Casual Homesteader

Our Friday Pizza Night: Two Homemade Pizzas for About $8 Pizza night has become one of our favorite family traditions. Every Friday, instead of ordering takeout, we make our own pizza from scratch. I mix up homemade dough, simmer a simple pizza sauce, pick fresh basil from the garden, and top each pizza with fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage, and pepperoni. The best part? We can make two homemade 11–12 inch pizzas for about $8 , which is a fraction of what we'd spend ordering takeout. Why We Started Making Pizza at Home Like many families, we noticed that ordering pizza has become expensive. Depending on where you order from, two medium pizzas can easily cost $30–$45 before delivery and tip . I've been making more of a conscious effort to be frugal with my money, so instead of completely cutting out pizza nights, we switched to making our own from scratch. Not only has it saved us money, but it's also become something we genuinely look forward to every week.

How I Plan a Week of Dinners and Save Money on Groceries If you've ever walked into the grocery store without a plan and left wondering how you spent so much money, you're definitely not alone. I've done it more times than I'd like to admit. Wandering the aisles, grabbing whatever sounds good at the moment, and forgetting what I already have at home can make grocery bills climb fast. Over the years, I've found that a little planning goes a long way. I don't use an elaborate system or spend hours making meal plans. Instead, I've created a simple weekly routine that helps me save money, reduce food waste, and take the guesswork out of what's for dinner. Every week, I plan our dinners before I shop, check what we already have in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer, and build my grocery list around those ingredients. It's a habit that's helped our family stretch our grocery budget without feeling like we're sacrificing the meals we enjoy. In th...

🍊 Homemade Orange Popsicles (A Simple Way to Reduce Food Waste) 👉As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Have you ever looked at fruit on your counter and thought… “I should probably use that today, or it’s getting tossed.” ? That was me with a bunch of oranges the other day. They weren’t bad, but they were definitely past the point where anyone in the house was reaching for them. Instead of letting them go to waste, I turned them into something better: Homemade orange popsicles 🍊 And honestly? They came out really good! 🌿 Why This Matters This is what realistic, everyday homesteading looks like. It’s not always chickens, gardens, and big projects. Sometimes it’s just: Using what you already have Saving food before it goes bad Getting a little creative in the kitchen Those oranges could’ve easily ended up in the trash. Instead, they turned into a refreshing, kid-friendly snack with zero waste. 🛒 What I Used Equipment Homemade Popsicle Molds [Found here on Amazon]...