Tips for cooking on a budget

We all know that going out to eat at a restaurant can be expensive. Eating at home is usually a much more affordable and coast effective way to eat your meals, but cooking at home can still be expensive.

Cooking is definitely a hobby of mine.  I love trying out new recipes or just making up something as I go. Sometimes, I really have to be careful of the recipes that I try, because they can really rack up your grocery bill. Every weekend it is a challenge for me to find meals for the week that will be delicious, while still keeping my grocery bill low. 

Here are a few tips that I have found helpful when it comes to planning meals on a budget. 

* Skip the meat- I'm not a vegetarian, but I will often leave the meat out of my meals. Meat can be expensive. Meat is usually the item that will rack up my grocery bill. When I do plan to use meat in a recipe, I try to use half of what I buy in order to get 2 meals out of it.

* Pasta it up! The thing that I like about pasta is that it's cheap and filling. There are so many different varieties of pasta to choose from. A box of pasta only coast $1.

* Frozen Veggie- Frozen vegetables are the way to go when your cooking on a budget. I love fresh veggies, but I'm always so disappointed when they go bad before I get the chance to use them. Frozen vegetables are affordable and great for any recipe. One bag of frozen vegetables usually runs me about $1 per bag.

*Plan before you shop- Having a plan is your best bet when trying to save money at the grocery store. I like to plan out some meals for the week first, then put a list together before I head to the grocery store. Whenever I go to the store with out a plan, I either don't buy enough or end up spending way too much on unnecessary items. (Here is a tip with in a tip... don't go shopping on an empty stomach).

*Plan your meals around sales- When I plan out my meals for the week, I always look on my app or in the store adds to see what is on sale. This way you can get an idea of what to make before you go to the store. 

* Use your freezer- Sometimes I will find a great deal that I don't want to pass up. For example, when meat is on sale I will often buy it and stick it in my freezer for a later time. I love finding buy-one-get-one-free deals. That's usually when I try to stock up on chicken or ground turkey.

* Always keep key ingredients on hand- Make sure you stay stocked up on common spices and condiments. Spices like chili powder, garlic powder and oregano are always good to keep on hand. For my bridal shower I was given a spice rack. It turned out to be a great gift for me. I rarely run into a recipe that calls for a spice that I don't have.

*Don't be afraid to buy the store brand- Grocery stores all have their own store brands, weather it's Great Value, Kroger or Spartan, they are all just as good as the name brand. Some people have it in their heads that the store brands are not as good as the name brands. This is not necessarily true. The store brands offer the same product at a much better value than the name brand. When it comes to cereal, peanut butter, yogurt, cheese, or pasta, I always go for the store brand, and I am never disappointed.

Grocery shopping will vary with the needs of your family. For me, I'm cooking for 2 people. My grocery budget is some where around $400 per month. For us that is doable, for a family of 5 your budget would be much higher. The key to setting a budget, is to make your goal to spend as little as possible. Hopefully these tips can help you set a doable budget.
Have fun shopping and cooking!!

Katie's Closet Secrets

One of my favorite hobbies is putting together outfits. My clothes are my toys. I love looking through my closet and finding new ways to wear my clothes. 

Even though I consider myself to be a smart shopper, the little purchase can start to add up. I'm trying to keep myself out of stores this month. Rediscovering your clothes is a great way to keep yourself content and out of stores when you're feeling the itch to shop. 

Here are four work outfits that I put together using older clothes that I've been keeping in my closet. 

I got this top at the end of last summer. It was in the clearance section at Target. The skirt was a thrift store find for $.50. You really can't pass that up! I've had this belt for so long that I can't remember where it's from, it's most likely from Wet Seal. The shoes are newer, from Target and the necklace is a Kohls clearance find.

 

This top is also from Target's clearance section from last summer. The skirt is from Forever 21. I bought it for my internship in college. It's actually in pretty good condition since I don't wear it a whole lot. The shoes are new, from Target. The necklace is old, from Charlotte Ruse. 

This sweater is from Target. The skirt is another thrift store $.50 find. The tank top is from Old Navy. It was only $5. The belt is a hand-me-down from my mom and the shoes are a few years old, from Old Navy's clearance. 

This sweater is one that I've had since college. It's from Macy's. The pants are from Wet Seal. The shirt is the same one from the outfit above. The belt is another hand-me-down from my mom's closet. The shoes are the same from Target and the necklace is new. I found it on clearance a month ago at Charming Charlies.(This is one of my new favorite stores.)

These are just some of my secrets behind my outfits. It's fun to use clothes that you already own to make fun updated outfits to wear. 

Go ahead and take a closer look in your own closet to see what you can find.

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Summertime Activities

Summer is finally here! We all survived the winter. Now it's time to get outside and enjoy everything that has to do with summer!

Of course, summer doesn't have to be an expensive time of the year. There are lots of activities that you can do in the summer that won't coast you a dime.

Here is a list of summer activities that I enjoy doing that are completely free of cost.

1.) Walks- I love to walk! A walk is a great way to get some exercise, clear your mind and just enjoy the summer weather. I enjoy a nice long walk by myself or with a friend. Either way, it's one of my most favorite summertime activities. 

2.) Going to the Pool or a Beach- To me, there is nothing more relaxing then being near water, any kind of water; a pool, beach, lake... heck, I'd even take a kiddy pool if that was all I could get. Enjoying the water, doesn't need to cost you any kind of money. Just pack a towel, some sunscreen and a good book and find yourself some water to enjoy!

3.) Discover your Library- The library is a great place! There is no reason to buy a book ever again when you have a library to go to. There are tons of books, movies, music and all sorts of entertainment. It's a great place to find some summer reading for the pool or vacations. If you have little ones at home, many libraries offer free activities through out the summer for kids. It really is a great place to take advantage of in your community.

4.) Bike Rides- Going for a casual bike ride is something that my husband and I love to do together. A couple years ago we found a bike for me on Craigslist for about $30. Now we can ride our bikes around town together. Riding a bike reminds me of being a kid again, when your bike was your main form of transportation. It's a simple activity for the 2 of us to do together. Plus it's a free activity, so of course we enjoy it.

5.) Free Festivals- In the summertime, it seems like every weekend in our area there is some sort of festival going on. A lot of time you can go to these events free of charge. The city that we live in has a live concert every Friday night in the park downtown. All you need to do is bring a lawn chair or blanket, along with some good company and enjoy the free entertainment. 

These are the free activities I enjoy doing in the summertime. What are some of the activities that you do in the summer that are free or low coast?