The part that we are personally struggling with right now is the gas. We both work in opposite directions of each other, and currently have one chevy cobalt, and one trail blazer...
The trail blazer is a huge gas guzzler. Often taking $40 every other week.
On way we are reducing our gas bill is by walking and cycling places. If Nick happens to get this new job, we will be able to cut our gas a lot. This is when we are in the new house of course...
He is able to walk to work and college, and I would be the only one using the car. Also a lot of my classes are online this term, as it was just so expensive to drive to college and back every day. Online classes are a great option for the gas cash strapped.
Another way to reduce our gas bill would be to invest in a Chevy Volt...But being the $40,000 car they are right now I don't think that will happen anytime soon... Still looking for a way to win one of them!
I am hoping in the new year I can get some scholarships to help me through college. Its been such a struggle these past few months with trying to figure out a way to afford that one extra class. Ack!
Will update again later!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
MEAL PLANS+SHOPPING LISTS
This morning while drinking my coffee, I saw a program on extreme couponers....I have to say. I was slightly jealous. Spending $5,000 on groceries and getting them for $300 is a huge deal. But then again, I don't have that much pantry space in the new house.
We will be spending about $300 extra A WEEK outfitting our new house with items. Eeesh.
So here is the first meal plan for January. Also, the bulk buying shopping list for the first 6 months. Shouldn't cost more than $30 to set up.
I will also post the recipies below. As I have mentioned before, a slow cooker is essential! Or a large pot on a low heat, if you are home all day.
This is the bulk buying shopping list. I will be going to BJ's to get a majority of this. We are talking year long supplies. The bigger the better.
Leftover containers are key too...
Italian Chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (About 1lbs)
8 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
1 medium green bell pepper (Chopped....Optional!)
1 medium zucchini (diced...Optional!)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 jar of pasta sauce
Combine all ingredients in crock pot or slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender.
Savory Mushroom and Barley Soup:
3 cups of water
1 can of diced tomatoes
3/4 cup of each: Onion, celery, carrots
1 teaspoon dried savory leaves
3/4 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds
2 cups white mushrooms
1/2 cup quick cook barley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Combine all ingredients, except barley, salt and pepper in slow cooker; cook on high 4 to 6 hours, adding barley during last 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Garlic Vegetable soup
2 quarts water
1 can (15 ounces) navy or great northern beans, rinsed, drained
1 pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded coarsely chopped
1 cup each: diced new potatoes, coarsely chopped carrots, cut green beans (1/2 inch), chopped leeks (Some of these are optional. Its all about what you like)
1/2 cup chopped celery
6 large cloves garlic (Minced)
2 tablespoons each: Tomato paste, dried basil leaves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients, except salt and pepper, in 6 quart slow cooker; cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Vegetable soup
1 quart vegetable broth
1/2 cup each: thinly sliced green cabbage, chopped celery, onion, broccoli florets, cut green beans, cubed zucchini, potato (Again, pick and choose!)
1/2 cup uncooked ditalini
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup basil (Pesto or dried)
Combine all ingredients, except ditalini, salt, pepper, in slow cooker. Dont add basil pesto yet if you are using it.
In a slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, adding ditalini during 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in basil pesto at last second!
(Ditalini...http://www.barillaus.com/Products/4/ditalini.aspx.... I had some in my pantry!)
Please comment if you have questions!
We will be spending about $300 extra A WEEK outfitting our new house with items. Eeesh.
So here is the first meal plan for January. Also, the bulk buying shopping list for the first 6 months. Shouldn't cost more than $30 to set up.
I will also post the recipies below. As I have mentioned before, a slow cooker is essential! Or a large pot on a low heat, if you are home all day.
This is the bulk buying shopping list. I will be going to BJ's to get a majority of this. We are talking year long supplies. The bigger the better.
Italian Chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (About 1lbs)
8 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
1 medium green bell pepper (Chopped....Optional!)
1 medium zucchini (diced...Optional!)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 jar of pasta sauce
Combine all ingredients in crock pot or slow cooker and cover. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or until chicken is tender.
Savory Mushroom and Barley Soup:
3 cups of water
1 can of diced tomatoes
3/4 cup of each: Onion, celery, carrots
1 teaspoon dried savory leaves
3/4 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds
2 cups white mushrooms
1/2 cup quick cook barley
Salt and pepper, to taste
Combine all ingredients, except barley, salt and pepper in slow cooker; cook on high 4 to 6 hours, adding barley during last 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Garlic Vegetable soup
2 quarts water
1 can (15 ounces) navy or great northern beans, rinsed, drained
1 pound tomatoes, peeled, seeded coarsely chopped
1 cup each: diced new potatoes, coarsely chopped carrots, cut green beans (1/2 inch), chopped leeks (Some of these are optional. Its all about what you like)
1/2 cup chopped celery
6 large cloves garlic (Minced)
2 tablespoons each: Tomato paste, dried basil leaves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients, except salt and pepper, in 6 quart slow cooker; cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Vegetable soup
1 quart vegetable broth
1/2 cup each: thinly sliced green cabbage, chopped celery, onion, broccoli florets, cut green beans, cubed zucchini, potato (Again, pick and choose!)
1/2 cup uncooked ditalini
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup basil (Pesto or dried)
Combine all ingredients, except ditalini, salt, pepper, in slow cooker. Dont add basil pesto yet if you are using it.
In a slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours, adding ditalini during 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in basil pesto at last second!
(Ditalini...http://www.barillaus.com/Products/4/ditalini.aspx.... I had some in my pantry!)
Please comment if you have questions!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Taking my coffee to work....
Check out this little cute thing :)
http://www.cafepress.com/+keep_calm_and_carry_on_fire_engine_red_travel_mug,436858160
Now I can stop abusing Dunkin Donuts and start making my own coffee!
http://www.cafepress.com/+keep_calm_and_carry_on_fire_engine_red_travel_mug,436858160
Now I can stop abusing Dunkin Donuts and start making my own coffee!
$20 a week items
Well after doing the meal plans I believe we have a few issues to clear up:
#1. You are going to need a good spice rack! Such as
This is one that I have. Spices are the flavor of life. You will be using them EVERY day. I cant emphasis this enough. You can completely change up boring dishes.
#2. Get the basics down. Before the new year, get in some dry pasta, beans, canned tomatoes, frozen peas (The biggest bag you can find), frozen kernel corn, Bread mixes (You can make your own bread and save a fortune!), tuna, canned veggies, tomato sauce, pasta sauce, canned chicken. Etc... That's the main ones I can think of.
#3, Nick and I are so busy in the first few weeks of January, that we survive on slow cooking. The one we have is
It is amazing. :)
#4. get up and get peeling! Essential for surviving on $20 a week. Keep the peels and start a vegetable garden with fresh compost.
In the summer this will keep your costs down.
#5. Use what is in your pantry! Dont go over the $20 budget, if your missing a few ingredients in the meal, substitute. Use one type of bean instead of three.
#6. Clip some coupons.
#7. Go to your local Farmers market. Grab some fruits and veggies. Bargain prices :). If they are still more expensive than your local store, haggle with them. And bring proof. If you haggle loud enough, they will probably match the price you are asking.
Later today will be the first food plan. I will post the recipies underneath the scan of my plan.
Keep the recipies in a word document. This will be useful for reusing specific meal plans.
See you all later.
Please feel free to comment!
#1. You are going to need a good spice rack! Such as
This is one that I have. Spices are the flavor of life. You will be using them EVERY day. I cant emphasis this enough. You can completely change up boring dishes.
#2. Get the basics down. Before the new year, get in some dry pasta, beans, canned tomatoes, frozen peas (The biggest bag you can find), frozen kernel corn, Bread mixes (You can make your own bread and save a fortune!), tuna, canned veggies, tomato sauce, pasta sauce, canned chicken. Etc... That's the main ones I can think of.
#3, Nick and I are so busy in the first few weeks of January, that we survive on slow cooking. The one we have is
It is amazing. :)
#4. get up and get peeling! Essential for surviving on $20 a week. Keep the peels and start a vegetable garden with fresh compost.
In the summer this will keep your costs down.
#5. Use what is in your pantry! Dont go over the $20 budget, if your missing a few ingredients in the meal, substitute. Use one type of bean instead of three.
#6. Clip some coupons.
#7. Go to your local Farmers market. Grab some fruits and veggies. Bargain prices :). If they are still more expensive than your local store, haggle with them. And bring proof. If you haggle loud enough, they will probably match the price you are asking.
Later today will be the first food plan. I will post the recipies underneath the scan of my plan.
Keep the recipies in a word document. This will be useful for reusing specific meal plans.
See you all later.
Please feel free to comment!
Welcome back after the holiday season!
Sorry for the short break, we have been so busy planning out our first few months of this blog.
We will be touching on a few different "Fad" diets in the coming months. We shall be eating on each of those fad diets for one month at a time and still be within the $20 limit.
Januray: Low fat, healthy
Feb: Low Carb, 2 weeks of Ketogenic
March: Healthy (Low Fat)
April: Healthy (Low Fat)
May: Vegetarian
June: Vegan
July: Gerson Diet plan
August: Gerson Diet plan (Requires 2 months to work normally)
September: Healthy (Low Fat)
October: Low Carb
November: Low Carb
December: Healthy (Low Fat)
Cant wait for the new year to start! Everyone has to begin to clip coupons around now for this diet to work. And print out a diet planner, such as this:
http://www.vertex42.com/Files/weekly-meal-planner_portrait.pdf
I love this meal planner, it also allows me to budget for each item I am buying.
For example, I will put "Carrots-$1". Which means the maximum amount I can spend is $1.
Later today I will post an example.
We will be touching on a few different "Fad" diets in the coming months. We shall be eating on each of those fad diets for one month at a time and still be within the $20 limit.
Januray: Low fat, healthy
Feb: Low Carb, 2 weeks of Ketogenic
March: Healthy (Low Fat)
April: Healthy (Low Fat)
May: Vegetarian
June: Vegan
July: Gerson Diet plan
August: Gerson Diet plan (Requires 2 months to work normally)
September: Healthy (Low Fat)
October: Low Carb
November: Low Carb
December: Healthy (Low Fat)
Cant wait for the new year to start! Everyone has to begin to clip coupons around now for this diet to work. And print out a diet planner, such as this:
http://www.vertex42.com/Files/weekly-meal-planner_portrait.pdf
I love this meal planner, it also allows me to budget for each item I am buying.
For example, I will put "Carrots-$1". Which means the maximum amount I can spend is $1.
Later today I will post an example.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
How to eat cheap on mall trips
Nick and I have been doing a lot of shopping recently. Also, we have been working our butts off trying to get promoted, get our degrees finished, and finalize our house purchase (Short sales=No fun for the buyer!).
Needless to say, we needed a bit of a release! After window shopping for around a hour (Okay...Maybe I got a dress and a sweater....And a big union jack trunk...) we were hungry and thirsty.
Because I am frugal, I always carry around a power bar in my bag. Also I carry round a reusable coffee cup (for car rides...Saves the $10 trip to Dunkin), and a bottle of water.
Nick was really REALLY hungry and decided he wanted some Chinese food. At $7 for a plate, its kinda pricey I think! So instead of both getting one $7 meal, we split it. It was very easy to do and the staff at the establishment did not mind one bit. It saved us from having to both buy a plate and a drink. We shared my water and were pretty full after. I think chewing the food slowly, and drinking water between each bite really helped us stay full.
Another piece of news yesterday... I got Tonsilitus...AGAIN! I get this around 5 times a year and the ENT doctors still wont remove them. It drives me insane, but I guess they are there for a reason.
After a panicked call to my sister in law, we got a antibiotic script called in to our local grocery store.
Now, this grocery store has a deal where some Prescription Antibiotics are FREE. You heard that, FREE!
I got a 14 day supply and it made me feel great not having to spend more money.
However, today we have blown the budget. We just brought some storage trunks to keep our stuff in before we move. They are pricey but so useful... We managed to get up to 50% off each one by shopping around. I am still tempted to go back and get the BIGGEST one there. We have a lot of stuff that needs to be stored...
Well that's my random entry for today. I feel kinda worn out being sick, so this article is kinda all over the place.
Needless to say, we needed a bit of a release! After window shopping for around a hour (Okay...Maybe I got a dress and a sweater....And a big union jack trunk...) we were hungry and thirsty.
Because I am frugal, I always carry around a power bar in my bag. Also I carry round a reusable coffee cup (for car rides...Saves the $10 trip to Dunkin), and a bottle of water.
Nick was really REALLY hungry and decided he wanted some Chinese food. At $7 for a plate, its kinda pricey I think! So instead of both getting one $7 meal, we split it. It was very easy to do and the staff at the establishment did not mind one bit. It saved us from having to both buy a plate and a drink. We shared my water and were pretty full after. I think chewing the food slowly, and drinking water between each bite really helped us stay full.
Another piece of news yesterday... I got Tonsilitus...AGAIN! I get this around 5 times a year and the ENT doctors still wont remove them. It drives me insane, but I guess they are there for a reason.
After a panicked call to my sister in law, we got a antibiotic script called in to our local grocery store.
Now, this grocery store has a deal where some Prescription Antibiotics are FREE. You heard that, FREE!
I got a 14 day supply and it made me feel great not having to spend more money.
However, today we have blown the budget. We just brought some storage trunks to keep our stuff in before we move. They are pricey but so useful... We managed to get up to 50% off each one by shopping around. I am still tempted to go back and get the BIGGEST one there. We have a lot of stuff that needs to be stored...
Well that's my random entry for today. I feel kinda worn out being sick, so this article is kinda all over the place.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
A thought for Vegans
This week Nick brought me home some rather odd looking sushi. Normally when I ask for my "Avocado Roll" I get a sushi roll topped by avocado. This time I sent Nick and actually got something completely different. It was some rice paper with avocado, cucumber and carrots inside. It came with a sweet red chilli dressing and it was very good.
The amount of calories in this dish was perfect. A round 200 calories and I was full for a very long time. However it did cost $6 when buying it from the store.
I found a way to buy the rice wraps online and save myself $4. And if I grew the vegetables at home, my cost would me minimal. I love avocado and cucumber. Its refreshing and very healthy.
So after all this research and thinking, it came to my attention that Vegans must have a really great immune system. As well as a cheaper shopping trip.
One week next year we will keep to the $20 budget, and eat completely vegan. I think we will loose a lot of weight. But I am also worried about loosing some muscle mass. Its definitely food for thought.
The amount of calories in this dish was perfect. A round 200 calories and I was full for a very long time. However it did cost $6 when buying it from the store.
I found a way to buy the rice wraps online and save myself $4. And if I grew the vegetables at home, my cost would me minimal. I love avocado and cucumber. Its refreshing and very healthy.
So after all this research and thinking, it came to my attention that Vegans must have a really great immune system. As well as a cheaper shopping trip.
One week next year we will keep to the $20 budget, and eat completely vegan. I think we will loose a lot of weight. But I am also worried about loosing some muscle mass. Its definitely food for thought.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
We are still here!
Very very busy setting up for the new year :) Nick will be doing a post on Thursday evening about some items we are getting for Christmas to help us with our journey in the New Year.
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