Easter and Valentine’s Day. The barrage of gift ideas in the stores and the mounds of chocolate and candies are a little overwhelming. Personally, we don’t need any more stuffed animals, chocolates, or any other type of candy. And our budget definitely doesn’t need the cost.  

So, for Valentine’s Day and Easter, I’ve taken to putting together inexpensive little gift bags or baskets for the kids, usually containing items that they don’t get very often.

This year’s Valentine’s gift bags cost me less than $5/each:

$1.00 – a bucket of sidewalk chalk
$2.50 – a small notebook in child’s favorite color
$ .20 – a mechanical pencil in child’s favorite color (this was actually a multi-color, multi-pack that I split between the kids based on colors)
$ .50 – a bag of M&Ms
$ .14 – valentine’s gift bag (50% off regular price of 25 cents)
———————
$4.20 – Total for each child’s Valentine’s gift

Basically, I look for small, inexpensive things that the kids don’t usually get, but would like. This year, we were down to the last piece of sidewalk chalk and it has caused some friction between the kids, so when I saw little chalk buckets for a $1 each at Walgreens I picked them up. Small writing notebooks are always popular with my kids; they like to have little books to draw and write in. We go through pens and pencils like crazy around here, so the kids are also always happy to get a new pen or pencil in their favorite color.

Part of the joy is getting something special, but part of it is in the customization and the presentation. It’s always a special, secret thing to get the Valentine’s gift bag or an Easter basket; it’s shrouded in mystique and wonder for a time before hand.

Each gift bag/basket is similar to the others, but customized for that child. Little notebooks and pens/pencils are always in their favorite colors (pink, red, blue, and yellow or teal) and designs and games match their interests. It helps keep things even, but yet each child knows I was thinking especially of them when I put it together.

In the past, gift bags and basket items have included a combination of: 

• bubbles
• pens, pencils, or markers in the child’s favorite color
• travel or card games
• small crafts or craft items
• art supplies
• stickers
• seeds, a small pot, and a small bag of potting soil
• small notebooks or journal books
• play dough or modeling clay
• small puzzles or puzzle books
• special food treats of favorite snack foods (pretzels, Goldfish, M&Ms, or a few Hershey’s Kisses, etc.)

I’ve found good treats at the pharmacy stores (Walgreens, CVS, Longs, etc), the dollar stores, thrift stores, and even the grocery store. Sometimes if I plan ahead of time, I’ll head to Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, or Target and look through the little craft items they might have.

Overall I’m looking for inexpensive, but practical and engaging gifts, that allow my kids to be creative in their play without adding more clutter into our home or excess sugar into our diets (we have enough as it is).

Have more ideas? Please share them…

My husband loves Filet Mignon, grilled to perfection. Tender, juicy, and flavorful. But it costs a small fortune to go out to type of restaurant that serves Filet Mignon the way he likes it.  Thankfully, it’s really simple to cook.

So, three times a year on very special occasions – Valentine’s Day, my husband’s birthday, and our Anniversary – I splurge and make it for him. We are on a tight budget and dining out at expensive restaurants are no longer part of the budget. So, for a fraction of the cost, this simple, but delicious at-home meal is usually my gift to him for special occasions.

Menu
Filet Mignon, marinated in Teriyaki sauce and grilled
Chicken breasts marinated in Teriyaki sauce and grilled
Baby red potatoes, steamed and drizzled with garlic butter
Steamed fresh asparagus
Fresh Fruit
Salad
Garlic bread or bread rolls

Shopping List
Filet Mignon (Beef tenderloin)
Boneless, Skinless Chicken breasts
Your favorite Teriyaki marinade (we like Lawry’s)
Baby red potatoes
Asparagus, preferably fresh
Favorite fresh fruit currently in season
Green salad mix
Garlic bread or bread rolls (or make your own)

(I’m assuming you have butter/margarine and garlic powder/salt on hand)

Instructions
1. Prepare meat, trimming off any excess fat with kitchen scissors, and marinate for at least an hour (longer if you can).

2. Prepare baby red potatoes for steaming. I prefer to leave as much skin on as possible, just trimming off the eyes as desired.

3. Place potatoes in a steam basket and steam until fork tender. (time varies, but it usually is 30-50 min for me depending on how big the potatoes are.)

4. Prepare asparagus for steaming. (Snap the asparagus stalks and place in steaming basket, and set aside until the last 10-15 minutes)

5. Heat grill to medium-hot temperature.

6. Cook meat to desired doneness (we do 10 minutes on each side), baste with marinate sauce before and after you flip the meat.

7. When the potatoes are fork-tender, place in a bowl and drizzel with a little garlic butter (butter/margarine melted and mixed with garlic and salt – to taste).

8. 10-15 minutes before meat is done, steam the aspargus, prepare the fruit, and make up the salad. Garlic bread goes into the oven or bread rolls get popped into the microwave for a reheat.

Serve!

Cost

It used to be that we could make this for just the two of us. Chicken for the kids and I, and steak and chicken for him, but now the kids love this steak as well, so I make it for all six of us. Even for six of us, it costs less than it would for just two of us in a restaurant.

Here was our cost break down for this year’s Valentine’s Day meal for 6:

$20.25 – 3 pieces of Filet Mignon ($8.99/lb at Sam’s Club – I cut each piece in half and butterfly cut it)
$6.00 – 3 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts ($1.99/lb)
$2.00 – Marinade
$5.98 – 2 lbs of asparagus
$3.00 – baby red potatoes
$2.00 – fresh fruit
$2.00 – Salad mix
$1.50 – garlic bread
—————–
$42.73 – Total for a steak and chicken meal for six
If I were going to make just for my husband and I, then here’s the cost breakdown:

$6.50 – 1/2 lb of Filet Mignon (Beef tenderloin) (1/2 lb at $12.99/lb from butcher)
$2.00 – 1/2 lb of boneless skinless chicken breast (1/2 lb at $4.00/lb from butcher)
$2.00 – marinade
$2.99 – 1 lb Asparagus (on sale or from can)
$1.00 – baby red potatoes
$1.00 – fresh fruit
$2.00 – salad mix
$1.50 – garlic bread
———————
$18.99 – Total for a steak and chicken meal for two

Actually, this is a little high. To get the best price and save money, I usually buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts when they are on sale, and freeze them in meal/portion sizes for later.  And, sometimes I will buy the 3 pack of tenderloin from Sam’s Club at the lower price and freeze the other two pieces in separate bags, so I have it on hand for the next special occasion.  Same for the marinade, I usually have it on hand, purchased on sale, and for two people, a bottle goes a long ways.

Anyway, if you are looking for a yummy, special occasion dinner, this works for us. And, with the grilled, lean meats, veggies, and fruit, it’s healthy too!