A quote: “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” “ Budgeting has only one rule, do not go over budget”. Budgeting is a step towards financial freedom. ❤
When my husband makes instant grits, he replaces the water for milk. Then as they cook down… Which he cooks much longer than the instructions say… He continues to add bits of milk and unsalted butter. They are so creamy and amazing, and not “gritty” at all!
Years ago, my sister would go with her family to a breakfast restaurant ran by Orientals, her telling me they have the best grits. She just kept asking them & hinting for years. So they finally told her what they do to make their grits So Good, & it's exactly what you described here.
Hello Lee, I wanted to thank you for letting me know about Senior Centers! I just joined mine and along with FREE lunches, they offer so many fun classes, like yoga, tai chi, water color painting and much more! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Lee, my darling, I really wish you had a link just so I could send money. I KNOW you would prefer to earn and sell for profit BUT, I don't want more "stuff" and I haven't got time to shop. I want to watch your wonderful video, get my "shot of Lee" and reward you for all the work you have done entertaining me. A quick link, a click of a button to send money and done. PLEASE provide us with a link. Thank you. Love you. Hugs.
I have steel cut oats every morning with some raisins, brown sugar, dab of butter and a bit of milk. I never tire of this. I may just try some grits. Thanks for the upload.
I found that eating healthy is much cheaper! When I used to eat a lot of meat, I would balk at $4.00 for a pint of blueberries. I would never consider $6.00 for a bag of oranges, and $7.00 for grapes? Ridiculous! I cut WAY back on meat, eat more salads, and more fruits and vegetables, including beans and eggs. I eat boneless skinless chicken breast, that I use for tacos, (use taco seasoning for the meat) along with avocado, black beans, tomato and sometimes leftover rice. Spaghetti made with Gardien meatless crumbles (a little goes a long way) and I can now afford "luxuries" like salmon and fresh tuna. Groceries for two adults runs about $275 a month; less than I spent before the pandemic. My cholesterol went WAY down to the normal range, and my husband seems to be doing better with his diabetes. Eating healthy is good for your wallet, too!
Do you ever shop at Aldi? A bag of apples is always under $4.00, cucumbers are really cheap. A bag of small avacados, (6) such a huge difference from Walmart. So many great options of healthy foods cheaper too. I can't eat cheese, have to keep my cholesterol down. Pepper Jack is my favorite if I cheat, 1 block from Aldi $1.37 and healthier than shredded. Grits,,yummy. Happy travels, you always have a great attitude, stay sweet!
I m glad you are doing your budget here to help others. I have yet to shop this month but I m making a list to shop the sales since three stores are along my urban nestling routes. Should be interesting to say the least, lol. One thing I do is grow sprouts, herbs n microgreens for the extra nutrition n YES, I do it in my minivan. I m kinda a greenhouse on wheels. LOL!!😂❤
I m happy to say that I did part of my grocery shopping n I m under budget for the moment. This challenge is pretty interesting n making me think n rethink my purchases, thanks so much!!
I’m doing a big garden this year.. wish I could share with you! I agree most people eat so unhealthy.. I’m trying to save money by using up my pantry and will be eating from the garden .. love your videos Lee .. keep letting your light shine
The most satiating foods are starches (in a real study) - potatoes, pasta, grains (grits are grains!) , bread - (also the cheapest Whole Foods) not some of the easiest things to cook in a vehicle. Add in the natural fats, like the avocado, nuts, etc. they are also the healthiest. I live in a home. When avocados are on sale I mash them with a little lime juice, and garlic salt and freeze in small containers for later.
Prices of avocados are always changing. Sometimes they are over $1 a piece. It all depends on the season. Instead of putting cheese on the tortilla slice some apple (thin) and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, put a little butter on it and let it all melt.
It looks like a type of cream of wheat. My run to Walmart on the clearance table rack bag of reduced beautiful lemons, two heads of green Romaine sweet to taste it was gritty but I washed it up and it'll last me for a week 2$✅ 2$ fennel 2$ cauliflower reduced for clearance sale. Best buys of the week. I need to eat less oatmeal and brown sugar.
Thanks for the lesson on how to eat grits. I’m from New England. We always try to eat them as Cream of Wheat and then hate them. Lol. Also Avocados are more expensive here but gas is cheaper. Yes, apples are a fall crop. Applesauce is easy to make with fresh apples , even in a van, better than packaged.
Looking for the budget you were going to leave in comments? Add some cinnamon to your grits- gives it a good flavor with no calories. Plus cinnamon is good for you
Hi Lee you are so right about grits. (A southern favorite here in Alabama :-) ) Try adding a teaspoon or more after your grits are cooked. The cheese and butter are a delicious addition to a bowl of grits. Some people in the South also make grit "cakes"" ... add one raw egg, milk, and after mixed well like the consistency of pancake mix, drop a few spoons on your griddle or pan heated by your gas. Put a little oil in pan first so they don't stick. Cook on both sides like one would do with pancakes. Grill "cakes" are good and don't have to be refrigerated either. I use milk in mine instead of just water. So, grits, 1 egg, oil for greasing pan, salt, milk, cook until light brown the flip over to other side. These are good for breakfast, other meals, or a healthy snack. Healthy too. Have a wonderful weekend Lee!
I appreciate how you search out items to help people with no refrigeration & cooking simply. I have good news we finally sold our extra car which was keeping us locked in one place plus we got extra money from selling it & less car insurance & I can walk more😊
I don't know if you have this possibility in that area or not but the larger Hispanic grocery stores do Some fresh vegetables even cheaper than Walmart most of the time. Vegetables have become extremely expensive this year. It's sad because people will eat more starch because it's cheaper and that will cause more metabolic illnesses in the long run costing All of us are lost more in healthcare expenses then good fresh food would have cost. I gave up eating all those starches and save at least $40 a month in medication expenses now. Now I get to spend that $40 on good produce and meat and I'm Much healthier for it. So I know it's tempting to eat all that starch but it's really unhealthy. Thanks for all you do. Zucchini doesn't have to be refrigerated it will last a While... Cabbage doesn't go off as fast as lettuce either just a few ideas for you. Cabbage adds a nice crunch to tacos I think even better than lettuce
I love these suggestions. Cabbage is wonderful n its great fermented, especially on tacos n a slaw is so delightful with just onion n oil even. Asian markets sell many great things cheaper. Avocados are so very healthy n also make a great salad dressing. I do 1/4 large onion each day n found that if I put a damp paper towel in a baggie with the cut portion, it lasts longer.
@@MinivanLee I can relate n understand that. I just chop it up very fine or grate it to help that along. I do love fried gabbage n could eat it for days!!!!
I eat avocados everyday. I love to fry an egg and use the avocado as a spread on toast and then add the spice “everything but the bagel”. So goodd and filling.
Thanks Lee..I really love watching your videos. Are you ok? If you don't mind me asking, is Paul OK? Unless I missed something. Love you so much , keep looking up .
Great produce selections!! Limes are as good as lemons in water for detoxing n so refreshing too. Cucumbers should be in season soon n go down in price. Grits are so good for you n love them. That brand is the best!!
@@MinivanLee Awwwww How kind of you!! Its like you said; we are all energy n our energy is shared on this channel. I think you are amazing n I do not use that word lightly.... Love ya!!!
I agree on skipping the bag of apples that don’t look good… I’ve found those bad looking apples taste like sawdust, which instantly means you don’t want to eat them, then you’ve wasted your money. We’re just back from Trader Joe’s, so I’m going to take the receipt and break it down per meal as another way to look at it (e.g., for $2.99 got a package of 6 mini cucumbers 🥒 that I eat one every morning with my breakfast to help keep me hydrated, so that is basically 50¢ each, but I might get a better price at the produce market. That basically covers them for a week without a big cucumber going bad trying to use it for multiple days).
Hi Lee ! I eat alot of avocados in my diet because they are so healthy! I make avocado toasted tomatoe & lettuce sandwiches ! Lettuce is expensive up here for sure ! But just a thought ! I love grits also! I am canadian & put maple syrup in mine with some milk! Bananas are reasonable up here also ! Try to get some protein in your diet also !
Grits are amazing! You can add so many things to change it up with them. Honey, molasses, maple syrup, butter, on and on. That brand is amazing too. I have many of their products and have never been disappointed. I'm hoping to work the budget with you in my own way. Not in my van on the road yet but practicing is very interesting! Thanks so much for the great videos - I've been around a while watching them and not planning to ever stop! Can't wait for my neck gator to come in, any day now! :)
OMG that could have been my own shopping haul. I have been eating grits lately myself...and I keep tortilla for lots of things. Avocado, EVOO & real cheese are my favorite fats and the applesauce cups are my treat or dessert. Honey Crisp last longer than other apples and taste the best! I'm like you too in that I eat simply and healthy...and enjoy the "fuel" I run on!🙂
The least disability is now $900 if you don't get that you should be getting SSI and food stamps of course they'll only give you $16 a month. With all the subs you have & you put out lots of content you should be making more on utube than you get in your check. With instant grits you have to let them sit after adding hot water. I remember when you first started your channel I was one of your first few sub's. Like I get a good SSDI check but I don't make a $100 on utube in a year because I simply have other things to do. Glad to see your doing well take care.🤗❤️
Grits are yummy. I like them with cheese and some hot sauce myself. I’m shocked how inexpensive the produce is there compared to where I am in FL. But I think our gas is a bit cheaper. So I guess it all evens out.
I googled what grits are made of. I just never knew.They are made of corn, white or yellow. It's less sweet and more dense. Whatever that means. It's a porrage made from cornmeal. Nutritious too. Butter would make it good too. I'm going to try it. I hope you were hungry because that 1/2 cup made a lot.
If it works, they say you can rub lemon or lime on the open apple, and it will keep from browning. I'm sure you would split it with Paul, but it's worth a try if you don't. 😊
I have a chime account I have up to where I can take $100 and extra and then of course you have to pay it back now the way I do that is that week I'll live on my spot me and all week long I'll do extra surveys that pays it . Then I take all my money from retirement I put that into my savings account I take out $80 which is $20 a week for gas. Then I take out 25 for my phone and tablet cuz I can't beat that price 75 for insurance for both vehicles and tow insurance in case I need it Dairyland my one car has the set plan for Dairyland if you're over 60 so it's a real low amount cuz I don't have any accidents or anything$40 and if I needed to and should I take out $40 for eating out. My groceries comes out of my other deposit and I allowed 35.00 a week
Hey Minivan Lee I'm new to your channel and I subscribed immediately ! You are so entertaining and knowlegable! I"ve been looking forward to my "midlife" to enjoy personal adventures of my own ! I'm soon to be an EMPTY NESTER after raising four amazing daughters since I was 16 years old! My first at 16 my youngest daughter at 38 so..... my whole life !🍀 I'm so excited and a bit nervous to fly solo as a new nomad and explore ! I'm ALWAYS wondering WHERE do nomad's hunker down to stay put so you don't have to search daily for a safe place to park your van ? I got to say, that's my biggest concern! PLZZZ don't stop what you're doing for information and your bright & FUN positivity! It's what the world needs, especially right now🌻🚐💜🙏🏵
