how to shop when you're broke and have a family

ShelliesTrying wrote: »

We leave the house at 7am and the earliest anyone was getting home from school was 3:30pm which is still 8 hours and I was leery about letting food go that long in the crock. Now the kids stay after for homework help or band/football practice so we all get home at the same time usually bc I go get them. I am going to get a christmas light timer like an earlier poster suggested.

I use my crock pot ALL the time (especially in the winter. I turn it on when I leave for work at 8am, and turn it off when I get home at 6pm (or sometimes as late as 7pm). ALL of the recipes I make call for cooking for 8-10 hours on low, but the odd time it might go 11 hours, the food has been fine (I'd actually be more worried about turning the crockpot off and having it just sitting there cooling down). I never make anything that requires a "mid" step though unless it's a weekend and I'm home (ie cook for 6 hours on low, add X and then cook another hour on high).

Another option would be to invest in a programmable crockpot. You tell it how long to cook on which setting, and when it's done, it automatically turns it down to "keep warm". Mine isn't that fancy, but my sister has one and loves it.

http://www.5dollardinners.com/
http://ajwalton.com/6-best-foods-to-buy-when-youre-broke/
http://brokeassgourmet.com/articles/the-1582-grocery-shopping-trip
http://hellogiggles.com/10-meals-to-make-when-youre-broke-without-beelining-to-the-ramen-aisle/
http://www.budget101.com/household/10-grocery-list-when-youre-broke-14.html

ShelliesTrying wrote: »

I have not used coupons. I don't know how people get into that, haha. When I see coupons they are usually for items that we don't use or eat so I never look for coupons. I will check into that. I do buy a lot of store brands.

Cereal is an item that you can often find coupons for. I never buy it for full price.

Thanksgiving is coming up, buy a huge turkey cheap, cook and freeze for meals. You can do the same with ham when they are on sale for Christmas, use the bone for split pea soup, which is also really inexpensive to make. I bulk buy meat during the holidays when they are buy one, get one free.

I'm sure I won't have any advice to offer that isn't already been given . But hugs mama. I'm making it work with my son and myself on 14k last year, and hopefully will net almost 20k this year. Child support is basically non existent here too. I know the struggle.
I make my own bread, and try to coupon - some of the coupon apps even have incentives for things like milk , bananas and other fresh stuff now!

I love threads like this and I agree. I hope many readers take away ideas.

ShelliesTrying wrote: »

My 3yo is not my biological child.

I'm from N.Z and that is a common practice called 'whangae' which basically means to foster (a child) without the paperwork. Good on you for giving a child a loving and stable home full stop, end of conversation.
I just wanted to mention that, because it is commendable.... as is your desire to feed your family well. You have been given a wealth of some fabulous and practical information. The only thing I can think of to contribute is I hunt for bargains first and then I set the menu (I had to feed 2 adults, 2 teens on $12 a week for 2yrs). Its a good thing I love offal!
I done freezer meals on w/ends - brekky muffins, vege slice, soups, stews etc.
I was raised learning to ration, and groceries were gotten once a month. It was actually fun trying to scratch a meal up with 'nothin in the cupboard'. So having that knowledge sure came in handy, and I thanked my parents for those tools because I honestly don't believe I or my family would have survived those long, rough days without those skills.
I spoke to the kids about it a few years later, and they said Ohh. Were we broke? We thought you were on a diet and so we weren't allowed to have takeaway's!
Oh man, as a not biological parent, I say I done my job well phewwww.... As you are too!

Where do you live? I support a family through my local church. I'm on my 20th family now. The church provides me with a list of items and I buy them and take them to the church. Maybe check with your local salvation army, as they help many low income families.

Great job on all of your hard work!! One thing my husband and I do is keep a running ziplock in the freezer for veggie scraps to make stock out of. Trimming the tops of celery? Throw it in the bag. Have some husks from onion peels? In the bag it goes, carrot peels (washed) into the bag! You'd be amazed at how quickly the bag fills up if you are diligent about not throwing away any veggie scraps. We do, however, have a separate bag for the stinky veggies like cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus - they make a good soup base on their own, but have a strong flavour for basic stocks.

You can use rice and beans to stretch meat or even as meals themselves. Learn when your local store marks down meat and buy it that way. I can get a 10# bag of potatoes for $2 and make many creative meals out of them. If you have a Farmers Market close go at the end of the day and you can usually get some really good deals. Eggs can sometimes be bought cheaper from a local seller than a grocery store and they usually taste better. Watch the sales and stock up on your most used items when they are discounted. I have found corn tortillas to be cheaper also and you can use those to make your own chips or even as wraps.

ShelliesTrying wrote: »

I have never gardened. I wanted to start one this year but I just couldn't make it happen. (we had a very hard, life altering summer and I'm trying to get us on our feet)

I do buy tuna, rice, beans, frozen fruits/veggies, oatmeal, peanut butter etc. I meant that I avoid the middle stuff like pop-tarts, chips, cookies, frozen meals etc.

I live in California and I have to say, it is very expensive to have a small garden. My husband and I do it because it's an activity we love, but is costs us a lot in fertilizer, plant food, water etc. It's much cheaper to buy even organic foods than it is for grow enough for a family. Plus, everyones aware of drought we have, so water utility has gone up substantially. Possibly if you have a larger area and are able to grow enough for canning and freezing. Otherwise, not realistic for us as a family of 2. (Except herbs, I grow 8 different herbs and it's a cheap way to add a ton of flavor)

Honestly I was very poor growing up and my mom made all of our meals. We ate cream of wheat and oatmeal for breakfast. She would make large meat loaves with brown rice filler for dinners and we'd make sandwiches with left overs. We had frozen veggies and lots of beans. Beans are such an amazing food that doesn't get utilized enough. If you have a crock pot, it's a lovely meal to come home to. 7 or 13 bean soup with a cheap piece of bone- in ham for flavor and additional protein.
It sounds like you're doing the right things. I would check your local store for programs for selling bruised or "undesirable" produce at a discounted price. Many places are selling the day of expiration at 50 and 70% off. I can be honest and say that I always look for expiring meat when I shop because my local Winco butcher will mark it down for me and I'll freeze for later use.

There are a lot programs that are willing to help families you just have to do your research. Can you apply for TANF, WIC & in most town have social service that help. Also there are childcare that are willing to work with low income families or childcare services. Its hard understand been there done that with two children a full-time mom and went to school as a single parent. I could not get help from Social service because I made to much but I did get from social service in my town and received child support which was not much. How about child support, do you received child support? If not reached out to the father maybe he can help or file child support. I wish you all the best you and your family will be in my prayers.

ShelliesTrying wrote: »

I live in a rural area. Any bulk stores are 2 hours away. I do make it a couple times a year. I buy lots of fozen veggies. I don't buy a lot of canned foods in general. My 3yo loves all veggies so I try to keep sugar snap peas, cucumbers, sweet peppers and stuff like that for her. I try to keep apples, bananas and oranges as well. When other fruits are on sale I will buy those as well.

Oatmeal is cheap from ( £1-£2 kg) tescos/asdas , you can always pick up frozen chicken for a kilo. (£4 frozen chicken breasts) Always buy frozen vedge. ( £1 mixed ) Also a kilo which will last a lot longer than buying fresh. If you like peanut butter etc , I would suggest buying the tescos brand for a lot cheaper prices than the organic products.

i find the fruit and vegetables are cheaper in those shops that only sell fruit and vegetables (i don't know what they are called lol!) I have heard farmer markets (they sell heaps of fresh food) become very cheap as they begin to close up shop at the end of the day. Make use of bulk foods such as brown rice and beans such as kidney beans and even lentils. They are in their whole form and bulk up a meal. Add healthy fats into your meals like nuts and olive oil, this adds energy so you won't starve.They sell bulk nuts i'm sure. You could perhaps make your own trail mix by adding in nuts, dried fruit and chocolate bits/yogurt covered raisins. Make use of potatoes those are so cheap and are healthy you can do a million things with a potato. Maybe search (student food budget tips) in google