Frugal Finds Friday: Mending Clothes

When money is tight, it is especially important that you make the most of what you have.  This concept can easily be applied to clothes - use it up and wear it out.  Many of the clothing items I have purchased over the years, including Wal-mart and thrift store items, can be worn for many years, if mended properly.  More often than not buttons fall off, and hems drop before the rest of the item is worn out.  So, I spent Thursday sewing buttons onto a pair of capris, and a pair of shorts.  I fixed the hem in one shirt, and sewed a 'tack' stitch back into the sleeve of another.  I whip-stitched a tear in an apron, and a loose spot on the back of my husband's favorite tie.  By taking an hour one afternoon, and doing a little mending, I saved 6 items from probably ending up in the trash because they were no longer wearable.  I also saved myself money since I didn't need to replace these items.  So take a little time one day and mend those items you've been meaning to, after all, it's the frugal thing to do!  :)

Linked to Thrifty Thursday, Works for Me Wednesday, and Natural Living Link-up!

ALDI Deals, Starting 06/26/2013!

Here are some of the great deals at ALDI this week...

• Wednesday 06/26 ONLY: Fresh 73% Lean Ground Beef Chub 5 lb $8.99 ea
• Wednesday 06/26 ONLY: Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.79/lb
• Organic Bananas 2 lb bundle $1.38 ea
• Organic Romaine 18 oz 3 pk $2.19 ea
• Sweet Corn 4 pk $1.59 ea
• Cherries $2.99/lb
• Watermelon $3.99 ea
• Strawberries $1.29/lb
• Blueberries $1.29/pint
• Cantaloupe $1.49 ea
• Kirkwood Frozen Chicken Breasts 48 oz $5.99 ea
• L'oven Fresh White Hotdog Buns 12 oz $0.89 ea
• L'oven Fresh NY Style Cheese Cake 40 oz $8.99 ea
• Tuscan Garden Dressing Bacon Ranch, or Raspberry Vinaigrette 16 oz $1.29 ea 
• Clancy's Bug Dippers or Chili Cheese Corn Chips 9.25 oz $1.19 ea
• Kitchen Living Pineapple Slicer $2.99 ea
• Kitchen Living 8 pc Nesting Bowl Set (1 strainer, 1 colander, 2 mixing bowls, and 4 measuring cups) $9.99 ea
• Kitchen Living 3 pc Colored Knife Set (Paring, Tomato, and Santuko) $9.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Watermelon Knife (11" blade) $4.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Iced Serving Bowl 6.5 Qt $16.99 ea
• Reeva Pomegranate or Berry Ultra Liquid Dish Soap 24 oz $1.89 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Baked Nachos

Going along with last week's taco salad, I thought I would share my version of nachos.  The unhealthy to my healthy if you will.  Anyway, they are just as simple as the taco salad, and they take a lot of the same ingredients.  These nachos are another one of my husband's favorite meals.  We eat them about once a month, and definitely on Super Bowl Sunday!  Here's how it goes down...

Ingredients:

• Taco Beef/Chicken
• Shredded Cheese (I like mild cheddar)
• Salsa
• Sour Cream
• Tortilla Chips and Doritos 
• Jalapenos and Sliced Black Olives
• Beans (if you desire, I like to add extra pintos to my half, re-fried would be okay too)

1. Add a layer or Tortilla/Doritos Chips to your baking dish (I mix the two together).
2. Top with a layer of meat (and beans if using).
3. Top with a layer of cheese.
4. Repeat all three layers.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes depending on your oven.
6. Add your favorite toppings (I like just salsa and Sour Cream on mine, Joe likes jalapenos and olives on his as well, and you can't go wrong with a little guacamole).  Dig in, and try to be good and share with others. :)

Linked to Homemade Mondays, One Project at a Time, and the Inspiration Exchange!

Menu Plan Monday: 06/24/2013!

This week Joe and I are going to his grandfather's house to unload after Saturday's sale.  Joe is going away for two days this week, so I plan to paint all the doors/trim/windows in the apartment while he is gone.  It should be a good week.  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Waffles, Eggs and Toast

Lunches: Leftovers, Salads, and/or Sandwiches

Dinners: (all served with veggies or salad)

Sunday - Homemade Pizza

Monday -Fruited Chicken Salad Sandwiches, with Chips, and Pickles

Tuesday - Dinner with Joe's Grandfather, probably at Applebee's

Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas, and Mexican Rice

Thursday - Frozen Diet Meal for me

Friday - Dinner with my sister:Homemade Pizza

Saturday - Pasta with Meat Sauce, and Garlic Bread

Extras: Brownies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 06/16-22/2013

This week was not a pay week, but we were out of cat food.  So I was glad that I had a little stashed away because I stocked back up at Target, and got an awesome deal!  I also rolled my ECB's at CVS, and picked up a few coupon deals at the grocery store.  Overall, a pretty simple week; I like those!

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $8.06 oop, Earned $4 ECB's
• Sunday's Target Trip: $44.83 oop, Earned $10 Target Gift Cards ($5 x 2)
• Thursday's ALDI Trip (loaf of bread and bag of shredded mozzarella cheese): $4.19 oop
• Thursday's Giant Trip (5 Meal bars, used 1 coupons): $4.36 oop
• Thursday's Dollar Tree Trip: $8 oop (used 2 coupons for the pepperoni)

• Saturday's Shopper's Trip (2 newspapers): $3.99 oop
• Saturday's Flea Market Finds (Post coming soon): $8.50

Total OOP: $81.93 - $14 Earned Rewards/Gift Cards = Net OOP: $67.93!!!!!

Linked to Couponaholic! 

February's Freezer Cooking Results

Freezer Cooking Results

 Cooked Pinto Beans: 5-1c pkgs + enough for the Nachos and Taco Meat

 Homemade Chili's-style Salsa

 Homemade Chip Cookie Dough: 4 batches, White Chocolate, Butterscotch Chip, and 2 Milk Chocolate Chip

Taco Meat: 5-1c pkgs + Nachos and a little leftover

Cooked Beef 1/2 lb pkg x 2, Cooked Beef with Onions 1/2 lb pkg x 2

 4 - 1/2 batches Pizza Dough (each 1/2 batch makes Joe and I each a personal pizza)

Homemade Bone Broth x 2

Yard Sale Finds for May

I'm finally getting around to posting my yard sale finds from May.  Joe and I hit a lot of sales, and grabbed up a lot of good deals, here's our great finds...

 We stopped out to Mt Airy Days, which is HUGE!  I had never been, so it was a wonderful surprise! 
Wicker Trash Can (Transformation post coming) $1
2 Children's Books 2/$1
1 Table Linen $1
1 Air Pump (Joe uses these for the grill) $0.75
Total: $3.75

The above finds are from 2 yard sales we hit one weekend.
Basket $0.25
Jar $0.75
Total: $1

 This Saturday we stopped at a church flea market and a nice little yard sale.
Pitcher $1
4 Crystal Light mixes $1 ea = $4
Total: $5

Grand Total for May: $9.75!

Frugal Finds Friday: 'Swiffer' Solution Recipe

I bought a refillable Libman 'swiffer' mop a couple of years ago, and LOVE that I can wash and reuse the scrub pads, as well as refill the solution container.  It saves me money, and is very Eco-friendly!  To save money even further, I make up my own cleaning solution.  It's so simple, and only takes 3 ingredients, so you should try it out if you can...

1. Take solution container and fill 1/3 with white vinegar.
2. Add a large squirt of dish soap; I use Dawn cause it's what I have, but I have used Ivory as well.
3. Fill the container the rest of the way up to the fill line with water.  Gently shake to combine.  
4. Go clean your floor!

What are your frugal finds for this week?

Linked to Works for Me Wednesday! 

ALDI Deals, Starting 06/19/2013

Here are some of the great deals this week at ALDI...

• Roseland Baby Back Pork Ribs Original or Honey Garlic 24 oz $8.99 ea
• Baker's Corner Patriotic Cake Mix $0.99 ea
• Baker's Corner Patriotic Marshmallows 10 oz $0.99 ea 
• Baker's Corner Regular Marshmallows 10 oz $0.89 ea
• Choceur Milk Chocolate 5.29 oz $1.49 ea
• Benton's Graham Crackers 14.4 oz $1.49 ea
• L'oven Fresh Everything Bagels 20 oz $1.69 ea
• Great Gherkins Refrigerated Kosher Dill Pickles 32 oz $2.69 ea
• Nature's Nectar All Natural Lemonade, Limeade, or Raspberry Lemonade 59 oz $1.99 ea
• Friendly Farms Mocha or Vanilla Iced Coffee 64 oz $3.49 ea
• Kirkwood Frozen Chicken Breasts 48 oz $5.99 ea
• Lunch Buddies Pudding Cups 4 pk 13-14 oz $0.89 ea
• Bolthouse Farms 100% Carrot Juice 32 oz $2.99 ea
• Boulder July 4th Tableware 8-18 ct $0.89 ea
• Adventureridge Foldable Flag Print or Mesh Chair With Carrying Case $9.99 ea
• Range Master Portable Charcoal Grill $13.99 ea
• Crane Ladder Ball $16.99 ea
• Crane Bean Bag Toss $14.99 ea
• Strawberries $1.59/lb
• Blueberries $1.49/pint
• Honeydew $1.89 ea
• Red Grapes $2.78/2 lbs
• Cantaloupe $1.49 ea
• Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines $0.39 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Taco Salad

 Taco Salad is one of my husband's favorite meals, and I am also pretty fond of it myself.  It is healthier than a plate of nachos, but tastes just as good, and is super simple to make.
All you need is...

• Taco Beef/Chicken
• Shredded/Torn Lettuce
• Shredded Cheese (I like mild cheddar)
• Salsa
• Sour Cream
• Crushed Tortilla Chips (like those in the bottom of the bag, Doritos are tasty too)
• Any salad veggies/legumes you like (I like bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, and extra pintos)
• Salad dressing (optional, I like just some sour cream and salsa mixed together, Joe prefers things a little more fattening wet)

1. Place lettuce and salad veggies/legumes in desired bowl.
2. Heat up your taco meat (I make beef ahead and time and freeze it, so all I have to do is nuke it)
3. Add crushed chips to veggies.
4. Top with meat, and cheese, and any other toppings/dressings you desire.
5. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Linked to Homemade Mondays, One Project at a Time!