The Sweet Life On A Budget

  Menu Plan #316 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 these dishes may be higher due to inflation and/or location.      Published June 2025:  USDA Thrifty Food Plan According to this plan, our family has a budget of $189.30 per week. Since June has 5 weeks, our monthly budget is $946.50.   We elevate our dining experiences by including fresh fruits, vegetables, and higher-quality meats.  Since our family has specific dietary needs, we limit our consumption of highly processed food.   Grocery Shopping Tip:     Eat according to the season.     Typically, we talk about fruit and vegetables.    These foods taste the best and are at their lowest prices at particular times of the year.   However, grocery stores also have sale seasons.  I take them into account w...

  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 that celebrates 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 watch the pennies because they add up. Here are some of my tips and tricks.    1- Garden Update  The garden is growing and looks great!   The tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and squash are developing.  The peas, kale, basil, banana peppers, and parsley have been picked and preserved.    In addition, I have cleaned up my preserves from last year and am eating through the last of them.     Furthermore, the canning supplies have been organized and are ready to use.    2- Backyard update We needed to replace our deck, and the removal of the old deck area provided us w...

Living Large In the Cheap Seats July-August 2025 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 concerts at a significantly discounted rate.   After reading Brokenomics by Dina Gachman, I revised this concept and decided to share it with you.   I have been doing this for years and enjoyed 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. June 28- West Chester Symphony Orchestra July 12-  Strings Attached Band July 19- Cincinnati Shakespeare Company - A Mid Summer Night's Dream   July 26- Monday Night Big Band August 16- Title 14 August 23- Blue String Ivory September 1- West Chester Symph...