Today's cheap lunch

Pepper jack cheese stick $.33
Cheese and onion roll .59

Small Banana .29


Total $1.21 plus tax

I feel better now.

Exercise

It's easy to get caught up in an exercise craze. If you watch TV at all, you are bombarded with exercise equipment, beautiful people that have used the exercise equipment to become beautiful.
Why spend all that time and money? Why buy the equipment, the clothes, buy into the belief that you need all of these things to be healthy.
I'll share my motivation with you. I always get bored with an exercise program eventually. Seems you are just doing the same thing all the time. Yet, I walk nearly every day. My secret? I have a purpose to the walk. I walk across town to meet my carpool ride to work. I have to get there, so there is a purpose to the walk. It makes me feel good in the early morning and I'm getting exercise.
So have a purpose to your exercise. I've even read of people that knit while riding an exercise bike. That way is killing two birds with one stone. Exercise AND knitting progress.
What could be better? And cheaper!

Quick snack

Sometimes my boys want a quick snack and I've started making a list of things I've come across that are quick and cheap and good. That way if they want something, I have a list of ideas.
One of their favorites is cinnamon toast. I just toast whatever bread we happen to have, then butter and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Lately I've had red sprinkles to put on top as well. It's a hit!

Entertainment

In my hurried and stressed out life, I give myself a lot of opportunities to rest and relax and meditate. I know there is no reason I have to spend money to have fun. I know there is no reason I have to spend money to relax and rejuvenate myself. So why don't I?
Today I was sitting outside, eating my very cheap lunch ($1) and I started noticing the leaves on the trees, how they were moving in the breeze, and it occurred to me that I don't do that very often. I sit out there at least 3 times a week and I don't take the time to notice much of anything. It can be a joy just to observe nature and people. A time to meditate and relax and get my inner chaos in order.
Stop and smell the roses!

Potato recipe

Here's a little recipe I made up a few years ago. Someone had given me instant mashed potatoes. I know, yuck. So I developed this to make them more edible and they turned out really good. I was impressed with myself.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make four servings of the instant mashed potatoes according to the recipe. Stir in 3 eggs. Then add a few spices you have on hand. Salt, pepper, garlic, oregano. Any thing like that but not too much. Grease a cookie sheet and then put large spoonfuls of the mixture on the sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges start to brown. Remove and serve immediately.
Easy, cheap and tasty.

Katie

New to you clothing

It's morning, you've just gotten out of the shower and you head to the closet for something to wear. Then you sigh deeply, nothing new since yesterday. You know deep in your eco-heart(and moneyless heart) that it's better for the environment and better for your pocketbook (do people use that term still?) to wear your clothes until they wear out. But deep in your fashion-conscious and new-wanting ego you want new clothes once in awhile. Going to the thrift store to find a few things can satisfy this temporarily. You can find some really good quality clothes there if you are willing to look but have you thought of this?
Remember in the old days (mine anyway), people used to hand down clothing. Sometimes it wasn't a good thing, I remember getting clothes from my cousins in California and they had this odd smell. But you can make it a good thing. You don't have to beg, you don't have to go around asking people for their clothes, just a comment now and then, saying "Look at this great blouse I got! So-and-so was cleaning out her closet and gave it to me!" That way you are indicating to other people that you'd be willing to accept their clothing they don't want anymore. It may take a few months but suddenly someone will be saying "Hey, I have some nice pants I need to give away because my closet is stuffed, would you like them?" Even if something doesn't fit/look quite right, if it's good quality, you can work with it. Look to websites like Wardrobe Refashion for inspiration and good ideas.

A Good Lunch

Do you want a good lunch? Are you tired of bringing leftovers from home? But eating out is too expensive? Learn the cheap, but good lunch.
If you have a decent grocery store nearby it's easy.

Store brand box of crackers on sale $1.50
Avocado on sale $1.50
Bring your own water $0.00
Total $3.00

The crackers are a bonus because they can last 3 days.

Bagel $.55
Yogurt on sale $.50
Total $1.05

You get the idea. One piece of fruit with a bagel. Just hunt for combinations that you wouldn't otherwise think of. Look for things on sale and base a meal around that.
Be creative!

Any questions or comments, let me know!
Thanks