Day 3- Coffee

OK so today is Monday and the day had to start with coffee. I love coffee in every shape and size. I got an expresso machine several years ago so making my own lattes and cappuccino is rather old school at this point. My new thing is French Press coffee. A few weeks ago I bought a Bodum and I LOVE IT! Drinking French Press in the a.m. is like having a meal; so rich and hearty! I haven't calculated the exact cost but I am sure anything I do at home is cheaper than Starbucks(although I still like the social aspect of going out for coffee once in a while)
Miss Penny Saver Tip #3: Make at least one of your coffee drinks at home each day...you are bound to save time and $. Enjoy!

Day 2-Hotcakes & Applesauce

I came home last night from seeing the movie "Julie & Julia" inspired to cook and start this blog. By the end of the day today, I had accomplished both. I woke up early this morning excited about my new adventures only to realize that I had just $25 left in my food allowance for the month. Since I was determined to stay within my means financially and still do some creative cooking I started to poke around my kitchen. I found that I had everything I needed to make my father's famous hotcakes with homemade applesauce for brunch and then a Joy of Cooking Cobb Salad for an early dinner. All I had to purchase at our local market, was the crumbled blue cheese for the vinaigrette dressing, eggs, milk and an avacado. This was all well under my $25 dollar budget. Mission accomplished!
Miss Penny Saver tip for the day: Take stock of what you have in your kitchen and make use of it before going out and buying more.

Day One! The Challenge & Tea

I have been thinking about starting this blog since last May when I attended the memorial service for the original Miss Penny Saver. She was my mother's best friend who passed away at 90. In her obituary, I read that she used to write a short editorial for a newspaper in Illinois and her pen name was none other than Miss Penny Saver. That inspired me to start the blog remembering her and others like her, who knew how to live within their means. I decided to challenge myself to balance my budget and even save $and inspire others to do the same.
Tip #1 comes directly from the original Miss Penny Saver: Use tea as food for house plants. It is cheaper and the plants like it better than the food you buy at the nursery. A bonus: house plants keep you sane somehow...they need you, but don't cause any major stress in your life.