Frugal Ideas - Page 3 of 3 - Humorous Homemaking

Your Grocery Budget Toolbox

Guest post by Anne Simpson of Authentic Simplicity

Saving money on groceries has been such a way of life for me, it’s almost like it’s in my blood. It started when I was a child, watching my mother clip coupons as she attempted to feed her family of 11 children on a pastor’s tiny salary. Even as a single girl, I clipped coupons and shopped the sales when it was my turn to buy the groceries for myself and my roomies (who also happened to be my sisters!).

Now a married adult, I have learned even more about shaving the grocery budget as I went from a dirt-poor newlywed (with a brief stint as a “DINK” – Dual-Income-No-Kids) to an almost-dirt-poor-mom of children with food allergies. For several years, I managed to feed my family of four on a budget of only $200 a month.

Even now, our monthly food budget is only $250, but I am still able to buy things like grass-fed ground beef, farm-fresh eggs, and certain organic fruits and vegetables. Considering that the US Department of Agriculture estimates that a family of four on a “thrifty plan” will spend more than $500 a month on food… I’m thinking we’re doing a bang-up job with our grocery budget! [Read more…]

From Bowl to Freezer – Good Freezer Meal Options

Y’all ask me all the time, “Hey Stacy, can you give me a good list of freezer meals?” The truth is, I don’t have such a list. Here’s how freezing food works for me – I make it and then I freeze it. I don’t really do too much advance planning.

I don’t seek out special meals that are just for freezing – I just use my normal recipes and make them work. BUT if you are looking for freezer specific meals, you need to check out Once a Month Mom – one of my favorite recipe sites.

So, you say, how DO you make that meal work for the freezer, Miss Stacy? Well, I’ll tell ya….over at Intentional by Grace. I’m over there sharing how I freeze meals and I’ll give you a list of some good ones to try.

If you want to know how to freeze bread (baked or in dough form) or if you want to turn your crock pot meal into a freezer meal, I’ve got you covered.

Meet me over there…if for no other reason than you like to look at pretty pictures of food. *Slobber*

20 Minute Meals

**I know I normally post a crock pot recipe on Friday, but my scheduled poster and friend, Rachel, had a recent tragedy and was unable to be with us. I would ask that you say a special prayer for her today. Thanks.**

Last year I had the honor of making a new friend – LeighAnn from Intentional by Grace. She has blessed me in thousands of ways. I know without a shadow of a doubt God matched us up as friends – we’re so alike, but so different. She keeps me in check. She tells me when I’m being dumb…and I’m dumb a lot.

She invited my family to come spend the weekend with her family and we had a fabulous time! She’s exactly the same in person as she is online. And then she went and did something crazy. She moved to Colorado. But that’s okay – I still love her…and I also love her new book!

I’m going through a time in life where meal times are crazy. I used to be a meal planning fanatic, but after we sold the townhouse, moved in with mom, and bought a new house to remodel, things haven’t gone very smoothly. Sometimes I freak out at 5pm when I realize I forgot that dinner was coming. Uhhh, oops?

Enter 20 Minute Meals. LeighAnn has created a cookbook for the weary chef…the mother who is busy…the wife who works…the pregnant woman who loses her mind and forgets that she needs to feed her family dinner every night. [Read more…]

Real Food, Real Easy

Guys, I know that switching to real foods can be overwhelming. How do I know? Because I’m still on that journey myself. Just last March I felt like I was drowning in all the information that was coming my way. What on earth was I going to cook for my family if I couldn’t use my convenience foods? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

But, the fabulous ladies from the Modern Alternative Mama writing team have put together a cookbook just for you – Real Food Real Easy. I contributed several recipes to the book. I know it’s going to be a GREAT resource for you!

If cooking traditional foods seems overwhelming to you, then this is the cookbook for you. If you’ve been cooking traditional foods for a while and need some new recipes, this is the book for you too! [Read more…]

10 Easy Ways to Cut Costs in the Kitchen

These days, everyone is looking to cut costs…I’m always looking where to save money and cut costs, so I like this turn of events. Makes me seem more popular. Ha! I’ve been asked exactly how I operate in the kitchen to keep costs down and keep my budget on target. It’s really not that hard, it just takes a bit of thought and effort. I’m going to give you 10 easy ways that you can cut costs in your kitchen too. Chances are, you’re already doing most of these things but you just haven’t thought of them as being “frugal.” You may just need to change your mindset.

1. Use leftovers. This is almost like a “daily duh” that I post on Facebook, but you’d be surprised at how many people just don’t use their leftovers. They make too much for dinner, put the rest in the fridge and it stays in there until it grows mold. That’s money down the drain. Make plans for those leftovers – they make a great next-day lunch. If your family hates leftovers, freeze what you have left and bring it out again later for a “new” meal. Trickery works sometimes. [Read more…]

Hospitality on a Budget

I recently read a book about hospitality called Face to Face: Meditations on Friendship and Hospitality. It was an excellent read and one I would recommend to anyone. It really kicked me in the tail. While I have a heart for hospitality in general, sometimes I find myself lacking in that area – even though it is referred to several times in the New Testament. Why do I struggle? Well, let’s be honest – whole foods aren’t cheap. I buy the good stuff now….so sometimes I want to hoard it for myself and my family. Sometimes it’s hard to use my coconut oil on someone who might not care. But here’s the thing…..it doesn’t matter if they care. What matters is that I’m showing love to them and filling their tummy. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 Hospitality is showing love to your Christian brothers and sisters by filling their tummy and making them a part of your home.

Most people struggle with the same thing I do – the money part. If you’re strapped for cash when feeding your own family, how can you feed other people? The answer is simple – hospitality doesn’t have to break the bank. The thought that hospitality is expensive is a LIE. Hospitality is sharing what you have with someone else – giving of yourself and your abundance. As Barry has said before, if you hold your money in a closed fist, it surely won’t leave……but nothing can get in either. Sharing what you have will fill you up with joy and fulfillment. And here’s how to do it without spending a fortune. [Read more…]

Eggnog Ice Cream + 5 Uses for Leftover Eggnog

I made my very first homemade eggnog this season. I usually buy it from the store so we can each have a cup…..and only a cup. It’s RICH – and I don’t mean like Donald Trump. And honestly, I didn’t really like it that much – I just wanted to drink eggnog. It makes me feel cool. But then I came across this recipe from The Purposed Heart for Pumpkin Eggnog and it ROCKS MY FACE OFF! Seriously – it’s delicious. The stuff in the store doesn’t even compare – and plus, if you make this then you’ll know what’s in it….instead of the mysterious “natural flavoring.” What the heck is natural flavoring anyway? Do yourself a favor and make this. You’ll love it. [Read more…]

8 Ways to Use Up Leftover Produce

Do you ever have leftover fruits and veggies that you just don’t know what to do with? When I first got married, I was TERRIBLE about letting leftover produce go bad. Ahem, let me be transparent. I can be bad about letting leftover produce—or even excess produce from our lovely summer garden go bad. And I always feel so guilty. Sure, there may have not been enough leftover green beans or carrots for a side dish for an entire meal, but there must have been something I could have done with that food I let go to waste. Right?

And I’ve discovered there is! Whether it be a spoonful of leftover peas or 5 lbs. or extra carrots from your garden (I wish we had that problem!), there are lots of ways to use up all those veggies without letting them get all moldy in the bottom of the produce drawer of your refrigerator! [Read more…]

Clean up After Baby without Paper Towels

Toddlers make a mess when they eat. A big mess. Okay, so if I’m honest I can tell you that I also make a big mess myself. When I was little, mom used to make me eat ice cream in my underwear because I’d get it all over me. Thankfully my family doesn’t make me do that any more. Whew.If I tried to clean up Annie before, during, and after each meal with a paper towel, I might have to buy stock in Bounty. I would go through a HUGE amount of them…..and we really don’t buy many paper towels.

When we first started feeding her, I got tired of using paper towels really fast. So, I came up with something better. [Read more…]

Buying Farm Fresh Eggs

Farm fresh eggs cost more than eggs at the store. It’s true. Most farm fresh eggs will cost you $2 and up per dozen. Ya know, I’m not often the person who will tell you to go with the more expensive route…….but I’m telling you that today. If you have the chance to switch to farm fresh eggs instead of store bought, you really should. I made the change and I haven’t looked back. They are delicious AND I don’t worry about all the crap that could be associated with them – pun intended. During our Storeless month we switched to buying farm fresh eggs from my friend Leslie at NLV Farms. It shouldn’t be a big surprise to you that I am a supporter of local business – and fresh eggs are about as local as you can get. If you haven’t thought about buying farm fresh eggs, you might change your mind after this. [Read more…]