Crumble, brown & drain about a pound of ground beef (or less, or more).  Stir in a can of cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or cream of broccoli soup.  Add a can or two of whatever vegetable you prefer, or whatever fresh veggies you have on hand.  Season with whatever you like  -  I usually add soy sauce and garlic. ...more

Our house is 1050 square feet main floor, same size basement.  650 square feet of the basement is a one-bedroom suite currently rented to our second daughter (for fair market rent).  100 square feet is the laundry room, the rest is currently furnace/water heater/open storage.  Main floor is 1 bath, 2 bedrooms (ours and...more

When my eldest daughter was very small and I was VERY poor, I used to get the largest adult clothing I could find at yard sales, take it all apart along the seams, and use the fabric to make all of her clothes. The leftover pieces went into a couple of patchwork quilts and then into doll clothes, cleaning rags, and rag...more

"Intentional spending" = spending with a plan, NOT on impulse.  Also, please enlighten us as to how granola, dried fruit, nuts, or jerky constitute "empty calories"?