Menu Plan Monday: Week of 6/30

Last week was a rough one in the Gregg household. As a matter of fact, just about anything that could have gone wrong, went wrong!

Hopefully, this week will get off to a good start with a simple menu plan. I’ll be keeping things very low key, using pretty much only what we have on hand, in an attempt to get us back on track!

Monday – chicken fried rice with lots of veggies
Tuesday – beef stew with carrots and potatoes, homemade whole wheat bread
Wednesday – pork chops with spicy plum sauce, rice, broccoli
Thursday – London broil, homemade macaroni and cheese, broccoli au gratin
Friday – 4th of July cookout in Cape May, NJ!

For more great menu plans, check out Heavenly Homemakers!

Stay-cationing at Get Rich Slowly

Just yesterday, I recommended taking a stay-cation as one way of splurging on the cheap. Coincidentally, JD at Get Rich Slowly posted this article on the topic, entitled "Cheap Vacation: Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown." Check it out for some interesting and helpful tips for stretching your dollar as a tourist right in your own neighborhood!

The Urge to Splurge

One of the frugal bloggers I most admire is Meredith at Like Merchant Ships. Her cheerful frugality is an inspiration every day, but especially during those times when I feel like frugal living is more of a burden than a blessing. Her creativity and positive outlook are a great example for all of us who want to live well and spend less.

Unfortunately, I'm not always as upbeat and inspired as Meredith. Sometimes being frugal just makes me want to scream! I can usually improve my negative mood by reading other bloggers' posts on the topic of cheerful frugality, or reflecting on all the benefits Donnie and I have reaped from a frugal lifestyle. Sometimes, though, I still walk away feeling glum. Then I know it's time for a little splurge.

I've listed some of my favorite ways to treat yourself without breaking the bank below. Please share your own favorite frugal splurges as well!

• Get takeout. Some fast food places, such as Taco Bell and Wendy's, feature menu items that cost as little as seventy-nine cents. Throw in a couple coupons, and you can feed your entire family for relatively little money. If you prepare most of your meals from scratch, the break from cooking and the tasty, unhealthy food will be a welcome change of pace!

• Waste some ECBs. Spend a few of your CVS Extra Bucks on an item you don't usually buy, even if you won't earn any ECBs back. For me, this usually means a Take 5 bar or some Burt's Bees lip balm. I don't lose much ground in the CVS game, but I feel almost decadent buying something that doesn't yield any return!

• Take a stay-cation. Spend a long weekend enjoying your home and local community. Catch up on books you've been meaning to read, or movies you've been wanting to watch. Cook or bake your favorite elaborate recipe. Take a long walk in the local park, or go for a scenic drive around town. Visit the zoo, the museum, or an inexpensive sporting event. You'll feel refreshed and relaxed without ever leaving town!

What are your favorite frugal splurges?

Wonderful Wednesday Freebies

BOSS Fragrances

Benny Bully's Pet Treats

AMBI Skincare

TENA Feminine Products

Coty Beauty, Inc. Fragrances

Ten Ways to Start Living More Frugally TODAY

1.) Start a change jar.

2.) Bake a loaf of delicious, homemade bread.

3.) Do a load of laundry in cold water.

4.) Bring your own snacks to work.

5.) Put a brick in your toilet tank.

6.) Turn off the lights when you leave the room.

7.) Make a list before you go grocery shopping.

8.) Pack your lunch.

9.) Start a coupon collection.

10.) Think before you buy!

What are your favorite "small steps" to savings?

(Almost) Homemade

This week, Donnie and I were able to get great deals on packaged foods at our local supermarket. It’s the first time we’ve purchased prepared food products in awhile, so I thought it was a good time to revisit some of my favorite strategies for transforming packaged foods into delicious, (almost) homemade meals!

• Add ham and green peas to a box of au gratin potatoes, sprinkle with bread crumbs and grated cheese, then bake according to package directions.
• Melt cheese over cut-up, cooked chicken. Serve on a bed of prepared taco rice mixed with corn. Add salsa and sour cream at the table.
• Add cooked rice, cooked chicken, broccoli, and grated cheese to canned broccoli cheddar soup that has been prepared according to the directions on the label.
• Saute a little ground beef with diced fresh or canned tomatoes, then add to a prepared cheesy-noodle side dish.
• Finely chop some cooked pork and carrots, then add to any Asian-style rice or noodle side dish.
• Pour canned chili over cooked rice or potatoes, sprinkle with cheese, and microwave or broil until the cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream and tortilla chips.
• Add cooked chicken and lots of veggies to pasta salad mix, and serve hot or cold.

How do you dress packaged foods up to create delicious not-quite-from-scratch dinners?

Frugal Father's Day

Next weekend is Father's Day. What better way to celebrate than with a thoughtful, frugal gift?

Remember, your dad doesn't want you to break the bank on a present for him! So rather than spending a fortune, why not try one of the inexpensive gift ideas listed below?

• Homemade cookies, candies, or other sweet treats.



• A goodie bag filled with some of your best CVS deals.



• A family photo in a frame decorated by the kids or grandkids.



• A paperback book by his favorite author.



• One of the many gifts under $20 available from NFL Shop.



• A pound of his favorite coffee and a nice mug.



• A family outing to the zoo, an inexpensive sporting event, or the park.

How will you celebrate Father's Day on a dime?

Super Simple Chicken Croquettes

Tonight Donnie and I enjoyed one of our favorite dinners: chicken croquettes. In addition to being delicious, this meal is also one of the most frugal we eat.

Every time we have baked chicken for dinner, Donnie and I cut the last bits of meat off the bones and save them in a freezer storage container. After a few baked chicken meals, we have about two cups of "chicken bits" saved up...which means it's time to make croquettes!

The recipe couldn't be easier. I add half a stick of melted butter, a beaten egg, and a heaping spoonful of homemade breadcrumbs to the chicken. I then form ten to twelve meatball-sized croquettes, roll them in additional breadcrumbs, and bake them for twenty minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

I also keep a gravy container in the freezer. Every time Donnie and I have baked chicken for dinner, I save the last few spoonfuls of gravy from the bottom of the serving bowl. As you can probably imagine, the gravy container is usually filled right around the same time as the chicken container. This means we always have plenty of flavorful homemade gravy to serve with our croquettes.

How do you use up the last bits of food from bigger dinners? Do you make soups, stews, casseroles, or other dishes? Please share with the rest of us!

Powering Down

I'm reposting an energy-saving tip which Donnie and I originally implemented last year. Sticking with this strategy has made a noticeable dent in our monthly electric bill.

Did you ever notice that your cable box, VCR, DVD player, and other entertainment electronics are still ON even when you’re not using them? Talk about a waste of electricity!

Save some cash, and be a good steward of the earth’s precious resources, by really turning your electronics OFF when they aren’t in use. Donnie and I have ours plugged into a power strip, which we simply switch on and off as needed.

Doing this doesn’t save us hundreds of dollars a month, but it’s a small, painless step in the right direction. And who doesn't love saving money (and natural resources) with what can only be described as less-than-minimal effort!

Just remember: Don’t try this if you have a DVR hooked up to your TV, because then none of your shows will record.

Magnificent Monday Samples

Teddy Grahams Trail Mix

The Christian Science Monitor - free issue

Stayfree Ultra Thins

Splenda No Calorie Sweetener Flavors for Coffee