5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Made a plan and started my Christmas Shopping

2. Mixed up a batch of laundry soap ( I used a new recipe and if it works out I will share it soon)

3. Mixed up a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner using items I already had

4. Menu planned and cooked at home

5.  Spent some time hanging out with friends at their homes instead of going out= free entertainments and good company

Christmas Plan

I am just gonna put my list of people I buy or make gifts for here on the blog so I can keep track of it.  I will be updating my list and crossing things off as I purchase or make them.  I am also am not going to put exactly what I am giving as gifts that way if anyone in my family actually reads my blog they won't know what the gifts are :)

Photo for Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards ordered

Christmas Tree

Kid # 5 picture with Santa

Husband  - I don't really do a set number of gifts for my husband but we do have a set amount we get to spend on each other :)

1 gift so far


Kid # 1 

gift # 1                                   
gift # 2
gift # 3
gift # 4


Kid # 2

gift # 1
gift # 2
gift # 3
gift # 4

Kid # 3

gift # 1
gift # 2
gift # 3
gift # 4

Kid # 4

gift # 1
gift # 2
gift # 3
gift # 4

Kid # 5

gift # 1
gift # 2
gift # 3
gift # 4

Future Daughter In law

gift # 1
gift # 2
gift # 3
gift # 4

Mom
Step dad
Family gift for nieces and nephew
Sister
bro in law

Mother in law
Father in law

Roger

Jenna

Teacher gift for Kid # 5


Well that is all I can think of to add to my list at the moment.  I plan to keep this updated to help me stay organized

All-Purpose Cleaner

I keep a bottle of this under my sink in the kitchen.  I  use it to clean any place that you would use a spray cleaner on.  I love it!


All-Purpose Cleaner

1-teaspoon Borax

1/2 - teaspoon Super Washing Soda

2 - tablespoons White Vinegar or Lemon Juice ( I have used both and they both work well!)

1 - tablespoon liquid soap ( I use Dr Bonner's)

Combine with 2 cups very hot water  and use in a spray bottle. ( I just fill my spray bottle up with hot water and really don't even measure anymore)

Taco Salad

We had this taco salad over the weekend with my husbands family.  Everyone ate several helpings of it and it was a huge hit with our family.  I decided to recreate it last night for our dinner and everyone seemed to enjoy it again especially since there was only enough left for two lunch's for my husband!

Brown 1lb ground beef and make taco meat as usual.  While that is cooking shred lettuce for a salad as you usually would and put in a bowl.  Add black beans or pinto beans drained.  I used black beans that I had cooked myself ( it is much cheaper to make black beans yourself and is not hard at all!  I just follow the package directions.  Once they cool I package them up in 2 cups portions and freeze in Ziploc bags.) and had frozen in the freezer and defrosted earlier in the day.  I then added, sliced black olives, diced canned tomatoes drained, cut up onion and shredded taco cheese.  I did not measure any of this I just used my best judgement on how much to add.   Then the comes the best part :)  I added enough FRENCH DRESSING to just cover the salad and mixed it all up.  I then added the taco meat once it was done and tortilla chips crumbs from my bag.  The french dressing is what made the taco salad so good.  I had never had one with dressing on it like that before!  I made my own french dressing, thanks to my sister who gave me my grandmothers recipe and it is super easy to make!

My estimated cost off this meal was less then $5.  I had all the ingredients already for the dressing!

Here is the recipe : 

Grandma's French Dressing

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons paprika

1 pinch red pepper

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon grated onion  ( I used a tablespoon of onion powder cause I was to lazy to grate onion)

1/2 cup vinegar

1/2 cup oil   ( I used olive oil)

Mix until sugar is dissolved.

Makes one pint.

Grandma also suggest when storing it to add a whole clove of garlic. She makes it in a quart jar and shakes it. 

I made it in a bowl and used my stick blender and then add it to a jar after it was all blended!

My 7 Things

Judy at We may be poor, but we are happy asked what are 7 things you can't give up, would give up or have given up, in order to save money and/or get out of debt?  Here is my list:

Can't give up

1. Internet - I like having Internet

2. Victoria Secret bras - I've given birth to 4 kids and nursed 2 for long periods of time these bras work for me and last me yrs

3. Coffee -I would not be a happy person without coffee.  I always make it at home though and never buy it out

4. Tampons - This one is self explanatory but I have to admit that I am thinking about trying the "mama pads".

5. House Phone- I would rather give up my cell phone which I hate anyway then my house phone!

6. Kleenex - I am never gonna be a hankie type girl

7. Toilet Paper - We are never gonna be a "family cloth" type family :P


Would give up

1. Cable - we didn't have this for 7 yrs and I could easily go back to not having it)

2. 2nd car - I could learn to live with only one car if I had too

3. Meat every day - I could easily not eat meat every day

4. My cell phone - did not have one for a long time and I could easily live without it again

5.  Dryer - I have gone whole summers without having a dryer before and I could learn to live without one permanently if I had to

6. Weekend Newspaper - We get Saturday and Sunday's paper.  It was cheaper to get both then to just get Sunday's.  I could give them up if I needed to though.

7. Netflix


Have given up

1. Paper towel - we use rags.  I do have paper towel around for dog accidents but it last us forever and ever.  I estimate I buy it twice a yr.

2. Paper napkins - the only paper napkins we have are once that I have picked up from restaurants or the kids have have bought home from fast food they have purchased.

3. Frozen Pizza - I never buy frozen pizza anymore.  My hubby makes the best homemade pizza :)

4. Movie/Game rentals.- We have Netflix which is way cheaper then the movie rental stores we have around here. 

5. Buying Books - I use the Library now

6. Dryer sheets- I can't remember the last time I bought these

7. Individually packed food items -  I always buy the large bags and repackage as needed.

This list was actually harder to come up with then I thought it would be! 

Menu Plan 8/22 - 8/28

Monday- Sub sandwiches, Veggies & Dip

Tuesday - Chicken Thighs on the Grill, Salad and Rice

Wednesday - Taco Salad

Thursday- Meatball Subs

Friday- Shrimp Stir Fry

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday - Quesadillas

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Took Kid # 5 to have her hair cut at the beauty school

2. Menu planned and had a leftover night

3. Planned my driving to save on gas

4. Used my clothes line and drying racks to dry our clothes

5. Made snacks for the kids using items in our pantry we already had :)