by Christina Renee | Meals, Saving Money
New Series- Cutting Costs in the kitchen
Part 1 – Meats
I’m starting a new series on cutting costs in the kitchen. Since food is a large part of most budgets and the easiest place to cut each week I’ll be showing you the way I save money in each area. This week- meats. Meats can easily be a huge
One of the biggest costs in your budget that you can do something about is food. Groceries, eating out, convenience foods, health food, allergies the list goes on and on. I know they are can be different categories of your budget, or they can be. But it’s all just food. Let’s look at them a little more closely.
Groceries
This is where the biggest part of your food budget goes. I budget $100 per person per month. Which is less than even the thrifty plan from the USDA. How do I keep my food costs so low? I don’t meal plan in the conventional sense where you plan out your meals and then go shopping. I shop the sales first and then meal plan. Then, I stockpile according to the sales so I always have plenty of choices I’m starting a new series on Cutting Costs in the Kitchen. Since meats are normally the biggest cost, we’re starting here.
Price book and stockpiling meats
I make a price book of rock-bottom prices and when it hits that price than I buy enough to last until the next sales cycle. Most sales cycles run about every 4-6 weeks so I know I need to stockpile enough to last until the next one. For instance, there is a butcher shop that has great meat prices. But it’s a little far away, about 40 minutes. So I don’t go there for my weekly shopping. But when they have a sale on chicken breasts it’s worth the trip since that is one of the main meats we use. My price point for boneless, skinless chicken breasts is under $1.30. This week if you buy a case it’s only $1.28, so I buy a case. Since meat is normally the largest part of your food budget I spend the most time on it figuring out how to save money while still eating healthy and with a variety. Then, the most important part, write it down. Yes, in your stockpile book or list or even bullet journal. Write it down. I make my lists with a small box on the same line. Put a line through it when I use it I make another line which makes an x. All gone. That way I have a running list of what’s in the freezer. So when the next sale comes around I know what to make.
Chicken
I’ll come home, repackage it. I’ll put them in meal size bags. Some I’ll keep plain, and then mix up 4-6 different marinades to make several meals of each kind. I cut the meat according to how I’m going to use it. Some I’ll cube, some cut into strips and some leave whole. Then into the bags they go with the marinades poured on top. I have a huge head start on dinner. For instance, last month when I bought a case of chicken I had found a good sale on Italian dressing also. Some of the chicken went into the bag with a bottle of that. 3 meals done. I made some Teriyaki sauce and there went 3 more meals. Next was chicken strips and into the bag, they went with Ranch dressing sauce that would marinate them. When I pulled them out the freezer and thawed, they were dipped in season bread crumbs for tasty chicken strips. I had some of the chicken cubed and put plain into bags that I knew would either go into chicken alfredo or chicken pot pie. I also made a marinade of lemon garlic sauce, one of white wine and herbs and a dry rub of paprika garlic chicken. Now I have 3 meals each of 6 different flavors plus plain chicken in cubes for other variations. And it took less than 2 hours. Sometimes I add veggies to the meat and marinades depending on time, energy and what’s on sale. These will last until the next sales cycle and we’re not tired of them by the same thing all the time and a lot of the work is done for me. The next time I’ll try some different “recipes.”
Beef
I’ll do the same thing with beef. When ground beef goes on sale. I’ll brown a lot of it with onions and garlic and put in quart bags. Then it’s ready for soups, spaghetti sauce, hamburger stroganoff, etc. I brown some with taco seasoning for tacos, burritos, or enchiladas. Part of the ground beef is pressed into patties for hamburgers or Salisbury steak. And the last part I season and mix with the ingredients for meatballs and meatloaf. Roasts are much simpler, I dry rub them and have them ready for the crockpot without too many variations since my family likes them that way and we don’t have it as often since it is costlier. Also, cubed meat for stews and stroganoffs are put in ziplock bags for those meals.
Pork
Processed with VSCOcam with 4 preset
Follow the same pattern as above with the chicken. Different marinades, or rubs. Cuts can be different; roasts, strips, or chops. The marinades enhance the flavor and tenderize the meat. For pork that could include teriyaki, sweet and sour, honey mustard, bbq, the sky’s the limit. Beer, wine, and vinegar are all great tenderizers and make tougher cuts of meat taste like more tender, more expensive kinds.
Fish
Most of my family isn’t fond of fish (unless it is freshly caught.) Plus with prices so much higher than many sources of meats it doesn’t fit in my budget as well so it’s not nearly as frequent. Our main sources are canned tuna and salmon. Salads, patties, and casseroles are served with either of these. But you can find both tilapia and Pollack reasonably priced, also. Unfortunately, my family thinks the best ways to serve fish is fried. Which is good but I don’t want to serve it that way very often. Bake with a little lemon and butter is both simple and good. Or make fish packets by wrapping in parchment paper with ribbon slices of veggies and lemon, capers and dill. Then bake.
So that’s my take on cutting costs in the kitchen for meats. What’s your best tip for meats in the kitchen?.
by Christina Renee | Christmas, Gifts, Holidays, Meals, Saving Money
Christmas is a big celebration. everywhere you see big presents, lots of decorations, lots of things to do. A lot of these things have big dollar signs. is it possible to have a big celebration with very little dollars yes of course it is? We’ve done it many times, it does take a little more work and you have to be a little more creative but you can have a small budget Christmas.
Presents
Presents are the first thing people think of when they think of small budgets. I really want to make a great Christmas present that doesn’t look cheap. A lot of it is in the presentation. And being creative. One Christmas when my husband and I didn’t have very much money and we were spending it all on our kids and I still wanted to get him a Christmas present. I came up with a vitamin a day gift idea. I went to the pharmacy, this was before Amazon and I bought a large bottle of empty capsules. I went home and made up a list of why I loved him and put them inside each capsule. It took a lot more time than money definitely. And I made up a little label on the front that said to take one each day. It told him all the different ways that I loved him. I usually give him some kind of creative gift every year which cost the least money, take the most time, and he likes the best. You can do the same with your children. I have made dolls, felt food, Play-Doh, slime, and many other homemade items. Even if your crafting abilities are very small there are still some things that you can make. Baked goods are always a hit with neighbors family and friends they don’t cost very much just a little bit of effort and it shows people that you care.
Decorations
You don’t have to go all out on decorations either. A simple tree is fine. One year we had most of our decorations were cookie cutters tied up with strings and put on the tree because I didn’t have very many of them because they have gotten broke. Homemade paper chains can be beautiful and simple. Pioneers used to string popcorn and berries. Fairies would not be cheap but the popcorn Sherwood plus you get a snack at the same time.
Food
The food. This can cost an enormous amount or you can really watch your prices on this. you can get a turkey for $0.59 a pound and have leftovers. You can get ham for $0.99 a pound and still have leftovers. Mashed potatoes are cheap, dry bread for stuffing and vegetables are always economical. This time of year there are tons of sales on baking products. Last week I got frosting for $0.50 a can in flower for a dollar for 5 lb. you can make cookies without all the nuts and chocolate for a reasonable price. Just make one kind of cookie that’s a little bit extra special word has an extra ingredient in it and make the other couple kinds that are planar like sugar cookies or gingerbread. Decorate them sparingly to save costs.
Presence
It is possible to have a small budget Christmas. Your presence means more to most people including your children then presents. get creative, there are so many websites with inexpensive gifts to make. you can watch YouTube videos on dollar towards store presents. what’s the sales flyer 4 great buys on your Christmas turkey? What other ideas do you have for a small budget Christmas?
by Christina Renee | Holidays, Meals, Saving Money
I know I’m looking at some big budget meals coming up and I know most of you are too. Here’s how to save money on holiday meals you want to share and enjoy.
Traditions
We have the same food every year and since I have the menu already planned out. I know what to look for when it’s on sale. We have ham and turkey for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I know to start looking for those sales starting the first of November. Turkeys are going to be cheap and I always get a few extra. Last year they were .59 cent a lb. with $20 purchase. I always get my spiral ham from Aldi’s but I’ve seen hams as low as .99 cent a lb. Christmas Eve, we always have an assortment of appetizers but they are the same every year so when I see an ingredient on sale I get it then. I eat a lot out of my pantry and freezer so I both make room for holiday foods and have room in my budget. Another big thing to save money is…
Everyones Brings Something
Have everyone who comes bring a dish. I have a list I send round about a month before and when I know what someone is bringing I write it down. Less expense, less work, and everyone participates. I can also steer people toward certain things if needed. For instance, if someone is not a great cook, I suggest a veggie tray, paper products or pop. If I know they are struggling financially right now maybe mashed potatoes or a vegetable. Great cooks bring desserts. Smile.
Preplanning
A lot of this just comes down to preplanning. Knowing ahead of time what you’re having so you can get the sale prices. Letting others help with the work and knowing what to bring. How to save money on holiday meals isn’t all that difficult when you plan it out first. What do you do to save money on holiday meals?
by Christina Renee | Children, Home, Meals, Saving Money
We all have busy weeknights. Work, school, activities, appointments, etc. There are ways to make busy weeknights easier, yo make it go smoother and with less stress. Here are some of those ways.
Routines
When my children get home from school they know a snack and then homework come first. Then they get to play, have dinner and after dinner chores. We have a routine. They know what comes next so they’re not always asking. You know what comes next so you don’t need to think about it. Plan once and follow through makes evening easier. It becomes a habit and builds good habits in your children too.
Dinner
Always know what you’re having dinner by breakfast time at the latest. This is one of the biggest ways to make busy weeknights easier. I really try to menu plan and pull it out the night before. I start everything I can by breakfast that morning. Put supper in the crockpot and when your husband or children get home the house smells wonderful. If it’s a quick meal put it all together in the fridge so you don’t spend time looking for ingredients. I loved this Youtube video from At Home with Nikki where she shared her fridge tour and had a container in her fridge she prepped each night for the next night. If you do forget keep list of very quick meals you can make in a hurry. Our standby is a breakfast meal with eggs and potatoes. I keep a short list on the inside of my cupboard.
Activities, Appointments, Etc
With children in school, most of us have days of running. Sports, after-school clubs or just dr. appointments, there seems like too many days in the car and instead of at home. You can still plan ahead. Most of these are recurring so you know these need to be crockpot or sandwich night. I always have a book with me. If I have to wait and it’s near any errands I need for the week, I do it then. I’ve also listened to reading or helped with homework in the car. Make your time do double duty when it can.
Prep Ahead for the Next Day
After dinner and chores, we get ready for the next day. Check all backpacks. Look at eh calender for the next day including what is happening at school. Lay out clothes, anything that needs to be brought gets set out. I put anything I have to bring in my purse so I don’t forget it, if it’s big it goes in the car early. The children put theirs in their backpacks. Go through showers, if we tried to get ours all at once someone would have cold water. Then we finally get time to relax.
by Christina Renee | Home, Meals, Saving Money
1. I plan my menus on what I found on sale last week and not what I am planning on buying this week. I keep my freezer and pantry stocked with rock bottom prices to save money on food.
2. I try never to buy anything that is not on sale. Obviously, it’s not possible with everything but it is with most items. For example, last week one of my favorite stores had cottage cheese 1/2 off. I stocked up enough to last a while. Another store I know has pasta on sale about every 10 weeks. I buy enough to last 10 weeks and don’t buy it in the meantime.
3.I use coupons on things we use regularly or things that are free or almost free. I also use online coupons such as Ibotta.
4. I don’t use coupons on things I wouldn’t normally buy anyway just to try them or use a coupon.
5. Make most things from scratch. I think the only thing cheaper to buy in a mix is mac and cheese but it doesn’t have much cheese in it. In everything else it is both cheaper and more nutritious to make it yourself.
6. Shop more than 1 store. It is much cheaper to buy the sales and loss leaders at more than one store than everything at one store.
7. Use an Aldi’s is you have one. They rarely run sales but their prices are low all the time. Also look for specialty stores such as mexican, chinese; they have food there cheaper than in a regular grocery store.
8. Try to find a discount or salvage store in your area. We have a dented store that i get great buys at. I have bought yogurt for $2 a case, chocolate chips for 50 cents a bag, and many other great deals.
9. Do ahead for the week. I cut as many vegetables as we will eat all at once. I brown hamburger ahead of time and bag it. Make an extra casserole and freeze one and cook one. When you make soup or stews make extra.
10. Make over leftovers. We had beef stroganoff Saturday and I had noodles left so I added a little browned hamburger, beans and spices and made goulash today for dinner.
11. Have dessert infrequently. It isn’t that good for you and sweets are usually costly.
12. Grow your own fruits and vegetables. We always have a garden and we have fruit trees. It saves on our grocery bill and I know what is in our food.
13. Glean or let the word out you will take extras. My father-in-law has a friend who loves to garden but doesn’t use much himself so he gives a lot away. I have seen other do the same, they want someone who will take it and put it up.
14. Can, or freeze your food. We can a lot in the summer of fresh produce so we have it in the winter. Talk to your children about being ants in the summer and preparing for winter. It is a lot of work but so worth it.
15. Eat soup at least once a week. Soup is a cheap meal and you can make many different kinds from all sorts of leftovers. With a loaf of hot bread it makes a feast.
16. Make your own bread. I can’t believe how high bread has gotten but it can still be made more economically at home. I see bread machines all the time at Goodwill too.
17. Rotate a lot of the same meals. Our lunches and breakfasts from week to week don’t vary much. We have the same meal for lunch every Monday, the same on Tuesday. This way you don’t have to stock your pantry with as many different items.
18. Make dinner fun. No, it doesn’t really save you money but a frugal meal with lots of love is better than a gourmet feast with strife. Candles add a lot of atmostphere without a lot of cost.
19. Involve your children. Sometimes they can turn their nose up at food but if they help prepare it or better yet grow it they will be thrilled to taste and share it.
20.Buy in bulk, if you will use it. I bought 150 lbs of potatoes last week when they were on sale. Also, GFS sells gallon cans, meat they will slice and you can prepackage it at home. I buy meat on sale in bulk and package it in meal size freezer bags.
21. Once a month cooking saves both time and money. When I buy meat in bulk and prepackage it, a lot of times I dump different marinades in each. Then they are ready for the grill or crockpot.
22.Buy spices in bulk. Frontier herbs sell by the pound but if you only want a little a lot of health food stores sell small amounts. One near us will let you buy 50 cents of any spice. That way I can try a small amount of a new spice.
23.Spend as little time in the grocery store as possible. The longer you are there the more you will buy.
24. Try and make it at home. If you love Red Lobsters biscuits try and look on the web for a comparable recipe. You can find so many recipes that are makeovers of restaurant meals. It is definitely cheaper to stay home.
25.Look for markdowns. I stopped in yesterday at GFS and they had their holiday fresh turkeys marked down for 99 cents a lb. Different stores have them in different places so you have to check and find out where they are. Most stores mark down in the morning but we have one near us that does it at night. You can save a lot of money by asking the butcher what time they sell mark downs.
What tips do you have to save money on food?
by Christina Renee | Children, Meals, Parenting, Simplify
While at my physical therapy appointment, we were talking about about school day mornings. She was saying about how difficult is was to serve breakfast at 2 separate times and get herself and the kids out the door on time. I have children in 3 different schools, all with separate times. We do not serve 3 separate breakfasts.
The Night Before
All great morning routines start with a great night time routine in place. At least a little. Backpacks and shoes need to be in their proper places. My son hangs both his backpack and jacket on hooks on the side of the shelves in his room. The girls stow theirs in their closet. All papers need to be signed the night before and any thing needed in their back packs. Clothes need to be laid out for the next day. Bedtimes need to be observed. We have 2 times we count down to. Each of them have separate times based on age but all of them have 1 time to be in bed and they get an additional 1/2 hour to read before lights out. This keeps them reading, because what child doesn’t want a later bedtime. It also gives them time to slow down.
Rise and Shine
All the children get up at the same time. No matter what time they go to school they all get up at the same time. I usually get up at least an hour before the children. (Unless sick or recuperating.) I have time to dress, quiet time and make my bed before they even get up. I can get them ready without it but I am not nearly as cheerful. My children all have their own alarms and get themselves up. Toward the end of the week I sometimes hear the alarm go off a little lot longer than normal and I have to go in and prod encourage them to get out of bed. Then they have to get dressed, brush teeth and hopefully make their bed. I’ll be honest, their beds don’t get made nearly as much as I would like.
Plan Ahead for Breakfast
Then they need a good healthy breakfast to eat. I try to freezer cook ahead of time so the days that are busy, I’ve fallen behind or just chaotic are covered. Mornings fit all 3. This is not to say I never cook breakfast but I try to prepare for the mornings I don’t want to. I have made quiche (or any other breakfast casserole) in the freezer and I put it in the oven as soon as I wake up, then get ready. I have assorted muffins, (pancake, blueberry, egg, banana, etc) that they can pull out and are microwaved. Waffles can be put in the toaster or boiled eggs in the fridge. I also have mini mixes that just feed one that you can make in under a minute. I have also done crock pot meals for breakfast. Egg casseroles, different flavors of oatmeal, tapioca, “fried potatoes” with eggs. Preparing ahead makes breakfast a snap.
Out the Door
Watch the clock to make sure no one is late to school. We also have an app at our school and it emails you when the bus is near. Have everything together to make getting to the bus stop easy. Then I have time for a cup of tea and a chat with my youngest daughter whose bus is later than the rest. What have you done to make school mornings easier?
