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We have decided to start keeping a better budget. Usually we practice the art of "as long as we can pay the credit card off each month, we're doing alright." Then we imported all the credit card info into a computer budget program and were floored at how much we spend each month on groceries! We've decided to stop buying as many of the convience items as we can. The biggie to go are most of the snack items that we can make at home. We've also cut the grocery store trips to once every 2 weeks and Costco just once a month. If we run out of an item, we just make do with what we have until it's time for another grocery trip. I've found cutting coupons isn't helpful because the coupons aren't usually for anything we "need." We eat homemade meals most of the time as it is, but we're trying to cut down on the times we go out to eat. It's really not a lot of fun most times anyways witha 2 yr old. I try to put dinners away in the freezer too, but we really need a deep freeze to have room for too many. We do have an extra refrig and freezer combo. We bought a grain mill and are making our own bread now, which saves a lot and keeps us healthier. I noticed I'd been buying a lot of chicken stock, so I learned how to make that this week too. The recipe is below. I'm also watching the meals I choose to make, that they aren't pricey even to make at home. We've also been using less meat - ssssh don't tell my hubby. Half as much chicken in a soup or casserole isn't all that noticeable if you increase the amount of veggies. I'm sure there are a few other cost saving ideas we've incorporated the past little while which I'm forgetting about. I'd appreciate anyone elses good ideas on the matter too. Below is a recipe for granola bars my son and I made last Sunday. Granola Bars These are great-tasting and good for you, and make an excellent breakfast, dessert, or quick snack on the go.
Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 9x13 pan with foil or parchment paper then coat with a little oil. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl: oats, flour, brown sugar, raisins, wheat germ, salt and cinnamon (and any of the optional ingredients). In another bowl mix wet ingredients: oil, honey, egg and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into dry mixture and stir by hand until blended. Press evenly into the pan. Bake 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely then turn out onto a cutting board. Remove the foil/paper and cut into bars. Wrap individually in foil or plastic wrap. Chicken Stock Remove the "insides" of your chicken, wash it out and remove the wings and all the skin. Put it in a crock pot and cover with water. Add a handful of carrots and celery, and a tblsp of apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil on high, then cook on low for 8 hrs. Remove the chicken, take off the meat and return the bones to the crock pot. Continue to cook for 4 more hours. Let it cool off, then pour the stock through a colander into a large bowl. Cool in the frig over night. In the morning scrape off the layer of fat on the top. Put the stock into individual containers, marking how much is in each and the date. This process makes the house smell so good as well as giving you "free" chicken stock and chicken for a few meals. |
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