The point is, I can still see ways for her to cut.
Cream soup base is cheap and even at fifty cents, it is cheaper than canned and better for you. Potatoes back there are really expensive. Like twice what they are here. I suspect we have cheaper potatoes because Washington and Idaho are producers of potatoes. Lol. But, scratch potatoes are probably cheaper than the .79 she paid. She does get marvelous prices. She sticks to the tried and true inexpensive meals and ones that children typically love.
The whole time I was a single mother, my main question I would ask myself when I hit a road block, was what can I do instead? Sometimes if I just went out and played catch with my son, or made a batch of bisquits , the ensure woukd come to me, Sometimes I would have to break out the big guns and call my sister for a brainstorm session. She always had good ideas. A least she had a different perspective.
Tips : some might be duplicates from before for new people.
- White sauce, or cream soup base is a lot cheaper than canned, takes less room, and there are several recipes to accommodate low fat, low sodium , or no preservatives Refrigerated or not.
- Peasant bread or refrigerater bread is a good way to drastically cut your cost of bread. It's about thirty cents a loaf when flour and yeast are purchased in bulk at Costco and artisan bread cost upwards of three dollars here. Hands on time, about ten minutes.
- Simplify meat cuts, buy meat cuts that are flexible and butcher your own. Protein is the most expensive part of your meal. A good place to start the economy, Pork loin can easily be cut into meals and one of the cheapest, low fat meats. Split chicken breast Can have the ribs cut off and cooked for stock , the bones licked for meat for tacos, salad, burritos, soup....., and frozen. Hamburger can be cooked as taco meat, crumbles, and meatballs.
- Frozen vegetable sometimes are fresher than fresh ones and a lot cheaper if you watch sales. Buy what's on season. It will taste better and be less expensive, steer clear of the discount stores ( Grocery Outlet ) because their produce is on the edge and they dint make it good of it is bad.
- The dollar tree is a good source for some things, but you need to know your prices, some things are more expensive. A big basic for 1/2 price groceries is to know your prices. My mother used to say that some people wouldn't know a bargain if it got up and bit them in the butt. DONT BE THAT PERSON ! Don't take any signage at the market as gospel. Know your prices. I still have people call me to find out where the best price for a particular item is.Keep a price book if necessary. You don't have to know the prices of everything you use, Just know the things that you buy on a regular basis. Everyone has a basic list of things they buy: things they use often. Most families have a list of about 15 items. If you can't remember, wrote them down on a card and put them in your coupon book, your purse, or your wallet. They won't do you any good on the desk. Lol. Stick to th RBP on those things,
- When you find a RBP, buy enough to last you till it goes on sale again or enough for you to use up before the use by date. Don't overbuy. The green beans you buy ahead this week will be replaced by the 25 lbs of flour you buy next week. You should be able to spend the same amount, but have twice the food,
- Going to the store, one store, and buying just what you need for a week is like going to the casino. The odds are against you. If nothing else, go to two stores and buy the bargains that you can use to make a meal. You can just about get that if hamburger patties are on sale at one store, the buns won't be. Some stores are notorious for having the best price for some things, know which stores have the best prices. If you need that thing, xo solder going to that store. Don't go for one thing, but usually, you can group certain things together, be flexible, time changes things. I can usually get English muffins in a giant sack for 1.67 at Freddies. Hamburger and hot dog buns are cheapest at Winco. Neither of those things are cost effective to make scratch.
- Find efficient recipes for scratch cooking of the things that you use or can use on a regular basis. Some things just aren't efficient to make and buying is actually cheap enough not to bother. A 3 ring binder thrifted or from the dollar store , some plastic sleeves , and recipes for efficient cooking can be your best friend. Teaching a youngster how to cook is another good idea. Even small children can learn some things. We started baking at 9 yo. My mother hated to bake. Unfortunately, she hated to wash dishes and iron too. Lol. My mantra for little ones is no sharp, no hot, and no raw meat. Safety first. Our 5 yo can make scratch pizza with supervision. It's a confidence builder and teaches self preservation. Our schools don't teach home ec the same as they used to. Children need life skills.
