Eating well on a budget

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Replies

  • JamesonsMommy
    JamesonsMommy Posts: 771 Member
    So glad you mentioned coupons :) I save at least 80-100% on ALL my cleaning, laundry, Health and beauty and paper products.. This allows more for the fresh and organic fruits, meats and veggies :) I also find i save a lot on my very spoiled kitty :) Looks like we have alot of the same tips and tricks :)

    LOVE the pet coupons! Our cat and the dogs are well cared for :wink: however, they are particular about their brands and I often find coupons for other brands. I've been making use of them as best I can afford and taking the stuff to our local animal shelter. I know Meaw Mix and Kibbles 'n Bits are not most nutritional brands out there but I figure the starving cats and dogs will not mind, at all.

    My poor duggie has expensive tastes..lol If there is a good coupon in the paper i will buy extras. I'll been starting a "treat" pile for the shelter i got my sweet kitty from :)
  • missjelika
    missjelika Posts: 115 Member
    :drinker: :flowerforyou:
    bump
  • KendaVSG
    KendaVSG Posts: 147
    OP thank you for taking the time to post this! Great ideas EVERYONE! I don't really do coupons. I don't get the paper and my operating system is not compatible with the coupon websites and the crap they want you to download. I will have to find a way to get coupons for my doggies food and stuff. THAT would save tons of money! I already cook everything homemade - the only "processed" stuff we have is canned beans and frozen fruits and veggies, and various whole wheat pastas. I've been buying bulk for a long time, but I never thought to get the garbanzo beans from bulk for my hummus! lol

    Another tip is to invest in a Costco membership (you could split it with a friend or family member - my mil and I are on the membership.) I've found the meat and produce to be of very good quality and MUCH cheaper to buy than getting it from the grocery stores. It SEEMS like you spend more, but you'll get a whole lot more too since you're buying it in larger quantities. I get the pork loin and cut my own pork chops and roasts. I buy a package of 5 beef steaks and repackage them, allowing one steak per meal - they are big enough that two people can share one. You can use Costco whether you are cooking for just one or two people, or a whole family of 4 or 5. Plus the frozen veggies and fruits end up being cheaper and better too!
  • jrditt
    jrditt Posts: 239 Member
    i really wish I had a bigger freezer but I am going to adopt some of this stuff! Thanks!
  • sarahmaryfearnley
    sarahmaryfearnley Posts: 366 Member
    I don't really do coupons. I don't get the paper and my operating system is not compatible with the coupon websites and the crap they want you to download.

    As stated, I am totally not extreme about couponing. :wink: We don't get the paper either and it's only the Sunday paper that has the coupons in it. I really only collect the SmartSource inserts and discovered that our local paper delivers a Sunday Saver (with the SmartSource in it) to everyone for free. On the Monday and Tuesday dog walks, I pick as many as I can carry. I figure by then, I'm really doing a neighborhood service.

    In regards to the online coupons, I have never had much luck with these. They are generally the same as the SmartSource or if they are different and seem awesome, they will not scan and the stores will not accept them. I have occasionally printed from the Valpack website. You do not need to install anything and they have always scanned for me. I do not install additional junk on the computer either.
  • FitasBarbie
    FitasBarbie Posts: 141 Member
    Bump! Thanks
  • jecka31
    jecka31 Posts: 284
    Thanks for the tips!!
  • waylonthornton
    waylonthornton Posts: 40 Member
    Dude, BUMP! This is some killer advice! Thanks!
  • sarahmaryfearnley
    sarahmaryfearnley Posts: 366 Member
    I relearned an important tip about freezing in glass containers. Liquids expand. Remeber to leave a 1-2 inches at the top to allow for that. :tongue: Looks like I ruined 4 of my new quart size jars last time I made broth. I'm going to blame it on it being my birthday the day I did that and there was definately wine, all day.
  • FrankWorsley
    FrankWorsley Posts: 106 Member
    Thanks!!! bump
  • sarahmaryfearnley
    sarahmaryfearnley Posts: 366 Member
    I LOVE hummus and I eat it alot, its nutritious and filling. I buy dry garbanzos and cook them. They taste MUCH better and you get so much more for your money

    Just made my 100% from scratch hummus and it is the most delicious I have ever tasted! I made the chick peas from dry as Ronny suggested. I soaked them over night and then simmered them with the holy trinity (onion, celery, green pepper), a little garlic, salt, pepper, and chicken broth about a week ago. They kept perfect in jars in the freezer. I used some of them the other night to make a lovely white chili with ground pork (it was on sale last grocery day ;)).

    To make the hummus today, I used:
    1 12oz jar of homemade chick peas,
    ~1/2 cup of sour cream - no tahini right now :(
    garlic,
    juice from 1 lemon,
    ~1/4 cup parsley,
    1 small onion,
    salt,
    red pepper flakes, and
    2tbsp olive oil.

    Throw it all in the blender or food processer and puree. It made ~2 cups, which I calculated as 75cal per 2tbsp serving.
  • PudgyPigeon
    PudgyPigeon Posts: 89 Member
    Thank you so much for linking me here. C: This is a bump so I can read all this when I have time.
  • baypathgradLyns
    baypathgradLyns Posts: 639 Member
    bump :)
  • rmartin72
    rmartin72 Posts: 1,085 Member
    Bump:):):) I honestly agree
  • kristilovescake
    kristilovescake Posts: 669 Member
    Great tips! Thanks!
  • Meggy247
    Meggy247 Posts: 75 Member
    bumperooni
  • determined2lose89
    determined2lose89 Posts: 342 Member
    bump
  • Jazzyjules71
    Jazzyjules71 Posts: 150 Member
    Bump, great tips-
  • AmberMagdalena
    AmberMagdalena Posts: 461 Member
    Love! Bump!
  • Sine688
    Sine688 Posts: 13 Member
    Great tips and advice.

    One thing for dog/cat food, quite often pet food stores or the food companies will offer a "Buy 10 get the next bag free" incentive. Here in western Canada, the pet food store offers this deal on most of the brands including the top end foods like Acana, Wellness, etc.

    We also plan a weeks worth of meals but write them on the kitchen calendar. That way we always know what needs to be defrosted and use the plan to make the weekly shopping list. Great time and money saver and stops that, "What do you want for supper?" and "Its too late to defrost something now" from happening.
  • ccmccoy09
    ccmccoy09 Posts: 284 Member
    My favorite Frugalista tip to add is that I put the tops and bottoms of onions, celery, and carrots, sometimes squash and other veggies, in a ziploc in my freezer instead of throwing them away. When I have a chicken carcass or bones for stock, I use those frozen veggie ends that otherwise would have gone to waste. Also, I never have to worry about having enough onion, carrot & celery when I want to make stock!

    This is awesome. I haven't done it because I compost for my plants outside but think I will try it. I was also unsure about how to store the veggie ends until it's time to make the broth. Good to know they can go in my favorite place, the freezer.

    Funny you mention composting, because after I make the stock, I fish out the veggies and it all goes in the compost. Sometimes a little chicken gets in there but so far it hasn't ruined my compost or my veggies. ;)
  • sarahmaryfearnley
    sarahmaryfearnley Posts: 366 Member
    Hey Frugalista's!

    I'm thinking about starting a group on this topic. It's the new year, with a lot of new people struggling to find ways to keep it interesting, within calorie goal, and within their grocery budget. I have several new friends wanting ideas for yummy, nutritionally friendly, and low cost recipie ideas. I feel like for the really new guys, a group might be the best place to get them going with some hand holding untill they get the hang of it. Also, it would be fun for me to hear ideas from other people. There are plenty of ideas in here that I have tried and liked over the past few months.

    I'm still flirting with the idea because I'm not sure how well a group would go over, if there would be interest, or really what the format would be. Some options I am considering would be a general tips thread (much like this one), a grocery list/menu planning thread, and a low cost recipie thread.

    Please let me know if you think I can make such a group work or not. Many thanks! If I do end up starting it, I'll let ya know here.
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