It is no secret that life has become expensive these days and feeding your family has become a lot more costly. We homemakers and home-cooks have had no choice but to get very creative in how we stretch our hard-earned dollars. As a result, I have created a strategy to fight the battle of the budget and overcome the obstacles of the dreaded weekly grocery bill.
My Secrets:
- Plan-Over Meals: These are meals that intentionally use the leftovers of a larger meal to create two additional recipes. Basically, you enjoy a big family Sunday Supper and use up the leftovers to make future meals. Nothing goes to waste!
- Freezer Meals: Make your freezer your best friend. All my plan-over meals can be made in advance and are freezer-friendly. Just make sure that the containers are clearly labeled and dated to avoid any confusion.
- Shop Sales: Always check your local sales and try to only purchase items that are on sale if you have the option. Stocking up on staple pantry items when on sale is the best way to save money in the long run. And don’t be afraid to shop around to find the best deals, as long as those deals are not going to cost you fuel to get them.
- Buy Produce Seasonally: Out of season fruits and vegetables can cost you quite a pretty penny. Try to stick to recipes that take advantage of the produce that is currently in season to avoid the extra cost. Also, I recommend only purchasing produce that you are going to use right away and only as much as you are planning to use to avoid waste.
- Stock Your Pantry and Freezer: A well-stocked pantry and freezer can save you a lot of money, time and frustration when it comes to preparing healthy meals for your family. Stock up on canned goods, spices and frozen fruits and vegetables when you find a good sale and try to keep a good variety of options on hand to avoid getting bored with your food.
- Buy Local: Find yourself a local butcher and produce supplier. Small farm vendors are less likely to inflate the prices of their goods so you know that you will always get the best price available. Not only that, but you are also guaranteed to always get the best quality product that is free from the dishonest marketing ploys that the large corporations administer. Buying local products helps to build the economy of your community instead of lining the pockets of the corporate businesses that truly don’t care about anything but themselves and their bottom-line.
So, there you have it, my money saving strategy to feed my family of 6. I want to share further by showing you my strategy in action.
Every week, I will be posting a weekly dinner menu that utilizes these tips to help you plan and feed your family without breaking the bank too. These menus will include 6 dinner options, 2 of which are base recipes for future plan-over meals; the other 4 recipes are intended to be plan-over meals but can easily be made from scratch if you choose. I will also be including 2 desserts and a cookie recipe to be enjoyed throughout the week because life always needs a little sweetness. 😉
Each menu will look something like this:
- Sunday: Big Family Supper (Base Recipe)
- Monday: Soup Night (Plan-Over)
- Tuesday: Skillet or Casserole (Plan-Over)
- Wednesday: Slow Cooker (Base Recipe)
- Thursday: Sandwich Night (Plan-Over)
- Friday: Pasta Night (Plan-Over)
- Saturday: Night Off Cooking
This is only an outline, of course. Everyone’s preferences and schedules are different so feel free to juggle it up and make it work for you and your family.