I don’t think I’m alone in noticing the prices of staples, such as flour, eggs, sugar, rice, and produce climbing at an obscene pace. Okay, maybe obscene is a strong word for it, but the steep, steady increase has me concerned. And, confused, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

While I hear many people extol that convenience foods are more costly to buy, that the staples – pound per pound are cheaper, I honestly don’t think that’s the case – at least for myself and my fellow diehard couponers. I can grab cake mix for less than $.50, premade premium brand cookies for a quarter a box, and crackers for less than $.40 cents per pound. After I’m done grabbing the cheapies and freebies, the staples are what I splurge on. Isn’t that crazy?

Granted, I do get the luxury of versatility when I buy the basics, but as expensive as they are, I couldn’t afford to live that way indefinitely. I have come to rely heavily on all the steals, deals, bargains, and freebies that have filled my stockpile, fed my family, and helped my husband and I build our savings. But every now and then, I long to be someone that buys what they want not what they can afford.

Having fed my little family on so little for so long, I don’t think I ever would go back to the old ways of shopping. I don’t make a list of what I need and shop for that. I make a list of the current deals, and try to grab as many of those as I can. Once every 3 months, I do go out shopping for the basics: and I spend no less than $35 on 12-15 items. And I complain about it for the next 3 days to anyone that will stand still long enough and pretend to listen about the exorbitant prices in today’s economy.

The only category of the basics I’m still doing well with would be meat and dairy. I usually have a pile of high-value coupons that keep me stocked, but it’s frustrating when the bulk of your meal cost is the bread/buns that you have the sausage/burger/sammie on. I feel posh and lavish when I cook with simple long grain white rice. That has become somewhat of a treat, since it’s easier to grab a pasta side dish that you can make in the microwave, if you’re in a rush. The side dishes cost only $.19 each – a much better value than the staples. For me, long-grain white rice is $1.50 for 2 pounds (on sale), the cost per meal is nearly double that of those cheap pasta sides. Guess we’d better like pasta, huh?
I shouldn’t complain that grocers are catering to the 30 minute meal crowd, but it’s a shame that many of the simple things should cost so much. It’s no wonder many families don’t know how to make a proper, made from scratch meal, anymore. No one can afford what goes into it! Though I’m hardly one to talk, I only do that once or twice a week.

So maybe I’ll see you in the grocery store one of these days – I’ll be the woman with 20 bags of trail mix, 14 pasta/rice side dishes, a bunch of bananas, a head of lettuce, and an overflowing coupon binder – looking with envy at the families that are buying fruit off-season, brown rice, and whole wheat flour.

I love experimenting, trying new flavors, seeing new places, and rarely am I disappointed. The only exception - when you try new recipes, the long list of what ingredients you don't have on hand is daunting, pricey, and occasionally - unsatisfying. This might explain my love/hate relationship with cookbooks.

The feeling of cracking open a cookbook, the tantalyzing flavors that lay hidden in the many pages is a recipe for financial disaster. The luscious, shiny photos make me whimper and cringe. I know there are 3, 4, and 5 ingredient cookbooks - but the recipes you find there are for BBQ ribs (got it), grilled cheese (yep, covered that one in 4th grade), and using almost all pre-made stuff (which isn't a bad thing - but I do like to feel in control of my own meal). Still, any trip to a bookstore finds me wandering back into the cookbook area - flipping through, alternately drooling and chuckling - who do these people think they are, Iron Chef? Oops, sorry Bobby Flay. I guess you are.

What about the rest of us? (Naturally, I hope I'm not alone in this!) When we want something a little different, but not a budget-busting experiment, where are we supposed to turn? It took me a while, but I finally came up with an idea. If you don't like what's on offer - it's time to do something about it. So, last February, I began cataloging all my recipes - the ones I've created, anyway - and so I wouldn't have to worry about misplacing them, I've started a cookbook blog, Chicagos Cookbook.

At first, it was just a new way to organize - which I so desparately need. Then, as time went on, I noticed a few people had come to take a look - and I was amazed. As I started adding followers, I was stunned again. I considered myself a decent cook and a good baker, but never imagined it would amount to much. So, to keep things interesting - I have set a goal for myself.

365 original recipes by the end of the year. If I used someone else's recipe, and made my variation of it - I always give them credit for it, but no recipe in my collection has been copied and pasted from somewhere else. As we near the midpoint of the year, I can see I am well on track to meet my goal, though I do need to beef up my side dishes chapter, no pun intended, of course.

At the end of this year, I'd like to look back at all the new flavors I've tried, decide on my favorites, and maybe even try to get a cookbook actually published. I know that last part is a long shot, but if nothing else - I have finally created a way of keeping track of all the recipes I've made, all the fantastic fresh food I've sampled along the way, and I come out of this journey a well-seasoned (hahaha) traveller.

This summer is all about piggy love! Why would anyone declare such a thing? Because, in part, of the Gather Round the Grill coupon, giving us $6 off pork with each bag of Kingsford charcoal we buy. The other part - it tastes soo good with all the in-season fruits that are abundantly affordable this time of year. Take it from my pal, Amiyrah, over at 4 Hats & Frugal - her Peachy Chicken/Pork recipe has become an all-time favorite. Or top some lovely grilled pork kebabs, chops, steaks, or tenderloin with a mango pico de gallo, chutney, or salsa - and that is heaven.

As my taste buds mature (finally!), I have been getting bolder and saucier with my flavors. No longer am I cowering before Kung Pao, terrified of teryaki, or weak before a Whiskey sauce - I want to taste my way through life - and pork is such a great conduit for my many experiments. When looking for a lean cut of meat, I tend to turn to pork first.

With each week or so that passes, I'm attempting another piggy experiment. Last weekend, it was a tag team effort. I marinated a pair of half pork tenderloins in some soy, and gave it a simple rub. DH took over from there - as he's officially Licensed to Grill (his T-shirt said so).

Between DaMama, DH, & I - there was a 1/4 of one of the tenderloin's left - which becamse excellent sammies, with the help of some English muffins. The rest - a sinfully yummy sandwich, and less deli meat I needed to buy. Not that I was low - I just resent paying $3-$7 lb. for some small scraps of meat. But, I digress...

Now that we need more charcoal - I just have to ask myself: What kind of pork do I want this time? Let's see who's on sale! Tell me, have you stocked up on pork because of the Gather Round the Grill coupon?

While I love going out for a girls night, I hate how expensive it can be. By the time the night is over, it's easy to have spent nearly 1/2 your grocery budget, and be left with little or nothing to show for it! But, it doesn't have to be that wqay anymore! Check out these great ideas for girl time on a dime~

1. Spa night. It sounds expensive, it feels lavish to even say it, but here's how to do some pampering on the cheap: Have everyone bring 2-3 bottles of nail polish, lotion, etc. and put on some good music to jam to while you pamper yourselves.

2. Movie night. A time honored tradition that demands dollars. The cheap version: Rent a redbox movie, pop your own popcorn, make pitchers of lemonade, sweet iced tea, and leave out some good chocolates. To make the night more fun - make it a slippers/sandals kind of night - no need to get all fancied up for a comfy night in.

3. Dinner & drinks: Make a fancy restaurant-style appetizer (stuffed mushrooms are my favorite), put out some garlic bread (cheese optional), prepare a yummy pasta dish (grilled chicken alfredo on angel hair is a favorite), and have one of the girls prepare/purchase a dessert. For times like these, I recommend a cheesecake sampler, tiramisu, or anything chocolate. Simple, classy, and elegant.

4. Concert time! Go catch an outdoor concert, bring a blanket, some cold bottles of water, even bring the dog! The music is free, the weather is (hopefully) good, afterwards, walk the dog(s), catch up on gossip, and grab an ice cream. Saving money never tasted so good.

Catch a game. A baseball game that is. Go see a local team or a minor league teawm play. Root for the underdog, have a good laugh. Go back to your place, fire up the grill and have some hotdogs/brats. Great all-American fun!

Isn't it amazing all the things us girls can do without breaking the bank? It's never too soon - or too late to do a fabulous girls night on a shoestring!

It's that season again: potluck/BBQ! What does that mean to the frugal gals out there? Speak up quickly, or establish a dish that you'll bring to any family, work, or neighborhood get-togethers. How to avoid getting stuck bringing something expensive? Be the first to offer a dish. Or, my personal favorite: bring something unique. Here's a quick break-down of tips to keep your wallet full while having fun at the potluck party.

1. Identify what's missing.
Case in point? After attending a few BBQ with DH's family, it became clear that there was no true baker in the bunch. Some brought store bought pies and cakes, but none offered cookies. Whoa! A BBQ without the requisite 3-12 kinds of cookie to choose from? To me, that's unheard-of. And, a easy niche for me to fill.

2. Offer something unique.
If you're not a big baker, or someone has already filled that niche, my next suggestion: your signature dish. Baked bean casserole comes to mind for me. If we're at someone's home, this is a great thing to bring, and something I constantly hound the ingredients for. There is no sale on pork 'n' beans I leave unturned. No good sale, that is.

3. Not a big cook or baker?
Don't worry - here's one for you! Always keep an eye on deals for hotdogs/sausage - of any kind. There are loads of coupons and this is the season to stock-up. Or get to know your local bakery outlet - very well and bring buns/bread/etc. Other cheap things to bring? Condiments you've bought for pennies using coupons, napkins bought on clearance (or paper towel, if that's cheaper), or salad. Grab a few heads of lettuce, chop, toss in some shredded cheese, and you are all set.

4. Party trays. It can be done on a budget!
Got a garden, have a local famrer's market you love and get deals at? Make a veggie tray, set up a cheese tray, or my personal favorite - the under $3 tray! What's that? I hunt through my freezer, grab up precubed cheese, smoked sausage, and some ham I grabbed on sale (it's easy to make into cute rolls. A bag of baby carrots and you are all set.

5. Make a simple salad or dip.
Yep, potlucking can really be that easy. My favorite isn't my recipe, but check out this yummy, yummy homemade ranch dressing dip from Lisa B. over at kittytigerskitchen.blogspot.com! I add in 1/4 medium red bell pepper (finely chopped) and it goes great on crackers (you can use coupons and get them free or just hit Aldi's), baby carrots, celery, etc. etc.

6. Still not finding a solution for you? Bring corn chips or crackers. Get them on sale (never pay more than $1-$1.50 per bag/box). Bring 2 choices, I tend to grab one of each. Corn chips can double as a salad topper if you crush them up and top a taco salad with 'em.

7. Bring a simple drink.
No, we're not talking alcohol - let the guys bring that (they usually do anyway). For me, I'll make a couple pitchers of Southern-style sweet tea. It's a refreshing change to the soda that usually served, and goes great with anything. Other ideas? Fruity lemonades are another big hit - all you need is some frozen berries (or 1/2 lb. fresh strawberries makes a double batch), some lemon juice concentrate, and some sugar. It's a simple, summer treat.

I love food. I love to cook it and I definitely love to eat it (at least that's what my thighs whisper to me - quite loudly). I love being able to have a variety of my favorites without paying a fortune for it. A good buffet is like the holy grail - you get a huge variety for a set price, and you can scrounge as much as you'd like. Combine that with my favorite meal of the day (breakfast) - and you've got a problem. What's the problem? $$.

Breakfast food is the cheapest thing to buy at the stores, but the price for local breakfast buffets is outrageous! So, thinking of the $$ Saving Challenge and of my wallet (my waistline at this point is long been forgotten), I'll simply do a breakfast buffet at home. The best part - all the leftovers will become breakfast during the week.

This weekend, we're doing an Annie-style breakfast buffet. Here's what's on the menu:
Scrambled eggs
Annie's Favorite Omelet - cheese, mushrooms, red bell pepper, & ham
Hashbrowns
Banana Nut Bread
Toast/Tortillas
Bacon
Orange Juice

The total cost of this feast is: $7.15 for everything - even the bacon and O.J. - which are ungodly expensive most of the time. And this will leave us with breakfast for the entire week. The average cost per serving of the feast is $.60. Compared to $20 for 2 at the local Old Country Buffet, or $10 per serving - this is an absolute steal. The very best part - I can show up in my pajamas.

With all the emphasis on going green, I found a unique gem. And as an added bonus - it makes you money! This is a crazy-cool way to earn some extra pennies (or even dollars) doing something you're probably doing already.

Ever heard of recyclebank.com? They pay you on a per lb. basis for the weight of your recycle bin. All you have to do is go to their website, register, and see if recyclebank operates in your area. If they do, they'll send you a unique I.D. tag for your recycle bin, and you'll earn points based on the weight. You can take those points and redeem them for free gift cards, etc.

It's like mypoints.com for your recycle bin. And no emails to click through. Just helping the environment and helping your wallet. And that's the kind of help I love!

My friend, Precious, over at Frugal Makes Cents, has posted an amazing challenge: Watch.Every.Penny. Pop on over to her blog and really all the juicy details! I know, I know - most of us do that now, but she’s taking it to a whole new level. We’re talking about living large off the stockpile, re-examining what we do spend, setting limits on what we will pay for any given item.

Since I am fairly well stocked on what I need, this challenge couldn’t come at a better time. For my little household, there is a move in our future (by June 1st) and I would like to reduce the amount of stuff we have to haul from one house to another. Even after my sister’s visit, and sharing of the stockpile, we’re still very well supplied and it’s time to see how little I can spend. Period.

With summer coming, the deals are bound to pick up, and I’m making a pledge to myself to get better at snagging great freebies, seeking out high value coupons, and get better at adapting basic ingredients to more purposes (like Living Easy's idea for making taco sauce) and DH making homemade salsa.

To offset some of the costs of produce, which is eating more and more into my budget as I expand my list of acceptable veggies (I’m not truly opposed to vegetables, I’m just not overly fond of eating them), I’ll be planting a very small garden. Mostly tomatoes, bell peppers, fresh herbs, and some berries – but everything will have to be in pots (as we’re most likely moving to a townhouse).

So I don’t feel suffocated by this regime, I’ll even outline the few splurges I’ll allow myself along the way. Spices and extracts. I’m sorry, but I demand food with flavor – and will not settle for bland fare. Good spices are a worthwhile investment, and extracts – well, that’s another story! I have instituted a $20 date night with DH once a month, and now that will be increased to twice a month to help keep costs low. On the alternate weeks, DH & I will take advantage of outdoorsy stuff like long walks, picnics, and free festivals - and indoorsy stuff like free redbox rentals, free popcorn, game nights, not to mention the frequent BBQ.

While I have lived primarily off the stockpile, I haven’t really made it a point to do that since last spring. With that being said, Annie’s Market is well stocked with great deals – it’s probably in the best shape it’s ever seen as far as variety since I’ve started stockpiling. Though there are always a few small items needed, I’ll keep a running list of no more than 10 items each week that I’m low on and will post what I’ve paid for the item(s) when they get removed.

Have you ever heard that saying, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar?” I know it’s not usually my motto, but I’ve been trying to get my paws on some higher value, brand specific coupons lately so I have been writing food manufacturers and telling them how much I appreciate their products. I’m pretty amazed with the results. And you don’t have to wait long to find out how this system works, either!

So far I’ve contacted 6 different companies, with a pretty broad variance on the response. Some simply thank you for your time and feedback, one did not respond at all. But my favorites are the ones that have sent me coupons for the products I had commented on. Not that I’m doing this entirely for the coupons though that is a great bonus, I’m taking the initiative to reach out to the companies I like purchasing from and telling them why. I’m being a proactive consumer…..who’s getting a lot of higher value coupons this way.

From Dutch Farms (dairy products), I received a thank you for your feedback response, the same for Francesco Rinaldi (I adore their pasta sauce). But as much as I love Rinaldi’s Super Mushroom or Hearty Tomato Basil, Classico responded within 24 hours, and sent coupons. Classico now has a strong foothold in my pantry and Rinaldi is going to be hardpressed to beat them out! Besides, Classico has that yummy Vodka Sauce. Now, Bar-S – they are top dog….hotdog that is. They sent a $5 voucher/gift certificate good towards any product(s) plus 4 coupons. They definitely take the cake, or in their case, the sausage! This is great with grilling season just around the corner. I can almost smell the smoked sausage cooking – yum!

With much longer expiration dates and typically higher values than we normally see in the paper or online, I consider what I’m doing target marketing. I target the higher cost, brand specific items on my shopping list, and try to get some great coupons to match. Being an informed, proactive consumer has definitely helped my budget. Now, to let a few more companies know how much I love their stuff!

If you’ve tried this, please give a shout out and let me know which companies respond! I’d love to know who out there really appreciates their loyal customers!!

A friend of mine and I were talking this weekend about what we pay for things. When she shook her head, and laughed and said, “They expect me to pay for cheese?” As if that was the most ridiculous thing in the world. Well, for us – it is. Maybe I’m overstating how easy couponing can be, but my friend was absolutely right.

As we wandered the grocery store, I noticed many items that the store expects people to pay for, and believe me – from the crowds in there, people were paying (and paying and paying), for things we’ve learned how to get for free. With my last $10 cat in hand, I searched for a few items to spend it on – and it was hard. The popcorn that’s on sale this week, I got free last month and ditto for the cheese – now why would I go and spend money on stuff like that? I’ve got oodles of free/cheap crackers, a freezer full of meat, loads of cereal, I honestly don’t pay for much anymore. There are few things I’d splurge on, but……..

I love good bread. Not basic sandwich bread, but savory Sourdough, buttery buns, fresh French bread, or even costly ciabatta rolls. With all that free cheese, I sometimes splurge on a nice loaf of bread. Sometimes (imagining I only have to feed one person), I wish I could just buy a nice loaf of bread, make a great salad (now, that’s another story) and slice some cheese. Voila, a simple, healthy, rustic meal that I would whole-heartedly enjoy. Not sure my family would see it that way, though.

Last weekend, I grabbed a loaf of French bread, paired it with some extra sharp cheddar cheese, oven roasted deli sliced turkey ($1.98 lb.) and some Black Forest ham (another little splurge at $3.98 lb.) added in some juicy, sweet, green grapes and it was a delicious, flavorful lunch for 3 for less than $10. Less expensive than Subway (though they are a weakness of mine), more flavor, and best yet – enough meat and cheese left for a dozen sandwiches. Guess you know what’s for lunch at my house this week!

I bet each one of us conjures a different image when we read the word cheap. What does this mean to me? I’ll feature some highlights from last week:

My family & I utilized 2 FREE Redbox Movie Rental Codes: Savings over going to the movie theater = $45.00 – ate some free popcorn at home, too!

Lunch out at Subway ($12.05) vs. Applebees (25.00, minimum) Savings = $12.95

Mom’s Birthday party total cost to feed 10 people $13.94 vs. restaurant (I can’t even imagine). I love those freebies from Target (like 5 lbs. of FREE beef stew meat!)

Tank of gas – $12.33 (used fuel rewards from Jewel) vs. nearest gas station $19.45. Savings = $7.12

Birthday gift for Mom (pearl and goldstone necklace with handcrafted copper spacers) $3.05 because I made it myself. Savings…..I can’t even imagine buying something like that in the stores, the sticker shock would kill me!

All these little things we do to save a buck (or 2, hahaha) really add up. Whether you make your own greeting cards, say no to takeout just once, use a fistful of coupons, or find a cheaper means of entertainment – all these little things we do really add up. So my challenge for the month of April, keep a running tally of how I save, from gifts to entertaining, from clothing to groceries. I want to see how my little sacrifices add up! Anyone up for a challenge?

I will admit at my last job, I made a point of going out for lunch each day. Granted this was 2 ½ years ago, I was earning 25% less than I do now, and I only worked 3 ½ days a week, which meant I ate at McDonald’s, Subway, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell often. Though I always ordered from the dollar/value menu, it was $2-4 dollars a day for my lunch habit. Over the course of the year, that lunch habit cost me approximately $430. That’s nearly 2 months worth of grocery budget now!!

Now I eat out for lunch once a month, twice if I forget or didn’t have enough leftovers planned. My eating out budget for lunch each month is $10. I can break it down any way I like, but I’m not allowed more than that. And it is so gratifying. As I sit here eating my homemade sandwich of an English muffin ($.17), 2 slices of ham (free), and an egg scrambled ($.05), banana ($.16), and some Cheetos ($.10), it hits me. I’m depending on me.

Before I started getting serious about meal-planning, I was stressing about what to make for dinner, I called my DH once to ask what he thought of grilled cheese sammies for dinner. He responded that he wasn’t really excited about that idea, why not pick up a rotisserie chicken on the way home? Why not, I sputtered. We have a house full of food, healthy, well-balanced meals shouldn’t be all that difficult to come up with, could they? And I hate paying $5-$7 for a small, sometimes overcooked, chicken that doesn’t even come with any side dishes! I’d still end up cooking.

While my reaction was instantaneous (the voice in my head screaming, Uh, no or something a tad more colorful along those lines), the solution took a little more work than that. I admit I now cook enough meat (or entrees) for 2 dinners plus lunch leftovers for each meal I prepare. Right now I have 5+ lbs. beef stew meat in the fridge for tomorrow’s dinner. Looks like a huge batch of beef stroganoff. I have a chicken to roast for tonight. And you can bet I didn’t spend $5 for it. I only spent $3.07. With all that leftover money, my chicken will taste even better and I can afford a side dish. And hello, leftovers – here I come!

Isn't it funny how time has a way of changing us? Two years ago, I had mostly bare cupboards, an empty freezer, and a handful of generic condiments in the fridge. Now I truly feel like I'm living in the land of plenty. Nothing against generic BBQ sauce, but I'm not giving up my Sweet Baby Rays!

Fast-forward to today, I have an overflowing freezer, a full fridge, better tasting meals (by far), plenty of flavor, I've lost 75 lbs. (and kept it off!), and have set up what I affectionately call "The Market".

The Market is my pantry: not the little one in my kitchen, the one I've created for myself in the basement - complete with shelves (one sturdy shelf, one not so sturdy shelf), and a series of boxes for my collections. My collection of popcorn or my collection of marinades, or even my collection of granola bars. It becomes a collection when there is an abundance of an item that simply will not fit on the shelf. Not that I'm complaining!

What does all this mean to me? There is no running out to the store because I don't have any ________. It means I shop in the market twice a week, have plenty of choices in my meal-planning, loads of ingredients, a variety of lunches, 9 different cuts of pasta, more than 12 different marinade flavors, dozens of spices, nearly every cake mix flavor I've seen on a store shelf, and cereal - do we have cereal?!?! 5 different flavors of Cheerios alone!

Every 2 weeks, I spend 30 minutes straightening the market, doing any rotation that is necessary, checking expiration dates, maintaining a list of items that we're running low on. When I finish taking stock of the market, then it's time to gather a bag (or 3) for donating. After working with what I have, I know what I simply have too much of, and make sure it gets used or given to those in need.

How do you build a market of your own? Every time you see a decent price on something advertised in the stores, make a point of searching for a coupon to go with it. Search online for all the TMF coupons (Try Me Free). Make a point each day of signing up for some coupon, freebies, or anything that can help you save a little bit of money. I'll never forget how surprised I was to find a coupon for $1 off Butterball Turkey Bacon, which was on sale for....$1 a pkg. Yep, it was FREE.

The market took about 3-4 months to create (and that doesn't include buying and assembling the shelves!) and that included heavy couponing. To me, heavy couponing means completing a transaction, on average, every day. I shop often, even running the same transaction a couple of times or until I get stocked up. If the coupons are good enough, I'll spend 2+ hours on Saturday morning grabbing some extra deals, though I like to save gas and shop/hound during the week, on the way to and from work.