Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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The Best Homemade Tuna Casserole

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I’ve eaten my fair share of tuna casseroles in my time – some good, some bad, and some ugly.

Most casserole recipes have canned soup in them for the sauce and other ingredients that I would rather not eat. We prefer all natural, real food ingredients.

I think I have perfected the tuna casserole recipe to eliminate all the yuck factors.

This is a great frugal lunch for our homeschool family.

For my two who don’t care for fish? They still love this! It doesn’t taste fishy at all. You can always substitute chicken or turkey or salmon! And I love all the “hidden” vegetables.


I rarely make this for dinner since my husband doesn’t care for it.at.all. But if he’s out of town or busy of a night, it’s a pinch to throw together.

The Best Homemade Tuna Casserole

Procedure:

I have friends who keep the cream soup base in a jar or can in their pantry. I haven’t been that proactive. It’s really just not that hard to make it fresh each time and I have little storage space.

I make a béchamel sauce and boil pretty noodles. (White Sauce – Approx: Melt a stick of butter, add 1/3 c flour, whisk, add 1 pint cream, whisk.)

Boil noodles to al dente. They’re gonna bake in that casserole and you don’t want mush.

Tuna (water and all from the can or pouch – or leftover grilled, roasted, baked tuna steak is very yum!)

Chopped veggies in a big bowl. I love, love, love roasted peppers. We canned our own last fall and wow! does that add a lovely flavor.

Lots of shredded cheese. Usually whatever I have on hand – Parmesan is a must though. A Mexican cheese blend melts just beautifully.

Here’s the casserole beauty, ready for the oven:

Tuna Casserole Ready for the Oven
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The Best Homemade Tuna Casserole

Course Main Dish
Cuisine Casserole
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 2-4 T butter
  • 1/4-1/3 c AP flour
  • 1-1.5 c milk or cream or half and half
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 1/4 c roasted red peppers (pimientos) chopped
  • 1/4 c bell pepper (any color but green is pretty) chopped
  • 1 large can tuna or a cooked tuna steak, chopped
  • 12 oz noodles prepared al dente
  • 1.5 c shredded cheese I like a Mexican blend + Parmesan
  • 1 pinch salt to taste
  • 1 pinch black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch garlic powder to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil noodles according to directions.
  2. Chop onions, carrots, and peppers.
  3. Saute vegetables in butter with a drizzle of olive oil.
  4. Sprinkle 1/4 c AP flour over vegetables, then immediately whisk in cream until smooth and thick.
  5. Combine Bechamel sauce in a bowl with tuna and noodles and cheese.
  6. Spread in a large baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese.
  7. Bake at 350* for about 30-45 minutes, depending on how crispy you like the top.
Linking up: The Sassy Slow Cooker, Home to 4 Kiddos, Crystal and Co., Kids Activity Blog, The Recipe Critic, Our Table for Seven
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Frugal Birthday Celebration

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I’m decorationally challenged.

I loathe kids’ birthday parties. I am always stressed.

Some of the stress is from growing up, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins and having rather large gatherings for my birthdays, along with kids from my class at school.

We just don’t have any of that.

I tried. I wasted time and money on Liz’s birthdays for years. Some were rather successful and others flopped miserable, with no one even RSVPing or showing.

My husband didn’t grow up with big birthdays so he didn’t understand any of this.

So we discussed downsizing our idea of birthday expectations.

We’ve been having simple family dinners at home for a few years now.

No pressure. Teaching our kids that they’re special to us and we don’t have to blow a lot of money or impress people to show that.

So I’ve had to dig deep to find ways to make birthdays specials, frugally and without stressing out about it.

Because it’s not about things. I want my kids to learn that and honestly, they’re teaching me that too. They’re better at contentment than I am. And I love this post by my friend, Amber: When You Can’t Give Your Kids Disneyland.

Here is what I did for Tori’s 8th birthday.

I scored this rustic burlap pennant banner at Hobby Lobby.

I printed the letters on teal paper. I found the printable banner letters. I’m not really a fan, but Google to the rescue!

Birthday Banner

I used the same letters on skewers to decorate the cake with some long skinny blue candles and a cocktail umbrella Kate found in our cupcake drawer.

Tori wanted a white cake with chocolate frosting. This is my grandma’s recipe and it turned out amazing. Is it me, or is there just never enough frosting? I have bald spots on my cake!

Birthday Cake

What do you think?

I’ve also used this recipe to make 24 cupcakes and I’ve also thrown a half cup of cocoa powder into the cake batter to make a chocolate cake.

It’s almost time to blow the candles out! Dad picked up a lovely bouquet of flowers from the store on his way home from work.

Chocolate Cake with Blue Decorations

Tori’s favorite meal is Korean BBQ. Now, she’s never actually actually been to a Korean restaurant. She loves the Korean BBQ sauce flavor.

Which is basically a type of teriyaki sauce.

So we buy some nice strip steaks (no bony, fatty kalbi short ribs for her!). The kids don’t like to work for their food.

I plated it rather pretty on our Celebrate plate:

Celebration Dinner

Here’s our happy birthday girl. Eight years old!

Birthday Girl

I scored a Marie-Grace American Girl doll back in November for $40 on sale on their website and kept it hidden in my closet until now. It’s not the one she was wishing for (Caroline looks more like her and is into fishing!), but it is her first American Girl doll and she’s happy.

Whew!

One birthday down, two more to go this spring. Then Liz’s in the fall.

A great steak marinade:

Print

Korean BBQ Sauce

Cuisine Asian
Servings 1 cups

Ingredients

  • 4 T ground sesame seeds We use a coffee grinder
  • 8 cloves garlic pressed
  • 1.5 c soy sauce We like gluten-free Tamari
  • 4 T sherry
  • 6 T honey
  • 4 T sesame oil
  • 4 T water
  • 4 t fresh ginger grated
  • 4 t red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

  1. Whisk ingredients together in a bowl and store in a plastic squeeze bottle in the fridge for when needed. I like to garnish meat with more sesame seeds and chopped scallions.

 Our favorite cake:

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Easy White Cake

Cuisine cake
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 2 layers

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks) softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1/2 t almond extract
  • 3 t baking powder
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 3 c cake flour
  • 1 c milk room temperature

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar.

  2. Add eggs and vanilla and almond extract.

  3. Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together in another bowl.

  4. Alternate milk and flour into butter mixture until just mixed.

  5. Pour evenly into cake pans.

  6. Bake for about 25 minutes at 350*

Print

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Cuisine cake
Servings 2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1.5 c butter (3 sticks), softened  or 1/2 butter and 1/2 shortening
  • 1 c cocoa powder
  • 5 c powdered sugar
  • 1/2 c milk
  • 1-2 t vanilla
  • 1/4 t espresso powder optional

Instructions

  1. Whisk cocoa to remove lumps.
  2. Cream butter.
  3. Add vanilla and espresso (optional).
  4. Gradually add sugar, 1 cup at a time, scraping bowl often.
  5. Add milk until desired consistency.

Linking up: Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, The Life of Jennifer Dawn,  3 Boys and a Dog, Our 4 Kiddos, Kiddie Foodies, Kitchen Fun with My 3 Boys, The Jenny Evolution, Crafty Moms Share, 

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Losing Control

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So, we saved almost $1500 in a little over a month.

Wanna know how?

By losing control.

We went down to just one vehicle.

How we're surviving with one vehicle

My husband started driving our van to work. We put his truck up for sale on the lot on base since we’re moving out of the country and can only ship one vehicle. And the van is paid for, title in hand.

I have kept a budget in an Excel spreadsheet ever since before we were married. I don’t itemize it as closely as a I should. I have a cell for each bill, many on auto-pay (like our investments and insurance), and others (like utilities, Internet, and cell phones) are generally the same amount each month. Then there’s our food/gas/living expenses cell that fluctuates wildly each pay period. I should have monitored that more carefully. The pay-all-cash, envelope system just doesn’t appeal to my husband or me. We just don’t use ATMs and my husband’s paychecks are direct-deposited. Our bank is really just an online entity.

I’ve been rather proud of being frugal this past year. We’d cut down on our spending pretty drastically. We don’t eat out. That helps a lot.

When I noticed we had all this extra money leftover after a couple paydays, I was rather devastated that I must blow that much cash on errands a few times a week – that it would add up to that much in a month of being stuck at home. I asked my husband to verify the budget and he did some math-y formula stuff and looked at the accounts and numbers.

Then I asked if this could have anything to do with my being stuck at home for almost a month while he took the van to work. He’s been picking up the groceries we need. And we’ve been paying cash for gas.

Light bulb (in the voice of Gru from Despicable Me).

So, how did we save so much money? I didn’t monitor well all the little seeps of using that debit card.

Like, when I poorly plan and we need a single item from the grocery store and then I come home with three bags.

Or grocery shopping too close to meal time and not planning to have a slow cooker dinner ready or lunch leftovers and then picking up a couple of those ready-made pizzas from the deli area.

Or not thawing out meat well enough in advance and having to rush out to pick up some rotisserie chicken or even some fresh meat – and five other items to make the recipe I decided last minute.

Not to mention all the extra gas wasted with the unnecessary running around that could be eliminated with better planning.

With better planning, I could shop for meals monthly or even twice a month, and let that be the end of it.

And all that extra money we’re saving with having one vehicle? So many options! Into our savings account to earn interest. To pay off unsecured debt. To take a vacation en route to our next duty station. To take the kids on fun staycation places before we move.

I wish we had done this sooner. I wish we hadn’t bought into the “need” for two vehicles. This was my selfish demand when we arrived here with our van from our last duty station. I wanted freedom to drive where I wanted, when I wanted. I didn’t even wait to see if we could “survive” with one vehicle.

I didn’t wait on the Lord to provide the perfect vehicle or say NO to me. I pressured my husband to drive the 1.5 hours down to Carmax to purchase a used Jeep Liberty that we owned for a year, then encouraged him to trade that in for a pickup truck that we are now having to sell. And we owe more than it’s worth. (Please pray it sells soon!) And I can imagine even more blessings when we don’t have that extra monthly payment to make!

My husband just mentioned yesterday how simple it is, having only one vehicle, even with having to juggle a couple appointments this week. It makes us appreciate our provision more than ever.

I read blog posts and articles all the time with lists about how to save money, cut costs, be frugal…and they really just all say the same things. They’re good lists, but I haven’t gleaned anything life changing from them.

Eat at home. Combine errands. Don’t use credit cards. Don’t shop online. Reduce. Reuse. Simplify.

I’ve done almost all of that I can do…except sacrifice by having only one vehicle…so there it is.

But I needed to lose control. Of my selfishness. Of my finances. Of my demand. Of that blasted Excel spreadsheet with its numbers and formulas and figures in black and white that don’t necessarily add up to God.

I am amazed and blessed…and shocked.

Check out some other frugal posts by the Review Crew.

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How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas

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We changed our focus and priorities to have a simple, debt-free holiday.

Christmas should be about family, experiences, Jesus. Not stuff. {Tweet this}

How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas

How can we have a debt-free Christmas?

Pay cash.

We don’t do adult gifts.

If we don’t have enough money, we don’t buy it.

Stick to a budget. Plan for the holidays year-round by putting a portion of income each month into a savings account.

We’ve prepared the kids that we well have smaller Christmas than in the past. We don’t do Santa. We don’t do that ridiculous Elf or any of its cousins.

We don’t have piles of gifts like our parents provided us. I shop sales and have been very careful. I find great items year-round and store them away for the holidays.

Planning is key. I keep an Amazon wishlist updated throughout the year and watch prices with Honey.

Set a standard.

I only buy a few gifts for the kids.

I send my parents a gift card because they have more stuff than they could ever use and they like to eat out at restaurants.

My husband and I don’t give presents to each other or extended family.

If you have to do gifts with others…Organize some kind of swap with extended family, like a name drawing. Send money to a charity in family’s name instead of a tangible gift. Be creative.

We don’t watch TV.

By not being exposed to commercials, we don’t have cases of the gimmes.

It almost makes gift buying difficult and I have to be more creative and search for the perfect things. We’ve downscaled a lot. We’ve simplified. We’re picky.

I prefer quality over quantity.

I love this gifting plan:

  • something they want

  • something they need

  • something to wear

  • something to read

But, for us, there’s very little we need (such a blessing!) and I don’t often buy clothing for Christmas gifts.

We don’t know what the “popular” toys are. When someone asked if my girls wanted a particular toy for Christmas since it was “all the rage” at her daughter’s school, I had to Google it. My girls probably would enjoy it, but not because it’s popular. But then they would discard it too soon or it would break.

We don’t strive to keep up with society and it’s so much more relaxing not to have to compare.

We focus on the meaning of Christmas: Jesus.

We read through Advent studies each day. We love the books by Ytreeide. This year we’re reading Bartholomew’s Passage. We light candles and pray and sing carols and we’re together.

We read about and celebrate St. Nicholas day on December 6. The children know this is the base for the legend of Santa Claus.

We learned about and celebrated Hanukkah during our Ancient Studies history and it has become tradition now.

We decorate simply.

Our house doesn’t look like it’s out of a magazine or store catalog. No Anthropologie or Pottery Barn here. We live here; it’s not a museum.

We have an artificial tree. We have a lovely Advent wreath and a new Jesse Tree this year! We’re making do with what we have. Alex wanted the outside of the house decorated and we managed to do it well with lights we bought on clearance years ago. Win!

Our church has an ornament exchange so each of my children gets a new ornament each year. They love it. And their hearts are better than mine that they’re never disappointed in the ornament they receive.

We just don’t go shopping.

It’s really that easy.

My mom used to love to go shopping as entertainment. I don’t. I don’t need retail therapy.

I don’t subscribe to store emails. We don’t get newspapers.

We stay home on Black Friday. We don’t go online all weekend long. We find other stuff to do.

We have a budget and are doing better sticking to it. I go to the grocery store when we need to stock up (and honestly, this is where most of our money goes! We like to eat well).

We go to stores when we need a particular item.

I do most of my buying online long before November. If we don’t go to stores, we’re not tempted. But I’m also learning to get offline when all the sales start. That’s becoming a temptation too. Just because it’s a deal, doesn’t mean we need it.

We read lots of fun and meaningful Christmas books.

I keep books with the holiday decorations and we get more from the library.

A favorite this year is The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas. The accompanying CD is a parody of Christmas carols with hilarious dinosaur fun. The kids love it.

I hope to do some useful crafts and homemade baking projects to share with friends this week. The kids love that and it fits in with our servant leadership goals. We don’t eat many sweets, so these are fun and frugal gifts.

Check out this Essential Guide to a Crap-Free Christmas.

Resources:

How do you stay of debt during the holidays?

What are your priorities?

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5 Money Tips

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We all want to be considered wise and knowledgeable.

Sometimes, we can’t think straight when it comes to managing our money.

Are you good stewards of what the Lord provides you? Are you training your children to be good stewards? Are you leaving them a legacy?

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],

And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4 AMP

Debt is a harsh master.

Are you a victim of our culture’s lies about money?

More, more, more.

Are you trying to fill a hole in your soul with more stuff?

Only God can fill you up and teach you to be content. And help you achieve freedom from debt.

  

5 Money Tips

1. Pay Cash.

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s really hard.

We have credit cards. We have a debit card. We have ATM fees. We have a spending plan. I use an Excel spreadsheet. We have debt. Back to square one.

We just need to quit buying stuff.  Just quit charging! Cut up those cards or put them in a big bag of water in the freezer. By the time it takes to unfreeze, you’ll have thought better of that purchase.

Don’t store your card numbers on websites – like Amazon. It’s too convenient.

Studies show that paying cash makes you really think about those purchases rather than swiping that plastic.

Live within your means. It might be shocking at first and there’s a steep learning curve, but you’ll get used to it.

Are you a debt slave?

Are you trying to fill a hole in your soul with more stuff? Only God can fill you up and teach you to be content. And help you achieve debt freedom.

The Bible says you’re a slave if you have debt.

Now, I know most of us don’t consider car loans and mortgages debt. Not many can pay cash for cars or houses.

Set your own goals. Our goals are to use no credit cards nor have any unsecured debt.

I know some people who forbid debt in their lives in totality. What freedom that must be!

The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.

Proverbs 22:7 CEV

Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.

Roman 13:8 ASV

2. Evaluate where you can save money.

Do you need to add energy savers to your home? Paying a little upfront to seal door cracks or upgrade windows or add insulation could save you lots in the future.

Can you bike to work? Can you live with one vehicle? Can you combine errands to only go out once a week to save on fuel?

Keep your cars maintained so they don’t end up costing more when things break.

Buy second hand items when you need something.

Can you grow a garden to save on groceries? Can you get paid to recycle in your state? Get a water filter and reusable bottles instead of purchasing plastic bottles of water.

Can you make your own cleaners? Can you replace paper and single use plastic products with reusable ones?

Set up a healthy menu and plan meals at home (we love eMeals!) instead of eating out.

Cancel those catalog and magazine subscriptions. Unsubscribe to store emails and alerts and texts. If the temptation isn’t there…

Subscribe to emails that list free apps and Kindle eBooks. Use your local library instead of purchasing the latest novel. The list is endless and it all depends on your comfort level. 

If you’re a homeschooler, there are oodles of options for free and frugal curriculum. 

Are you one of those pampered people who buys a latte at the coffee shop every day? Do you get mani pedis regularly? I’m not saying to stop caring for yourself, but you must set priorities. Treat yourself less frequently perhaps. I wish I had all that money back from when I wasted so much!

pamper-yourself-at-home.png

Do you go out for happy hour with friends periodically?

You can do all that at home for so much cheaper. Make life more meaningful and save money. Rotate homes every week or month. It’s easier for parents too.

backyard-cocktail-hour.png

The Bible says that God will provide all our needs.

Make sure you evaluate your needs vs. your wants.

I know. Sometimes I need chocolate too. Don’t starve yourself of treats or you’ll binge. Just be careful and frugal and set priorities. Communicate with your family.

3. Rethink gift giving.

Simplify.

We don’t throw huge birthday parties for our kids. We celebrate at home with a special meal and decorate frugally.

For Christmas and birthdays and other gift-giving holidays, we prefer experiential gifts to more stuff.

If you have family members who don’t understand or agree, look into group giving exchanges like a charity or memberships to museums.

Cards are pretty and thoughtful, but they’re just expensive clutter. Send eCards instead.

Shop thrift stores. Make your own decorations and invite the kids to help to make it more festive!

Teach a spirit of giving to others. You can give services or time instead of things.

If you give stuff, check out this shopping schedule and plan accordingly.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Mark 8:36 NIV

4. Educate yourself.

My husband and I come from very different money backgrounds.

His parents didn’t discuss money with their kids. At all. When they passed on during our first year of marriage, it was confusing and stressful to work out their affairs.

My parents were always very open with me about money. They are very organized. They have file folders for each account in a strong box with all the info so it’s easy to access in an emergency. My name is on the accounts to make my life easier when they pass so I won’t have to pay unnecessary taxes. They explained the process of banking and loans to me all my life. I attended their professional financial meetings so I could listen and ask questions. I so appreciate that practical education. They helped me buy cars – and my first house when I was in my 20s. I know what they’re worth and how they got there. They are very conservative, but they live very comfortably in retirement.

It’s an uncomfortable conversation for many.

Do you know how much you’re worth? Do you have investments? Are you utilizing the best options for saving towards retirement? Do you have enough insurance? What would happen in an emergency? Do you have enough in savings? Do you understand interest rates, CDs, money markets, savings bonds? Do you have parents or loved ones with whom you need to discuss finances? Will you or your siblings be responsible for caring for elderly parents? Are there funds in place for that?

Are you planning for your and your kids’ futures?

Read the Parable of the Talents. Which son do you relate to and why?

financial-goals.png

5. Be proactive.

Have a family notebook or protected computer file with all your information in case of an emergency.

We have IRAs. We have mutual funds.

We have 529s and CDs for our four kids. All the kids have life insurance and savings accounts.

We educate the kids about money and where it comes from and how banks work. I explain the dangers of credit cards. I want them to know the differences between debit and credit.

My teen has a checking account and a check card through USAA.

We know we receive an inheritance from Aaron’s aunt at certain intervals, dividends from Aaron’s mom’s IRA every September, when my parents pass on.

Consider your financial goals.

Are you prepared for your kids’ higher education? What is your vision for that?

Are you planning for retirement? What do you want retirement to look like?

Do you have extended medical needs? Look into flexible spending or separate savings accounts for that. Check into alternative medicine. Prevention is better than treatment sometimes.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
for riches do not endure forever…

Proverbs 27: 23-24a NIV

Money Resources:

Courtship Topics. These discussion topics (especially about money!) are great to discuss, even years after you’ve married. We weren’t on the same page at all in many areas nor did we even know! If you and your spouse don’t have the same financial goals, it will be almost impossible to get anywhere together. Finances are always an area of conflict in marriage.

Crown Ministries. I used to teach a Sunday school class for single moms on finances using these materials. They have some great tools for families.

The Money Couple. Take a money personality quiz to find out what you really think about money use. Discuss with your spouse.

Dave Ramsey. You either love him or hate him. I actually refuse to purchase his materials or pay for his course on principle. I know many who have achieved financial freedom through his teachings. I just think he capitalizes and profits off people’s ignorance and weakness. Judge for yourself.

USAA. Or your local bank or credit union. They have great teen resources to get your kids started out right in the financial world. We like our one stop shopping since we move around so frequently with the military.

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Homeschool Frugally:

Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Proverbs 20:18 NIV

Wage war on that debt!

Resources:

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Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

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Beware. This is the aftermath. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

chalk hands and feets

       

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint might be messy.

I mixed equal parts cornstarch and water and added food coloring.

making chalk paint

Then they dove in like vultures.

chalk paint

They covered our walk and driveway with lovely pastel paintings.

paint chalk

And drizzled and dripped and slung the paint all over.

chalk painting

Tori was dainty and delicate with her yellow.

painting with chalk

Apparently, Alex liked blue…

chalk painting

Ya think?

chalk hands

He even came in to change his pants. And then he bathed in chalk.

Here are Smurf footprints.

chalk footprints

Frugal fun and only a bath needed. I threw the bowl and muffin pan and paintbrushes in the dishwasher. I like it.

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A Week’s Worth of Groceries

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So, I really hate to shop. If I can get out of it, I will. I certainly don’t want to drag my four younguns to a store with me.

I dropped 3 kids off at gymnastics and rushed to Sam’s Club, right across the street.

I’ve always loved Costco, but they’d gotten so expensive to have a membership. When I got wind of a discounted Sam’s membership, I asked my husband to look into it and compare. He just signed up, so here we are. I still prefer the quality and selection of Costco.

What Does A Week’s Worth of Groceries Cost?

We buy our meat from a local butcher. It is ah-may-zing! So, that’s not in this post. We buy meat as needed to fill our freezer or for special occasions. Usually about every other month or so.

I do buy dairy. We just didn’t need any this trip. We use milk, cream, and half and half, usually in cooking. The kids drink milk. I don’t know of any local legal sources for dairy right now. And my kids love those Danimals yogurt drinks. They’re really not that bad. We’re running low on those, but I have to get those at Wal-Mart.

Our new next-door neighbor raises chickens and when our garden begins producing, we’re trading veggies for eggs!

So, here is my cart for a two weeks’ period. My husband gets paid twice a month and that’s about when we do our shopping, except for milk and eggs and incidentals. I keep a well-stocked pantry. It takes a lot of food to feed 6 people 3 meals a day plus snacks. We try to eat out rarely.

As you can see, most of my cart is fruits and vegetables.

If I don’t buy junk, they don’t eat junk.

No cookies, no candy, no prepared food.

I do like Annie’s products and will buy those on sale.

I do have chocolate chips and peanuts. I buy lemon juice to make our own lemonade. Almonds are a staple. And that bread beside my purse? It tastes like homemade and it’s only got 5 ingredients! Cuz I’ve been lazy making it lately.

Yes, my girls LOVE Brussels sprouts and asparagus…and we all love spinach and green beans and snap peas…and various children love the different fruits.

A Week’s Worth of Groceries

I am right pleased with this trip.

Cost, you’re wondering?

sams-receipt.png

And, I’m terrible at budgeting and menu planning. I’m moody.
We really like eMeals for helping us with meal planning.

My meat for the world’s greatest meatloaf didn’t thaw out so we had breakfast for dinner.

How do we compare to the rest of the world?

Using Rakuten, Honey, iBotta, and Checkout 51 helps save money while shopping in store and online!

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