Stretching the Food Dollar

I’ve been noticing the food bill rising too, Linda. As far as coupons go, we currently play http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ which seems to help…some. Unfortunalty most coupons are for the very foods we try to stay away from – high processed, etc. I’ve been increasing our beans & rice dishes which saves alot. Also getting rid of dairy and processed meats helps too. Thankfully DH hunts, so we have deer meat in our freezer – which aids in keeping food costs down. I really look forward to hearing the other responses. Thanks for starting this thread.

God Bless!

Heather

I think a garden was already mentioned, which helps a ton once you get past the original set-up costs.

I decrease the amount of meat in dishes.  If a recipes calls for 1 pound of ground beef I only use 1/2 to 3/4 a pound.  Also, depending on the recipe I might add beans or rice or extra veggies to make up the difference.

We try to eat less meat in general and I rarely serve meat (including chicken, fish or pork) as the ‘main’ item.  It’s always in a soup or casserole or stir fry or whatever.  Almost never as a big chunk on the plate.

Our area has a food co-op where we can buy bulk foods.  Not Azure Standard though, which I’ve heard is incredible.  It was set up by some local people who were able to find a local business owner who can order wholesale from a company called United.  Another group set up a produce co-op by contacting the big grocery store in the area and working out a deal for ‘whatever the store needs to get rid of’.  And yet another contacted a supplier and sets up group orders through them.  You can do a search for CSAs in your area or try “produce distributor” to see if there is one or you can set up one.

If you are near a Mormon cannery you can buy grains, oats, rice and such at very reduced prices, either in cans for storage or large bags.  Most areas will let people who are not members of the church buy the products.  Sometimes you need an appointment and sometimes certain areas might want you to come with a current member of the church.  It never hurts to ask!

That’s all I can think of.  Looking forward to other ideas!

Heather

This has really got me thinking. I forgot to mention gardening as a great money saver on produce. We are a huge gardening family – but have not canned (as far as pressure cooking/canning goes) in years. This summer I plan to, as I’m sure food prices will only contine to sky rocket. For those of you who do canning, do you feel it saves you lots of money considering all the time involved? We did make strawberry and rasberry jam last summer and its ever so nice to pull out of the freezer and use – no more paying 3-4$ a jar.

I recently tried the menu planning before I went to the store since I heard that it was a good way to save money, but I ended up spending much more that way because I was looking for specific ingredients.  I can feed our family of 5 for $70 a week when I really try.  My general budget is $100 a week.  We make everything from scratch, nothing packaged or boxed if I can help it.  We eat alot of brown rice and grind our own grain.  For meat, I go to the store and buy what is cheapest (usually chicken).  I won’t pay over .99 cents lb. for meat.  We used to do all organic, but I’ve learned that it is not financially pleasing to my husband who works almost 60 hours a week. 🙂  I’ve recently discovered how to make my own cream of chicken soup (slow learner) and you can put it in all kinds of rice dishes/ casseroles.  Looking forward to our own garden next year like the previous posts as well!!

     It seems in our 15 years of marriage we have always been on a tight budget.  When we first got married and I discussed with my husband my desire, if possible, to stay home when we started having children, I began searching out the ways that would make that possible.  If I wasn’t able to bring money into our household, I saw my job as keeping it from going out.  The Lord has been ever faithful, and while we may not have all the toys and vacations that others have,  I have been home with my girls for 13 years, despite numerous hard times (my husband is a pastor and when financial downturns come to our church, they come to us as well). 

     The grocery budget was the first area I tackled.  A great, great resources for saving money on just about everything is The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacycyns.  These were the first books I read on living on less.  Although they were written in the 90’s, the principles are timeless.  I highly recommend them.  Not all of Amy’s money saving ideas have been implemented in our home, but many of them have and they have become a way of life.  The principle of stocking a pantry/freezer instead of shopping for individual meals is a huge help in saving money.  I have a master pantry/freezer list posted inside my kitchen cupboard.  On it are the basic, mostly whole foods items we use all the time (grains, oils, canned goods, spices,meats,fruits,etc.)  When I plan my shopping trips, I consult my master pantry/freezer list first and then my pantry/freezer to see what I am out of.  The list also helps me not to forget items I need, as forgetting items means extra trips to the store.  I basically buy the same items during each trip, depending on what we need.  I do plan menus 2 weeeks ahead, but most of my meals come right out of ingredients in my pantry.  If I’m planning a recipe that calls for an unusually ingredient (not one kept in my pantry or freezer) I’m able to add that to my list.  If I don’t have the money for that particluar item, I save that recipe for another time.  This is just one of the principles taught in Amy Dacycyns’ books.  I read them over again once in a while to see if perhaps I missed or forgot something, as money is always something I’m interested in stretching further!

Kim

Another tip…reduce the amount of dairy you use.  I’ve been experimenting with this lately and have been surprised, and pleased, by the results.  When making pancakes and the recipe calls for 2 cups of milk, I just use water.  The kids haven’t noticed a difference.  I was making a casserole the other night that called for 3 cups of milk and again, I used water.  They all commented on how good it was.  Now I’m on a quest to try to replace as much milk as I can with water!  I try to make sure that the recipe still has some fat in it though (like butter, coconut oil, etc) so that it isn’t flavorless or flat.

And if you have younger kids, don’t take them grocery shopping with you.  They always ask for things we don’t need, and usually unhealthy things.  Same with husbands.  I find all sorts of packaged sweets in the cart when he’s around.  And if I send him shopping for me he comes home with Oreos and ice cream and candy bars and such.  Why doesn’t someone invent broccoli ice cream?

Heather