12 Monthly Challenges to Declutter Your Spending

12 Monthly Challenges to Declutter Your Spending

 

A lot of great tips! I am always on the hunt for ways to save money. I will share when I find ways.

Food Storage Recipe - Lunchtime noodles

  LUNCHTIME  Noodles - a great little meal.

NEED:

8 oz. wide egg noodles

  1/4 C. butter  

1 onion, diced 

 1 clove garlic, minced  

4 oz. baby spinach leaves 

 salt and pepper to taste

 1. In a large pan of lightly salted boiling water, cook the egg noodles as the directions state.

  2. Drain them well and set them aside. 

 3. Meanwhile in a large skillet, melt the butter and on medium-high heat, sauté the onion and garlic for  about 8 minutes.  

4. Add the spinach, salt and black pepper and sauté for about 2 minutes. 

 5. Remove everything from the heat and immediately, stir in the noodles.  

6. Serve immediately.

25 Pioneer Skills That Will Make You Self-Sufficient

 

25 Pioneer Skills That Will Make You Self-Sufficient

 

Just had to share this to everyone. Great tips and skills to learn. Anything that can make your family more self-sufficient is a great thing.  

How to Create a Trip-wire Alarm with a Few Simple Items

How to Create a Trip-wire Alarm with a Few Simple Items

Wow this is so neat. I bet everyone could do this. Might come in handy soon with the way everything is going.  Every little bit can help and if you can do it yourself , even better!

Food Storage Recipe - Easy Vegetable Beef Soup

An easy soup to make and it is very good. Everything should be in your stockpile.

2 pounds lean ground beef 

 4 (15 ounce) cans mixed  vegetables  

4 (16 ounce) cans diced tomatoes 

 1 onion, chopped  

ground black pepper and salt to taste
 

In a large soup pot, cook ground meat and chopped onions over medium heat until done.

Drain the grease from the meat very well.

  Add the mixed vegetables and tomatoes. 

Stir it together very well.

 Reduce heat, and simmer for about 3 to 4 hours. Season to taste.

Build a Wind Generator for Home with a Car Alternator

Build a Wind Generator for Home with a Car Alternator

 

This is such a neat idea. Anyone who is mechanically inclined could build one of these. Great way to get some energy at an off-grid homestead.

Vacation At Home

 

You can have fun around your hometown. You do not need to spend a ton of money to go somewhere for vacation. Here are some ideas for you to do at home to have a special vacation.

1. Cook A Special Meal - Have a whole meal, like a Thanksgiving meal in June. Fancy it up. Or light up the grill and have a dinner party out in the backyard. 

2. Have a Movie Night - or a whole day. Pick a movie series and watch it. Like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, etc. Pop up some popcorn and have some fun. 

3. Look for local things to do - Do you have a local bowling alley? Do you have a mini golf course? Have any local festivals? My town is always having FREE things going on. Friday movies in the park, art festivals, farmer's market, waterfall hikes, and so on. Check out your local facebook groups and see what is going on in your area. 

4. Go camping in your backyard - Set up the tent and go camping. Really fun to do and you get to use your own bathroom. 

5. Have a game day - Get out the board and card games! Make some snacks and play some games. UNO, Monopoly, Life, and so on! Doesn't matter what you play it is always fun.

6. Do a large puzzle - Grab a large puzzle that the whole family can work on. Puzzles really bring people together , I think. Some of the best talks I've had with my mom, grandma, and kids have been while working on puzzles. 

How To Get Endless Hot Water Without Electricity

How To Get Endless Hot Water Without Electricity

 I had to share this when I seen the post. You have to have hot water. To shower, wash dishes, wash you hands, etc. To be able to get hot water off-grid will be amazing. 

Food Storage Recipe - Ramen & Veggies

 

Cook a package of ramen noodles and drain. Do not use the seasoning packet. 

In a saucepan add Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, a little brown sugar, a little sesame oil, and veggies. Cook this until the veggies are tender. I just used broccoli in mine, but you can add whatever veggies you want to.

Add the noodles and mix together well. 

Serve. 

DIY Two-Bucket Hand-Crank Washing Machine

DIY Two-Bucket Hand-Crank Washing Machine

This is an amazing idea for being able to do laundry off-grid. Simple idea of using 2 buckets. Could be simple to make a couple of these washing machines and do double the laundry. Hang your clothes out to dry on a drying rack and you are all set.

The Complete Guide to Off Grid Water Systems for Homesteaders

The Complete Guide to Off Grid Water Systems for Homesteaders – Rustic Skills Homesteading

This is a great article full of information for homesteaders. A complete guide to off grid water. 

Save this page! You will want to save it for reference. Clean water is the most important preparedness need to focus on.

How to Build a DIY Solar Furnace

How to Build a DIY Solar Furnace 

This is something that I have been wanting to do for a while. I can get windows from the local Restore! This will be my next project. The front of my house is south facing so it would work great. Might also be a great way to save on the heating bill.

Homemade Cough Drops With Lemon, Honey and Ginger

Homemade Cough Drops With Lemon, Honey and Ginger - At Home On The Prairie

This is a recipe that I am going to be saving and probably using a lot! I have a dry throat most of the fall and winter. Being cooped up in house with dry heat, cats, dog, and still trying to hike in the frigid temps do a number on my throat and sinuses. I go through so many bags of Halls cough drops.

Shop Smart To Save Money

 There are a few places that you can shop for items that will save you money. Here is a short list of places that you can shop for items. Great ways to save money on clothing and household items.

1. Thrift stores - This is my favorite way to find clothing and household items. You can also find great furniture and home decor. 

2. Consignment stores - A great little consignment shop can be a way to save money on higher end clothing and more. You might even want to start taking items that are taking up space in your closet to make some extra money.

3. Discount Retailers - They have name brand items for a lot less. I do a lot of my Christmas shopping at store like TJ Maxx. 

4. Outlet stores - You can usually find bargains in outlet stores.

5. Garage sales - Takes a bit of time and can be hit & miss, but sometimes you can find some amazing items. Lots of furniture, camping equipment, clothing, baby items, etc. 

6. End of season sales - Watch for them. Buy expensive items out of season. You can save a bit by doing this.

6 Super Easy Dinners for Under $60 (Week #33) – Low Dough Family

 

6 Super Easy Dinners for Under $60 (Week #33) – Low Dough Family

 I love sharing other blogs and websites that have great tips, recipes, and money saving ideas. Sharing it on this blog helps me keep it in one place for myself also. I try really hard to share money saving tips and recipes. All of my recipes can be made out of a well stocked pantry. Keep your pantry stocked full for in case of emergency etc. Having a full and stocked kitchen is the first way to survive!! Be prepared to survive whatever comes your way.

This is another one that has a ton of great money saving tips. 

6 meals for less than $60!! Any way to save money at the grocery store is a great article.

51 Car Camping Tips to Live Luxuriously [+Setup Idea Pic Inspo] – The Crazy Outdoor Mama

 

51 Car Camping Tips to Live Luxuriously [+Setup Idea Pic Inspo] – The Crazy Outdoor Mama

 I bought my Honda Odyssey just for this! I want to make it into a comfy tiny camper so my son and I can travel with our dog. We tried to go up into Canada last summer with our dog in a little car and that did not work AT ALL!

10 Cheap and Delicious Meals You Can Make with Beans

10 Cheap and Delicious Meals You Can Make with Beans: The Versatile and Nutritious Ingredient for Any Diet - Mental Scoop

 I just had to share this. Beans are such an economical and healthy food that you have got to have it in your stockpile. You can do so much with them and they replace meat. The perfect budget-friendly addition to meals.

 

A Couple of Mug Recipes

 This is a great way to have a quick meal when you do not want to cook a lot. Get a coffee mug and make one of these. 

Omelette in a Mug
To your mug add the following:
 2 eggs
1 tablespoon diced bell pepper
1 tablespoon chopped spinach
1 tablespoon diced ham or cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk eggs, add ingredients, microwave for 2-3 minutes, check with fork.

Mug Mac and Cheese
To your mug add the following:
1/4 cup elbow macaroni
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons shredded cheese

Cook pasta in microwave (about 1-2 minutes), add cheese and milk, microwave for 30 seconds.

An Egg Substitute Just In Time For Fall

 You can swap out the eggs in a cake recipe with Pumpkin Puree. It will come out so moist and delicious. Use a Yellow cake mix and just use 3/4 cup of pumpkin puree with 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice instead of eggs. I just use store bought cream cheese frosting.

Food Storage Recipe ~ Caramel Peanut Ritz Cracker Treats

This is a fun treat to make that everyone will love. 

 NEED:

1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup roughly chopped peanuts

1-2 sleeves of Ritz crackers

Prepare a Baking Sheet by lining it with Parchment paper and laying out  single layer of Ritz crackers.

In a saucepan, heat the sweetened condensed milk, butter, and brown sugar over medium heat for 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently.

 

Lower the heat, then whisk in milk, vanilla extract, and chopped peanuts. Cook for an additional 2 minutes until the mixture thickens, then remove from heat.

 

Using a cookie scoop, spoon the caramel-peanut mixture onto each Ritz cracker.

Allow the treats to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh.

Food Storage Recipe - Vegetable Boil

 Simple Vegetable Boil to use up the veggies you have gotten from your garden. Super healthy and yummy.

NEED:

* Potatoes

* Corn of the cob

* Baby carrots

* Broccoli

* Onions

Seasonings

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Lawrys season salt

Creole seasoning or slap ya mama

Smoked paprika

Red pepper

Mrs dash original

 

 

Fill a your pot up with water or vegetable broth.

 

Add your vegetables and seasonings.

 

Put your lid on the and boil for 20/30 minutes.

What Can You Do Now About Budgeting

 There are some important things that you need to do to get a better handle on your budget. The first thing that you need to do is to fill out a household budget. Write down every single time you spend money. Doesn't matter how small of an amount it is. Write it down. Keeping track of every dollar spent will help you to get control of your spending. You will see what you are spending it on and know what you should STOP spending it on. 

Set up cash envelopes for the three groups where you are overspending the most. Examples of the most overspending groups are food, clothing, and recreation. Make it a challenge to see how much money you can have left at the end of the pay period. Put the money left into savings.

Use your budgeting system daily! This helps you to save money and have money saved for any emergency or something that the household is planning on doing in the future. Anything a house remodel, a new car, school, a vacation, wedding, etc. You could be saving for anything. A goal that the whole family can get into and make it fun. If the whole family is included into the budgeting it will make it more easy to keep the budget. When you start to reach your goals it will change your whole life and be so enjoyable. 

Food Storage Recipe - Bean Salad

 

Super quick bean salad. Perfect for a quick addition to any meal.

Chop up 3 whole pickles

Chop up 3 hard bolied eggs

 1 can of red beans

chopped up fresh Dill

3 tablespoons of sour cream

1 tablespoon of mayonnaise

Lemon juice

Garlic

Salt and pepper

 

Mix all of this together in a bowl with a cover and set in fridge for a couple of hours. 

 

Food Storage Recipe ~ POTATO PANCAKES

Great recipe to use up extra mashed potatoes.

NEED 

4 cups cold mash potatoes

5 slices bacon

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 eggs well beaten

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and crisp about 10 minutes.

 

Remove the bacon slices, crumble set aside.

 

Leave the bacon drippings in the skillet.

 

Mix mashed potatoes, eggs, onion powder, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl;

stir in the crumbled bacon and Cheddar cheese.

 

Form the mixture into 8 patties.

 

Heat the bacon drippings over medium heat,

pan-fry the patties in the drippings until crisp on each side,

about 4 minutes per side.

Food Storage Recipe - Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna
 NEED

3 large zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick strips

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup marinara sauce

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 large egg

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Preheat your oven to 375° and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

 

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, sautéing until fragrant. Toss in the ground beef, breaking it apart until browned. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

Stir in the marinara sauce and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix together ricotta, egg, Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

 

Grill or roast the zucchini strips until just tender, about 2 minutes per side, to remove excess moisture.

 

 In the baking dish, lay down a layer of zucchini strips, followed by a layer of the beef sauce, dollops of the ricotta mixture, and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with mozzarella.

 

Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

 

Let the lasagna rest for a few minutes, then garnish with fresh basil before serving.

 

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬

  𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠s

NEED

- 🍓 1 cup fresh strawberries (hulled and chopped)

- 🥛 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (unsweetened)

- 🍯 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

1. Blend the strawberries until smooth.

2. Mix the strawberry puree with Greek yogurt and honey (if using).

3. Spoon the mixture into bone-shaped silicone molds or ice cube trays.

4. Freeze for at least 3 hours or until solid.

5. Pop out the bites and let your dog enjoy this cool treat.

Servings: Varies based on mold size

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Freeze Time: 3 hours

Storage: Keep in the freezer for up to a month. Enjoy! 🐕

Food Storage Recipe - Fun Yummy Pasta

 Creamy and cheesy pasta dish that is quick to make. Family will eat it all. 

Need:

1 box of rotini noodles

1 can of chicken

1 can Ro-tel 

Use the can from the Ro-tel for a can of milk

1 can of cream of chicken

16 ounces of velveeta cheese

Cook the noodle as directed on box.

Set aside and in a pan cook the cheese, soup, milk, and Ro-tel.

Once the cheese has melted and everything is mixed together add the chicken and noodles. 

Mix it up well and serve.

Homemade Dairy Free Whipped Cream

 

Chill a can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight. Do Not freeze.

Scoop the hardened cream out into a bowl.

Whip with a hand mixer or a stand mixer until light, fluffy peaks form.

Add a bit of vanilla or some sweetener to it if you would like. 

 

Food Storage Recipe - Skillet Dinner

This is a great one skillet dinner that is low cost and easy!!

 Skillet Dinner

1 pound of ground beef OR use the Taco Mix TVP from augason farms. Make sure that you reconstitute it FIRST!! It is awesome in this dish. and chili!!

1 jar of salsa

1 and a half cup water

1 envelope of taco seasoning

1 cup of uncooked instant rice

Cook and drain your ground beef or do your Taco Mix. Than add all of the other ingredients. Bring it to a boil and then reduce it to a low and let it simmer until the rice is tender.

YUMMY serve it with shredded cheese on top with crunched up tortilla chips. You can also have lettuce , sour cream, etc with it.

Food Storage Recipe - Cowboy Casserole

 

You can customize this for your liking. I sometimes just use canned diced tomatoes. You can add jalapenos etc

NEED:

1 pound ground beef

Half a diced onion

1 can ranch style beans 

1 can of Ro-Tel

1 can of corn , drained

1 can cream style corn

2 boxes of Jiffy Cornbread mix   

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large pan cook up the ground beef with the diced onions and some seasonings. I use garlic powder, chili powder, salt , and pepper.

Break the ground beef up very well and then drain.

Pour beans, Ro-tel, and corn into the well drained ground beef and bring to a boil.

While that is cooking mix up the cornbread mixes as the box says to do them. Add the cream style corn to this cornbread and mix together well.

Place the ground beef mixture into a casserole baking dish and cover the top with the cornbread mixture.

Bake for about 30 minutes. Until the cornbread is golden and done.

Serve this dish. You can top with shredded cheese etc

 

 

Food Storage Recipe - Quick Italian Tomato Sauce

 NEED:

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1/2 medium white onion, diced

2 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced

4 medium garlic cloves, crushed

1 tablespoon sugar

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped

1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pot over medium-high heat.

 

Add carrots, onions, salt, and pepper, and sauté until onions are translucent and carrots are softened.

 

Add garlic and cook until garlic is lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

 

Turn heat up to high and pour crushed tomatoes into the pan.

 

 Stir in basil.

 

 Bring to a simmer, stirring often. 

 

Stir in sugar and reduce heat to simmer, cooking for 5-7 minutes or until thickened.

 

Stir in parsley and continue to simmer for 5 minutes.

 

 Remove from heat and serve. Serve with pasta. 

Yummy Smoothies From Dollar Tree

 I had to go to Dollar Tree this morning for some items and for the first time in a few months they actually had stuff in the freezers! They have actually been sitting empty. I looked through it all and found some items to get. Even these 2 bags of smoothie starters. They are so yummy and down the aisle from the freezer they has mange juice and almond milk. I will get out my Magic Bullet Blender and have a yummy treat.

So $1.25 for each item. Would be a great healthy snack or breakfast. Frugal and healthy. I don't get to Dollar Tree to often , but if I can get something that is healthy when I do go there that would be worth it. 

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬

 These are a tasty treat for your dog. They are full of vitamins and fiber. 

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬

NEED:

 

1 cup mashed sweet potato (cooked and cooled) 

- 1/2 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped 

- 1 egg 

- 1 cup whole wheat flour 

- 1/4 cup rolled oats 

 

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

 

In a large bowl, combine the mashed sweet potato and chopped spinach.

 

Add the egg and mix until well combined.

 

Gradually add the whole wheat flour and rolled oats, mixing until a dough forms.

 

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.

 

Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough and place them on the prepared baking sheet.

 

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the biscuits are firm and lightly golden.

 

Allow the biscuits to cool completely before serving.

 

Store any leftovers in an airtight container.