Classic Gravy (AKA Marinara Sauce)- $0.49 a Cup

Pasta and Sausage is a staple at our hour. Note only is it a cheap meal but the entire

family loves it. When in a pinch, we pick up some Classico “sauce” gravy and it costs us a

lot more than if we make it ourselves. Therefore, I try really hard to always have the

staples on hand and my crock pot ready to make some “sauce” gravy in the morning for our

favorite dinner. As a bonus, we use our gravy for making our weekly pizza dinner too.

Ingredients

2 (28 oz) Cans of Crushed Tomatoes

2-3 Italian Sausage Links

½ Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Pepper

1 Teaspoon Oregano

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 Teaspoon Onion Powder

2 Teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes

Directions

Place all ingredients in a crock pot on low for 6- 8 hours.

-I layer the ingredients in the crock pot in the following way:

Sausage

Tomatoes

Spices

Stir in spices and then stir on occasion.

Dinner Round out

Serve with Pasta, Green Salad, Bread, Red Wine

Bonus:

For Vegetarian Gravy replace Sausage with about 1-2 cups of vegetables (peppers, onions

and mushrooms), increase the Italian Spice to taste. If you prefer sweeter gravy then add

carrots to the vegetable list and omit the red pepper flakes. At the end of the 6 hours, blend

the sauce to create a smooth texture.

~ Savings ~

Cost Breakdown:

Regular Shopping

2 (28 oz) Cans of Crushed Tomatoes= $1.58

3 Italian Sausage Links= $1.80

Spices Estimation: $0.06

NOTE: Italian Sausage Links can be eaten with the first pasta meal. If we don’t count the

sausage as part of the price calculations, then the price per cup would be $0.24.

Total Recipe Cost = $3.44

Cost per cup = $0.49

Classico Pasta Sauce

Cost Per = $2.69

Cost Per Cup= $0.90

"Over a Year" Scenario:

Homemade Gravy w/o the sausage: 3 cups (per week) per week= 52 X $0.72 = $37.44

Classico Pasta Sauce: 3 cups per week= 52 X $2.70= $140.40

*Money Saved = $102.96

Comments

2025 Updated Breakfast Under $1.00

On the USDA Website, their thrifty grocery budgets range from $25.70 to $72.80 per week ($3.67 - $10.40 per day) per person. The two factors that determine the amount allocated are age and sex. With such a small amount of money allocated daily for food and my attempt to eat healthily, I need to plan each week carefully. With the Bird Flu hitting America hard recently, the egg is no longer a humble star but is turning into a luxury. A dozen eggs cost $5.49 or $0.46 each. At this price, I am looking at other options for breakfast. Breakfast is a great place to add value to your meal planning. It can be the cheapest or most expensive meal. The choice is up to you. NOTE: Prices are for the Northeast area for March 1, 2025 Let’s look at breakfasts that come in at or under $1.00. Beagle and Cream Cheese ($0.69 per serving) Kroger Prices Bagels (6ct)- $2...

The Frugal Five: #88

The Frugal Five: #88 With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet keeps going down. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series where we celebrate the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life. This week I am exploring how to keep costs down during busy weeks. Keeping dinner on the table instead of eating out is one of my strategies to get the job done. Here are some of my tips and trips. 1- Free-Bee Pick Up Over the last month, we have been blessed with several Free-Bees. First, a friend gave us a dozen eggs from his chickens. In addition, we picked up several photos with discount codes from Walgreens and CVS. Next, we used our local grocery store coupons for several free food items such as seltzer water, ice cream, etc. Then, we picked up toothpaste and eyeliners from ...

Meal Planning: #287

Menu Plan #287 NOTE- 1- Click on the picture and get a link to a post sharing the recipe. 2- Although all prices were correct at the time of the blog postings, the current cost of preparation of these dishes may be higher due to inflation and location. August USDA Low Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $185.60 per week. We elevate our dining experiences by including fresh fruits, vegetables, and higher-quality meats. Since we have health concerns and are active individuals, we limit our processed food choices. Here is what we did this week to make our week easier: Breakfast Options: Yogurt Muffins Egg Sandwiches Lunch Options: Grilled Chicken Salads Chicken Salad Monday Hamburgers Roasted Potatoes Corn Tuesday Street Tacos Salad Wednesday Enchilada Salad Chips w/ Salsa Thursday Leftovers Friday Chicken Parmesan Pasta Sal...

The Sweet Life On A Budget

Search This Blog