Thrifty Mom In Boise

Thrifty Emergency Meals!

2026-04-06T06:00:00.002-06:00

In my pantry and freezer I keep a stash of items to make quick meals in an emergency. An emergency can be anything from a power outage to an overwhelmingly busy day. Having these things on hand allows me to feed myself without the temptation of running through the fast food drive-thru or ordering delivery. It saves my health, saves me a lot of money and surprisingly it saves me a fair bit of time.

Loads of possibilities

Rice & Pasta Pouches

Rice-a-Roni, Knorr or the store brand equivalents often go on sale for about a dollar each. I keep half a dozen of them on hand to make fast and easy meals. I follow the package directions and add in frozen vegetables and cooked meat to make it a complete meal. To stretch it further you can also add a half cup of cooked rice at the end and mix it in well. I do this often to tone down the saltiness.

Pre Cooked & Canned Meats

In the freezer I store sandwich bags with pre-cooked ground beef or turkey, plain or seasoned, in half pound increments. They are perfect to add to a rice or pasta packet. Canned tuna and canned chicken are also staples I keep in the pantry. Hotdogs or polish sausages make for a super quick protein for a meal as well and they freeze well.

Pre Cooked Pasta & Rice

I will often cook a cup or two of rice and then freeze it in half cup increments to serve as a side dish or to use in a casserole or a quick stir fry or fried rice. I do the same with a package of pasta. They are great to have on hand to extend a recipe or any cooked meat.

Macaroni & Cheese

I keep a half dozen boxes of mac & cheese on the shelf. To make it more substantial I add a couple of sliced hotdogs to the boiling pasta that last minute of cooking. Drain and continue making the mac & cheese as usual. I will also stir in a can of drained tuna into a pan of mac & cheese as well. Round it out with steamed vegetables or a can of green beans heated in the microwave served on the side.

Soup

Nothing beats a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. I make my own soups from scratch and can them, but they can also be frozen in meal size containers. A sandwich or simple cheese quesadilla along with the soup makes for a delicious and filling meal.

Eggs & Toast

For me, nothing screams comfort food quite like two poached eggs on a slice of buttered toast. You can also scramble the eggs or make a sandwich with a fried egg and a slice of cheese. Quick, easy and super thrifty.

Frozen Pizza

There is no shame in a frozen pizza. Pick up a couple when they are on sale and store in the freezer for whenever you need a quick meal. Add a bag of salad mix and some salad dressing to complete the meal. A fraction of the cost of ordering a pizza and most likely you can have dinner on the table faster than the pizza deliver guy can get to your house.

Frozen Lasagna & Casseroles

Whenever I make lasagna or a casserole I also make one or two for the freezer. Tater Tot casserole and pizza pasta freezes nicely. I will place one in the oven and then turn it on to preheat while I get my evening chores done, make a salad or heat up a vegetable and before I know it dinner is ready. These are perfect options for unplanned company or sharing with a family member or friend in need of a meal too.

Salisbury Steak

2026-03-23T06:00:00.013-06:00

Homemade Salisbury Steak is one of those meals that is perfect for Sunday dinner, company or as an option for meal prepping. I’ve made it a variety of ways over the years, but my most favorite is like this.

I finely chop up some onions and button mushrooms to mix into a pound of lean ground beef along with some garlic, salt & pepper, Worcestershire sauce and dried parsley.

Once I’ve combined all of these things into the meat until it is well incorporated I evenly divide the mixture into four portions to pat out into patties.

I let them sit until the meat is room temperature and then pan fry them until each side begins to brown.

I remove them from the pan to rest and then in the remaining drippings I sauté some sliced mushrooms. Once the mushrooms are done I sprinkle a heaping teaspoon of flour over the top and then stir and cook the flour for about a minute before pouring in two cups of beef broth.

I love to stir in a tablespoon of dry au jus from a packet into the broth to boost the flavor.

I will stir it until it begins to bubble and thicken.

The patties go back into the gravy and simmer for about ten minutes. Be sure to add in all the yummy juices too.

I love to serve Salisbury steak with my favorite mashed potatoes.

I boil three or four peeled and cubed russet potatoes along with a peeled and sliced up carrot.

Once they are fork tender I drain and mash the vegetables adding in a few tablespoons of butter and some whole milk to the perfect consistency.

Perfect for meal prepping!

Then I serve them alongside the steak with gravy over the top. Scrumptious!

I Defied The Odds!

2026-03-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

Single parents tend to get a bad rap and to be honest, a lot of single parents do use their “single status” as an excuse as to why they go into debt, can’t make ends meet, have no savings or fail at whatever “married couples” succeed at so that isn’t helpful. Dual income families are deemed to be more successful than single income families. In fact, it is often thought that it is impossible to succeed without two incomes. Fortunately for me, that hasn’t been true at all.

I became a single mom, a very determined single mom, in 1987. I wanted the best possible life for both of us so when my son was six months old I put him in daycare, enrolled at a technical college and went back to school while working a part time job as a CNA at a nursing home to make rent and pay the bills. I took out the minimal amounts in student loans I could and practiced super frugality.

Once I was out of school and had a job in my chosen field my focus was to pay off my student loans as quickly as possible while continuing to live frugally. I also participated in my employer’s 401(k) plan as soon as I was eligible. They matched 3% so I made sure to contribute what I needed to in order to get those matching dollars so I didn’t leave anything on the table. I didn’t make a whole lot, but I made that and company health insurance benefits a priority.

The first thing I did after I got that job and filed my income taxes was to use that money to fund a $200 emergency fund and stock my pantry. The next year I added to my savings and restocked my pantry and again the following year. Consistently doing this fueled me to keep going. After eight years of scrimping and saving I had saved enough for a down payment and I bought my first home. I continued to save money, upgrade and improve my home and raise my son.

In 2000 I submitted my application to adopt my older daughter and three years later I did it again to adopt my youngest child. I raised three wonderful children, kept them healthy, well fed, provided them with opportunities and extracurricular activities, like tee ball, taekwondo and karate, band, orchestra, dance, etc. and never made excuses. We had pets, family vacations, camp trips and fun. All of my children have been to Disneyland. We didn’t just survive, we thrived. Bonus points – all of my kiddos have gone to college and have degrees.

My parents did not pay for their children to attend college and neither did I, but we all went. We figured it out on our own. My parents instilled in all of us kids a strong work ethic and taught us how to be capable, resourceful and responsible adults and I carried that forward when I raised my own kids. I also taught my children about money and how to save and responsibly spend it. The biggest thing I did was to set a good example for them follow.

In the process I was able to live a thrifty, debt free lifestyle, launch my kids out of the nest with the tools they needed to live out in the world on their own and save for my retirement. Then I retired early at age 57 after forty eight years in the workforce. Yes, I had my first job at age 9 and my first savings account at that age too. Prior to that age I had a piggy bank where I saved my change and squirreled away whatever I could “for a rainy day”.

I did a lot of side hustles along the way - babysitting, bookkeeping and tax preparation, graphic design, sewing and alterations, you name it, I did it. Likewise, from an early age my children did too – babysitting, house and pet sitting, working fast food and at the neighborhood grocery store. Like me, they all spent a little and saved most of their earnings so by the time they graduated high school they had quite a nest egg to start off with. They also had a car, bought and paid for along with the basic knowledge to take care of that vehicle.

I made no excuses, tried hard, worked harder and always lived well below my means while I saved and invested money for my future. Now that I am retired I do have a part time job which covers my groceries, gas and monthly expenses so I can continue to grow my wealth and be better prepared for my future when working is no longer an option for me. As I sit now, if I were unable to work due to a change in my health or a job loss I’d be okay. Knowing that I am financially set for the remainder of my life because of all the hard work I’ve put in so far is an amazing place to be. If a single woman can accomplish this on her own while raising a family, then anyone can. No excuses.

You Have TOO MUCH Stuff!

2026-02-02T06:00:00.012-07:00

Do you park in the garage or in the driveway? Do you have stuff sitting on the floor in any room of your home? Do you have things stored in other people’s homes (Mom & Dad’s house)? Do you have a storage shed in your yard? Do you rent an offsite storage unit? Are you out of space to put things away into drawers, cabinets and closets? Do you store things in your vehicles or have things sitting outside? Under a tarp or an awning? If you answered yes to any of these questions YOU HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF!

The thing about having too much stuff is that you are sitting on a pile of cash that can be reallocated toward debt repayment and building your savings account. For starters look at anything that happens to have an engine and start there. Vehicles, ATVS, jet skis, motorhomes, travel trailers (okay, no engine, but still), motorcycles and dirt bikes, etc. Give them a bath, take a picture and list them for sale. AS-IS! Don’t waste your time or your money that you don’t have “fixing them up”. Just get them sold. Use every dime to pay off your debt.

Go to your storage unit and empty it out making three piles – SELL, DONATE & TRASH. I am always amazed at how much money is spent to store trash and you will be too. Empty that unit and get rid of that stuff. Cancel your unit rental and vow never to do that again. Go out to that storage shed in your yard and do the same thing, then do it in the garage.

Do it in every drawer, cupboard, cabinet and closet. Sell shoes, bags, purses and clothing on eBay, Facebook and to consignment shops. Get rid of extra camping equipment, workout equipment, toys your kids don’t play with, toys you don’t play with. List as much as you can, but also be reasonable with your pricing and your expectations. Have lots of yard sales. Do this until you are only left with the things you actually LIKE, USE and truly WANT. Use every dime from eBay, Facebook Marketplace and yard sales to pay off your debt!

At the end of the day you will not only have a lot less stuff to manage, but you will feel a lot lighter too, especially emotionally. Our stuff has a tendency to weigh us down. The bonus is that you won’t need to move and manage so much crap and you will save yourself a ton of money because you are able to get rid of that storage unit and pay off some of your debt.

Are You House Poor?!

2026-01-26T06:00:00.020-07:00

The first and most costly monthly expense for most of us is our housing. How much are you paying for your rent or mortgage? Is it ever difficult to meet that obligation? Are you facing foreclosure? If so, it is time to start looking at alternatives before you are forced to and are at risk of losing your home. No one ever wants to find themselves at risk of being homeless, but sadly it happens. More than you might think. Do you have a backup plan?

In a previous post I talked about living within your means as if you are a fast food worker. This is a really good way to gauge your overall expenses and your spending habits. It is an eye opener to the importance of getting out of debt, having savings and a stockpile of some sort to help you become financially successful. Think about it. At this time could you weather a job loss? How would you get buy until you found a new job?

If you are a homeowner, overwhelmed with debt and need to lower your expenses it might be time to sell your house and move into something far less expensive. Would the current equity in your home pay off the mortgage and the 2^nd mortgage you may have? And possibly some other debt? If so, selling your house and downsizing into a smaller much more affordable home is the best solution to start your debt elimination journey and cut expenses. Before you consider purchasing another smaller house however, you may want to consider renting for a brief period of time. This may be a better option as it will allow you the time you need to pay off all debt, build an emergency fund, establish savings and retirement accounts and make better financial decisions. No need to jump from the frying pan into the fire.

Rent the smallest size apartment you need. If you have children they can always share a bedroom. Two in a room with twin beds, three in a room with a twin and twin bunk beds and four in a room with two sets of bunk beds is doable. If four in one bedroom seems a bit much then consider having the children sharing two bedrooms and the parents sleeping in the living room. There are ways to make it happen. And families really can share a single bathroom. It’s been done for decades in the past. Remember this situation is temporary.

While your home is up for sale, or even before while you are considering and researching your options, now is the time to start clearing out the excess. We’ll be discussing that more as we continue along in this journey to debt freedom and financial success but right now, what can you sell? Get it listed and use the proceeds to pay off debt.

If you are renting perhaps you need to move into a smaller apartment or even a studio. Or take on a roommate to share the rent and utility bills. Use the half you save toward paying off debt. Don’t want a roommate? Perhaps moving to a less expensive location or the town next door, however don’t move if that area would compromise your safety. Safety is important. But if you struggle to make rent and don’t feel a roommate is a good idea you might need to compromise and seek out a studio apartment. Or, simply rent a room from someone else and tough it out in the meantime remembering this is simply a means to an end.

Some people will move temporarily move into their RVs or their automobiles when times get tough and there is no shame in that. Some find tiny home living is the key to their financial success. Long term house sitting works too! Look at all the options and choose whatever is right for you. Remember this is only temporary until you are out of debt and have made your savings goals. It’s a means to an end. An end to stressful days and sleepless nights! And an end to worrying about your finances. Change is good. You can do this!

That Not So Impossible Taco Pie!

2026-01-19T06:00:00.007-07:00

Many moons ago (back in the 1970s) there was a new recipe on the back of the Bisquick box that was all the rage. My mom made it many times for a quick and economical supper and I’ve made it quite a few times myself. Over the years I’ve tweaked it and made it my own. Here is my version.

Quick & Easy Delicious Taco Pie

1 pound lean ground beef

3 cups cooked kidney, pinto or black beans, or a combination

1 small onion diced

1 small can diced green chiles

1 pkg. taco seasoning

3 eggs

1 cup milk*

½ cup complete (just add water) pancake mix, Jiffy mix or Bisquick

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Preaheat oven to 400°F. In a large skillet brown ground beef with onion over medium heat until no longer pink, drain fat and add beans and taco season packet. Combine well and simmer fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk eggs and milk with pancake mix until smooth.

Grease two deep dish 9 inch pie pans (or use one 9”X13” baking pan). Divide meat mixture between both pie pans and sprinkle each one with half cup of cheese. Carefully pour milk and egg mixture over both pies and bake approximately 25 minutes until top is set. Allow to cool 15 minutes prior to serving. Makes 16 servings.

*Don’t forget to use your special milk as it works perfectly in this recipe.

This pie is wonderful topped with shredded lettuce, sliced black olives, dollop of sour cream and some spicy salsa. Leftovers reheat nicely and the best thing about this recipe is you that you can freeze one pie to thaw and bake later or do a large baking pan if you want leftovers through the week. This is one of those recipes that takes a few ingredients and really gets a lot of mileage out of them. The beans not only extend the ground beef, but they also add flavor and fiber, which we all need. It is full of healthy proteins, fairly low in carbs and is absolutely delicious. I hope you try this one.

Live Like You Work At Burger King!

2026-01-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Living beyond your means is a recipe for financial disaster. All of my life, as a single mom, I made it my mission to live so, that if I had to, I could work at a fast food job and still manage to pay all of my bills. With that in mind, I was careful not to rent too much apartment or buy too much house, too much car, too much anything that would cause me to have big credit card bills and live as simply and economically as possible. If you, or you and your partner, would not be able to sustain you own cost of living on a Burger King income, then you are probably living beyond your means and your money is not going in the direction it should.

The best way to know if you are living within your means is to calculate your income based on the average fast food worker’s wage for the area you live. In my case the average wage is $15 per hour. If I calculate that it equates to $600 per forty hour work week or $2,600 a month, which is $31,200 a year before taxes. If your expenses, as a single worker are more than that you are living beyond your means.

The average fast food manager’s wage where I live is $20 per hour, equating to $800 per forty hour work week or $3,466 a month, which is $41,600 per year before taxes. If you have a partner and one of you is making more than the other or is in a managerial position, take this amount plus the average worker’s salary and that is what you would earn together. However, there is one caveat when it comes to doing this and that is imagine what it would be like should one of you become unable to work or lost your job.

Just because you have it, doesn’t mean you need to spend it. In fact the opposite is true. You need to save. Save, save, SAVE! If you or you and your partner cannot sustain your current standard of living based on these wages and you have debt with no savings then it is time to review with a critical eye your current standard of living. If you are unable to live on this lower income you are spending too much.

I remember one day picking my daughter up from band practice when she was in high school and she started telling me that her friend was “rich”! His parents drove fancy cars and they all lived in a big fancy house in a fancy neighborhood and wore fashionable clothes and he had a really expensive clarinet and he had a music tutor, etc. I listened to her chatter on and then when she was finished I said, “Honey, in all likelihood they aren’t rich they just have a lot of debt. I’d be willing to wager that I have more money in my savings account than they do, if they even have one.” I might’ve been wrong about that, but chances are I wasn’t. She grew quiet and didn’t say anything more. I thought she might be mad at me for saying that, but as we were about to arrive home she said, “You know, you’re probably right.” I probably was.

Sudden job loss happens. No one is recession proof or indispensable so don't kid yourself. We can always be replaced by someone for a lower wage, a robot or even nowadays, AI. I’ve lost jobs suddenly and unemployment insurance was only a third of my wages at the time. However, because I was living like a fast food employee it was just enough to cover my mortgage and utilities until I was able to find another job. I also had a stockpile of groceries and money in my savings account so I didn’t have to worry so much.

I’ll be going more in depth on other areas for living like a Burger King employee as time goes on, but for now take a good hard look at your income and how it compares to fast food wages in your area. If you have one, discuss with your partner how you could manage on lowered wages and if you can’t then it is time to make some changes until you can. It is important to live below our means and make sure you have some money in savings because you never know what could happen. Better to be prepared and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Vow To Make 2026 Your Debt Freedom Year!

2026-01-05T06:00:00.001-07:00

If you are carrying any debt whether it is with credit cards, car loans, personal loans or student loans vow, right now, to become a debt slayer in the upcoming year. Make 2026 the year you decide not only to get rid of debt to but also to stay out of debt! You can do this!

The rewards for debt freedom are tenfold, not the least of which is the peace of mind you gain from having financial security. I have tons of great ideas for paying off debt and living debt free and we’ll be exploring a lot of those in the coming year so you will want to stay tuned.

As someone who lives a debt free life I can attest to the fact that this is the best way to live. I work really hard for my money, always have, so I am not willing to waste it on things like interest or transaction fees. Nothing give me greater pleasure than to pay cash for a car or to know that when the refrigerator died I had the funds to replace it without financing.

I am going to show you how to pay off your debt, create an emergency fund, establish a savings account and even save for retirement. In the process you are going to live well and feel content. More importantly you will feel relieved not to be burdened anymore with the weight of debt and the fear of what might happen next.

Financial security allows us to live life on our own terms. We won’t have to stay at that dead end job we hate to go to because we can’t afford to leave. We can work our dream jobs and even work less because we no longer need to earn more, more, more. We can even make our money work for us instead of us working for money.

So what do you think? Are you in? Let’s do it!!!

Happy New Year!

2025-12-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2025-12-22T06:00:00.001-07:00

Investment Cooking For The Win! – Chili!

2025-12-08T06:00:00.006-07:00

This is definitely the time of year when I appreciated a hot steaming bowl of chili, however there are so many more things I do with chili than to just eat it in a bowl. I will often use it to make a nice variety of other main dishes that are sure to please. First we start with a good recipe that is easy and doesn’t cost a lot of money to make.

Chili Con Carne

1½ cups dry pinto or kidney beans

1 cup dry black beans

1 lb. lean ground beef, pork or turkey

1 small onion, diced

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles

1 envelope chili seasoning

Sort, rinse and soak beans overnight in cool water. Drain and place in large slow cooker. Cover with warm water and cook on high for 4 hours. Stir occasionally adding water if needed. Once beans are tender, brown meat and onions in olive oil. Drain off any fat and place in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients and stir to thoroughly combine. Cook additional two hours stirring occasionally. Serve.

You might want some cornbread to serve with this chili.

Cornbread

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbs. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 beaten eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 cup oil or melted butter

Mix your dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, milk and oil stirring just to combine. Pour batter into a lightly oiled 8" X 8" baking pan. Bake 20 minutes in a preheated 425° oven or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Now that you have a delicious pot of chili you can enjoy it as is or try some of these other tasty ideas. We are taking the premise of Rice & Beans to a whole new level!

Loaded Nachos – spread a bag of tortilla chips onto a large baking sheet pan. Top with a handful of grated cheese and then dollop with spoonfuls of chili. Sprinkle another handful of grated cheese over the chili along with some diced onion, sliced black olives and diced Roma tomato or your drizzle with your favorite salsa. Slide the pan into a preheated 400°F oven and allow to bake until cheese melts and chips just begin to brown. Remove from oven and serve along with sour cream and guacamole or avocado slices.

Rice Bowl – place a half cup of cooked rice in a bowl and top with a cup of hot chili. Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and top with a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with sliced green onion.

Tamale Pie – Fill a lightly oiled nine inch deep dish pie pan or an eight inch square pan with chili leaving one inch of space from the top edge. You can stir in a cup of frozen corn into the chili first if you like. Sprinkle half a cup of grated cheddar over the chili. Mix up a batch of cornbread and spread batter over top of chili and cheese. Bake in a preheated 400°F oven until chili is bubbly and cornbread is thoroughly cooked (test the center with a toothpick). Remove from oven, sprinkle with another half cup of grated cheddar and allow to cool at least fifteen minutes before serving. Top with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Chili Dogs – Toast four hotdog buns. Slice four beef franks in half, not quite all the way through, and pan fry. Place a frank on each bun and top with a couple spoonfuls of hot chili, a sprinkle of cheese and diced onion.

Chili Stuffed Baked Potato – Bake four medium potatoes until tender, split and fluff the insides with a fork. Add a bit of butter to the potato, salt and pepper. Top with a few spoonfuls of hot chili, sprinkle with some cheese and add a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with some sliced green onions.

Taco Salad – place two cups of salad greens onto a plate. Top with a cup of hot chili. Sprinkle with cheese and drizzle with salsa. Add sliced olives, diced tomato, sliced green onions, and then drizzle with ranch salad dressing.

This is rice & beans I can live with!

Leftover chili also makes an excellent filling for a cheese omelet. Use up leftover chili by adding it to a batch of beef and bean burrito filling or stir it into a pot of taco soup. Enjoy!

Don’t Let Meal Planning Overwhelm You!

2025-12-01T06:00:00.013-07:00

I have talked multiple times about how important it is to have a meal plan as a way to save tons of money on your overall food expenses. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to sit down and come up with that plan week after week or you simply run out of time. In that case try simplifying the process. This idea isn’t entirely mine as I was inspired by a Youtuber at Simple Food Simple Life and I think it is brilliant!

A blueberry muffin with 1/2 a large apple sliced

Breakfast – keep it super simple with toast or and English muffin and peanut butter or a toasted bagel with cream cheese plus a piece of fruit like a banana, pear, nectarine or an apple. Some of us, and I include myself here, may not be ready to eat early in the day and if that is the case, then skip it. Instead, opt for a mid morning snack, brunch or an early lunch when your stomach is ready for food.

A cup of split pea soup w/half a tuna salad sandwich & lettuce

Lunch – a cup of soup and half a sandwich. Done! With so many soup options and varieties of sandwiches it will take a good long while before you get tired, if you even do. This combo allows you to hit all of the nutrition points too. Also of note is that a serving of bread is one slice, but if you feel a half sandwich isn’t enough to keep you going, by all means make a whole sandwich. Try it with the half sandwich first though because I found it surprisingly filling.

Beef stroganoff over rice w/broccoli

Dinner – a starch, a protein and a vegetable (fresh or cooked or a combination). I try to avoid too many starches myself, but if you handle them well then select healthy options like rice or potatoes. To make it easy try coming up with a simple meal plan for suppers that you can mix and match over a couple of weeks.

Small bananas & mandarins

Yogurt w/diced nectarine

Snacks – a piece of fruit, nuts, raw veggies with some salad dressing, a couple slices of cheese, half a apple sliced with a spoonful of peanut butter, a yogurt cup, etc. Healthy snacks like these help fill in the nutritional gaps so you are sure to get all of your daily nutrients. Stay away from ultra processed foods.

Chicken fried rice, egg drop soup & a green salad

Burger with lettuce & tomato plus potato salad for Diner Nite

Have themes – maybe Sunday is chicken, Monday is leftovers, Tuesday is Mexican food, Wednesday is soup and salad, Thursday is pasta, Friday is hamburgers or steaks, Saturday is pizza. You get the idea. Tailor it to fit your family’s particular tastes.

Tacos!

Meatloaf, small baked potato w/sour cream & vegetables

Your meal plans don’t need to be overly elaborate, but to save money and stay on budget you do need a plan of some sort. Get your family involved in the meal planning so it isn’t always on you to make it happen and make sure they are helping with the cooking and clean up, especially the kids. Life lessons they’ll need to learn for later on in life. Keep it simple in order to keep it successful!

Holiday Hams & Turkeys Will Make You A Winner!

2025-11-24T06:00:00.035-07:00

Hams and turkeys are at their best prices during the holidays so if you have the freezer space and the extra cash now is the time to pick up one or two extra to use keep hand and use during the year for some cheap proteins. There are so many things you can do with either a ham or a turkey. I have a couple old posts about how I make the most of both a ham and a turkey to get a lot of mileage out of them.

While I was raising my family I would always buy a whole turkey and a ham to use for making tons of low cost meals. I would slice up turkey and ham for making sandwiches, cube it for adding to soups and casseroles, chunks that could be reheated and sliced up to serve alongside stuffing or potatoes and vegetables to make meals. Thick slices of ham are great to fry in a pan for breakfast or supper. Thick slices of turkey are reheated and served with gravy. The bones were always saved and used to make broth.

Turkey

Hot Turkey Sandwiches

Turkey Pot Pie

Sliced Turkey w/Cranberry Sauce on a Croissant

Thick Sliced or Diced Turkey & Gravy over Mashed Potatoes

Turkey & Noodles

Turkey Soup

Turkey & Dumplings

Simple sheet pan meal

Ham

Ham Slices Glazed w/Cranberry Sauce

Dice Ham in Macaroni & Cheese

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

Ham & Navy Bean Soup

Split Pea & Ham Soup

Sliced Ham Sandwiches

Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

Homemade Egg McMuffins

Diced Ham in Scrambled Eggs

Split Pea Soup

Even if you can’t afford to buy an extra ham or turkey this year you can still benefit from those that are served at the holidays. Leftovers are always a great way to get more mileage out of the main meal. Don’t be afraid to ask the host of your holiday get-togethers for the ham bone or the turkey carcass as quite often they are tossed in the trash. I’ve done that before and people are always happy to give it to you.

Turkey broth

Processing the ham and turkeys right away rather than freezing them whole allows you to put away the meat in the freezer a bit easier as they are less bulky. Also, remember Easter is another time to watch for good deals on hams as well. There are so many economical ways to feed yourself and your family especially when you take advantage of seasonal sales at the holidays.

Thanksgiving Dinner On A Dime!

2025-11-17T06:00:00.001-07:00

This year many are struggling and the thought of shelling out a bunch of money on a holiday dinner might seem impossible but don’t despair. You can still pull this off if you are of a mind to. Instead of cooking a turkey with all the trimmings simply scale it back a bit and you’ll be able to put a beautiful holiday meal on the table with very little out of pocket.

I made up one can of pumpkin into pie filling and
divided it between two small 8 inch homemade pie crusts

Chicken & Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Stuffing

Vegetables

Dinner Rolls & Butter

Dessert

Chicken or turkey leg quarters will work too!

These roasted up beautifully!

You will need:

One Whole Chicken (a Costco rotisserie chicken is perfect for this application if you can)

Two packages of Idahoan buttery mashed potatoes

One box store brand stuffing (stove top style)

Vegetables – two cans of green beans, corn or a bag of frozen broccoli

One package dinner rolls (check your stores discount bakery rack)

Dessert – pumpkin or apple pie, brownie mix, ice cream or sherbet

Most of this was already lurking in the cupboards

If you have some sliced bread, cube some and
add to this box of stuffing to stretch it further

Shop your cupboards first to determine what you already have on hand so you won’t need to buy extra items. If you can use pantry staples to bake rolls or desserts then do that rather than buy one. Use the drippings from the chicken to make gravy. Keep it simple and you’ll be amazed at how nice your holiday dinner will be.

Last year I did 2 Costco rotisserie chickens and a couple sides
My guests brought more sides and dessert!

If this seems like a lot to do on your own consider combing forces with friends and relatives and do a potluck. Simply buy two chickens and make gravy using the drippings and a little bit of flour mixed with water for a slurry to thicken it. If you don’t have flour don’t worry. You only need a few tablespoons and someone you know will happily give it to you. Have your guests bring the sides and desserts. You will all enjoy a fabulous meal and fun spending the day together.

Lasagna is a delicious alternative to turkey dinner

Another thing you can do is just go with an non-traditional holiday meal using items you already have on hand. A spaghetti supper with a loaf of frenchbread and cupcakes or homemade pizzas can be fun if the whole family gets involved. Use your creativity to make it a special occasion.

Homemade pizza ready for the oven!

Food banks, churches & food pantries are great resources

If things are dire, set aside your pride and contact your area food bank, church or food pantry to get on the list for a Holiday food box. There is absolutely no shame in asking for help when you truly need it and no one needs to go hungry. Food pantries love to help so reach out and get what you need.

Soups On! Part II!

2025-11-10T06:00:00.001-07:00

One of the easiest and most efficient budget stretchers is to make soup. I have made soup as one of our weekly meals for years and not only does it save me money but it also allows me to use up items in the fridge that otherwise might go to waste. Soups are hearty, nutritious, hydrating and delicious. They are also easy to make.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

2 medium potatoes, peeled & finely diced

1 16 oz. bag frozen chopped broccoli

½ cup onion, finely chopped

2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups whole milk

Salt & pepper

Cook potatoes, broccoli and onion in vegetable broth until vegetables are fork tender. Remove from heat and mash potato mixture. Stir in cheese and milk. Return to heat and bring to a slight boil. At this time use an immersion blender to make soup smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

This soup is a family favorite, even for kids who might balk at eating their veggies. I often had a hard time having enough leftovers for my lunch the next day.

Unstuffed Bell Pepper Soup

1 large bell pepper, chopped

½ medium onion, diced

½ pound lean ground beef, browned and drained

1 carrot, peeled and sliced

1 can cut green beans, undrained

1 jar marinara sauce

2 cups beef broth

1 -2 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. dried basil

Salt & pepper to taste

2 cups rice, cooked

½ cup grated mozzarella cheese

Place all ingredients, except rice and cheese into slow cooker. Cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours. When ready to serve place ¼ cup of rice in bottom of soup bowl and ladle hot soup over the top. Top with grated cheese. Serves 8.

I love that this soup only uses a half pound of ground beef, you could also use ground pork, making it very economical. With all of these delicious ingredients it is also very flavorful.

Pork Basil Soup

2 pork loin chops, thinly sliced

1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

1 can water chestnuts, rinsed and drained

1 can coconut milk

2 cups chicken broth

2 cups shredded coleslaw mix

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 Tbs. dried basil

2 Tbs. soy sauce

1 Tbs. sciracha sauce (optional)

1 Tbs. olive oil

In a large pot over medium heat place oil. Heat to coat pan, add pork and onions and cook until no longer pink and onions are soft. Add remaining ingredients. Fill coconut milk can with warm water and add to soup. Stir well and simmer about 20 minutes.

This soup is wonderful on its own and you can also serve it with rice to make it an even heartier meal. I will often serve eggrolls or spring rolls to complete this meal.

These are three really delicious soups that are definitely not boring and will fill you up. Add a simple green salad and bread to make it a well rounded meal sure to satisfy. I think it is important when you are trying to stretch your budget to do our best to keep meals interesting. If you need additional soup ideas and recipes check out Soups On! for more inspiration.

Rethinking Christmas!

2025-11-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

This year I want to challenge you to think outside the box a bit when it comes to celebrating Christmas so you don’t break the bank and end up with a giant credit card bill come January. In my opinion, a huge bill is no way to start out a new year. Instead, let’s get excited about the holidays with no buyer’s remorse.

Have The Talk!

Have a discussion with your family (the Thanksgiving table may be the perfect venue) about scaling back on the gift giving, not just on how much one should be spending, but also on the quantity of gifts you are giving. Explain your “why”. Let everyone know that times are tough right now (no one will argue that point) and that you are paying off debt or you are saving for something important.

Instead focus on experiences, traditions and of course, the food. As we have looked back over the years at previous holidays we never seem to remember the gifts we were given, but we always remember wonderful food we ate and the fun things we did. When it comes to the gifts we give our children set a modest budget and stick to it. I also love this idea – Something you want, something you need, something to wear & something to read. Simple, easy and more than plenty.

Make It A Challenge!

Nothing fires people up and gets them excited more than a good ol’ challenge. Whether the challenge is homemade gifts only, food gifts only, experience gifts only, $5 gifts, $10 gifts, white elephant gifts or whatever you decide a challenge can be a fun and exciting part of your holidays this year. Instead of giving a gift to everybody outside of your immediate family consider drawing names instead or host a gift exchange where everyone brings a single gift. Rules can vary and “stealing” may or may not be allowed.

Shop Your Home First!

Before you go shopping for baking ingredients or food for holiday meals go through the freezer, fridge and pantry and pull out everything you already have. Then make a list and fill in the blanks. Pull out all of the crafts supplies you have squirreled away in drawers and closets and finally put them to good use. Look at items around your house, even in the garage, and consider re-gifting them to someone you know would enjoy them. Or, finally get some of those photos on your phone printed up and give them to your loved ones.

Decorate!

Pull out all of that holiday décor and get busy decorating your home. Most of us will agree that we have way too many holiday decorations and tangled strings of lights. Challenge yourself to use only what you already have instead of buying new things this year. Maybe now is a good time to downsize and consolidate what you have and share some of the overflow with others. Trade your extra string of lights or box of ornaments for a “new” (to you) wreath for your front door. Make trimming the tree a party event this year. Consider playing holiday music or streaming a favorite Christmas movie while you decorate. Kevin!!!!

Wrap It Up!

Chances are pretty good you already have everything you need to wrap gifts, make your own cards or give away homemade cookie plates on a plain paper plate covered in Saran wrap with bow on top. Every year my next door neighbor gives me a loaf of her delicious pumpkin bread wrapped in foil with a bow on top. I love it! One year we received an assortment of cookies on a tray that was made out of a shoe box lid. Clever! If you’ve been saving cookie or popcorn tins over the years now is the time to use them up and give them away.

When it comes to gift wrapping you don’t necessarily need it to be Christmas specific either. Plain paper will work just fine. I personally love the look of brown paper with red ribbon so go ahead and cut up that paper grocery bag taking up residence in the bottom of your pantry and put it to work. Use aluminum foil or colorful tissue paper to wrap small gifts and tie with a ribbon or length of yarn. Make your own gift tags too.

Keep It Simple!

Keeping it all very simple and basic not only reduces stress, but it also makes the holidays much more enjoyable. One of our traditions is to drive around on Christmas Eve and look at the lights people have put up on their houses. One year it was a full moon out so we just bundled up and walked our neighborhood. It was so quiet and beautiful, downright enchanting. When we got home I made hot cocoa for everyone and then we scuttled off to bed before Santa arrived.

Scaling back and keeping things simple won’t put a damper on the festivities in fact it may be quite the opposite. You will mostly likely introduce new experiences, new traditions and make a lot of memories along the way. Your bonus is that there won’t be a big bill waiting for you in January.

Rice & Beans?!!

2025-10-27T06:00:00.036-06:00

“Oh no! Don’t tell me that in order to save money and pay off debt I have to eat rice and beans!” Ugh, right? Well, I’m going to tell you to eat them, but not in the way you think. I keep a variety of dried beans, split peas, and rice in my pantry to use in so many of my meals and I don’t feel deprived or bored. I personally do not care for lentils, but if you do definitely ad lentils to your pantry as well. Not only are these items budget friendly, but they are packed with good nutrients too.

I will often cook a batch of dried beans in my slow cooker to make chili, homemade refried beans, add to soups and extend ground beef when I make taco meat. I brown a pound of ground beef with some diced onion, drain the fat and add a cup or two of the cooked beans along with some taco seasoning. It is perfect for tacos and burrito filling. I also like to add cooked black beans and frozen sweet corn to my homemade salsa.

Rice makes an excellent side for beef and gravy, sweet & sour pork, a family favorite crack chicken, etc. I like to season my rice with spices or salsa for Spanish style rice or cook it in broth for extra flavor. Another family favorite is to make rice pilaf to serve next to pork chops or roasted chicken. We also love pork fried rice.

Of course rice & beans is a very delicious meal to enjoy and I to make it from time to time, but there are so many other great ways to use these in a multitude of other meals. No boredom. So go through your cupboards and pull out those bags of rice and dried legumes and get creative. Your budget will appreciate it and I’m sure you family will too.

Do You Have A Stockpile? You Need One!

2025-10-20T06:00:00.006-06:00

Years ago my first stockpile began with a copy paper box and lid I brought home from work and evolved from there. I squeaked out every extra penny I could from my existing grocery shopping budget to fill that box with items I used on a regular basis. It evolved from there until I was able to fill another box and then another. I stacked the boxes in my hall closet where they were safe and out of the way. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen and that practice saved my bacon many times through any financial hardship I faced while raising my family as a single mom.

I still keep a stockpile of groceries and nonfood items in my home to this day. It is a huge part of my financial success and why I am easily able to stay on budget with my expenses and spending. I would buy one for now and one for later until I had an extra item for nearly everything I had listed on my basic pantry list. Before long I had two of each item and then three. Then I added additional numbers of the items I used more often like canned tomatoes, soup, green beans and peanut butter.

This is all you really need!

By creating a basic pantry list of items I keep in my home I know that as long as I have those items in the pantry, refrigerator or freezer I can pretty much make anything at any given time so I am not rushing out to the store to pick up an ingredient I don’t have to complete a meal. If you are interested in receiving a workable Excel copy of this list you can tailor to your needs simply click here to email me. I will happily send you one.

As time has gone on my boxes became tubs and eventually shelving I keep in a spare room for storing my long term food storage. I added a freezer to our garage to stock with meats and vegetables I bought on sale or markdown. I have a shelf to stock butter, flour and cornmeal in my freezer too. Should I find myself facing a financial hardship I know I can now keep myself fed for a year or more.

The freezer we keep in our garage

Having a well stocked pantry, refrigerator and freezer gives great peace of mind that, if nothing else, we don’t have to worry about how we will be able to feed our family. At the onset it may seem unachievable, but if you consistently chip away at it you will be surprised at how quickly you can make it happen.

Let’s Get Cheesy!

2025-10-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

There is no doubt we have seen the price of cheese rise, along with everything else, but I feel it is still a very affordable option, especially if you follow these simple tips.

Always Buy It On Sale

I wait until it goes on sale for no more than $2.99 a pound and then I stock up. I find those sales tend to cycle around about every six to eight weeks and when they do I pounce purchasing as much as I need to keep me going at least six months, sometimes even a year.

Buy The Block

Cheese that is already sliced or grated utilizes ingredients to keep the slices and shreds from sticking or clumping together. Some brands of sliced cheese will place a paper in between the slices but they are often more expensive. To keep it simple and healthier I choose the block. Then I can slice, cube, make my own cheese sticks and grate it how I like.

Consider It A Garnish

While I would love nothing more than to nosh on a bunch of cheese, I really shouldn’t. Instead I use it like a flavor and texture enhancer rather than the main ingredient. By purchasing stronger flavors of cheese such as medium or sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack in place of mozzarella, I find I can get by using far less than the milder options.

Wrap & Freeze

I find that if I layer sliced cheeses with waxed or parchment paper and place them in a Ziploc bag or wrap with plastic wrap they freeze them just fine. I also freeze my own grated cheeses by placing two cups of it in a Ziploc bag. I don’t add anything like cornstarch to the bag and have had no issues with clumping. To further prevent any chance of freezer burn I date the bags, place them inside a larger bag and make sure I use it up in date order (first in; first out). Freezing the entire block works too, but it will make the texture more crumbly.

A little goes a long way!

Watch for those sales and when they pop up that is the time to buy your cheese. With a little bit of prep you can have a nice stockpile tucked away in your fridge and freezer saving yourself some big $$!

My Best Friend In The Kitchen!

2025-10-06T06:00:00.033-06:00

Hands down the most utilized small appliance in my kitchen is my slow cooker. I can do a ton of stuff with this bad boy and it frees me up so that I can do other things while still accomplishing a lot in my kitchen. To me it is the ultimate multi tasker!

If you have a slow cooker I want you to pull it out of the cupboard, dust it off and put it to work. If you don’t, please do not run out and buy one. Instead I want you to put out the word to your friends, family and co-workers that you would like a slow cooker and would be happy to take one off their hands. I’m fairly certain that inside your circle there is someone with a slow cooker they are not using that they would happily gift to you. If not, join your Facebook Buy Nothing Group and put out the word there. Someone somewhere has an extra slow cooker they aren’t using.

Preparing a big pot of soup

Making applesauce

I use my slow cooker year round and all the time. In the summer I can cook or bake without heating up my kitchen and I can do smaller batches without having to use the oven. It is perfect for making soups, stews, chili, bone broth, pasta sauce, applesauce, apple or pear butter, you name it. I also bake in mine. It is perfect for baking a large batch of potatoes. I even bake my meatloaf in my slow cooker. The possibilities are pretty much endless.

Meat loaf ready to bake

Large batch cooking and meal prepping is one of my favorite ways to utilize this appliance allowing me to work on other things at the stove. I will often start a batch of pasta sauce early in the morning and while I’m doing the other things I have planned it is ready to be divided up into freezer containers by the time I am finished with everything else.

Making tomato sauce for canning

Beef broth ready to be strained

I will also fill it up with chicken, beef or ham bones and vegetable scraps, top it up with water and let it go an entire day making the most delicious broth which is basically a FREE food. It is also a very important ingredient for me to use in recipes, when I make soup and even cooking rice. My slow cooker definitely earns its keep around my kitchen and I can’t imagine not having one. We even take it on vacation with us, no joke. Let’s get slow cooking!

Is It Time To Review Your Spending Habits? Yes!

2025-09-29T06:00:00.024-06:00

With the current state of our economy prices continue to rise and it isn’t likely to change anytime soon. We feel it most at the gas pump and the grocery store and it seems like far more is going out than coming in. Now is the best time to take a good hard look at where your money is going and I encourage you to do so. Last week I talked about eliminating all fee based subscriptions services and apps. Next it is important to sit down with pen and paper and write out every expense you have and evaluate it to determine if that is really where your money should be going.

Transportation - How much are you spending on fuel for your vehicles, car payments, maintenance, insurance, parking fees, even car washes. Do you pay for music and navigation? Look at these expenses and determine how you can lower or eliminate these costs altogether. Are you able to do your own vehicle maintenance? Do you need to pay for parking or are there other options? Where are you buying your fuel and how often? Could you drive less, take public transportation, walk or ride a bike? Is your vehicle payment truly affordable? Do you have too many vehicles?

Utilities – How much are your monthly utilities really costing you? Look it up and write it down. Are you running the heat or A/C when no one is home? Could you adjust the temperature and still be comfortable simply by wearing a sweater? Do you heat or cool rooms you aren’t using? Are you efficient with your water consumption? Could you shorten your showers and only run the dishwasher or washing machine when full as opposed to smaller loads?

Storage – Do you pay for a storage unit? If so, you simply have too much stuff. Most people who store stuff off site fill up a storage unit and rarely go back to get any of that stuff. If that is the case you obviously don’t need it so now is the time to either sell it, donate it or throw it away. Storage units are a complete waste of money.

Dining Out – If you are struggling to make ends meet stop eating out immediately. Cancel all meal subscription services, delete your Door Dash and Uber Eats apps, stop ordering pizza delivery or take out. Make your own lunch to take to work or school. Not only will all of this save you a ton of money, but your health will also improve substantially.

Shopping – Do you shop out of need or for entertainment? Stop scrolling and shopping online, or if you do, leave items in your cart for at least 24 hours before you check out. Chances are pretty good you’ll change your mind and decide not to make that purchase after all. For many, shopping and buying is an impulse. Avoid buyer’s remorse and overspending simply by giving up the habit of impulse shopping and being real with yourself. Ask, do I truly need this item?

Vacations – If you are in debt put all vacation plans on hold. Instead create a vacation savings fund and don’t go until one, you have paid off a big chunk of your debt, and two, you already have the money you need saved up to take that vacation. In the meantime entertain yourself and your family with FREE options. You will enjoy that vacation a lot more when you know you won’t be facing a big credit card bill once you get home.

The only way to live successfully in the midst of rising inflation and secure our future is to rein in our spending, eliminate debt and begin to save. Living paycheck to paycheck and not being able to pay our bills is exceedingly frustrating and stressful. It wears on our emotions and makes us miserable. By reviewing our spending habits and getting a handle on where and how our money is spent we can take the first step in securing our financial future and our happiness.

Thrifty FREE Entertainment!

2025-09-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

There are several ways to save money when it comes to entertaining your family. First and foremost, recognize that contrary to popular belief, you do not always need to be entertained and neither do your children. In fact, mental downtime and physical rest is crucial to a healthy lifestyle. Doing nothing is completely okay.

Budget tip - If you are struggling financially do a thorough review of your subscriptions and fee based apps and cancel them. All of them! You will find there are plenty of non fee based options available so there is no point to paying for these services. Once you have done this you will be filled with a surprising sense of freedom.

Seek out entertainment sources that do not cost money. A picnic at the park is a great no cost way to spend quality time as a family. Enjoy time together with conversation, fresh air, green grass, exercise and laughter. Leave all of your cell phones in the car and really enjoy being unplugged. Make it an endeavor to visit as many parks in your area as possible throughout the year.

Go to your local library. Not just to check out books, but to take advantage of free programs they have for children, teens and adults. Most libraries still have DVDs as well as games (board games and video games) available to check out. Free internet and computer availability is also a great perk. Make a point to visit the library at least once a month and you’ll be amazed at how transformative this will become. You’ll read more, relax more and enjoy more.

Check out FREE museum days and other educational opportunities in your city and get these events on your calendar. Movies in the park, art events, car shows, festivals, even free admission to the fair (ours has a food donation event that allows you in free with a non perishable food item) can be found in most cities. High schools often offer concerts and play performances that are free to the public.

Have a movie night! Pop some popcorn or make root beer floats and stream a movie. There are a lot of movies available to stream for FREE (with or without ads). For extra fun find some movies you enjoyed as a kid and share them with your children. Even if they are corny your kids will appreciate the nostalgia. Youtube is one of my favorite places to source movies.

Pizza night is a fun way for families to engage by learning to make your own pizza dough and adding your own sauce and toppings. Make one big pizza or allow everyone to make their own personal size pizza and get creative. Nachos are another fun option. Play some music, invite a couple of guests to join you and make it a party!

Go hiking or take a nature walk, go on a bike ride, go camping (even if you only go as far as the backyard), host a potluck BBQ, play cards, have a craft or art night using supplies you already have in the house, visit antique shops just to look at old stuff, visit your state Capitol, check out a ghost town, put a jigsaw puzzle together, most importantly have fun!

Buy Next Year’s School Supplies Now!

2025-09-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

Now that school has been in session for a few weeks now might be the best time for you to stock up for next year. Stores tend to put leftover school supplies on clearance in order to move them out and make way for holiday merchandise. I would often stock up on paper, spiral notebooks, markers, pens and pencils, crayons, scissors, glue and water color packs.

I kept a bin in my hall closet to store these clearance items so that once the annual supply list was sent out by teachers at the end of summer I could go through my bin and pull out what we needed for the year. Then I would repeat the cycle again always buying what I needed on clearance. I rarely ever had to pay top dollar for any school supply.

This bin was also very handy when in the spring the kids needed extra supply as they ran out. It also served me well if I needed to make a gift bag for a child as I almost always had an abundance of crayons and markers on hand so all I had to do was grab a coloring book or an activity book along with a favorite candy bar or a package of gummy worms and I was good to go. Extra school supplies also make great stocking stuffers.

If you have an extra $20 go buy as many extra supplies as you can and squirrel them away for next time. Your busy mom self will thank you!

Save BIG $$ On Your Milk Bill!

2025-09-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

My kids drank A LOT of milk growing up, especially my oldest son during his teen years. Between gigantic bowls of cereal and guzzling it down at every turn I always felt like I was going to the store to get milk and buying four gallons at a time. Then I discovered from another blogger how to literally cut my milk bill in half. It has definitely been a game changer.

Instead of buying gallons of 1% or 2% milk I switched to whole milk. I took an empty one gallon milk jug and poured half a gallon of the whole milk into it and then topped it up with half a gallon of filtered tap water (our water has a lot of chlorine in it so I use a Brita). I also filled up the jug with the remaining whole milk with water and then capped them both and gave each one a good shake to mix. After I placed them back in the fridge I just waited and to see what happened.

My kids said the milk tasted different and I thought “oh no”. But, when I asked them if it was good or bad they said good. They liked the taste better. I tasted it and I got the whole milk flavor with the 2% texture. After that I never looked back.

If your kids are anything like mine were they didn’t just drink an eight ounce serving of milk at one time. They always grabbed a big tall glass and filled it to the top essentially consuming two to two and a half servings at a time. When I suggested they drink water they looked at me as if I had just suggested they drink water out of the toilet. By diluting the milk we were both happy. They got their milk and I got them to drink more water. It also saved me a ton of money and many trips to the grocery store.

Even now I dilute my whole milk. It works perfectly in recipes, with cereal and it really does taste just fine. It also mixes well with cream to make half & half. If you are struggling to keep milk in the fridge consider trying this out. You might be surprised. Your family may not even notice, but if they do, they may like even better just like mine did.

Meal Planning For The Win!

2025-09-01T06:00:00.004-06:00

In anything you want to be successful at, it begins with a plan, and that couldn’t be truer or more helpful when it comes to what we eat. I like to plan my meals by first taking inventory of what I already have on hand. Using up first what we have on hand not only saves us money, but it also curbs potential food waste.

My next part is to plan my meals expecting leftovers so I can cook once and eat twice so plan your meals with this in mind. Leftovers allows for convenience so you are less likely to be tempted to order take out or run through the drive thru window on the way home because you are too tired to even think about cooking when you get home.

Meal prepping is also a key to meal planning success, either by preparing entire meals or components for making meals and placing them in the freezer. I will often take a block of time and prepare several meals and tuck them away in the freezer so anyone can grab one and reheat it in the microwave. Homemade soups or chili is another great item to keep in the freezer.

Making a list of favorite meals or meals you would like to be eating allows you to have ideas at your fingertips. As a budget stretcher I include a soup, salad and bread meal at least once a week which makes for a quick and easy meal to prepare as well. Brainstorming with your family for ideas of which meals they would like to see on the table takes a lot of the pressure off of you to come up with all of the ideas yourself.

Once you have taken an inventory of what you already have on hand and your list of good ideas for meal it is now time to come up with a plan. Map out what you plan to prepare for the week and make a list of ingredients you still need to buy at the store. Once that is done, check the store ads online, download any digital coupons that may apply and you are ready to shop. Keep in mind as your are planning that you are using REAL food in your plan and steer clear of any overpriced and unhealthy ultra processed items.

Consider making a batch of muffins or scones from scratch instead of buying cereal to serve for breakfast. Zucchini bread, banana bread or apple walnut bread made with a combination of all purpose and whole wheat flour plus dried fruit and nuts is a much better option than a sugar laden cereal and much less expensive too. Leftovers are great options for lunches. If you have children you can make your own “lunchables” with sliced chicken or ham, sliced cheese, grapes and a homemade oatmeal cookie.

There are many ways to tailor your meal plans to meet your needs and save you money. We’ll be exploring more ideas in the coming weeks.