Lowering food bill; healthy frugal foods

Here goes my first post on this forum. The tips that follow I have gleaned from several other places – so many, in fact, that I don’t know exactly where they all came from. Hopefully, you’ll find something in these you can use.

Couponing combined with grocery ads

Menu Planning

Cut down on eating out (the item above helps with that)

Go grocery shopping alone (after you’ve eaten)

Make grocery store list

Pack lunches or snacks when we’re going to be out.

Take own water bottles.

Bake bread

Make bread pudding from bread heels

Check out the Simple Living Forums for more tips

Rethink what you all drink and go to water for the summer whenever possible.

Or imagine how you would last the rest of the month if you had NO money to spend.  Make every grain of rice count.  The psychological attitude of frugality is just as important as frugal tips and actions .

Get good at making comfort foods from scratch, especially foods that might tempt you to order out, go out to eat, or buy prepared.  Things like chinese food, pizza, desserts.

We have a “system” where we always have pizza dough ready in the fridge, and I’ve taught my kids how to press it out and put on the toppings.  So we can have pizza on a whim.  I also make a homemade dessert once a day (or someone else does).  It’s important that you don’t feel too deprived while cutting corners, or you might crack and go out and spend money.

Use rags instead of napkins and paper towels.

If you live in an area with immigrants looks for groceries that cater to them.  They tend to be cheaper.

Make a gallon of lemonade each day and have that and water be the only beverages.  Once the lemonade is drunk for the day, don’t make more until the next day.  I make lemonade with 1 1/2 cups each sugar and lemon juice per gallon jug.  That’s about $1 per gallon.  If you do buy prepared items (like potato chips) only buy a small amount each week and once it’s gone it’s gone.

Don’t even think about buying organic unless it’s cheaper (it never is though).

Buy store brand IF it is cheaper.

Set a grocery shopping day and do not go into the store any other time.  If you run out of something, you substitute or change your meal plan

If a sale is really good, buy extra and freeze.  I made big batches of soup and froze individual meals.

Use mason jars for storage rather than plastic wrap or ziplocks

Make your own household cleaners from cheaper ingredients like borax, vinegar, baking soda, etc.

Stop eating out. Period.

Stop buying coffee shop drinks

“Cut the fluff” from the grocery list (chips, frozen pizza, soda, candy, etc.)

Use generic products (shampoo [or make your own], face cream, etc.)  

Stop using “fluff” products like nail polish and other beauty products that cost a fortune (make your own where possible)

Use “filler” in cooking like rice, beans, veggies

Have a baked potato night

Have a soup night

Use more dried beans

try not to use anything that can’t be used again (cloths for dusting/cleaning that can be washed and reused, mason jars)
don’t buy bottled water, get everyone their own “permanent” bottle and fill it up at home
pack lunch or snack if going out so you aren’t tempted to get fast food

Save on car fuel by running errands several all at once and minimizing trips.   It may be cheaper to pay a slightly higher price for an item at a store you’re at than to drive to another location.

Check how much you are paying for cleaning products – you may be able to save a little using vinegar and baking soda. 

Save ends of vegs and freeze; use when making stock

Make your own bread – it’s easy

Cut your toothpaste tube in half when you think it’s done and use every drop before getting a new one

GROW YOUR OWN VEGS – even if it’s just a few in pots

Rinse ziplock bags

Lots of soups, stews, breakfast for dinner

Invite company over for dessert instead of dinner

Grocery list (check circular)

Go to farmers’ market near closing time

Picnics, rather than take out or eating out

Dilute conditioner and maybe shampoo

Homemade cleaning supplies (when we run out of what we have)

Don’t use as many paper towels

Summer: take cooler (ice from frozen water bottles) with snacks

Use reusable containers for storage instead of ziplock bags

Use a cookie sheet over a casserole dish for baking instead of foil

Rag bag for cleaning up spills (old socks and shirts)

Get sheets and cloth napkins at Goodwill/Salvation Army/Value Village (Savers?)

Garden the most expensive items: tomatoes, peppers, basil, spinach, lettuce, scallions

Pack lunches, snacks, take bottled water

http://www.budget101.com

Cloth napkins

Make own salad dressing

Check out: Money Saving Mom, also this blog: http://simplemom.net/how-we-stopped-living-less-than-paycheck-to-paycheck/

FRUGAL EQUIPMENT

It seems counter-intuitive to buy stuff to be more frugal, but these items have helped me save money over the years:

* Squeeze-It Tube Squeezers: I put them on everything, and I believe them help me get the last bits out of many tubes. (And then yes, cut the tubes open for more.)
* Funnels: When the bottle is almost empty, put the funnel in the next bottle and tip over the old bottle into it. Let it drain for however long.

REDUCING WASTE

Jars with leftover bits of jam/jelly/cottage cheese/peanut butter get filled with water that is then used to give the next morning’s oatmeal some extra flavor.

Food never gets wasted! Read the Tightwad Gazette for great ideas and some good universal recipes.

BEING MINDFUL

Keep a PRICE BOOK (see also Tightwad Gazette or the Interwebs for info on how-to). It will absolutely change the way you think about every future shopping trip. It takes work, but you will feel like a ninja and it’s so worth it.

PRIDE

If you currently feel brand-conscious (like you really want the shampoo on your shower shelf to be something you consider quality, rather than the 1.99 discount brand), replace the branded bottle with a generic pretty bottle and just refill that bottle as needed with whatever is cheapest. Pour all 20 travel-size hotel shampoos in there, mix Salon Selectives and White Rain, whatever. It just becomes the “shampoo” bottle, not “my gorgeous bottle of $20 salon-only hair product.” This works for everything that comes in one of those bottles that are part of the decor of your house (dish soap, laundry detergent, fancy drinking water, olive oil, et al).

Find out if you live in a redemption state (or near a redemption state!) and if you do, save those bottles and cans. Otherwise you’re just throwing out cash money!

http://www.sustaincreateandflow.com/frugal-made-easy-part-one/

Only go in grocery store once a week (at most). Make do with what you have.

I never put only one thing in the oven.  If I am cooking a roast, I put in cookies too. If I have three things in a once I feel pretty good.

http://penniesandpancakes.blogspot.com/

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/

http://theprudenthomemaker.com/

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Those are some great suggestions! Seriously, I don’t know how I could possibly add to that!

I don’t know what “healthy” looks like for you family, because it’s probably different than my version of “healthy” for my family. I’ll tell you what works for us–although we still have a high food budget, but it’s pretty unavoidable considering we eat very GAPS/Paleo style.

Buy meat in bulk. If you can, get a 1/4 or 1/2 a cow from a farmer and put it in your freezer. You’ll get a bulk price per lb. rather than paying more per pound for expensive cuts like ribeyes or t-bones. I pay $6/lb for grass-fed, organic beef, and I get 50 lbs of mixed cuts and ground beef. 

Make your own everything you can think of: yogurt, coconut milk, flour, nut butters, pizza crust, tortillas. EVERYTHING. I save SO much money by making my own coconut milk, and then I can turn around and dehydrate the pulp, blend it finely, and have homemade coconut flour. I literally save hundreds of dollars in coconut products every year by doing this. Plus, you can increase the nutrition and digestibility of these foods by soaking or sprouting your grains, nuts, and beans prior to using them.

Find ways to barter and/or trade. You’d be surprised at how many people and small businesses will be willing to trade services and goods. If you have a skill you can offer, suggest it. We got free chiropractic care for several years simply because I cooked one meal per week for the chiropractor and his family. Everyone was happy with that trade. If someone has a large amount of tomatoes or peaches, offer to can or preserve them in exhange for several jars for your own family. Or find a local grower who needs help w/ weeding or harvesting. You can often get free produce in exchange for your labor.

Quit buying bottled water. Invest in a filter at home and some stainless steel or glass bottles w/ rubber surrounding them. Healthier and better for the environment. And you don’t have to buy as many trash bags! 

Snag the less-than-desirable produce when it’s discounted and about to be thrown out. You can freeze it, can it, use it in smoothies, juice it, or whatever.

Make your own personal hygiene and cleaning products. I make our toothpaste, hand soap, cleaning sprays, and deodorant. In the past, I have made our shampoo and laundry detergent. I don’t do this for financial reasons, but because I don’t like all the chemicals in store-bought stuff, but it does save a lot of money.

Eggs are a cheap and healthy protein source. We do breakfast for dinner a lot. Omelettes w/ veggies or quiche are ways you can go beyond just plain eggs. Additionally, you can add scrambled eggs to fried rice instead of beef or chicken. 

Along the lines of “cutting the fluff”, just don’t buy packaged, boxed, or canned stuff. It’s more expensive, and you’re paying for packaging more than product. There’s nothing you can buy that you can’t make yourself, and it will definitely be healthier.

Switch to coconut oil and butter instead of margarine and veg oils. Yes, those are more expensive, but you’ll be less likely to need to go to the doctor because you’re consuming good fats over inflammatory fats, which will save you money down the road.

In baking, cut the more expensive ingredients down. If a recipe calls for a cup of chocolate chips, add 3/4 or 1/2 a cup instead. If it calls for 2/3 cup nuts, use 1/2 or 1/3 instead. No one will know the difference after a while.

Try to use less cheese. And when you do buy cheese, don’t buy pre-grated. Buy it in a block and grate it yourself. Cheese is expensive, so if you can cut it out or cut down, you’ll save.

As mentioned, DON’T EAT OUT. EVER. Yes, it’s convenient, but it’s so expensive and not nearly as healthy as what you can make for less at home. If your family needs “a night out”, find something that doesn’t revolve around food to do, or go out for something cheaper like kid-size ice cream. Go to the park together, play a game, go to a dollar movie, go to a friends’ house for dinner, but stay away from restaurants, even the cheap dollar menus. Nothing but junk there.

If I think of any more, I’ll come back, but for now I’m off to bed!

Lindsey

I learned a great many tricks this morning! Thanks, ladies.

I want to add a caution to be careful of adding things like more potatoes and rice to your diets.  Simple carbs like that can raise your blood sugar – not a huge deal for most people, but for some, it has implications not only on blood sugar but on thyroid issues, gut issues, yeast issues, etc.

So, while you want to be frugal, you must also strive to be healthy.  Perhaps spending for the extra salad-type veggies and eating a large salad as a meal (with a bit of meat on top or something) would be a good choice once in a while.

On the topic of potatoes, I’ve found that making potato wedges (washing potatoes, cutting them in half, then in strips; put melted coconut oil in bottom of cookie sheet, lay potato wedges down, drizzle coconut oil on top, salt and pepper; bake at 350 for about 1 hour) makes FANTASTIC “potato chips”.  And the best part is that instead of using 6 potatoes (like we do for baked potatoes), we only use about 4 potatoes and somehow we all come away full.

You can also make your scrambled eggs go further by sauteing veggies first and then adding the whisked eggs and scrambling the whole conglomeration.  My kids hate it (because of the peppers and onions!) but my husband and i love this for breakfast.

Another place we’re saving money (and being healthier) is that we’ve nearly totally cut out bread and pasta.  I don’t even make my own bread anymore!  We have just totally eliminated it from out diet.  I try to only serve one gluten-free pasta meal per month (hard, annoying, but doable); and we have a loaf of bread in the freezer only for picnics.  We eat our hamburgers and hot dogs without buns (and with homemade “potato chips”). 

We’ve also cut back on homemade desserts! And I’m amazed at how long 4 lbs. of sugar lasts me now!  And my flou lasts so lng I’m keeping it it the freezer!  I grind my own rice flour (another savings) for gluten-free baking to make my husband some quick morning stuff (he’s a farmer and gets up too early for me to cook him breakfast).  But, I’ve been making his muffins smaller and he knows to only eat one each morning, so they last longer and aren’t too awful bad on his blood sugar and health.

So for dessert, we have small (SMALL) bowls of ice cream.  We can get pretty cheap ice cream around here at a “bent and dent” type grocery store.  So, small bowls once a day.  Or I’ll make a smoothie which makes even the ice cream go further. (Or not tell the kids/hubby and use yogurt and ice cubes instead of ice cream!!!)

Oh, and making your own yogurt – there’s another great thing to do.  Well, we’re dairy farmers, so we have tons of milk, I guess if you had to buy milk to make yogurt there’s a chance it wouldn’t be as frugal for you.  (Except that you could control the sugar.)

I shop once a month for everything other than produce and milk.  It has helped alot with the grocery bill.

PennilessParenting.com is a good frugal resource.

I made an awesome supper last night, and it was very frugal, in my opinion. I cooked and shredded 4 chicken breasts (you could also use the meat from a whole chicken). Saute a whole onion, 3-4 cloves of garlic in some olive oil or coconut oil with some spices such as cumin, chili powder, paprika, chipotle spice, and salt. When onions are soft, add 2 cups chopped kale, 1/2 a cup of water, and 2 cups of shredded chicken. Serve on top of baked sweet potatoes. You could easily add 2 cups of cooked black beans to bulk it up even more and stretch it further. With the remaining shredded chicken I made a creamy skillet dish with butternut squash, peas, coconut cream, salt and pepper. Took about 20 minutes, and peas and butternut squash are very inexpensive. We eat grain-free/paleo/GAPS 90% of the time, so my food bill is higher than most (about $700/month, and we eat out maybe once a month) probably because we don’t use cheap grains to fill up on. Sometimes I wish we could! We also had leftovers of both meals–and I only used 4 chicken breasts. There are four of us to feed.

When I make chili, I use 2 lbs of meat and 4 cups of pureed pinto beans (that I soak and cook myself, of course). I don’t like bean-y chili, but I don’t taste beans when I puree them; it adds bulk and that’s it. We rarely eat legumes too, so I don’t make chili often, but it is economical when I do make it. When you have leftover chili that’s not enough for everyone to have a meal, serve it on top of baked potatoes. 

I make perpetual stock in my crock pot. I buy chicken feet from a local rancher and add 2-3 feet to the pot w/ the chicken carcass. Turn crock pot on low and let it go for up to a week. Ladle out broth as you need it for rice, quinoa, soup, etc., and replace what you took out w/ the same amount of fresh water. At the end of the week, strain whatever broth is left and freeze, then start over with a new carcass, 2-3 chicken feet, and clean water. You can also add veggie scraps, but I don’t do this much. Cooking rice or whatever in broth instead of water increases the nutritional value without adding extra cost.

We do eggs for breakfast most days, but about twice a week, I’ll make oatmeal for the kids. I don’t eat it, but they love it and it stretches our eggs a little longer. I also make an amaranth porridge w/ blueberries and cream that they enjoy.

Buy your produce in season, and save a ton. For example, I don’t buy apples year round. We eat them from September-December, because that’s when they’re in season. I can get 20lbs of organic juicing apples from Azure Standard during those months for $10! But right now, in the grocery store, a 5lb bag of organic apples is going to cost me $6-7. I can’t justify that, so I only buy apples in season. We eat Brussels sprouts all the time from December-April because they’re cheaper. But right now, they’re almost $1 more per pound because they’re going out of season. I can’t believe my store still has organic kale for $1.59/bunch! I doubt that lasts much longer, so I bought 8 bunches of kale the other day! Anyway, just buy your produce seasonally. You’ll probably end up adding more variety and trying new things too.

Fried rice is a very frugal meal, and you can bulk it up and add nutrition by adding lots of cheap veggies like onion, carrot, peas, and zucchini. Add eggs instead of chicken or beef for protein and cook the rice in broth instead of water.

I love using canned salmon as well. We live nowhere near Alaska, and wild-caught fresh salmon at the store is $13+/lb., and it takes about a pound to feed my family one meal with no leftovers. But I can get canned wild-caught salmon for MUCH less. Salmon patties are a favorite meal around here. I use coconut flour instead of regular flour and fry in coconut oil and/or beef tallow. I also added a bit of canned salmon to a quiche I made this week, and it was so delicious! I’ve eaten it for breakfast for the last two mornings. Also, I make crust-less quiche–which is cheaper than one with a crust.