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Talk It Out:
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"Although
I have no words of wisdom for Jean
(hers seems to be more of a
willpower issue or incentive
issue), I do think I can help
Sarah. Our family spends an
average of $60 for food for a
family of four. I'm not sure which
'paper products' she is referring
to, but in our house we use a rag
where many people would grab a
paper towel. We also use cloth
napkins in place of paper ones.
You can wash the rags and the
cloth napkins. Cloth napkins are
easy to make from old sheets, or
can often be found cheaply at yard
sales.
As far as the food goes, 3 things are made in our house every month: a chicken, a ham, and a beef roast. We buy all when they are on sale and store in our freezer. We usually get at least 3 meals out of each of these (9 meals total). We also have a general rule not to buy any meat that is more than $2.00/lb. We occasionally break this rule for bacon (when it is on sale) or sirloin steak (when it is a loss leader). We buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. Fortunately we have a garden, and we can and freeze as well. We cook almost everything from scratch, and buy very few packaged foods. Some good cheap meatless meals include potato soup, macaroni and cheese, and beans (lima, great northern, pinto). Once vegetables are added to the meal, it's both nutritious and cost-effective. We also save all leftover vegetables, including the water they were cooked in, in one bowl in the freezer. When it's full, it's time for vegetable soup. Just dump it all in the crock pot or pan and heat it up! Hope all this can help someone. I could go on and on, but don't want to write a book." ~ Shawn in Kentucky "Recipes
using dried beans with rice or pasta
make some inexpensive meals.
I like
to add stewed tomatoes into the dish
for added flavor/nutrition.
Wal-mart
carries the 14-1/2 oz DelMonte
brand stewed tomatoes for only 96
cents. I
also like to use my crockpot to make
split pea or lentil soup; the
ingredients are inexpensive and
these hearty soups go a long way. I try to
stock-up on pantry items when
they're on sale (canned goods, big
bag of rice, etc.) Hope this helps!" ~
EnaidK "The
biggest savers for our household have
been: Reuse baggies by washing
them out, let them dry inside out.
Using homemade cleaning products (i.e.
vinegar in bulk is very cheap - ½
vinegar and ½ water makes a great
glass cleaner, wall cleaner, etc.).
Using ½ a dryer sheet
when drying, using ½ the called for
amount of laundry detergent. Use
only amount of dishwasher detergent as
necessary (usually just the larger
size space (and usually about 4/5th’s
will do it), don’t need to fill
pre-wash if not pre-washing). Using
a foamer for handwash (uses 1/10 the
amount of soap as regular liquid
soap). 'Melt
down' those ends of bar soap that are
too small to use by placing them in
water until they form liquid soap.
Using cloth instead of paper towels
when able. Using cloth napkins.
When grocery stores are running ½ off
sales, etc. buy as much of a product
that you use as you can (provided
space allows). Buy day-old
bread, throw it in the freezer if you
can’t use it right away. When
fruit is in-season, buy when cheap,
store in containers in freezer.
Garden if you have space, container
gardens work well, too. Hope
something in there helps! ~ Jen "You need to shop the sales and get organized. Also, if possible cut out as much paper products as possible. Paper towels and napkins are the biggest wastes of paper and money. Use cloth rags to wipe up spills etc and use cloth napkins. These wash up easily and the cost is a fraction of buying paper products each and every week. It's also better for our environment. As
far as shopping sales, you should know by now what your family will
eat and need each and every week. Start to buy things you know you
will use in bulk and/or on sale. Keep a well stocked pantry, live out
of it a few days a week and you will also be able to keep a better
inventory on what you are eating and where you spending is going. Try
having a few meatless meals every week for dinner even if it means
serving breakfast for dinner such as pancakes and eggs." ~ Amy
"I am single. My
biggest expense was soft drinks. I was never
without one.I would drink one for breakfast, I had
to have one when I ate out $2.29, when I
got gas $1.50 plus chips or candy bar.I always had to
have 6 or more cases at home. I Even
started taking a cooler with sodas with me when I was
out . I was drinking over a 12 pack a day,Sound familiar ?
But with the Lords help I haven't had a soda in 9
months. Praise the Lord." ~ Judy
"Check out http://hillbillyhousewife.com/. This is a blog written by a woman who knows how to cut grocery costs. There are links to an "Emergency $45 Menu" for a week's worth of food (everything included). There are some good ideas there." ~ Elaine
"I am really excited about this topic right now! We have a family of 5 (children are 4, 2, and 3 months) and our grocery budget is $450 a month. With two in diapers and a 4-year-old who eats more than I do, we were having a hard time keeping on budget. So, I have recently started checking the front and back pages of the grocery sale papers for what is on sale, and I have saved quite a bit of money. I end up shopping at 3-5 stores a week to catch what is on sale, but it has been worth it. Most of the time you have to buy in bulk a little bit (3+ lbs. of hamburger or family packs), but I just put the extra in the freezer or the pantry, and don't have to buy that item for a couple of weeks. I have also started checking the 'buy today' area of the meat department. A couple of weeks ago I got whole chickens for $.75 a pound and just put them in the freezer. Even Wal-mart has groceries in their sale paper. This week I got pears for $.88 a pound! I have also started making more things from scratch: fruit and granola cereal, syrup, waffles, rolls. I used to buy these things off the shelf and have seen a big savings by making them myself. This month I have more than enough money for groceries! I even took the family out to eat with some of the extra money." ~ Jenn "I am a stay at home mom of an 18 month old and have quickly learned that the food budget can get out of hand if you let it. I hope these tips will help others. First, don't waste what you have. When I was working full time I would spend almost twice as much as I do now on groceries, but most of it would waste in the fridge because I was too exhausted to cook when I got home. Another tip is to make a list of what you typically need each month and to shop for those staple items when they are on sale or when you have a coupon. I have learned to use my freezer to make things more convenient for myself. If seasonal items are on sale or I can get them for a great price at the Farmers Market, I'll buy them in bulk and freeze them. I do the same thing if I'm doing something like chopping an onion--if I only need part, I go on and chop up and freeze the rest so as to have it for later. If I have more time, I'll go on and chop multiple onions and freeze for when needed later. I try to double recipes whenever possible and freeze the extras in serving size containers. Most people do this with main dishes--don't forget to do it with side dishes as well. It is so easy to make a meal when all you have to do is pull containers out of the freezer and heat them up! Next, if I have more time in the week, I'll gather my needed items list, sale ads, and coupons together to alter what I'll shop for accordingly and to plan my meals with what is on sale. If I need an item and do not have a coupon for it readily available, I'll do a search on the internet to try and find a printable coupon there. If you can't plan your meals by the week, then try to do it the night before. I can't tell you how many times I would be driving home only to realize that I'd forgotten to take the chicken out of the freezer to have that night. If you're a crock-pot user then you can prep the food the night before and put it on in the morning to have later for dinner. Yet another part of planning is to pack your lunch, snacks, and/or drinks that you will need when out and about or at work. Another tip is to get on the 'going green' bandwagon. It is MUCH cheaper to clean with natural products such as vinegar and baking soda than it is to buy name brand products each week--not to mention healthier for your family and the environment. Give yourself a break when you need to buy items such as frozen dinners. If you have a few of these on hand, it might end up saving you from going to a restaurant and as a result save you a lot of money on your overall budget. As far as diversifying what you eat to be healthier, I'd recommend that you buy in season and buy locally whenever possible. You might be surprised at the prices you can get at your local Farmers Market and all of the variety that you'll find there. If you're able, setting up a CSA with a local farmer will help greatly in your food budget and provide you with healthier food options. If you're cooking for one and have a neighbor who is also, you might want to hook up with him/her to share meals. Most people find it easier to cook for more than one person. This will also help to share the food budget, make meal time more enjoyable, and diversify the types of foods you eat. One last tip--BEANS. Cook them from scratch. Soak beans the night before in enough water to cover, the next day drain and rinse the beans and cook in enough water to cover the beans. You can add bacon grease if you desire and season as you wish. Cook until tender. Beans are extremely healthy, cheap, freeze well, can be added to many recipes or eaten alone, and there are enough different varieties to help keep things interesting for a long time. Again, double or triple your recipe--it will not take you any longer to prep and they will be in the freezer for next time you need a quick side dish, main course, or need some for a recipe. Some ideas for beans include making hummus, burritos, chilis, adding them to soups, mashing and refrying them, or serving with rice. Hope this helps!" ~ Gabrielle, Knoxville, TN "The advice is old and it sounds simplistic but it works. Menu plan and make a list and stick to it. If I am having a hard time sticking to my list, I ask my husband to go. Check out your area for Angel Ministries or Share Food Coops. They are a great help. I also joined a grocery challenge on a forum to help me stay on track. Good ;uck." ~ Colleen "I am a mother of three growing boys (9, 7 and 5) I was also having a hard time lowering my grocery bill ($220 a week at Costco.) I recently joined a website called TheGroceryGame.com. They have a free 4 week trial for $1. They give you current sales at your local grocery store and you match them with coupons in your Sunday paper. I have successfully gotten my weekly budget down to about $80-$90. I just get two papers, so I have twice the coupons. My last trip to Fry's last week I spent $88 and saved a whopping $106. For a buck, it's worth a try." ~ Tacia "I shop different stores to save money and also clip coupons. There are some stores that double the coupons. Check the weekend sales flyers and go from there. We have stores in our area called Aldi's. Aldi's is a fantastic place to shop for produce and canned products--the prices are low and the food is great. Some stores will have 'discounted' meat set out early in the mornings. I find excellent bargains on hamburger, chicken and even an occasional steak. Luckily for me, the store I buy my meat at is the store that doubles coupons. Farm stands have great values this time of year. My family consists of 3 children and a husband. All their cereal, lunch snacks are bought with coupons that can be doubled. For me, I have a routine. Stop at the store that does doubles coupons and reduced meat, then Aldi's, and then the fresh produce farm stand that is open year-round. I also make an occasional trip to a Wal-mart that takes coupons also. Make a list, organize your coupons and eat before going to the store. I guess we average $550 a month on groceries. That includes dog and cat food also. During the holidays the grocery bill goes up a little. Also, stock up on specials. If you have children and peanut butter is on sale and you have coupons, grab 5 of them. If toilet paper is on sale and you have coupons, stock up. I also babysit in my home and these children eat lunch and snacks. For me, it's the thrill of a good bargain. We don't eat meat at every dinner. We NEVER throw food out. My husband takes them to work in his lunch. My daughters have taken leftover taco salad in their lunches." ~ Tonya Whitney, PA "My dad passed away 1 year ago this June. This left only my mother and me at home. Even after Dad passed away, we were still spending the same amount each week on groceries (this included paper, cleaning and pet supplies). Mom decided we were only going to the store every other week. Now we are just spending less than half of what we were spending every week. For us it was just making our mind up to do this. We even make a game out of it to see who can spend the lest amount. I use coupons when I have them; Mom doesn't." ~ Vicki "Here is an idea that I've used for to stretch my food dollars: Every time I have a left-over bit of vegetables (such as beans, corn, carrots, peas, etc), I put the leftovers in a freezer container. Sometimes, its some good beef or chicken broth that I've poured off of some meat, or a small amount of beef gravy. Of course, I keep chicken separate from beef, though. I usually have 2 or 3 containers going in the freezer. Then, once it turns cold outside, without fail, EVERY week, I make a pot of soup, adding accumulated leftovers from the freezer. One week, I make vegetable soup, the next week, chicken noodle soup. You don't need a huge piece of meat to make soup. You can cut the meat pieces smaller, actually slicing, rather than cubing it. I add rice to the beef vegetable soup, to add volume. You can purchase the rice and noodles on sale. And whatever noodles I have, I use in the chicken noodle soup! As an added bonus, our local Dollar General Market sells alphabet noodles or tiny 'star' shaped noodles, several 7 ounce packages for $1. I toss in 1 or 2 fistfuls of ABCs into the vegetable soup and stars are added to the chicken noodle soup. I make a big pot, using bouillon for additional flavor, if needed. The first meal of soup, I make grilled cheese sandwiches with it. On a cold day, it makes a great supper! But how about egg or tuna salad sandwiches? Then I fill containers that are microwavable, and that is my lunch at work for the week. Toss a few crackers in it, and it really fills and takes the chill off!! The year my father died, and I had my mom over A LOT, every weekend, without fail, I made soup. It (with a lot of prayer, too!) helped to save my sanity, and stretch ME, when I was needed to comfort my mom. I'd even send home a serving size or 2 container of soup with her, and I'd know she had lunch or supper for a day or two!" ~ Kathy P. "Once a week make a meal plan. Plan for two or three days meatless. (Buy a good vegetarian cookbook -- well worth the expense -- at a second hand book store, of course.)
Plan for fish once a week, which
can be canned for tuna casserole or the like.
Serve smaller portions of meat
and lots of vegetables which you buy at your local outdoor
market.
Learn how to can and preserve
food. Tomatoes bought now at the local market by the
bushel of under 10$ can be frozen or canned and last for a very
long time.
Include lunches and breakfast in
you menus.
Learn how to make bread which
can be made for about .25 to .30 cents a loaf.
Now that you have your menu plan,
write down all of the items you need. Allow for in-store sales
which you can adjust your menu plan. And only buy what is on
your list -- nothing else.
While you are at the store buy
as many of the food items on sale that will fit into your
budget.
You will start to build a
stockpile and as you progress, you will be able to take from you
stockpile and buy other things that are on sale. For instance if
hams are on sale and they are not on your list, buy one
and stick it in the freezer always remaining within your budget.
Eventually you will have enough for a week with no buying.
That week you put you money into
more sale items: toilet paper, soap, tea, coffee -- whatever is
on sale.
Eventually you will be spending
so little money on groceries because you will only be buying on
sale -- nothing else.
I have been doing this now for
40 years and spend very little money on groceries.
This makes for a very happy
family with little stress because of money." ~ Annemarie,
Ontario, Canada
"I raised 4 sons and a husband on $100 a week. This included everything. I didn't buy paper plates, paper towels or paper napkins. I purchased whole milk in half gallon cartons and diluted it with another half gallon of water. I would purchase ground meat and chicken in bulk and only use a half a pound for each meal. The boys would only snack on hot air popcorn, fruit, and vegetable sticks. Hot cocoa, instant oatmeal packets, pancakes, waffles, muffins -- everything we ate were made from scratch. We saved money, yes, but we also taught the boys how to be self-sufficient. It is interesting how, as adults, when they come to visit they always ask for a certain muffin to be made, or if I can give them the recipe to the hot cocoa they loved so much. At this writing I still spend only $100 a week, but now it is just hubby and I. We have gone all organic which we all know costs a lot more then buying chemical-laden food." ~ Laura "We are a family of 10 and spend about $450 a month on groceries. I think what helps us the most is learning to use what is available, free or on sale as opposed to having a week or month's worth of menus and buying items to go in my menu. We are regularly getting free food out of someone's garden or from someone who is moving or from an event that had too much food prepared. I take everything offered and then take it home and sort it as to when it needs to be used. Some has to be thrown out immediately, some can be frozen for later and some just needs a vegetable or bread or something to make it a meal. I keep healthy, as close to organic as possible, staples on hand for when we don't have any free food and cook from scratch for those meals." ~ Kathy
"I have three kids, and
our monthly budget is $150. I kept going over this amount,
until we instituted the envelope method for our spending,
and switched to cash-only purchasing. If I walk into the
store with a debit card or check book, I'll buy things that
we don't need, just because it looks good or is a good deal.
If I walk in with $30, that's how much I have to spend. I
only shop once a week, so if we run out of an item for the
week, we have to make do without, or limit quantities
throughout the week to make it last. This is an easy way to
get on track if you find yourself going over budget, or if
you'd like to shave some money off your monthly bill."
~ Lynnette in NE
"I feed a family of four (husband, me, 2 daughters ages 14 and 11) on average for $100/week. This includes breakfast and dinner each day and lunch each day for my husband and me (kids eat hot lunch at school 5 days a week which adds an extra $20/week). I have found that menu planning has provided the biggest savings for our family, not only financially but for my sanity as well because I know what I'm cooking when I get home from work each day. I plan dinners for 2 weeks at a time and prepare my grocery list accordingly. Typically, I am able to go to the store just 2 x a month for a large shopping trip and about 2 x a month for fill-ins (bread, fresh fruit & produce). Once the menu is planned, we stick with it and my family does too. We do plan for an evening meal out once a week." ~ Nancy B. "A couple of sources that have helped our family reduce grocery costs: AngelFoodMinistries.com ($25 packages of food that are worth much more) and HillbillyHousewife.com ($45 per week for a family of four 'emergency' food menu). We also rely on a very much loved copy of the 'More With Less Cookbook.' A terrific general reference book is "The Tightwad Gazette". This could be of help to free up other monies to put more into food as needed. Hope these ideas help." ~ Olivia "I
know all about having to save money on groceries. There is
a joke in my house (and it really is true) that when we
first got married 3 years ago my husband gave me $40 and
proudly said, 'Here is your grocery money for the month.'
Needless to say there have been a few adjustments that
have needed to be made.
"Ron and I have
recently learned of Angel
Food Ministries. This program is available
all across the nation disturbed by local churches.
This can also be used as a ministry tool for churches or
individuals to help provide food for other families as
well as your own family. We have used this program
for the last 3 months and have found it very helpful to
stretch our food budget. In addition to helping us
financially it has broadened my meal selections. I was
in a rut when it came to my meal preparation." ~
Marilyn
"One way I cut costs when things were very tight, and I still do today, is using a 1/2 lb. of ground beef in almost any recipe from casseroles to soups to sauces that calls for 1 lb. of ground beef. My two meat eaters never said a thing and always thought it was very good. I will often buy 5 - 10 lbs of ground beef at the local market, (usually better pricing than the local grocery) separate it into 1/2 lb. packages, press flat and freeze. These packages thaw quickly and you can easily take out more if needed. The 'Not Just Beans' Cookbook is an excellent one. The recipe for Creamed Eggs & Peas is fantastic. Whenever I mention making this my husband says 'Yuck,' and then proceeds with two helpings and going on about how good it is. You can find many good frugal recipes from this book, looking through cookbooks, or surfing online." ~ Anonymous
Editor's Note: Thanks to these subscribers for taking the time to respond. |
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