Life can be the Pits!!

As you all know I am a thrifty money saver,penny pinching person. But lately I too have come across the bad in life. My hubby lost his job the 16th of November, my job was suppose to start the 17th and didnt start until the 30th and then last night I hit a deer. You know that moment you want to kick and scream at the deer eventhough you know the deer didn't plan to die at that moment. Yeah its just a horrible stike of bad luck I flipping swear! Well keep me and my family in your prayers and have a wonderful and safe holiday! Love my family to yours <3

Honey Facials! Great Skin Remedy!

My name is Erin, of course right?, and I am 30 years old and have struggled, over 10 years, with dry skin, uneven tone and sensitivity to many products! I have had sensitive skin my whole life. I have eczema and dermatitis, and the severity of dry skin is uncomfortable and so tight on my poor face that it's embarassing and uncomfortable. I have tried Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Aveeno, and every other skin cleanser, moisturizer, and toner there is to find; including Mary Kay, and Clinique brands. So one day I was watching Dr. Oz, by the way he an amazing person to listen to, but one show was on the effects of honey. Although they were discussing a high quality and very expensive brand of honey, I couldn't help but to be intrigued by the concept of honey all together.

Some of the healing properties to honey is allergies, well my skin acts up from the allergies I have to skin products, and honey also has the properties to attract water, dry skin problem solved, it also has anti inflammatory, anti aging and antiseptic properties naturally!

So I decided to get the best results on a small budget I was going to have to find the cleanest honey possible. What does that mean? The lighter the honey, the less cooked and robbed of its natural properties it will have. Look at the picture below. Found both at WalMart and cost pretty much the same... but 2 different honeys.

So here is what I do. When I take my bath I wash my face with a simple scent free soap, Dove or Ivory, then pat dry and as my hair is conditioning I place the honey and rub it on my face. I have also added in crushed oatmeal and sugar for a facial scrub from time to time, since oatmeal will draw out the oils if you have a oily complexion; but not necessary since the honey will kill of bacteria naturally like an antiseptic would. The sugar is a gentle exfoliate to scrub off dry skin. Then I let it sit on my face 5 minutes and rinse. Wallah! Always remember to pat your face gently after washing it, it helps to keep skin from drying out. I have also found I can use my Aveeno moisturizers again without the redness. The honey has calmed my skin down where I can use some mild lotions again without the burn and blotching. I hope this helps you and all seriousness please try this, you will be pleasantly surprised by what this little honey bear can do for your skin naturally!

The Busy Life

I feel so bad I haven't been on here...and here is the reasons why :)

1. School Started... why is it such a great thing when kids start school? You think wow I am going to have all this time free with my children away...and in actuality...it the complete opposite? I have a second grader who is my high energy, look at me, look at me child and although she is absent around the house, I still feel overwhelmed by her and her tornado she leaves behind. Don't get me wrong, I love her to death! I just find she uses up more of my energy than I do.

2. Girl Scouts and after school activities. When school starts so does their activities. I am not one of those parents that enrolls my child in alot of activities. Right now its Girl Scouts and Basketball. That's enough for a child. I think children can be bored now and then. Allows her plenty of time for friends, family, reading and homework. I think its silly to spend a ton of money for activities your child may not want to do. I also think kids should be allowed to be kids without a calendar full of events.

3. Cold winter weather struck poor Montana :) We saw snow in September and actually got some moisture in our drought stricken state. I have been busy caulking windows, making sure door jams are sealed with weatherstripping, plastic wrap my windows with weather kits I have found at my local Walmart. Believe me people, they may look tacky but the savings on your energy bill for a 10 dollar kit will PAY itself off in 1 week. Trust me when I say this :)

and last but not least. I have been trying hard to take care of myself. I have been exercising in the morning, eating better, giving myself facials and manicures, whatever it is to make myself feel good about me. If I don't feel good about me then I cant care for my family properly. A happy Mom is a Happy Family :)

Crockpot Beef Stew

What you need~
1 pound stew meat
6 potatoes peeled and cubed
6 carrots peeled and chunk cut
2 stalks of celery diced
1/4 onion diced
1 large clove of garlic minced
1 quart of Beef Broth or Stock or water ...doesn't matter honestly!
2 packets of beef stew mix
2 cups of flour with 1T. salt added

TOTAL COST~ roughly 10 bucks for a large crock pot full of beef stew!

First take the meat cut the chunks smaller into bite size...they will be super tender that way. Then place the pieces all at once in flour....in a large skillet add in 2T. margarine or butter and 2T. oil and make it hot.... we want to sear the meat... then take meat and coat in with your fingers and strain off excess flour ...we want  dry flour dredged meat. Then place meat in skillet and in a single layer and brown up ...but not totally cook...so around 5 minutes tops in pan. Place in crock pot.

Then saute up the garlic and onion on medium low until the onion turn translucent or clear like color... add into the meat.

Mix together the beef stew packet and broth in the pan...don't rinse pan a all... we want all the flavors from meat, and onions. Mix up for a minute or so then dump into the meat sitting in crock pot.

Peel, cut and dice up the veggies and place in the crock pot. Keep pieces small if cooking a short time. But never make them to big it would take more than a bite.

Place the lid on crock pot...and cook high 3 hours or low 6-8 hours.

This is the beautiful dish once its cooked and tender :) Enjoy with some biscuits, cornbread or homemade dinner rolls. :) The meat is sooo tender it melts in my mouth and the veggies are soft but not mushy!

Made Over Enchiladas...Chicken Style

What you need ~
2- 15 ounce cans of Enchilada sauce
3 cups of shredded cheese
2T. taco seasoning
1 pound of shredded chicken breasts
20 corn tortillas
1/2 cup of salsa

TOTAL COST~ shredding my own cheese, cooking and shredding my own chicken, saves me on cost and can easily be made for around 10 bucks a pan!

Well enchiladas and anything Mexican in this house is a favorite. So since we love enchiladas, just not the grease and calories I made over our favorite dish so my hubby didn't feel deprived when he is hardcore dieting. So here is my ooey gooey chicken enchiladas!

Mix together about a pound of cooked and shredded chicken breasts, add in a half of a cup of enchilada sauce, 2T. taco bell taco seasoning, 1/2 cup of medium salsa and 1 cup shredded Tillamook cheese.

Now to avoid frying tortillas to make pliable...I take a clean towel and make it wet...then wring it out and place corn tortillas in it and wrap like a package. Microwave for 2.5 minutes and they will be soft enough to roll up without breaking.

Then take the rest of the 15 ounce can of enchilada sauce you used to add in the chicken and pour on the bottom of the baking dish you plan to use.

Add about a tablespoon of filling in each tortilla and roll up... keep doing that until pan is full.

Then after all of your enchiladas are rolled up pour another 15 ounce can of enchilada sauce over them and the rest of your shredded cheese and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes it will look like this all yummy...but wait!!! Let it rest for 5 minutes so they come out of the pan easier... then top with sour cream and enjoy!

2.50 Dollar Breakfast Lunch or Dinner.. Perfect Potatoe Hash Topped with a Perfect Poached Egg

This is a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. I made a simple hash of potatoes cubed and fried with onions and green peppers, then added in some leftover crisped up turkey bacon and topped with a perfect poached egg!. So yummy and super cheap meal. You can also use sausage, deli ham, corned beef and or whatever you have leftover. You creation, your meal made simple and delicious!

Quick way to poach an egg.. take a big pan fill 1/2 with water..bring to boil and take it down to low so it stops boiling but stays hot... then add in 2T of vinegar and slowly add in one egg at time... then cook on low until it is done to desired...medium well about 4-5 minutes...drain on paper towels and place over your hash...

BREAKDOWN OF COST~ 6 potatoes scrubbed and cubed up .75 cents
6 pieces of turkey bacon ~ .75 cents
4 eggs~ 50 cents
1/8 cup diced onions and 1/4 of a peppers diced ~ .50 cents... little of these babies go along way

Total Cost fr a Family of 4~ 2.50 !!! serve with fruit and toast if desired

Online Dating 101

I know many of my readers don't know I help people all over the world with their online dating profiles, and helping people find and land dates with the possibly of finding the love of their life. I am always amazed how shy people are online. Silly people! Honesty and being natural is so key to online dating; just as it is in real world dating. Free sites like OKcupid.com makes it easy and simple and FREE of course to find people all over the world. I once helped this really nice guy in India find a date online, talk about impossible but possible since that is still a taboo way of dating in their culture. If anyone would like me to help them please contact me at ewingold17@gmail.com . I would be honored to help you!

Five things to keep in mind when online dating.....

1. HONESTY
2. RELAX
3. BE RELATEABLE
4. DONT DO PICK UP LINES
5. JUST HAVE FUN

Preschool at Home

If your a stay at home mother you know how hard it is to keep your child attentive while listening....so why try at home preschool? I decided to cut costs and teach my 4 year old the basics to get into and thrive in kindergarten next year. Online has a plethora of resources to help you help your child become successful little learners. I love the site education.com. It is fantastic site and everything I need to get my little one ready for school. They have worksheets you can print for FREE and use, along with other resources and workbooks you can buy for a very low price. There are also other sites online like PBS.com that have made it their mission to youngsters be ready for school. . I cannot stress to you how important it is for you to try to get your kids ready for kindergarten. Its easier for the school process when you and your child are prepared for the upcoming year. You can spend money to send your kids to preschool, but that can cost in the upwards of hundreds even thousands, depending on where you enroll. Plus the joy your child feels when they have accomplished something is a wonderful shared memory that cannot be bought. It just takes an hour of your time 3-4 days a week. Requires a pencil and paper and some patience and dedication; all very inexpensive things. Give it a try, what are you out? I think you will be pleasantly surprised how fast your little learner picks up everything :)

Few Minutes? Make a couple Bucks!

 

 

I have done survey sites for years. Going on 7 years to be exact. I started back when I had my first kid and needed money here and there to make ends meet. So on the tab at the top of my blog labeled surveys, click and check it out. It tells you where I have made my money and all the sited I use. If it appears on that page I have tried it and recommend it. Surveys are long and can be boring but if you want to earn some money, its a legitimate option. What do you have to lose? Nothing right? So give it a try.

I also use smiley and bzzz websites to try new products. Its fun, its free and requires very little time from an already busy schedule. Check those out as well. Its always fun to get a free full size product at no cost to you. I like the fact I can try before I commit to buying. Smart companies really! So there is my money saving and money making tip of the day!

5 Meals for Entertaining for Under 15 Bucks!

1. Lasagna with Garlic Bread and a Salad

1/2 box of Lasagna Noodles ~ .75

Large Marinara from Prego ~ 1.88

Ricotta ~ 1.68

2 cups shredded Mozzarella ~ 2.58

2 cups self Shredded Cheddar ~ 1.75 (buy cheese in bulk and shred)

1 pound Ground Beef ~ 2.50

1 can 8 ounce of tomato sauce ~ .30

Salad Mix ~ 1.50

Garlic Bread ~1.99 at any Bakery or Freezer aisle

Par boil Noodles until al dente and drain, they can have a little bite since they will cook in oven, brown ground beef mix with marinara and can of sauce and set aside. Get a 8*8 glass pan and spread a little sauce on bottom and place single layer of noodles down, cut to fit if needed. Then top with some more sauce, a little bit of each shredded cheese and take ricotta and spread little dollops over the top , it will melt in oven so don't put a ton on then layer again and again until you have run out of ingredients or your happy with the height of the lasagna. Place tinfoil over and bake 350 for 45 minutes. Ooey Gooey Lasagna goodness.

Serve with Garlic Bread and Salad and you have a simple yet delicious lasagna meal. Makes better leftovers the next day!

TOTAL COST~ 14.93 cents for a complete meal for 4-6

2. Beef and Cheese Enchiladas with  Cucumber Salad

1 pound ground beef ~ 2.50

4 cups shredded cheese ~ 3.50

2 can Old El Paso 15 ounce Enchilada Sauce ~ 4.00

1/4 onion diced ~ .20

20 corn tortillas ~ 1.99

1 packet of  Taco Seasoning ~ .50

4 cucumbers ~ 2.00

1/4 onion red onion diced ~ .20

Okay brown up ground beef  with 1/4 diced onions and once browned add taco seasoning and 1/3 cup water simmer and set aside burner off! Okay warm corn tortillas so they are pliable by taking 4 paper towels still attached together, get them wet, then wring out and place tortillas inside like a little present and microwave for 2 minutes. Now that the ground beef is cooled add in half your cheese and mix. Then take a bit of enchilada sauce, probably 1/2 a can of sauce, and pour on bottom of the 8*11 glass pan. Then take a corn tortilla lay flat and place a Tablespoon of mixture on tortilla and roll it up. Place seam side down in sauced pan and keep going until they are all made. Once they are all made pour rest of sauce over and make sure to get it in between each enchilada and then layer rest of the cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake 350 for 30-45 minutes. Serve when ready! To make the cucumber salad mix in 1.5 cups of miracle whip with diced red onion 1/4 cup white vinegar and a sprinkle salt and black pepper. Mix well then stir in cucumbers and serve. Enjoy dinner and the low cost it brings!

TOTAL COST ~ 14.89 for dinner for 4-6 people

3. Blackened Chicken Alfredo with Garlic Toast and Steamed Broccoli

1 pound chicken breasts boneless ~3.50

1 box of fettuccine ~ 1.00

Bertolli Alfredo Sauce ~ 1.99 a jar

2 pounds Broccoli steamed ~3.00

Garlic Toast from bakery or freezer ~ 2.00

Season chicken with blackening seasoning before grilling them. Once cooked set aside covered with tin foil to keep warm. Then boil up some water with 1/8 cup of salt after it has boiled add the salt in. Salt will ruin pan if placed in from the beginning. Once water is boiled and then salted add in the fettuccini and cook until al dente..usually 10-12 minutes but try one before assuming its done. Once pasta is drain add in a Tablespoon of Olive Oil or butter to prevent sticking and cover until ready to eat. In another sauce pot add in Alfredo sauce to warm and slice chicken up nicely. Don't forget to steam your broccoli which will take roughly 15 minutes. Serve pasta down the chicken on top and ladle Alfredo sauce over and serve with the warm garlic bread and your beautiful green vibrant broccoli.

TOTAL COST ~ 10.49 for a complete crowd pleasing meal!

4. Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Buttered Peas

4 pounds of peeled potatoes diced and parboiled mixed with 1/2 cup warm milk and 4T butter and mash it with a potato masher until creamy ~ 1.50

10 pieces of Hormel bacon lined on saran wrap single layer touching each other ~ 3.98
1 pound ground beef ~ 2.50
1/2 packet Lipton Onion .50
3 Slices of Sweetheart Bread or Wonder Bread or Whatever white bread you like toasted crumbled into tiny bits as close to breadcrumbs as possible ~ 15 cents
2T. Ketchup ~ .05
2 eggs ~ 24 cents
1/2T. ground pepper
1/8c. milk
1t. garlic powder
5 slices of Sargento or whatever brand of Muenster Cheese ~ 1.00
Birdseye Frozen Peas microwaved  ~ 1.25

1. Lay pieces of bacon out in a single layer but touching each other on saran or tinfoil...set aside
2. In a bowl add beef, Lipton onion soup mix, crumbled bread, ketchup, pepper, garlic powder, eggs, and milk and work together...add more milk if bread seems dry....don't want a goopy meatloaf should form into a ball nicely.
3. Okay lay half of mix on the bacon making a football like shape across the meatloaf, place cheese on top, then cover with rest of meatloaf.
4. Now start wrapping bacon around tight ends meeting ends.
5. Now you could wrap this up and refrigerate until the next day or a couple hours or you can go to next step.
6. Heat up a skillet pan to medium high and oven to 375
7. When pan is hot then place seam side down!!!! on fry pan...brown the bacon up around the meatloaf...take heat to medium...once bacon is burnt its icky so lets not burn it:)
8.When browned then place seam side down in an oven safe pan and bake until done in center 30 minutes approximately!
9. Pull meatloaf out of oven and rest for 5 minutes while you get rest of dishes together and then cut and serve. Serves great with  mashed potatoes and peas :) Enjoy!

TOTAL COST ~ 11.17 Feeds 4-6 people easily

5. Beer Can Roasted Chicken with Herbed Wild Rice and Steamed Asparagus

1 whole chicken cleaned washed and cavities cleaned... dry off with paper towel ~ 6.00

1 lemon ~ 33 cents

Uncle Ben's Wild Rice Box mix ~ 1.98

2 pounds Asparagus cleaned and steamed ~ 3.98

1 can of beer ~ 1.00

So simple way to make a chicken as good as a store bought rotisserie.... Turn your BBQ on high on outside burners...2 middle should be off or on very low to prevent flare ups.... Let it heat up...In the meantime clean and pat dry your chicken and oil it and season it according to liking... the oil is going to help create that beautiful brown crust...If you don't eat the skin then don't worry about the calories...If you eat the skin well a little oil isn't going to phase your system then. Take a large beer can 16 ounce I used and dumped half of the beer out...you wont taste the beer so don't fret it...but if all else dump the beer out and add herbs and chicken broth in the can. Then place beer can on grill place chicken over the beer can like you see and I use the top rack to lean chicken on and rest the wings ...it looks funny but the taste in phenomenal! I let it cook for an hour at 450-500. My BBQ has a built in thermometer. When the thickest part of chicken (thigh area and breast I read) reads 170-180 I pull chicken off and rest 10 minutes on a big plate. After resting if you pull wing it should just separate from joint easily..another way you know chicken is done... and pull leg and the leg and thigh should just come off carcass easily with a slight pull. Then cut breast off and serve. Serve with rice made according to directions and some steamed asparagus, Enjoy!

TOTAL COST ~ 14.70 and feeds 4 adults easily!

Cheap and Cool School Lunches Under 2.50!!

I always hear parents say their kids are bored with their hot lunch/cold lunch meals. School menus are recycled in some system of a 4 or 6 week rotation. So here are some ideas to keep your little ones mind and body fed during school hours. I can't emphasize how IMPORTANT it is to feed your kids as nutritionally as possible. Make sure you supply your child with milk because Milk is essential for brain and bone development. With that being said each of these meals will cost around or less than 2.00 each if you figure in a 50 cent milk bought from cafeteria. Remember kids portions are SMALLER than adults. If anything bulk up on fruits and veggies!! Treats are also ok in moderation as well! A Zinger a day or a Hostess cookie will not harm a child as long as you don't allow them to eat the whole box in 1 sitting! Its all in moderation! 

1. Turkey, Bacon Ranch Roll Ups and Frozen Yogurt

Take 1 Flour tortilla laid flat, smear some ranch on and the place turkey, some shredded cheese, lettuce and a slice of bacon on also. Roll up like a little burrito.

Frozen Yogurt cup is so easy and yummy! Take your kids favorite yogurt cup or tube and place in freezer. Place in lunch bag before school. Keeps it cold and make yogurt fun at school!


2.Chicken Salad Sandwich with Fresh Peach Slices

Mix together some chopped fine chicken breast with celery diced, pickles diced and onion diced(optional). Then add in some mayo, some Dijon mustard, black pepper sprinkle and dried basil. Mix well and place on Natures Pride/WonderBread and or Sweetheart/Standish Farms wheat bread and top with lettuce and tomato. Pack and go with some fresh peaches.

3. Turkey/Cheese or Ham/Cheese roll ups with Fresh Veggies/Ranch and Fresh Grapes

Take some turkey and ham and place sliced cheese in middle and roll up/ Serve with some crackers. Then also baggie up some veggies and fresh grapes for a healthy , filling meal!

4. Chef Salad with some Wheat Crackers and a Banana

In a Rubbermaid bowl add in some salad mix then in separate baggies add cheese and meat in one, some sunflower seeds in another so when kids are at school they can just dump the ingredients in a bowl and dress with a small side cup of ranch or dressing of choice. Then round it off with some whole wheat crackers and a small banana. Fun, delish and very inexpensive!

Rubbermaid makes bowl in every size including little 1-2 ounce cups for dressings etc.

5. Pita Pocket Sandwich with Apples and Peanut Butter to Dip

Take a pita pocket and open it up. Stuff with sandwich filling of choice, ham, chicken, turkey etc, then place cheese, lettuce and tomatoes if child likes along with any condiment. Then cut apples up and soak in orange juice to prevent browning. Drain juice off place in baggie along with a peanut butter cup. Simple delish and fun!

6. Cold Pizza and Veggie Sticks with Ranch

I give my kids leftover pizza from delivery or frozen. It is a huge treat here! Then pair with veggies and ranch and you have a very inexpensive and healthy meal.

7. Ham Salad With Watermelon Cubes

Chop ham finely add in some mayo and shredded cheese and chopped pickles if kids like. Spread on Natures Pride Bread/Wonder Bread/ or Sweetheart Whole Wheat Bread. Serve with a side baggie of watermelon cubes.

8. Deviled Eggs with Whole Wheat Crackers, Orange Wedges and Frozen Yogurt Tube or Cup

Make up some deviled eggs and serve with whole wheat crackers and Orange Wedges. Simple, healthy and always a crowd pleaser, don't forget to freeze your yogurt the night before.

9. Italian Pasta Salad, Frozen Yogurt and Grapes

Mix already cooked and cooled pasta with some green and black olives, tomatoes diced, chopped mozzarella pieces, blanched asparagus pieces, broccoli and red onion diced. Then add in some Olive Garden Italian dressing or favorite Italian dressing and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Let sit over night and dish out!

10. Sub Sandwich and Pineapple Bites

Split open a small hoagie Roll and layer in ham, turkey, salami and roast beef. Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Then lightly spread some Italian dressing on in the inside of the roll so it absorbs the flavor. Place in baggie along with a baggie or bowl of pineapple tidbits or chunks. Yummy!

Soup for .50 cents A Bowl. I Promise!

Soup is the brick and mortar to the modern day restaurant.

I am in love with soup! I have so many fond memories of my moms hearty bowls of steamy yumminess as a child. My mother had to stretch every dollar she had to feed a family of 6 very hungry people and the best way for her to fill us up on cold Montana winter nights, was with a big ole bowl of soup. So here are my 5 favorite soups that cost less than 50 cents a bowl without skimping on quality or ingredients! That's my promise!

1. Peasant Potato and Bacon Soup

6 potatoes peeled and diced in half inch cubes ~ 1.00
2 carrots peeled and shredded ~ 16 cents
3 celery stalks cleaned and diced ~ 10 cents
1/2 onion diced ~ .40
6 slices of raw bacon cut in 1/4 inch slices and cooked in a fry pan until brown ~ 1.50
2 cans evaporated milk ~ 1.60

In a pot add in 8 cups of water and if you have a chicken bouillon cube or 2 add in or even chicken base add in a Tablespoon, if not just use plain water, no biggie really. Then on medium add in the potatoes, celery, carrots, onion, 1 teaspoon ground pepper and 2T salt and crisp bacon in the pan. I also add in 1Tablespoon of the bacon fat from cooked bacon. Sounds gross but you won't notice but adds in great flavor. So just try it once! Then when the potatoes are tender about 30 minutes to an hour on medium, shut the heat down to low and add in the 2 cans of evaporated milk and serve. Yummo!
TOTAL COST~ 4.76 and you will get 10 - 1 cup servings easily ~ .48 cents a bowl of soup!

2. Beef Chili

3 cans of chili beans ~ 1.80
1 can Kidney Beans rinsed ~ 65 cents
6 cups tomato juice ~ .60
1 packet of mild Old El Paso Taco Seasoning ~ 75 cents
1/2 pound ground beef ~ 1.25 (2.50 a pound for 85 hamburger)
1/2 onion diced ~ 40 cents
1/2 pepper diced ~ 50 cents
In a pan brown ground beef up with the diced onions then add in 1 cup water with 1 packet of taco seasoning, simmer on low for 30 minutes. Then in a large soup pot add in the chili beans, rinsed kidney beans from the can, 6 cups of tomato juice and the seasoned mixture. Simmer on low or in a crock pot until dinnertime.

TOTAL COST ~ 5.45 This makes roughly 12 ~ 1 cup servings ~ 48 cents a bowl!

3. Split Pea Soup

1 ~ 16 ounce bag of dry peas sorted and rinsed 1.00
1 cup diced ham ~ 1.50
1/4 onion diced ~ 20 cents
1 carrot diced finely ~ 5 cents
3T chicken base or 3 bouillon cubes ~ 50 cents

In a large pan add in 8 cups of water 3 T chicken base or 3 bouillon cubes, onion, ham, carrots and the dry peas. Cook on medium low for hours or until the peas are tender. The longer you cook the more thick it will become, assuming you didn't add too much water. Can also crock pot this soup until you came home! Serve when hungry! If it gets to thick add in more water.

TOTAL COST ~ 3.25 and you will easily get 10 ~ 1 cup servings ~ each bowl costs 33 cents!

4. Chicken and Rice Soup

1 pound chicken breasts cooked cooled and shredded ~ 3.00
4 carrots peeled and diced ~ 25 cents
2 stalks celery diced ~ 20 cents
1/2 onion diced ~ 40 cents
10 cups of water
4T. chicken base ~ 1.00 or 4 bouillon cubes
1/2 cup dry wild rice or regular rice ~ .25 cents

In a large pot add in water, veggies chicken base or bouillon and rice. Once rice is tender and the veggies are add in the chicken and let it sit on low until ready to serve. If soup doesn't have enough broth due to variances with rice, add in a bit more water and chicken flavor if needed. Enjoy!

TOTAL COST ~ 5.10 with around 12 - 1 cup servings ~ 43 cents per bowl!

5. Vegetable Barley Soup

4 carrots peeled and diced ~ 40 cents
2 stalks of celery diced ~ 10 cents
1/2 an onion diced ~ 40 cents
4 potatoes peeled and diced ~ 60 cents
1 15 ounce can of whole tomatoes squished in your hand and set aside with its juices ~ 60 cents
1/4 cup barley ~ 10 cents
2 packets of McCormick Aujus ~ 2.00
2 cups cabbage ~ 40 cents

In a large pot add in 9 cups of water and mix with dry Aujus mix. Then add in all veggies and the barley, cook until veggies are fork tender. Enjoy! That freaking simple, I promise! 8

TOTAL COST ~ 4.60 ~ makes easily 10 ~ 1 cup servings ~ 46 cents a bowl.

My Promise... $1 Dollar Breakfasts!

So everyday our money slips away from our fingers quicker and quicker. So here is my promise! One dollar breakfasts! Healthy breakfasts and filling breakfasts! You have a few minutes, then you can make a meal without driving thru anywhere, without hassles and with less money!

So here we go!

1. Egg Muffin aka...McMuffin from McDonalds...although it seems high in calories, it actually isnt!

1 english muffin split and toasted...no need to butter! 2.99 for Milbrook 10pk at WalMArt (2.29 at Costco)- 29 cents
1 egg fried hard or made scrambled... 18 pack eggs at Sams 2.29~ 12 cents
1 slice of canadian bacon,or 1 slice bacon or a sauage pattie fully cooked 3.00 a pack of each/10 .30 cents each
1 slice of borden cheese... 2.00 for a 12 pk ~ 16 cents each
TOTAL COST- 87 Cents add a banana for 13 cents (Sams Club has bunch banana for 1.29 roughly)= 1.00 for a complete breakfast!

2.Cheese Omelet with Toast and an Orange

2 eggs scrambled with a little milk salt and pepper~ 24 cents
1 ounce grated cheddar cheese~10 cents
Slice a Toast Sweetheart White/Standish Farms Wheat or Even Wonder Bread 2.08 a loaf and it has around 20 slices~ 10 cents
Orange 35 cents if bought in bags 50 if bought individually ~ 35 cents
TOTAL COST~ 89 cents

3. Oatmeal with brown butter apples
Packet of oatmeal_ 1.78/10 pack~ 18 cents
Apple 35 cents if bought in bag..around 50 cents if individual

Make oatmeal pack according to direction. Then in a pan with some butter brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon add in sliced apple and cook down until soft and brown on medium low heat... then once done pour over oatmeal. So good and different!
TOTAL COST ~ 68 cents

4. Fried eggs, hashbrowns and Toast

Fried Egg- 12 cents
grated potato- 10 cents (grate potatoes, rinse and place in a lightly oiled pan and cook until brown)
Toast- 10 cents
TOTAL COST ~ 32 cents!

5. French Toast and Bacon
1 Sweetheart Bread Texas Toast- 2.08/15 slices~ 15 cents
1 egg scrambled mixed with milk, cinnamon and brown sugar ~ 15 cents
2 slices of Bacon ~ Hormel 3.99/ 12 slices~ 66 cents
TOTAL COST~ 96 cents

6. Pancakes with Scrambled Eggs

Pancake~ 10 cents per pancake
2 Scrambled eggs~ 24 cents
TOTAL COST ~ 34 cents

7. Waffles and Sausage

Waffles made with Waffle mix~ 10 cents each
Sausage- Jimmy Dean 3.50 per roll makes 10 patties~ 35 cents
TOTAL COST~45 cents

8. Breakfast Burrito

1 Tortilla~15 cents
1 scrambled egg~12 cents
1 ounce cheddar cheese~10 cents
1 bacon slice~ 33 or sausage pattie broken up~35 cents
little salsa~5 cents
TOTAL COST~ 77 cents each!

9. Bowl of Granola/or Hearty Dry Cereal with milk and Banana

Boxed dry cereal~ 50 cents a servings depending on cereal maybe less..
Banana~13 cents
Milk~15 cents
TOTAL COST~78 cents

10. Cranberry Orange Muffins with boiled eggs and Grapefruit half

1/2 Grapefruit~ 25 cents since they are 50 cents whole
Krusteaz muffin mix 2.28 makes 12-16~ 18 cents each
Boiled Egg~ 12 cents each
TOTAL COST~ 55 cents

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I PROMISE!!! 10 Dollar and Under Quick Fix Meals!

I was at the store today, Sam's Club to be exact, and I noticed this young family buying tons of frozen prepared chicken, vegetable trays with ranch, premade burgers, and so on and so on. I was sad to see that. Those foods costed A. more to buy that way then make themselves and B. the nutritional value on a heavy set family is horrific compared to making it at home. Yes, I am old fashioned but I believe a home cooked or even semi-home cooked meal is important to a child's nutrition as well as an adults. There is NOTHING wrong with those foods in moderation but when that encompasses your whole diet, it just seems wrong to me. So with that being said these meals are easy on your wallet and friendly on the belly and waist! Who doesn't want that?


1. Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad and garlic bread
Spaghetti noodles $1
1/2 pound of hamburger $1.50 (brown and mix meat in with marinara)
Marinara Sauce( I use prego) 1.98, Hunts $1 dollar for a large can $2 for homemade
Garlic Bread freezer section $2 or buy fresh bread from bakery and smear butter/margarine and sprinkle with garlic powder or crush a clove of garlic in butter and cook on low to infuse the flavor $2
Salad $1.25 for head lettuce to 1.50 for Walmart store brand salad
TOTAL COST around $ 10 for family of 4-6

2. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup - My family Favorite
Borden Cheese Slices $2
Loaf of Sweetheart Bread $2
2 Large Cans of Tomato Soup $4
Milk $1 ( for the amount you need of course)
TOTAL COST around $9

Mix soup and milk together, butter bread slices and place cheese between the unbuttered sides, brown and serve! Great winter meal. Semi Homemade

3. Chili
4 cans of chili beans 2.70
1 cans Kidney beans drained and rinsed .70
6 cups tomato Juice $1
1 pound Hamburger $3
2 Old El Paso Taco seasonings 1.10
diced onion .40
TOTAL COST $9

Brown meat, add in diced onions and 1.5 packets of seasoning, add in 1 cup water and let simmer on low for half an hour, then add in all the beans and the tomato juice let cook in crock pot on low all day or for an hour on the stove. Serve and enjoy!

4. Cheeseburgers with Homemade Fries and Peas
Bag of Frozen Peas $1
Pack of Sweetheart Buns $2
Hamburger $3
Cheese .70
Potatoes $1.00

So mix together cut potato sticks with little oil and salt and pepper... add in other seasonings if you want. Bake in a single layer 400 for 30 minutes, In meantime mix hamburger with an egg yolk and 1T. ketchup and 1T. real mayo...sounds weird just try it...use Miracle Whip if that's what you like.... then patty and grill or pan fry.... Top with cheese when done and place on bun. Remove homemade fries when golden brown and place peas in microwave. Healthy and simple meal for TOTAL COST OF- 7.70 serves 4-6 depending on appetites ( Do sloppy Joes instead of Burgers... can of  Manwich $1 )

5. Oven Baked Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and mixed Veggies
Bag of frozen mixed veggies $1
Chicken $3 for a pound depends on light or dark, light costs more
Potatoes $1
Oven Fry $1.80

Thaw frozen Chicken and cut up into manageable servings 3 ounces I usually do (deck of cards is 3 Ounces) Place oven fry in bowl and dip each piece of chicken in it, place on cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes on 400. Boil peeled cubed potatoes until fork tender then drain and add in some warm milk and butter and beat until smooth, place veggies in microwave and cook. Simple and Low fat meal for TOTAL COST OF around $7 for 4-6 people depending on appetites...my Little's eat more some days than others.

6. Omelets with Hash browns Toast
Eggs $1.30
cheese-$1
Potatoes-$1
Loaf of Sweetheart Bread $2

Mix eggs with a little milk and ground pepper and set aside. Grate potatoes and soak then dry off. Place in a hot oiled pan, season with salt and pepper and turn when brown, In meantime make omelets, and toast bread for an easy peasy dinner pleasing meal. TOTAL COST $5.30

7. Chicken Alfredo with Salad
Fettuccine Noodles $1
Classico Garlic Alfredo Sauce $2
Salad 1.50 for store brand blend
Chicken $3

Grill up some seasoned chicken breasts, boil noodles and warm up the sauce. Place sauce over noodles and add in chicken for a one pot meal or serve sauce and chicken over pasta. TOTAL COST $7.50

8. Hard Tacos and Rice
Great Value Spanish Rice .90
1 pound Hamburger $3
Bag of Cheese $2.50
lettuce $1
Hard Taco Shells $1
Salsa $1

Make up some seasoned meat add in shell, top with cheese, lettuce and salsa and serve with some Spanish rice...TOTAL COST $9.40 for 12 tacos and Spanish Rice

9. Grilled Sweet n Sour Chicken over brown Rice and broccoli
Fresh Broccoli 1.50
Frozen Chicken Breast 1.5 pounds $3
LaChoy Sweet n Sour Sauce 1.50
Brown Rice .50

Cook Brown Rice according to directions. Grill up some chicken then cut it up and mix with sweet n sour sauce and top on cooked rice, and serve with broccoli steamed. TOTAL COST around 6.50

10. BBQ Meatballs with Baked Potatoes and Sweet whole Kernel Corn
Bag of frozen corn $1
1 pound ground beef $3
Potatoes $1
1 pack of dry Lipton onion soup .60
BBQ Sauce $1

Mix hamburger with 1/2 of dry bread crumbled to breadcrumbs...(use a knife if all else to cut bread into teeny tiny pieces but make sure its been dried in toaster, oven or something or it gets gummy) then add in 2 eggs , some ketchup, mustard, and pack of onion soup mix. Then once mixed, add in milk around 1/2 cup or less. Form into balls using a tablespoon of meat and bake 400 for 15-20 minutes. Bake clean scrubbed potatoes in oven 350-400 for 1 hour and cook corn in microwave. Sauce meatballs with BBQ sauce and let cook in oven on low, covered until taters are done. Enjoy! TOTAL COST $6.60

So here is 10 meals under 10 bucks! Hope you enjoy and it inspires you to whip up some hearty and healthy meals and saves you money to play with or pay down debt. Thanks Erin<3

August 2012 Back To School Deals

Okay so we all know school supplies can be very expensive and burdening to our already tight budget... take advantage of the links below to score some cheap deals while they last... I will post more deals as I get them!

~* Staples is giving free composition books for every 5 dollars spent in the store!!

~* RoseArt- Free crayons or cheap Roseart supplies when you use Red Plum 7/29 $1 off any 3 Rose Art Items... so with crayons/Gue Sticks and or Glue Bottles being around 25 cents a piece p you can pick them up for Free!!! Colored Pencils around 20 some cents MArkers also around 20 cents depending on area... ~~EXPIRED will keep eye out for more

~* BIC PENS FREE- printable coupon 1/2 http://www.campbellskitchen.com/coupon.aspx so .49 cents each after coupon or

Free Pen coupon is http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=7QF2JRM5XIY3E

 ~* http://smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=MKRU3JAAR6CCY ~~ 3 Five Star Coupons... 1/2 refillable paper, 2/1 hybrid NoteBinder,, 1/2 any five star products including Student planning!!!

~* https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151322819854358&set=a.198648449357.166323.25252329357&type=1&theater

                                                            ~~ Free Haircuts at JcPennys

 http://www.coupons.redplum.com/offers/default.aspxId=MySavings&SubHostId=CD17839&POID=99140 ~~ 1/2 Write Dudes Products at Walmart .... Use on Pencil Sharperner and or Eraser...come to around 35-40 cents each...

~* https://www.facebook.com/oldnavy?sk=app_271575822897

752 $10 off a 50 dollar purchase at OLD NAVY!!! They have 10 dollar jeans, 5 dollar graphic tees, 9 dollar Shirts and 10 dollar Hoodies!!!

~* JcPennys is offering free shipping for orders placed online.... JCPSHIP code and all your items ship to store for free :)

 ~* www.sears.com and save 5-15 percent on online orders and possibly get 10 dollars back for every 50 dollars you spend on future purchase.

Amazon Laundry Detergent/Toilet PAper Deals!!!

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Price:

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New Facebook Page for Ditzy Saver!!!

I opened a facebook page for anyone wanting to save and get freebies like I do. So go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ditzy-Saver/251389008296945?ref=hl#!/pages/The-Ditzy-Saver/251389008296945and LIKE so you can be updated on free company products and savings. I get a good amount of full size feebies and high value coupons doing this. Plus I also will post local contests in the Billings Montana area. I have won many tickets to events entering these contests. So follow me on facebook and stay informed :)

Vinegar to relieve Sunburns and so much more!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE vinegar! I love it on my foods, and I love to find many other uses for such a wonderful, yet natural product. I recently got a bad, horrible, sunburn and was told to use vinegar on it. I was skeptical it would burn and make me cry , so I decided to give it a try. So a friend said to use white vinegar, but I was out and had red wine vinegar only. So I put some in a bowl and used a cotton ball to wipe it on. It does not sting, and after just one good application the burn and the color was already starting to calm down. By the third application the white in my skin was starting to appear slowly through the burn.You can do this every hour or morning and night, just give it a try! So trust me this wonderful and cheap solution works wonders.

Other uses for vinegar I do around the house include adding it to the wash instead of fabric softener, drink a capful to relieve heartburn, add with baking soda in stainless steal sinks to clean and shine them up. My favorite way to use it, is to put 1/2 cup in a coffee cup and cook it for 5 minutes in the microwave and after that take a clean cloth and just wipe, it pulls everything up out of the microwave and deodorizes it as well. No more stuck on food! Miracle I tell you! I also use a large soup pot with 8 cups of water and 1/4 cup vinegar, boil for fifteen minutes and it will deodorize the kitchen or spaces its around. Vinegar is such a wonderful product, please give it a try!

One last tidbit I saw on Dr. Oz is that by drinking a tablespoon of vinegar before eating a high starchy meal will help your blood sugar from spiking terribly bad, great thought if your diabetic or trying to lose weight!

MeatBall Submarines

Meatball Submarines and Salad dressed with Italian Dressing

So if you notice I make a lot of meatballs. My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE meatballs. They are easy to make, cheap to make and so versatile. There really isn't a flavor profile it can't match with. So here is a super simple recipe for Meatball submarines.

Meatball Sandwiches

1/2 pound ground beef (93 lean I use)

1/2 pound ground turkey breast

2 eggs

1/2 cup breadcrumbs ( I used Standish Farms Sourdough bread to make the bread crumbs)

1/4 cup milk

salt

pepper

2T Lipton Soup dry mix

2T. A-1

Mix it all up and and form meatballs about a tablespoon in size. Place in a 375 oven for 25 minutes and set aside. In the meantime open a jar of marinara, or make your own, and place meatballs in the sauce to simmer and soak up flavors for at least 10 minutes; longer if desired. Open up a hoagie bun and toast it then lay 4 meatballs on, shredded Mozzarella and sprinkle of Parmesan and place in oven for a few seconds to melt cheese and then enjoy! I paired my sandwich with a salad dressed with Olive Garden Italian Dressing! Super Yum!

Meal Planning On a Budget!!

So if you are like me your money seems to go quick with children's needs. Well many of you don't know that I am trying to become debt free. So budgeting to me is EXTREMELY important. My hubby refers to me as a tightwad. I always tell him, you will thank me later. Well 4 years later 15k down in debt and finishing up the last of my bills we finally see the light. My oldest was in and out the doctor with croup and pneumonia as a child and those bills were a heavy burden; but like her pneumonia, it's almost a thing of the past:):) So every week I make a meal plan, cut coupons, if any, and make my 125 stretch as far as I can. This week I came in right on budget. This covers breakfasts, lunches and dinners for 7 days. We don't eat out, it's a waste to me when I could pay off  bills with that 20-50 dollars. I said I was cheap didn't I? I don't own a credit card, that's how cheap I am! Interest paying is not my thing. If you can't pay for it in cash, then you probably don't need it. Wants and NEEDS are 2 different things. That's where people have trouble. So on that note! Have a great weekend and below is my menu to help give you ideas.

Breakfasts

(2)Oatmeal in the crock pot with fruit and milk

(2)Life cereal and bananas

Eggs Bacon and Wonder Bread Kids bread Toast (brunch)

Omelets and Wonder Bread Kids Bread Toast(brunch

Boiled Eggs and Peanut Butter Wonder Bread Kids Bread Toasted

Lunch

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Peanut Butter Sandwiches and bananas

Egg salad Sandwich and Chips

Quesadillas and fruit

Chili

2 Brunches

Dinner

Meatball Marinara Sub with salad

New York Steaks with Corn and potatoes

Chili with fruit cup

Chicken Bacon grilled Sandwich with Oven fries and salad

Chicken Breast stuffed with stuffing with mashed potatoes and green beans

Double Decker Tacos with Fajita Rice

Steak and Vegetable Kabobs over Rice