Cutting the Food Budget – Possible Strategies

A couple days ago, I asked all my FB friends for strategies to cut our food budget. Here's the list I got. My friends are geniuses. And also, THANK YOU... 



PLAN AHEAD:

• shop sales/ plan meals around sale items
• shop at Aldi
• Plan your meals, including snacks and lunches
• Buy at on sale en masse and stockpile things like:

• Facial tissue
• Toilet tissue
• Hair care products
• Body wash
• Feminine products – tampons, pads
• Contact solution (use FSA card)
• Canned food
• Dishwasher detergent

Make it or grow it

• Plant a garden
• Make your own bread
• can or freeze sale produce to use bounty later
• make your own yogurt
• dried apples

Buy in bulk when possible

• meat – Mosley’s or Carfagna’s boxes
• grains (rice, quinoa, flour)
• cereal (oatmeal, “Cheerios”, etc.)
• raisins
• milk
• cheese

Limit shopping

• “Allowance” - $20/week you can use on anything you want, including lunches out. Once
• it’s gone, it’s gone.
• Eat out only2x/month.
• Don’t shop – use your pantry!
• Buy the cheapest store brand/generic you can find for most things.
• For items you won’t buy store brand, use coupons and buy on sale.

Reduce your consumption:

• Don't buy cleaning supplies (rely on vinegar, lemon, baking soda, etc. instead of manufactured stuff)
• Pre-portion snacks, especially bulk items, to reduce waste
• Avoid items like:
• frozen foods (frozen veggies allowed, but only plain)
• soft drinks
• paper products
• processed food

You can also download it here:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwSGlRSfWRiSQThScjVsanlzeGM

Champagne

A Day for the Bubbly
October 27, 2010 | New Jersey Monthly
Thursday is Champagne Day around the globe 

 

Missed this... and a day... but onward we march.

HOW long has it been?

Oh crap. It has been a while. But y'all will forgive me right? That's what friends do. Right? :-)

It's been a busy summer. I built a raised bed for my garden - which has been a success despite the cool summer.

We are about to embark on major home improvements this weekend and this month (fixing rotted trim, repainting it and installing new outdoor lights - and waterproofing, cleaning, and repairing basement walls via some contractors).

Not to mention, I am teaching Steve to cook on his own. Pray that we don't burn the house down or break the new stove.

Not to mention my sister is pushing me to turn this blog into something that I could make a living at. Now - I love my job. But how cool would it be to have more than a few people reading this thing? The question is - what do I do?

I've considered adding a section on basic home improvement projects and/or dealing with contractors, from a woman's perspective; making your own traditions; and a few other ideas that are not well-formed enough to mention here. But seriously, it's hard to think about what idea would get me a larger audience. Who knows?

All I know for sure today is that I want to finish watching the Zips (even if they are going to get pounded) and get out and take advantage of this three day weekend.

Christmas, Christmas time is here...

So the holiday season is in full swing, and today marks the beginning of family obligations. Thankfully, we will be getting Steve's family out of the way tonight... err, I mean giving them first dibs... this year by going out to dinner. I love them, I really do. But it's very harried and whirlwind whenever we see them, but then, there is a toddler in the mix with this group.

Next up, Christmas Eve and Day, per our tradition installed at the year prior to our marriage, at home, just the two of us, spent mostly in pajamas. I have a food extravaganza planned, most of which will be pre-prepped so that I only have to put things in the oven or crockpot and then go knit.

Boxing Day will be a trip up to my parents house to spend (relaxing, lazy) time with mom, dad, sis, and Tutu (my maternal grandmother). We will be leaving prior to my mom's-side-of-the-family gathering on Sunday, so as to avoid traffic on our return trip. Prior notice was given that it would be better for us if this gathering was on Saturday, but alas, the logistical aspect didn't work out. But I just saw most of them over Thanksgiving, so no sweat on that.

Don't worry... there will be pictures of the food extravaganza. :-) But to tide you over, here are the recipes I've got planned. Most are thanks to Ree (of Confessions of Pioneer Woman) so avoid if you are shy about butter or heavy cream (I'm not, and hey, it's Christmas!).

Christmas Eve
Cioppino (my adapted version will be a "Feast of 7 Fishes" version, since Steve's family is Italian)

Christmas Day
AM: Strata and Cinnamon rolls
Dinner: roast chicken with chestnut stuffing, corn and wild rice casserole, braised red cabbage, no-knead rolls

p.s. I think I missed my blog-iversary. So Yay for me... my how time flies.