4 Ways to Use Junk Mail

I get junk mail every day. Credit card offers, insurance offers, so and so running for re-election. I used to just see it as garbage, and it went in the trash without even being opened. What a waste of paper!

Here's a few ideas on how to put that junk to good use.

1. Print coupons with it.
         Or print anything really. Generally, only one side of the paper is already printed, so just flip it in your printer to come out on the clean side. Stores will still accept the coupon if somethings written on the other side, and you don't have to waste your good paper on it.

2. Roll Coins
         You may have to check with your bank to make sure they'll still accept them rolled this way. But it's pretty simple to cut a piece of paper into 4. Stack your coins up, and roll the paper around them. Tape it shut. Label it. Done.

3. Reuse the envelope.
          We have lots of return labels for free, so we can just stick one with our address over theirs, and when they use a window envelope, you don't have to worry about covering up the old send to address. Add a stamp, and tape it shut.

 

 

4. Scrap paper.

          It's always good to have extra paper around. You can write your shopping lost, phone numbers, whatever you need. No need to spend money on a note book when people are shipping free paper to your house everyday. :)

 

 

What about you? Do you use your junk mail for anything? Is this too reminiscent of an extreme cheapskates episode?



More sweet treats... Peanut Butter Banana Muffins and Cinnamon Roll Inspired Muffins

More sweet, healthy, and totally affordable muffins for you and the family! (or just you ;P)

I made two new treats that I have been dying to share with you!!! I just had to do all the calculating of nutrition info and price which took me forever this time!

Peanut Butter Banana on left, Cinnamon Roll Inspired on right

Whats great about these muffins?

• Low Calorie
• Nutrient Dense
• Extremely Affordable
• Easy to Make (I am a terrible baker)
• Filling ( I eat 2 for breakfast)
• Versatile (snack, breakfast, dessert, whatever/whenever you want!)
• You can add or subtract ingredients and make them your own 
• AND THEY ARE DELICIOUS (the cinnamon roll ones are my husband and I's favorite)

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (12 muffins)

Appliances and tools you need for this treat:

• Oven
• Microwave
• Cupcake/Muffin tray 
• Mixing bowl
• Fork for mixing
• Measuring Cups

Ingredients for this treat:

• 1-1.5 Cups Old Fashioned Oats (I used just over 1 cup to make texture right. Sorry it's not exact)
• 1/2 Cup Apple Sauce
• 1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter (or allergy friendly substitute)
• 2 Large or 3 Medium Bananas (super ripe)
• 1 tsp Imitation Vanilla 
• 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 Cup Milk ( I used light Almond milk)
• 1 tsp Cinnamon

How to make this lovely treat:

1. Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease cupcake/muffin tin (or I suppose you could use the little liner things)
3. Warm Peanut Butter in microwave to make stirring easier
4. Mash Bananas till smooth (I used a regular fork with ease)
5. Add rest of ingredients to bowl and stir 
6. Scoop mixture into tin try to make it so there are even amounts in each cup. (I put a tablespoon full in each then added accordingly)
7. Place in oven
8. Bake for 15- 20 minutes
9. Let Cool and enjoy!

Cost Breakdown!

Ingredient	Initial Price of ingredient	Price per batch (12 servings)	Price per serving
Oats(old fashioned)	$3.99	$0.26	$0.02
Apple Sauce (sweet or unsweet)	$2.29	$0.45	$0.04
Baking Soda	$0.69	<$0.01	<$0.01
Baking Powder	$1.28	<$0.01	<$0.01
Natural Peanut Butter	$2.19	$0.31	$0.02
Bananas	$2.20	$0.73	$0.06
Milk	$3.22	$0.10	<$0.01
Imitation Vanilla	$2.00	$0.06	<$0.01

Totals

Initial Investment: $17.86

Price Per Batch: $1.92

Price Per Serving: $0.16

Nutrition Breakdown

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Serving

Per Serving% Daily Value*

Calories 122

Calories from Fat 52

Total Fat 5.8g9%

Saturated Fat 0.9g5%

Sodium 2mg0%

Potassium 98mg3%

Carbohydrates 13.4g4%

Dietary Fiber 2.3g9%

Sugars 6.3g

Protein 3.5g

Vitamin A 0% · Vitamin C 5%

Calcium 1% · Iron 3%

*Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Okay, time to look at my personal favorite, Cinnamon Roll Inspired Muffins!!!

What you need:

• Oven 
• Muffin Tin
• Measuring Cups
• Bowl 
• Spoon

Ingredients you will need:

• 1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 Cups Apple Sauce
• 2 tsp Imitation Vanilla
• 2 Egg Whites

How to make my new fav treat:

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease muffin tin
• Combine ingredients in bowl
• Scoop into muffin tin evenly
• Bake for 15-20 minutes
• Let Cool and ENJOY

(Optional: for dessert make a quick confectioners sugar + milk icing and ice muffins after cooled)

Cost Breakdown

Ingredient	Initial Price of ingredient	Price per batch (12 servings)	Price per serving
Oats(old fashioned)	$3.99	$0.26	$0.02
Apple Sauce (sweet or unsweet)	$2.29	$0.45	$0.04
Baking Soda	$0.69	<$0.01	<$0.01
Baking Powder	$1.28	<$0.01	<$0.01
Eggs	$1.60	$0.26	$0.02
Light Brown Sugar	$1.88	$0.11	$0.01
Imitation Vanilla	$2.00	$0.06	<$0.01

Totals

Initial investment:$13.81

Price Per Batch: $1.15

Price Per Serving: $0.10

Woahhhh!!! Try to beat that price!

How healthy are they?

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Serving

Per Serving% Daily Value*

Calories 64

Calories from Fat 5

Total Fat 0.5g1%

Saturated Fat 0.1g1%

Sodium 11mg0%

Potassium 42mg1%

Carbohydrates 12.3g4%

Dietary Fiber 1.4g6%

Sugars 6.3g

Protein 1.8g

Vitamin A 0% · Vitamin C 4%

Calcium 1% · Iron 2%

Best part about learning how to make healthy muffins? Once you get the consistency down you can add whatever you want, fruit, nuts, etc. 

Like these recipes? Comment Below =]

Cheap Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies! Less than $0.13 per serving!

Hi again,

So, since I've been cooking healthier dinners for my husband and I, my husband suggested we try to eat healthier with other meals too. What he said next sparked an amazing idea!

He suggested we go out and buy healthy snacks like Special K or Fiber One bars, since we are always on the go. My next thought was, I really, REALLY don't want to spend over $1.00 on a bar that is not only not that healthy, but it doesn't fill you up! I always end up eating the whole box in one day, and they cost like $4.00 a box. I just cannot justify spending more on a snack than I do on dinner.

I've decided instead to make my own healthy snacks that can be packaged and eaten on the go! And what is great is they are SO HEALTHY & CHEAP, that they can be eaten as a snack, for breakfast or as a dessert!

Last nights creation was Peanut Butter Chocolate Zucchini Brownies!

What I love about these brownies:

• They are super low in calories & high in nutrients
• Very affordable (see cost breakdown below)
• Can be wrapped up for an on the go snack, or even frozen for eating another time
• Dense and filling (I can only eat one at a time)
• And last but not least they are DELICIOUS

Appliances and such that you will need to create this treat:

• Oven
• 13''x 8'' Rectangular Glass Baking Dish(or 2 smaller ones)
• Knife
• Large Bowl
• Serving Spatula
• Spoon or Fork 
• Spiral Vegetable Slicer OR Cheese Grater
• Microwave
• Rubber Spatula

Ingredients you will need for this treat:

• 2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
• 1/2 Cups Apple Sauce (sweet or unsweetened)
• 1-2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1-2 tsp Baking Powder
• 2 Cups Natural Peanut Butter (or other allergy friendly nut butter)
• .15 lbs or half of one Zucchini (or other Summer Squash)
• 1 cup Chocolate Chips (bonus points for higher cocoa content)
• 1 Tbsp Imitation (or real) Vanilla Extract
• Small amount Pam or Oil (to grease dish)

How to make this DELICIOUS treat:

1. Grease glass baking dish using oil or pam
2. Set oven to 350 degrees
3. Shred Zucchini using cheese grater or spiral slicer
4. Chop Zucchini if slices are to long using knife
5. Warm Peanut Butter in microwave for 30 seconds
6. Combine all ingredients in bowl
7. Stir or Mix all ingredients in bowl (*hint chocolate should melt*)
8. Place ingredients into glass baking dish
9. Smooth the mixture in dish making sure all corners are filled with rubber spatula
10. Place baking dish in oven uncovered
11. Bake for 20-30 minutes in oven
12. Place in refrigerator to cool or let sit at room temperature for 6 hours (this will allow brownies to harden a bit
13. Cut into squares and enjoy
14. Optional: package them in plastic wrap for an on the go treat

Look how mine came out !

I agree not that attractive but definitely delicious!

May cover with chocolate chips on top prior to baking to make appearance better

Cost Breakdown!

Ingredient	Initial Price of ingredient	Price per batch (30 servings	Price per serving
Oats(old fashioned)	$3.99	$0.30	$0.01
Apple Sauce (sweet or unsweet)	$2.29	$0.45	$0.02
Baking Soda	$0.69	<$0.01	<$0.01
Baking Powder	$1.28	$0.02	<$0.01
Natural Peanut Butter	$2.19	$0.90	$0.03
Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips (60% cocoa)	$4.09	$2.04	$0.07
Zucchini	$0.75	$0.22	<$0.01
Imitation Vanilla	$2.00	$0.12	<$0.01

Totals!: 

Initial Investment: $17.28

Per Batch: $4.06

Per Serving: $0.13

Compared to buying pre-made treats that is an 

AWESOME DEAL!!!

As you can see I bought a ton of different things in bulk.

I also bought ingredients for other treats

and some things I already had at home!

Just how healthy are these treats?

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Serving

Per Serving% Daily Value*

Calories 68

Calories from Fat 39

Total Fat 4.3g7%

Saturated Fat 0.7g4%

Cholesterol 0mg0%

Sodium 45mg2%

Potassium 37mg1%

Carbohydrates 4.4g1%

Dietary Fiber 0.9g4%

Sugars 3.3g

Protein 2.2g

Vitamin A 1% · Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 0% · Iron 2%

*Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Fat

Pro

Carb

Alc

Want to see more recipes like this one?

 Leave a comment below!!!

Summer Squash Spaghetti in a TurkeyBolognese Sauce- My Own Cheap Crock-Pot Creation

Here we go again with another cheap, easy, healthy, and delicious Crock-Pot meal!

Who said you couldn't eat healthy and save money?

 Healthy Food can be Cheap Food, too!

Summer Squash Spaghetti in a Turkey Bolognese Sauce!

In case you have not read about my other meal, I am using the left over sauce from that meal to create this one...aka more savings !!!

Click on link below to view that recipe 
Sausage and Rice Stuffed Peppers

Appliances and Items you will need to make today's meal:

-Crock-Pot
-Spiral Veggie Cutter (Veggeti costed me under $15 and it is so worth the price)
-Large Spoon or Spatula
-Pasta Serving Spoon
-Chopping Knife
-Can Opener
-Large Bowl or just use Crock-Pot

Ingredients you will need for this meal

• Left Over Broth/Sauce from Stuffed Peppers meal
• Use as much or as little as you prefer. 

• 1 Large White Baguette, cut into 6 pieces and served on side.
• It was the cheapest fresh bread at my store choose what you like or skip bread all together. It does add a nice touch though.

• 2  small cans of Tomato Paste, add to the broth of stuffed pepper meal.
•  Or less, its your preference it only alters  the thickness of sauce. Also, I chose Hunts with basil and garlic added already to get more flavor. There are low sodium varieties if you are concerned about salt intake.

• 1 lb of Ground Turkey,add to broth of stuffed pepper meal
• I found a sale on ground turkey this recipe will work with any ground meat.

• Approx 1.3 lbs Summer Squash, sliced with veggeti or other spiral vegetable cutter, medium thickness (think linguine).
• I bought 1.7 lbs of yellow squash since my husband eats a lot, other colors will work as well this color had a sale.

• Handful of Fresh Basil, chopped finely and added to sauce.
• I bought a living basil plant last shopping trip since I LOVE Basil

• 6 Cloves of Garlic, sliced or chopped finely and added to the sauce mixture
• I had left over garlic from the first meal I made, If you are not a garlic fan just skip this ingredient

• Optional: Parmesan Cheese, sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese when serving.
• Optional: Mozzarella Cheese, Add to mixture in Crock-Pot

How to assemble this wonderful meal!

1. Add Tomato Paste to left over broth sauce mixture and stir/whisk until smooth. 
1. Use more or less to get consistency you prefer.
2. Chop or Slice Cloves of Garlic and add to your sauce
3. Chop Basil finely and add to your sauce
4. Add your new sauce to your Crock-Pot
5. Add Ground Turkey to bottom of Crock-Pot and gently break apart with a spatula or spoon
6. Slice Summer Squash with spiral slicer, medium thickness
7. Add Sliced Summer Squash to your Crock-Pot
8. Set Crock-Pot to Low Temperature and Cover with lid
9. Leave alone for 6 hours 
10. Serve and Enjoy!!!!

Now what you have all been waiting for...The Cost and Breakdown!

• Left Over Broth/Sauce 
• Initial Cost: $0
• Cost per serving: $0

• 1 Large White Baguette
• Initial Cost: $0.99
• Cost per serving: $0.16

• 2  Small Cans of Tomato Paste (I had half can left over from another meal)
• Initial Cost: $1.34
• Cost Per Serving: $0.22

• 1 lb of Ground Turkey
• Initial Cost: $2.99
• Cost Per Serving: $0.50

• Approx 1.3 lbs Summer Squash (I purchased 1.7lbs)
• Initial Cost: $2.50
• Cost Per Serving: $0.41

• Handful of Fresh Basil (I purchased live plant so I will eventually get more out of it)
• Initial Cost: $1.99
• Cost Per Serving: <$0.01

• 6 Cloves of Garlic (I Had left over from previous meal)
• Initial Cost: $0.50
• Cost Per Serving: $0.03

• Optional: Parmesan Cheese (again I had leftovers)
• Initial Cost: $2.99
• Cost Per Serving: $0.06

Total Initial Cost: With Parm Cheese $13.30; Without Parm Cheese $10.31

My Initial Cost (since I had ingredients laying around) $9.48

Total Cost Per Serving: With Parm Cheese $1.39; Without Parm Cheese $1.33

My Cost Per Serving (taking leftovers into account) $1.24

WHAT AN AWESOME DINNER DEAL!!!

...

How this meal could be cheaper:

Use Coupons!

and Find Better Deals!

How do you think it come out?

Curious about Nutrition Facts per serving?

 I got that done for you too!

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Serving

Per Serving% Daily Value*

Calories 409

Calories from Fat 65

Total Fat 7.3g 11%

Saturated Fat 1.9g 9%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1.7g

Monounsaturated Fat 2.6g

Cholesterol 57mg  19%

Sodium 807mg  34%

Potassium 1468mg  42%

Carbohydrates 58.6g  20%

Dietary Fiber 10.8g  43%

Sugars 19.6g

Protein 28.6g

Vitamin A 41% · Vitamin C 57%

Calcium 5% · Iron 50%

Well there you have it another 
great meal to enjoy! 

Don't forget to comment below 

we love hearing what you have 

to say! :)