Family photo 2013

Family photo 2013

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Putting away the groceries

The kids around here do like to eat. And we rarely go out for meals. Or snacks. Or drinks.

A young(er) [than me] friend {with fewer children (imagine that!)} asked how we could possibly feed the flock for $100/week (only for a few weeks, to help with medical bills...)
I thrive on the pursuit of a frugal and fruitful lifestyle with a warm kitchen where hearty healthy meals are served with love.

These would be my top tips. I may have mentioned most of them before.

1) Cut back on meat. We only eat meat 2-3 x/week. This helps TREMENDOUSLY as meat is one of the priciest items on the menu. Further - try cuts that are less expensive. Like whole chickens, or boneless thighs rather than breasts, or leg quarters or drumsticks, or pork roasts rather than chops. Just about any type of meat is tasty marinated and grilled! The crock pot is great at tenderizing meat as well.

2) Cut back on cereal. The VERY LEAST expensive cereal we buy (generic Raisin Bran) is at least 9 or 10 cents/oz. Most are considerably higher. Whole oats are roughly 6 cents/oz. Oatmeal can be doctored up a variety of ways with fruit, honey, cinnamon, raisins or cranberries, whatever else you like. We do eat cereal, but we only have it every 3rd or 4th day because we can easily empty a box in one sitting and the kids are hungry again quite soon.

3) Eat more potatoes/(real, slow cooked) rice/pasta - foods that are inexpensive and filling.

4) Wrap anything you can find in a tortilla. Beans, eggs, salsa, guac, hummus, lunch meat, peanut butter, cheese, cream cheese, vegetables, fruits. Price per oz on tortillas is usually less than bread and tortilla meals are a favorite on meatless nights around here.

5) Eggs are friends. They are a very cost efficient form of protein and there are so many ways to make them. Breakfast for dinner once a week is helpful.

6) In the winter, a big pot of soup can go a long way.

7) Buy plenty of flour and make goodies. WAY cheaper than buying baked treats or snacks. And better for you. And it makes the house smell delightful and homey.

8) Buy whole carrots. "Baby" carrots aren't really babies you know. :)

9) Only go grocery shopping once a week. Period.

Any tips you'd like to share? By all means, please do!

4 comments:

Chris Noelle said...

YES!!!!! A once a week required FAST....!!! Think about it.....3 meals and snacks for a whole day, just disappears! wow. Big money saver
....if you want to live on planet psycho!

hahahahahah!

Tisha said...

Ha! Yes! Think of the savings for 9people! I love it. (((((Cults RULE!)))) I don't have to tell you that, do I?! Mrs. P. is down witha cults. Oh yeah.

Courtney said...

this was a great post. what are your favorite "goodies" to make??

Alyssa said...

My parents have chickens and they lay soooo many eggs!! Talk to her sometime, I'm sure they'd love to sell them for super cheap...as they literally have them in baskets and tubs! Plus, they're farn-fresh! :)

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