Family cooking on a budget sounds so June Cleaver, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are my 9 ways to survive and cut out the silly grocery spending.
Rock Family Cooking on a Budget With These 9 Tips
A big part of being frugal is cutting out expenses from your budget that are unnecessary. Of course we know that having healthy food and good, filling meals is an important part of our budget, though. So learning how to feed your family on a tight budget is important. That way you can spend money on the other things that pop up like new shoes, swimming lessons, field trips and the list goes on and on.
With so many demands on our money it’s important to look at family cooking on a budget as a way to not only spend money, but also save money. It really is possible to make meals that the whole family will eat without relying on chicken fingers and fish fillets.
The number one key to cooking for a family on a budget is to cook from scratch as often as possible. It’s easier than it sounds. Here are — tips that I use when preparing my budget for food.
1. Cook in bulk.
Batch cooking is one of my favorite ways to save money. There are several side dishes that my family goes nuts over and each side dish costs anywhere from $4-$7 to make. If I can make a few side dishes at a time and use those throughout the week for dinners and lunches, I not only saved time but I also saved money, not making a different meal every night.
I will also make shredded chicken in the crockpot on one day for all of the meals for that week and freeze what I am not intending to use within 3 days. So, I’ll have shredded chicken ready for the next meal that calls for it and I’ll have my meat ready for the weeks meals. See my video on how I quickly shred cooked chicken.
See More Cheap Dinner Ideas
2. Be Willing to Make a Last Minute Change to More Cheap Dinner Ideas.
If you’re at the store and they’re out of pork, or chicken has a $2 off sticker coupon on top unexpectedly, consider subbing chicken or lesser expensive meats for cheap dinner ideas. It will likely be at the same (or close enough to the same) price range. Also, as you’re making your meal plan for example, substitute flank steak for sirloin wherever possible. This will help you save on groceries and it’ll likely make the meal just as good, especially if the meat was going to be marinated anyhow.
3. Substitute What You Have to Make Cheap Meals.
Ran out of an item or your hubby ate the last of the cheese you were going to use for the fajitas? Shopping around in your kitchen to substitute for cheap meals – this is the best and most cost-effective way to remedy that situation.
4. Be Willing to Shop Around.
Consider shopping at Dollar Tree for smaller packages of items that you need only a tiny bit of, or even better if you’re planning on cooking an Asian inspired meal head off to your local Asian supermarket where you’ll find that most times staples like spices and bulk packages of rice and noodles are much cheaper there than at your regular go-to supermarket.
5. Know Your Stores.
Some stores mark down their meat at the beginning of the day to clear the shelves from the previous nights items that have got to go while some butchers are more than willing to give you a super price if you ask towards the end of the day. Know your stores and don’t be afraid to ask. If you are afraid to ask, keep your ears peeled as someone else may ask and you can piggyback on them.
Make Cheap Healthy Meals Like a Rockstar.
6. Use Your Leftovers for Cheap Healthy Meals.
Like I mentioned above, I am the queen of making a huge amount of shredded chicken at the beginning of the week and I also love the versatility of ground beef taco meat for cheap healthy meals. If I know it’s going to be a busy week I’ll usually cook up a couple pounds and we can have nachos on the fly, tacos in a pinch and some tasty burritos at the drop of a dime. And, to boot, these are all budget-friendly items.
*Bonus tip, throw in refried beans to make your meat go even further.
7. Buy in Bulk.
When it makes sense,buying in bulk is a great way to save money. When you have the space to store items, that is. For example, my family wolfs down those Nutri Grain Bars like it’s nobody’s business. I get a huge break on the price by buying the boxes at Sam’s Club and save time (and sanity) buy buying them there, too.
8. Try Making Things on Your Own.
If you have time, it’s way cheaper to make things on your own. In a pinch I’ll even buy the boxed mixes, add a couple eggs and some oil and I have 12 cupcakes instead of 4 for the same price. But, don’t go nuts over this – there are times, fellow busy Moms where it’s ok to give yourself a pass and buy pre-made. I do it all the time (mostly to save my mind and my marriage) 😉
9. Stop Tossing Food.
If you have two nights worth of leftovers for Pete’s sake don’t make another meal unless a) you’re having guests or b) you need enough for lunches, etc. the next day. Don’t eat anything green or fuzzy and follow the four day rule…. OK, it’s not a “rule” but it’s my rule. If it’s more than 4 days old, don’t eat it. I bet you have your own rule like this so whatever your “eat by” rule is, just follow that one, OK?
Bottom line is think about what you’re doing and do what works for you. You’re bound to slip up every once in while and that is perfectly OK, we’re all human, right?
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