[QUOTE=EJsGirl]
And eating “right” is more expensive than eating crap. It’s a reason that the USA has poor people who are also overweight. Fresh veg, lean meat, fresh fruit, etc, is getting expensive, while overly-processed things like boxed dinners are cheap. Starches can be cheap and filling but pack little nutritional value.
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Yes–the fatty cuts of meat are much cheaper than the lean; cheese “product” are cheaper than cheese etc.
I have cut out pop (soda) almost entirely–I buy one case of it (for a family of 5) and if it’s gone, it’s gone. I now make sun tea and buy lemonade powder for the kids. And water-- tapwater’s good too. I may have to cut out the pop entirely soon.
I buy no alcohol or liquor. Can’t think the last time I had a glass of wine–I miss it sometimes (not often).
I have always washed out plastic ziploc bags for re-use (unless they had raw meat in them). I use cloth dishtowels, not paper. I use vinegar to clean the floors etc, so no expensive cleaning products there.
We eat meatless meals about twice a week now–and I’m looking at 3 times/week. Thankfully, we all like (and can eat) eggs and dairy. With 2 boys in the house, though–we go through milk like water. I’ve taken to buying an extra box or two of cereal for snacks for them (instead of chips etc–I never did a lot of that anyway).
I have always made homemade cookies/brownies etc. Thing is, real vanilla is insanely priced now (it rose steeply about a year ago), so now I use imitation (and I can’t really tell the difference).
I have no qualms about serving leftovers and frequently do.
Sending Daughter to college this fall* will help seeing as she’s vegetarian and things out of season are pricey. Let’s not forget the waste of being vegetarian, either–I shop once a week. I have no time to do more. If the produce spoils, it’s wasted money. <sigh> She’s very good about quantities etc, but even so, there is loss.
Two more things: 1. I miss eating out and take away. It’s so expensive for a family of 5. Can’t think when we last ordered a pizza or ate out as a family.
- school lunches kill my food budget. The single serving packaging is expensive. The older son will buy his lunch at school; it’s the younger one. He has a lunch program (but it’s not great); he takes his lunch about 3 times a week on average. I need to eschew convenience and buy bulk and use baggies.
I do buy frozen pizzas and other frozen entrees (they have these neat Chinese meals now for $3.29 per) for the boys when I’m at work (about 3 days/week).
We are spending about $200/ week with these changes. I’m beginning to wonder if it’d be cheaper to invest in a bread maker and make our own bread. We have tomatoes and peppers growing (but that’s only summer). Back in my girlhood, we made our own yogurt–I’m thinking of doing that again as well.
What’s a mother to do?
*false economy seeing as how her meal plan alone is $2000+/year in the dorm.
3 small lamb chops and you need a bloody bank loan to purchase