Reader Tip: Chicken Broth

This tip was submitted by Jill from Georgia:

When I boil chicken breasts, I reserve the chicken broth in sandwich baggies, put the date on the bags, and freeze them. I think each bag equals 1 or 2 cups (I can't remember). I don't have to ever buy chicken broth for other recipes and it's no sodium (unless Idecide to add a little salt to boost the flavor). Not much of a money saver, but every penny counts! :)

Too right Jill! Every penny does indeed count and being frugal just isn't about saving money, it's about using what you already have. So why go buy chicken broth if you already have it on hand? I'm sure the homemade broth is a lot more bangin than the store bought anyway. Thanks for the yummy tip!

If you have any frugal tips or suggestions you'd like to share with us, click on the send me a message icon in the first column.

Angel Food Ministries

(Originally posted on my old blog "Work Around Your Wallet" on 1/29/07)

How much would you expect to pay for all of this? At least $50 right? Realistically, depending on what grocery store you use, you'd probably pay more. Thanks to Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational organization started in 1994, you can order a box with all this food for only $25 and you can order as many boxes (units) as you'd like. This program is available to ANYONE, wealthy or poor, and there are no applications to fill out. Each month presents a different menu and they also feature different specials as well. You'll need to go to their website to find the nearest host location in your area. http://www.angelfoodministries.com

SuperSONIC!

(Orginally posted on my old blog "Work Around Your Wallet" on 1/30/07)

I am very lucky to have a Sonic Drive-In less than five minutes from my house. Actually, it's a blessing and a curse. A blessing for my wallet, a curse for my thighs.

What I love most about Sonic is their Happy Hour. I don't think all Sonics have their Happy Hour at the same time, and some may not have them at all. Check with yours. Our local Sonic's Happy Hour is from 2-5. All drinks are half price. I'm a coke-aholic and tend to crave it when I'm out and about so this is quite nice. I get a large coke for $.86 whereas if I were buying it any other time, it would be $1.72. I think the Route 44 during happy hour is $0.96. That's a huge drink for less than a buck!

Another special they have is every Tuesday starting at 5:00 p.m., you can get five sonic burgers for $5. Grab a bag of frozen fries at the store and you can feed a family of four for less than 2 bucks each. Not too shabby. It's a great "convenient" meal too. There are just some nights you don't feel like cooking or you're running behind and need to whip up something quick. The 5 for $5 is one way to do it quick and cheap.

Do the Dishes!

(Originally posted on my old blog "Work Around Your Wallet" on 2/28/07)

Believe it or not, keeping the dishes washed can save you money. It could have saved me $18 tonight.

For whatever reason, the dishes don't get done and instead of washing the ones you need, you eat out. I think we all do this at one time or another. I know I do! With two small children and other obligations, it becomes harder and harder to get things done. My bad habit is not thinking about dishes until I need one. Then I think: "Oh yeah, I need to load the dishwasher."

That happened tonight and instead of doing it, I ordered pizza. I used the last of my money for the week, but it was worth it because I was tired. I went to Papa Juan's online and used a coupon for a large one-topping with a free order of cheesesticks for $12.99. Of course with tax, delivery fee and tip, the total spent was 18 bucks. But I knew we would have enough pizza leftover for lunch tomorrow so I view it as paying $18 for two meals, possibly three.

It's ok to do this sometimes, but just make sure it doesn't become a steady habit because it's one that can cost you big. We allow eating out about once or twice a week in our budget, but it's these extra unplanned ones that can start adding up if it becomes a frequent thing. If you do find yourself in this situation of just not wanting to deal with cooking and cleaning, try to get the most for your money by using a coupon or take advantage of restaurant specials.

Free Food for the Kids?

(Originally posted on my old blog "Work Around Your Wallet" on 3/22/07)

Many restaurants offer free meals for children. Days of the week, qualifying ages, and times will vary per restaurant. Here are a few websites I found where you can do a search of restaurants in your area that offer free kids' meals:

http://www.kidseatfree.com/

http://www.mykidseatfree.com/

http://travelwithkids.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=travelwithkids&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mommysavers.com%2Fmoney-saving-ideas%2Fkids-eat-free.shtml

http://kidseatfree.proboards20.com/

These sites offer searches in your particular area. However, I came across alot of sites dedicated to certain towns and cities so google "kids eat free (enter your town and/or state here)" and see what pops up. You can always call the local restaurants in your town as well and ask if they have a kids eat free program.

1 lb. of ground beef: 2 for 1

(Originally posted on my old blog "Work Around Your Wallet" on 6/23/07)


I think we all are a fan of at least a few flavors of Hamburger Helper, some more than others. Personally, I adore the Philly Cheesesteak Flavor and I love to sprinkle those french fried onions on top. But that useless information aside, a while back I started using only a half pound of hamburger meat instead of the full pound. This way, I can get two Hamburger Helper meals out of one pack of meat. I find that a half pound is plenty of meat for a HH meal especially when you serve it with a veggie or two. I promise nobody will ask, "Where's the beef?"