My daughter is on her competition dance team. This year we are doing three different dances. Dance competition days can be long. Tomorrow we are looking at around a 13 hour day. These days need healthy snacks. I am the team mom for our group. I am the one who always has the snacks, bandaids, and can fix all the mishaps.
I have looked the last few weeks for items to take with us to dance competition. Most items I have found on sale. I try to take our own food. Here is my menu for the weekend
Breakfast:
Trader Joes granola cereal $2.49
granola bars $1.99
Snack for Morning:
Trail mix $1.89
grapes $2.00
Yogurt $.25
Lunch:
Ham and Cheese Sandwich $2.00
Water
Snack:
Apple with almond butter $1.00
Dinner:
Probably take out food
This is my menu plan for the weekend. I feel that it is necessary to eat healthy and not partake in the food that is sold at these events. A family can easily spend over $100 on food for one day. Talk about blowing the budget.
3/8/11
Gas Prices
Topic for today: Gas Prices
I feel like the gas prices the past few weeks are getting almost too high for this family. These prices have made me look at the different parts of my budget. What is a frugal girl to do? Well, I will be taking the next few Tuesdays to look at the rising price of gas and how to combat this increase that is likely to stay.
This past week I did the obvious. I cut out satellite TV. We were already subscribers to netflix so, I now have this streaming to my tv's and the kids have most of the same shows they can watch. Now they can do this on their own schedule, not the TV's. Getting rid of easy TV as I call it was the best thing that has happened to my family. I did not realize how much we were watching and now all the forgotten toys are getting played with.
Other items I am looking at are: Cell phones vs. landline phone. Electricity and gas useage. Etc. My husband has a long commute each day and the gas prices are taking their toll.
Frugal Tuesday Tip of the week: No more satellite TV. This is saving my budget about $100.00/month.
I feel like the gas prices the past few weeks are getting almost too high for this family. These prices have made me look at the different parts of my budget. What is a frugal girl to do? Well, I will be taking the next few Tuesdays to look at the rising price of gas and how to combat this increase that is likely to stay.
This past week I did the obvious. I cut out satellite TV. We were already subscribers to netflix so, I now have this streaming to my tv's and the kids have most of the same shows they can watch. Now they can do this on their own schedule, not the TV's. Getting rid of easy TV as I call it was the best thing that has happened to my family. I did not realize how much we were watching and now all the forgotten toys are getting played with.
Other items I am looking at are: Cell phones vs. landline phone. Electricity and gas useage. Etc. My husband has a long commute each day and the gas prices are taking their toll.
Frugal Tuesday Tip of the week: No more satellite TV. This is saving my budget about $100.00/month.
3/7/11
Menu Plan Monday 3/7
Here it goes, I am trying to start my week with a plan. I have been meal planning consistently since the beginning of January. I don't always have a recipe ready to use, but I do come up with what meals I have the ingredients to make throughout the week. This week's plan:
Monday: Southwestern Chicken Casserole (this is just like chicken enchiladas, but with a flair all its own)
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Fish and Chips
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Asparagus Frittata
Sat and Sun: Not sure. Daughter has dance competition this weekend so may have to eat out, or from the cooler. I am thinking about making a greek pasta salad for this purpose.
This week begins Lent in my house. This translates into meatless Friday meals. I always have difficulty with this.
Monday: Southwestern Chicken Casserole (this is just like chicken enchiladas, but with a flair all its own)
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Fish and Chips
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Asparagus Frittata
Sat and Sun: Not sure. Daughter has dance competition this weekend so may have to eat out, or from the cooler. I am thinking about making a greek pasta salad for this purpose.
This week begins Lent in my house. This translates into meatless Friday meals. I always have difficulty with this.
3/6/11
Pillowcases!!!!
I have been trying to figure out a way to use up some of the fabric I have been hoarding over the last few years. I looked around and found a tutorial to make pillowcases. This was so easy. I made three pillowcases in less than two hours. I am not the most able seamstress, so I take a bit longer than some.
I have two wonderful children, who have been having a difficult time falling asleep at night, so I decided what better way to coax them to bed than by making a pillowcase with tons of love in them. I will let you know if this works. This was a very frugal day. I love it when a project doesn't cost me anything. Now I may just have to make some of these pillows to donate to the local children's hospital. I believe that this might be a wonderful service project for some sick children.
The pillows have been drug all over my house today. I think they are loved. Now to find another project.
I have two wonderful children, who have been having a difficult time falling asleep at night, so I decided what better way to coax them to bed than by making a pillowcase with tons of love in them. I will let you know if this works. This was a very frugal day. I love it when a project doesn't cost me anything. Now I may just have to make some of these pillows to donate to the local children's hospital. I believe that this might be a wonderful service project for some sick children.
The pillows have been drug all over my house today. I think they are loved. Now to find another project.
3/3/11
$30 in 30 days--Update
Well the last two months have definitely gotten away from me. January brought many illnesses to my family. We ate many pots of soup this month. I managed to cut my grocery spending by $200.00 in the month of January. This was a HUGE milestone for me. February has also come and gone. February brought crisis to my family. My grandma who was 86 passed away from a major stroke. The past two weeks have been spent in hospice by her side remembering the good memories. Since I was not at home much the last few weeks. I have went over budget in February, but March started out well. I am truly eating out of my freezer and will try to give weekly updates this month on how I am cutting my grocery costs.
I am also trying to cut household costs. This week we have taken the plunge and canceled the satellite tv. I could not understand spending $100.00 a month on TV. I will also update on how the kids are handling this. So far it has gone well. They are playing with toys that have been forgotten over the last few months.
I am also trying to cut household costs. This week we have taken the plunge and canceled the satellite tv. I could not understand spending $100.00 a month on TV. I will also update on how the kids are handling this. So far it has gone well. They are playing with toys that have been forgotten over the last few months.
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