I came to the realization about 2 months ago, that my family likes simple foods. Much like my grandma would have prepared. Meat, potatoe and a veggie. Occasional dessert is a fruit crumble, apple of strawberries, free for me. When I figured that they didn't need a huge variety, my grocery bill dipped way low. Waste was nearly eliminated. I get bored to some extent, but it's easy to prepare, nutricious and THEY EAT IT. Plus my grandma taught me to re-use leftovers, if only I had a pressure cooker..lol.

I don't have a garden, though this year I'll add a small raised bed or two. One would be for berries. Infants aren't conducive to gardening..lol. But I have an apple tree that produces nicely. I have 15 packs left in the freezer, each one will make a generous apple crumble or pie. I also make apple butters. PLUS, in trade for apples I have strawberries in the freezer too :)

We're ina cash crunch over the next couple months, and so I'm trying to squeak the grocery budget. I went yesterday and I spent a whopping $60 for 2 weeks. I would be nearly 1/2 of that if I didn't get treats(we do family pajama parties, so i get some treats, helps keep "deprivation" at bay), toilet paper and pop for dh(he's addicted, but it's way cheaper than beer). I have everything else here. My freezer is stocked with sale veggies, free fruit, and 1/4 beef and 1/4 pork. I have flour and other baking needs in the house. I *might* need milk before next pay day. I swear I need a dairy cow, but think the neighbors would complain.


But now I'm rambling..LOL...I'm going to bed.

For those treats, I have some ideas, if you don't do them already:
pudding
jello~buy flavorless gelatin and add fruit for nutrition
homemade popsicles
air popped popcorn-1 container kernals lasts a long time.
homemade granola
dehydrated apple rings
homemade apple chips
homemade fruit roll-ups
(dehydrators are wonderful things)

Will your dh drink Koolaid, cheaper than soda, and same sugar content probably.

Nope he won't give up pop :( I wish. It's not so much the sugar but the caffeine amnd he doesn't drink coffee.

Yes I can replace some treats with homemade, but with a newborn in the house baking time is limited. I don;t have a dehydrator.

:( I know what you mean. Newborns are very tiring and time-consuming.

That is really cool - thanks for sharing! I can completely relate about the pop too....DH drinks 3 or 4 cans a day and acts as if the world is coming to an end if I suggest that he should cut back a little for the sake of both his health and our budget.

I'm trying to move toward simplifying our menu and eating more whole foods - your post is good inspiration. :thumbsup: