The Sweet Life On A Budget

  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:  Week 3:   This week chicken was on sale at 3 different stores.     I needed chicken, so I went to the cheapest store and picked up enough for the rest of the month.     Here is what we did this week to make our week easier:   Meal Planning  Was...

  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 can enjoy wonderful FREE experiences! 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 yearly 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 National Parks multiple tim...

  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:  Week 2 grocery shopping trip was dominated by the 7-for $7.00 deals at Meijer.     About every month or two, Meijer will run their $1.00 sale.  Normally, I pick up tissues, onions (3lb), potatoes (3lb),  and frozen vegetables to restock my shelves.   ...

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.     I am exploring how to keep costs down during busy weeks. One strategy is to keep dinner on the table instead of eating out. Here are some of my tips and trips.    1- Pantry Cooking     This week I pulled most of my ingredients from the freezer or pantry to provide dinner for my family.   By rotating and eating through our freezer and pantry, we are not wasting our money because we are using the items we picked up at rock-bottom prices.          2- Take Out from the Kitchen We love getting Thai or Chinese takeout, but the cost of this option has gotten out of control.  After a little research, I...

  So far this year we have picked up 271 free items .  High inflation is making it more challenging to find free items.   However, I have set a goal to beat last year’s number (247). I am working towards finding the most items when I have more time and giving myself grace during the months when my time is limited.    My goal for next year is to find 264 FREE Items. This works out to 22 items per month.  This may be challenging because drug stores and grocery store deals have started to dry up. I rely on digital coupons, printables from the company when available, store coupons and reward programs, samples, and rebate apps such as IBOTTA.      As always, I can secure these items through Kroger incentives, Drug Store (Walgreens/CVS)  Rewards programs, sales, Smart Source, Meijer’s sales/store coupons, sample requests, and Rebates Programs (IBOTTA/SavingStar).    January 2024 (29 Items) February (19 Items)...