Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ Week # 4 ~ April 2025

My Frugal Week

While I was at UGO this week, they had the one gallon jugs of Kraft tarter sauce for $3.99, which is a bargain in itself considering how much they cost in some retail stores, but really a bargain when compared to the small bottles we normally buy. 

I made a batch of taco seasoning mix this week and actually used a quart size jar instead of a pint size jar since we use a lot of this when cooking. 

I cut my heavy duty scouring pads in half to make two pads and save money as there is no job in my kitchen that requires a large one. 

Recipe of the Week

This recipe comes from Rich Eaton, a chef who lost over 350 pounds, and creates the Reinventing Chef Rich channel on TikTok.  

Less pasta, pasta salad — where flavor meets fat loss!

Big bites, fewer calories, same delicious summer vibes.

Stack your bowl with nutrient-packed, bulking veggies.

Keep the flavor, ditch the heavy calories.

I like this recipe because one of the ways I've lost weight is by going low carb, which sort of leaves pasta salad out of the mix. By using less pasta in his recipe Chef Rich shares that he is able to take three portions of pasta and turn it into seven portions by adding nutrient rich vegetables. 

Using items I had in my kitchen I was able to make twelve cups of this at 84 calories per cup, which is perfect for those looking to lose weight. (I left out the bag of fat free cheddar cheese).

Less Pasta Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

3 portions of Pasta (1 portion is 2 ounces dry)

Red Bell Pepper - I used a total of 2 cups peppers

Green Bell Pepper

Yellow Bell Pepper

Onion - I used one very small onion

Tomatoes - left out as none fresh on hand

Cucumbers - I used 2 cups

Cabot Lite Cheddar 50% less calories than regular cheddar (the whole block)

diced ham or turkey, if desired

1 - 8 ounce - bag shredded fat free cheddar cheese

I can black olives - I used one cup

One bottle Skinny Girl Italian Dressing (80 calories for the whole bottle)

Directions: 

Cook Pasta.

Chop up Vegetables.

Add All Together and Let Marinate.

 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Scalloped Potatoes with Ham, Steamed Broccoli, Pickled Beets, Sliced Cucumbers, and Mini Sweet Peppers. 

Movie Night Tuesday ~ Homemade Pizza & Salads. 

Wednesday ~ Leftovers of Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and I made the Less Pasta Pasta Salad from Chef Rich. 

Thursday ~ Last of the Scalloped Potatoes & Ham, Macaroni & Cheese, Less Pasta Pasta Salad, and Corn on the Cob. 

Fish on Friday ~ Salmon Patties, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans with Onions. 

Saturday ~ Chicken Tacos, Corn or Flour Tortillas, Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Red Onion, and Salsa Verde. 

Sunday ~ Lemon Pepper Chicken, Baked Sweet Potatoes, and Bean Salad. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

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

Frugal Friday ~ Fourth & Final Week of April 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 
Quote of the Week

Living below my means because financial peace is worth more than keeping up with others. 

My Frugal Week
Last Friday I went to Super Cuts and got my hair cut, saving $2.00 with a coupon, went to the bank for cash for yard sales, and managed to stop at one sale before my physical therapy appointment. 
For those of you who know, my knee flexion reached 120 degrees, which is considered a good range of motion for basic daily activities like walking, sitting, and using stairs.  
My knee extension is much better too and reached zero, but that was with me sitting up and helping to push it down some. It's a work in progress, but has been the joy of my life recently. 
I picked up a wind chime for 25 cents this week and hung it on the back porch. It’s already brought me way more than 25 cents worth of joy. 
When I was in Walmart the other day I picked up a bag of potting soul and a mint plant. I’m going to transplant it into a bigger pot and place it on my new shelf I made on the back porch, next to the wind chime. Having an herb garden on my back porch always brings me so much joy. 
I found a nickel on the ground while I was at a yard sale on Saturday. 
We have a rug in the kitchen that needs to be replaced because it has a hole in it, which could be a tripping hazard. While I was at UGO this week I saw that they had replacements for $10, so I bought one. 
Freebies

M.

Two free magazines arrived in the mail this week. 

I sent a request to Orgain, my favorite protein drink, and asked for coupons and they did not disappoint. They sent me enough coupons to save $90.00 on their products. 
Avoiding Spending
I couldn’t avoid spending this week as I filled up my car with gas on Wednesday. But, I did check all four gas stations here before pumping. Food City Gas & Go was the lowest at $2.45 per gallon with the highest one being Marathon at $2.69 per gallon. It pays to check as Marathon was the cheaper one last time I filled my car. 
Saving Money YouTube Videos
Cooking on a Small Budget ~ Frugal Recipes from Scratch ~ Kelsey from Seed & Sparrow Homestead makes four recipes from scratch for Creamed Chipped Beef, Hamburger Gravy, Haluski, and Chicken & Dumplings. All recipes are included and she presents them with a gentle nature. When cooking on a small budget, learning to cook from scratch is essential. Not only will this save you money, but during hard times it’s important to make every penny count. 
Saving Money on Entertainment
This week I’ve enjoyed watching Leave It To Beaver and Everybody Loves Raymond during my downtimes. I use them to help me fall asleep at night, which I know is a bad habit, but it helps me take my mind off things and fall asleep easily. 
What I've been Reading This Week
This week I’ve been reading Michael Greger’s book, How Not To Die, which I find so interesting. He gives scientific facts behind the most nutritional foods we should be eating everyday, and what we can do to prevent the diseases that plague so many people who eat the Standard American Diet (SAD). 
He has an app called The Daily Dozen, which is free, which includes some of the healthiest foods we can eat everyday, if you’re interested. 
I’ve been enjoying this book more than his How Not to Diet book, which was very scientific. He has a new book out now titled, How Not to Age, which I want to read next. 

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.

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

Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ Week # 3 April 2025

My Frugal Week

Doing all the usual tasks such as using up what we have here, eating and cleaning out the fridge of any leftovers to avoid waste, keeping the dishes done and the kitchen neat and tidy. We picked up multiple jars last week, and they are now scrubbed clean and stored where we can easily use them. 

A couple of years ago we sold my Mom's electric roaster at the consignment sale and I have regretted it ever since. Guess what I found at a yard sale on Friday ? An Oster electric roaster for $3.00. Woo Hoo! 
I used it on Sunday to cook our Easter Ham because we have a smaller oven and I would have to remove racks in order for it to fit inside. We have a lot of ham left for this week, so I’ll be incorporating that into many meals this week. 
Before dinner I filled the sink with hot soapy water and washed all the new jars we got this weekend throughly. I even used some Goo Gone to remove some adhesive. I love washing the items we find and creating uses for them in our home. And it really felt like a holiday to me scrubbing the roaster after our holiday meal on Sunday. 

Photo of the Week

Lemon Pepper Chicken marinating before dinner one day. 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ White Chicken Enchiladas, Corn, Salad. 

Movie Night Tuesday ~ Homemade pizza and salads. 

Wednesday ~ Meatloaf, Cucumber Tomato Salad, Garden Salad, Pickled Beets, Radishes, Green Grapes, Strawberries. 

Thursday ~ This meal was definitely a money saver. First off it was meatless as I made an Enchilada Bake and Baked Potatoes. I used up several items from the fridge that needed using such as a small container of green chilies.

Friday ~ Air Fried Chicken Breasts with Honey Mustard, Broccoli Vegetable Stir Fry, Mini Sweet Peppers, and Strawberries. 

Saturday ~ Marinated & Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken, Baked Potatoes, and Green Beans with Onions. 🍋 🌶️ 🥔 🫘 

Easter Sunday ~ Baked Ham, Hot Potato Salad, Pickled Beets, and Deviled Eggs. I used my new to me Oster Roaster to make the ham. 

What’s been on the menu in your home this past week?

Belinda

Homemaker at Heart

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

Yard Sale Saturday

We had another great day going to yard sales today. The weather was nice and cool at 67 degrees and it was a little overcast, so perfect weather.  I walked almost one mile going to the sales. I got out at each and every one too. In years past I would stay in the car usually and let Bailey go shop. Today I brought my cane just in case I needed it, and felt no pain in my knees. 

On a side note, we went to a church yard sale and I saw one of the teachers I used to sub for and she gave me a big hug. It was so great to see her. 

Here is what I bought today...

This is a Lymphatic Drainage Massage Roller Stick, which sells for $19.75 on Amazon, but I bought for $1.00 today. I have been wanting one of these to help with scar tissue from my knees and my lymphedema, so I was tickled to find one. 

This is a URBNFit Exercise Ball, brand new in the box, which sells for $29.99 on Amazon. I paid $5.00 for it today. I've been wanting one of these to strengthen my core and help me with my balance. I am also looking for a two pound ankle weight to simulate an exercise she had me do this week. I know I will find one eventually as I see them regularly. 

Here is a group photo of other items I picked up today. 

The books were 50 cents and went right into the McKay Used Books box to be traded as they will give us more money for them and we in turn will trade them for books that we want to read, a win-win trade. 

A clock for the kitchen since mine fell down this winter and broke, only $2.00. 

Twelve pint canning jars marked at $6.00, but I asked her if she would take $5.00 and she did. So, 42 cents per jar. 

Four drinking glasses for when we have company as we don't have any nice glasses for guests. All of our cups are specialty cups for us to use. I got four of them for 50 cents each. 

Five pairs of pants in my new to me size, which I'll wash and try on and give to Bailey to sell if I don't like the way they fit. They were all $2.00 a pair. 

A drain hair catcher for the bathtub was 50 cents. We desperately needed this as I have to unscrew the drain every month and clean it out, so I hope this helps with that issue. 

Two crossbody bag purses, which I am loving these days because they help keep my hands free to use either my walker or cane. One was $2.00 and the other one was $3.00. 

The lady who I bought the drinking glasses from gave me this LOVE stamp bag for free to carry my glasses in, which I thought was very nice of her. 

So, these are all the things I bought today. Some were needed and some I wanted, but provided me and Bailey with a couple of hours of entertainment and fun on this beautiful Saturday. 
I don't list the items Bailey buys as she is buying for herself and her business. 
How about you? Did you get to any yard sales today? Did you find any treasures? If so, I would love to hear all about it. 

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

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

Frugal Friday ~ Third Frugal Friday of April 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 

My Frugal Week
After physical therapy last Friday I decided to stop at some yard sales, and figured the walking would be good for me and did get about 1200 steps from the five yard sales. I didn't find anything that I needed at the first four sales, and that could be because of all the decluttering we’ve done recently. That and some of the prices were higher than retail. 

Square Foot Gardening

But, at the last one yard sale I found this book by Mel Bartholomew, Square Foot Gardening, along with a couple of calendar stickers. So many people are writing about having gardens this year due to the higher prices of groceries. 
On Thursday I went outside to take pictures of a garden cart I’m wanting to sell. I also went downstairs in the office and brought up two boards for the back porch. I laid them across the banister in the corner to make a table for plants we want to grow. 
I also took my wheelchair out of the trunk of my car and left it in the office downstairs as I don’t think I need it anymore. I took pictures for my brother as he’s decided he wants a few of our Dad’s things. Then I came upstairs and helped Bailey in her office until it was time to work on dinner.
Yard Sale Saturday 

We went to so many yard sales that I lost count. I got in over 3,000 steps, which is over one mile. I picked up some cute things such as a braclet watch for 50 cents, a Mason storage jar pitcher for $1.00,  a brand new phone carrier change purse for $1.00, a purse, and ten washcloths for 25 cents each. 
At the last yard sale Bailey scored two boxes of free stuff as the lady was moving and just wanted to get rid of stuff. It was a great yard sale day with beautiful weather. 
Money News
This week I received $80 as part of a settlement. 
Bailey paid her taxes in full this week! 
I received a refund of $44 from an account I overpaid towards. 
Retina Specialist/Eye News
On Tuesday I had an appointment with the retina specialist for my eye injections. They were worse this time, which I already suspected, so I got two more injections and go back in four weeks to try a new medicine. Afterwards I had an appointment with an insurance agent regarding life insurance. He gave me a $5 Walmart gift card for my time. 
Memory Bench
The gentleman who is going to build the bench in memory of my Dad came this week and picked out the cedar tree he will use for the project. He is filled up until July and I told him that was fine. 
Saving on Gasoline
On my way home from PT yesterday, I noticed that RaceTrack had gasoline for $2.35 a gallon. So, I pulled in, downloaded their app (for additional savings), and filled my car up with $35, which normally cost about $40. When I drove by the Marathon gas station, where I was going to fill up, I noticed gas was priced at $2.49 a gallon, so I did the right thing by filling up at RaceTrack. Score!
Freebies

I won a book this week from Bill Streetman, called Simple ...not Easy. I entered a contest through one of the weight loss podcasts I listen to regularly. This is Bill's story on how he escaped from obesity by way of a Gastric Bypass. 
What I've been Reading This Week
Lunch on the Go ~ This is a German blog, but Google will give you the opportunity to translate it to English for you. She says they take homemade meals whenever they’re on the road for either business or pleasure. That way they are independent of restaurants, snack bars, gas station food, and therefore save money. The pictures of their lunches are quite lovely. 
Big Dreams, Small Budget: How to Live Well for Less ~ a blog post by Sara Conklin on the Frozen Pennies website. 
If We Cannot Fix It Then We Need to Find an Old New Way by GDonna at Generations Before Us. She is a wise women with sage advice, and says we must learn skills to navigate this time we live in. 

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.

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