March Menu Plan

Hello friends!  It's been a while (way too long) since I've posted.  We're moving in a couple of weeks into the basement apartment at Mom's while the house construction is completed.  This will save us some in rent (though we'll still pay her some rent to cover utilities, etc.), and will put us at least 10 minutes closer to town, school, etc. which will save on time and fuel daily.  We're excited about the move and about being able to watch the house construction daily.  It's a short move, so we're hoping to be able to do it with some friends who have pickup trucks and not have to rent a truck.

Since we're moving soon, we're focusing on eating what is in our fridge, freezer, and pantry mostly.  I'm supplementing with fresh produce, but trying to use up a lot of what we have so that we don't have to move it.  Here are some of the things we're trying to use up:

• Canned items (heavy to move!):  tomatoes, canned beans, tuna, coconut milk, olives, pickles, peanut butter
• Flours:  whole wheat, bread flour, corn meal, almond flour, paleo pancake mix
• Pantry:  dried beans, oatmeal, dried fruit, gluten free pasta, onions, sweet potatoes, dried mushrooms
• Frozen items:  popsicles, beef, frozen veggies, frozen fish, frozen fruit, nuts and seeds, broccoli, bacon
• Fridge items:  condiments, 3 dozen eggs, pie crusts, cheese

Keeping this in mind, here's our meal plan for the month:

Breakfasts:

• overnight crock pot oatmeal with dried fruit
• Paleo waffles with blueberry syrup and eggs/bacon
• Fruit and eggs
• Smoothies
• Gluten free banana muffins with eggs or fruit

Lunches:

• tuna salad with crackers and veggies/fruit
• leftovers with a side salad or steamed/roasted veggies
• big salad with hard boiled eggs
• roasted veggies and eggs

Dinners:

• Crockpot lasagna soup with cheese and steamed broccoli
• Sweet potato lentil soup with salads
• Breakfast for dinner with waffles, eggs, fruit, and bacon
• Quiche with dried mushrooms, sausage, onion, and broccoli and roasted veggies (likely sweet potatoes and onions)
• Shepards pie with beef and frozen veggies
• Beans and rice with fixin's (cheese, salsa, olives, Greek yogurt)
• Chili with black beans and corn with fixin's and almond flour corn bread

Community meals:

• Tuesday at Children's Council yoga class
• Possible Wednesday lunch at Chilren's Council group, if schedule allows
• Thursday dinner at church
• Sunday dinners with Mom

These community meals are things we look forward to weekly and really save us when it comes to cooking some nights.  It's a nice way to mix things up and make things feel special without the expense of eating out.

Batch cooking:

• make double or triple batch of waffles to freeze some for easy breakfasts
• make double batch of banana nut muffins to freeze some
• double batch of roasted veggies
• veggie stock using the veggie scraps I've collected in the freezer
• gluten free birthday cupcakes 

What are your meal plans for the month?  I'd love to hear from you!

November/December Menu

So, I'm getting this out a little later than planned, but better late than never!  This season is all about making use of what we have and capturing the flavors of the season.  I'm using up a lot of our freezer stash (broccoli, tomatoes, winter squash, applesauce, and meat) and pantry staples.  We're incredibly grateful for at least three community meals a week, which really eases the hectic nature of our lives.  We're also trying to keep things healthy and on the Paleo/Keto side of things with loads of veggies, which does mean we're probably spending a bit more at the grocery store for things like avocados and coconut milk.

I am finding that our boys are going through more fruit than usual, so maybe that indicates a growth spurt?  Or maybe it's just the fruit is lower calorie than most other stuff, so since we're eating more whole foods, they're just hungrier because they're eating more of the good stuff?  I'm grateful to be able to glean from the food pantry when we help out there.  It really helps to supplement our grocery budget.

So, here's the plan:

Breakfasts:

• Smoothies (1 cup greens, 1/2 banana, 1 cup berries or winter squash, liquid and flax seeds)
• Baked pumpkin oatmeal
• Eggs, sauteed greens, and breakfast meat (bacon, liver mush, sausage)
• Roasted veggies and eggs
• Energy bites and fruit
• Hard boiled eggs and fresh fruit
• Yogurt parfaits with frozen berries and chia seeds

Lunches:

• Leftovers
• Fresh fruit, cheese, and gluten free crackers
• Salad with protein (leftover chicken, hard boiled eggs, nuts)

Dinners:

• Chili with ground beef from the freezer and beans from the pantry
• Beans and quinoa with fixin's
• Crock pot Asian Chicken with roasted veggies and Asian slaw
• Breakfast for dinner
• Paleo dressing with chicken sausages and sauteed greens
• Turkey soup and salad
• Turkey taco bowls
• Beef and cheddar pie with salad or sauteed greens

Snacks:

• Popcorn with cheddar powder and butter
• Roasted spiced nuts
• Homemade trail mix
• Fresh fruit 
• Veggies and dip
• Gluten free crackers and cheese

What are you making and eating this month?  I'd love to hear from you!

October Menu Plan

As usual, this month is all about keeping costs low while staying as healthy as we possibly can. That means that we'll use our freezer and pantry stash, glean where we can, and purchase produce on sale (and locally when possible).  We're grateful to have a pretty well stocked freezer, which will be the basis of a lot of our meals this month.

Here's the basic outline:

Breakfasts:

• baked oatmeal with dried fruit and nuts and applesauce from the freezer
• hard boiled eggs and fresh fruit (likely citrus, apples, or pears)
• leftover roasted veggies with eggs or bacon
• weekend "big boy" breakfasts with Paleo pancakes and fruit or yogurt parfaits
• smoothies with frozen fruit, non dairy milk, and any seasonings (ginger and cinnamon are seasonal favorites)
• banana bars with fruit

Lunches:

• leftovers (sometimes remixed over rice, pasta, or inside tortillas)
• ants on a log (celery spread with peanut butter or almond butter and topped with raisins)
• hard boiled eggs
• fresh fruit
• sliced veggies (peppers, carrots, cucumber, or whatever we have around)
• deli meat and cheese roll ups
• homemade energy bites (with almond butter or peanut butter)

Dinners:

• Thai chicken crock pot soup
• crock pot potato soup with fixin's (bacon, cheese, chopped onion or mushroom) and salad
• community meals at the Children's Council 2x week and Sunday dinner with Mom
• Friday night pizza night (homemade pizza dough in bread machine or almond flour pizza dough)
• sausages and roasted veggies
• crock pot pork roast and potatoes
• chicken stir fry with Asian slaw and egg rolls
• crock pot chili and almond flour "corn bread"

Batch Cooking:

• energy bites
• roasted veggies (I try to make a double batch over the weekend so that we can reheat them throughout the week)
• Asian slaw (it's one of my favs and keeps well)
• hard boiled eggs
• crock pot meals

Freezer stash (i.e. what we'll use from our freezer)

• ground beef (for chili)
• chicken breasts
• tomatoes from last year
• pesto
• pork roast
• corn
• sliced almonds
• frozen fruit

Pantry stash:

• oatmeal
• flax meal
• chia seeds
• honey
• chocolate chips
• almond flour
• dried beans
• onions
• potatoes
• sun dried tomatoes
• olives
• dried fruit (this varies, but can include raisins, dried coconut, apricots, prunes, currants, etc.)

Frugal Accomplishments 4th Week of September

Sorry I've been so absent for a while!  Summer got super busy (and fun), and then school started and things seemed to get even busier.  We've added a few new things to our schedules, which do make things hectic at times, but it's also things we've been wanting to try (like choir for little man and some free workout classes for me).

So, without further ado, here are our accomplishments for last week:

• All meals were cooked at home.  This included sausage and roasted veggies, mini quiche, and snack plates.  We were able to use ingredients from our CSA for these meals, as well as things from the food pantry (sausage and wanton wrappers for the quiche crusts) and discount produce rack at the grocery store.  All lunches were leftovers or made at home (the boys have recently discovered the joy of ants on a log).
• We stretched our groceries by using pantry staples and waited until the weekend to go grocery shopping.  I used a $10 off $50 deal at the grocery store, and a rain check, to stock up on some staples like bacon, tortilla chips, and cheese.
• Enjoyed some shared community meals, including a Sunday dinner with friends (pot roast we made in the crock pot, they brought bread and apple pie), meals at the Children's Council, and dinner with Mom (burgers, baked beans, and chips).
• I read books I had at home for pleasure reading and devotionals.
• I took the boys to the library.  We checked out books under little man's account (if they check out under their school ID, they aren't charged late fees).  He was proud to know his number, and it helps us out too.  While we were there, the boys did the scavenger hunt at the library and earned a prize from the treasure box (stickers and Pokemon cards).
• I participated in a free workout at school.  We have a parent who is a personal trainer and is graciously offering two workouts a week for free for any faculty who want to participate.  It was great, and loads of fun.  I was really sore afterwards, but I hope that by continuing to do it, I'll get in better shape and it will be some much needed time to focus on me too.
• I worked out for free with yoga on Thursday at the Children's Council.  It was great, and dinner was good too.  
• Little man is enjoying choir at church on Tuesdays, and there's a free snack provided too.
• I composted all reasonable scraps, recycled what we can, and limited our trash to one bag a week.
• Picked up a few more baby bucks at the Children's Council for our programs, so we're close to earning another Walmart card.  We plan to purchase an air popper for my classroom for after school snacks.
• I took little man to the movies on Saturday as a reward for doing so well with his reward system at home.  Mom came with us, and she treated us to the movie.  We went to the $2 theater on campus and took our popcorn bucket, so the whole thing only cost $8, which was probably cheaper than one ticket to the regular matinee.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

Frugal Accomplishments 4th Week of June

This week is all about summer fun for the family.  I have some professional development, but just one day this week.  That means that it's the boys day with my mom, and they've got some fun free things planned:  going to a local lake to walk and fish, and going to the public library for story time and checking out new books.  We're also planning some play dates with friends and spending some fun family time doing things.

Here are our accomplishments:

• I participated in a professional development opportunity, which included a $50 stipend.  It was training that will provide me professional renewal credits and some food was provided.
• The boys helped me clean out a lot of things for a group yard sale that we'll be a part of this week.  The back of my car is loaded with items, and we're hoping to bring home another $50 or more from that.  Whatever we don't sell will be donated to our church yard sale. (Our goal this summer is to make $1500 from side hustles like this, including eBay sales.)
• Used brown paper bags that we cut in order to drain meat, rather than using paper towels.
• Cooked chicken in a crock pot for mole chicken.  It was organic chicken from the food pantry and mole sauce from the food pantry, so there was no cost to us.  We used this for taco bowls using our CSA ingredients (greens, spring onions, squash, radishes) and refried beans, quinoa, and salsa from our pantry to make these.  This made enough for several meals of leftovers, which could be made into tacos or a casserole.
• Enjoyed a free meal at VBS last week, which yielded some free food.  We were able to take grapes and bananas.  I used these bananas to make banana nut chocolate chip muffins for a breakfast treat for the week.
• We chose to make a donation for the meal at VBS, as well as purchased a CD of the music from the week.  This music will sort of become our summer soundtrack.  It really helps us keep the boys entertained in the car and much more patient when trips are longer.
• Our pot of tomatoes had become water logged with the recent rains.  We realized that the drain holes weren't fully drilled, so we borrowed a drill and drilled the holes.  Hopefully, this will save the tomatoes, especially since they already had fruit.
• Used our laminated chore charts for the boys.  We use dry erase markers on these, so it saves the stickers.  These really help for summer routines and getting them going in the mornings.
• Used an earned Walmart gift card to purchase some needed groceries and a large pillow to replace one we had to toss.  I had a little left over on this card, so I'll save it for another purchase.
• I listened to a podcast for free while washing dishes.  I was getting a little disgruntled about having to do so many dishes (they multiply when we're home over the summer), and the podcast was about gratitude.  It helped me to reframe the opportunity to wash dishes and be grateful for the clean water and dishes we have.
• Enjoyed an "open house" at a community garden.  There were light snacks, and the boys loved the garden. We plan to go out and volunteer there this Friday.  It will give me a chance to do something with the boys outside, and is a free community event.
• Washed all laundry in cold water and hung to dry.  We find that this really saves our clothes, and electricity.
• Opened windows and used fans for cooling.  I also tried to be diligent about turning out lights when we're not in a room.
• I did some extra detox work at home for free.  This included Epsom salt baths, clay baths, and sauna.  I only do this once a day in order to not deplete necessary minerals.  I'm trying to do this at least 4-5 days a week.  It's nice that I can do all of this at home now, and it really is making me feel better.
• I resisted the impulse to buy some new flip flops.  They weren't expensive, but I knew it was $4 that we could save.
• Began planning a menu for next month focused on the things we have on hand and will be getting in our CSA.
• Planned free activities for the boys:  play date at a local park, children's council groups, use our membership to the local children's museum, activity at the community garden, picnic at a local park with live music in the evening.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

What did you 

Frugal Accomplishments 3rd Week of June

This has been our first official week of summer, and it's been great!  I've really enjoyed my time with the boys, even as a finished up a few things with school.  I'm still working toward my goal of getting up before they do, but we're getting there.  We've enjoyed some great community meals this week, and did some batch cooking, which has made meal prep easy.

Here's how we saved this week:

• Did our usual thing with hanging laundry and washing in cold water.
• Baby is doing awesome with potty training, so we're having to wash fewer loads of training pants.
• Meals were made at home including:  double batch of quiche (made at Mom's for Sunday dinner), salads, snack plates with fresh fruits and veggies, oatmeal, smoothies, roasted veggies, and Asian slaw.
• Community meals included our Children's Council meals, which I brought home a serving of leftovers, Bible school cook out, a meal at a workshop I had one day, and Benny had lunch provided at work one day.
• We are grateful for our CSA share this week with loads of spring/summer veggies and greens, as well as eggs.  (We pay for this with our eBay sales each year.)
• Picked currants for free at my mom's place.  These, plus oranges from the food pantry, have been our fruit for the week, primarily.  One kiddo added them to his oatmeal, which was a great thought!
• Made a batch of spiced nuts as a snack, as well as some guacamole using salsa, avocados salvages from the food pantry, and spring onions.  I also made a batch of energy bites using things we had on hand.
• I made a batch of veggie and chicken stock.  I've been trying to have some daily, about two cups.  It does seem to be helping my gut, and it's tasty, as well as fulfilling some of my liquids for the day.
• Helped out with the food pantry pick up and salvaged a few cartons of organic blackberries, avocados, rutabagas, turnips, and some broccoli and onions.  We also got some mini pitas, which I used to make breakfast pocket sandwiches for those who can do gluten.
• Signed up to help with pick up again this Saturday.  We enjoy helping, and it's nice to come home with things we can salvage.
• I cashed in baby bucks for a Walmart card, and earned one for my service as a parent leader with the group.  We will use that $20 to pay for toiletries and supplements that we don't account for in our grocery budget.  I also got free diapers/overnight pull ups for the boys.  
• Gathered items for a group yard sale next week.  We will price those this weekend.
• Continued to take pictures of items to post on eBay or Craigslist.
• The boys wanted to earn some money for the mission project that VBS is supporting, so they helped me clean the bathroom and kitchen floor.  It was a great help to me, and taught them the importance of hard work.  They were really pleased to put their money in the basket today.
• The boys were at VBS this week, which was free and great programming for them.  It's a daytime model, so it meant that I could get some work done on National Boards renewal while they were there.
• I attended a workshop one day that has a stipend, which will be paid in my check later this month.
• We got the new house estimate from the builder.  It's still a bit more than we'd like to pay, but we think that we can change a few things and get the numbers down.  We're also exploring more side hustles to build up our funds again after medical expenses.
• Little man and I had dentist appointments this week.  We opted to wait to pay the bill until our HSA card is reloaded so that we can use those pretax funds.
• I'm finishing up some insurance claims forms, which should put a little bit of cash back into savings for us.
• Our accountant got our taxes to us, after filing an extension.  We'll use that refund to pay medical expenses.  If there's anything left, it will go to savings.

Overall, I think we have made some good headway this week.  I really look forward to selling some things at the yard sale and decluttering our house a bit, while putting some money into savings.  I'm also planning some free play dates with friends for next week with the boys.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!

Frugal Accomplishments First Week of June

This past week we've worked really hard to keep spending to a minimum and increase our side gig business.  I did have a doctor's appointment out of town, but was able to combine it with a visit with my in-laws and stay with them, saving hotel costs.  They also took me to Costco while there and refused to let me pay for the things I got, which is a gracious gift. 

Here's what we did this past week to save:

• Made all meals at home including tacos with chicken from the freezer, salads, smoothies, snack plates with veggies, nuts, hard boiled eggs, etc., and breakfast for dinner (Paleo pancakes, fruit, bacon, and egg scramble with greens and mushrooms).
• Enjoyed shared meal with the Children's Council at their annual summer bash.  The boys had a great time playing and Benny got some real visit time in with friends.
• Had another shared meal with Mom, as well as a fundraiser benefit meal for Benny's aunt who recently passed away (the fundraiser will help to cover medical expenses).
• Washed laundry in cold water and hung to dry.
• Cut up brown paper bag to drain bacon, rather than use paper towels.
• Used veggies from our CSA for salads, smoothies, and cooked greens to eat with eggs.  We paid for our CSA through our eBay sales.
• Cashed in baby bucks for diapers and a Walmart card.
• Used Walmart card to pay for part of Father's Day present.  The boys decorated a bag to wrap the gift in.
• Benny put the screens in the windows of the rental house.  They were bent and torn, but we made them work and patched the holes.  They provide nice cross breeze in the house and it's been really cool lately, so we haven't needed the fans.
• I took a few things that my sister in law was getting rid of.  Most are kids toys that we will probably post on Craigslist.  My goal is to make $1500 this summer on Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon reselling things.  We'd like to get some bills paid off and increase our savings.
• I have a lead on some summer tutoring opportunities, so I'll follow up on that later this week.
• Benny took on a side job reviewing electronic equipment.  He got his first product to review this week, so we'll see how much he makes from his review.

What did you do to live and save green this past week?  I'd love to hear from you!