A Guide to Making Meals on a Budget (for the real person)

Photo by Granny's Vital Vittles

We're all on a budget.  It's not a bad word!  Let's say it together once more, loud and proud:

B-U-D-G-E-T!!

Now that we have it out in the open, we can talk freely about ways we can shave $$$ off of something we all have to do...EAT.  In this post are my suggestions for keeping your grocery shopping in-check with your family's funds.

 

Coupons

I am not a coupon clipper; I've tried and failed at the venture many times.  I'm sure I will eventually again try my hand at clipping to save cash on groceries.  Though I find most often that the coupons promoted aren't for what I normally buy, and the $.20 cents saved on a can of soup is lost in my time spent clipping/saving/organizing/double checking the correct product size.  That said, there are millions of people who clip coupons every day.  And although most of them aren't purchasing 100 bags of cheesy-poofs for a quarter, they are successfully navigating the world of saving with scissors. 

Make a grocery list and stick to it

Don't succumb to temptation

We hear it again and again, and it makes the most sense.  But I can't count how many times  I've gone to the store with nothing more than a wish list in my head.  Just like everything else in life, a list helps keep us in task and on budget.  There are great tools available to help make a grocery list that's relevant to your household.  And remember... just because there is a big display of potato chips, doesn't mean they are needed.  You didn't seem to want them while making out the list at your kitchen table, so don't succumb to temptation.

 

Make it fun!

I like to keep myself interested and challenged when it comes to the family's meals.  There are some weeks where we just don't have the time nor inclination to make everything from scratch just to keep things cheap...and that's OK!   Here are a few ways I like to keep myself interested in cooking meals on a dime.

1.  The Pantry Challenge -  Most grocery trips end up adding food to you pantry and freezer that don't get eaten by the next grocery trip.  Compound that over several weeks or months and our kitchens have a plethora of items that we need to use up.  Make a conscious decision that for a week that you're going to eat food on hand.  There's nothing more cost effect than using what was already purchased.   I'm embarrassed to say I have successfully gone 3 weeks with only purchasing milk and a few fresh fruits & veggies for my family of 4.   You'll likely eat some interesting meal combos of tuna melts with a side of cranberry sauce & rice-a-roni, but your pocketbook will thank you and your kitchen will become a blank canvas for your next shopping "theme".
2. No processed food allowed -   Contrary to popular belief, it is indeed cheaper to eat fresh food than processed food.  A good way of buying fresh yet cost effectively is to shop the perimeter of the grocery store first.  In doing this, you'll fill your cart with the necessities first, leaving little room for the processed snack foods that drain our budget.  Remember, for the same price, a bag of apples provides twice as many snacks as a box of granola bars.  Start re-thinking anything purchased in a box: Can I replace this with something fresher?  Making this an occasional weekly or monthly challenge will help you become more familiar with what produce and proteins are on sale at certain times of the year.
3. Slow cooker week - Plan a week where at least one meal a day comes from the
   slow

   

   When taking a slow cooker challenge,
   don't forget about breakfast

   cooker.  This takes prep to ensure you have the ingredients on hand and the extra 15 minutes in the morning (or evening before) to get put everything in the pot.  But the routine allows you to coach your brain into re-thinking meals on a budget.  Plus, you'll likely be able to get multiple meals out of one preparation - saving time and money.

 
 

Find a few go-to websites that you love for budget friendly recipes and ideas

One of the great things about all this internet information is the money-saving tips and tricks.  Cost effective grocery shopping is a topic on everyone's list.  The other side of this blessing is the challenge to decipher which advice can be applied to our full-time (and then some) schedules.  As much as I'd love to spend $45/week for a family of 4-6, but it's not realistic to try and shift our lifestyles for overnight soaking of dry beans, preparation of powdered milk, and creamed tuna recipes on the table. 

 

There is no shortage of articles, blogs, postings, & pins for budget foods.  There is something for everyone to reference. It won't take you long to find a few that you can relate to, but make sure to not shy away from some that might be a little out of your comfort zone such as paleo and vegan websites.   Many of these naturally lend themselves to budget conscious ideas simply because they utilize from-scratch and non processed food methods.  Keep an open mind, but selectively choose the tips you add to your daily arsenal. 

 

The Hillbilly Housewife website has been a favorite website of mine for years.  Even though I scoffed at the $45/week list earlier, she offers some great from-scratch recipes using realistic ingredients that you'll likely have on-hand.   

Think outside of the grocery store

We all have our favorite grocery store to patron.  As much as we all love shopping at the closest specialty grocery store, we have alternative supermarkets that are more cost effective.  Personally, I usually shop both in a given shopping excursion: First Aldi, then Pick n Sav or Super Walmart, lastly Brennan's Market for a fun cheese or wine to highlight a meal.  In addition to your normal routine, make sure you consider alternative venues in search for great deals. 

 

• Places like the Dollar Tree offer some really good deals on dry goods, saving 20% or more without a coupon.  
• Hit your local Farmer's Market for in-season produce, local honey, etc.  For additional cost savings, a friend recently gave me the tip to go to the market at the tail end.  None of the vendors want to haul all that stuff back to the farm, so you can negotiate some great deals by taking several things off of the hand of a single vendor.
• If you live or drive by a rural area, look for stands or yard signs for fresh garden produce and eggs.  Many times, you can get great deals on these items. If you happen to have something with which to barter (crafts or services), don't hesitate to ask!
• Ethnic food stores carry “specialty” items for much cheaper than you’d find in the ethnic section of your usual grocery store. Asian markets are great places to find inexpensive curry, sauces, or vinegars. Middle Eastern stores often carry rice, lentils, and couscous in bulk; at a Hispanic store you might find dried chilies or fresh tamales.
• Gardening:  Even with a black thumb I'm able to grow herbs in the summer which saves me lots of cash and also inspires my grocery lists and meal preparation.
• Check out your Corner Convenience Store. These are usually the stores you think of when trying to save money, but many of them are now offering bread, eggs, milk, potatoes, etc. at very competitive prices.  And it indeed is more cost effective if it saves you gas, time, and temptation of grabbing a box of dingdongs.

 

Have a few go-to cheap staple meals on hand 

Whether at holiday times or while surfing the internet, there are times when we see a

Mexican Potato Omelet
Courtesy of www.eatingwell.com

recipe that we just have to make.  Unfortunately, many times that recipes calls for ingredients that make up half our weekly food budget.  Have no fear!

 

Spaghetti, omelets, red beans & rice are a few super cheap staple meals in your kitchen arsenal,  in order to easily have the funds to make that fancy gourmet prime rib for a special occasion. 

 

 

 

 

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Changing the way you think about grocery shopping and meal preparation in order to save money can take time and much effort, but the reward is well worth it.  Take the time to find what works for you and know it can continually improve on itself.