Frugal in Franklin

Taco Meat (A Flexible Recipe)

I just want to start by saying that my family is like every other family, they love a pound of ground beef mixed with Old El Paso seasoning.  They'll eat it in just about anything!  But over the years, I've experimented with a number of ways to make my taco filling a little cheaper and a little healthier. 

You may remember that I have mixed my meat with boiled wheat kernels, Bulgar, brown and white rice.  Of these options, my kids liked white rice best, my husband liked wheat, and I liked the brown rice.  I simply cut the pound of ground beef with 1-2 cups of prepared grain to stretch the meat.

Many years ago, I used texturized vegetable protein (TVP) to stretch my meat.  I loved this option.  It's very inexpensive and convenient and I liked the way it tasted.  My husband was lukewarm on that one.  If you're curious about using TVP, check here.

The best way I've found to make taco meat healthy and affordable is as follows:

• I brown the beef along with a chopped onion, and a chopped bell pepper.  (I get bell peppers in huge quantities over the summer from my CSA, which I chop and freeze for year round use.).  If I'm using pre-chopped veggies, I use one cup of each.

• When the beef is done cooking, I drain it as usual.

• I add one can of beans (black, kidney, or pinto with the liquid drained) to the beef mixture. 

• Then I season the mixture as usual.  If you need a do-it-yourself seasoning recipe, try here.

This seems to be the version of pumped up taco meat my family can all agree on.  Not only do the beans cost about 1/4 the price of lean ground beef, they are also healthier.  The green pepper is chock full of vitamin C, and the whole mixture is much higher in fiber and lower in sat. fat. 

To top it all off, it's much more appealing to look at...

 

Side note:  Are you curious how I got my kids to eat green peppers and onions?  Honestly, I can't get them to eat them as much as I'd like.  However, they never complain about this mixture.  I think their love for tacos trumps their distaste for peppers.

If your family loves Mexican you can find more great recipes at LifeAsMOM.

Where Did It All Go?

Note:  I subsequently emailed Breyer's and they mailed me a coupon for a replacement carton.  However, the packaging has still shrunken to ridiculous proportions!

Yesterday, I ventured over to Harris Teeter for Triple Coupons.  While I was there, I picked up a container of Breyer's ice cream.  It's on sale, buy one get one this week, and I had a .75 coupon that would triple, making it just .49 for a container. 

Of course you know that Breyer's was the first company (that I know of) to cut their 1/2 gallon to 1.75 quarts.  Then recently, they cut the containers to 1.5 qts.  That means that the new packaging is much smaller than the old...

But imagine my surprise when I opened up the carton and saw this...

There is at least 1/2" of head space and 1/4 " of clearance all the way around the ice cream!

The regular retail on this at Harris Teeter is $5.49.  Yikes!  How long can companies keep re-sizing their product before people just refuse to buy it?  Is it any wonder all of us have opted out of paying retail? 

Tightwad Tip Tuesday

Do you need a little help on the road to Tightwad?  Stop by every Tuesday for a quick tip to help you on your way.

Don’t you hate buying air filters for your HVAC system?  They are expensive, you end up throwing them away (I hate paying for stuff I’m going to throw away), and I can never remember which size we need!

About a year ago, we switched over to a reusable air filter.  You can purchase inexpensive models at the local home improvement store, or better quality ones at the Allergy Store.  Once a month I have to take the filter out and rinse it really well with the garden hose and then put it back.  Simple and nothing to throw out! 

Looking for more frugal ideas?  Check out BeFrugal.net or LifeasMom.  Are there disposable items you’ve been able to replace in your daily life?  Leave a comment.

This Week's $50 Budget (Using a Little Surplus)

This week’s $50 budget went a little over.  Thankfully, I had some surplus from previous weeks.  We also splurged on some birthday steaks this week.  The steaks came out of the birthday budget, rather than my weekly budget.  The carrot cake and trimmings came out of the weekly budget.  We sneak in a special meal that way about 4 times a year.

Here is my major Publix shop for the week:

Final Cost  $13.73 (Value before sales, coupons, and tax $62.97 or 83% Savings)

Kroger

6.8 lbs. Chicken Drumsticks (Manager’s Special)

½ c. pkg of Chopped Walnuts

5 Pillsbury Brownie Mixes

4 Capri Sun 10 pks.

2 Bottles of Gourmet Salad Dressing (Clearance)

  

Final Cost  $11.43 (Value before sales, coupons, and tax $38.42 or 73% Savings)

 

Sam’s Club

2 Gallons of Milk at $1.99 ea

Final Cost:  $4.29

 

Aldi

1 Dozen Eggs

1 Seedless Watermelon

Final Cost  $6.77

 

HG Hills

5 Pop Tarts

4 Boxes of Granola Bars

3 Lg. Boxes Cereal

2 lbs. Deli Sliced Ham

3 Family Packs of Pork Chops

Final Cost $17.98

Grand Total For the Week:  $54.20 (Remaining Surplus from last week $4.57)

 

 

 

 

 

Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater!

 

Have you ever wondered if we ever completely blow it?   Do we ever go hog wild?  Are we always disciplined about our budget?  Well, the answer is yes and no.

Yes, I sometimes end up spending more at one store than I meant to spend.  For instance this week, we spent more at HG Hills than I had expected. We just "had to have" those clearance Pop-Tarts and one more package of pork chops.  However, I balanced that by cutting back my spending at Publix.  Out went the Jose Ole Tacos and a  bottle of Shout stain remover.

Yes, for special occassions, we splurge on special foods.  This week, we spent $17 (purchased at $3.59/lb Manager's Special) on five luscious T-bone steaks to celebrate my sons 13th birthday.  And no, I didn't take that money out of the food budget.  We typically budget that extra spending as part of the special occassion.  For instance, we set aside money every month all year for Christmas.  Our prime rib for Christmas dinner is part of that budget.

We've been using a cash budget for our food for over 13 years now.  The bottom line is, we've had a lot of practice.  With practice, comes proficiency. In fact, shopping within the parameters of the budget is just second nature now.

Here are a few key factors that help us stay on track (remember, it's taken us a decade of trial and error to get here):

1. You and your spouse need to be in agreement.  If my husband keeps blowing the budget, then we'll never stay on track.
2. You need to be considerate of the little things that are a priority to your spouse.  For years my husband said, "anything but the Pepsi."  If you want your spouse to be on board, you can't ignore their feelings and opinions.
3. Make room for the special stuff.  Don't lie to yourself when you budget.  If you know you're going to buy steaks once a quarter, figure out a way to fit it in your budget.  (Even if you have to take it out of a special events budget, like we do.)
4. Prioritize the items on your shopping list.  I'm always prepared to take things off my list if the budget is tight.  I prioritize the things we are running low on, and the things with the greatest nutritional value.  Apples come before chips, unless we are overloaded with fruit but out of salty snacks.
5. Don't be afraid to spend less than you've budgeted some weeks, in order to have a little extra some other week.  I think the biggest key to extreme savings is saving your money until the truly exceptional price rolls around.
6. Budget enough money.  Again, don't lie to yourself about your budget.  If you know you always go $10 over your budget, maybe your budget needs to be $10 bigger.  What good does it do you to have a budget that looks good on paper, but doesn't work?
7. Be accountable.  Posting my weekly spending for the world to see is great accountability.  Find a friend to share your triumphs and failures with on a regular basis.  Or, join the blogging community and share your budget with a wider audience!

Menu for the Week of 4/27

 

 

 

 

Monday:   16 Bean Soup

 

Tuesday:    Chicken Salad Pita Pockets (I used light mayo)

 

Wednesday:   Spaghetti w/ Italian Turkey Sausage Sauce

 

Thursday:  Tacos

 

Friday: Chili Mac 

 

Saturday:   Homemade Pizza

 

Sunday:  Marinated Grilled Pork Chops

 

I plan 2-3 servings of fruits/vegetables with each dinner, but most often I throw these together at the last minute, rather than planning them up front.

 

Breakfast Ideas for this week:  Toast w/ Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Muffins, Whole Wheat Waffles, Bacon and Eggs, Cold Cereal

 

You can see more menu ideas here.

 

 

 

 

The Quick List

Not everybody has time to read every post, check every flyer, and go to every store.  With that in mind, I'm going to try this quick list.  If you're pressed for time, maybe it will help you decide what stores are a must stop. 

 

Please note that these are best current prices, not necessarily stockpile prices.  If something is worth stockpiling I will mark it as such.

 

 

Aldi

  

Butter $1.49/ lb. 

Cream Cheese .79

Block Cheese 8 oz. $1.29

Milk $2.29 Gallon

 

Food Lion (Good Thru )

.No Deals Worth a Special Trip this Week

 

Harris Teeter (Good Thru 5/12)

Buy One Get One Deals

Remember:  In order to get the best price listed, buy only 1 and use a coupon.  If you buy more than one, you will not be able to use a coupon.

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail 64 oz at $3.79
-.55/1 Ocean Spray Cranberry Pomegranate Or Ruby Pomegranate Juice Drink, Any 64 Oz. RP 4/19 (makes it .79¢ ea)

Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats at $3.48
$1 off Kellogg’s Cereal printable or RP 4/05 (makes it .74¢ ea)
-$1.50/2 Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats printable
$1 off Frosted Mini Wheats Vocal Point Home Mailer
B1G1 Frosted Mini Wheats Vocal Point Home Mailer

Ziploc Freezer or Storage Bags at $2.89 or Containers at $3.59
-$1/2 Ziploc Bags printable
-.40/1 Ziploc Bags SS 3/15 (makes it .64¢ ea)

B1G1 Ziploc Expandable Bottom Bags SS 5/03
-$1.50/2 Ziploc Containers printable (makes it $1.04 ea)

Hefty Cinch Sak Tall Kitchen Bags 45 ct at $7.29
-$1 off Hefty Trash Bags RP 4/19 (makes it $2.64 ea)

Windex 26-30oz, at $3.88
-.75/1 Windex Anti-Bacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner or Any Wipes SS 3/29 (exp 5/09) (makes it .19¢ ea)
-.40/1 off any Windex SS 5/10

Shout 26-30 oz, at $3.48
-.35/1 or- .55/1 Shout Laundry Product, Any SS 3/29 (exp 5/09)
-.55/1 off Shout SS 5/10 (makes it .64¢)

Other Deals

General Mills Cereal Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Total or Trix $2 ea
-.55/1 off Cheerios printable (makes it .90¢ ea)
-.55/1 off Cinnamon Toast Crunch printable (no longer available)
-.75/1 off Total printable (makes it .50¢ ea)

Stoneyfield Farm Organic Yogurt 6 oz, .60¢ ea
-.50/3 Stonyfield Farms Yogurt printable (makes it .26¢ ea)

Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner 25 oz $2 ea
-.75/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner SS 3/29 (makes it .50¢ ea)
-.35/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner SS 3/29

 

Kroger (Good Thru 5/16)

73% Lean Ground Beef $1.67/lb

Boneless Shoulder Roast $2.99/lb

Full Rack Frozen Babyback Ribs $2.99/lb

USDA Choice Boneless Beef Shoulder Roast $2.49/ lb

 

Kroger Chicken Breast or Tenders Frozen 3 lb bag $4.98 ($1.66/lb) STOCKPILE

 

Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs 1 lb $1.50 STOCKPILE

-$1/2 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs SS 5/10

-$1 off Oscar Mayer Franks coupons on select products

 

Blue Grass Mets or Brats $2.50

-$1off 1 BG Mets or Brats RP 4/26

 

Mangos .68 each

Navel Oranges  .68 / lb

Seedless Red Grapes $1.28/lb

Organic Grapefruit .99/lb

 

Iceberg Lettuce .77/head

Dole Premium Salads $1.67

Fresh Broccoli $1.28/bunch

Idaho Potatoes 5 lb Bag $1.64

 

Horizon Organic Milk Half Gallon $3.49

-.55/1 Printable

 

International Delights Creamer  32 oz. $2.50

-$1/1 Printable

 

Daisy Sour Cream 8oz $1.29 ea
-.50/1 Daisy Sour Cream SS 4/05 (makes it .29¢ ea)

 

Big K Soft Drinks 12pk $1.77

 

Breyer’s Ice Cream $2.50

-.75 off one Breyers Unilever 4/05

 

Gorton’s Shrimp Temptations BOGO

-$1 off 1 Gorton’s Fish or Shrimp Printable

Buy 3 products and get FREE Gorton’s Calendar with $15 in coupons

 

 

Hot or Lean Pockets $2

-.75/1 Hot or Lean Pocket SS 4/26 (Regional?)

 

General Mills Cereals (Cheerios 14 oz, Cinnamon Toast Crunch 17 oz or Kix Cereal 12 oz)  $2.77

-$1/3 GM Cereals SS 5/03

-.75/1 off Kix printable or printable

Red Baron Classic Pizza $3.33

 

Melitta Coffee Filters 40 or 200 ct, Selected Varieties

-$1 off 1 Melita Coffee Filters SS 3/01 (Regional?)

 

Quilted Northern 4 Double Roll Bath Tissue $1.99

Kroger Value Bathroom Tissue 4 Rolls .88

 

Electrasol Finish Gelpacs 20-26 ct or Auto Dish Detergent 75 oz STOCKPILE

-$2.50 off Electrasol Gelpacs or Tabs SS 4/19

-.50/1 Electrasol printable

Old Yeller Dry Dog Food 50 lb bag $10.99

 

Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner 10-13 oz $1.99

-$1 off 1 Garnier Shampoo or Conditioner RP 5/3

 

Playtex Tampons 16-18 ct $2.99

-$1/1 Playtex Tampons SS 3/22

-$1/1 May All You Magazine

 

Kroger One Daily Vitamins 60-100 ct $1.97

 

Publix (Good thru 5/12)

 

Here are my favorites this week at Publix.  Be sure to check I Heart Publix and Southern Savers for more complete matchups.  Also, remember that you can use these two competitor’s coupons:

$5 off $50 HG Hill Coupon (found in this week’s Review Appeal)

-$1 off $5 in produce printable (Food Lion

Buy One Get One Deals

Hebrew National Kosher All Beef Franks, 11 or 12 oz pkg at $4.99
-$1 off Hebrew National Franks printable (makes it $1.49 ea)

Post Cereal: Selects, Trail Mix Crunch, Grape Nuts, or Grape Nuts Flakes, at $3.99
-.75/1 Post Selects Cereal (exp 5/08) Publix Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer
-$1/2 Post Grape Nuts (exp 5/10) SS 3/29
-$1 off Post Trail Mix Crunch SS 4/05 (makes it .99¢ ea)

Duncan Hines Brownie Mix, at $2.59
-.35/1 off Duncan Hines Brownies SS 2/01 (makes it .59¢ ea)

Kellogg’s Cereal, 14.9 to 17.5 oz box. at $3.99
Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, or Froot Loops,
-$1 off Kellogg’s Cereal RP 4/05 or printable
-$1 off Kellogg’s Racing Winner’s Circle Flyer from Food Lion (makes it .99¢ ea)

Eight O’ Clock Coffee, 11.5 or 12 oz bag, at $4.99
-$1 off Eight O’Clock Coffee coupons inside select packages (makes it $1.49 ea) STOCKPILE

Thomas English Muffins, at $2.99
-.50/1 off Thomas Muffins SS 4/19 (makes it .49¢ ea)

Gorton’s Premium Fish, Grilled Shrimp or Shrimp Temptations, at $7.49
-$1 off Gorton’s Fillet or Shrimp printable or in store dispenser (makes it $2.75)
-$1 off Gorton’s Shrimp item SS 4/19 (exp 5/09)
Buy 3 products and get FREE Gorton’s Calendar with $15 in coupons
-.40/1 or .55/1 off any Gorton’s Product SS 3/01 (exp 5/09)

Glass Plus Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner, 32oz bottle, at $2.49
-.50/1 Glass Plus SS 3/22
-$1 off Glass Plus printable (either coupon makes it .24 cents ea)STOCKPILE
.50 towards college wyb (1) Glass Plus Upromise eCoupon

Back to Nature Cookies or Graham Sticks at $2.99
-.70/1 off any Back to Nature Mambo Sprouts Booklet
-$1 off any Back to Nature product printable (makes it .49 cents ea)

Cascadian Farm Organic Granola Bars or Granola Cereal, at $3.99
-$1/2 Cascadian Farms products Go Organic Booklet
-$1 off any Cascadian Farms product printable (makes it .99 cents ea)

Other Deals

Red Delicious Apples 5 lb bag $2.99 ea
Cucumbers .50¢ ea
-$1 off $5 in produce printable (Food Lion)

Silk Soy Milk $2.49 ea
-$1 off Silk Soy Milk Publix store coupon in Greenwise magazine
-$1 off Silk Soy Milk, Save Money Save the Planter Booklet at Publix
(use both coupons makes it .49 cents ea)

Stonyfield Farms Yogurt .60¢ ea
-.50/3 Stonyfield Farms Yogurt printable (buy 3, makes it .26 cents ea)

V8 Splash 64oz $2 ea
-$1 off V8 Juice printable (makes it $1 ea)

Snuggle Fabric Softener $2.99 ea
-$1 off Snuggle printable (makes it $1.99 ea)

Frugal Dr. Mom has a great moneymaker for local Publix shoppers.  You can check out her suggestion here.

 

HG Hill (Good Thru 5-17)

Ground Chuck (80-85% Lean) $1.69/lb

Pork Ribs or Pork Steaks .99/lb STOCKPILE

Boneless Chuck Roast $1.99/lb

 

Frosty Morn Pork Sausage 16oz. roll $1

Reeser’s Homestyle Potatoes 20 oz. $1

 

Corn on the Cob $1/3

 

Margaret Holmes Canned Veggies $1

-.35 off 1 MH Canned Veg. (DND Barcode begins w/ a 5)

 

Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt Multi-pack $2

-$1 off 1 various sources

Philanthropic Friday

 

Who says you have to give million dollar endowments to be philanthropic?  Start where you are! 

I hate to repeat myself this week, but these are two deals that are so easy to pick up and to donate you are shopping at Kroger today or tomorrow:

Sun Burst Liquid Detergent 41-50 Loads $1.88

Suave Deoderant $1

-.50/1 Suave Deoderant RP 3/29 FREE Stockpile

I picked up 2 detergents and 5 deoderants this week and spent less than $5 out of pocket.

I pray that someone blesses you with a small act of kindness this week.

13 Reflections on Frugality and Kids

Today my oldest son turns 13.  It got me to thinking about the lessons we’ve learned.  I thought I would share 13 things I’ve learned about frugality in parenting this particular child.

Year 1

It takes a car seat, a few sleepers, a bed of some kind,  and some diapers to bring a baby home from the hospital.   Everything else they give you at the hospital.  The rest is pretty much window dressing.

Year 2

They like the box better than the present!

Year 3

They still don’t know the difference between new and used.  Take advantage of it as long as you can.

Year 4

Four year old soccer is fun to watch, but a complete waste of money (IMHO).   Save your money and spend your time at the library and park instead.

Year 5

Expensive homeschooling curriculum is better saved for the older years.  Spend your money and time on reading and math, and save the other stuff for later.

Year 6

If you are raising a reader, teach them now that books come from the library and not the store.  Save a few special books to give as gifts.

Year 7

The most expensive parts of raising kids are usually not things you planned on before they were born.  A special need (emotional, physical, or educational) can break your bank.  This is the right time to spend your money!  Don’t waste it on the meaningless stuff and you’ll be better able to handle the important things when they come along.

Year 8

If you have a boy, Lego sets are a great investment.  They will play with them now, and for many more years than they are willing to admit.

Year 9

Every boy wants a portable gaming system eventually, and they are not cheap!  Avoid it if you can, require them to pay for it (or at least part of it) if you can’t.

Year 10

Boy Scouts, while not free, is a bargain compared to most activities, and an incredible growth opportunity.  (Plus, thriftiness is one of their core values!)

Year 11

The first year of summer camp is the most expensive.  Buy durable supplies, label them well, and remind yourself frequently that it will be less expensive next year.

Year 12

Now is the time to think about that more expensive curriculum.  Self-paced curriculum can be very pricey, but far cheaper than a tutorial.

Year 13 (or what I’m learning now)

The expense of raising a child is largely determined by what you teach your kids.  If stewardship has been a constant theme in your home as long as your kids can remember, they take to frugality pretty easily. 

In purely financial terms, having kids is certainly not the best choice.  But some things are far better than money!

 

Looking for more frugal ideas?  Check out Frugal Friday at LifeasMOM.

 

 

 

 

 

Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (And How to Create Your Own)

I love getting a bottle of dressing for free with a coupon, but nothing beats a freshly mixed vinaigrette.  My favorite vinaigrette recipe comes from 1,000 Lowfat Recipes, by Terry Blonder Golson.  Check it out on Amazon, it's one of my favorite cookbooks.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/4 c. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3T  Balsamic Vinegar

1T Lemon Juice

1/8 tsp. kosher salt (other salts will work if needed)

1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper (again you could substitute)

Whisk together all the ingredients.  This will store in the refrigerator for quite awhile.  I keep mine in one of those squeeze bottles, like they put on the table in restaurants.

Do you have some other kind of vinegar or oil on hand?  If you want to take a swing at making your own vinaigrette, try this great article