The Sweet Life On A Budget

  With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet is decreasing. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series in which we celebrate the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.     I am exploring ways to reduce costs during busy weeks. One strategy is to cook dinner at home instead of eating out. Here are some of my tips and trips.    1- Sheet Pan Fajitas Instead of getting 2 plates of Fajitas at our local Mexican Restaurant for $17.00 each,  I make an at-home version for much cheaper and less time than it takes to eat at the restaurant.      To make sheet pan Fajitas, I combine 1 pound of sliced chicken, sliced onions, and peppers with oil and taco seasoning, then bake it at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.    I add tortillas, salsa, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream.     So, for about $10.00 our family had 3 plates of...

  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.      December 2024  USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $187.40 per week. Since January has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $749.60.   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.    Grocery Shopping Tip:    Track your sale cycles. Meijer Grocery Store offers 7-for-$7.00 items every six weeks. Our family went through our pantry and kept a list of what needed to be replaced when the sale was announced.  Here is what we did this week to make our week easier:   Meal Planning...

  With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet is decreasing. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series in which we celebrate the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.     I am exploring ways to reduce costs during busy weeks. One strategy is to cook dinner at home instead of eating out. Here are some of my tips and trips.    1- Soup is On The Menu Last weekend, I was very sick and needed a healthy dose of soup.    I mustered up the energy to make homemade Italian Wedding Soup with bread.      This fed my soul and body.    I recovered quickly and later in the week, I cooked a huge pot of 3 Bean Chili for a Family dinner and  Potluck Lunch at work.   Soup is a great way to use leftover vegetables and odds and ends.       2- Shopping the Loss Leaders I purchased Chicken Breast ...

  Menu Plan #303 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.      December 2024  USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family would have a budget of $187.40 per week. Since January has 4 weeks, our monthly budget is $749.60.   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.    Grocery Shopping Tip:      Here is what we did this week to make our week easier:   Meal Planning  Wash and Cut fruit and vegetables Bake banana bread Make a huge salad for lunches Take meat out of the freezer Make Yogurt Breakfast Options:  Yogurt  Avocado Toas...