One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 912 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

Penny Pinching Tip – Split Your Meal

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 2, 2015 · 19 Comments

We don’t eat out at restaurants very often, but when we do, I’m blown away by how large the portion sizes are. I typically find myself eating out while on vacation {for obvious reasons!}, so I’m lucky that The Girl is always with me because we love to share meals.

Sharing meals is perfect in so many ways, not the least of which is I actually end up eating the correct portion size. If you dine out and split a meal, you’ve automatically cut 50% off your bill. I might not be good at math, but that one wasn’t rocket science. If we both order water {which we both prefer with our meals over soda}, we can usually get out of a restaurant for the price of one diner.

Seems like a pretty darn simple way to save if you find yourself eating outside your own kitchen.

Do you think that’s crazy? Not really the sharing type? Or do you have a sharing buddy when you dine out, too?

~Mavis

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10 Tips for Getting Your Kids Involved in the Kitchen

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 2, 2015 · 1 Comment

They say that the key to getting kids to eat healthy is involving them in the growing and preparation of the foods. Since growing season is in a sad, but factual lull, this is the perfect time to get the kids, no matter their age, involved in the kitchen.

The thing about involving the kids in the cooking process is that it is awesome in theory, not always so awesome in practice. When you are trying to get a meal on the table after work, but before evening activities begin, it can get a bit stressful. So, I thought I would put together some pick and choose tips to get the kids in the kitchen, and keep you sane:

Menu planning. Maybe they are not old enough for food prep, or the schedule simply does not allow you to slow down long enough to have them help. I get it, no judgement. So, each week when you plan the menu, make a kid’s choice night. Allow them to choose the menu, complete with sides. If they are older, you can have them help you write the grocery list that goes into the menu, so that they can see what goes into planning a meal.
Food prep. If you have little ones and time during the day, consider taking some time to do food prep long before the actual mealtime. Little ones can help wash produce, use the salad spinner, or even toss all of the fixin’s into a big salad bowl. That way, when mealtime comes, they can still take credit for prep, and you didn’t burn the main course while trying to multitask.
Presentation and Table Setting. Have the kids set the table, and then give them some creative license. If you have more than one set of dishes, let them choose. If not, maybe they can choose cloth napkins vs. paper, or maybe give them the choice to drink from wine glasses or regular. Turn a chore into an expression of creativity. {If you don’t care where the forks, bowls, etc. go, you can really let them get creative}.
When baking, let them measure out the amounts. Splitting or doubling a recipe is a secret math project for older kids. For younger kids, just have them retrieve the right cup amount {i.e. “Can you grab me the 1/2 cup?”}, that way, they get used to what the amounts look like.
Shopping. I know that leaving the kids behind so that you can concentrate in the grocery store is like a mini mommy vacation, but getting them involved at the grocery store helps them understand all of the options. For older kids, you can say, please pick out the vegetables you would like in your lunches this week…or something like that.
Teach older kids {I’m thinking 9 and up} to become experts at one meal. It can start simple, like PB&J, scrambled eggs, spaghetti, etc. and work its way up as they get older. Then, when that item is on the menu, they are in charge. It gives them ownership of the meal, and give you an afternoon or night off.
Snack time smoothies. Smoothies are a super kid-friendly way to get kids to eat healthy. Having them help you throw everything in the blender and turn it on basically makes them think they made their own snack.
Try kid-friendly cookbooks that are both easy recipes, and create a kind of food art.
Try to sit down to eat as a family a couple of times a week–especially on nights they have helped with some part of the meal. Ask for their opinions on the meal. Ask older kids if they think the flavor “needs something”–it allows them to start thinking in terms of preparation.
Get them involved in clean-up. Toddlers and up can be in charge of at least carrying their plate to the sink. Older kids can put things back in the fridge, and even pack leftovers for their lunches the next day. Let’s be real, it’s the least they can do for you for all you do for them. 🙂

I know some of YOU have clever tricks up your sleeve when it comes to getting your kids involved, so make sure to share them in the comments below.

~Mavis

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What are the Best Chicken Breeds for Backyards?

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 2, 2015 · 8 Comments

I get a lot of emails asking me about the best breeds for backyard chickens, and with baby chick season right around the corner, I thought I would just answer the question in a tidy little post. BUT, before I jump into answering the question, I want to mention that it really depends on what you want backyard chickens for.

Obviously, you want the eggs, but does temperament trump production {say, if you have little kids that want chickens to be more like pets}? Maybe you live in a climate that they will need to be really cold hardy? I am just throwing those nuggets of thought out there as things to keep in mind as you read my personal suggestions.

First up, the Rhode Island Red. Rhode Island Reds are really cold hardy. They are great layers {brown eggs}. Their temperament really depends on the individual bird. Some are really docile and sweet, while others can be a bit bratty.

Next, the Plymouth Rock. In my opinion, the barred variety wins for the prettiest backyard chicken. They are solid layers and pretty cold hardy {again, brown eggs}. They typically have great temperaments, but again, individual birds may throw you for a loop.

The Leghorn is another great layer. They typically lay large white eggs. They also are known for being the best layers, where quantity is concerned. Their only downside is their temperament. They can be a little loud–and sometimes flighty.

The White Bantam Brahma is a great choice if space is an issue. They are smaller {hence the bantam}, but still solid little layers. They are known for their docile personalities too.

Orpingtons are classic looking birds. They are pretty good producers, cold hardy, and pretty docile. They are a great “starter” chicken.

Ameraucanas are a great choice if you want more unique eggs {they lay blue eggs}. They don’t lay a ton of eggs, but they do really well in the winter. In super hot climates, they will need quite a bit of shade in the summer.

Finally, Australorps are another popular choice. They are unique because they lay nearly year round. They get along well with other breeds, so you can mix your flock. They typically have very friendly dispositions and lay for a lot longer duration than other popular breeds.

So, there you have it. Obviously, there are TONS of choices, each with unique characteristics, and after you have cut your teeth on the more popular breeds, I think it is fun to try some of the more unique ones out.

In the past I’ve always ordered my chicks on mypetchicken.com. I’ve always gotten healthy chicks, and have been happy with the selection.

I hope that helps. If you are starting a flock this spring, let me know in the comments what breeds you go with.

~Mavis

Once you decide on a breed, make sure to check out How to Care for Baby Chicks.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Can Shopping at Costco Save You Money? Week 9 of 52

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 2, 2015 · 8 Comments

I popped into Costco right before I left for the east coast and picked up a few of the boy’s favorite things… doughnuts, popcorn, chicken skewers and a few other necessities. Well, I consider bread and eggs necessities, but maybe I’m crazy.

My husband isn’t known to cook, in fact maybe if I’m lucky he will cook once {or twice} a year. 🙂 I’m fairly certain all 24 of those eggs you see above will still be there when I return. But who knows, maybe he’ll get really hungry and pull up a you-tube video on how to scramble eggs. I wouldn’t hold your breath though. 😉

In my mad dash to leave I forgot to snap pictures of the pasta I made {and put into individual containers} and the frozen chili and soups I set in the fridge to thaw.

When I go on vacation… so do the boys so if I come home to a bunch of pizza boxes I won’t be surprised.

After 20 years of marriage, some things never change.

~Mavis

Total Spent This Week $38.53
Total Spent Year to Date $ 312.25

Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.