Category Archives: Frugal Living Tips

Frugal Cooking Focus: Oatmeal {Easy Granola Recipe, too}

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Cold cereal is expensive — even with coupons. I only purchase it when I can get the “healthy” versions for $1.00 or less. Even then, I consider Raisin Bran a treat.

I’ve been purchasing bulk oatmeal because I prefer a hot oatmeal breakfast, and have been making my own quick & easy granola recipe when I really want a “cold cereal” option. It’s frugal and nutritious.

easy oatmeal granola recipe

Some of you may have limited access to the less expensive bulk foods, so I was curious how prices would translate shopping at a local discount store. I headed to Walmart to check out the oatmeal and hot cereal options. (See my shopping trip photos here.)

walmart oatmeal shop

Purchasing oatmeal from the grocery store (with or without coupons) is still very affordable.

Country Life Natural Foods (bulk foods)

  • $0.50/lb for 50# bags of regular rolled oats
  • $1.10/lb for 25# bags of organic rolled oats

Walmart

  • $0.28 per serving – Great Value 6pk single serve oatmeal packets
  • $0.27 per serving – Great Value 42oz canister old-fashioned oats

Are you a hot cereal or cold cereal person? I have to have my oatmeal sprinkled with walnuts, drizzled with Michigan maple syrup, and finished with a bit of soy milk. What’s your favorite topping?

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, but all opinions and delish granola recipes are my own. ;)

BuyWithMe: Staycation & Vacation Deals {We Used it in Boston}

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I’ve mentioned BuyWithMe before as a another great resource for vacation because it’s not available for West Michigan.  I’ve been keeping an eye on it for an upcoming blog conference in Chicago, and I’d definitely recommend signing up for the emails if you’re planning to travel and want to save money!

boston duck tour

We used BuyWithMe to purchase a “Duck Tour” in Boston before we even left home and saved about 50%. I think tours are a great way to get oriented and see the highlights in a new city.

buy with me travel deals

What do you think? Are you good with being a tourist? ;)

Thanks for clicking through my links. Please see my disclosure policy.

West Michigan Staycation Ideas for 2011 {Guest Post}

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west michigan staycation ideas

Whether you’re planning a staycation for you and your sweetie or just a date, there are plenty of things to keep you busy on the cheap in West Michigan this summer. I believe there are truly FUN, frugal and free things to do!

Today I joined Big Binder in Kitchen Stewardship’s post for fun staycation ideas in West Michigan that won’t break the bank with the high gas prices. Click on over and check it out. Lots of great inspiration for entertaining your family on the cheap for Memorial Day Weekend or just a summer #GRDate with your sweetie.

Frugal Cooking Focus: Dried Beans {Plus, A Bean eCookbook Deal!}

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kitchen stewardship everything beans

A good chunk of my $25/wk Food Budget Challenge has been dedicated to buying in bulk: oatmeal, rice, and beans. I love beans and had previously always used canned beans, but dried beans are less expensive. Now I’m up to my ears in 25# of dried black beans and I love them!

My two biggest tips are:

1.  Don’t salt the water while you’re cooking dried beans. It toughens the skin. Season beans while preparing your recipe.

2.  Beans love to be cooked with fat. I add olive oil to the boiling water and the beans cook so much faster and come out so perfectly soft.

When Katie at Kitchen Stewardship published “The Everything Beans Book” (click here to view more details), I knew it would be a great resource. It’s 95 pages of everything you need to know about beans including 30 recipes. (I even printed it out and put it in a 3-ring binder for easy reference. I know, I know it’s supposed to be an “e”book.)

I’ve always wanted to make black bean burgers so I’m starting with Mexican Black Bean Burgers when I get back from the blogging conference on Sunday.  With summer coming up, it will be a great vegetarian alternative to burgers on the grill!

At only $9.95, I feel it’s a great deal for a quality cookbook. Plus, it supports local #realfood blogger and writer who cares about our West Michigan community.  Thanks for clicking through my links. Please see my disclosure policy.

Save Money on Hotels for Travel OR Staycations!

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My favorite way to save money on hotels for travel or staycations is to check the daily deal sites (like Groupon, Seize the Deal, and LivingSocial) for my destination cities well before it’s time to travel. It requires a bit of planning ahead, but it has worked out well so far.

groupon hotel deals

photo credit: Atlantic House

Here’s where we stayed in York Beach, Maine. The Atlantic House normally costs $225 per night, but using Groupon we stayed for only $99 (plus $9 taxes).  We also received a $40 credit to their restaurant which saved us well over 50% on dinner that night.

atlantic house hotel deals

Living Social Escapes features vacation deals all over the country and beyond. It’s worth subscribing to their email newsletter.

How do you plan your vacation – by choosing your location and just finding the best deal OR by going where you can save the most money because time away from home is time away!?