My kids say I am cheap. I prefer frugal. Cheap implies scrimping beyond comfort levels that I will not cross. I have read stories of people separating 2 ply toilet paper into two rolls to save money or stuffing their pockets with ketchup, soy packets, salt and pepper when they visit restaurants. No, I will not do that. But, I do make careful choice about how I spend our money.

I stood in front of the beef section craving red meat today. We have not had steak in probably 2 or 3 months. I kept looking at the prices though. At $6.99 a pound, for one of the less expensive cuts to $12.99 a pound how could I justify spending that much money? Even ground beef is $3.59 a pound, on sale!

So, I went with the inexpensive package of deli Roast Beef for $2.49 for 6 oz.  I bought a giant french baguette and cut it into quarters. Then let the kids loose in the refrigerator to create their own sandwiches.

My son is extra creative. His sandwich (pictured above) was turkey, ham, roast beef, pepper jack cheese, whole grain mustard and sauerkraut. He loved it.

My daughter is much more of a traditionalist. Roast beef and ham with honey mustard dressing and blue cheese crumbles. Even she ate her whole sandwich.

Me, I am a minimalist. I like one kind of meat, some cheese and mayo.

Despite also having lettuce, tomato, onions, yellow mustard, feta, Italian salad dressing everyone kept things simple and did exactly what they wanted so everyone loved dinner tonight. Sometimes we need that.