your dirty clothing right into the hamper or laundry basket instead of on the floor or chair. The little things add up to make it easier to clean.

Keep a List of What You Need

2012-05-30T21:16:00.000-06:00

As I was going through some closets today taking a mental inventory of what I have and seeing what I need, I wrote down the things I need to replace at some time in the future. When you are decluttering, it is a great time to start a running list of these kinds of things so you will have it available when you have the time to go shopping and have the money to replace them. Clothes get stained or don't fit any more, food gets eaten, and linens get worn or stained. By keeping a list, you can avoid buying things that you don't really need. I do my shopping for household items once a month. I go through the cupboards and drawers where I keep household items that may need to be replaced and write down what I need before I go to the store. If I run out of something before it is the next budget period, I will write it down and buy it on my once a month trip, too.

Food Stamp Challenge: Why Not Give It a Try!

2012-05-30T09:03:00.002-06:00

Each year, new people try the Food Stamp Challenge. This year, the amount is up to $31 per person for a week. Frankly, it seems like a lot of money to me, since I spend much less on a regular basis, but it is worth trying for a week if you haven't so you can get an idea of what people on Welfare go through. Here is a story of someone who did it very recently. If you try it, write down your experience and e-mail it to me at mom@spendwise.org. I will be happy to publish it so others can have a chance to read it. Here are some experiences of others from who have tried it in the past if you are interested. If anyone wants to try it next week and wants someone else to do it with them, I would be happy to join. It would mean that I could spend twice as much as I normally do for the four of us!

Menu for the Week: May 30 - June 5

2012-05-30T08:50:00.001-06:00

Simple Orzo Pilaf, Green Salad
Breakfast Dinner with Chorizo, eggs, cheese, biscuits, hash browns, fresh fruit
Cajun Red Beans and Rice
Sfeeha (Arabic Meat Pies) and Spinach Pies
California Chicken Marinade
Bourbon Chicken with no alcohol, rice
Tri Color Pasta Salad

Minimalism

2012-05-29T14:28:00.002-06:00

I have written a few posts in the past about the benefits of minimalism. I look at it from the viewpoint that it is good to keep clutter out of your home and avoid unnecessary purchases. Keeping up with the Joneses is on one side of the pendulum and Minimalism is on the other side. I think both are extreme, but if I had to choose I would choose less instead of more because it allows you more freedom and saves you money. I think the real value with Minimalism is that PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT IT IS NOT THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY. THEY ARE LETTING GO OF THEIR STUFF TO MAKE ROOM FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE. You don't need to get rid of everything except 100 things. I also think that the minimalism movement will die down a bit and people will find a balance somewhere between. You don't have to get rid of all your books and only go to the library to show that you can let go of material things. There is nothing wrong with owning a few of your favorite books that you enjoy reading over and over. I like my Jane Austen movies and I will keep them, even though they take up a little bit of shelf space (about 5 inches) because I enjoy watching them over and over and will continue to do so through the years. But, I have donated the DVD's that I only have watched once and don't plan on watching again. My donation to the library will give others a chance to see the movies without having to pay for them and if I decide at one point in the future that I want to watch one, I can just check out my old DVD from the library and watch it. One of the Spendwisemoms, who just had a baby, doesn't have a washer and dryer where she lives. So, being a minimalist and only keeping 7 outfits for her baby isn't the best idea. Babies go through several outfits in a day sometimes, and since she has to go to a laundry mat, she doesn't want to be there every couple of days. You have to find the right balance for your situation. Read about other people's experience and gather information, but then make decisions for your family based on what is best for you, not what is best for someone else. The less you have, the less time you spend cleaning, etc. as well as spending less money. It just makes life easier. We really don't need lots of stuff all over the house that we don't use. Less time spent taking care of stuff means that you have more time for people or more time to do the things you want. Each person has to find the right balance for themselves, and if you have more than 100 items I wouldn't sweat it!

Simple Savings: Reusable instead of Disposable

2012-05-29T08:00:00.001-06:00

My teenage son asked me to buy him some disposable razor cartridges which can be very pricy. I couldn't get myself to spend the money on it. Instead, I told him that he should get used to an electric razor since it could save him a lot of money through time. He has one, and chose to go that route instead of pursuing the disposable route. My husband and I have used electric razors for years. It isn't as close of a shave, but you also don't have to deal with getting nicked and you save money. How many things can we change to be more ecofriendly and save money?
1. Use cloth bags for shopping instead of plastic.
2. Use plastic containers that you can wash instead of plastic bags.
3. Reuse a water bottle instead of buying packages of water bottles and throwing out or recycling the bottles each time.
4. Take a lunch box instead of using paper bags.
5. Use regular dishes to eat on instead of paper dinnerware.
6. Take you own reusable container with you for leftovers when you go out to eat.
7. Use a foil ball in the dryer instead of dryer sheets.

What other ideas do you have?

That ever elusive balance

2012-05-23T10:00:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about finding balance in life. Every time I think I've got a good balance of work, household duties, and family, something big happens and I have to re-adjust things to find balance again. Still working on that since baby #2 came into our lives. But, there's one thing I've found that makes a big difference!

I found I was running out of time and energy by the end of the day. So, I decided to cut out a few things. Rather than spend as much time cooking, and sticking to my rather strict (for me) grocery budget, I increased my grocery budget so I can afford a few more convenience dinners and can just go to one store. Even though I only added about $10 a week, it has made such a big difference! I don't feel so stressed about getting dinner on the table- it takes less work, and I find I'm much happier.

I don't think it's as much about money as it is the extra TIME I have. I know that not everyone has the flexibility to just increase a budget to help things go back into balance, but I bet there is something you can change to increase the amount of time you have during the day. Do you watch a lot of TV? Try cutting out a show or two. Feel like you don't have enough time to read? Try listening to a fun book on your way to work in the morning. Hopefully that can help you find the ever elusive balance, or at least get a little closer to it!

Upgrade, Downgrade, or Stay?

2012-05-22T21:29:00.001-06:00

Whenever you have a change in the size of your family, whether it be kids coming in or moving on, it's a good time to reassess how much space your family needs. Should you upgrade to a bigger space? Keep the space you have? Or is it time to move into a smaller home? Each situation is so unique- there isn't one right answer. I'm not at the stage of my life where I have kids moving on: we're still adding on to our family! So, here's a few tips based on my own experiences and observations.

When to get a upgrade:
There are a few factors to consider when you are making this decision. In my experience, sleep and space are two very important considerations. Obviously, there are legal and financial considerations, too! And...after having moved three times with a little one, I promise it is something you want to avoid if you can help it.

Legal: If your contract says you can only have two people in a one bedroom apartment, you will need to upgrade!
Financial: If you don't think your budget can afford an upgrade, it might be better to try to stay in your current place. However, sometimes you can find a larger place in a different part of town that costs about the same. If it is closer to where you work, you will be saving money on gas, which would help offset the cost of a larger place. Sacrificing certain amenities can also help offset the cost.
Sleep/Sanity: Are you a light sleeper? Having a one bedroom apartment with kids is probably not for you! Every time they get up, or every time you get up, it has the potential of waking up someone else. I feel like sleep is directly connected to my sanity, happiness, and well being. And when I am happy, the rest of my family tends to be pretty happy, too!
Space: If you need some space, and don't feel like you can have that in your current dwelling, it might be good to upgrade. Sometimes it is nice to have a room where I can keep certain things away from my very curious toddler.

When to stay:
I feel like this is one is the most cut and dry. If you can get some sleep, still have space, and can still reasonably fit all of your children in the rooms you have, then by all means, STAY! We currently have a two bedroom apartment. We just had our second child, and even though we now have one boy and one girl, they are young enough that I don't think they need their own room. And, there is nothing wrong with kids sharing rooms when they are older, too! Besides, who wants to move when they don't have to?

When to downgrade:

This isn't something I know anything about! But, it seems like it might be a good idea to downgrade once your children have left the nest. Not only would it be less to maintain as you get older, you will also save money on the utilities and other upkeep expenses that come with a larger house.

Some disadvantages to downgrading are:

Leaving your home
Lack of space when the kids come to visit

A decision this big shouldn't be taken lightly- make sure you consider all of the ways moving would change your life. I want to stress that financial considerations are important, but there are a lot of other factors to consider!

Recently, we thought we'd look into moving into a cheaper place that was closer to my husbands work so we could put more money towards our down payment. (Someday, we'll be ready to get a house. At least that's what I keep telling myself!) When we broke down all of the costs, it really didn't save us that much money! There were other unanticipated costs that added up a lot faster than we had realized! The new apartment didn't have a washer or dryer, and even though my husband could bike to work every day, and we could get away with only one car, the extra fees and the month we'd have to double rent basically killed all the savings we would have had. Also, we didn't really like the area as much, and the complex wasn't nearly as kid-friendly, which is a very, very important consideration for us!

$50 Weekly Grocery Challenge - Spent $46.33

2012-05-21T12:50:00.008-06:00

Since I was out of town, I did my grocery shopping today for the current week through tomorrow. I got the following things:

Canola Oil 8.99
Lettuce 3.99
Broccoli 69 cents
Lemon 50 cents
Watermelon 1.57
Yogurt 4 at 59 cents each
Bananas 86 cents
Mangoes 2 at 50 cents each
Farm eggs 2.99
Organic skim milk 3.69
Tropicana Orange Juice 2 at 1.99 each
Tillamook Sour cream 1.79
Red Beans 1.58
Carrots 1.19
Organic red potatoes 1.99
Apples 3 lb. gala 2.50
Onions .65
Tillamook vegan cheddar 1.25
Cilantro .59
Green onion .44
Garlic .44
Tomatoes 2.41
Mushrooms 1.05

Grand total: $46.33

How was your shoppinjg trip this past week? Did you stay in your budget or get any good deals? Link up and share!

Statistics to Consider

2012-05-21T09:10:00.000-06:00

I saw this infograph from Kaleazy on the internet and thought I would post it because it was interesting to see the evolution of households from 1950 until now.

Apr 2011 13

Infographic: The Evolution of the U.S. Household (1950s to Today)

Family life was very different in the Fifties. For starters, it was probably a two parent household. Divorce was uncommon (mainly due to societal pressures) so almost 90% of families had a husband and a wife present. People just didn’t like to live alone. Only 9% of homes had a single occupant in 1950, whereas today that number is far over 25%. Also, Mom was probably younger than today. Both the number of women in the workforce and the median household income have nearly doubled since the 1950s (even after accounting for inflation). This detailed infographic shows the cultural evolution of the U.S. household from the 1950′s until today.

Menu for the Week: May 16 - May 22

2012-05-21T08:37:00.001-06:00

I am posting this a bit late for the week, since I have been out of town. My cupboards, fridge and freezer are pretty bare. Time to get back in the swing of things. Here is my menu:

Grilled hamburgers/brats/zucchini/mushrooms, potato salad, strawberries
Pizza bread
Red beans and Rice
Stir Fry
Veggie Lo Mein
Baked Potato bar
Soft tacos: homemade tortillas, refried beans, etc.

I have a few meatless meals and a few with meat. What are you having for dinner this week? Do you have any good recipes to share?

Simple Savings: Focus on what you Spend, not what you Save

2012-05-04T09:36:00.001-06:00

It seems like people focus on "How much they saved" these days. It is more important to focus on what you spend and not what you save. When people save money, they usually have to spend something as well. So, if you buy something that you don't need, you are worse off spending a little bit even though you saved a lot than if you just didn't spend the money at all.

I have tried to focus on spending a limited amount of money on my groceries each week. As you can see by my posts the past months, I don't focus on what I save any more like I did when I first started the blog. Back then, I was using coupons. I rarely do any more. I love the extra time and decreased stress I have by eliminating them. I also don't advertise most sales. Encouraging you to buy lots of things at good prices that you really don't need doesn't help you save money in the long run. The purpose of our blog is to show that you can live well on a limited income by spending wisely.

College Kids: Stop It Before It Comes Home

2012-05-04T09:12:00.000-06:00

Our son just finished his first year of college. We went to pick him up and found out that he had a lot more stuff than we realized. Our car was PACKED. I got there at the tail end, and stopped some of the things from going into the car because there simply wasn't room. I wish I had gone earlier and helped him pack up his things. We could have gone through them at that time and saved us a lot of space in the car and temporary clutter in the house until we go through it all. He had done some packing ahead of time, but had about half of it left and all the cleaning and not a lot of time to do it since we had to leave that night. There were dishes and bedding that were old and unnecessary that ended up coming home. We did give his food to another person who lived in the same place. Once school is over for my teenage daughter, we are going to have a major declutter session for both of the kids.

So, what lesson can be learned from this? If you are planning on moving, start early and think twice about what you pack. Don't leave it until the last minute or you will be throwing things in boxes that you don't want or need and taking them with you just because you don't have much time left to sort through things.

Looking at the bright side, the extra college clutter that is now in the house will help me make it through another month of getting rid of one thing per day.

Garage Sales: A Bittersweet Thing

2012-05-01T08:48:00.002-06:00

I went to a couple of garage sales looking for some baby items last weekend, and found some really nice things. I got a crib set with sheets, diaper holder, mobile, blanket, bumper pads, etc. It was in great condition, and I got a great deal. I also bought a black diaper bag for another person. Then I found out that the people I bought them for already had what they needed or they weren't interested in them. I bought a few other things, and the second hand sports store took the ones that didn't fit. I will easily get my money back that I spent on everything with the sale of those items, but is it really worth it?

I have most of what I need and want in my home already. I don't like a lot of clutter. You can get great deals at garage sales. But, DO YOU REALLY NEED IT? I told my husband that going to garage sales last week reminded me that I can still get a lot of really nice things for a very good price. That doesn't mean that I should buy them if I don't need them. The thing I like the most about garage sales is getting outside early in the morning in the fresh air. I can go on a walk just as easily and be happy. Last week I found a 200 dollar coat for 2 dollars and a pair of almost new Keen shoes for 3 dollars. My daughter loves the coat, but the shoes didn't work so they went to the 2nd hand place. Was it really worth the time? I guess it depends on why you go. If you are spending time with a friend, then it is worth it whether you buy something or not. I don't want to buy a lot of things anymore that I don't need because I don't want the extra burden to take care of them. Since I don't want a lot, buying something that I really want new is fine with me. I just hate the price tag that comes with buying new. But, I can take my time and search for what I really want instead of having to decide quickly about something that will work but isn't what I really want. If I buy things for people close to me, I also have to ship them since they don't live close to us any more. Do I really want to spend a lot of money on postage to send something that didn't cost much? Do I really want to be the person that clutters their home? I don't.

I haven't gone to garages sales consistently for a long time. I like a simpler life, good deals or not. I have sent checks or gift cards for gifts this past year, and I like it much better. The garage sale trip this past week helped me remember that this is how I want to continue. I am happy to save the deals for others who need them more. The rush of a good deal has lost its influence on me.

Even in our best efforts, we sometimes revert back to old habits. I had times where I have had to live in a tight budget and getting a good deal was important. I have to be careful not to fall back into the habit of buying things just because they are a good price. I would rather spend my time doing other things instead of just getting more for my money. Having less is more in my book. There is less to wash, less to clean, less to be responsible for.

How do you feel about going to garage sales? Do you buy more than you need? Is the great deal worth it to you?

Thanks For Your Patience!

2012-05-01T08:09:00.000-06:00

You have probably notice that we have not had a lot of posts lately. One of the Spendwisemoms had a baby in April, another one is due anytime, and the third has been very busy and has been in and out of town and will be for the next month. Thank you for your patience.

$5 Weekly Pantry Challenge - Spent $4.49

2012-04-25T05:50:00.000-06:00

$50 Grocery Challenge - Spent $43.44

2012-04-23T19:35:00.008-06:00

I finally am doing my grocery shopping for last week. I got a lot of stuff for the money I spent, since I got $25 in free groceries when I got a prescription filled. This is what I ended up getting for the week:

Pita chips 5.79
Romaine Lettuce 3.39
Eggs 2.99
Bananas 1.53
Roma Tomatoes 91 cents
Tilamook cheese - white and kosher cheddar 8 oz packages - 12 packages at 1.29 each
Organic skim milk 3.39
10 pound hutterite yukon gold potatoes 3.49
Organic Carrots - 2 packages at 1.19 each
Green chilies - Two at 65 cents each
Gala apples 2.20
Onions 59 cents

All the rest of the groceries in the pictures were free: strawberries, watermelon, Boca burgers, chocolate milk, organic milk, cucumber, broccoli, green salsa, red salsa, etc.

I still have some money so I may buy some sour cream or something else with it. I don't really need it since I only have two more days before Wednesday shopping again.

$5 Weekly Pantry Challenge - Spent $4.48

2012-04-18T06:40:00.000-06:00

This week's pantry stock up went really well. Thanks to a good sale combined with great coupons, I bought 5 days worth of easy-to-prepare dinners.

$50 Weekly Grocery Challenge - $53.47

2012-04-16T15:43:00.004-06:00

This post is very late and I don't have pictures, but here it the breakdown for shopping this week:

Apples 5.86
Kiwis Three at 33 cents each
Avocados - Two at 50 cents each
Grapefruit Twelve at 44 cents each
Red Grapes 1.96
Blueberries 2.50
Grill Pack Chicken, no hormones 3.75
Tillamook Light Sour Cream 1.79
Organic Valley Skim Milk - Two at 3.69 each
Cran-raspberry Juice 1.99
Broccoli 84 cents
Grape tomatoes 99 cents
Green Chilies, canned - Three at 65 cents each
Butter 2.49
Tillamook cheese, different varieties - Three at 2.39 each
Oranges 93 cents
Granny Smith Apples 76 cents
Red onion 58 cents
Yellow Onion 45 cents
Farm Eggs, dozen 2.99
Bananas 90 cents
Tomatoes 92 cents

Grand Total: 53.47

Looks like I went over! I should have added it up before I went and bought an extra half gallon of milk and the cranberry juice. I could have skipped the trip and stayed in my budget! It has been a busy week, so I really don't care. The food will easily last for half of this week as well as last week.

How did you do on your grocery shopping this week? Did you get any good deals or stay in your budget?

Menu for the Week: April 11 - April 17

2012-04-11T08:19:00.003-06:00

This week I am trying to clean out the small freezer and use up leftovers from previous weeks. We will be having the following:

Chicken Tacos with homemade tortillas
Gumbo and Rice
Spaghetti
Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (I will half this recipe; last time it lasted forever)
Hummus and Homemade Pita Bread
Cajun Red Beans and Rice - These look a little drier than I am used to so I will probably add a little more water and let the beans cook more. I like them somewhere in the middle between these in the picture and refried beans.
Wendy's Chili - clone recipe

$5 Weekly Pantry Challenge - Spent $4.91

2012-04-11T06:36:00.000-06:00

I’ve decided to expand my month’s supply to include frozen items, particularly easy-to-prepare meals. I didn’t have much time this week so I just shopped sale items.

$50 Grocery Challenge: Spent $48.63

2012-04-05T08:44:00.009-06:00

I feel like I got a lot of food for my money this week. I have been so tempted to throw in the towel and stop the $50 per week challenge. But, it does help me to be more organized and careful about what I buy. I cleaned out the fridge before I put things away and put leftovers and last week's leftover produce on the top left shelf so I can use them first.

I took last week off and Michelle, one of the other Spendwisemoms did the post. It was nice to have a week off. Michelle had a beautiful baby girl a couple of days ago. Congratulations! I was lucky to stay under my budget this week. I wrote a list, but didn't stick to it completely. So, I was really surprised that it worked out. I got the following:

Chorizo sausage 91 cents
Chorizo sausage 94 cents
Organic Fuji Apples 3 lb. bags - Two at 2.99 each
Broccoli Crowns 1.63
Cauliflower 1.79
Strawberries 1.50
Tillamook Sharp shredded cheese 2.39
Sliced Ham from the Deli 1.50
Prosciutto 2.13
Organic Romaine Hearts 2.50
Yukon Gold Potatoes locally grown 3.99
Tillamook Light Sour Cream 1.69
Local Farm Milk 2.59
Bunch Spinach 99 cents
Bananas 1.13
Lemons - Two at 50 cents each
Carrots 69 cents
Pineapple 2.03
Organic Feta Cheese 3.99
Tillamook Mexican shredded cheese 2.39
Tilamook yogurt - 2 Raspberry and 2 Strawberry - 59 cents each
Buttermilk 33 cents
Green Pepper 69 cents
Red Locally Grown Potatoes 3.49

Total $48.63

How did you do this week? Did you stay in your budget or get any good deals? Link up and share!

Frugal Easter Dinner: Think Outside the Box!

2012-04-04T14:27:00.002-06:00

Easter will be here soon. For some, they celebrate by having huge meals with all the trimmings. For others, Easter may be a challenge because of a tight budget. This year, we are only buying potatoes and broccoli for our Easter dinner. I may even splurge and buy a small carton of ice cream to go with our meal. We have everything else in the freezer, fridge or cupboard. In fact, we are using up stuff that we are trying to rotate and will still come up with a nice meal. But, if I only had about $5 for the meal, I would think of something that we could eat and enjoy. The real purpose of Easter is to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and be with loved ones. Don't let a tight budget distract you from true meaning of Easter. You don't have to have ham for Easter. I don't know who started that. Jesus was a Jew and Jews don't typically eat pork, so I don't know who came up with ham for Easter. Do something different. Think outside the box.

Why not have an Easter Brunch? Potatoes are on sale at some stores for 99 cents this week. Eggs are usually cheaper around Easter. You could have a decent brunch for $5. As for the stuff in the omelettes or quiche, try going to a salad bar and get a few teaspoons of things to put inside. Have it weighed before you buy it to make sure you aren't spending too much. You can get little bits of meat and cheese instead of having to buy a whole package of something. Green pepper and onions usually aren't expensive, if you like them. Add a one pound package of strawberries for $1.50 this week or a pineapple for $1.99 at several stores.

Another thing you can do if money is tight, have a potluck. You buy lots of eggs and have people bring things they like to put in omelettes or a quiche. Someone can bring juice or fruit if they want. You supply the hash browns, and you can still stay close to a $5 budget. Plus, you would have a lot of fun with friends and good times make it easier to make it through tough times. You will feel rich with friends instead of money!

Another idea for around $5 this week is to buy some inexpensive cut of chicken and make mashed or baked potatoes and broccoli. For dessert, you could buy a package of pudding or get a cake mix on sale. Albertson's has their ready made store brand pudding for $1 each this week. Just take the 4 single servings and put them in a nice dish and no one will know how little you spent.

If you don't want a heavy dinner, buy some lettuce and get a few different salad toppings from the salad bar. Don't buy something that is usually inexpensive like carrots, but get the more expensive cheese and meat to put on top. Get a couple of tomatoes and you are set. You could even make rolls or have egg salad sandwiches to go with it.

You can also go to the deli and get one or two slices of ham if you really want a traditional meal of ham and potatoes. I saw yams on sale for a great prices as well as potatoes for 99 cents. There is always a way to work it out if you just give it a try!

If you are on a tight budget, try making less of the recipes you normally make. Also, you can go to the bulk food section and only get a cup of flour or a teaspoon of something if you need it.

Don't let a tight budget put a damper on your holiday. Be creative and see what you can come up with.

Do you have any ideas for inexpensive meals that are around $5 for Easter?