Frugal Meals

Preparing frugal meals is DOUBLY satisfying - because it's rewarding to know that your family is eating well without breaking the bank!

Tips for Making Frugal Meals

1. Have a "smorgasbord night". Your kids will love this and so will you, because it makes the preparation extremely easy. Just pull out your leftovers from the week and prepare a buffet of what is left. It's okay if everyone has a little of everything - that way it won't be tossed and your money won't be wasted. Plus, it's fun!
2. Plan meals around the weekly specials. You've probably heard this before, but it really is that simple. Plan frugal meals around the meats and fresh produce that are on sale that week.
3. Start a soup pot in the freezer. Do you have just a few green beans or a few ounces of meat leftover from a meal? Toss them into a freezer-safe container and once that container gets full, make soup!
4. Beware of the end caps and other marketing ploys. Supermarkets are in business to make money, make no mistake about that. Always avoid the end cap displays... they are (almost) always items that are priced just a bit higher than the similar sale item. Or, you'll see like items together on a shelf, but only half of them actually on sale. Always look high and/or low on shelves - that's where the deals are hiding!
5. Use leftovers for lunch. It's SO easy to send leftover meatloaf and wild rice with your spouse for lunch - and probably far healthier than any fast foods he might purchase in their place! Alternatively - if you work from home - you'll find that leftovers are a quick way to have a hot lunch without any fuss.
6. Buy what you will eat. Sounds easy, right? But too many times, people end up throwing away huge amounts of fruits, vegetables and dairy items because they were forgotten and went past their expiry date, or simply rotted at the back of the fridge! Buy what you need for the week, but not much more.
7. Use coupons wisely. Only use coupons for items you would actually buy even if you didn't have a coupon. Sometimes, coupons can cause you to spend more money because you think you're getting a great deal, when in actuality, it's possible to get the store brand for much less.
8. Cut meat servings by a few ounces. It won't do anyone in your family harm if you cut back on the meat servings. Cut chicken breasts and steaks in half. Frugal meals can actually be BETTER for you if you supplement meat in some of your recipes with healthy grains instead... something like barley will really add 'bulk' to a meal, but at little cost. Decide on a few meatless meals per week. Your budget will reflect these small changes in a big way.
9. Make your own baby food. Little people can enjoy frugal meals too - in fact, homemade baby food is not just cheaper than pricey jarred food, it's far healthier too!
10. Buy dried - not canned - legumes. Items like Garbanzo beans and split peas are far cheaper in the dried form - also, they don't have any salt added to them.
11. Visit your local ethnic grocery stores. You may be pleasantly surprised by just how much money you can save on many items, as compared to 'mainstream' supermarkets.
12. Save money on kids' cereal by stirring in some plain, uncooked rolled oats. Oats are cheaper than sweetened cereals and far more nutritious. Your cereal will go twice as far as it did before, plus it makes breakfast so much healthier and more satisfying for your children. And in case you were wondering, oats do not HAVE to be cooked - it's absolutely fine to stir the uncooked oats in and serve them. You may be surprised to find that your children don't even notice they're there - but YOU will know... and so will your wallet!

Don't miss...

My favorite resource for frugal meals - $5 Dinners!

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