The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality: that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything.” Benjamin Franklin
My Frugal Week
Recently Bailey was able to get a plant grow light on Amazon from one of those Amazon deal groups. This plant on the end is my Christmas cactus. It’s been sitting under the grow lights now for about one month and it has so much new growth. I don’t know if you can see it from the photo or not, but it’s growing so well.
Avoiding Spending
This week I’ve stayed home except for Monday when I had an eye doctor appointment. We came right home afterwards and didn’t spend any money while we were out. The eye doctor says I need surgery but my left eye is so bad, he recommended another doctor. My appointment with the new doc isn’t until August.
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
I took the leftover potatoes from Friday night dinner, chopped them in my Vidalia Chop Wizard, and added them to the taco meat for Saturday night dinner. It stretches the meat to make it last for more meals. I also used some of the taco meat in eggs the next morning and made breakfast burritos with it. Every little thing you can do to stretch your meat will help you save money.
Beans work the same way. Frugal Queen said that in one of her latest videos. When her children were young she added beans to every dish she made to bulk it out.
I divided up the chicken and rice into three containers and put them in the freezer for another day.
On Tuesday I made homemade pizza for lunch. We had plenty leftover, so I packaged it up and stored it in the freezer for another meal another day.
Saturday: Tacos served on soft corn tortillas, Lettuce, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Onions, and Tomatoes
Sunday: Inspired by Martha at Seaside Simplicity, I decided to make a pasta salad using my last box of Penne pasta. I added one can of fire roasted corn, a can of petite diced tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and the dregs of a bottle of ranch and a bottle of Italian dressing. I also had some red bell pepper I added to my bowl. It was very refreshing for this summer time weather.
Monday: Chicken Fajitas on Flour Tortillas, Mexican Rice, Tomatoes, Red Peppers and Onions, Steamed Broccoli.
Tuesday: CORD: Clean Our Refrigerator Day - Bailey had the the leftover chicken and some of the rice combined for her dinner. I had some rice, broccoli, tomatoes, and cantaloupe.
Wednesday: Macaroni and Cheese with Ham, Broccoli, Beets, and Cantaloupe.
Thursday: Bailey is pet sitting, so it was just me for dinner. I had leftover rice, broccoli, and stir fry vegetables.
Saving on Entertainment
I’ve been watching Everybody Loves Raymond on Facebook for free. Several people have posted multiple episodes on there and I’ve been enjoying them. All you have to do is type Everybody Loves Raymond in the search box to find them.
What I've been Reading This Week
I recently acquired Where the Crawdad Sings but it’s difficult to read right now due to my eyesight, so I put it on the back burner. One of my friends sent me a copy of The Highway written by C.J. Box. It is a large print edition, which I really like at this point.
That is all the news I have to report this week. My laptop is still in the shop waiting on a part, so if you see anything odd on here it’s probably because it was typed on my tablet.
Food can be stretched in so many ways that I simply cannot understand those who don't eat "leftovers" and chuck them in the garbage. To me they are such time savers. On Wed. I cooked up some ground beef, added some canned veg that was getting near to BB date, added lots of seasonings and tomato paste, plus melted in some cream cheese. Normally I like to stuff peppers with this sort of mixture but no peppers on hand so had a bowl as is. Yesterday I went into he office for a few hours in the morning and when I got home I quickly heated up some of the leftovers along with some black beans left over from Tuesday's salad, took two wraps out of the freezer and and mad myself a couple of "burritos" - there is enough left for another couple today! I find Summers to be a time of salad creativity - so many odds & ends can go into a bowl of greens and some dressing to make a very tasty and quick meal - especially when it is too hot to cook! Have a wonderful weekend - hope that your eye situation can be resolved at the August appointment. You have reminded me to call my ophthalmologist today as I am way overdue for an appointment.
Yes, yes, and yes, Margie. That is the way to stretch leftovers and using your freezer can help you stretch out your food to last even longer. I love what you did with the hamburger and cream cheese. I have to try that one. Bailey loves cream cheese in anything.
Yesterday I made a leftover rice and broccoli combination and when I was eating it the broccoli was actually sweet tasting. I wouldn’t have noticed that if I hadn’t combined it with the rice.
Thank you for your wish for my eyes. From your lips to God’s ears.
Sending you lots of positive thoughts for your eye appointment, and getting a permanent fix. That sounds like such a struggle.
We did well on using up the food this week. We'll be out of town for a couple of days, and used a few freezer meals to get us through without needing a grocery store run. We had curry & egg roll in a bowl from the freezer. On the reverse side, I froze strawberries that we wouldn't be able to finish before we left. Nick will use them in his breakfast smoothies.
We do have tons of tomatoes from the garden, & I need to decide how to best use t hem. Maybe a giant bowl of pico de gallo, or perhaps a fresh pasta sauce for the freezer?
Those tomato dishes both both sound delicious. I like to chop them up and store them in the fridge and then add them to dinners every night. They are so good and refreshing. I top baked potatoes with them, just whatever I think will taste good.
It sounds like a fantastic week, other than the news about your left eye being so bad. I hope the surgery will fix you up and get you back to having good vision again.
So glad I inspired you to make pasta salad, it really is a perfect meal in the hot summertime and so many different ways we can make it. It's a perfect clean out the fridge kind of dish.
I agree with you on the meal stretching too, and there are so many different ways to stretch them. That's what my blog was originally about back in the old days of blogging.
I'm sorry to hear that you need surgery Belinda. Praying that your sight will be completely restored. I love how you repurposed the potatoes and then turned that taco meat into another new meal. I love adding all kinds of veggies to our meals. We don't eat much meat and the veggies definitely help bulk out the meals.
Hank you, Ms. Goose. They said the surgery only takes 10 minutes, so hopefully it won’t be too bad. Thank you for your prayers.
Yes, the veggies bulk out meals for sure. I was just reading yesterday that one lady grinds up a bag of baby carrots to put into her egg rolls, and I thought that was a great idea. I’m going to do that next time I make them.
What a treat the homemade pizzas ill be for another lunch. We make both rice and beans on taco night, both to bulk out, and we love the combination. I basically fed the three of us, plus lunch for both daughter and I on day two, an me day three, for probably $6, and these were large, burrito style tacos (think a slightly smaller version of Chipotle.)
$6 is wonderful for that many dinners and lunches. You can’t beat that. I’ve not had Chipotle, but a new one opened up in Chattanooga, so we may try it soon.
Tommy has learned there are always leftovers and can get his own food if I am asleep. That sure works for me! He has never declined a leftover or something I have repurposed.
Love your Christmas cactus! They are my absolute favorite plant. The pasta salad sounds delish! Hope like heck you can get answers and resolution on your eye.
I am so sorry about your eyesight. I hope the new dr will be able to schedule surgery quickly. Any surgery is a bit scary, but I hope you will be seeing better soon. Your plants are looking great! I love a christmas cactus. Your meals sound so good. Great ideas for stretching them too. Hope you have a great week.
Thank you, Kathy. That means a lot to me. Bailey has fallen in love with plants recently when the pandemic left her wanting a new hobby. She loves them so much and really babies them.
I bought a plant light last week too! My plants love it! Belinda, I am so sorry about your eyes. I am hoping surgery will be a success. I am so sorry you are going to have surgery. It's not fair. :(
Oh goodness! I hope you can get your eyesight restored!! 🙏
ReplyDeleteThank you, that is my goal. It is just taking some time.
DeleteFood can be stretched in so many ways that I simply cannot understand those who don't eat "leftovers" and chuck them in the garbage. To me they are such time savers. On Wed. I cooked up some ground beef, added some canned veg that was getting near to BB date, added lots of seasonings and tomato paste, plus melted in some cream cheese. Normally I like to stuff peppers with this sort of mixture but no peppers on hand so had a bowl as is. Yesterday I went into he office for a few hours in the morning and when I got home I quickly heated up some of the leftovers along with some black beans left over from Tuesday's salad, took two wraps out of the freezer and and mad myself a couple of "burritos" - there is enough left for another couple today!
ReplyDeleteI find Summers to be a time of salad creativity - so many odds & ends can go into a bowl of greens and some dressing to make a very tasty and quick meal - especially when it is too hot to cook!
Have a wonderful weekend - hope that your eye situation can be resolved at the August appointment. You have reminded me to call my ophthalmologist today as I am way overdue for an appointment.
Yes, yes, and yes, Margie. That is the way to stretch leftovers and using your freezer can help you stretch out your food to last even longer. I love what you did with the hamburger and cream cheese. I have to try that one. Bailey loves cream cheese in anything.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I made a leftover rice and broccoli combination and when I was eating it the broccoli was actually sweet tasting. I wouldn’t have noticed that if I hadn’t combined it with the rice.
Thank you for your wish for my eyes. From your lips to God’s ears.
Sending you lots of positive thoughts for your eye appointment, and getting a permanent fix. That sounds like such a struggle.
ReplyDeleteWe did well on using up the food this week. We'll be out of town for a couple of days, and used a few freezer meals to get us through without needing a grocery store run. We had curry & egg roll in a bowl from the freezer. On the reverse side, I froze strawberries that we wouldn't be able to finish before we left. Nick will use them in his breakfast smoothies.
We do have tons of tomatoes from the garden, & I need to decide how to best use t hem. Maybe a giant bowl of pico de gallo, or perhaps a fresh pasta sauce for the freezer?
Those tomato dishes both both sound delicious. I like to chop them up and store them in the fridge and then add them to dinners every night. They are so good and refreshing. I top baked potatoes with them, just whatever I think will taste good.
DeleteI have always added beans or rice to taco meat. Extends it a lot. I like the potato idea. Sounds yummy
ReplyDeleteBeans or rice are excellent meat stretchers, Cheryl. I love that you can get two or more meals out of it by stretching it out.
DeleteIt sounds like a fantastic week, other than the news about your left eye being so bad. I hope the surgery will fix you up and get you back to having good vision again.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I inspired you to make pasta salad, it really is a perfect meal in the hot summertime and so many different ways we can make it. It's a perfect clean out the fridge kind of dish.
I agree with you on the meal stretching too, and there are so many different ways to stretch them. That's what my blog was originally about back in the old days of blogging.
Have a great weekend Belinda!
Thank you, Martha. Yes, I love being able to clean out the fridge by making pasta salad, so many things go well with those.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great weekend too! I’m looking forward to it.
I'm sorry to hear that you need surgery Belinda. Praying that your sight will be completely restored.
ReplyDeleteI love how you repurposed the potatoes and then turned that taco meat into another new meal. I love adding all kinds of veggies to our meals. We don't eat much meat and the veggies definitely help bulk out the meals.
Hank you, Ms. Goose. They said the surgery only takes 10 minutes, so hopefully it won’t be too bad. Thank you for your prayers.
DeleteYes, the veggies bulk out meals for sure. I was just reading yesterday that one lady grinds up a bag of baby carrots to put into her egg rolls, and I thought that was a great idea. I’m going to do that next time I make them.
I hope you have a great weekend.
What a treat the homemade pizzas ill be for another lunch. We make both rice and beans on taco night, both to bulk out, and we love the combination. I basically fed the three of us, plus lunch for both daughter and I on day two, an me day three, for probably $6, and these were large, burrito style tacos (think a slightly smaller version of Chipotle.)
ReplyDelete$6 is wonderful for that many dinners and lunches. You can’t beat that. I’ve not had Chipotle, but a new one opened up in Chattanooga, so we may try it soon.
DeleteTommy has learned there are always leftovers and can get his own food if I am asleep. That sure works for me! He has never declined a leftover or something I have repurposed.
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful! I love it when will eat leftovers. Him making it himself is even better. 😊
DeleteGood old Benjy, love your frugal ways. You will be so happy to have your eyes done it will be such a difference.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim. I will be happy, thanks again.
DeleteLove your Christmas cactus! They are my absolute favorite plant. The pasta salad sounds delish! Hope like heck you can get answers and resolution on your eye.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Lisa. I appreciate that.
DeleteI am so sorry about your eyesight. I hope the new dr will be able to schedule surgery quickly. Any surgery is a bit scary, but I hope you will be seeing better soon.
ReplyDeleteYour plants are looking great! I love a christmas cactus.
Your meals sound so good. Great ideas for stretching them too.
Hope you have a great week.
Thank you, Kathy. That means a lot to me. Bailey has fallen in love with plants recently when the pandemic left her wanting a new hobby. She loves them so much and really babies them.
DeleteI ope you have a great week too.
I bought a plant light last week too! My plants love it! Belinda, I am so sorry about your eyes. I am hoping surgery will be a success. I am so sorry you are going to have surgery. It's not fair. :(
ReplyDelete