Make Your Own Pizza

I must admit, I really feel the 'crunch' in my pocketbook these days, even though I feel like my husband makes a decent salary. I have noticed that I'm balancing my checkbook more and more these days, and I just can't figure out what the deal is. I haven't been spending more than I usually do. I'm generally a practical person. I have 4 kids to feed and I know I have a rather large grocery bill. That being said, my family gives me a break on Friday Nights. It's always been "Pizza Night" in our home.

When I noticed that we didn't have our usual 'spending money' ... I decided I better take a look at where I could help out. I was determined that I shop wisely, and since I try to not pay full retail for anything, that I wouldn't come up with a solution. I was wrong !

I was shocked to discover that every Friday, I was spending $35.00 on 2 Large Pizzas at our favorite Pizza Parlor. That meant 35x4= $140.00 on Pizza alone in one month ! That's around $1680.00 a year if you eat Pizza every Friday for a year, which we do !!

That was it. I searched for a pizza dough recipe and was determined to make my own and see if I could do it for less. I called it my One Month Pizza Project. I would make pizza every Friday for a month, and see if I noticed a difference in my checkbook. I'm happy to announce that YES ! I did save money. Almost $100.00 in one month ! That means, I will save $1200.00 next year because I will continue my homemade pizza tradition and making lovely family memories along the way !

I'm thrilled that I can help make a difference. I really didn't realize that by eliminating one 'luxury' that it would make much of a difference. But it does. It reminds me of my favorite quote my Mother Teresa...she said " The ocean is made up of drops".... So I guess, every little bit really does help ! But I must say, in the process of making my own pizza, it has allowed me to have special one on one time with my daughter in the kitchen, who loves to help !! Don't be intimidated like I was..."Just do it" !!

I went to Walmart and this is what I bought.... ( I already had the flour at home!)

Dry yeast .59

Tomato sauce .49

4 C. cheese 4.00

toppings ? depending on what you choose... $2 - $5.00

** feeds my family PLUS we have leftovers ! HELLO !

$35.00 FOR 2 LARGE pizzas at our favorite place...

Or HOMEMADE BY YOU for $10.08 !! What a wonderful family tradition !

Not only does this feed my whole family of 6, we even have leftovers !! A perfect snack for Saturday afternoon when the kids come home hungry after their soccer games !

The best part is that my family likes mine better !!!! Yippee !!