I’m Erin Chase.
I have a little problem. I can not make a meal that costs more than $5. Even if I try. My brain will no longer allow it. It’s filled with prices on my favorite products. It races through recipes and numbers as I go through the grocery store, wondering ‘can I pull off that meal for less than $5? Is that price on those chicken breasts too high to swing a $5 meal?’ It’s unnatural, really. But, my pocketbook thanks me!
I’m a child of God, wife of an adorable, supportive and godly husband and mom to 2 precious little boys (3.5 and 1.7).
I grew up in San Antonio, TX, and went to college at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. A few short months after graduating from TCU, I found myself in the Dominican Republic as a missionary and high school math and science teacher. I met my husband in the DR. We married a year and a half after meeting. We continued living and ministering in the Dominican Republic as houseparents after we were married. This year as a housemother really allowed me to polish the skills that I now use everyday here on the blog! I learned the ins and outs of budgeting, shopping, and menu planning…all in a 3rd world country! It was my responsibility to shop, plan and execute (cook!) 3 meals a day, 7 days a week for 12 teenage boys!
We later taught at a small elementary school in our town, where I managed the hormones of the 6th and 7th grade classes, and hopefully taught them a few academic things too. The year that I was pregnant with my oldest son, I was the principal of our elementary school. Talk about a hormonal roller coaster ride! After his birth, I worked part time from home as a consultat/part-time administrator at the school. After 6 years of ministry in the Dominican Republic, we moved back to the US 2 years ago while I was pregnant with my youngest son. At first, I found life in the US overwhelming. Now that the reverse culture shock has worn off, I really enjoy the luxuries and comforts of home.
When I’m not couponing, grocery shopping or blogging, I enjoy date nights, training for and running half marathons, scrapbooking, hanging out outside (at 60 degrees or higher :), reading and hanging out with girlfriends!
How $5 Dinners came to be…
Back in late summer 2008, I began couponing. It started paying off immediately! I love to cook and I love the challenge of coming up with a meal that costs under $5. A few weeks before I started the blog, I’d shared with my husband that “this meal was only $3.85, or tonight’s dinner cost about $5.” One night as I was cleaning up the dishes from dinner I thought of the phrase “$5 Dinners”. The rest is history!
Disclaimer: The prices reflected in each night’s post are accurate. I buy EVERYTHING on sale and most non-produce/meat items with a coupon. Anyone who doesn’t believe this or questions the prices I post is welcome to come and audit my grocery receipts! I do realize that prices vary by region and that sales are not always the same in each region of the country. You might not be able to find the same deals or prices.
It’s an honor and privilege to share our meals with you each night! I hope you’re inspired to start making meals of your own that are not only frugal, but most importantly healthy! Welcome!!!
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