Being frugal when no one around you is

I find it hard when I am with friends and extended family sometimes as their spending habits are different than mine in so many ways. A lot of the people I know choose to spend first on a whim and then regret it later. Or alternately, they just have a much higher fun money budget than I do and blowing money on something seems like no big deal to them. It is hard for them to understand that we just don't want to drop $35 on a movie and snacks for the two of us when that money could be used so much more wisely in other places.
Here are some things I have tried to remember and tips I have tried to use when being around people who do not have frugal attitudes.
1- Remember being frugal is not for everyone. Saving money I see as an integral part to my job in the home. I spend time each week looking for the best deals and how to get the most out of what we have, but not everyone wants to do that, or feels they don't have the time.
2- Telling the truth sometimes works wonders, but can be boring. For instance, just telling your family member or friend that the dinner out or whatever is not something that is in your budget that week.
3- If for whatever reason you don't feel comfortable telling them your budget ins and outs, you can almost always find a  kind and honest way to get out of whatever it is without hurting their feelings.
4- Reconsider your spending if necessary. If you realize you would really like to spend that $35 on the movie, go through in your head where that money can come from in your budget and go have fun. Just make it so you don't regret having spent the money.
5- Suggest something else that is free or lower cost. Have them over for dinner, have a park play day, etc.

In the hard times right now a lot of people are learning lower cost ways to have fun. The most important thing is how you connect with others, not if it is done over $5 lattes.

Fears over Mortality

There have been a lot of people close to our family that are fighting for their health, either from cancer or our close friend who had a heart attack yesterday. We pray hard for them, and try to help in any way we can but there is the selfish part of my mind that gets scared and says what if that were us. 
The friend that had the heart attack is our age. I don't know what to do in those times when it really is in God's hands. I can try to put my fears over my friend and their family, or my father's returning cancer in a box in my head and move forward in prayer and a helping attitude, or I can get bogged down in what ifs. 
What ifs can distract me, steal my time and take from me what I actually can offer to the people who need me. What ifs can make me not act when action is needed or not say something when it lies on my heart. 
I am trying very hard this week to win the battle of the what ifs.


Matthews  6:25
²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"


Matthews 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Wordless Wednesday

Frugal Food- Sneaky Meatloaf

Our family likes meatloaf,  but I have been trying to find out a way to make a turkey meatloaf that everyone likes.  I also needed a way to get my husband and toddler to eat carrots. For some reason they both seem to dislike all orange vegetables, and since they are all super nutrient rich, (and inexpensive) I am now resorting to sneaking them in foods. I thought I would combine the two (turkey and carrots) and I am excited that it was a huge success.

Sneaky Meatloaf- serves 4

1 pound ground turkey
2 large or three medium carrots steamed and pureed fine
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 egg
1 can tomato soup (divided in half)
1 package dry onion soup mix

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, reserving 1/2 of the tomato soup for the top of the meatloaf after you get it in the pan. Bake uncovered at 350 for 1 hour 15 mins.I should also note that I hardly ever preheat my oven so your cooking time may be less if you do.

Also one of the best cooking investments I made was a double meatloaf pan that has a drainage chamber under it. It makes the meatloaf so much better and takes care of that excess grease.

Frugal Food- Split Pea Soup

I love split pea soup but was not sure my meat loving husband, and picky toddler would eat it. It was a hit!

1 pound dry green split peas

1 onion chopped

enough water to cover the split peas

1 pound of bacon

two russet potatoes peeled and chopped

2 tbsp of Italian herb season mix

2 heaping tbsp of garlic chopped

Sort peas to make sure nothing needs to be tossed (natural dry beans sometimes have stones), drain in a colander. Add to a large pot or dutch oven, and cover about two inches over with water. Turn on Medium to Medium high. Meanwhile chop onion and potato and add to the pot. I cook the bacon in a shallow baking pan at 375 for 30-45 minutes. Chop bacon coarsely and add to soup (which has probably been cooking 45 minutes now). Cook another half hour or until the majority of the split peas have lost their shape (the pretty much turn to mush).

Move to a food processor or use a wand mixer to puree till smooth.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 8 healthy servings

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day, and I just wanted to take a minute to talk about a person I knew who passed away due to AIDS. This young man was born with the virus, in the early 1980s and had a host of other problems because of his mother's addiction and lifestyle. He had developmental difficulties and social difficulties, but he also had a sweet smile and a complimenting heart. He spent the first few years of his life in a crib in a hospital with no loving attention from anyone because everyone was to scared to touch him. A couple I know adopted him when they became aware of him when was a toddler, and I met him when I worked for them. He lived much longer than anyone thought possible and defied all the odds. I really thought he may just live to see the cure.

He did not get to see that day, but my hope and prayers that soon that day will come. The advances in AIDS and HIV treatment have come tremendous leaps since he passed, but still no cure. Please take a minute today to remember all those this disease has taken and hope for a day when it will take no more.

The Master Grocery List

I posted in my last Mission Monday that I wanted to try and create a master grocery list. Here it is.

Master Grocery List - The number to the left is what I want to buy, to the right is what I want in house at all times

Meat, Poultry, Fish

_____ #s chicken - boneless, skinless (any cut) (5 lbs)

_____ Frozen Salmon filets - bag of 4 (1)

_____ Frozen Tilapia Filets bag (1)

_____ #s of ground beef (3)

_____ #s of ground turkey (3)

_____ #s of ground chicken (1)

_____ Whole chicken (2)

_____ Canned chicken (2)

_____ Canned tuna (4)

_____ Canned salmon (2)

_____ Lunch meat (1#)

Canned Vegetables/Fruit/Sauces

_____ Sweet Peas (2)

_____ Green Beans (2)

_____ Corn(2)

_____ Pineapple(2)

_____ Jars Applesauce (2)

_____ Black eyed peas (2)

_____ Black Beans (2)

_____ Diced Tomatoes (4 small, or 2 big)

_____ Tomato Sauce (2 small, 1 large)

_____ Salsa Mild (2)

_____ Strawberry Jam (2)

_____ Peanut Butter (1)

_____ Spaghetti Sauce (1)

Fresh Food/Baked Goods

_____ Gallons milk 2% (2)

_____ Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese (1 #)

_____ Sliced real Cheese (10 slices)

_____ Yogurt (4 cups)

_____ Cream Cheese (1 block)

_____ Loaf Bread(1)

_____ Onions (4)

_____ Bananas (5)

_____ Apples (6)

Dry Beans/Rice/Pasta

_____ Black Beans (2#)

_____ Split Peas (1#)

_____ Black eyed Peas (1#)

_____ Rice White or Jasmine (1#)

_____ Rice Brown (3 #)

_____ Rice Brown Instant (1 box)

_____ Boxes whole wheat pasta not spaghetti (3)

_____ Boxes whoe wheat spaghetti (2)

_____ Quick oats one box

Frozen Vegs

______ Corn (1#)

______ Peas (1#)

______ Carrots (1#)

______ Mixed vegs any variety (1#)

______ Spinach 1 box

Cleaning

______ Vinegar- 1 gallon

______ Baking Soda - 2 #

______ Washing Soda - 1 box

______ Ivory Soap (for laundry ) 2 bars

______ Borax- 1 box

______ Dish Detergent 2 bottles

______ Stain Remover for clothes - 1

______ Fabric Softener - 1 bottle

______ Tea Tree Oil 1 bottle

______ Paper Towels - 2 rolls

______ Light bulbs 3

______ Sandwich bags - 1 box

______ Gallon Storage bags - 1 box

______ Trash bags 1 box

Personal Care (this is to keep stockpile)

______ Toothpaste 3 tubes

______ Baby Toothpaste 2 tubes

______ Baby Toothbrushes 2

______ Adult Toothbrushes 4

______ Mens Deoderant 3

______ Womens Deorderant 3

______ Feminine pads 2

______ Shampoo and conditioner - adult 2 each

______ Shampoo Baby - 1

______ Soap adult - 4 bars

______ Soap baby 1 extra

______ Tylenol - 1

______ Ibuprofen - 1

______ Daytime cold med - 1

______ Allergy med - claritin - 1

______ Antihistimine - 1

______ Toilet papaer 8 rolls