How To Save Money While Feeding Your Family

The secret to feeding a family without blowing your budget sometimes necessitates a switch to only using cash until you can get a handle on how much money you really do have and want to be spending on food. Too many moms fill up the grocery cart every week only to throw away leftovers and let food spoil in the refrigerator while still picking up fast food and takeout during the week.  Your perspective must change on what you have and what you really need. Using strictly cash will do this. Look at prices at the grocery store, take advantage of buy-one-get-ones only if you USE that product and find and print coupons online after forming your grocery list of what you need to execute your at home meal plan for the week which will include three meals a day.  Make sure your meal plan allows for you to use leftovers and plan to make large batches of soups, pastas and stir-fries that can easily be eaten for lunches or dinners and warmed up at work so that Mom and Dad can save money instead of eating out for lunch. Make sure you only take the amount of cash to the grocery store that you want to spend and then limit yourself to cooking at-home meals and making breakfasts and lunches from your groceries all week. It takes extra effort, but it will pay off in dividends. 

No one is proud of an enormous credit card bill at the end of the month when you can't even remember what you spent it on. Dave Ramsey is right on when he recommends a permanent switch to cash and not using credit cards. This is not only because a credit card allows you to spend well beyond your means, but a credit card makes you feel like you "need" more. When the cash is in your hand and you have to make a choice, you are better at discerning whether you really "need" something or you can make do with what you have --stretch those leftovers one more night, pull out the rice and beans from the pantry and get creative with what you have in the refrigerator.

Also, a fun project if you have children who are willing to help out is to plant a vegetable garden together and then build meals around what you grow. It is a great learning experience for the children and a cheap way to have fresh produce in season!

Many moms find that they waste so much of the expensive jarred baby food because many infants do not eat the entire jar in one sitting when moms are out and about. A great way to save money on baby food is to make your own! Not only is cheaper to do this but also healthier for your baby. There is something comforting for a parent about knowing exactly what you are putting in your baby's mouth as opposed to something that was made and packaged at a factory.

The way to do this is to buy fruits and vegetables that are cheap because they are on sale or in season. Then steam the fruits and vegetables to cook them and blend them in a food processor. The way to store them in perfect small portions that keep for 2-3 months is in ice cube trays in the freezer. Because you freeze them, they will last a lot longer and they won't be loaded with preservatives or chemicals like the kind at the grocery store. This will also be healthier if you start off with organic produce. Even though organic produce is more expensive, it will still be cheaper than purchasing the organic pre-packages baby food.

Unfortunately, more and more families are having to cut back due to the economic depression.  As incomes continue to be stagnant, and the economy has the potential to increase the cost of living via inflation, families will have to get creative to make ends meet.  I hope you use some of the tips described in this web page to improve your situation and be able to take care of your family on less!

Please add your tips and suggestions below as your feedback can really help someone else!