7 Tips For Creating A Frugal Meal Plan That Works For You And Your Family
Groceries are one area in your family budget where you can easily save quite a bit each way. A perfect way to do that is to create a frugal meal plan each week that will help you spend less at the grocery store. But for this to work (especially in the long run), you have to come up with a menu plan that will work for both you and your family. Here are some tips for accomplishing just that.
Tip 1 – Start With Some Frugal Family Favorites
A great place is to start with a few of your families favorite meals. Make a list of inexpensive dishes that everyone loves. In my house that includes spaghetti, chili and a variety of soups, stews and casseroles.
Tip 2 – Include One Or Two Bean Dishes Per Week
Beans and other legumes are a great way to stretch any budget. They are cheap, yet full of protein and fiber which also makes them a very healthy choice. We like pinto beans and corn bread as well as bean, lentil or split pea soup. You can easily turn beans, cooked rice, tortillas and various leftovers into yummy burritos. If you haven’t cooked much with dry beans, now is a great time to start.
Tip 3 – Skip The Meat Twice A Week
You don’t have to have meat with every dinner (or every meal for that matter). Schedule at least two days a week that are meat less. If you are already doing this, see if you can make it without yet another day. You’ll quickly notice some big savings at the grocery store. Beans and eggs are great protein alternatives to the much more expensive beef, pork or chicken.
Tip 4 – Reduce The Amount Of Meat The Rest Of The Week
On the days that you do serve meat, try to serve less. As a rule of thumb you can cut any meat in a soup or casserole dish in half. Just add some more “filler” by increasing the amount of potatoes, rice or pasta you use. Another option is to add some beans for that extra protein boost.
Tip 5 – Beef Up The Sides
Even when your main entrée is meat (i.e. baked chicken, hamburgers or steaks), you can get away with smaller portions by adding more side dishes. Make up some potato salad or a big batch of mac and cheese to go along with your main meal for a day or two.
Tip 6 – Add A Frugal Dessert
Keep everyone happy despite the changes by serving a simple dessert a few times a week. This could be some fresh homemade cookies, a pie, or something as simple as a cup of cut up fruit or some homemade pudding. None of these things are very expensive or take a lot of time to prepare, but they sure will make your loved ones feel special.
Tip 7 – Hold A Family Meal Plan Meeting
Create your meal plan and try it out for a week or two. Then get everyone in the family together and ask them about their input in the plan. What dishes did they like, what didn’t they like? Is there any meal they really missed that you haven’t made in a while? Tweak your plan to accommodate your family and come up with one that everyone is happy with. That’ll make it easy to stick to it in the long run.
And now I would like to invite you to read a recent interview I did with “The Menu Mom “ that includes quite a few more family meal planning tips. You can find it here: www.hillbillyhousewife.com/family-meal-planning-an-interview-with-christine-steendahl.htm .
Organize Your Money!
Organization is the key to a balanced life! Organization saves you time, energy, frustration, and confusion. To be organized means to be efficient in the way separate elements are arranged into a consistent structure. In other words, everything has its place, find the place, and when you’re done put it back. In all my years of counseling people in the area of personal finances, one of the biggest issues that cause money woes is the lack of organization.
When you are not organized life feels chaotic, excruciating, and out of control. You can actually feel your sanity slipping away. But like everything else in life — you need to admit that you have organization issues, and that you want to change. Next, you need to make a commitment to get organized, and get your life in order. Then come up with a plan. If you’re too overwhelmed to get started, have a friend or a professional help you get organized. Your life and financial future depends on it.
Organize your time – Use a calendar, palm pilot, or organizer to manage your time. Think of your time as money. When you waste your time you are throwing away money, so plan and schedule your time.
Organize your files – Start a paper filing system. Get manila folders to organize statements, bills, letters, and other important papers. If it’s important it should have a place to go.
Track your money – Know exactly how much money comes in and out of your household each month and year. Whether it’s regular salaries, bonuses, part-time, or business income keep track. What are you spending your hard-earned money on? Track all your outgoing expenses for 30 days by keeping receipts and writing down expenses. Put the receipts in an envelope and label it by the month. Categorize your receipts and add each category up to get a total. This will give you a good idea how you use your money each month.
Pay your bills on time – Keep all your bills in one place, separate bills by due dates, come up with 2-3 days of the month to write out and mail bills, and pay bills 4-5 days before due date.
Automate your savings/investments – Organize your time and money by having a certain amount taken out each month, and put the amount in certain savings/investment accounts. This accomplishes three things: a) eliminates time on your part, b) you don’t have to see, feel, or touch the money, and c) you are being consistent in saving.
File your taxes – If your files are organized it will make it easier when tax time comes around to get your numbers together. You won’t have to be scatter-brained trying to find old tax forms, pay-stubs, or documents. Every document will have a place.
Organizing your life will help grow your money. Organizing cuts down on duplicating inventory, supplies, clothes, products, food, information, and time! Do you want more money? Start getting organized!
sharman_lawson@bellsouth.net
Author’s URL: http://www.sharmanlawson.com
Sharman Lawson is a debt, money, personal finance coach, writer, and trainer. She is also the author of 12 Steps to Eliminate Debt Forever. Sharman Lawson and her husband paid off all their debt including their mortgage, in less than five years, on a combined income of less than $50,000 a year. Visit Sharman’s website at www.sharmanlawson.com.
Have a Great Christmas Even on a Tight Budget
It is so easy to get caught up in wanting to give the perfect Christmas gift and cooking the perfect meal that we often blow our budget out of the water. There are so many ways to have a wonderful Christmas without blowing your budget.
When it comes to kids, remember how quickly they move on from one toy to the next. If you feel that all of the fun is having a lot of gifts to open than wrap up as many gifts that you can but keep the items very inexpensive. As long as there is one great gift that they wanted then you will accomplish both of your goals.
Think of a simple gift but wrap it in fancy wrapping. Every year I get my sisters some very nice cozy socks from Nordstrom that I have wrapped up in their luxurious wrapping as it’s free. The sight of the box is exciting and the gift is still very nice. I also take any gifts I buy out of the wrapping (if it comes in plastic for example) and place it in a nice box with fancy tissue.
Buy items that come with a free item like perfume and body lotion. Separate the items as two gifts. You may also want to see if there is a “gift with purchase” item that you can use as two gifts as well.
When it comes to cooking, less is more. Wouldn’t you rather spend less than have left overs that you may or may not eat? When someone asks you if they can bring something tell them YES! People love to contribute food to gatherings so don’t be ashamed of it.
Why not have a contest to see who has the best appetizer? Have everyone bring an appetizer and vote on the dish. You’ll have extra food and also be adding a fun component to the evening.
Instead of Christmas cards, why not print up a lovely greeting on holiday paper off of your computer or send to a printer like Kinko’s to print for you. You can print two greetings on one page for further savings.
So think outside the box this year to find ways to save money and still have fun. More often than not it is our need for perfection that gets in the way. Give yourself permission to let go a bit and enjoy more. You will also give yourself the gift of more peace and less stress and who can’t use that?
Brigitte Martinez has been writing articles online for several years now. Her latest project is her site gas heating stoves where she offers resources to items like a ventless gas fireplace.
