With the economic recession going on, jobs at risk, and new jobs even harder to come by, money managing has become a top priority.  In the past, coupons seemed reserved for little old ladies on a pension.  Not anymore.  Just about everyone had joined the party – after all, why not get something for less? 

Budgeting – Easier Than It Sounds:

Most experts agree, budgeting is not too popular in theory. The fantasy of spontaneous spending, money to burn, drop of a hat purchases appeal to us all, but it’s only an illusion.  Those who have rebounded from financial devastation actually enjoy the building blocks approach to saving, planning, and (yes!) budgeting for guilt free purchases, knowing that the other parts of their financial life won’t come tumbling down like a house of cards.

Accountability Is The Keyword:

To get started, it’s good to know where the money actually goes.  Spending amnesia happens to us all.  It’s easy to think we are doing more than we are, be it working out more or spending less.  “I don’t spend all that much on… (fill in the blank)”, whether it be meals, entertainment or clothing.   Only after using a tracking device to discover that it’s not that way at all!

As we all know, “The truth will set you free”.  Another expression comes to mind, “Clean accounting, and long-lasting love”.  Budgeting and dieting are somewhat similar in their negative connotations.  Everyone wants what they have to offer but they sure don’t sound like a lot of fun to get started on.

Rainbow Tracker! An Indigenous Tool For Accounting

Voila, here is the first step to the B-word.  It is a “spending tracker in a rainbow” excel spreadsheet.  Designed to be entered every day, it contains some basic and popular categories.  Rows on the left are for the days of the month.  To the right, the columns are totaled to see what the day’s total spending amounted to across all categories.  If a column is missing, add it and classify it.  Remember, it like all tools, is for your convenience so make it work for you. (Insert rainbow tracker.jpeg).

As you will see, the category headings are placed at the bottom of the 31 days, to not disrupt the numbering sequence.  The last cell is a total of all expenditures for that category.  Two lines below I put Accounts Receivable.  That could be your monthly, bi-monthly or weekly paycheck, or income across several jobs if you are a freelancer or self employed.  Whatever you expect to receive in pay that month goes in that section.  Again, the point is to make more than you spend, or spend less than you earn; either way, you are off to a good start.  After all, most of us do work very hard for the money that actually finds its way to our wallets!

Turn Budgeting Into Fun With A Little Organizing And A Little Planning:

Those who take photos and post on Facebook may enjoy this suggestion.  In the evening, record expenditures for the day and then download photos onto your hard drive!  Business before pleasure.  Record your expenses everyday and keep your monthly receipts in an envelope, twelve for the year.   The excel spreadsheet is by month.  A single Excel workbook with twelve pages will do the job, and a final year end spreadsheet linking the monthly totals can be used.  This will help you prepare your annual taxes and you already have all your backup information and receipts organized by month.

Remember that a budget is really your friend.  Let it open your eyes in an “AHA!” kind of way instead of a “naughty me, I’m so ashamed” way.  Phooey!  Once the money leaks are identified, they are easy to fix.

Last month I was shocked to see that $600 in cold hard cash went to eating out.  OK, I was travelling – but that is a heck of a lot of money.  Perhaps next month I will pack a sandwich in my bag – imagine how much I can save if I plan ahead?

Having and using a budget, although it is serious, is a little like a game.  After all, life is a game, and so is money.  The object of the game is to enjoy life while staying on the Plus side, which is to spend less than you earn.

Define Your Priorities:

A budget should always be flexible with the parameters of “what am I willing to do at this time?”   No one should be expected to live without clothes, entertainment, meals out or occasional splurges.  Back to the dieting correlation, it’s a question of establishing habits that work in the long run.  That means splurging on chocolate cake is OK – but not in the same day as a spaghetti dinner, for example.  The bottom line is to end up ahead without feeling deprived, which means putting a system in place that works for the long run.  Your system can be as wacky as you like, as long as it makes sense for you and helps save you from yourself.

The Power Is In The NOW:

There are more budgeting ideas than there are letters of the alphabet.  But until the reality of knowing where the money is going right now you won’t be able to take action based on reality.  Money tends to be a touchy subject, and the issue of  delusion makes it hard to know what the facts really are  if they aren’t in listed in black and white, so to speak.

Keep your receipts and record and fill in the appropriate blanks.  After that, the budgeting tips and tricks and shortcuts are endless – but that is Step Two!  Knowledge is power.  Would I rather have this or that?  See where the ducks line up and then you’ll be in a better position to take educated action.

]]> http://www.frugallyminded.com/budgeting/frugal-budget-tips-for-day-by-day-success/feed/ 0 http://www.frugallyminded.com/food/your-weekly-kitchen-guide-easy-meals-for-every-night/ http://www.frugallyminded.com/food/your-weekly-kitchen-guide-easy-meals-for-every-night/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:58:09 +0000 admin http://www.frugallyminded.com/?p=1924

Today’s economy encourages each of us to find methods of economizing and saving money while also making everyday tasks easier and quicker to accomplish. One of those everyday tasks many women love is preparing good healthy meals for their family. Whether newlyweds or established larger families, being able to put good food on the table is important and very rewarding. We have prepared a few recipes that should please most family members while also saving money with low cost yet high quality ingredients. Color is important when serving meals, especially for the kids. Choose bright green veggies to go with bland colored Mac and Cheese or brown meat loaves. Just keep it healthy. Monday evenings are often hectic, Tuesday seems to mellow out, Wednesday nights are ideal for quickies, Thursday’s spell Spaghetti, and Friday evening is still great for fish! These meals are aimed at families of 4 but can easily be added to (or cut down to 2). These dishes are very affordable, especially if you purchase ingredients when they are on sale. Ground chuck for example can be found for under $2 per pound and pork chops around $3 per pound.

Monday Night Mini Meat Loaves with Smashed Potatoes

(Quick to make the night before)

1 ½ pounds ground chuck (80% lean)

1 Egg

2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce

2 Tbs Diced or Minced Onion (dry works well)

1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs (substitute crushed soda crackers)

½ tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Kosher Salt

How:

Mix egg then add ground chuck, Worcestershire Sauce, Onion, Bread Crumbs, Salt & Pepper. Form into 4 individual meat loaves, shaping them like small footballs or ovals. Bake in 300 degree oven about one hour (should reach 165 degrees in center of meatloaf). Meanwhile wash 6-8 small Yukon Gold or Red potatoes and place in pan next to meat loaves. Sprinkle olive oil over the potatoes and allow them to bake with the meat, remove them after about 45 minutes, wrap in foil, then set aside. When the meat loaves are done open foil wrapped potatoes and add on ½ stick (4 oz) unsalted butter (margarine works fine). Wrap up again with foil for five minutes then unwrap and simply smash the potatoes down a bit so they are lightly squashed. Pour into serving bowl. Add to these some corn or green beans and serve. Cost = $6-$7

Tuesday is time for Smoked Sausage and Fried Potatoes

1 SmokedTurkeySausage or Kielbasa (1 pound package)

Barbeque Sauce

4-6 Red potatoes

1 small onion

½ Tsp Kosher Salt

½ Tsp Coarse ground Black Pepper

How:

Slice the Sausage into ½ inch slices and fry in skillet until lightly browned, stir in barbeque sauce, simmer slowly for 5 minutes. Easy!Wash, peel, and slice potatoes and one small onion (thinly sliced). Add 2 Tbs cooking oil to a heavy skillet, allowing it to heat up, then add potatoes, onions, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring often. Potatoes should be soft and pliable as they brown. Serve with frozen or canned corn. Cost = $5-$6

Wednesday nights often need a quick fix for dinner!

4 Pork Chops (any cut will do)

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

Broccoli or Green Beans

How:

Sprinkle salt and pepper over each pork chop and place in pre-heated skillet. Brown on both sides then add 1 cup canned Chicken broth. Simmer slowly about 30 minutes. Meantime cook 10-12 ounces of elbow macaroni about one minute less than directions call for in large pot (Dutch oven works great). Drain in a colander and leave there for now. Into that heated pot add 1 stick of unsalted butter and 8 Tbs flour. Stir until butter melted and flour mixed in, then add 2 cups milk, ½ Tsp salt, ½ Tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp White Pepper, 1 8 oz package sharp cheddar cheese, one can Nacho Cheese soup. Heat until simmering slowly and continue stirring for several minutes until the mixture thickens somewhat. Add in the drained macaroni and stir thoroughly. Far healthier because of less salt and better quality ingredients than boxed mac and cheese… Yum! The Mac & Cheese can go into the oven and be topped with more cheese or bread crumbs if desired. Cost = $6-$8

Quick Spaghetti with easy Meat Balls

If there is any meal that pleases kids (of all ages) more than Spaghetti with Meatballs it is yet to be invented. This method is quick and oh so savory!

2# Ground Chuck (80% lean)

1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

2 Tbs diced or minced dried onions

2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp Kosher Salt

½ tsp Black Pepper

Spaghetti Sauce

1# package of Angel Hair Spaghetti

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add foil to a 2” deep roasting pan and spray with non-stick spray. Wash your hands! Mix meat with bread crumbs, onion, Worcestershire Sauce, salt and pepper, forming into individual meat balls about 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter. Place them all in the pan, keeping distance between each ball. Bake 35-45 minutes. When meatballs are done remove them and place on paper towels to dry. Add your favorite brand of spaghetti sauce in a large sauce pan and add drained meat balls, bring up to a simmer and continue for 12-15 minutes or until they are warmed thoroughly. Then add spaghetti to boiling water and boil as directions state, usually 3-4 minutes is all it takes for Angel Hair pasta. Serve separately or combine before plating. Add bright green frozen peas for a very appealing plate. Cost = $8

Fish still works for Friday night suppers

No matter your religion fish has long been a tradition on Friday night supper tables. Quick and easy, fish is healthy and the kids love it.

4 Cod or Flounder filets (about 5-6 ounces each)

½ Tbs Kosher Salt

½ Tsp Black Pepper

One stick unsalted butter

1 cup flour

One lemon

Fresh Parsley for color appeal

2 Tbs Olive Oil

Pre-heat large skillet, add olive oil.

Rinse and dry fish then add salt and pepper to both sides. Dredge with flour both sides then allow to sit about five minutes. Add to pre-heated skillet and brown lightly on both sides about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove fish to paper towels to drain. Add butter to skillet and let it brown, stirring often. When lightly browned add the fish back and add in 2 Tbs lemon juice. If you have a zester add some lemon zest (grated skin). Serve with mashed potatoes or French fries if you have a deep fryer, and beets or Brussels sprouts. Cost = $8-$10

Invest in a few gadgets to make meal time a breeze!

A temperature probe for meat helps determine doneness inside. Cost about $5-$8 at Walmart, Target, or K-Mart. Also good investments are a potato masher, zester, large (6 qt) Dutch oven has many uses! Cost $35 at Walmart. Check for any target coupons prior to purchase if you are going to target.  Kosher salt is larger granules so you use about half as much as table salt and it’s supposedly healthier. Pepper Mill for fresh ground black pepper cost about $10 for an electric model. Also useful are a couple of cookie racks for draining and cooling. Cost is about $4-$5 apiece. Request some of these fun items for Christmas or Birthday gifts! The above meals are proven winners and very affordable. You can add your own variations on meats, choice of potato dish, and veggies. Experimenting is part of the fun of cooking!

With Smart Phones available to the majority of consumers, it’s no wonder that the phone apps continue to dazzle and amaze us.  Every function under the sun is available.  There are apps to find the nearest pizza pub, directions, Photoshop enhancers, email, stock market activity and banking options.   It seems today, whether it’s the Apple iPhone, Blackberry or Android, the smart phone can do it all.

Since money makes the world go around, some super-convenient phone apps now include expense tracking which can also be combined in helping you create a smart budget, based on the categories of expenses you prefer.  The majority of spending occurs when we aren’t at home anyway, right?  Using these handy apps keeps the information recorded as soon as possible to have a clear picture where the money could – or did – go and what would be a wise course of action.  Spend now, pay later, or hang on till next month when the situation may be more favorable.

Here are a few to try:

• Mint (mint.com) works with a mobile phone and helps track expenses and assets.  Data can be entered at any place and time.  It is compatible with the iPhone and allows you to categorize expenses immediately without leaving them to memory and guesswork later.  You can see all your balances at once with the Mint program, savings, checking and expense categories.
• Money Trakka, an intuitive money tracking system with a five star rating.  Simple and powerful, it starts with expense entry and builds from there.  Suggested budgets from one week, 14 days, 1 month and a year, actual spending is compared to the proposed budget amounts.  A special calculator is provided for entering financial data.  For the iPhone.
• You Need a Budget (youneedabudget.com) to control your cash flow.  After entering your monthly income and expenses, it actually tells you how much you need to spend and save!  The cost is $60 (one time only) including a cellular phone application, but there are also charges to the mobile app.  A free 34 day trial is also available so you can try before you buy.
• Savvy money (savvymoney.com) for spending and debt management
• Hello Wallet (hellowallet.com) is proactive in that it helps you plan ahead for increasing personal net worth.  A custom-made plan is provided to the user after entering financial details.  It costs $9/month.
• Adaptu (adaptu.com) is free, designed for the iPhone.  It gives you a moment by moment forecast of what you can spend considering your debt/income ratio based on user data entered into the program.
• The Birdy (thebirdy.com) sends you a daily email asking you to enter your expenses for the day and creates a great multi-colored pie chart so you can see exactly where your money is going!  It’s free to use.
• For iPhone users, the Cash Tracker (intelligentartifice.com) is a free application which can also be used on the iPod Touch and iPod.  The Cash Tracker 3.1 is now available.  Besides keeping track of spending, it also records mileage, foreign exchange rates for travelers, and produces Excel exportable reports for taxes and other needs.  It also builds a personalized budget and shows you how well you are sticking to it.
• Manilla (manilla.com) is a free cellular phone application for both Android and iPhone.  It reminds you when your bills are coming due and enables you to pay them online (or through your smart phone) with a single password.  Statements can also be stored on Manilla.  It’s free!
• Documents Free is a handy tool for those who get their inspiration on the run.  It’s free to download.  You can…. and make an excel spreadsheet wherever you happen to be.  This is the chance to make a quick document, write-up or sales analysis …
• Money Diary.  The cost is only $0.99.  Developed by Kim Haro, it provides you with an automatically-calculated weekly, monthly or annual budget based on your spending habits.
• Neat Receipts provides a scanner and a tracker to indicate whether the receipt you scanned is tax deductible or not.  Paper documentation up to 8-1/2” wide can be scanned.  This is great for keeping track of daily expenses, which can be imported to TurboTax, Quicken or You Need a Budget, as well as the traditional Excel spreadsheet.
• GasBuddy.com will help you find the best gas prices available in three classes of gasoline plus diesel.  You can do a search based on your phone’s location or by city and zip.  Free for the downloading, it’s Android compatible.
• Expensify.com is just what an iPhone or Android user alike can benefit by using.  It goes the extra mile by stratifying expenses by classification after scanning credit card receipts from your mobile phone.  Fully integrated with a variety of accounting software (like Fresh Books, QuickBooks) it gathers information and can generate an expense report effortlessly.  It’s free to individuals, and fully compatible with Android, iPhone, BlackBerry and webOS.

Why is there such a vast difference in prices between the major labeled products and those which are considered “generic” or house brands or private labels? Sometimes the cost difference is enormous! How can those major branded products be worth so much more? Are they superior products? And just who manufactures those generic brands?

First a brief history lesson in products:

First off every item you see on the store shelves from pet food, soup, aspirin, and canned fruits & vegetables are placed there to sell. Up until the past thirty years or so those store brand or generic products were often of inferior quality, basically what was left over from a run of high quality canned tomatoes, canned dog food, or even bottles of aspirin. They were not allowed to be spoiled or otherwise tainted but could be of far lesser quality (for instance paler tomatoes or misshapen aspirin tablets) from those “major” labeled products. And they were often run on the assembly line right along side the high quality items we then found with major labels on our grocery store shelves, just that they were separated due to lesser quality and usually earned a plain black and white label, then were sold cheaply. Many of those generic labeled products wound up as food bank items and many were given away to the Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Modern private or generic labeled items are safe high quality items

Over the years generic branding became popular with most stores developing their own label or brand as well as quality control demands for the lower cost products, yet the quality had vastly improved and today’s generic brands are every bit equal to any major brand named item. The cost difference involves the high price of advertising so when you look at the items you wish to purchase on those store shelves now you will be drawn to the major label. For example Hunts canned tomatoes sell for perhaps $1.09 per 15 ounce can while sitting along side them might be Kroger brand canned tomatoes for 79 cents. But wait! It gets complicated when that major brand provides discount coupons that apply to their products. They may offer 30 cents off that can of tomatoes bringing the cost down to 79 cents, equal to the price of the store labeled can.

What’s a bargain hunter to do?

Probably the best advice to offer to shoppers who want to stretch their dollars as far as they can is to compare. Scan through those weekly ads in the paper and make a list for your shopping trip based on who has what on sale. Clip coupons for items you want to purchase but only for those you will use. If you buy items only because you have a discount coupon but may never use that product you only waste your money! With the high cost of gasoline today you also need to consider how much it will cost to run from store to store to save a few cents on a few items.  Some stores, such as Walmart, will match prices on comparable items that are advertised locally, so do be aware of that option and bring along your store ads to compare while you are standing in front of the products. Another consideration is coupon doubling. Some stores will double manufacturer’s coupons, usually up to $1.00 so that Hunt’s coupon for 30 cents off a can of tomatoes will be worth 60 cents, making that $1.09 can only 49 cents or 30 cents less than the store labeled tomatoes. Now that’s serious savings and if you have more than one coupon it would absolutely be worth it to stock up on that item!

Get coupons in local papers and online sites

While overall the prices for generic or store label items will be less, you cannot pass up good coupons. Besides the local newspaper (usually the Sunday edition) there are many sites on the internet to find coupons or coupon codes to print using your computer and printer.

If you use a search engine you will find many more sites. When those items you always purchase are on sale it is a good idea to stock up! Whether you buy major labels or store brands you can count on the products to periodically be on sale, usually about every 90 to 120 days or so. So if you have space in your pantry or a closet, by all means buy up what you can afford and you will not need to go to the store as often (a big way to save money)! Bottom line here is you must be aware, compare, and stock up when you can because you will save money and that savings may be spent for other purposes, like taking a vacation or trip to a spa!

Chicken has long been considered the most versatile affordable and useful meat in the home cook’s arsenal of go to meats. But don’t rule out those piggies for a great and useful meat that brings its own unique flavor to the table. And just like chicken it is capable of absorbing many flavors and spices so it takes on a different personality with each dish. Finding recipes that will please your family is an easy task, just swap beef or chicken for ham in most instances, then slice it, dice it, or even grind it. Easter Sunday finds ham on many dinner tables and there is always some leftovers from that huge smoked or baked masterpiece that can make several additional meals and it also freezes well. We have found a few good and practical recipes for leftover ham that can easily be increased for more servings or cut for less:

Breakfast is time for ham & cheese omelets (makes 4 omelets)

• Eight large eggs
• 1 Cup diced ham (baked, honey, or smoked)
• ½ medium green bell pepper diced
• ½ medium red bell pepper diced
• 1 small onion diced
• 1 Cup shredded mild cheddar cheese (substitute pepper jack or any other you want)
• Salt & black pepper to taste

Whisk eggs two at a time and keep in separate containers, meanwhile lightly sauté the onion and bell peppers until onions turn opaque and peppers soften.

In a heated non-stick 9” skillet add ½ tsp margarine. When it is melted pour in one container of eggs. Swirl the eggs in skillet to spread them out in a thin layer. Sprinkle on salt & pepper. Cook about one minute or until the top is set then flip eggs over to cook the other side. As soon as you flip the egg mixture add on about 2 tablespoons shredded cheese then the ham, peppers, and onion. Fold in half or one third then overlap with other side to form a three layer omelet. Cook on both sides another minute or so on medium heat then slide the omelet off onto a plate and sprinkle some more shredded cheese on top. Serve with fresh sliced fruit such as oranges.

Ham Stew for a light lunch (serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds leftover ham or fully cooked pork roast, diced chunky
• 1 TBS cooking oil
• 3 Cups chicken broth
• 1 large diced red onion
• 2 cans Great Northern beans
• 4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
• 3-4 celery stalks, thinly sliced
• 3-4 bay leaves
• 1 Cup cut green beans (fresh or frozen)
• Seasonings:
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp marjoram or basil
• 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
• ¼ tsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ Cup cold water
• 4-6 tablespoons flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes

In a large soup pot or Dutch oven place oil and heat until shimmering. Add in diced ham, canned beans, carrots, celery, onions, bay leaves, and green beans, add chicken broth and heat until it simmers. Next add seasonings. Continue stirring until thoroughly mixed then taste it. Add more salt or pepper if needed. When you are happy with the result turn down the heat to low and cover. Leave it simmer about 30 minutes and serve piping hot over baguettes or in a bowl with crackers.

Ham & Swiss Cheese Casserole (dinner for 6)

Fast and simple recipe!

• 16 oz package of egg noodles (home made would be fabulous!)
• 1 can cream of celery or mushroom soup
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup white wine
• 2 cups chopped (one inch or smaller pieces) leftover ham
• ½ cup Swiss cheese (shredded or in chunks)
• 1 cup stuffing mixed (seasoned)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch cake pan or baking dish with non-stick spray, set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add noodles. Cook uncovered about 5 minutes until al dente or still somewhat firm. Drain thoroughly. Mix soup with white wine, and ½ cup water in large bowl then stir in noodles, Swiss cheese, and ham. Pour into baking dish and sprinkle stuffing mix over the top. Bake (uncovered) until it is bubbly and browned, or about 30 minutes.

Ham & Cheese Calzones (dinner for 4) really easy!

This is simple when you use either refrigerated bread dough or crescent roll dough. Spread it out to about 6” by 10” and layer on sliced mozzarella, Swiss, or sharp cheddar cheese to within 1 inch of the edges. Add on diced leftover ham, two tsp tomato sauce, sprinkle on ¼ tsp oregano, ¼ tsp basil, ¼ tsp diced green bell pepper, and a dusting of garlic powder. Fold calzone in half and seal the edges. Spread butter over top and bottom then place in (preheated to 350 degree) oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cheesy Ham & Broccoli Casserole (6-8 servings) Excellent dinner!

• 1 ½ pounds leftover ham, diced into 1” chunks
• 1 box Deluxe Kraft Mac & Cheese
• 1 package frozen broccoli florets
• 3-4 green onions, chopped fine
• 1 large can (22 oz) diced tomatoes
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup light cream or half and half
• 5-6 Tablespoons butter or margarine
• ¼ teaspoon each oregano and basil
• ¾ cup mozzarella
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard
• 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Cook macaroni according to boxed directions, drain. Add in ham, frozen broccoli, green onions, tomatoes, milk, cream, and butter. Heat until bubbling and pour into casserole dish then top with cheeses and Panko crumbs, then bake 25-30 minutes or until breading begins to turn golden brown.

Deviled Ham & Egg sandwiches (4 sandwiches) lunch or late night snack

This is a great way to use leftover ham and serve a healthy meal.

• 1 ½ cups ham (chopped finely)
• ½ cup low fat mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• ½ cup dill pickle relish
• ¼ teaspoon each of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup red onion (finely diced)

This can be made easier by putting ham into food processor and pulse until finely diced, but chopping with knife works just as well. Mix in mayonnaise, onions, mustard, and the sauces. Serve on toasted bread with lettuce and sliced tomato.

Each of the above recipes can be altered to suit your families taste. Add in mushrooms, jalapeño peppers, celery, and cabbages to the soup and casseroles. My family loves plenty of mustard with ham. Each recipe is flexible according to what your family likes so experiment! I buy bell peppers when they are in season and priced right! Then dice them up and freeze until they’re needed. Canned diced tomatoes can be replaced with fresh diced tomatoes if you wish. They will have more flavor! Dried parmesan cheese can replace freshly shredded but not highly recommended because it has far less flavor! One thing each of these recipes has in common is they are cheap to make! You already have the meat (ham), right?

chicken, chicken recipes, chicken leftovers, chicken pot pie, chicken breast,

Leftovers nights are special when you use chicken!
There is no meat that is more versatile (and that means frugal!) than good old chicken and that’s an undisputed fact. Since the days of his campaign back in 1928 when Herbert Hoover proclaimed “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage” the bird we know as a domestic chicken has been coveted as the most popular meat for meals here in America as well as around the world. It is considered a staple in everyone’s freezer and the favored Sunday meal.

Chicken can be especially useful as a leftover from Sunday’s supper and whether cut up or simply reheated it can be successfully added to a wide assortment of recipes. Also consider those rotisserie chickens offered at your local grocery store. It’s already cooked so all you need do is chop or shred it before adding to the following recipes. Here are just a few to tempt your palate.

1. Chicken Salad is made according to personal preference and taste. Try simply shredded or chop up 10 to 12 ounces of your leftover chicken and breast works especially well here. Add in one cup of low fat mayonnaise, some boiled eggs (deviled egg leftovers work great), a tablespoon or two of dill pickle relish, one half teaspoon dry mustard, about two tablespoons of finely diced yellow or red onion, 2-3 tablespoons finely diced celery, one teaspoon salt, one half teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, and a half teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Mix it all together and let it sit in the refrigerator an hour or so to meld the flavors together. Spread out onto toast, hamburger buns, or leftover dinner rolls (from that Sunday supper) and serve with potato chips or fresh cut and deep fried French fried potatoes for a scrumptious lunch or snack.
2. Chicken breast leftovers are made special when you turn them into White Chili. All it takes is two cups of leftover chicken breast meat, 3-4 cans of Great Northern beans (drained), two cans cream of chicken soup, ½ cup celery, ½ cup yellow or red onions (chopped not diced), 2 TBS red pepper flakes, one small can diced green chilies, add some color with a can of petite diced tomatoes (undrained), one finely diced jalapeno pepper, ½ tsp cumin, 2-3 finely diced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and a can of chicken broth or chicken stock. Put all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook 7-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. This is especially good poured over white rice.
3. Chicken Pot Pies are an all time favorite, especially with children. They are an excellent way to use chicken leftovers and use both white and dark meat. All you need to make one pot pie (increase with each additional pie) are ½ cup of chicken leftovers, ¼ cup diced carrots, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ cup finely chopped celery, ¼ cup peas, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, one cup cream of chicken soup, and salt and pepper to suit your taste. Add a can of refrigerated type biscuits to cover the top and bake in a 350 degree oven in an proof bowl about 20 minutes. If you make a large amount simply put ingredients into a 9″ x 13″ baking dish and increase the time to 45 minutes.
4. Chicken leftovers are so very versatile! You can use either white or dark or a combination of both types to almost any recipe you would add ground beef to. Make your own “helper recipe” by using 2-3 cups leftover chicken (white and/or dark meat), chopped or shredded, 12 ounces of your favorite pasta (spaghetti, shell or elbow macaroni, or penne pasta cooked, ½ cup yellow or red onions finely diced, ½ cup red bell pepper, one can cream of chicken soup, one can cream of celery soup, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly grated black pepper, one can diced tomatoes, 1 cup half and half or light cream, and one to two cups water (to make it soupy). Bake it in an oven proof casserole dish or in a Dutch oven for one hour at 350 degrees to mix the flavors of the ingredients. This can be made “spicier” by adding some cumin and or grated cayenne pepper…. If you dare!

These recipes are just the beginning with the rest left up to you, the home cooks own imagination. Use chicken leftovers to replace other meats that are more expensive and not nearly as versatile! Highly recommended in addition to the above recipes are adding some of your favorite barbeque sauce, grated cheddar cheese, and hamburger buns to make a hearty dinner of barbeque chicken sandwiches which go especially well with home cut and deep fried French fried potatoes. The versatile chicken is perhaps the most “frugal” and flavorful meat on the planet!

Physical exercises to lose weight or get in shape or even just to keep muscles from turning into jelly can be difficult to find the time for or even the energy when your body is out of shape. How do we manage to let ourselves go so badly? How much energy will it take to get those muscles toned up and our body flexible and healthy again? Actually all it takes is dedication, effort, and the willingness to make a few necessary changes in one’s lifestyle. The below exercises are mostly free of cost! That’s usually one of those excuses to not get with the program of exercising.

Dedication means you’ve really gotta be motivated!

Anyone who has “let themselves go” to the point they are ashamed to be seen by old friends and no longer can walk more than a few steps without pain from joints or gasping for breath know they need to make some changes in their lifestyle. It’s easy to talk about but difficult to begin. This is especially common in senior citizens because they tend to have aches and pains that slow them down or even stop them even from daily walks. Overcoming this is actually quite easy because just moving a bit can free up muscles and joints to where more movement will then be easier. And it can all be accomplished using the count of five!

1)    Beginning in a sitting position (in front of the TV is fine), raise one leg until its straight and hold it for a count of five. Then raise the other leg and do the same. Try to do ten (each leg) the first time and increase it by ten each day. Once this has become easy try to raise each leg higher and higher while holding for that five count. This not only gives those thigh muscles a work out but also your pelvic bones and knees will gain flexibility from it.

2)    Twist your ankles in a circular motion, curl your toes up under then upward toward the ceiling as you sit upright. This doesn’t sound like much but will help make your feet more flexible and capable of helping you through more intense exercises.

3)    With hands under you buttocks try to lift yourself up. It won’t work of course but you will give your shoulders and upper arms some much needed stretching and working before moving on to the rest of our session.

4)    Get out of that chair! Try to stand up without using your hands or arms to “boost” you up. This may take a few tries but even the trying is an energetic activity your body is not used to. OK so cheat a bit and use your hands to assist at first. But soon your thigh and calf muscles will be able to do it without assistance.

5)    While sitting in your chair or sofa lean forward and arch your back. With shoulders forward then with shoulders held back as far as they’ll go, continue to arch your back (count of five) then relax for another five.

6)    Now stand up! Twist at the waist as far as possible to the left and hold that position (count of five), then repeat this by twisting to your left and holding for that same five count.

7)    Bend at the waist to your left and towards the floor as if you’re looking down for something. Hold that for a count of five then repeat again while bending to the right. All of these exercises are simple and yet will give your body back a lot of flexibility!

8)    If you have a stair climber use it or if your home actually has stairs, either indoors or out, you can make them work for you by stepping up (both feet up just one step) and then stepping back down. This way you’re not getting too high up in case of a slip. When you can do this 15 or 20 times in one exercise increase the amount of steps. Ideally you can rapidly climb up a flight of stairs, turn around, and go back down again with less and less difficulty, pain, or breathlessness.

9)    Invest in some small (2-5#) weights that you can hold while exercising and take along with out walking. They increase your arm swing without even realizing and give you better balance too.

10) Once you’ve warmed up try touching your toes! It may seem difficult to begin with but as your body becomes more flexible you can reach your toes and even the floor. As with any of these exercises they will become more easy and even enjoyable once you get your muscles to loosen up and your joints regain flexibility.

Exercise is all about balance of body and mind

Now I’m not going to go all “yoga” on you and talk about mind games but the effort you put into an exercise session is therapeutic to your mental as well as physical well being. When you feel healthier you will actually be healthier because your mind will tell you so. Part of the battle to exercise is finding the time but if you watch television you can do the above workout and never miss an episode of Desperate Housewives or Dog the Bounty Hunter! This offers a really frugal and exceptionally cheap way to get into shape so there are no more excuses! Get busy.

One thing I hate when searching for dinner suggestions and recipes is a virtual “laundry list” of ingredients to add when making a meal. I mean who actually can taste 10 or 15 different spices and additives? I love those recipes that include a meat, a few veggies, and maybe salt and pepper…. Period! You can make a great dish with just a few basics and simplify your cooking experience while actually saving a bunch of money because those spices can get really expensive!

OK maybe I’ll add a bit of “additional spiciness” on occasion or even a few bay leaves to a soup or stew but that’s about all that is necessary. Let the meat and those vegetables flavor your dish, and then add a bit of flavor enhancement from simple table or Kosher salt and some fresh ground black pepper.

Keep a well stocked pantry

Some basics to keep on hand help when you decide to throw together a stew or soup on the “spur of the moment” include chicken and beef broth (or stock), condensed milk, cream of chicken, celery, potato, canned tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced and whole canned tomatoes, mushroom soups, minced onion, honey, and in my freezer I do keep some box or bag veggies such as peas corn and carrots. I also store my Wheat and All Purpose flour in the freezer to keep the bugs away.

Examples follow for making quick and easy soups and stews:

Baked Potato Soup (about 30 minutes start to finish)

2 or 3 large Russet potatoes, baked in the oven or microwave until softened

10-12 ounce bag frozen corn (fresh off the cob works too)

2 cans (or one 32 oz container) chicken stock or broth

3-4 cups whole milk (1% works fine)

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup AP (all purpose) flour

1 medium yellow onion (coarsely chopped)

1 TBS Kosher salt

2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

3-4 Bay leaves (don’t forget to remove them before serving)

Make a soup starter or Roux by melting the butter then slowly adding the flour, stir then add milk and chicken stock. It will thicken quickly then add the potatoes, corn, onion, salt and pepper. Let it simmer slowly for 20-30 minutes until onion is cooked and flavors meld together. Taste before serving in case you need to add more pepper or salt. This recipe makes about 10-12 servings depending on how big the appetites are.

Beef Stew (affordable and hearty dish takes about 1 hour)

A good beef stew can be served for lunch or dinner as a side dish or entrée

1½ pounds chuck roast (cut into one inch pieces)

½ Cup flour

2 tsp Paprika

2 TBS Olive oil

10-12 ounces frozen corn (fresh off the cob works well too)

10-12 ounce bag or box frozen peas

2-3 medium to large potatoes (diced)

3-4 large carrots (peeled and sliced into ½” pieces)

1 large yellow onion

4-5 Bay leaves

2 cans beef broth or stock

2 cans vegetable broth

Dry the beef then add to a mixture of flour, paprika, salt and pepper. Dredge meat in flour then add to preheated Dutch oven along with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Brown meat on all sides (about 10 minutes), then add beef and veggie broth. Allow to bubble slowly another 10 minutes or until liquid begins to thicken. Add in Bay leaves, onion, carrots, potatoes, corn, and peas and simmer another 30 minutes or until potatoes and carrots are soft. Taste it! If you need to add more salt and pepper do it now. Some may like to add tomato paste or diced tomatoes at this point. Simmer time total should be about 45-50 minutes.

Quick and easy Chili with beans warms the soul (and your insides)

A pot of chili can be made within an hour. Simply brown 1½ to 2 pounds ground chuck (80% lean is perfect) along with one medium yellow onion (no need to dice it too small, chunks are good in chili! Also add ½ a diced green and ½ a diced red bell pepper before browning. Then drain off grease. Next add two cans of red beans or kidney beans or pinto beans and drain off liquid. Add chili seasoning (I prefer one packet of Williams brand). Next add in a large can tomato sauce, small can of diced tomatoes (try those with added green chili for a hotter chili), and a small can of tomato paste. If your family likes it hot and spicy add in some red pepper flakes or cumin. That’s all it takes for a flavorful and quick pot of chili. Let it simmer for ½ to one hour and dig in!

Easy and simple chicken (or tuna) salad

My kids love sandwiches for lunch so I throw together a quick and easy tuna or chicken salad for them. Begin with 3-4 cans of tuna or chicken (I love leftover skinless boneless chicken breast). Boil 4-5 eggs and shred them into the meat. Add some finely diced red or yellow onion, ½ cup dill pickle relish, and about ½ to ¾ cup low fat mayonnaise. Mix the ingredients and serve right away or chill for later. You don’t even need to add salt or pepper unless you want it. Serve on bread, buns, or crackers.

A bit of Mexican rounds out the week’s menus

I often make tostadas for lunch or as a side dish when I make enchiladas or Chicken Chimichangas. Tostadas are really only an open faced taco. Fry a taco sized tortilla on both sides until lightly brown and crispy. Add on refried beans, lettuce, freshly diced tomato, Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, and perhaps some salsa. You can add in some browned ground beef if you wish. Simply and simply delicious!

Now for those Chimichangas:

For six Chimmies you’ll need 6 large (burrito sized) tortillas

Put about 2-3 cups of leftover fully cooked boneless skinless chicken breast in a skillet and add in 2 cans Cream of Chicken soup. Add in a teaspoon of Kosher salt, tablespoon of black pepper, a teaspoon or two of red pepper flakes, ½ diced green bell pepper, and a can of diced tomatoes (use the spicy ones with green chili added if you wish). Let the mixture simmer about 15-20 minutes until it thickens somewhat then add into tortillas, wrap them up along with some shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese and fry in ½ inch of cooking oil until crispy and somewhat browned on both top and bottom, drain them before serving with rice and beans.

These are just some simple and very affordable recipes that please my family. You can add or take away some of the ingredients to satisfy the palate of your family. Enjoy!

Look down the cleaning products aisle of your favorite grocery store and you will see a sea of items, each intended to clean something! Whether the use is for your floors or your pots and pans or maybe to scour the bathroom toilet and tub you can find a product that will do it “faster” “easier” and more “efficiently” than ever before. Read the ingredients however and you just might be afraid to even handle the container those chemicals are housed in! Dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, bleach, and ammonia are among the brief list of ingredients you may find on popular cleaning products. Some are basically harmless while others, such as common household bleach, can be harmful when mixed with other ingredients. Why buy expensive products that may cause harm to you, your family, or your pets when there are far safer natural cleaning products that you can use?

Don’t use bleach when you can lemon cleanse and freshen

A natural whitener and brightener, lemon juice is a great substitute for bleach and other so called “whiteners” that only add chemicals you can’t trust.

• Lemon smells great and freshens up the air as you clean.
• Lemons contain acid that actually has a built in antiseptic to disinfect and purify as it cleanses brass, copper, enamel, porcelain, stainless steel, and other surface materials.
• Add some lemon juice to your sponge before wiping down shower doors to effectively remove scum caused by soap and shampoo.
• Add 4-6 ounces of lemon juice to your laundry to whiten and brighten, then dry them outdoors in the sunshine for even brighter whites and fabulous colors!
• When your microwave oven holds in “stinky” smells add some lemon juice to a bowl of water and heat for 10 minutes. The moisture will make cleaning the inside of your oven quick and easy, and the smell will be totally gone.
• A few lemons can replace an entire shelf’s worth of chemical infused cleaning products for just a few cents!

Shaving cream de-fogs and shines

Use any cheap brand of shaving cream (not the gel kind) as a cleaner for your bathroom mirrors and windows. Wipe them off with a soft cloth and then you’ll find it also makes those mirrors fog free after you next shower. Spray shaving cream foam over your bathroom tiles, leave it on for a few minutes, then scrub the grout with a toothbrush to remove stubborn stains. It’s just a soap after all and works every bit as effectively as chemical compounds.

Vinegar and water make an effective all purpose cleaner

Take two cups of white distilled vinegar and add one cup of tap water, put into a spray bottle and you have a great natural cleanser that can be used to remove stains, clean floors, inside of ovens, range tops, microwave ovens, cleans mineral deposits from faucets, and tabletops. Now add straight vinegar (or half and half with water) to your coffee pot or iced tea maker, and you will clean out the mineral deposits that accumulate in them. Make a pasty mixture of vinegar and baking soda and apply to calcium buildup on stainless steel sinks, faucets, and bath tubs and leave it on for an hour or so then wipe clean and rinse for a sparkle like new look!

Add Borax for those tough jobs

Borax is another natural cleaner that, when added to vinegar, can remove stubborn stains from bathroom tiles, tubs, and other surfaces where mineral deposits build up. Dump a cup of Borax into a stained toilet and allow it to soak in a few hours, then scrub lightly to remove odors as well as that stubborn stain.

Hydrogen Peroxide disinfects as it cleanses

Another common household item, usually found in the medicine cabinet, is hydrogen peroxide. It is a very effective disinfectant like bleach but without its harmful effects. Hydrogen peroxide works as a powerful oxidizer on food, plants, soil, and is especially effective at removing blood stains in clothing or on rugs. Just be cautious because, like bleach, it can lighten the colors.

Don’t forget the salt and vegetable oil soap

Salt is a natural! It truly is and works well at scrubbing stubborn buildup in ovens, removing stains such as ink, coffee, or red wine from carpet and clothing. Rub salt into a stain and you can feel the scrubbing action it provides. Pour it on and let it sit on wet stains, then brush and wipe clean. Vegetable oil soap, often called Castile soap, is also useful as an all purpose type cleanser when added to vinegar or borax. Take one cup of this combo and add to four cups of water for an effective all purpose type cleaner good on almost any surface. Just two teaspoons of this soapy combo added to three gallons of water makes a great floor cleaner. Just be sure to rinse so there is no dull residue left behind.

Painted yourself into a corner and got it on your hands?

An effective method of removing paint from your skin is to add olive oil to a soft cloth then rub gently. And for this you can use cheap oil, no need for the EVOO!

Invest in a steam cleaner, it’s the most chemical free way to live

A stem cleaner can be a powerful weapon for just about anything difficult to clean. The beauty of the steam cleaner is its ability to clean with just water vapor. It does wonders on grime and grease. Although some of the more effective water vapor steam cleaners can be quite expensive, it is highly worth it once you get used to it.

There is no need for those expensive and often harmful chemical laden cleaning products when natural ingredients will work every bit as well, and they even smell much better!

To be… or not to be a Vegan? Each of us wishes to remain healthy and live life to the fullest. When we eat an abundance of fatty meat every day we do our body a disservice because while enjoying that steak or hamburger, we also load our arteries up with cholesterol and way too much fat. It can be a life saving change to switch over to a meatless diet but it can also be hard to change lifetime habits. Most of us grew up eating bologna sandwiches in our school lunches or hamburgers after school. Mother fed us meat loaf or spaghetti and meatballs. Then we become independent and live on TV dinners for a few years. By the time we settle down and marry our body is laden with enough fat and cholesterol to sink a battleship! But many think changing to a meatless diet is expensive and difficult… but they are wrong!

Meat eggs and dairy products are costly!

The most expensive item in any recipe is usually the meat portion. A roast or steak costs around $8 to $12 per pound and you may need to buy multiple pounds of it to feed a family. Eggs as well as dairy products such as cheese are also costly and none of these are part of a true Vegan diet. Vegetarians will consume some dairy and eggs, usually in the form of butter based sauces and cheese. Eggs are found in breads and pasta. There are alternatives for the dedicated Vegan and they are not expensive.

A Vegan lifestyle means healthy wealthy and wise for life

A true Vegan will eat no meat or dairy products so you need to decide whether you wish to become a dedicated vegan or a vegetarian. Vegans have a wide assortment of choices in foods without including meat, eggs, or dairy. Beans, grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables can be included in a nearly endless variety of dishes to satisfy everyone. And there are many variations of items such as a vegan mayonnaise, cheese, and even ice cream that are available and popular.

Don’t attempt to change a lifetime’s worth of habits overnight! Begin by eating meatless meals a few times a week. You can eat all you want of many vegetables and that helps get past the need to eat meat many have initially. Veggies are very affordable to buy and even cheaper to grow yourself. If you live where the sun shines you can most likely grow your own carrots, peas, green beans, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, and legumes (beans). Corn is possible but takes a bit more space. If you have never tasted a home grown tomato you are truly missing a special treat because there is so much more flavor in that tomato you grew in the dirt on your patio or back yard. And tomatoes don’t take up much space to grow successfully either. Just place dirt or potting soil in about a five gallon container, add some fertilizer, then buy a tomato plant for about $1. Same goes for most other veggies and you can pick yours fresh each day when they are ripe. Next to growing your own is the Farmer’s Market or nearby (seasonal) fruit stands. Look for bargains there that your local supermarket may not offer because they must pay more for shipping.

Just can’t beat a salad for healthy eating

Lettuce has practically zero calories yet supplies us with lots of vitamin A as well as folic acid. Tear up some Romaine or iceberg lettuce leaves and add in a diced or sliced tomato, a few slices of cucumber, and some finely sliced red onion to make a delicious side salad to go with your meals every day and your heart will thank you! Beans make a thrifty and healthy meal. You can combine several types to make a bean soup, chili, or stew. Add some bell peppers, onions, pepper, a little salt, and maybe some cumin or red pepper flakes and you can enjoy a healthy meal without worrying about fat or high cost. You can purchase Vegan cookbooks or simply look around online for recipes that are true to the Vegan lifestyle (no dairy, eggs, or meat products) and find a wealth of interesting recipes that will help convince even die hard meat eaters! Bon Appétit and remain true to your frugal lifestyle!