The $7 Gourmet Valentine’s Dinner for Two
Even when you don’ t Valentine’s have much cash on hand, you can have a special dinner for Valentine’s Day. You can create a special Valentine’s Dinner 2 people for under $7.00. The secret to a frugal romantic dinner is the setting so lets start with that. If you were thinking ahead purchase 75% off on clearance after Christmas 10-15 red and white taper candles. You can also purchase red napkins, lace tablecloths, and red ribbon after Christmas for .50 – $1.00
Look at thrift stores and garage sales for one or two place settings of china for 50 cents each. If it’s to late this year remember for next year after Christmas to purchase you Valentines’ items. You can also purchase things on sale 50% after Valentine’s Day and keep for next year. Of course if you’re with the one you love, who needs food for Valentine’s Day!
For the menu
French Onion Soup
Tomato Basil Salad
Maple-Glazed Chicken
Glazed Carrots
Lemon Potatoes
Red Velvet Cake
Water with lemon slices
tea or coffee with desert
French Onion Soup ( $1.15)
2 onions, thinly sliced (yellow works best) (.25)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine (.10)
2 cups beef stock (made with bullion cubes or beef bones) (.10)
1 bay leaf
2 slices day-old French bread (.20)
1/2 cup mozzarella or Swiss cheese, grated (.50)
Melt butter in a skillet. Saute onions until slightly brown. Add onions to beef broth in saucepan. Simmer slowly for 10 minutes. Pour into bowls. Place bread on top of each bowl of soup, and sprinkle the cheese on top. Then set under broiler and cook until cheese is melted and brown. This soup will simmer in the crockpot on low overnight.
Tomato Basil Salad ($1.44)
4 large peeled tomatoes (.79)
salt and pepper (to taste)
1 Tbsp. wine vinegar (.10)
2 Tbsp. oil (.05)
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped into small pieces (.50)
Dice tomatoes and combine with salt, pepper, vinegar, oil and basil. Serve. You could also add cubes of mozzarella cheese.
Maple-Glazed Chicken ($2.14 )
1/4 cup maple syrup (.05)
4 tsp. lemon juice (.05)
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine (.05)
salt and pepper (to taste)
4 pieces chicken ($1.99 purchased on sale at $1.99/.lb)
Preheat oven to 450. Mix maple syrup, lemon juice and butter together in small saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes. Spray a baking dish and place chicken in it. Salt and pepper the chicken. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and pour on glaze. Bake for 15 minutes more or until juices run clear.
Glazed Carrots (.37)
1/2 lb. fresh carrots or baby carrots (.12)
1/2 stick margarine (.05)
6 Tbsp. brown sugar (.10)
1 tsp. cinnamon (.05)
1 tsp. ginger (optional) (.05)
Clean carrots and cut into bite-size pieces. Steam 10 minutes in a small amount of boiling water just until tender. Melt margarine in a large skillet over low heat. Add brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Cook 1-2 minutes. Add hot carrots, stirring well to coat. Remove when shiny and well glazed.
Lemon Potatoes (.75)
6 new potatoes or 2 medium potatoes, cut in halves or quarters (.50)
2 Tbsp. margarine (.05)
1/2 tsp. lemon peel, grated
1 1/2sp. lemon juice (.05)
1 tsp. chives, chopped (.10)
1/4 tsp. salt
dash pepper
dash of nutmeg (all spices)
Clean and steam potatoes 20 minutes (until tender). Heat remaining ingredients just to boiling. Pour lemon butter over potatoes and serve.
Red Velvet Cake (.50 for 2 servings)*
3/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. vinegar
2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 oz. red food coloring
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup buttermilk
Cream together butter, eggs and sugar in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients except the flour and buttermilk. Mix well. Add flour and buttermilk alternately. Beat until all the lumps are out. Pour into a greased and floured 9×13 inch pan. Bake at 350< for 30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes clean. Frost with Red Velvet Frosting.
Red Velvet Frosting
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1/2cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Cook milk and flour until thick, stirring constantly. Cool thoroughly. Beat milk and flour for 1 minute until fluffy. Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add to milk and flour and add vanilla. Mix well. Frosts 1 Red Velvet Cake.
*Or purchase a box mix on sale .79 and canned frosting on sale .69. plus .50 for eggs etc. to make the cake $1.48
Valentine’s Day On A Dime
by Tawra Kellam
Using a little imagination, you can make your Valentine’s day a little more fun and a lot less expensive. If you want to add a little personalized romance or if you don’t have the time or money to buy all the pre-made things in the store, here are some ideas from livingonadime.com to help you make the day special.
*For the Kids:* My mom always made a great but inexpensive Valentine’s Day treat for us. She would take construction paper and cut a big heart out of it. (About 8×10 inches) then she would staple the edges together and write our names and an I love you on the outside. Then she would fill the heart with candy, purchased on learance after Christmas. It was very inexpensive but we loved it!
Do a Valentine’s treasure hunt. Leave little notes around with the last one leading back to the kitchen table with heart full of candy.
For Lunches: Make heart shaped Valentine’s cookies, cut the kids (or hubby’s) sandwiches with a heart shaped cookie cutter to make a heart sandwich. Add a few Valentine’s chocolates and put a note in red with a big heart on their napkin.
Serve anything red for the day. Serve red Jell-o, red pudding, red apples, toast with strawberry jelly, tomato soup, red applesauce, red Kool-aid, strawberry milk, or red frosted cookies. Use powered food coloring from the cake store to get the deepest shade of red. Leave sticks of red gum in their Valentine’s Day cards.
Make red heart shaped cupcakes. Make cupcakes as usual but place a marble down the side of the muffin tin between the muffin tin and each cupcake cup. This will make heart shaped cupcakes.
Make hearts out of chocolate chips in each of your pancakes.
Mail your pre-addressed and stamped Valentines to Loveland, Colorado and they will postmark them and mail them for you. Send them to: Postmaster, Attn: Valentines, Loveland, CO 80537
Make a treasure hunt for your spouse. Start by mailing or e-mailing him the first clue. Then leave clues all over the house, yard, car or his office telling him where to find the next clue. End the hunt by making a picnic in the back yard or going to a park for a picnic. Use your imagination and have fun. The simple things are the ones people remember.
*Things to do with or for your honey:*
Go to a bookstore and enjoy the silence and browse. Get a cup of coffee and make a date of it.
Celebrate Valentine’s day AFTER Valentine’s day. Everything is half off.
Mail a love letter to your hubby’s work.
Send your spouse a sexy email message.
Leave “Why I love you” message all over the house. Buy a package of the cheap Valentines. Leave a message on each one and hide them all over the house for your honey. They will get to enjoy the gift for months!
Use lipstick to make hearts and love notes on the rear view mirror, car windows, bathroom mirror or windows of the house. Leave a kiss on his napkin for lunch or dinner.
Make a bunch of hearts out of construction paper. Put a love note on each one. Paste them all over the front door or car before your hubby or kids come home from work.
If you don’t have money to go out, have a picnic on the floor. Use some candles and lay a soft blanket on the floor. Put on some soft music and have a romantic Valentine’s dinner on the floor. Use some white Christmas lights for additional romantic lighting!
Frugal Meals
Frugal Grocery Shopping– How can you save money on your grocery bills?
Quick Kids’ Meals– What do you do when you need to put dinner on the table in minutes?
Healthy Kids Meals – It’s not as difficult as you might think to make healthy meals your kids will love.
Cheap Party Food – Cold Pasta Salad – When you need to bring a dish, pasta salad is quick and painless.
More Cheap Party Food– How to throw a Frugal party the Easy Way.
Banish Boring Brown Bag Lunches! – These simple ideas are cheaper and healthier than dining out.
Frugal Nutritious Snacks for Children– Save money on food and medical bills by providing healthy snacks.
Freezer Cooking: A gift for Frugal Moms– How can I save time in the kitchen, make healthier meals and save money — at the same time?
Stocking Your Pantry: Meals in Minutes – Take-out food is so expensive. When you do a little preparing, you can actually fix meals in minutes.
Save Money, Grow Your Own Herbs – The high price of herbs at the grocery store may make you wonder — Why not save some money and grow your own? It’s simple, provided you have a sunny area to grow them.
Thrifty Meal Idea for Frugal Moms – Submitted by Thrifty Moms like You
Cheap Romantic Meals – Frugal Meals for a Romantic Evening.
Recommended Frugal Eating Resources
Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month
Frozen Assets Lite and Easy: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month
Cook for a Day: Eat for a Month : Frozen Assets Readers’ Favorite
Frugal Romantic Travel
You do not need to spend a lot of money to have a romantic weekend getaway with your loved one. There are many opportunities for inexpensive weekend trips that will give you a special memory with the one you love. You may feel that if you do not spend a lot of money, you will sacrifice style and luxury, but this is not necessarily the case.
Bed and Breakfast
You can find small-town bed and breakfasts that offer great amenities, wonderful food, and charming rooms for a low price. A smaller town with a quaint bed and breakfast is a great place to spend some time away from the city and share special moments with your spouse.
Cabin Rental
Another inexpensive option is to search for cabin rentals at local lakes or camping areas. You can bring all the supplies and food you need with you and if you go in the off-season, you can find great rates on secluded cabins. If the cabin is on a lake, you can swim in the summer or build a nice fire to keep warm on cold winter nights.
Hotels with Kitchenettes
A hotel in a nearby city with rooms containing kitchenettes are great options of you want to get away but need to stay within your budget. You can bring food with you and spend your time checking out the local places of interest, museums, and attractions. You will save a lot of money if you prepare your food yourself instead of eating out.
Tent Camping
State parks that have camping facilities are a good choice as well. You can set up a tent, cook over and open fire, and gaze at the stars at night. A cooler packed with hotdogs, hamburgers and marshmallows will be an inexpensive way to create a lover’s feast in the moonlight.
Luxury Hotels
If you prefer luxury hotels and accommodations, book a room during the off-season. You can save a considerable amount of money if you make your reservation in non-peak times and if you book your room online, you can save even more. Early spring is normally a good time to search for cheap luxury accommodations.
If you can make the time, taking your trip during the week rather than on the weekend will also save you money. Hotels are more crowded on the weekends and are usually willing to drop their rates for weekday travelers. Traffic will be less of a problem on weekdays if you avoid rush hour and you can visit many great places during the off-season and save a lot of money over peak vacation periods.
You can create a very special romantic getaway if you search for locations where you walk hand in hand along a river, beach, or take a hike in the mountains and you will spend very little if you find cheap accommodations and bring your own food.
http://www.RomanceYourHusband.com is a website dedicated to helping married couples stay friends and to help them remember why they married each other in the first place. Our disclaimer is: If he’s a jerk, this won’t work. But, if he’s sweet, rub his feet.
Lip Gloss Recipes
Take care of yourself with these recipes for lip gloss you can make from home.
Making your own lip gloss
Cranberry Lip Gloss
1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
10 fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon honey
1 drop of vitamin E oil
Mix all the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave for a couple of minutes or until the mixture just begins to boil.
(Bowl may also be heated in a pan of water on a stovetop).
Stir well and gently crush the berries.
Cool mixture for five minutes and then strain through a fine sieve to remove all the fruit
pieces. Stir again and set aside to cool completely.
When cool, transfer into a small portable plastic container or tin.
Honey Balm
3 oz. Almond Oil
2 Teaspoons Honey
1/2 oz. Beeswax or Beeswax Pellets
1 Vitamin E Capsule (as a preservative)
1-4 Drops Essential Oil
Aloe Vera Lip Gloss
1 tsp aloe vera gel
1/2 tsp coconut oil
1 tsp petroleum jelly
Mix the ingredients in a glass bowl, and microwave for 1 – 2 minutes.
Pour into container.
Heal Sores Balm
3 oz almond oil
2 tsp pure honey
1/2 oz beeswax
1 tsp tea tree oil
Melt all together and stir while cooling.
Fruity Lip Gloss –Made with Kool-Aid!
2 tbsp. solid shortening
1 tbsp. fruit-flavored powdered drink mix (Kool-Aid)
35 mm plastic film container
Mix shortening and drink mix together in a small microwave-safe container until smooth.
Place container in the microwave on high for 30 seconds until mixture becomes a liquid.
Pour the mixture into a plastic film container or any other type of small airtight container.
Place the fruity lip gloss mixture in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes or until firm.
Chaele is a WAHM annd a mother of three. She owns MSU
Free Bath Salt Recipes for a Spa Experience at Home
As Moms, we know the meaning of stress! And, we know the meaning of wanting to relax with a spa bath experience. Take care of yourself with these recipes for bath salts you can make from home.
Cocoa Bath Salts De-Stress Recipe
Ingredients:
1/8 cup Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup Epsom salts
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Optional: 2 to 3 drops lavender essential oil.
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined and then add as the bath water is running.
Check out this site for more free Homemade Beauty Recipes.
Simple Bath Salt Experience
Add plain old Epsom salts (the kind you can get at Kmart or any discount store) and milk to your bath tub with hot water.
If you have any favorite essential oils that you enjoy, drop a few drops into the bath for an aromatherapy spa experience.
Check out this site for more free Homemade Beauty Recipes.
Foot Soak Recipe
As Moms, we know the meaning of stress! And, we know the meaning of frugality. Take care of yourself with these recipes for foot soaks you can make from home.
Home Lemon Foot Mask
Ingredients:
1 tbsp vodka
1 egg
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 drop lemon essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend well.
Pour the mixture into a large bowl. Soak your feet in the mixture for
about 15 minutes.
Massage the Mask into your feet if you’d like.
Rinse with plenty of warm water.
Take some time to pamper yourself. You can find more homemade spa recipes here.
Home Facial Recipes
As Moms, we know the meaning of stress! And, we know the meaning of frugality. Take care of yourself with these recipes for facials you can make from home.
Home Facial Cleanser Recipe
Ingredients:
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp powdered almonds
1/2 tsp lemon juice
Directions:
Combine the honey, almonds and lemon juice into a paste.
Rub on your face. Rinse with plenty of warm water.
Take some time to pamper yourself. You can find more homemade spa recipes here.
Blueberry Facial Toner Recipe
You’ll need:
3 tablespoons steamed, crushed blueberries
1/2 C. sour cream or plain yogurt
Directions:
Purée ingredients in a blender at low speed until well mixed and fluffy.
Apply to face and neck. Let penetrate for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with
tepid water.
Take some time to pamper yourself. You can find more homemade spa recipes here.
Check out this site for more Homemade Beauty Recipes.
Romance on a Budget – Love Is Patient, Kind, and Cheap!
Written by: Nicole Dean, owner www.ShowMomTheMoney.com
Valentine’s Day is around the corner and men from Alaska to Florida are breaking into a cold sweat. They’ve bought into the fallacy that romance equals money. Men everywhere have been frightened off by television and movies and believe that romance is something outside of their budget. They are wrong.
When I think of the most romantic and breathtaking stories that my friends and I discuss over coffee, we don’t talk about flying off to Europe or drinking the most expensive champagne. The little things like holding hands, reading stories together, and lots of laughter are what we hold dear.
I’ve put together a list of ways to show love — without running up your credit card
bill. And, ladies, this list is for you, too. Initiate the following ideas with your
Sweetie, and show him how much you care. The ideas below are for men or women and fit every budget.
Love Notes – Leave Love Notes for your Sweetheart to find.
Pampering – Brush her hair. Scratch his back.
Wildlife – Feed the ducks, squirrels, birds, turtles or fish near you.
Games – Turn off the TV. Sit and play cards or board games together.
Cooking – Find recipes to make with your sweetheart.
Candles – Candles should be used every day — for meals, bath time, snuggling.
Read together – Choose a book and take turns reading it to each other.
Photos – When is the last time you had a photo taken together? What are you waiting for?
Work Date – Surprise your love with a lunch date.
Stroll – Leave the TV, phone and computer behind and go on a walk together.
Spell it Out – With Sidewalk Chalk, write your names in a heart on the sidewalk where your sweetheart is sure to see it.
Entertainment – Go see a High School or College play or concert. It is affordable and
fun!
Slow Dance – Turn on the radio and dance to the songs you fell in love listening to.
Star Gaze – Drive out to the country and look at the stars.
Volunteer – Choose a charity or cause that means something to both of you and work
together to make the world a better place.
Love Story – Write how you met, fell in love, how you felt, what your thoughts were. You will treasure looking through these books over the years.
Love Grows – Plant a garden together. Herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruit — anything you both like.
Cheer – Go to a High School Sporting Event.
Warm Hearts – Snuggle by a campfire or build a fire in the fireplace.
Watch the Clouds – Lay together and watch the clouds go by. Talk about the different shapes you see.
Connect – Hug, Hold Hands, Put your Arm around your Sweetheart.
Big Money – Write your Sweetheart a Check for One Million Kisses. Or make a coupon book of treats for him or her.
Window Shop – Go downtown and window shop.
Early Days – Look at photo albums of yourselves when you were kids through your dating years.
Puzzles – Do a jigsaw or crossword puzzle together.
Wish List – Both make a wish list of things that make you happy and put them in order. Hugs, dates, gifts, time together, intimacy, etc. Then look at the lists. They may
surprise you.
People Watch – Sit on a bench and watch people go by. Try to guess their stories.
Play – Go to the park and swing.
Kiss – Before you part for the day, kiss for 10 seconds. It is much better than a quick
peck on the cheek.
Picnic – Get take out food or make a picnic lunch. Take your time and enjoy your meal together outdoors.
Throw Rocks – Go to a pond, creek, or lake and throw rocks. Try to skip them or aim for different targets.
So, although an occasional expensive dinner is appreciated, it is truly the day-to-day
affection that builds romance and love. Yes, Love is Patient, Kind — and Cheap!
About the Author: Nicole Dean is the owner of www.showMomtheMoney.com — a fun and exciting site for Moms and Work from Home Moms. ( https://www.showmomthemoney.com ) She lives in Florida with her much loved Husband of almost 10 years, and their two silly children.
Cost of Raising Baby on the Cheap
Have you ever read those reports on the cost of raising a child?
The last time I checked, I was told that it would cost the astronomical figure of $430,470 to raise my baby… and that didn’t include college tuition!
The people who come up with these figures must not be very creative. Some of the best things you can do for your child are free or very inexpensive.
Here are some tips for raising kids on the cheap.
1) Breastfeed
You can save roughly $1,000 in formula costs alone in your baby’s first year by breastfeeding. Check out this report: http://www.natural-moms.com/cost_of_baby_formula.html
This figure doesn’t include the extra costs you would incur from Doctor visits and medications. Breastfed babies are less likely to need medical care and don’t get sick as often as their formula fed peers.
Formula feeding increases a baby’s risk of both acute and chronic health problems not only during childhood but well into adulthood. If you’re a working and breastfeeding Mother, you’re less likely to miss work than if you were formula feeding.
In addition, a breastfed baby can go straight from the breast to an open cup, thus eliminating pacifiers, bottles and sippy cups.
Even baby food is not necessary. The healthiest first foods for baby are fresh fork-mashed avocado, banana, sweet potato and the like. If you’re breastfeeding, you may be able to delay the introduction of solids until as late as 8 or 9 months.
2) Use Cloth Diapers
All I am saying…is give cloth a chance!
The modern cloth diapers are nothing like Grandma’s. The nicer ones are made from high tech materials that wick moisture away from baby, and utilize snaps or velcro to close instead of pins.
They save you a lot of money especially if you save them and use them again for subsequent children. You can buy them cheaply at thrift stores, online auctions, and diaper services (check your phone book for listings). Or ask for cloth diapers as shower gifts.
3) Rethink your Needs
Think about what you REALLY need to raise your baby. A lot of the expensive items sold in baby stores are completely unnecessary and some are even harmful. Most of the people raising children on the planet today do so without cribs, walkers (which Pediatricians recommend against anyway!), playpens, changing tables, swings, “educational” toys, etc.
Many Moms have found that a soft cloth carrier or baby sling was the only gadget they really needed. Baby is happy, stimulated by your activities and entertained. And Mom can get stuff done!
The best toys are simple and classic and require imagination. These are often the least expensive too! And most kids do best with few toys that are rotated. Think back to your own childhood…what were your favorite toys? If you can even remember them, they were probably not loud, flashy electronic battery powered gadgets. Your best childhood memories probably come from activities…playing in Grandma’s backyard, going places with Mom and Dad, the simple things.
For the baby stuff you really can’t live without…
4) Buy or Obtain Used
Let friends know that you welcome hand-me-downs and you’ll be blessed with all sorts of great stuff!
High quality clothing and baby equipment generally doesn’t wear out from just one child’s use. For safety, check to make sure items haven’t been recalled and get the owner’s manuals from the manufacturer’s websites. (The one exception would be child safety seats. Always buy those new.)
Shop at thrift and consignment shops and online auctions. Some of the very best deals can be found at regional consignment sales. Check local parenting magazines and websites for the locations of these.
Personally, I prefer used clothing because much new clothing has been treated with flame retardants and other scary chemicals that can be absorbed into children’s softer skin.
Being a frugal parent minimizes the impact on the environment, saves you money and models a healthy lifestyle to your kids. Teach your kids what really matters in life…people, not things!
Carrie Lauth publishes an informative newsletter for Moms doing things the natural way. Get your free subscriber goodies at http://www.natural-moms.com
