Living on a budget is something we all have to get used to. Living beyond these guidelines usually lands us in some level of financial trouble. How we divide our weekly income becomes very important. For a married couple with a small family of 2 children, it becomes a little demanding allotting some money for the food budget. First, use round figures setting per person food allotment for a trial period, such as $ 25.00. Now, you just set aside this amount times 4 each week, or $ 100.00. This may not seem to be enough money to cover your family needs, but it will work itself out as time goes on. Next,some simple rules of the ways you shop have to be set in place. Here are some simple guidelines:
1-) Buy as much food in bulk as you can afford.
2-) Stay away from prepared dinners, as much as possible.
3-) Watch for sales on your preferred foods.
4-) Try to purchase store brand name items, when possible.
5-) Prepare dinners in multiple servings, such as lasagna casserole for another day serving.
6-) Stock up on herbs and spices of your likings, in the largest size possible, maintaining top seasoning of your meals. By the way, herbs and spices have a very long shelf life.
Following at least 4 of these simple rules will put you in the drivers seat for future meal planning, especially by following the number 6 suggestion. A simple reason for this is that once you purchase your most favorite seasonings and spices in the larger sizes, you will not need to run out and purchase some that you are planning to use in a meal you've started. This will save you time and maybe some gas money, along with the fact that you would have to pay a lot more if you have to buy it at a convenient store.
Staying away from prepared foods, though they are obviously much easier to prepare, they are also loaded with preservatives and hydrogenated oils, which nutritionists say are bad for our body when eaten on a regular basis. So this suggestion could help prevent future health problems, which effectively will save you some money in the future. The other and most obvious reason is their cost per unit weight of each meal, which can be several times the cost of a home prepared meal of similar content. Again, your home brew seasonings will far outweigh what is added to a "prepared" frozen food platter, which can sometimes include monosodium glutimate, another additive which some individuals are allergic to.
Finally, the age old proven american way of saving money is watching for the sales in local flyers at food chains. We have been doing this for many years by rounding up a list of the best prices and pick a day to make the rounds in one big circle to save gas. We are not dedicated to one major food store, just to the one who has the best sale prices for that week. It has now worked for the past 42 years.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.