Stretching Your Food Dollar

               

-Frugality means to practice careful economy.”  -James E. Faust

A long journey begins with a single step and this is your first step. Begin with your own attitude towards being frugal, because it will impact the rest of your family. How can they be excited about changes if you aren’t? So start by being thankful for all that you do have. Compliment your children for trying new things and explain that you are trying to follow the prophet. Cooking frugally is like changing your diet. You need to learn gradually how to save money by cooking and eating frugally. Don’t expect that you will get your food bill down to $150 a month for 4 people in the first month if you are spending $600 a month now. Don’t get discouraged if one idea fails. Try another one.

Keep a list handy in the kitchen. As you cook day to day, note what you use that you would like to keep on hand. Note items that you are low on. Before you shop, take a tour through your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Add those items to your list. If you are a fan of coupons, make sure that you buy only what you ordinarily eat. Stock up on genuine bargains.

Keep track of the prices you are paying for items you often purchase. That way if something is “on sale” you will know if it really is on sale or not. Become a comparison shopper. Try the cheaper “store brands” they are often produced by the same manufacturer as the “name brand”. Watch for grocery sale ads and shop the specials. Many stores rely on the fact that you will buy more than the specials. Watch for cash register errors when checking out. Create menus from the weekly specials in newspaper ads and seasonally available items. Plan your meals in advance. This will end the “what’s for dinner?”  dilemma that often ends with take-out pizza.

Don’t purchase food that is a convenience item, such as pre-made sandwiches. You are better off buying the ingredients and making them yourself. Don’t assume that bulk is cheaper. Compare costs by the ounce or pound. Observe “unit pricing”.

Shop for healthy items, stop buying things like toaster pastries and breakfast bars – instead eat oatmeal, pancakes, granola and fruit in season. Substitute cooked cereal for boxes of cold cereal.

If you don’t have one, invest in a good freezer. Then when you find a good deal on foods that can be frozen, stock-up. Find a close “day-old” bakery outlet for bread items and freeze until needed. Every time you have a few left-over fruits like strawberries, store them in the same zip-lock bag in the freezer. Then whirl them together in the blender for a smoothie snack. Take a few hours on the weekend to cook from scratch. Many dishes can be prepared ahead of time and frozen until needed. Purchase large packages of meat, they are often cheaper than smaller sizes and can be divided and frozen for later use.

Use individual freezer containers to store leftovers. Then use them later for individual lunches. Bag your lunch. At $6.00 each working day, you are spending more than $1500 annually. Skip the vending machine, pack a snack. Start collecting recipes using leftovers and trade them with friends and family.

Dine out less often – make it a special occasion to go out to eat rather than a common event.

If your family is used to drinking milk, juice or soda with every meal, start substituting water with meals. You can also try having just one glass of juice or milk then only water after it is gone.

Do not convert to a wheat diet overnight, allow time for changes. Start small and then keep going. Use powdered milk whenever possible in your recipe. Mix powdered milk with your whole milk to stretch your milk supply. You can add flavored powders, like Nestle Quick, to help with the taste.

This month try two meatless meals a week. Have a “meatless Monday”. Beans are an inexpensive protein. Add them to tacos, casseroles, salads, etc. Dedicate one night to a “budget meal” and put the saved money towards your food storage items.

Grow as many of your own vegetables, fruits and herbs as you can. Stock up on “in season” foods. Learn to preserve what you grow or purchase to stretch your savings.

Ben Franklin advised “use moderation in all things – don’t deny yourself too many treats or you will never stick to your new eating habits.

Choose a few of these ideas to implement into your regular routines. Feel good about the progress you are making even if it only seems small. Figuring out a savings of $20 a week adds up to over $1000 a year!