HOW TO FEED A FAMILY OF FOUR on less than $30 a week.......with NO COUPONS

BY ANJIE

GROCERY STUFFIES FOR YOU

First of all let me say that having a stocked pantry of “necessities” may take some time, effort and money to start off……I have been collecting for 20 years so I have an advantage. When I say “on hand” many of you may not have that product “on hand” and have to purchase it……..there by raising the cost of the total meal for you. Just like all of the other things that I do to save money, it will begin to FLOW for you over time and you will truly see the savings.

You will see that it is VERY POSSIBLE to feed a family of four, all name brand products, NOT SKIMPING OR SKIPPING MEALS for $25-30 a week or less with very little effort and a lot of creativity. I often post a meal that I make for my family and itemize the cost of the meal to reveal the possibilities. You do not have to eat exactly what I eat………you can be creative…… It is QUITE normal for me to feed my family for less than $5.00 a day……….NOW I will tell you that we are at a point in our lives where we TREAT ourselves to DINNER OUT at least one time a week and sometimes SPLURGE really big! …..But that is what “freelancbyu-ing” is all about ……. LIVING LAVISHLY on a FRUGAL budget!

If you deny yourself…….you will not stick to it……just like a diet……when you feel deprived… it just doesn’t work.

I have shopping days with coupons and shopping days without!!!!!!!!!!! Why would you do this you ask?

I save my coupons for things I want/need for sales and double coupons……….I esp. love FREE coupons and TMF rebates. My shopping trip for the TODAY show was exclusively done with coupons and rebates………I did get some feedback from “couponers” that said “I know you can’t save like that ALL of the time.” My answer to that is YES I CAN!!!!!!!!!!!! And I do……….I stockpile all of the items I get free and use them creatively so it isn’t the “same ole thing” when I have large quanities. I fill in with the STAPLES that I often need/want to supplement my pantry and I visit the SALVAGE BARN and other REDUCED shopping places every couple of months. I also am a member of SAMS and when I go there I spend $100 EVERY TIME I GO………..so I blow my entire monthly budget for food when I go there! This is done in lieu of going out to eat………or when I am SO STOCKED UP that I can afford the “luxury.”

I am going to attempt to walk you thru my world (as it pertains to GROCERIES) and help you learn to Be a COUPON QUEEN……….but also fill you in on other tips about smart shopping and cooking as well. SO here goes……………..

Here is a sample shopping list for the FILL IN ………what you need in BASICS to get thru “tough times” or just have to make several different dishes at little cost………these of course can be modified any way you like……….

In the summer most of my VEG. Come from our garden and we have learned to be very creative with tomatos, peppers, onions and cucumbers……that is about all we grow…….in a small space but it saves tons of money!

ALWAYS BUY REDUCED MEATS AND PRODUCE

Or use a coupon if you have them for the “good stuff”

NEVER DEPRIVE YOURSELF……..if you want a steak……buy it…….just adjust your menu accordingly!!!!

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now remember this is how you START………after you stockpile your menu will grow………..I often have seafood, steak, gourmet foods, dinner out etc…….but I have years of collecting, experimenting etc…….

You will get there………just hang with me!

YOU CAN GO OUT TO DINNER and ORDER PIZZA too………..just find the DEALS……here on freelancebyu

And enjoy!

ITEMS I ALWAYS HAVE ON HAND

(you will too after doing some coupon shopping, dollar store scouting etc. etc…….these are gotten at little or no cost)

Variety of Spices and Herbs

Baking Soda

Baking Powder

BIG jar of Garlic (or lotz of cloves)

Cocoa Powder

Yeast packets

Salt & Pepper

Condiments (all types)

Horse Radish

Soy Sauce

Worchestire Sauce

Variety of Salad Dressings

Vinegar

Variety of types of Alcohol (wine, beer, cordials etc)

Jams, Jellies, honey

Sodas

Garlic

Powdered Sugar

Brown sugar

Olives, peppers, chillies

Salsa (home made or for pennies store bought w/coupon)

Lemon and/or Lime Juice

Non Fat Dried Milk

please understand that the following shopping list changes from week to week depending on SALE and IN SEASON ITEMS..........this is in no way restrictive.........just buy "like cost" item if you find something your family will not eat or has allergy to.   The SEASONAL items in your area will vary from mine, as will the in-store specials.

1 dozen large eggs

Honey Graham O’s cereal (or other SALE CEREAL for less than $2.00 box)

Package of tortillas

Frozen broccoli

Wonder Italian sliced bread

Chicken livers

½ gal milk

4 pack of “blue” Pillsbury biscuits

Blue Bonnett margerine 1 lb

1 ½ lbs of ground beef

1 lb carrots

Bag of navy beans

2 lbs of ham (chunks)

Ham bone (free from butcher……just ask most places)

1 lb of long grain rice

1 can of saur kraut

5 ears of white corn on cob

24 oz of macaroni

Quick Grits (1 lb)

Cannister of Oatmeal (not the instant)

1 lb of cheddar cheese

Polish Sausage Hillshire Farm

5 lb flour (self rising all purpose)

3 cans starkest tuna (in water)

5 lb potatoes

2 packs of Glory Cornbread mix

Wesson Canola Oil

5 packs of ramen noodles

LARGE pork roast

32 oz applesauce

5 lb sugar

2 cans of Italian Tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1 bag of reduced apples

1 bunch of bananas

1 lb of Mozerella cheese

Orange Juice

Celery

Chicken thighs (large pack)

1 pint of strawberries

1 can of coffee

TOTAL FOR TWO WEEKS OF GROCERIES………………….$55.08

SAVE $5.00 for Milk, eggs & bread for next week

TOTAL FOR TWO WEEKS OF GROCERIES TO FEED 4 with LEFT OVERS FOR FOLLOWING SHOPPING TRIP!

MENU CHOICES FOR TWO WEEKS USING ABOVE LIST

Grits

Cereal & milk

Smoothie

Toast and Jelly

Applesauce

Cinnamon Toast

French toast

Donuts

Pancakes

Biscuits

Breakfast Casserole

Hashbrowns

Eggs (boiled, scrambled or fried)

Sausage

Banana Bread/muffins

Oat Muffins

Apple cinnamon bread/muffins

Fruit

Oatmeal

Juice and/or coffee

Tuna on toast

Grilled Cheese

Nacho’s

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Pasta Salad

Potato Soup

Potato Skins

French Onion Soup

French fries

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Mac & Cheese

Applesauce

Muffins

Fruit

Scalloped Potatos

Left Overs

Onion Rings

Carrot Sticks

Egg Salad

BBQ sandwich

Quiche

Ham & Bean Soup

Tomato Soup

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Corn Chowder (left over corn and chicken)

Home Made Chips

Tortillia Wraps or Quesidillias

Smoothie

Lemon or Lime Ade, Kool Aid , soda or juice

DINNER * items are main dishes that have left overs

*Pork Roast

*Tuna Casserole

*Sausage & Kraut

Cornbread

Stuffing

Gravy (use seasoning from Ramen Noodles, flour, water or meat drippings)

Popovers

Biscuits

*Fried Chicken Livers

Pork Stir Fry

*Chicken & Rice

*Chicken Creole

*White Chilli

*Mexican Fiesta (Spanish rice, soft tacos and cinnamon crunchers w/ refried navy beans)

*Navy Beans & Ham Soup

Corn on the Cob

Creamed Corn

Glazed Carrots

*Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

*Sheppards Pie

*French Onion Soup and Quiche

*Sweet & Sour Pork

French Fries

Scallopped Potatoes

Au Gratin Potatoes

Pasta

Fruit Salad

*Breakfast for dinner

*Pizzas made from tortillas

Brownies

Sugar cookies

Potato chips

Oat fudgies

Fruit crisp (cobbler)

Carrot/Celery sticks and ranch

Muffins

Tortillia Chips and Salsa

Applesauce or Spice Cake

Pound Cake w/ strawberries

Fried Bananas

Baked Apples

Fruit and Cheese Tray

Cheese Fondue

GET CREATIVE AND ENJOY YOUR SAVINGS!!!!!!!!!!!! Use your money that you save to take advantage of other sales and savings!!!!!!!!!!!!

USE COUPONS to save on other items, luxury items etc………get lots of free stuff……….AND DO THE REBATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More later!

hugs

anjie