If you have a family, then one of your biggest expenses is probably the weekly grocery bill. The healthy food we want to feed our families with doesn't come cheap, and prices always seem to be on the rise. But, despite the continual increasing cost of food, and the ever-tightening of family budgets, you can still cut down on your grocery bill by being organized and planning ahead.
Here are some easy menu planning tips for a tight budget.
1. Know what you have on hand right now.
Have you ever had to run to the grocery store for something, only to find out later that you already had it in your cupboard – you just couldn’t find it? Saving money on your groceries starts with organizing what you have on hand right now so you know where it is and can easily find it. Otherwise, you can end up wasting money on items you don't need. Organize your pantry, shelves and refrigerator.
2. Plan your meals in advance.
Before you head out to the grocery store, plan your meals for the next week or two. That way you will know what you need to buy and you won't make any unnecessary purchases. You also won't be tempted to eat out because you'll have everything ready at home to make nutritious meals.
3. Check the grocery store flyers.
When you're planning your meals, flip through the grocery store flyers too. They will tell you what's on sale this week. To save money, plan your meals around items that can be purchased for a good price. When you go to the grocery store, you won't be as likely to spend time looking at more expensive items when you already know what's on sale.
4. Use leftovers creatively.
With a little imagination, one meal can be turned into two by planning to use leftovers. When you plan your meals, organize your menu so that the cooking you do for one meal can become the beginning of another. For example, leftover meatballs from spaghetti and meatball night can become meatball subs the next day.
5. Look at your calendar and plan ahead for busy days.
We all have days where we have limited time in the kitchen, with sports clubs and evening activities. When you're planning your meals, keep an eye on the family calendar so you can plan to accommodate those kinds of days as well. If you have made something ahead of time, or have planned a quick dinner, you will be less likely to eat out or pick up a more expensive item on the way home.
The grocery bill is one of most family's biggest expenses, yet it is also among the easiest to cut down. With some organization ahead of time, you can easily plan meals that will help you save money.
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Friday, September 3, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Kitchen Tips for the Frugal Family
If you have a family to care for, you already know how much of your budget gets spent on food and cooking. In fact, this may be one of the biggest items in your budget. So, when it's time to cut back on expenses, the kitchen is the first place many moms look to save money. Here are some kitchen tips to help frugal moms keep their budgets under control.
* Don't let food go bad. If you're like most families, when you clean out your fridge and your cupboards, you probably end up throwing a lot of food away. It might be past its expiry date or already transforming into a different life form. This is a waste of food and money and it is easy to avoid.
If you keep your fridge and cupboards organized, you should be able to easily see what you have in stock. That will remind you to use it before it goes bad. As well, review expiry dates regularly. Then you can remember to use the item before it expires.
* Don't buy too much food. Some grocery stores will offer you discounts if you buy in bulk. However, that's only a good deal if you're actually going to use all the food you purchase. It is a common mistake to buy too much because it looks like you're saving a lot of money. In the long run, you may be spending more than you need to on food you won't use.
* Make your own condiments. Condiments like salad dressings, seasonings, and sauces can easily be made at home. That can cut a lot out of your grocery bill. Look for recipes for dressings, salsas, chilli sauces, vinegar, marinades, and so on. They will probably be a lot healthier for you than store-bought ones as well.
* Cook from scratch. There are many convenience items available in the grocery store. However, you can cut down on expenses by cooking from scratch. Instead of relying on high-priced convenience items to save you time, you can manage your time in the kitchen better by planning ahead and cooking more than one meal at a time.
* Eat what is in season. You can save money by choosing fruits and vegetables that are in season. They will be lower priced than other, off season, items. If you're not sure what is in season, you can do some research or ask your grocer.
* Eat what is grown locally. Because locally grown foods don't have to be shipped, they cost less once they reach the store. You can even buy directly from local growers at farmers markets.
* Try cooking vegetarian meals. Meats are often very expensive. One way to save money is by trying to cook more meatless meals. If your family isn’t ready to go vegetarian, you can start by having a meatless night once a week. Even that small step will cut down on your kitchen spending.
The kitchen is full of opportunities to cut back and save money. Following the above tips will help frugal moms keep their kitchen spending under control.
* Don't let food go bad. If you're like most families, when you clean out your fridge and your cupboards, you probably end up throwing a lot of food away. It might be past its expiry date or already transforming into a different life form. This is a waste of food and money and it is easy to avoid.
If you keep your fridge and cupboards organized, you should be able to easily see what you have in stock. That will remind you to use it before it goes bad. As well, review expiry dates regularly. Then you can remember to use the item before it expires.
* Don't buy too much food. Some grocery stores will offer you discounts if you buy in bulk. However, that's only a good deal if you're actually going to use all the food you purchase. It is a common mistake to buy too much because it looks like you're saving a lot of money. In the long run, you may be spending more than you need to on food you won't use.
* Make your own condiments. Condiments like salad dressings, seasonings, and sauces can easily be made at home. That can cut a lot out of your grocery bill. Look for recipes for dressings, salsas, chilli sauces, vinegar, marinades, and so on. They will probably be a lot healthier for you than store-bought ones as well.
* Cook from scratch. There are many convenience items available in the grocery store. However, you can cut down on expenses by cooking from scratch. Instead of relying on high-priced convenience items to save you time, you can manage your time in the kitchen better by planning ahead and cooking more than one meal at a time.
* Eat what is in season. You can save money by choosing fruits and vegetables that are in season. They will be lower priced than other, off season, items. If you're not sure what is in season, you can do some research or ask your grocer.
* Eat what is grown locally. Because locally grown foods don't have to be shipped, they cost less once they reach the store. You can even buy directly from local growers at farmers markets.
* Try cooking vegetarian meals. Meats are often very expensive. One way to save money is by trying to cook more meatless meals. If your family isn’t ready to go vegetarian, you can start by having a meatless night once a week. Even that small step will cut down on your kitchen spending.
The kitchen is full of opportunities to cut back and save money. Following the above tips will help frugal moms keep their kitchen spending under control.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Frugal Outdoor Cooking
How do you save money on outdoor cooking? Here are nine of the best strategies:
1. Have everyone bring their own meat
If you are having a party, this is the best strategy for conserving cash. This prevents you from having to shoulder all the expenses yourself. Also, it allows everyone to bring their favorite meat, and saves you the headache of trying to find something each person likes.
2. Buy beef and sausage
These tend to be the least expensive kinds of meats. If you like them, they can save you a lot.
3. Get meat on sale
If you are flexible about what to eat, then just buying whatever is the lowest price can be an excellent strategy. Also, be on the lookout for coupons in the paper. This is the best way to find top deals.
4. Do not get pre-cut meat
Obviously this is more convenient, but is likewise a lot pricier. Cutting your own can save you a lot of money. It also gives you more flexibility, because you can cut it the way you want it.
5. Stay away from “boneless meat”
Meat with the bones in it is cheaper then boneless, and tends to stay juicier when cooking. Of course, this won’t work for the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs. However, for a lot of meat it will save you money. In some instances it’s twice as expensive to get boneless meat.
6. Use corn and other vegetables on a kabob
These are among the cheapest items to barbeque.
7. Get on sale charcoal
If you have a charcoal grill, consider getting on sale charcoal. Since it lasts a long time, you might as well wait until you find it on sale, and then purchase it. You can even buy it twelve months or longer in advance.
8. Use your own plates
If you are having a party, this again can save you money. Purchasing paper plates is quite expensive.
And if you do purchase paper plates, then do not get the ones with the fancy designs. Getting Fourth of July napkins might be cool, but it’s a lot more expensive.
9. Get barbeque equipment in winter
It is cheaper when less people are buying it. Also, like just about every other product today, look online for further savings. Since online stores don’t have to pay for the upkeep of a physical store, this can save you some good money.
The bottom line is, you can save a lot of money when you are careful. Outdoor cooking doesn’t have to break the bank. Implement these nine tips, and your next cookout will be much easier on the wallet.
1. Have everyone bring their own meat
If you are having a party, this is the best strategy for conserving cash. This prevents you from having to shoulder all the expenses yourself. Also, it allows everyone to bring their favorite meat, and saves you the headache of trying to find something each person likes.
2. Buy beef and sausage
These tend to be the least expensive kinds of meats. If you like them, they can save you a lot.
3. Get meat on sale
If you are flexible about what to eat, then just buying whatever is the lowest price can be an excellent strategy. Also, be on the lookout for coupons in the paper. This is the best way to find top deals.
4. Do not get pre-cut meat
Obviously this is more convenient, but is likewise a lot pricier. Cutting your own can save you a lot of money. It also gives you more flexibility, because you can cut it the way you want it.
5. Stay away from “boneless meat”
Meat with the bones in it is cheaper then boneless, and tends to stay juicier when cooking. Of course, this won’t work for the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs. However, for a lot of meat it will save you money. In some instances it’s twice as expensive to get boneless meat.
6. Use corn and other vegetables on a kabob
These are among the cheapest items to barbeque.
7. Get on sale charcoal
If you have a charcoal grill, consider getting on sale charcoal. Since it lasts a long time, you might as well wait until you find it on sale, and then purchase it. You can even buy it twelve months or longer in advance.
8. Use your own plates
If you are having a party, this again can save you money. Purchasing paper plates is quite expensive.
And if you do purchase paper plates, then do not get the ones with the fancy designs. Getting Fourth of July napkins might be cool, but it’s a lot more expensive.
9. Get barbeque equipment in winter
It is cheaper when less people are buying it. Also, like just about every other product today, look online for further savings. Since online stores don’t have to pay for the upkeep of a physical store, this can save you some good money.
The bottom line is, you can save a lot of money when you are careful. Outdoor cooking doesn’t have to break the bank. Implement these nine tips, and your next cookout will be much easier on the wallet.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Toadstools and Snails Bento Box
I don't think many busy mums will have time to put together such an elaborate Bento Box, but this gorgeous idea is perfect for bored teens and older children. Although this Toadstools and Snails Bento Box is time-consuming it is not difficult and the instructions are clear and well-illustrated. Enjoy.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Free Kids' Gourmet Burger Cookbook
Download a free copy of the Red Robin Kids' Cookoff Gourmet Burger Cookbook. It looks like these kids had so much fun creating their burgers for the cookoff and there are so many ideas here that you'll never make a boring burger again.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
What’s For Dinner? Menu Planning Tips for Busy Mums
Dinner is the last meal of the day and a time when families can get together and discuss their day. It is also a hectic meal for busy cooks who are just getting off of work or who have been busy with other activities all day. Here are some menu planning tips to help make dinner meals easy and even fun.
1. Schedule your meals a week in advance.
This is one of the most important planning tips for meals. Knowing what you are going to eat throughout the week means less chance that you will stop off at the closest fast food joint for a convenient, but unhealthy, meal. Decide during the previous week what the menu will be for the following week. Create your shopping list from the list of ingredients to avoid buying what you don’t need at the grocery store.
2. Look for bargains.
Read advertising circulars and the like to decide where best to shop for your menu items. If one ingredient is a common denominator in many meals consider buying in bulk to save money. Common staples like milk, eggs, bread, and sugar can be bought in bulk as well. Some stores will have double or triple coupon days when you can save even more.
3. Search online.
After a while your family will get tired of chicken and rice every Thursday. You can get into a menu rut sometimes. Use the Internet to search for new and exciting recipes. Learn to put a twist on old recipes for a new taste. You can often enter the ingredients you have available and find recipes to suit what is in your pantry.
4. Have a leftover night.
After preparing meals for five or six days, there is bound to be some food left over. Designate one night to be leftover night and let everyone mix and match for dinner.
5. Cook your meals in advance.
After deciding on a menu plan for the week go ahead and prepare as many meals as you can. Choose a day when the entire family can help like a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. Perhaps each person can take one meal and prepare it for the following week. Once everything has cooled store your meals in sealed containers or casserole dishes to be frozen until the night it is needed.
6. Do preparation in advance.
Not all of the meals can be cooked at once. Some foods just taste better freshly prepared. For these, do as much preparation as you can in advance. Enlist your kids to help cut vegetables (give them the kitchen shears), dice cooked meat, and mix together dry ingredients. On the night of the meal all that is required is to add the remaining ingredients and finish the cooking.
Meal time doesn’t have to be all on one person. The entire family can help with dinner so it is a relaxing meal for everyone.
1. Schedule your meals a week in advance.This is one of the most important planning tips for meals. Knowing what you are going to eat throughout the week means less chance that you will stop off at the closest fast food joint for a convenient, but unhealthy, meal. Decide during the previous week what the menu will be for the following week. Create your shopping list from the list of ingredients to avoid buying what you don’t need at the grocery store.
2. Look for bargains.
Read advertising circulars and the like to decide where best to shop for your menu items. If one ingredient is a common denominator in many meals consider buying in bulk to save money. Common staples like milk, eggs, bread, and sugar can be bought in bulk as well. Some stores will have double or triple coupon days when you can save even more.
3. Search online.
After a while your family will get tired of chicken and rice every Thursday. You can get into a menu rut sometimes. Use the Internet to search for new and exciting recipes. Learn to put a twist on old recipes for a new taste. You can often enter the ingredients you have available and find recipes to suit what is in your pantry.
4. Have a leftover night.
After preparing meals for five or six days, there is bound to be some food left over. Designate one night to be leftover night and let everyone mix and match for dinner.
5. Cook your meals in advance.After deciding on a menu plan for the week go ahead and prepare as many meals as you can. Choose a day when the entire family can help like a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon. Perhaps each person can take one meal and prepare it for the following week. Once everything has cooled store your meals in sealed containers or casserole dishes to be frozen until the night it is needed.
6. Do preparation in advance.
Not all of the meals can be cooked at once. Some foods just taste better freshly prepared. For these, do as much preparation as you can in advance. Enlist your kids to help cut vegetables (give them the kitchen shears), dice cooked meat, and mix together dry ingredients. On the night of the meal all that is required is to add the remaining ingredients and finish the cooking.
Meal time doesn’t have to be all on one person. The entire family can help with dinner so it is a relaxing meal for everyone.
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