We cook and eat a lot of beans and I always make extra to freezer or turn into things like re-fried beans for burritos and such. But it doesn’t stop there. Even with the repurposing and freezing anything that’s enough for another family meal, I end up with little bowls of leftover beans. Today I […]
Continue readingI thought I’d share one of my favorite things to knit with you today. They are socks and when it comes to knitting, they are quite frugal and best of all, you end up with a hand-knit item for everyday use when you’re done. I wouldn’t recommend socks for your very first knitting project, but […]
Continue readingMaking and freezing meals ahead of time is a great way to save both time and money. You do however need to make sure you’re using your freezer efficiently to get the most bang for your buck. Part of that means making and freezing dishes your family will enjoy eating. The other part of the […]
Continue readingWe’re having some of the coldest days we’ve had all winter right now and it is very windy as well. As a result, the heat keeps running a lot more than usual and I really don’t want to see the bill next month. The tip below for insulating drafty windows for little money couldn’t have […]
Continue readingOften the most expensive part of a holiday meal (and most dinners for that matter) is the meat. After Christmas (or Easter), we tend to have quite a bit of ham leftover. Eating the same holiday meal warmed up again, works well for the day after, but it’s not something I want to eat for 3 or […]
Continue readingOver the past few years my Christmas shopping has changed dramatically. Yes, I still make quite a few homemade gifts, but my actual shopping has changed. I remember beating the crowds from Black Friday to Christmas eve trying to find that elusive toy or gadget. We do our best to give our family a nice […]
Continue readingDo you want to know my biggest secret to a successful Thanksgiving dinner that doesn’t cost and arm and a leg? It also happens to keep me from stressing out and spending 3 days in the kitchen. Best of all, it’s a lot of fun for everyone involved… it’s a Potluck Thanksgiving. I have spend […]
Continue readingIf you’ve been shopping for a turkey, you know that it’s a lot cheaper to buy it frozen than fresh. There are also lots more options when you go frozen. Since it’s the more frugal option, let’s talk about some of the best ways to go about thawing a turkey. If You Have Plenty Of […]
Continue readingLast week I shared a tip with you on how to freeze eggs. This week we’ll take advantage of the freezer again… this time to make our lives easier throughout the Holiday season. There are all sorts of things you make well ahead of time. Appetizers It’s nice to have a few appetizers sitting out […]
Continue readingWe go through a lot of eggs around here. They are cheap, full of protein and you can fix them into all sorts of different dishes for any meal of the day. Every once in a while I find myself with too many eggs in the fridge or I come across a sale that’s too […]
Continue readingJust a quick tip for you this morning. If you’re using meat in your crockpot dishes, take a few minutes in the morning and brown it in a pan. Yes, it takes a little extra time and you have a pan to clean after, but you’ll be rewarded with lots of rich flavors. The nice […]
Continue readingEach year 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin are grown. Sadly a lot of that ends up in local landfills and compost piles after Halloween. Why not change that this year by roasting and freezing the pumpkin to make some delicious pumpkin soup or pumpkin pie later on? Plan Ahead If you’re thinking of cooking and […]
Continue readingIf you had to guess, how much extra money do you spend on take out or convenience meals picked up at the grocery store last minute because your day just got away from you? With fall here, after-school activities seem to pick up and I quite often find myself home just before dinner with no […]
Continue readingThere are all sorts of yummy meals that can be cooked in a crockpot. In fact, many of your own family’s favorites may easily be converted into slow cooker meals. I’ve made anything from spaghetti and lasagna to “baked” chicken in there. One of the problems when you start to experiment with your own recipes […]
Continue readingI came across this tip quite accidentally a few weeks ago when I went shopping for some craft supplies. We have a store called “Hobby Lobby”. They send out a weekly flyer with what supplies are on sale along with a 40% off one regular priced item coupon. I’ve used the coupon a few times […]
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