Comments on: Low Budget Meal Planning http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/ "Happiness is making the most of what you have." Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:24:54 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Robin Helms http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-2030 Robin Helms Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:20:03 +0000 http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-2030 My success has come from KNOWING what items cost. I know some people keep a journal/price notebook where they record price per store per item - thankfully I just remember. I purpose NOT to spend more on an item than the price I can get it on sale with a coupon. So when it IS on sale I use my coupons and purchase as much as I'm able. On average, most items will go on sale at least every 6 weeks. So plan accordingly. For school lunch snacks I look for cost per serving of 25 cents or less. Jello pudding sometimes goes on sale (+coupon) for 12 cents per serving - that's less than I can make it myself so I'll get it then. I ALWAYS look at the $per ounce/serving. And try to divide things like pretzels, nuts, crackers... into those serving sizes before putting them in the pantry so my family doesn't just grab the bag & graze. I encourage them if they are hungry to drink a large glass of water before entering the pantry. They stay hydrated and don't fill up on snacks that cost me. My success has come from KNOWING what items cost. I know some people keep a journal/price notebook where they record price per store per item – thankfully I just remember.

I purpose NOT to spend more on an item than the price I can get it on sale with a coupon. So when it IS on sale I use my coupons and purchase as much as I’m able. On average, most items will go on sale at least every 6 weeks. So plan accordingly.

For school lunch snacks I look for cost per serving of 25 cents or less. Jello pudding sometimes goes on sale (+coupon) for 12 cents per serving – that’s less than I can make it myself so I’ll get it then.

I ALWAYS look at the $per ounce/serving. And try to divide things like pretzels, nuts, crackers… into those serving sizes before putting them in the pantry so my family doesn’t just grab the bag & graze.

I encourage them if they are hungry to drink a large glass of water before entering the pantry. They stay hydrated and don’t fill up on snacks that cost me.

]]> By: Tara http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1986 Tara Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:04:53 +0000 http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1986 Hello, I'm not a family or a mum, I'm just a broke 29 year old trying to live on my own! $50 sounds great for 2 weeks for me-does any one have any suggestions on a grocery list to follow with some meal ideas? I have a crockpot which i love and i'm also a new vegetarian which i find to be much cheaper too! Looking for healthy meal ideas and a way to save big time-any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks! Hello,

I’m not a family or a mum, I’m just a broke 29 year old trying to live on my own! $50 sounds great for 2 weeks for me-does any one have any suggestions on a grocery list to follow with some meal ideas? I have a crockpot which i love and i’m also a new vegetarian which i find to be much cheaper too! Looking for healthy meal ideas and a way to save big time-any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks!

]]> By: Eileen http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1960 Eileen Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:35:42 +0000 http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1960 Hi! I am impressed by some of the great tips on here! I love the drawer of napkins idea.. we too cut up old towels and don't buy disposable (except on ocassion for a kids b'day party or bbq..) I'd like to add a recipe for home made diaper wipes. If you're using throw away ones, you're throwing away cash! For homemade wipes, if you really insist on disposable ones, cut a roll of Good quality paper towels in half, each half will fill one purchased wipes tub. I prefer to use rags, like old wash cloths, or cut squares of flannellette(old recieving blankets, or flat diapers are great!). Boil and cool a cup or so of water. Once cooled, at least to tepid, mix in a couple oz of baby oil (preferably a natural one,without petroleum ingredients), and about the same amount of baby shampoo or body wash. pour over your "wipe" of choice. Wipes made with rags, will keep longer, and not get smelly , if you use more oil and shampoo. (u could add lotion too if you wanted!) disposable paper ones will keep a couple of weeks in a tub with a lid. compare the pricing, you'll be amazed! (May i also suggest,if you have launering facilities, switch to cloth diapers! in the 2 1/2 years my son has been on earth, we have saved an estimated 7-8,000 dollars by using nothing but cloth diapers and wipes!) We save a lot too by using natural cleaning products, like tea tree oil in water! A small 2-3 oz bottle of tea tree oil has had me going for a few months now and still has loads left in it! just a few drops in a spray bottle of water will clean almost anything. White vinegar is amazing too! and even less expensive! I lump my cleaning stuff in with my grocery budget too.. so this really leaves room for food! Hi! I am impressed by some of the great tips on here! I love the drawer of napkins idea.. we too cut up old towels and don’t buy disposable (except on ocassion for a kids b’day party or bbq..)

I’d like to add a recipe for home made diaper wipes. If you’re using throw away ones, you’re throwing away cash!
For homemade wipes, if you really insist on disposable ones, cut a roll of Good quality paper towels in half, each half will fill one purchased wipes tub. I prefer to use rags, like old wash cloths, or cut squares of flannellette(old recieving blankets, or flat diapers are great!).

Boil and cool a cup or so of water.
Once cooled, at least to tepid, mix in a couple oz of baby oil (preferably a natural one,without petroleum ingredients), and about the same amount of baby shampoo or body wash.
pour over your “wipe” of choice.

Wipes made with rags, will keep longer, and not get smelly , if you use more oil and shampoo. (u could add lotion too if you wanted!)
disposable paper ones will keep a couple of weeks in a tub with a lid.
compare the pricing, you’ll be amazed!
(May i also suggest,if you have launering facilities, switch to cloth diapers! in the 2 1/2 years my son has been on earth, we have saved an estimated 7-8,000 dollars by using nothing but cloth diapers and wipes!)

We save a lot too by using natural cleaning products, like tea tree oil in water! A small 2-3 oz bottle of tea tree oil has had me going for a few months now and still has loads left in it! just a few drops in a spray bottle of water will clean almost anything. White vinegar is amazing too! and even less expensive!
I lump my cleaning stuff in with my grocery budget too.. so this really leaves room for food!

]]> By: Tina http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1942 Tina Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:58:15 +0000 http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1942 I do a lot of the tips on here. I buy the family sized packages of meat, buy the use now or freeze sale meats, make most things from scratch. One thing I do that was not mentioned is that I do not make a menu and then go shopping. Instead, I buy what is on sale and a few basic ingredients and then I go home and make a menu from what is in my pantry, fridge and freezer. If I find a sale on porkchops then when I get home porkchops is on the menu!! The basic ingredients are things like potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, rice, pasta, tomato paste, bananas, flour, sugar. These basic ingredients can be used many ways. For instance we can have cooked candied carrots with the pork chops, fried potatoes or rice with the porkchops, or I can make a vegetable soup with noodles. Another tip that was only briefly mentioned was not wasting food. Serve smaller sized portions especially with children. If they eat it all and want more then let them have seconds, but start with a small portion first. Save leftover veges and either freeze for soups/stews, save leftover meat and use in another dish. For example leftover baked chicken can become chicken enchiladas, leftover pot roast can become bar-b-que beef sandwiches. <em> <blockquote>Hi, Tina ... I do this a lot, too! Shop the sales while I'm at the store and just buy basic ingredients so I can do my menu planning AFTER shopping. I find that keeping a well-stocked pantry of frequently used items (purchased when on sale, of course) is a real help with this sort of menu "planning." Things like spaghetti sauce, chili, stewed tomatoes, canned veggies, broth, beans, rice, soups, taco seasonings, tomato sauce, pasta, tuna, etc., can all be simply made into assorted meals with almost anything brought home on sale from the store. ~Debi I do a lot of the tips on here. I buy the family sized packages of meat, buy the use now or freeze sale meats, make most things from scratch. One thing I do that was not mentioned is that I do not make a menu and then go shopping. Instead, I buy what is on sale and a few basic ingredients and then I go home and make a menu from what is in my pantry, fridge and freezer. If I find a sale on porkchops then when I get home porkchops is on the menu!! The basic ingredients are things like potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, rice, pasta, tomato paste, bananas, flour, sugar. These basic ingredients can be used many ways. For instance we can have cooked candied carrots with the pork chops, fried potatoes or rice with the porkchops, or I can make a vegetable soup with noodles. Another tip that was only briefly mentioned was not wasting food. Serve smaller sized portions especially with children. If they eat it all and want more then let them have seconds, but start with a small portion first. Save leftover veges and either freeze for soups/stews, save leftover meat and use in another dish. For example leftover baked chicken can become chicken enchiladas, leftover pot roast can become bar-b-que beef sandwiches.

Hi, Tina …

I do this a lot, too! Shop the sales while I’m at the store and just buy basic ingredients so I can do my menu planning AFTER shopping. I find that keeping a well-stocked pantry of frequently used items (purchased when on sale, of course) is a real help with this sort of menu “planning.” Things like spaghetti sauce, chili, stewed tomatoes, canned veggies, broth, beans, rice, soups, taco seasonings, tomato sauce, pasta, tuna, etc., can all be simply made into assorted meals with almost anything brought home on sale from the store.

~Debi

]]> By: Kendra http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1935 Kendra Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:14:48 +0000 http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/low-budget-meal-planning/#comment-1935 I spend about $530 per month on my grocerys. I have a family of 5 including 4 adults..and a 16 month old. I don't see how you all are spending so little on grocerys. I have enough trouble as it is with what I spend. I spend about $530 per month on my grocerys. I have a family of 5 including 4 adults..and a 16 month old. I don’t see how you all are spending so little on grocerys. I have enough trouble as it is with what I spend.

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