Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 17, 2012

This means on Sunday or Monday, you take some time to sketch out what you will be cooking each night of the week. We pick 30 minute or less recipes that we can cook during the week and we schedule them in the calendar. You can also go with chicken, and you can even buy whole chickens, which can be deboned, and cooked.

Saving Money 188

Saving Money Dinner Money Bulk 188

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 9, 2012

It can be intimidating to think about, but your grocery bill is one of the easiest expenses to reduce. In the meantime, check out these popular posts that are full of tips to help you reduce your grocery bill. Batch Cooking and Freezing: Chicken Breasts for Future Use. Batch Cooking and Freezing: Chicken Breasts for Future Use.

Grocery Spending 159

Grocery Spending Groceries Grocery Menu Planning 159

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 20, 2017

I cooked it in my Instant Pot (look for the directions on Monday 10/23/17), and used the meat for Tuesday night’s dinner. homemade sugar-free applesauce. I sauteed chicken tenderloins and once they were cooked through, I added a jar of store bought Alfredo sauce. Want to lower your grocery bill? garden salad.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Leftovers Daughter 100

Family Balance Sheet

MARCH 5, 2016

” Dining out is a fun treat, but when you eat out too often it gets old and my sweet girl wanted a home cooked dinner. Wednesday: Spaghetti, garden salad, homemade applesauce. Thursday: Chunky Potato & Leek soup , garden salad, homemade applesauce. Want to lower your grocery bill? I don’t blame her.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Home and Garden Daughter 100

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 10, 2013

One of my goals for Family Balance Sheet for 2013, is to get back to posting more money saving tips to help my readers (and myself) reduce our grocery bills. On a daily basis, home cooks produce, distribute, and consume in our kitchens for (and with) our families. Homemade buttermilk substitute. Doesn't that sound familiar?

Economical 100

Economical Money Saving Groceries Grocery 100

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

I don’t cook with a lot of red meat, but I’ve been craving meatloaf. I roasted both packs for Cook Once, Eat Twice. Wednesday: Leftover chicken thighs from Tuesday night and leftover smashed potatoes from Monday night, along with steamed vegetables, and homemade applesauce. Want to lower your grocery bill?

Meals 100

Meals Leftovers Kids and Family Homemade 100

Family Balance Sheet

SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

I told my husband that I need to plan another freezer cooking session, so I’m not scrambling for dinner. Homemade Sugar-Free Applesauce. homemade applesauce. homemade applesauce. Want to lower your grocery bill? But I am looking for new slow cooker, instant pot, and freezer recipes. Thursday: . Thursday: .

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Freezers Kids and Family 100

Family Balance Sheet

SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

I’m attracted to the “all in one pot” style of cooking of the Instant Pot, but I’ll be honest, I’m still on the fence if I actually like this thing. I like this dish, but the penne has a different consistency when cooked in the IP. I’ll make my own homemade burrito bowls in the future.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget 2017 Financial Goals 100

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 3, 2014

A couple of notes to keep in mind: I keep a moderately stocked freezer with marked down meat , loss leaders , batch pre-cooked meat , cooked beans , homemade baked goods and sauces. I made a large batch of homemade sugar-free applesauce in March that I stored in the freezer. White Chicken Chili , homemade applesauce.

March 100

March Groceries Grocery Homemade 100

Family Balance Sheet

NOVEMBER 18, 2016

Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas with my homemade fajita seasoning. Friday: Homemade Ham & Bean Soup , homemade sugar-free applesauce This soup takes some time from start to finish, but I work from home on Fridays, so I had the time. What We Ate this Week: Monday: Burrito Bowls with leftover chicken from last week.

Frugal 100

Frugal Cheap Fridays Win 100

Family Balance Sheet

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Cooking apples on the stovetop for applesauce. When I got home, I washed the apples in some vinegar water and made my first batch of homemade sugar-free applesauce of the season. Monday: Sirloin Steak with pan sauce, Hasselback Potatoes , garden salad, homemade applesauce. Want to lower your grocery bill?

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget 2017 Home and Garden 100

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 3, 2015

It is so nice to have options in the freezer for nights that I just don’t feel like cooking. I browned 2 pounds of ground turkey, added my homemade taco seasoning , 2/3 cup water, and a can of drained and rinsed black beans. Thursday: I grilled sausages (again) and serving with steamed broccoli and homemade sugar-free applesauce.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Leftovers Tacos 100

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 30, 2015

This week, I pulled two recipes out of my box that I haven’t cooked in a long time. For the past several months, I’ve been cooking the same thing over and over and over. I brown ground meat, pour a jar of tomato sauce over the meat, add the sauce to cooked pasta and call it a night. Want to lower your grocery bill?

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Daughter Dinner 100

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 15, 2016

This Week’s Dinners: Saturday: I cooked a large spiral ham that I bought during the Pre-Easter sale. Thursday: I grilled sausages and served with Pierogies, steamed vegetables, and homemade sugar-free applesauce. Want to lower your grocery bill? Every week I share what we ate for the week on our budget.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Leftovers Kids and Family 100

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 8, 2016

I didn’t have to cook! The shop donated a portion of our dinner bill to this charity. I’ll also serve baked potatoes, summer corn, and homemade applesauce. Want to lower your grocery bill? Dinners: Sunday, 3/27: Easter Sunday – we ate Easter dinner at my parents house. Just reheat and serve.

Leftovers 100

Leftovers Easter Dinner Daughter 100

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 1, 2021

It sounds dreadful, but it is possible to reduce your grocery bill without making everyone in your family miserable. 3 – Reduce your monthly utility bills. Collect your bills and start shopping around for new vendors. Who wants to cook after a long day! Try freezer cooking. 6 – Eat dinner at home.

Emergency Fund 130

Emergency Fund Money Finds Friends And Family Sale 130

Family Balance Sheet

MARCH 30, 2014

Lately when I see my bill at the check out, I’m shocked at how few groceries are actually going home with me. Spaghetti made with pre-cooked sausage and my homemade roasted vegetable sauce. Tacos using pre-cooked chicken or ground turkey that I keep in the freezer and homemade taco seasoning.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget March Groceries 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

MAY 28, 2014

My husband and I cook a lot and often have leftovers. I happened upon some old canning Mason jars at a garage sale, and now we use those for everything–making iced tea in the summer, putting leftover soup in, holding our homemade laundry detergent. Use mason jar containers. They’re very durable. Conserve utilities.

Saving Money 191

Saving Money Simple Money Friends And Family Sale 191

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 2, 2012

It can take a great deal of time to cook for a family every day, and in many houses the kitchen is a place to socialize, to work on homework, to eat, etc. Instead of shelling out $6 bucks on kitchen counter cleaner, you might want to consider some very inexpensive homemade options. Many of us spend a lot of time in our kitchens.

Saving Money 202

Saving Money Kitchen Money Reuse 202

Family Balance Sheet

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Tuesday: We had a lot of pesto ranch chicken leftover from last week , so I cooked some bacon in the oven and made chicken & bacon quesadillas. Thursday: Parmesan chicken tenders , mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, homemade sugar-free applesauce. Friday: Grilled sausages, spinach salad, homemade applesauce.

Frugal 100

Frugal Fridays Ebates Credit Cards 100

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 8, 2016

I put sliced red pepper and red onion, split chicken breasts, homemade fajita seasoning , juice from a lime in a slow cooker and cooked on low for 6 hours. Want to lower your grocery bill? Tuesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas. Some day I will turn this into a post, because it is really easy. Take out the chicken.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Leftovers Dinner 100

Family Balance Sheet

JANUARY 28, 2022

If you are struggling with the rising grocery prices or maybe you need to make room for your family’s growing appetites, take a look at the following list and see what changes you can make to cut your grocery bill…and still eat really well! These are strategies I use weekly to help keep my grocery bill in line with our budget.

Saving Money 130

Saving Money Groceries Grocery Money 130

Couponing 101

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

This recipe fits the bill! Love Bread Sticks and Homemade Marinara Sauce via Cook & Craft Me Crazy. You may already have your own creative ideas for what to serve your kids on Valentine’s Day, but if you need a little extra inspiration, check out these eight delightful recipes.

Recipes 71

Recipes Kids Kids and Family Main Dishes 71

Family Balance Sheet

JUNE 5, 2015

I haven’t gotten into to fire pit cooking yet. Tuesday: I browned 3 pounds of ground turkey and added my homemade taco seasoning , so we had hard shell tacos with watermelon and strawberries as a side. The taco meat also goes well in my Homemade Burrito Bowls , in place of the chicken. We’re fairly new to camping.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Tacos Friends And Family Sale 100

Family Balance Sheet

NOVEMBER 13, 2015

lbs of chicken, juice of one lime and fajita seasoning to the slow cooker and cook on low for about 6 hours or until chicken is cooked through. You can use store bought fajita packs or make homemade fajita seasoning. Want to lower your grocery bill? Place 1 sliced red pepper, 1 sliced red onion, 1 – 1.5

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Leftovers Lunch 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 29, 2012

It cost over $1000, so when we went to go out for our Friday night dinner (we hate cooking on Fridays), we decided to stay in to save money. Here’s what we came up with: Make a New Recipe I know that cooking on a weekend evening sounds awful, and really, it is. When I proposed this to the boyfriend, he agreed.

Frugal 188

Frugal Wine Saving Money Money 188

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 15, 2019

These are strategies I use weekly to keep my grocery bill in line with our budget. Batch cooking: Buy in bulk, batch cook, and freeze in portion sizes. Freezer cooking sessions: This wildly popular cooking technique saves time and money by setting aside a time to prepare a lot of meals at once. Thaw as needed.

Saving Money 113

Saving Money Groceries Grocery Money 113

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JULY 23, 2014

On Halloween we did a trick for our treat inside of a neighbors house, without our parents around and got homemade goodies to eat as a treat. Kids did chores and not all of them were ‘safe’ My brother mowed the lawn with a homemade electric lawnmower. There were no online saving or bill paying services.

Growing 180

Growing Home and Garden Radios Kids and Family 180

Family Balance Sheet

APRIL 11, 2020

I set up a strategy years ago to pay for those yearly expenses , so thankfully, there’s money for these bills and we won’t fall behind. So far, my girls have made orange chicken with rice, chicken potpie, homemade pumpkin cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls. Budget items we are temporarily stopping for now: EVERYTHING ELSE!

Budgeting 246

Budgeting Budget Family Debt 246

Family Balance Sheet

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

Read 11 Simple Menu Planning Tips to learn how to reduce your grocery bill without making everyone in your family miserable. 3 – Reduce your monthly utility bills. Collect your bills and start shopping around for new vendors. Try freezer cooking. Here are my freezer cooking tips and recipes.

Emergency Fund 100

Emergency Fund Money Finds Friends And Family Sale 100

Couponing 101

JANUARY 6, 2012

Did you know that meal planning is one of the keys to saving money on your grocery bill? Freezer Cooking Sessions – I love doing mini freezer cooking sessions on occasion that keep the freezer stocked with healthy homemade foods. I especially like freezing soaked and cooked beans, bone broth , and shredded chicken.

Saving Money 98

Saving Money Meals Money Menu Planning 98

Saving Everyday

FEBRUARY 15, 2014

Frugal Tip | Cook Big & Save Time, Groceries, & Energy. Homemade Carpet Deodorizer by I Am That Lady. 8 Tips To Save On Electric Bill During Summer by Pays2Save. How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent #2 by Coupon Closet. Homemade Eye Makeup Remover with Only 2 Ingredients – Costs Just $0.32

Saving Money 71

Saving Money Frugal Money Thrifty 71

Cheap Chica's Guide To Style

AUGUST 30, 2016

We suggest Billings Farm – you’ll meet the cows personally. Must Eat: Whether breakfast or lunch, the Cooked Goose is the perfect spot to stop for take out or dine in. You can witness the making of craft beer, and also choose from a rotating list of brews you might not be able to find in your beer cooler at home. Pack a cooler.

Rhode Island 60

Rhode Island Travel Food and Wine Portland 60

Saving Everyday

JANUARY 1, 2015

Frugal Tip | Cook Big & Save Time, Groceries, & Energy. Homemade Carpet Deodorizer by I Am That Lady. 8 Tips To Save On Electric Bill During Summer by Pays2Save. How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent #2 by Coupon Closet. Homemade Eye Makeup Remover with Only 2 Ingredients – Costs Just $0.32

Saving Money 40

Saving Money Frugal Money Thrifty 40

The Frugal Girl

OCTOBER 16, 2023

But in the grand scheme of things, I have made yogurt probably hundreds of times by now, and given that homemade yogurt is about a quarter of the cost of store-bought, I’ve saved myself many, many, MANY hundreds of dollars. That evening of cooking dinner was a terrible loss financially. P.S. Remember when I shattered my stovetop?

Frugal 203

Frugal Activism Milk At&T 203

Family Balance Sheet

OCTOBER 6, 2017

This Week in the Kitchen: Every week, I’m trying to double at least ONE meal to put in the freezer, but after last week’s marathon freezer cooking session s, I laid low this week. Chicken Orzo Soup: I used some cooked chicken and homemade chicken stock from last week’s freezer cooking session.

Budgeting 100

Budgeting Budget Financial Goals Freezers 100

Couponing 101

JANUARY 15, 2015

What we are still paying for: • Regular Bills • Home Business Expenses • Gas • That’s it! We had Chicken Tortilla Soup one night (one of the above mentioned freezer meals) then they were turned into chicken tacos for lunch the next day (after straining off the broth), and then combined with cheese, rice (cook the rice in the broth!),

Leftovers 40

Leftovers Freezers Gift Cards January 40