Tag Archives: Eat on the Cheap

{Eat on the Cheap} Healthy Eating on a Budget

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I got this question in from a reader who connected with me through my about.me!

Hello there! I am curious, I am wanting to start using the envelope method but I’m wondering how to go about spending the amount given for me in the grocery amount when on a diet. Diets are super hard to stick to especially when you are on low budget. Any advice?

MyKudos to you for making two great decisions eating clean and trying not to go into debt doing so. The envelope system, by Dave Ramsey, is such a wonder tool that has helped me reshape how I think about money. Truthfully, it may take a few visits to the grocery store for you to figure out exactly how much goes into your grocery envelope. My latest goal that I have implemented into my own life is to set realistic goals. Once you figure out how much is realistic to spend for your budget, lifestyle, and family size, then you are really to maintain a consistent amount every check.

My second recommendation would be to plan your meals on a weekly basis and make a grocery list based on the meals you plan to cook. There are a number of sources that provide recipes to help you eat cleaner by planning your meals in advanced. Choose My Plate is a government website that helps you plan motivational menus on a 2000 calorie diet, provides tips to help you save, and suggests foods that are great for your diet. Here is an example of a sample menu for the week. Another great source is Pinterest, which is filled with thousands of recipes from people across the web who share similar tastes and goals as you. Now that you have an idea of what you want to prepare for the week, then it is time to make the all important grocery list. I really like this grocery list from MomAgendga and I recommend never stepping into a grocery store without a completed list.

Other tips to consider:

  • Never shop on an empty stomach…it often causes people to over shop and over spend.
  • Wear your most fabulous heels to the grocery store: Look good, feel good, right? Well, yes… but wearing your most fabulous heels (which often ends up being the ones that hurt the most) will force you to stay on track so you can get exactly what you need and get out of there so you can get home to more comfy shoes or…no shoes at all. It may sound crazy, but I keep my heels on after work ONLY on days when I have to run errands where I may be tempted to spend!
  • Get a shopping/accountability buddy: My good friend, Kema and I used to make our grocery lists and go shopping together. It made the experience fun, we used that time to catch up, and we helped each other stay on target and budget.

For other tips, check out these 10 tips from Choose My Plate on Eating on a Better Budget

What is your favorite budget shopping tip?

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{Free Starbucks Tomorrow} Starbucks Refreshers

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Photo: Business Wire

This week, Starbucks announced the availability of handcrafted Starbucks Refreshers™ beverages, a global breakthrough beverage innovation that delivers a distinctly new take on thirst-quenching refreshment while providing a natural boost of energy from green coffee extract and real fruit juice. On Friday, July 13 from 12-3 p.m. local time customers can visit participating U.S. and Canada stores and enjoy a free Tall (12 fl. oz.) handcrafted Starbucks Refreshers™ beverage, courtesy of Starbucks while supplies last.

Will you be making a Starbucks run on tomorrow?

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{Eat on the Cheap} Can You Feed a Family of Four for Under $10? She Can…

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Love Bytes!!!

biteI wanted to take a quick moment and tell you about a blog I came across while blog surfing one Sunday called Budget Bytes. First of all, ALL of the food looks yummy, but what I LOVE the most is how Beth breaks down the recipe step by step, with pictures I might add, and how much it costs to make…especially compared to dining out. She reminds me of Sandra Lee from the show Semi Homemade on the Food Network.

Here is one recipe that I have been dying to try:

Pinned Image

It has been in “my favorites” on my iPad for the longest. Maybe this could be a fun alternative to the traditional Memorial Day hot dogs and hamburgers?

Total Recipe cost: $7.98
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Cost per serving: $2.00
Prep time: 15 min. Marinate time: 4-24 hrs. Cook time: 15 min. Total: 30 min. (after marinating)

CHICKEN & MARINADE COST
2 lg. (1.25 lbs) chicken breasts $2.48
1/2 cup plain yogurt $0.25
1 Tbsp minced garlic $0.36
1 Tbsp lemon juice $0.32
1/2 tsp cinnamon $0.03
1/2 tsp dried oregano $0.03
1/2 tsp salt $0.02
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg $0.03
1/4 tsp ground cloves $0.03
YOGURT SAUCE (for sandwich) COST
7 oz. cup plain greek yogurt $1.59
1/4 tsp minced garlic $0.03
1/4 tsp dried dill $0.03
1/4 tsp salt $0.02
SANDWICH ITEMS COST
4 homemade naan, pita, or flatbread $0.64
1/2 head romaine lettuce $0.80
1 medium cucumber $0.69
2 medium roma tomatoes $0.63
TOTAL $7.98

STEP 1: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the marinade (yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cinnamon, oregano, salt, nutmeg, and clove). Add chicken to the marinade, coat well, cover and refrigerate for 4-24 hours. If desired, slice the chicken into strips before marinating to maximize the flavor.

STEP 2: Prepare the yogurt sauce for the sandwiches. Open a 7 oz. container of plain greek yogurt and stir in the garlic, dill, and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.

STEP 3: After marinating the chicken, grill until cooked through (I use a George Foreman, cooked for about 7 minutes).

STEP 4: Prepare the vegetables for the sandwich. Chop, rinse, and drain the lettuce in a colander. Wash and slice the cucumber and tomato.

STEP 5: Build the chicken shawarma sandwiches. Spread the yogurt sauce on your flat bread, top with the chicken and vegetables. Roll the sandwich closed. You can wrap the sandwich in foil to help it stay closed as you eat.

Check out Beth and all her wonderfully yummy recipes on her website Budget Bytes!

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High-Low: Starbucks Hack!

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I think this will be me and Denia’s next project… pictures to follow.

This looks so awesome! Kerry from Squawk Fox provides a step by step that looks so delicious. Think is will taste as good as the original? For $.32, it is worth investigating from the She Makes Cents team. We will let you know how it turns out. In the meantime, check out the post here!!!

What do you think? Fab, right?

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inform and inspire ways to use your “cents” to live a fab life

Free Doughnuts on National Doughnut Day!

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In college, my friends and I created a group called the K.K. Crew who would get together after dance rehearsal and chow down on doughnuts (only when the “Hot Sign” was on). Members of the K.K. Crew, this post is for you. With Love,

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Doughnuts

Yummy FREE Doughnuts


In my opinion, National Doughnut Day is a real holiday because of its history and tradition rooted in American culture and… FREE doughnuts. National Doughnut Day was established in 1938 by the Salvation Army to raise funds to help people in need and honor the women who served doughnuts to WWI soldiers. On June 3, 2011, Krispy Kreme is offering one FREE doughnut of ANY variety per customer. Likewise, Dunkin’ Donuts is offering guests a free donut of their choice with the purchase of any drink. Enjoy!

To Find a Krispy Kreme Near You

To Find a Dunkin’ Donuts Near You

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Extreme Couponing: Is It Cost Effective?

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Extreme Couponing

Lately I’ve been hearing the phrase “extreme couponing” being thrown out in everyday conversations. This is mainly due to TLC’s show Extreme Couponing that follows shoppers as they plan and plot their way to incredible savings. Admittedly, I have not seen the show and prior to today the term “stockpile” meant nothing to me. If the clip below is any measure of what the show is like, I probably won’t be tuning in often. The people in this particular video seem very friendly; however, I found that this type of program could definitely be a trigger of my OCD. The stockpiles freak me out…seriously! Plus, I wonder how cost effective this level of couponing can be when you are constantly spending money, just because you have coupons, on items that you already own in bulk. Is this just another form of saving that I have yet to master? Or, does this type of shopping generate a similar high I can get from the purchase of a fly pair of shoes?

Savings or Waste? You be the judge as you check out the stockpile of Amanda from TLC’s Extreme Couponing!

If this is your cup of tea, TLC.com has launched the companion site http://tlc.com/extremecouponing, and a Facebook fan site is available at http://www.facebook.com/ExtremeCouponingTLC.