First Frugal Friday of January 2023

Welcome to Friday! 
My Frugal Week
At the end of last week it had warmed up enough that we were able to turn the heat off for the time being, which made me happy as the electric bill will go down with the heat off. 
On Saturday we went to town to eat out at the Mexican restaurant and to shop the after Christmas clearance sales. I also wanted to check and see if they had any of their hams marked down. We didn’t find any hams, but did find a few Christmas items (gift bags, bows) to put into storage for next year. 
I received two gift cards in the mail this week from my health insurance for keeping up with my health in 2022. Both were for Walmart and totaled $35.
I paid all the bills this week including my auto insurance, which is due every six months. I use a slush fund to save up the money each month (divided by 6) to have the money to pay when the bill arrives.
I refilled my spray cleaner bottles with concentrated Lysol and added enough water to fill them. This saves a lot of money over the non-concentrated ones sold in the stores. 
Freebies

We received four free Covid19 test kits this week. I like having these on hand just in case we’ve been exposed and want peace of mind. 
I also received a free notebook from our Insurance company.
Saving Money In My Frugal Kitchen
Using up all of our Christmas leftovers and using up what’s here made for some interesting meals. Even though we didn’t go overboard on Christmas food, it’s nice to get back to healthier eating. 
When the price of groceries becomes too high we need to be flexible with our menus and change things up to save the most money. For example,  eggs are more expensive now compared to what they used to cost. So, we might not have as many egg dishes until the price comes back down. Unless you have your own egg laying chickens, of course. 
This week I did an inventory of food we have on hand. One of the items we have in abundance right now is carrots. Of course, they will keep a long time in the refrigerator. 
One night I used the chips and salsa left from the Mexican restaurant and included them in my meal plan, so as to not waste that extra food. 
Someone gave us a box of the 25 cent Macaroni and Cheese boxes and rather than waste it, I decided to doctor it up. I prepared the dish as it called for on the box, but added two slices of real cheese, onion powder, and pepper. It definitely brought it to the next level as it was bland before I added the additional ingredients. 
Meals This Week
All meals are served with either salad or vegetables and may not always be listed here. 
* If you see a dinner in bold print that means we had it more than once this week.
Taco Style Lentils and Rice, Tortillas, Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions. Dinner at the Mexican restaurant. The portions stretched for another meal. Oven Baked Rice & Beans, CornChicken in White Sauce with Dressing, Onions, and Corn. Beef in Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables. Successful Mexican Leftover Wizardry, Steamed Broccoli. Grilled Chicken Tenders, Air Fried Potatoes, Cabbage. 
Beverages included Iced tea, sweet or unsweet, herbal tea, and lemonade.
Recipe of the Week
This recipe reminds me of the one I have on here for Mexican Rice except this one doesn’t have to be stirred constantly on the stovetop. 
Instead of using store bought salsa, I used the salsa from the Mexican restaurant and included enough Taco Bell sauce packets with that to make up the 16 ounces. 
We used this as leftovers in Egg Burritos for breakfast & tacos for lunches this week. 
Oven Baked Rice & Beans
Ingredients:
3 cups of rice2 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon pepper2 teaspoons cumin1 tablespoon chili powder1/4 teaspoon oregano1/4 cup olive oil or butter1 - 16 ounce jar or salsa2 cups chicken or vegetable broth2 (15 ounce) cans of beans (kidney, pinto, etc)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Pour rice, seasonings, and oil into 13 x 9 casserole dish. Stir until rice is coated with oil and spices are dispersed evenly. Add salsa, broth, and beans and mix well. Cover tightly with foil.Bake in oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes.Remove from oven and check rice for doneness.Fluff with a fork. 
Saving Money YouTube Videos
Feed Your Family ALL WEEK for $55! I’ll Show You How! Including Recipes! 
How to Get Free Meals Every Week and Keep The Grocery Bill Down, Down, Down!
Saving on Entertainment
We watched Matilda this week, but it was the new film, which is actually a musical. They are not my cup of tea, but Bailey really enjoys them. 
What I've been Reading This Week
A Gift to You by The Bluebirds are Nesting ~ a long read/e-book about crafts and making Christmas presents all year long. 

Thank you for dropping by my frugal blog, you are always welcome here. 
We would love to hear all about your week in the comment section.

BelindaMortgage & Debt Free~ Living within our Means ~My Linktree
~ She looketh well to the ways of her household ~Proverbs 31:27