Cut Your Grocery Bill

[Brenda who]

[QUOTE=mariec99;59315]

A child may overeat just so they are allowed to have dessert.

I never thought of it before but it's so true.

[snafu]

We lowered our food bill drastically just by having a meal plan. It was so easy to start with 6 meals my family loves and adding a few more favorites each week. It was also less stressful to know exactly what to prepare as I walked through the door.

We've bumped it up a bit by making extra quantities which will be modified as part of another meal. For example if I make mashed potatoes on Sunday, the 3 extra will turn into potato pancakes on Tuesday. Rice on Friday can be Shipwreck, Sheppard's Pie or Rice pudding by noon Saturday.

[aukxsona]

Thanks snafu, I think I'm going to try that!

[StressLess]

I sure wish someone would write an article on how to save money if you're short on time! We've had one family crisis after another over the past 6 months, and I'm working more hours than I used to. I can go for weeks without being able to shop and cook as she suggests. There are people who work several jobs, have kids, family medical issues, etc., whose lives are that hectic all the time.

Personally, I'm trying to shop more at stores like Aldi and Save A Lot, which cut down on the need to watch for sales, stockpile and coupon. If an item is always the same price, and it's a fair price, you can just buy it as needed.

[LuxLiving]

I'm still bemoaning the rising prices. Some examples: Yesterday at the grocery - bananas normally around 49 cents a pound, now 64 cents/lb.

Hot dog buns normally in the 79-89 cent range for the store brand? $1.19.

Now come on folks, if some the cheapest of foodstuffs (bananas & makings for hotdogs) keeps going up in such big leaps, how on earth are people who are just barely getting by now going to get enough food to eat????????????? Auuuughhhhhhhh!!!

The good buy of the day was cabbage at 28 cents a pound.

I went long on elbow pasta (6 lbs.) & sugar in the 25 lb. sack.

I'm with Ima Saver that the news is all doom and gloomy, and I want to be happy. And I am happy that my family has plenty to eat, but it weighs my soul down knowing how hard it is for some people! I just had a hard time getting through the grocery store yesterday imagining if things keep escalating the way they do what folks are going to be going through!! I can't stand the thought of hungry kids.

[snafu]

Perhaps it's time CNN's 'The Situation Room' was converted to the kitchen where non-chefs demonstrate how easy it is to prepare classic, healthy meals with basics like rice/potato, carrots, broccoli and a small amount of protein [beef, poultry, pork, fish, or tofu].

Getting dinner on the table is a serious situation for employees and even more important for those out-of-work.

it's sinfully easy to make bread and the bonus is that it's a great stress reducer. Time isn't the factor you think as it can be mixed and proofed overnight. Bake when you return home along with dinner.

[aukxsona]

Honestly, Cooking can be easy with 2 things. A crock pot and a rice cooker. I am really lazy when I am pregnant or in the summer. (I get so tired from working outside!) Anyway, before I go to bed I throw some potatoes and carrots in...and whatever else is around. Overnight it magickally...like elves did it...cooks by itself. Plus it doesn't heat up the whole house like the stove does. (Also saves on electricity) One crock is a whole days food.

Some days it's dried beans and onions, others its tomatoes and corn. Sometimes it's cabbage. I always have one veggie that I toss a lot in...a cheap one and then fill it out with a couple others that are more expensive. Then I add either chicken broth that I boiled down from a chicken carcass, or olive oil and salt. That way it has flavor. I love to make this type of lazy meal.

My rice lazy meal is ...cook rice in a cooker. Then take oil, some herbs, in a wok/fry pan and sizzle. Add some veggies and sizzle, then add tomato sauce and sizzle. Some beans or onions or whatever. just simmer away while doing laundry or checking email ya know. Then add the done rice. Mix well and serve. Tastes so good. It is filling. Ya only really need TBSP oil, quart tomato sauce, excess veggies (parts of an onion and herbs are good enough) and rice! The kids always ask for seconds.

[cicy33]

I do love using my crockpot but have discovered a problem with it. It wakes me up!!! Our house is kinda small and I can smell what is cooking and it wakes me up at night. Especially chili.

[GrimJack]

Do not fall for the 'end-cap' sale items - the displays at the end of the isles are not necessarily cheaper than what you find where the item is normally kept. I used to 'assume' that if it was so prominently displayed it was the best deal. Nope! Always compare prices.