The Sweet Life On A Budget

  The Frugal Five: #87 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- Homemade Popsicles and Nice Cream Over the summer, our family enjoys having a cold treat after a long day of work, play or just being.     Ice Cream made with limited whole ingredients, such as Bryers, typically costs $6.99 per ½ gallon tub.  This doesn’t last long at our house, so I will shop sales for this and supplement it with homemade Popsicles or Nice Cream.       2- Garden Update The garden has been producing its spring crops and they are ending.    I have harvested 6 cucumbers, 

  Living Large In the Cheap Seats July- August 2024 I was first introduced to Living Large In the Cheap Seats by a college friend, Chris J., who introduced me to lawn tickets for popular bands.   We were able to see great concerts at a significantly discounted rate.   Later when reading Brokenomics by Dina Gachman, I revised this concept and decided to share it with you.  I have been doing this for years and have been able to enjoy wonderful experiences for FREE! Concert in the Park Series The Keehner Park concerts are 7-9 p.m. on select Saturdays between Memorial Day and Labor Day at the Keehner Park Amphitheater.  The free concerts welcome all guests to pack a picnic for the evening.  Sorry, but alcohol is NOT permitted. July 6- The Band of The Ohio National Guard July 13 – SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK July 20- Night Big Band July 27- University of Cincinnati Community Band August 17-  Penthouse Dogs August 24- BlueStone Ivory September 2- West Chester Symphony Orchestra **Opening night

  Menu Plan #286 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.      May  USDA Low Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $185.40 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 Oatmeal Bake Lunch Options: Chicken Salads Sausages Mac and Cheese Monday Breakfast for Dinner Eggs French Toast Sausage Tuesday Barter Exchange Wednesday Ate Out Thursday Street Tacos Salad Friday Chicken Parmesan Asparagus Salad Saturday Greek Burgers Roasted Potatoes Salad Sunday Salmon Rice Broccoli M- Pasta T- Barter Exchange W- Jamba