Feeding your Family on a Budget - Thrifty Ideas to Save Money
March 17, 2007
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Why is it that when it comes to our food dollar, we seem to be getting less for more? Have you ever noticed just how much air is in a bag of chips these days? Feeding your family on a budget can be a challenge, but it can be done if you follow a few simple tips.
Clip coupons. For some reason, people ignore coupons. Using them in conjunction with weekly store specials will save you anywhere from a few dollars to twenty or thirty every time you food shop. On certain days, many grocery stores offer to double or triple the value of coupons that are worth up to ninety-nine cents.
Purchase meats in family packs that allow for one or two servings per family per meal. Purchase whole pieces of meat and have the butcher cut them up. Specialty meat stores offer the best deal on meat for larger families. Choose lean cuts to get the most for your food bucks.
Buy in bulk whenever possible. Make a list of the food items that you use most often. This list should include cheeses, breakfast and lunch meats, juices, condiments, dairy products, and breads. The cost of a year’s membership at a warehouse club is worth the benefits. Sandwiches make a quick and light lunch on the weekends when you don’t feel like cooking in the middle of the day.
Only buy fresh fruits and vegetables if you are going to use them right away. Fresh veggies and fruits have more nutritional value than canned or frozen, but if they go bad in the fridge, you’ve wasted your money. The frozen varieties are the closest to fresh and they keep much longer. Steam frozen veggies for a crisper taste. Mix frozen fruit in a blender and treat everyone to an after dinner smoothie.
Leftovers will save your life. There are tons of recipes that can be created from leftovers. If you plan to use the leftovers within the next week, they will keep in the refrigerator. If you aren’t sure, slice as much meat as you can and place it in a freezer bag. Frozen leftovers can keep for a month or two in the freezer.
Keep dry foodstuffs on hand. Buy large boxes of pastas, rice, flour, sugar, cereals, and oatmeal. You can get more meals from a block of cheese and a box of macaroni than you can from buying one box of a ready made pasta dinner or flavored rice. Preparing the meal may take longer, but you keep more money in your pocket.
Feeding your family on a budget can be done. It takes is cooperation and a little creativity. You’ll be amazed how much better your family will eat.
Grab your Guide to Family Budgeting - Step-by-step guide to help you establish a workable budget.
Posted by admin | Filed Under Food & Drink, Money & Finance
Similar Posts