Busy Mommy Media» Frugal Holidays

Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Lorie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:04:21 +0000

Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest gift buying holidays. It has also become a time to tell the one we love how much we love them by showering them with gifts. I think the old saying, Money can’t buy love, should make you think twice about how much you need to spend to let the one you love know it. Some of the most popular gifts for Valentine’s Day are cards, a romantic dinner, candy/chocolate, flowers, and jewelry. I have a frugal option for all of those items that won’t break your budget and still show your loved one how much you care.

Valentine Cards

Premade Valentine cards in the store can cost you up to $6 (or more). Why buy those? You can easily make your own for a lot cheaper. Sit down and write a love letter to your loved one. These letters are more meaningful than a card someone else has written. You could also try to write a poem. These handmade cards and letters will become cherished keepsakes. You can also send your loved one an e-card. There are a lot of different places online to send free e-cards. I have also printed cards that I have made online. These are a lot more personal because you can write what you want on them. If you just really are not very crafty then Dollar stores offer cards for fifty cents, so you might try there.

Romantic Dinners

Going out for dinner is another popular way for couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day. It can also cost you over $100. One thing you could do to save money is go out to eat for lunch instead. Lunch will cost about half of what dinner would have and since my kids are in school, I do not even need a babysitter. Another option would be to go out for dessert only. If you have never gone out for dessert only then you have try this. I am always too full to order dessert and this way I do not have to worry about that. This also allows for more time talking since you are not eating as much. Lastly, you can make dinner at home. This can be really nice with candlelight and all. There are however some drawbacks . . . you will actually have to cook and cleanup. If you are willing to do that you could save money and still have a nice evening. There are a lot of nice restaurant copycat recipes online. One of my favorites is the Alice Springs Chicken from The Outback. I have made this several times. So there are several options to have a romantic meal and still save money.

Candy/Chocolates

Have you looked at the store and noticed how much chocolates are now? You can pay $20 or more for a nice box! There are a lot of easy recipes online that you can make yourself to give. Some of my favorites are chocolate covered strawberries, coconut balls, truffles, and even chocolate chip cookies. You can also make your own conversation hearts and write something on them that you want. Homemade foods are always a hit for Valentine’s Day.

Flowers

Flowers can cost you up to $100. If you really want to give flowers, think about buying a plant or even a rose bush. These will give your Valentine the gift of flowers for a long time and may be a better use of your money.

Jewelry

Jewelry is another item that men usually like to buy women for Valentine’s Day. This can be expensive. If you still really want to get something special for your loved one in the jewelry department you can try Free Jewelry.com. They have a great selection of jewelry for free or low cost. The only thing you have to do is pay $6.99 for shipping per piece. Believe it or not the quality of the jewelry is really nice. Just make sure if you order from there to note how long shipping will take.

Planning a Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party on a Budget

Lorie — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0000

I have been so busy with Christmas that it is hard to believe the New Year is right around the corner. If you are like me a New Year’s Eve party is probably the last thing you are thinking about. Time is running short, but you can still plan a fun New Year’s Eve party that will fit your budget. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Inviting Guests

If you want to keep your budget low then you will need to consider inviting only a few close friends or members of your family. Just make sure you have enough to do something fun together. At this last minute you may want to call friends and family to personally invite them or you could send an invitation in an e-mail. You could also use free programs like Envite or even make a Facebook event page. I like the Facebook event page because people can RSVP right on the page and you can get an idea of who is coming, but some people do not use Facebook so other options might work better for you. Any of these options would be quick and not break your budget.

Decorations and Party Favors

You could spend a lot of money on decorations if you are not careful. Do not waste your money on this category. Your money will be better spent in the food category. Use what you already have on hand at home. Leave your Christmas decorations up. For the most part, this will be plenty of decorations for the evening. I have found that my Dollar Tree has special New Year’s Eve party favors. These include hats and blowers. Buy a few of these for your party and you will be all set.

Food

I think this will probably be your biggest expense for the party. Do not plan to feed your guest a whole dinner. Just plan on serving a few snacks and drinks to your guest. You will want to buy some paper plates, cups, napkins and other paper goods. You can also find these items at the Dollar Stores that will not cost you much at all. I like to spend some money on these items because it will save me time on the cleanup later. We also do not drink alcohol at our house so that would make it a lot cheaper. If you have some time, here are a few quick recipes that you can make for your party.

Dill Dip (this is great with vegetables or chips and taste like ranch dip)

New Year’s Eve Punch (I’ve also made this with Rainbow Sherbet)

Egg Salad Sandwiches (or any sandwiches, cut these in half)

Tortilla Chips and Salsa (I make my own salsa in the summer when tomatoes are ready)

Activities

You will need to plan some activities for your guest. Go search in your game closet and you will probably find board games or cards that would be fun for your guest. Be sure to plan a few things for the kids to do, if they will be at the party. You might even have an older child help with the children so you and your adult guest can do some fun things together without worrying about the kids. If you like music, you can go to Pandora and play a music list on your computer for your guest to listen to during the party or you can play CD’s you already own. You could also plan to watch a movie together and enjoy popcorn or caramel corn and soft drinks.

There are so many options for a fun filled New Year’s Eve party that won’t cost you a lot of money. Just take a few minutes and get a plan in action for a fabulous New Year’s Eve Party!

Last Minute Christmas Gifts on a Budget

Lorie — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:03:28 +0000

It’s less than a week before Christmas and many people are still searching for a perfect gift for friends and family. Waiting until the last minute can also lead to overspending on your gifts. It is probably too late to order something online and waiting in long lines at the store probably is not your idea of a good time or something you even want to think about doing. Here are some gifts that won’t break your budget and you will not have to wait in long lines to buy.

Gift of You

Giving the gift of you is a great way to celebrate Christmas and make someone happy. If you have a certain talent you can give that to someone and it will only cost you time. Make some pretty certificates and present that in a card to the recipient. One gift that is really nice for young families with kids is the gift of a free night of babysitting. Think about what kind of talents you have to offer and give the gift of you this Christmas.

Prepaid Phone Cards

Prepaid phone cards are an easy gift to pick up at the last minute. This gift is great for people who live far away and helps them keep in touch with you throughout the year.

Netflix

Netflix online streaming is a great gift to give someone. Entertainment for one month for $8 is a great budget gift. You can choose from different packages which include one month, two months, three months, six months, or one year. This is a gift that can give for months after Christmas. Make sure the person you are giving this gift to has a computer or another way to stream. Netflix offers an e-mail card or a printed card to let the person you buy this for know of the gift. Go here to learn more about Netflix Gifts.

Amazon Kindle e-Book

If you have someone on your list that is a book lover and has a devise to read Kindle books then this may be the perfect gift. There are a ton of books on Amazon. Pick one you think your recipient would like and Amazon will send the receiver an e-mail with directions on getting the book. I have had several e-books sent to me as gifts and it is always a nice surprise. Go here to find a Kindle e-book.

Gift Cards

There are a ton of different gift cards that you can buy at most stores. They have restaurants, store cards, i-tunes, theatre, and several others. Pick one you think the person you are buying for will enjoy and put some money on it. Your recipient can then pick a time to use the gift cards that fits their schedule. Make sure you know the rules on the gift cards. Some cards will expire after a certain time, so know this before buying one.

Magazine Subscriptions

Another great gift is magazines. Find out which one the person you are buying for likes and go online. Most magazines will allow you to order from their websites. Most also will let you print a card or send an e-mail to the person you are giving the gift to for Christmas. Depending on the magazine you choose you may also have to decide whether you want to give a printed copy subscription or a digital copy which is only delivered online.

Disclaimer: I was in no way influenced to select these items. I came up with the list on my own and was not compensated to specifically include any items.

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

Lorie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:59:46 +0000

This year many families are struggling to buy Christmas gifts because times are hard. Last week, I read a really great article called Christmas on a Zero-Budget. It really got me thinking about what kinds of things people could give for gifts that cost little or no money using items already around the house. I think these homemade gifts are more special when I receive them. Anyone can go out and buy a gift, but only a few will take the time to use their talents to make an item with you in mind. Here are a few ideas of some things you can make to give as gifts on a limited budget.

Homemade Bath Salts

This past year I was able to get together with a group of friends and make several items. One of those items was Bath Salts. I was quite surprised how easy they were to make. Look around your house for jars or other containers to place your bath salts inside. You can also use leftover ribbon and fabric to decorate your jar or container. Here is the recipe I used.

Homemade Bath Recipe

3 cups Epsom salts

1 tablespoon glycerin

Food coloring

A favorite perfume or cologne.

Use a glass or metal bowl (not plastic-because it will stain). Pour the Epsom salts in a bowl, then add 1 TB. glycerin, a few drops of food coloring and some of your favorite cologne or perfume (or you can mix the glycerin and food coloring first), Stir the ingredients until they’re combined and the color is just right! You can add more color, too. Place in an airtight container. A tight-fitting lid is key to keeping the fragrance and moisture intact. Attach a small card or tag to the container with instructions on use: Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup to a warm bath.

Homemade Jelly

Last Christmas I made small gift baskets for family and friends. One item inside them was a jar of homemade jelly. You can easily make jelly at home using 100% fruit juices. Look around your house for jars to place the jelly inside. You can keep this jelly in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you want it to last longer you will need to use the proper canning jars and process in a boiling water canner. After the jars have cooled, you can use scrap ribbon and fabric to decorate the jar. This jelly is easy because it is made with fruit juice. I like to add Red Hot candies to the apple juice jelly recipe to make it a pretty red for Christmas. This recipe is for Cheater Grape Jelly. Just substitute the grape juice for with apple and add 1/2 cup of the red hots to make the jelly a pretty red color.

Rice Filled Heating Pads

Several years ago, I decided to make rice filled heating pads for Christmas presents for my family and friends. This gift does require some sewing, but it goes together really quickly and is a great way to use scrap material from other projects. You can also use old clothes that are still usable to make this project. I made several with some old flannel shirts. These rice filled heating pads can be microwaved and placed behind you neck to give you some relief.

Homemade Mixes

Another great idea for a homemade gift is placing mixes in a jar or other container. This makes it so easy for another person to make some food item quickly. I love this EZ Bread Mix idea to place the dry ingredients for a loaf of in a container bought at the Dollar Tree. These containers already have Christmas decoration on them so all you have to do is add a bow and the instructions for making the bread. Here are a few other items that make great mixes to give as gifts.

Homemade Pancake Mix

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

The Master Mix

Hot Cocoa Mix

Freezer Meals

After reading another article this weekend from Once a Month Mom, I added freezer meals to my list of something I could give as a gift. They have some really great ideas on giving freezer meals as gifts as well as some great recipes. Busy families or new moms would love this gift.

So figure out your talent and decide on a gift you can give without spending a lot of money. After all the season is not all about gifts or even how much we spend on them.

Budget Friendly Stocking Stuffers For Kids

Lorie — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:49:31 +0000

The tradition of stuffing stockings goes way back. Many families today still practice stuffing stockings. If you are planning this tradition, there are a few things you need to know. First, plan early. If you wait until the last minute you may end up getting a lot of junk and spending a lot of money. Second, set a budget. Before going out know how much you are allowed to spend and stay in that budget. Third, have a plan. Make a list with ideas of what you are planning to place in each stocking, and lastly, shop for items throughout the year. There are lots of great sales on items you can pick up throughout the year that can be used for stocking stuffers. Spending a little on the items throughout the year will help prevent spending a lot of money at one time. Here are some ideas for budget friendly stocking stuffers for kids.

Homemade Play Dough

Making play dough at home is easy, fun and can be cheaper than regular play dough at the store. Here are some recipes to try: chocolate play dough, gingerbread play dough, pumpkin spice play dough, and Kool-Aid play dough. Kids love play dough and it is really easy to make these pretty. You can get some cheap plastic containers with lids to place the play dough into and then add a pretty ribbon. You can also get some cheap cookie cutters to add to the package.

School Supplies

School supplies like crayons, coloring books, notebook, pencils, personalised pens, and erasers make great stocking stuffers. School supplies can be costly so look for these items at Dollar Stores. I like to buy extra supplies during the back to school sale that I plan to use for stocking stuffers. This is a great way to save money. If you have a lot of broken crayons you can turn these into muffin tin crayons. These make a cute gift.

Toothbrushes

Kids love getting new toothbrushes. I have found toothbrushes on sale for as little as fifty cents. I have also found some nice kids’ toothbrushes at the Dollar Tree. I also like to give my kids nice new power toothbrushes. I keep a look out for coupons to make these more affordable for me during Christmas. Kids also enjoy getting character toothpaste, so make sure to check those out when you are searching for toothpaste.

Books

I have found really cute books for a dollar at my local Dollar Tree. You can also find some nice books at Thrift Shops. Older kids also enjoy puzzle books and you can find those for real cheap during the holidays too.

Homemade Treats

If you enjoy baking, you can make treats and place them in nice containers. Homemade candy or cookies are always a nice treat for a kid on Christmas morning.

Store Bought Candy

Kids love candy bars, gum and hard candies bought at the store. You can use candy you bought on clearance at Halloween especially if it does not have a Halloween theme. I have also noticed coupons for candy that could make it even cheaper to buy.

Wearable Gifts

I like to add things to my kids’ stockings that they will need and use. This is a good time to get them a new set of gloves and a winter hat. I also like to give sunglasses and my kids love them too. Socks or slippers are also another item that your kids may need that would fit nicely into a stocking.

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Holiday Online Shopping Can Save You Time and Money

Lorie — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:08:41 +0000

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Black Friday. This day gives retailers online a chance to make money and give great deals to online customers. I like shopping online instead of going out on Black Friday because I do not have to wait in a long line in the cold weather to get the deal I want and I can even stay in my pajamas while shopping. You can also save money shopping online. For starters, you can save on gas money that it cost to run to different stores looking for deals. Here are few ideas to consider when shopping online during the holiday season.

Search for Discounts

You will want to search for discounts before actually shopping online. There are several sites that will give you coupons or codes for discounts off, free shipping, and other great deals. Don’t pay for any codes and be careful about downloading files or clicking on suspicious links. It won’t be a great discount if you mess up your computer to get a 10% off coupon. One site I really like is Groupons. Also, make sure to sign up for e-newsletters from your favorite stores. Many times these will include coupons and special offers. They also will inform you about upcoming sales. Be on the lookout for online sales only. These will help you save the most money.

Comparative Shopping

Just like shopping offline, not all deals are really all that great of a deal. It will take some time to go from site to site to see if one store’s deal is really a deal, but that takes just minutes online compared to running back and forth from store to store, and many department stores have an online presence with prices so you can compare online without having to find and look through an ad. You can also find online sites that will help you compare prices. If you want to save money shopping online this comparative shopping step cannot be skipped.

Online Shipping Cost

The cost of shipping can really make the price of your item go up and not be much of a sale. I like to use the rule that I will not pay for shipping. Last year, I bought a lot of my Christmas gifts from Amazon. My husband was a student so we qualified for a special Amazon Prime account. This allowed us to get free shipping and free two day shipping. Amazon not only has special Amazon Prime services for students but also for moms. You can also buy the Amazon Prime yearly service for a fee. This might be worth it depending on how much you shop online from that site. Many sites also offer codes for free shipping as well as free shipping when you spend a certain amount of money. Make sure to think about shipping when shopping online, but you shouldn’t have a problem finding free shipping deals.

Online Shipping Time

If you are shopping for a gift and need it by a certain time, make sure you consider how long it will take to reach you. You don’t want to be without a gift on the big day. Many stores will offer faster shipping for a cost and this might not make it such a good deal if you need to pay extra for this service.

Online Shopping Safety

One big fear that people have with shopping online is that someone is going to get their bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc. If you are going to shop online use only secure sites. You know a site is secure if the website starts with https:// instead of http://. Secure sites also have a small lock icon on the lower right of your screen or in the address bar, depending on your browser. Another tip is to use credit cards instead of debit cards. Credit cards offer protection from identity theft and fraud that debit cards may not. You can also use a disposable card as these offer even more protection, but they usually have a fee. These are like gift cards that you can put a certain amount of money on at a time but can be used wherever Visa or MasterCard are accepted, depending on which type you buy. Safety is an important item to look at when shopping online. The BBB has an article about shopping online safely in which you can find some helpful tips on staying safe online.

Using Thanksgiving Leftovers

Lorie — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:53:37 +0000

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but take one look in your refrigerator and it still looks like Thanksgiving. Having lots of Thanksgiving leftovers can be great because there are so many meals you can make from them. This will save you money and time for other days following Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas for meals you can make with Thanksgiving leftovers that will keep you family happy.

Turkey Leftovers

Turkey is usually one item that we have a lot leftover. Turkeys seem to be cheaper during the days and weeks before Thanksgiving, so buying a bigger bird and planning for leftovers is a great idea to save money on future meals. Turkey leftovers pulled away from the bone can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. Also plan to save the turkey bones (carcass.) If you don’t plan to make stock soon you can refrigerate or freeze the carcass. This can be used to make stock that can make several different soups and gravies. So make sure to plan leftovers and use all your turkey up before it goes bad. Turkey is great for sandwiches and can also be used in many casseroles. Here is a list of some great turkey leftover recipes.

Turkey Potpies

Thanksgiving Memories Casserole

Turkey Nachos

Mom’s Turkey Soup

Kentucky Hot Browns

Mashed and Sweet Potato Leftovers

Never throw away leftover mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes. There are many different ways you can reuse these in recipes for other meals. For some reason at our house we always have a lot of leftover mashed potatoes. Sweet potatoes are another great item to use in casseroles and even cakes. Cooked vegetables are good in the refrigerator for three to five days. So plan ahead and don’t waste any of these items. Here are a few leftover mashed potato and sweet potato recipes.

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Sweet Potato Cake

Shepherd’s Pie

Mashed Potato Rolls

Cranberry Sauce Leftovers

Cranberry Sauce is another item that seems to be leftover a lot from the Thanksgiving dinner. Canned cranberry sauce can be refrigerated for five to seven days after opening. Many people would probably just throw it out, but there are many great recipes to reuse this item as a leftover. Here are some ideas for reusing cranberry sauce.

Cranberry Sauce Cookies

Morning-After Cranberry Sauce Muffins

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Pie

Stuffing Leftovers

Stuffing is another great Thanksgiving leftover. Stuffing is only good in the refrigerator for one to two days so you will need to use it up quickly. Here are some great stuffing leftover recipes.

Stuffing Dumpling Soup

Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Casserole

Turkey Broccoli Pie

Black Friday Shopping Tips

Lorie — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:55:13 +0000

Thanksgiving is coming soon and that always gets me thinking about the Black Friday deals. There are some good deals to be found on Black Friday if you are looking to save money. Black Friday is one crazy day, though. It starts early and many wait in a line outside in the cold to get the deals they want. Here are a few tips to help you survive and get the most for your money.

Plan Early

Black Friday ads usually come out on Thanksgiving. This year several places had sneak peeks of the ads earlier and many places are having deals starting on Thursday evening. Take some time and sit down to make a plan of what items you will be going after. This will make your morning go a lot smoother.

Set a Budget Before Making Your List

Before making a list of the items you are going after, make a budget of what you plan to spend. This will help you stay within your means and not get tempted to buy other items just because they are on sale.

Compare Prices

Not all sales are created equal. Make sure you compare prices at other stores to make sure your deal really is the best deal you can find. For example, one department store is advertizing the Kindle Fire on the front of its Black Friday ad for $199. Why go and wait in line for an item you can buy online for the same price? That really is not much of a deal, unless you just want it right then.

Shop Only for Deals

When going out to find Black Friday deals, only shop for the deals. Don’t try to get all of your Christmas presents at once. You will get tired real fast and it will all become overwhelming. I have found that lots of stores will continue to have mark downs until Christmas and sometimes it is better to wait for an item, especially if you do not have the money on the day of Black Friday.

Take a Friend

Getting the best deals can be really hard if you go shopping alone. Take a friend and make a plan to help each other get what you both want. One Black Friday my husband stayed in electronics for some deals we wanted, while I stayed in the toy area. We were able to get all the items we wanted by shopping together.

Leave the Kids at Home

Black Friday can be a really wild time. You have to be fast to get the deals on the items you want. It is so hard to take the kids with you and get what you want. Black Friday also starts really early and most kids are too tired to be very happy. You will be dealing with a really cranky crew.

Limit Yourself to a Few Stores

Don’t try to hit everywhere. You will probably not get all the deals you want anyway. Plan to shop at only a few stores that day. Go to the store that has the deal you want most first. You might find yourself running all around and not getting any deals you really want if you do not limit yourself.

Shop Online

If you want to sleep in or stay at home in your pajamas, you can still get some deals online. There are some online deals on the actual Black Friday, but most wait until the first Monday after Thanksgiving to post deals. This day is known as Cyber Monday.

Frugal Thanksgiving Ideas

Lorie — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:20:44 +0000

Many families are still struggling with the high cost of food. Thanksgiving is one holiday that we spend more money on food than usual. Being frugal does not mean we have to give up all that food we enjoy eating, it means that we just need to plan for this extra expense in our budget. Here are a few ideas to make your Thanksgiving a little more budget friendly.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is one of the best pieces of advice you can get for planning a frugal Thanksgiving. If you plan several weeks ahead, you will find that there are plenty of coupons and specials to help you get the most for your money. Plan to spend a little each week on the extra items you will need and then you will not feel like you are spending so much money. You can also plan ahead by getting most of the food items cooked ahead of time. This will allow you to spend more time with your family on the big day. Here are a few recipes for you to try that you can make ahead of time.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Make-Ahead Stuffing

Cranberry Sauce

Freezer Apple Pie

Shop for the Cheapest Turkey

During the holidays, many stores will mark down turkeys. There are also great coupons on turkeys and other Thanksgiving foods during this time. Right now you can get a coupon for $3 off a Butterball Turkey when you buy 4 other products like Stove Top Stuffing or Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. This is a great deal because lots of these products are already marked down. Many stores also offer deals like buying so much in groceries and then you get a free turkey or a greatly reduced one. This can be a good deal if you really need the other items you are buying to get the great turkey deal. While turkeys are marked down so cheap, consider buying a second one to place in your freezer for a future dinner. This will save you money later.

Bake Your Own Pies

If you buy a pie from the store you can easily spend $10 for each pie. Why not make your own pies for Thanksgiving. You spend a lot less money and get more pies since most recipes will make more than one pie. Here is a basic pie crust recipe that includes a video. With a little practice you can easily make your own pies and save money.

Choose Potluck

One great way to save money and have more time with the family is to have your guest bring dishes for the dinner. Most family members will be more than happy to help you out. This will also give you a good selection of different foods.

Use Leftovers

When planning your Thanksgiving meal, plan for leftover meals. I can easily get two or more meals with my leftovers. One casserole I love to make is the Thanksgiving Memories Casserole. My kids love it and you can basically use what you have leftover. This will also help to stretch your food budget and not make you feel like you are spending so much money on one meal.

Fast and Frugal Halloween Pizza

Lorie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:54:53 +0000

Some families like to eat certain things on Halloween night. I have heard of spaghetti, chili, and soup to name a few. My family has always ordered out pizzas on Halloween. These make trick or treat night quick and easy for my family. This year ordering out really is not in our budget, So I will be making homemade pizzas for my family. Even the good frozen pizzas are more expensive than making it homemade. The way I have always made homemade pizza is not very quick since I make the dough in the bread machine. My community’s trick or treat night is on a Monday this year, so I have to get things done really quick since the kids are in schools all day and I will only have about one hour to get them ready and fed. Here are some ideas to making frugal homemade pizza quicker and easier.

Pizza Dough

The pizza dough will usually be the part that takes the longest because it will have to rise. There are several things you can do to make it quicker. First you can buy pizza crust mix in a bag at the store. These are usually around $1.00 or less and all you have to do is add water and let rise for five minutes. You can also have homemade crust quicker with a little pre-planning. You can make the dough in your bread machine and freeze it in a zip lock freezer bag. On the day you are ready to bake, take it out of the freezer and place in a large bowl and leave on the counter. It will defrost and rise during the day and be ready to bake that evening.

Another idea is to use a no rise pizza dough recipe. Here is one that I have used that I like. This recipe is made by hand but I mixed the ingredients and kneaded in my Kitchenaid mixer which made this super quick. If you want to make this taste more Italian, I recommend using the optional spices.

No Rise Pizza Crust

1 Tablespoon active dry yeast (I used quick rising yeast)

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

2 Tablespoons olive oil

2 ½ cups flour

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon basil (optional)

1 teaspoon oregano (optional)

1 teaspoon minced onions (optional)

Dissolve yeast in water. Add rest of the ingredients in order listed in the recipe and mix until it forms into dough. Place dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes. Roll out and press down on a greased pizza pan (I like to use my stoneware for pizzas). Add toppings and bake at 350 degrees F 12-15 minutes.

Pizza Toppings

Choose pizza toppings your family will enjoy. I can find pepperoni for around $1.50. Other meats will probably cost you more. Use veggies like onions and green peppers (I chop mine up when they are on sale or from my garden and freeze them so I can use them on pizza later when green peppers are more expensive.) or canned mushrooms to cut down cost. Cheese can be an expensive topping so go light on it and that will cut back on calories as well. There are also lots of inexpensive pizza sauce recipes online, but I found that buying a large bottle of spaghetti sauce is cheaper and quicker for me. You could also save money by only having cheese sticks. Roll your dough into a rectangle and leave off the sauce and add pizza only. Cut into sticks after cooking. These are super easy and kids love them. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Halloween Pizza Ideas

As I was searching blogs and recipe sites for Halloween themed pizzas, I came upon this recipe for Spooky Spiderweb Pizza that is so cute. It would make your Halloween pizza more special. You could use some of the decorating ideas in that recipe and still use some of the quick frugal tips given in this article. You can also use cookie cutters to cut out spiders in cheese slices to decorate the top of your pizzas. Cut these before and store in the refrigerator to make decorating quicker.