Menu Plan Monday ~ Saving Money in my Frugal Kitchen ~ Week #2 May 2025

My Frugal Week

Did you know that a meal that cost you $10 to make at home will cost you $30 at a restaurant? Studies consistently show that cooking at home is significantly cheaper than eating out, with home cooked meals averaging $4 to $6 per person compared to $15 to $20 at a restaurant. 

Cooking at home will definitely save you money. The USDA Thrifty Food Plan shows two people, my and Bailey’s age, could spend $479.10 per month on the Thrifty Food Plan or up to $791.20 on the Liberal Food Plan. We definitely lean more towards the thrifty side.

 

What’s for Dinner

Monday & Tuesday  ~Homemade Pizza & Salad.  

Wednesday ~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets with BBQ Sauce or Honey Mustard for Dipping, Sunday Bean Salad. 

Thursday ~ 15 Bean Cajun Soup Beans with Ham, and Southern Spoon-bread Corn Casserole. 

Friday & Saturday ~ Grilled Chicken Salads. They were so good! Sometimes a salad just hits the spot and today was one of those days. 

Sunday ~ Cajun Soup Beans & Ham and Cornbread. 

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 ~ Second Frugal Friday of May 2025

 

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 

Quote of the Week

"Be guided by the rule: If you don't need it, Don't buy it. 

                                                         ~ United States 1942 War Rations Booklet

Our Frugal Week

Bailey set up at her first craft festival on Saturday. She has worked diligently to make enough items to have to sell at the festival, and even though the rain threatened to keep people away she was hopeful. In the end the weather did keep people away and it was mostly vendors who were buying from each other. 
I stayed home and did the laundry, cleaned the house, vacuumed, took the trash out, cleaned out the litter boxes, cleaned the kitchen, prepped dinner, and all the other tasks that keep our home running smoothly.
Last summer our neighbor clear cut his land up above ours and the rainwater off the mountain has washed out our driveway in one section. I’ve spoken with him about this and he plans on fixing both of our driveways as his has washed out too. 
Until then, we had to find an alternative solution. So, on Sunday, we went to Rural King (RK) in Sweetwater, Tennessee. We went there for bags of tube sand to place into the huge ditch created by the water run off. 
The RK website stated they had it in stock, which is why we drove there. In the end, the store employees couldn’t find it, so we ended up buying a horse mat to place across the huge hole until our neighbor has time to fix it properly. 
I didn't realize that RK sold some grocery items like spices. I bought some cumin and Herbes de Provence to refill my supplies at home. 
I had a busy week with two doctor appointments and three days of physical therapy. I received good reports from both doctors and won’t need to see one of them for a year and the other one in four months.
Freebies
I have several birthday freebies I could cash in today, although many of them are for items I no longer eat or drink like milkshakes and dessert items. Hmmmm…decisions, decisions. 😂 
Avoiding Spending
Having been without a car for the majority of the week I certainly avoided spending this week. LOL I'll make up for it tomorrow when we do our grocery shopping. 
Saving Money YouTube Videos
10 Frugal Habits That Will Solve 99% of your Problems  ~ a video from Frozen Pennies 
Saving Money on Entertainment

It’s easy to spend money to watch movies, attend concerts, or gather with friends to dine out. But if you want to cut everyday expenses, you will want to substitute free or at least cheaper forms of entertainment that don’t cost money. 

For example, spend your evening watching a movie for free on YouTube instead of going to the cinema. Take a nature walk, visit your public library, or attend a community event to start cutting your expenses on entertainment.

Kirstie’s Homemade Home Series ~ Here is a British television show that you can watch for free on YouTube. Kirstie Allsopp makes it her mission to transform a run-down cottage into the perfect home. Along the way, she reveals the benefits of making do and mending in the Devon cottage she bought.

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 # 1 ~ May 2025

 My Frugal Week

I sorted out our freezer on Monday and put all the breakfast foods in one freezer and all the dinner items in another freezer. That really helped me to see what I have on hand for dinners, and I had more meat on hand than I realized. 

I had four turkeys on hand and actually used two of them last week. The first one was boneless, so I thawed it and cubed it. Bailey used it all week in her eggs for breakfast and I made taco meat out of the rest of it. The other turkey breast went in the refrigerator to thaw, and I cooked it in the crockpot for Saturday night's dinner. 

I'm not always a fan of turkey, and when I was rooting around in the freezer I found a bowl of Chef AJ's Lentil Taco Filling, so I defrosted that for my dinners where we had tacos this week instead of using turkey for mine. 

I made six strawberry-banana gelatin cups and six orange and mandarin orange gelatin cups. The orange ones were a huge hit, so on Saturday I made six more of those. 

I boiled one dozen eggs to have on hand and made deviled eggs with some of them on Saturday for that evening's dinner. 

What’s for Dinner

Monday ~ Grilled Chicken, Sunday Bean Salad, and Corn. 

Movie Night Tuesday ~ Homemade Pepperoni & Black Olive Pizza and Garden Salad with Cucumber Ranch Dressing. 

Wednesday & Thursday ~ Turkey Tacos, Corn or Flour Tortillas, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Jalapeños, Taco Sauce, and Corn. I chopped up some of the diced turkey breast and added onions, green chilies, and taco seasoning and used that to make tacos for dinner. 

Friday ~ Bailey was busy setting up for the craft fair and had tacos on the run, so I had a simple dinner of cottage cheese with a homemade jello fruit cup. 

Saturday & Sunday ~ Turkey Breast, Collard Greens, Sweet Potatoes, and Green Beans with Onions. We often have leftovers for the next day since there are only two of us here, which just happens to save us money too. 

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 ~ First Frugal Friday of May 2025

Welcome to Frugal Friday! 
My Frugal Week
We have had rain every day this week, which is a good thing. My physical therapy and knee are doing well, although my blood sugar has been low a few times this week.  
This week I received a refund on a can opener I bought in the last year as I made a complaint to the company for how hard it was to open a number ten can. I also earned an Amazon Associates payout of $10, scanned my receipts into Fetch, listed one item for sale on eBay, and hung some of my laundry up to dry. 
My car has been in the shop this week, so I took advantage of a deal from my insurance company that will pay for transportation for me to go back and forth to my physical therapy appointments at no cost to me. My first ride was on Wednesday and was so pleasant that I could easily get used to that. 
One way to have a successful frugal life is by working hard at home.  Staying home allows you to have the time to do that work. It’s possible to live well on less, even when we’re surrounded daily by consumerism and influencers pedaling us towards the latest must-haves. With a bit of mindfulness and some practical tips, you can be on your way to a more frugal, fulfilling life. A great deal of financial security comes from this type of hard work. 
Smart spending doesn’t mean cutting spending entirely. Rather, it’s about making intelligent and informed decisions about where your money goes. Switching to a cheaper grocery store, comparing prices, reducing dining out, or eliminating unnecessary subscriptions can save money in the long run. Before making a purchase, ask yourself whether it’s something you actually need or is it something you simply want. 
What I've been Reading This Week
Why is Walmart's Great Value Brand in Land O Lakes butter boxes?  People have speculated for years that Land O’ Lakes may be the supplier for Walmart’s private-labeled Great Value butter sticks. Rachael (@rachaelishere) shows that inside a box of Land O’ Lakes butter sticks purchased from Walmart, their wrappers have Great Value branding. Just more evidence that many store brands are actually name brands in disguise. 
Days Without Spending Money ~ Another thought provoking post from Mrs. White at The Legacy of Home blog. 

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 # 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