I'm not sure if people were serious or just thought I was lying or ahem exaggerating about how much we spend but people wanted to know how to save on food. I promised a weeks worth of recipes so I'm writing down what we eat this week. I don't always plan ahead although I have a pretty good idea but I wanted to give you the real deal so that will be it's own post. Sorry it's so long. I put main points in bold though so you don't have to read the whole thing unless you want extra commentary. I will start with my favorite tips consolidated many of which were on the other thread but intermixed with politics and everything else. ~Cook from scratch. It's amazing how expensive little seasoning packets are. I do buy some bulk seasoning but for the most part I stick with homemade. Bread actually is pretty cheap considering the time involved in making it but it is super cheap to make. You don't NEED butter in it. If you want to go ultra cheap you can make sourdough starter and keep it going so you don't have to buy yeast. `Don't run to the store If you don't have something make it or google for a substitute. I have made mayo and barbecue sauce and my own baking powder by adding cream of tartar to the soda. It's amazing what you can do without. Then you can wait until a good time to buy it again. ~Use the resources YOU have. I get free fish, pick blueberries and rhubarb and garden. I also get 50lb bags of potatoes for five bucks and also carrots from farmers. If I lived in California my family would be green from eating homemade guacamole but alas that is one thing we have to be skimpy with though we love it. No avocado trees in Alaska. Your resources will look different depending on location. Does a family down the street have a fruit tree they don't harvest. Maybe an elderly person just can't harvest anymore. You harvest and split however you think is appropriate with the owner. Maybe you can start your own garden but only start if you are ready to keep up with it. You kill a lot of plants and you just wasted a lot of time and money. Herb gardens are can be small container gardens in or outdoors and are a good bang for your buck plus extra tasty. Watch prices at places like U-picks they can be tremendously cheaper or the same as the store price so ~Pay attention. Check ads. I just bought 40lbs of meat because it was buy one get one free at a local store. That meat plus fish and turkey and beans will take care of my family for the rest of this year. Finding milk close to the expiration date means getting it really cheap and I stock up and stick it in the freezer. Be forewarned homogenization doesn't survive freezing but it's still good to drink honest. Don't buy something just because it's on sale. Buy something on sale that you would buy anyway. ~Buy bulk. I have found 6 lb cans of re-fried beans, tomato sauce, etc can go a looonng way. I just made enough spaghetti for 12 meals (I froze 11 for quick meals on busy days) with my half price burger and my tomato sauce at $2.24 for 6 Lbs. I also splurged and put fresh mushrooms in it but it was still pretty cheap for 12 meals. If I find my Costco receipt I can give you exact price per meal. I can't find a place to buy bulk whole wheat flour but even the small bags at Krogers are cheaper then bulk at the specialty stores. Those cans of beans can make bean burritos or great side dishes. I tried making my own homemade re-fried beans but I think I spent more in electricity then a can costs. They are not as tasty with out the lard in them but some would say lards not healthy anyway. ~ Pack away things in season. I don't grow pumpkins but they get awful cheap around Halloween so I steam, mash and freeze them for future soups, muffins, pie's or whatever. They are a great source of vitamins in the middle of winter when my garden is not producing. I also roast the seeds, which are REALLY expensive. The sad part is they don't last long. I also can turkeys after thanksgiving. They get really cheap at that time of year sometimes down to 35 cents a lb. I get free ones when I shop for baked goods (also on sale at that time of year) from Fred Meyers or Krogers depending on where you live. I then have canned turkey meat, broth, and I make soup. The soup comes in handy when we are all sick and I don't want to cook. I just dump in noodles and heat. The turkey meat along with canned fish means I don't buy lunch meat which is really expensive and not really all that healthy. The last time I looked at broth I was shocked at the price. Those turkeys go a long way. ~Buy the basics versus specialty products. This is for food too but is especially important in cleaning supplies. A big bag of baking soda and gallon of vinegar can go a long way in cleaning. I like to get a gallon of bleach for things I really want sanitized. Compare that with buying special specific toilet bowl cleaner or lysol. I do buy glass cleaner (in bulk) though and Murphy's Oil for my wood floors. Usually I damp mop with water alone though so one bottle will last me who knows how long. I'm still on my first bottle. Water alone works good for many things. `Don't let things go to waste Most people I know have so much crap in their fridge they don't know what they have. Maybe that's just my (extended) family but if somethings in the back of the fridge and molds then that's money down the drain. My fridge has a lot less stuff in in then most peoples. Every few days we have leftover meals. This is the only time kids get to pick what they eat. There usually isn't enough for us all so we have a buffet. If we have to we do it again. Scraps of many items can be thrown in soups or casseroles. When winters upon us my mom and I gather our green tomatoes to make relish and jam. We eat around the fish carcasses (my mother likes to brine even other people's fish carcasses ) that other people would throw away although my DH is not impressed. We eat that at lunch time when he is not home. ~Eat cheaper items with similar nutritional value in other words beans (dried for real savings not canned) can replace meat sometimes or the veggie in season versus the specialty one. We love blue cheese but it is still a special occasion item. I will probably splurge when all the tomatoes are upon us in full force.
Yes, I was serious and believed you. I have heard of others that do it too. I think one of my hardest things is never having any extra money, to go and get 40lbs of meat at one time, or to buy items that we use all the time when they are on sale 10 for $10. I don't have the extra $10. I can only buy what we need now. Does that make sense? Any tips around that? Thank you so much for all your tips and for taking the time to type them out. When I have a minute or two by my self I am going to sit down and really look them over! Thanks again.
What DH and I try to do is around tax time, when we get our refund check, we really try to stock up on food. Things like Milk and bread DO NOT expire if you freeze them. So we usually buy about 5 gallons of milk and that lasts almost a month before we have to buy more. Bread as well. Last year for our check we bought a big freezer for our meat/milk/bread. I am just now starting to make homemade rolls, so that saves us $10 a week, but other than that, we are like you. I had to quit my job, and my DH has the next two weeks off from his second job that he doesn't get paid for (managers decided to take a vacation) so he goes 4 weeks w/o a paycheck. When we see these things on sale, we usually can't scrounge up the extra $ to get it (like gas or meat for instance).
Ginger, try to find that "extra" $10, even if it means you are NOT buying something else. My husband gives me $200 cash out of each paycheck (every two weeks) for groceries. That's for a family of 5. I don't know how much you have, but can you take just 5% or 10% and use for "stock up" stuff? And there will be weeks when they won't have stuff to stock up on; those weeks you could either spend it with your regular groceries, or save it until there IS something to stock up on. Frogger had some wonderful suggestions. Another I would add is to PAY PAPER CASH for your groceries. I was amazed how easier it was, because (especially that last week) I'm very careful of what I buy and how much it is. I've only "gone over" a few times.
I wish I could find $10 extra. We are very careful w/the Lord's money and watch every penny. We don't spend it on extras like candy, soft drinks, eating out, etc. But we just don't have it. We have $4._ _, to live on until May 10th, I we just ran out of milk. The Lord is good and I know He will provide something befor the 10th, but that is where we are. I like the idea of only spending cash. It's easy to go over w/a debit card.
I will 2nd what Jackie said about paying cash. I've always always always paid for EVERYTHING with my debit card. We would just buy whatever & so basically never saved a dime. NOW, I get the cash & go & intentionally leave my debit card at home. It makes me 1. Get what is on my list & actually stick to it & 2. Pay attention to the "junk" we don't need, because while I'm adding in my head....I think "we don't really NEED that for $3.99" It does help paying cash.
Ginger, then you do what you can. When you give to God first, He will provide for His own. I would keep the buying ahead idea in the back of your mind for when you will have "extra" to do so.
I can see where that would help. An other thing I do about sticking to my list is to leave dh home! LOL
If we have the money for gas to drive 60 miles round trip we go to ALDI. We save a ton going there. We always use paper cash b/c we have REALLY gotten stung w/ credit cards in the past, so we have none now, no debit card either. Just cash. Shopping at WalMart is WAYYY too Expensive for us to do right now, and we can get twice as much at ALDI for $200 than we can get at WalMart. (Plus, at ALSI yesterday we spent a few extra $ to get the kids a preschool and Kindergarten workbook and a phonics book. Would have cost a ton at Walmart.)
Dollar Tree, if there's one by you, also has preschool workbooks for $1, but it's hit-and-miss as to whether they'll have them!
We, too, are going through a tough financial time right now and these tips are great! I just started cooking more with beans and rice. There are some really tasty recipes out there! It's amazing how much my perspective has changed. I used to think our budget was tight when we had $100 a month left over AFTER we paid our bills, tithed and bought groceries. Now, we sometimes have to choose which bills to pay so we CAN buy groceries. But this has taught me to be more responsible and creative. Even though it can be a financial struggle, the opportunity to teach my own children at home is priceless!!!! Keep sharing the great tips
I have lived on and off a budget and I can tell you when you are off a budget you will spend what you have no matter how much you make. When I was young I didn't have a garden or do canning so I had to stick with a lot of "Do with out" and "Don't waste it". I didn't have coffee although I kept a box of cheap plain tea so I would have something for guests. Adults don't really need milk either so save most of it for the littlest people. It may be necessary to trim other areas of the budget too. I know sometimes life just doesn't let you save.There are times in my life when I think God was teaching me to trust Him. He always pulled through right when I felt like there was NOTHING we could do. The nice thing is if you learn to live this way it is easier to keep on living this way when income increases. I'm trying to think of the cheapest foods not as a permanent solution but it's a good step towards saving for good sale buys. It is amazing how far a lb of dried beans will go. Some homemade bread or cornbread is probably pennies per serving. Beans can be served spicy or sweet or salty depending on your family or you might get away with serving them more times in a week if you prepare dishes that taste differently. Check adds for a cheap veggie that is in season in your area. I would be surprised if you spent more then 50 cents a plate. You can survive Top Ramon (I know not that healthy) for a week or two to save up for sale items the next week. I wouldn't eat them regularly permanently but they help get you by in a tough time. I used to add egg and peas or carrots to the packages for our veggie. I almost never buy them now though. Oatmeal in bulk is super cheap. You can sweeten with whatever you have on hand. It is always tastier if you can add berries or something to it but berries tend to be spendy. Your area may have berries for the picking but I don't know where you live. It is the right time of year, unless you live in a different country then I do. Pancakes from scratch are super cheap especially if you use powdered milk and you can also make whole wheat when you can afford it or sprinkle in a tiny bit of wheat germ if you get a chance to save up for some. Add an egg to the top for protein. Avoid bacon and sausage which are super expensive and not that healthy unless it's Father's Day. :wink: Don't buy extra dessert stuff. Get a veggie and fruit in at dessert time. If you live in an apple area I'm sure you can get apples cheap and make crisp with the oatmeal you bought a big box of. Pumpkin pie is a super way to get in a lot of veggie and still get dessert. You may not be able to do everything on the list but you can start with a few things and then move towards the others. You may have to buy 4 lbs of meat instead of 40 the first time. Only after you lived on top raman and beans the week before but each step will help a little. It does seem hard whenever you learn something new but is easy after a while and may become a habit if you keep it up long enough.
I agree with everything you said.... except this. Most adults don't get nearly enough calcium!!!! MILK IS A NECESSITY!!!!!
My girls had to compare the price of dried milk to regular, and we found the dried was more expensive. This was actually a discussion among 4-H moms, because no one expected it.
Yeah, that's how it is around here, too. I think it may be a regional thing, though. I used to always think dried was 'cheaper' until I actually figured what it was per gallon (and not taking into account the cost of the water, even). But my best friend swears it's a lot cheaper than fresh where she lives.
I agree wholeheartedly. Especially if you are at or near the age when osteoporosis becomes a concern. Which is why we are looking into goats. I drink milk by the ton and at nearly $3 a gallon its getting a bit expensive.
Our milk is only $2.00/gallon. OK, that's usually a sale price, but SOMEWHERE has it on sale each week! So I guess when it comes to instant milk, you need to look at the prices. I've been thinking of getting it, because so many recipes call for it. As far as bone health goes, osteoporosis runs in my family. My mom has it, her mom had it. So I'm particular about making sure the girls and I get plenty of calcium. I also take calcium supplements. When I had a bone density test a few years back, they told me I had the bones of an 18yo!
There are non-dairy ways to get the calcium you need. One of my favorites is salmon patties leaving the bones in and crushing them up. Here is a link to non-dairy calcium sources www.ellenskitchen.com/faqs/calcium.html. Many can be grown in your garden or bought in bulk to save money. I have posted about my budget before ($200 a month on groceries). I don't drink milk after my gastric bypass, although I can eat yogurt and cheese, but soy milk is too expensive. All that to say that my calcium levels are great w/o milk. Where there is a will, there is a way. Edited to include:...I can't take calcium supplements because of kidney stones, so it is possible to eat a calcium rich diet without milk....and our milk is usually $1.99 a gallon at Aldi's.
I work hard at planning our meals. I actually signed up for e-mealz.com to get ideas and I pull from those. Then I work at sticking to it - HARD. With a family of instantly 7 people it is VERY tough - especially with all the extras that teen girls need. I have a debit card which DH "refills" with $200-300 every payday if he can. Sometimes he can't and I have to make do. But this money includes extras such as female products, soaps, toothpaste etc etc etc. Luckily we raise almost all our meats. We do buy chicken (even though we raise it) because honestly - I don't have $4.99/pound for my own chicken. Sad huh? But I pick up chicken thighs by the case for 88 cents per pound at Sam's Club every few months. Beef and pork - I pull from here (we have enough). We have goats and use them for milk (thank goodness since milk here is sometimes up to $4 per gallon!)... eggs we have here - so it's a lot of extras (bread, side dishes and those types of things) that I need. I try and stretch out the money as long as possible and it does work if I work at it. Rice is a new friend for us..... I bought a $30 rice cooker and it is now a true staple almost every night! Life is good with this thing! For instance... last night.... keilbasa, white rice, diced tomatoes, and diced red potatoes - mixed together and it was great. Kids ate the entire container. I steamed the potatoes at the same time I cooked the rice and just browned the kielbasa - easy peasy! I miss my bread machine and I am waiting to get a really good one as I keep breaking the lower priced ones since they aren't designed to make bread every day. I am working on couponing again as well. I slipped for awhile when I switched cars - seriously - I left my coupon binder in the car and forgot about it and then got the new foster child and lost my mind somewhere
