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What’s Your Grocery Budget?

If you have followed me for awhile, then you know that I’m the blogger formerly known as Stacy Makes Cents.

And while yes, the name of the blog has changed, we still focus a lot on budgeting. My husband has written two books on budgeting and getting out of debt. Barry and I are huge into encouraging people to get out of debt and live free.

We started with a budget the day we got married. We went on our honeymoon with our cash budget. I’ve had a grocery budget since then and for us, a cash grocery budget just works. We’ve always done a cash budget because it helps me reign myself in as far as spending on groceries goes.

Comparing grocery budgets is not straightforward.

When one of you ask what my budget is… it’s not really an apples to apples kind of comparison, because grocery budgets will differ so much based on where you live. I live in a rural area in the mountains of southwest Virginia. It doesn’t cost a whole lot for me to buy my groceries here. There are people who live in areas where food is just super expensive! I have friends who live in California, different parts of Canada and the islands of Hawaii that spend double (or more!) than I do on food. [Read more…]

Ham and Cheddar Breakfast Sliders: The Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast

We absolutely love Breakfast Sliders! 

…and, because they freeze so well, they may just be the perfect make-ahead breakfast!

I prepare a huge batch, and then cover the pan tightly in foil and freeze. The day before I’m going to serve them, I move them to the refrigerator to thaw. You could always wrap these in foil individually too, if you prefer to grab one at a time. Y’all know I love a good make-ahead breakfast. Plus, the recipe is so easy to cut in half for just a few breakfast sliders, or to double if you are batch-cooking a few dozen at a time. All you need to do is adjust the number of buns and the amount of filling.

You can also customize these Breakfast Sliders to suit your family’s tastes!

One of our favorites is the [Read more…]

How to Make Homemade Popcorn: The Perfect Fast & Easy Snack

If y’all haven’t tried to make homemade popcorn…man, are you missing out! Not only is it delicious, but it’s also super easy to make. It’s basically the fastest snack in the history of the world! Some of you told me that you don’t make homemade popcorn because you don’t know how. Well, all that’s about to change right now! [Read more…]

Getting Enough Healthy Fats: Peanut Butter Fat Bombs

Today, we’re making Fat Bombs. And not just any Fat Bombs – Peanut Butter Fat Bombs.

What exactly are peanut butter fat bombs you might ask? Well, a fat bomb is just an easy and really tasty way to help your body get enough healthy fats. Why should you eat these? Because they’re good for you! Healthy fat is good for your hair, your body, your belly, and your overall mommy attitude, really.  

How many of you sit down and eat a 1/4 cup or so of butter? No? I wish I could just eat pure butter, but it’s just not socially acceptable. Sad.

Anyway, when I’m breastfeeding I struggle to eat enough healthy fats and calories. I know not everyone has this problem, but I do. And I eat these even now, when I’m not breastfeeding.

Since I’ve had braces, it’s sometimes hard for me to find the desire to eat. And if you know me at all – you know how crazy that is! For several days after I go in for a fitting or a tightening, my teeth ache and my mouth is raw, making it hard for me to eat.

But I always like butter, peanut butter, and carbs. Load ‘er up, buttercup!

[Read more…]

How to Cook Hard-boiled Eggs in a Pressure Cooker

“I love eggs, from my head down to my legs…”

Today, I’m going to share all about how I cook hard-boiled eggs in a pressure cooker. And y’all, these hard-boiled eggs peel perfectly, every time! I haven’t made hard-boiled eggs any other way since learning this method.

If you cook hard-boiled eggs in a pressure cooker, even “fresh from the chicken” eggs peel perfectly. Normally those eggs don’t peel well; all the white comes off and it looks like a train wreck!  But you won’t have that problem when cooking eggs using your pressure cooker! [Read more…]

Mixer or Bread Machine: Which Should I Buy?

I get asked all the time: Which should I buy, a mixer or a bread machine? The answer might surprise you. I say both.

I know I always said a bread machine is one of the things I would never, EVER buy. Friends (and strangers) would always tell me, “You should get a bread machine!” And I’d reply back, “I’m the bread machine! I do the kneading over here!” I had a great Bosch mixer and a bread machine seemed completely unnecessary. What changed? [Read more…]

The Solution to Your Breakfast Woes

I previously shared with you my 10 easy go-to breakfast recipes and today I want to share another helpful breakfast idea. For a while now, our family has been using a method that has really revolutionized life for us. It just might be the solution to your breakfast woes!

You all know I love to cook. More than anything, I love to cook breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I love me some breakfast, girl!

Butter, syrup, butter, muffins, butter, coffee, butter, butter in coffee. My first thought in the morning is – I’m so glad it’s almost breakfast time!

I’m definitely not one of those people who’s like, “Rats, I just forgot to eat breakfast today!”

Or you guys that wake up and say, “No thanks, I don’t eat breakfast.” I don’t understand you. I mean, we can be friends, but I don’t understand you.

My kids are the same way – they want to know all about what they’re gonna have for breakfast the next day as they climb into bed.

For those of you who are breakfast people (and those of you who wish you were) – I’ve got the solution to your breakfast woes.

[Read more…]

Why I love Shopping at Sam’s Club and What I Buy

Some people get a thrill riding roller coasters. But I’m not really into roller coasters. I get my thrills by grocery shopping, y’all. I go to the grocery store for a good time.

Just for fun, I’m going to tell you all about why I love shopping at Sam’s Club and what I buy there.

First let me mention that if we had an Aldi closer to where we live, I probably wouldn’t be shopping at Sam’s Club as much. But the closest Aldi is an hour away and it just doesn’t make sense for me to drive that far to shop. We also don’t have Trader Joe’s or any fancy stores like you find in the big city – because southwest Virginia sure ain’t the big city. There’s no BJs, Costco or anything like that in our part of the world.

But praise God there is a Sam’s Club! Even with the membership fee, there are so many things I buy there that I simply cannot get cheaper anywhere else. It makes the Sam’s club basic membership fee worth it for us. #notsponsored

[Read more…]

Making Homemade Spreadable Butter in 3 Easy Steps

Ok, we’re about to talk about a very important topic in this day and age…Spreadable butter.

And you’re about to learn all about how you can make homemade spreadable butter in just 3 easy steps. Now, before I had four kids, I used to make spreadable butter all the time. Why? Because homemade spreadable butter is just so simple to make, and it is stinkin’ delicious! [Read more…]

10 Easy Go-To Breakfasts

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

I know some people say “I don’t like breakfast.” Or “I forget to eat breakfast.”

Really…are you human? Have you sought counseling for this problem? If we don’t get this resolved, you might be dead to me. #joking

Not only is it good for breakfast, but it’s good for lunch. And supper. And snack.  [Read more…]

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