Saturday, June 13, 2015

Meals Under $5: Baked Potato Bar

Here's a family favorite. My husband is all about meat and potatoes. One of our top go-to meals is baked potatoes. They're that old classic that you can never go wrong with. They're also amazingly cheap and versatile...and of so fast to cook!

Tip: baked potatoes can be cooked in the oven, on the grill, in the microwave, or even in a slow cooker! Pick whichever way suits your needs.

Our favorite toppings:
Crumbled bacon
Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Ranch dressing
Chili
Steamed broccoli
BBQ pulled pork
Steak sauce
Grilled peppers
Shredded chicken
Leftover meats
Butter
Seasoning salt
Cajun style seasonings
Home style gravy
Pepper jack cheese

What are some of your favorite baked potato toppings? 

10 Things You Need to Do this Summer to Save $$$

Summer is right around the corner! School is out, kids are playing outside, and temperatures are rising. As the temperature rises, so do our expenses... But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are 10 easy ways to save money this summer!

1. Turn down the air - Cooling your home is like throwing money into the air. Get out of the house and you don't need to worry about keeping the place cool. Set your thermostat at 78 degrees while you're out running errands, playing at the park, and taking kids to swimming lessons.
2. Buy a sprinkler - it doesn't need to be fancy, but it will save you big bucks. There will be no need to constantly spend money on pool passes. Plus, the kids will feel like the coolest kids on the block when all their buddies come to play.
3. Plan a staycation - Rather than spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a trip, stay! Staycations can be equally as fun as a big trip elsewhere. You can even set up a tent in the backyard and have your own camp out... And that's FREE! Use the money you would have spent that weekend on our emergency savings fund or paying down debt.
4. Grow your own food - without much effort you can provide fresh produce all summer long! A garden doesn't need to be huge or time consuming to get a lot of food back. It's also a great way to get kids out of the house and learning.
5. Re-think insulation - I'm not just talking about the insulation in your walls, but look for places where heat may be coming in and cool is going out. Front doors and unsealed windows are major culprits. Overtime, weather stripping and caulking becomes worn out and crack. Simple repairs around the house will pay back in reduced cooling costs.
6. Grill or slow cook - Summer is known for cookouts and delicious slow cooked meats. Try out some new recipes while preventing your house from heating up by the oven. You can also double recipes, freeze the extras, and have a quick a cheap dinner waiting for you!
7. Shop seasonally - all summer long certain fruits and veggies will go in and out of season. It depends on where you live, but buying a certain type of produce (like grapes!) the wrong time of the year will result in you paying several more dollars for under ripe or over ripe produce.
8. Go halfsies - If you decide to go on a trip, split room costs with friends. Nicer hotels and lodges become much more affordable when split with someone else.
9. Eat before... Or pack a lunch! - I can't even tell you how often we get to a fair or festival and we're STARVING. We didn't plan ahead, so we end up spending twice as much money as normal on junky food.
10. Buy clothes secondhand - There will be many events all summer long where you will want to buy a new outfit. Before splurging on new summer clothes, check out online deals -- and yard sales!!! on secondhand gently used clothes. You can find amazing deals on clothes that are even brand new.

Well, I hope you all have an amazing summer! What are your summer plans?