The Sweet Life On A Budget

  Menu Plan #291 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 $186.60 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 Egg McMuffin Lunch Options: Leftovers Sandwiches Salad Monday Shrimp Pasta Salad Bread Tuesday Tacos Salad Chips w/ Salsa Wednesday Chicken Parmesan Pasta Broccoli Thursday Leftovers Friday Sausage Rice Salad Saturday Sandwiches Salad Sunday Chick...

  There are cycles in the weather, economy, politics, and general fabrics of life, but I am focused on the sale cycles which are fairly predictable and consistent.  However, caution is best served here because overspending can easily occur in the name of saving money.   Since knowledge is power, here are a few tricks and skills to help you make an informed decision on your cycles.  This month we will focus on the September Sales Cycles and give a monthly tip/trick to maximize your budget.  October brings fall baking, seafood month, and Halloween.   Here are some of the things I look for in October:  Fall Cooking Items (Pumpkin, Baking Goods) Types of seafood such as shrimp.   Halloween Preparation (Costumes, Candy, Decorations, etc.)  Items on the watch list:  Pantry Items such as canned goods, gravy, crackers, party trays Christmas presents Hot Beverages   In addition to shopping the sales, it is also good to know wh...

  The Frugal Five: #90 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- Packing Lunches Packing your lunch daily can save a lot of money and help prevent food waste in your kitchen.   My husband and I will pack leftovers or simple lunches made from the ingredients in our refrigerator and panty.   We find that being prepared with our lunches helps us to avoid ordering out.   2- Hair Care Hair cuts cost at least $30.00 per person + Tip.    However, during CO...

  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! FREE Entrance to National Parks   NPS Photo .     National Parks are one of America’s treasures and are enjoyed by many.     Although some parks are free to the public, others charge entrance fees.    However, our National Park Service offers Free Entrance six times per year to over 400 National Parks.  I like to take advantage of these days to see the parks which normally have entrance fees.  It offers me and my family a chance to widen our experiences.    However, if you use the Nationa...

  Menu Plan #290 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 $186.60 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 Hard Boiled Eggs Lunch Options: Chicken  Salad Monday Chicken Parmesan Green Beans Tuesday Grilled Chicken Salad Wednesday Baked Chicken Noodles Green Beans Thursday Sausage Rice Salad Friday Sandwich Night Saturday Left Overs Sunday ...