"How to feed your family for less"

[ewp11100]

this is the topic on Oprah tomm. I don't ever watch Oprah but I might watch this one. I have a felling that it's going to be laughable to us frugal Fannies but I might learn some thing

[Dreaming]

I was just thinking about this very topic! Rachael Ray was on Larry King last night talking about her meals under $10. I also have Hillbilly Housewife open in another window right now and I'm perusing recipes.
I LOVE the idea of making inexpensive healthy meals. :

We try to eat as much organic as possible but it's expensive and I need to cut back on our grocery bill by a LOT.

[PiesandAbrosmama]

this is my goal-but that garden fruits is just around the corner which will really help! also my csa. don't have t.v. someone watch and give good notes

[yeahwhat]

The preview I saw showed someone saying the dinner for four cost 7.25. Um, really that's not miraculously cheap or anything. Especially without taking into account where you're shopping since prices vary so widely place to place.

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by yeahwhat

The preview I saw showed someone saying the dinner for four cost 7.25. Um, really that's not miraculously cheap or anything. Especially without taking into account where you're shopping since prices vary so widely place to place.

REALLY?! See, maybe i'm just naiive but i cannot fathom dinner for four only costing 7.25! Maybe I should watch the show. I can guarentee you I have a LOT to learn in terms of being frugal in the food department. I am frugal in soooo many other ways (no tv, cable, etc., no cell phone, cheapest land line, only buy clothes/toys at thrift stores, etc. etc.) but with food, we eat out like 90% of the time. If dinner costs less than 50 bucks for the three of us, I feel like we got a good deal

[janerose]

Originally Posted by yeahwhat

The preview I saw showed someone saying the dinner for four cost 7.25. Um, really that's not miraculously cheap or anything. Especially without taking into account where you're shopping since prices vary so widely place to place.

Someone needed to talk about the thread here for dinners under $2. :

That's also for a family, not per person.

I didn't see the show. It will be interesting to see what ideas were presented.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

REALLY?! See, maybe i'm just naiive but i cannot fathom dinner for four only costing 7.25! Maybe I should watch the show. I can guarentee you I have a LOT to learn in terms of being frugal in the food department. I am frugal in soooo many other ways (no tv, cable, etc., no cell phone, cheapest land line, only buy clothes/toys at thrift stores, etc. etc.) but with food, we eat out like 90% of the time. If dinner costs less than 50 bucks for the three of us, I feel like we got a good deal

I am NOT the most frugal chef on this board, by NO MEANS.. but you really should have me come cook for you!

I am not the BEST chef, either, but I consider myself a very efficient cook..

I rarely plan out meals more than a day or two ahead (and I know there are moms here that plan out like a month ahead).. but a *little* planning can go a long way.. and no, we do not subsist on beans and leftovers.

For instance.. Saturday I went to Costco. I picked up a two pack of chickens for $10, and a bag of broccoli salad (quite large- $5 I think).. On Saturday we cooked one chicken with a bit of organic adobo seasoning in my clay cooker.. (throw some spices on it- I usually order the organic adobo from frontier-, add a tiny bit of butter, bake for 85 minutes).. I served it with rice (thrown in the rice cooker) and broccoli salad.. I dunno $12 for 6 people?

but then today, we finished OFF the broccoli salad (so now it's free since I counted it in the first meal), put the leftover chicken in a pot of bertollis alfredo sauce that I found on sale, and served it over pasta.. Chicken free, broccoli salad free, bertollis was about $2 I think, and the pasta? $1 (I didn't cook the whole bag)?

So I served 6 people 2 complete, delicious meals for $15 total.. and both meals I think you could find comparably at a nice restaurant.. and because I use food I already cooked for the second meal, my cooking time was minimal.. dinner tonight took less than 10 minutes. I warmed the chicken in the cast iron skillet, added the sauce until was good and hot, and boiled the noodles in my stainless steel pasta pot.

So here's the deal.. I come cook for you, you install more cabinets for me, kay? (I like VERY nice cookware, and I have no more room!)

[hollytheteacher]

Pinoikoi if you didn't live so far away I might take you up on it!

It's pretty bad, I mean my ds is only 18 months so my dh and I are the ones eating the most food and we spend upwards of 50-75 a day on food

I wish I could pay a person to come cook for us or something lol. It really is crazy when I sit down and think about it.

We are doing the dave ramsey thing so we are snowballing debt (we already have the e.f. set up). I need to make/look at our budget so i can make sure every extra dollar is being thrown at debt.

But like an example is last week, we ate out for lunch every day (i spend about 15 bucks per lunch PLUS a latte, DH only spends about 7-10). Then we ate dinner at places like: Chilis, TGIFridays, a local thai place, and once we ate spaghetti at home for two nights in a row.

It's just so hard because we don't get home until around 6pm and by then we are both starving and would rather just go out/order in. (last night we ordered a pizza).

[griffin2004]

Holly,
Even if you start out packing lunch 2x/wk and eating in 2x/wk to start with, the savings will knock your socks off. Plus it will be great incentive to increase it to 3x, 4x, ...

I was stunned when I started packing lunch, taking a thermos of coffee, and not going out for dinner except for a special treat. I wouldn't have believed it on paper.

I also get home at 6pm with a hungry/tired kid and a hungry/tired me. One word secret to success: crockpot.

I'll watch Oprah tomorrow and hope for a new tip or 2. I love getting frugality advice from a bazillionairess!

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

I wish I could pay a person to come cook for us or something lol. It really is crazy when I sit down and think about it.

You can.. a personal chef might be cheaper than what you are currently doing.. and probably healthier

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

But like an example is last week, we ate out for lunch every day (i spend about 15 bucks per lunch PLUS a latte, DH only spends about 7-10). Then we ate dinner at places like: Chilis, TGIFridays, a local thai place, and once we ate spaghetti at home for two nights in a row.

I spend about $.50 to $.75 for a latte.. well, I don't care for lattes much because I don't like the steamed milk or whatever it is in there, but I get gourmet coffee at home.. I asked for a Keurig for my last anniversary. It was over $100 to get the machine, and then there is an additional piece that is like $12 so you can use your own grounds, but I just buy my coffee from keurig and I get the most delicious treats.. German Chocolate Cake is one of my favorites.. I add flavored creamer (I like International Delight, right now it is Bavarian white chocolate and macadamia nut) and make it pretty with whipped cream and sprinkles on top.. It is delicious and looks like it came from Starbucks..

Keurig is sold at BedBathandBeyond (where I got mine) but they are super cheap right now at Costco (with a HUGE selection of different coffee flavors to try), Sears also carries them.. I get fresh grounds each day and I can even have organic and free trade.. DP likes the organic green tea.

I gave up on Starbucks a long time ago. That adds up really fast. Is what I do frugal? Not really, I mean I spend at least $15-$20 a month on coffee and supplies (and that's AFTER the initial output on my machine), but it IS a cheaper treat than what I was doing before.. but on the other hand I am not wasting a lot of coffee in a drip pot (we never drank the pot down to the bottom, so much of it got dumped down the sink with our old machine, and then I would miss the coffee shop type drinks, and splurge anyway).

[steffanie3]

I would second the crockpot and maybe pack a snack for on the way home, that way you aren't totally starving, even if you buy some pre-made snacks you will be coming out ahead if you don't eat out.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by griffin2004

I also get home at 6pm with a hungry/tired kid and a hungry/tired me. One word secret to success: crockpot.

I love crockpot cooking, but I get nervous leaving it on when I am not home.. Did your come with a timer or did you buy one that plugs in somehow or do you go without a timer?

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by griffin2004

I'll watch Oprah tomorrow and hope for a new tip or 2. I love getting frugality advice from a bazillionairess!

a bazillionairess with no kids to feed...

[janerose]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

I love crockpot cooking, but I get nervous leaving it on when I am not home.. Did your come with a timer or did you buy one that plugs in somehow or do you go without a timer?

You don't need a timer. That's the point. Set it going before you leave in the morning & when you get home it's good. If you're gone all day then set it to low (unless your recipe says to do high for 8+ hours). It *is* weird to just leave the house with it running first, but you'll get used to it. Just make sure it's on a nice open section of counter with nothing else around it. I believe they also make crock-pots now that shut-off when they overheat.

Easiest and yummiest crock-pot chicken recipe ever:

Get a bag of boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Around here Sam's and Aldi's are cheapest. I usually make 4, which gives us 1 left over. You could easily make 6 though & have enough left to "bank" for another meal later in the week.

Get or make up a bottle of Italian salad dressing. I havn't tried it with Lite dressing, only regular.

Chop 1 onion up. Nothing fancy. Rings or whatever is fine. I usually chop mine, but large.

Put chicken in the crock-pot. Pour dressing over it. Top with onions. Cook on low all day or high for 1/2 a day.

This chicken is amazing. You'll need to take it out with a slotted spoon probably because it falls apart. It also makes excellent chicken salad the next day if chopped fine or shredded & mixed with a little mayo. Add some instant brown rice & steamed veggies or a salad. Buy it in the bag or make a bunch up ahead of time yourself & store it in a bag in your fridge. I get 3 romaine hearts at Walmart for $2, which makes a weeks worth of salads for 2 adults if we eat salad daily.

If you bring snacks for the trip home like a pp mentioned you won't be starving & you'll have a hot meal on the table in less than 15 min. Have your LO help you set the table so it's something you can do together. Thus, avoiding the "I know we just got home & you havn't seen me all day, but leave me alone so I can cook supper" syndrome. At that age our girls could easily put spoons & napkins out, help put out things like a canister or grated parm.

If you learn one new recipe a week, or even a month, before you know it you'll have enough quick, easy recipes to feed your family cheap, healthy meals the majority of the time.

Oh, and when you do cook you may want to consider cooking extra and freezing or "banking" it for later. There are lots of great sites, and info here, on freezer cooking. Good luck!

[~Megan~]

I bet it will be ridiculous. Like one I watched recently in which a family of 4 cut down their grocery bill from $400 A WEEK to $200 a week.
The lame advice was buy frozen salmon instead of fresh salmon each week. Or buy salmon as a special treat when it's super, super cheap only (like the last time I bought salmon it was $5 for a 4 serving piece).

How about how to eat healthfully on $200-300 a month. I'm sure most families would flip!

[janerose]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

I bet it will be ridiculous. Like one I watched recently in which a family of 4 cut down their grocery bill from $400 A WEEK to $200 a week.
The lame advice was buy frozen salmon instead of fresh salmon each week. Or buy salmon as a special treat when it's super, super cheap only (like the last time I bought salmon it was $5 for a 4 serving piece).

How about how to eat healthfully on $200-300 a month. I'm sure most families would flip!

That was my thought!

Funny you should mention $200-$300/mo. I just started another thread about that. I'd love new ideas. I'm starting to run out!

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

I bet it will be ridiculous. Like one I watched recently in which a family of 4 cut down their grocery bill from $400 A WEEK to $200 a week.
The lame advice was buy frozen salmon instead of fresh salmon each week. Or buy salmon as a special treat when it's super, super cheap only (like the last time I bought salmon it was $5 for a 4 serving piece).

How about how to eat healthfully on $200-300 a month. I'm sure most families would flip!

Salmon is free.

(yep, don't think I have ever paid for it..)

Catfish and tilapia I have paid for, but salmon? nope..

I have paid for crabmeat a few times, but it is usually free too.

[ewp11100]

Originally Posted by janerose

That was my thought!

Funny you should mention $200-$300/mo. I just started another thread about that. I'd love new ideas. I'm starting to run out!

Yeah exactly! I don't pay more the 1.99 lb for meat and try to keep it under 1.50 lb. I can see most Americans nnot wanting to give up their chioces by thinking "I can only eat what's on sale". Where as I have tons of choices because I always buy the good sales and stockpile. I once asked my nieghbor (I live in a trailer park btw) if she had the store circular that had come in the mail that day (my kids tore mine up). She said yeah here "I never even look at it, I make a list but I just buy what or hunger for." WOW I would LOVE to know what they spend on groceries

[Mom2Adam]

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi

a bazillionairess with no kids to feed...

With her own chef and nutritionist to boot!

[Jenelle]

I just have to say... HOLY CRAP. $50-75 per day on food for two adults? If I hadn't seen you around this board in the past, I would think you came here just to give us all heart attacks. Stick around!