Feeding Your Family on a Budget

Feeding a family and cheap are not concepts often associated with each other. The smaller the family the easier it is to feed them on a budget but it can get more difficult with larger families. There are some things that can work for both small and large families. You can do it with

Staples to Stretch Meals

Things such as rice, potatoes and dried beans can make meals go farther. These items are also relatively inexpensive with a twenty pound bag of rice costing approximately $5. If you search carefully you can find a large bag of potatoes for around $3. There isn't any need to buy separate potatoes for baking when you buy the bags. There are often large potatoes in the bags that can be baked. Incorporating these into meals will make them go farther.

Meats Are the Most Expensive

Meat is the most expensive purchase you will make at the grocery store. Cutting meat out all together will be the best way to feed the family cheaply but it might not be feasible. After all the entire family has to cooperate. Watching portion sizes will be easier on your wallet and your waistline. Meats such as chicken, hamburger and pork are usually cheaper than beef by the pound. Larger family packs are cheaper by the pound; so are odd cut pieces. Whole roasts are often cheaper than steaks and other cuts. Cutting the meat yourself will save you a little money and you might find it stretches further.

Alternatives

Loaves of bread are getting to be expensive and don't last that long with a number of people eating it. Purchasing day old bread from the bread store is cheaper the fresh bread, you can also make it yourself. When you make it yourself you'll be less likely to let it go to waste. Stale bread can be used for bread crumbs. You can make a pan of cornbread cheaper than you can buy biscuits or a loaf of bread to eat with meals.

Creative with Leftovers

Instead of throwing out those leftover meats and vegetables when there isn't enough to serve get creative. You can combine a variety of vegetables and meats in the crock pot to make a quick soup. If you'd like you can cook a bag of noodles halfway and add then add them for a little more soup.

Manager's Specials and Clearance

When stores realize they are close to the date they can no longer sell an item they mark it down for a quick sale. There is usually nothing wrong with these items. Grabbing a few of these and throwing them in the freezer or on the shelf will save you a little money. Just don't buy more than you'll use before the items lose their usability.

Feeling a family cheaply isn't difficult. You can stretch meals, watch portions and even buy food on clearance. If you have enough room you can plant a few items to help along the way. A couple tomato plants should give you enough to eat and put up for the months they aren't in season if you're careful in planning. See it isn't that hard to do.