We haven't been this poor in a long time. We are at least five hundred behind (aren't we all!) consistantly and now it is even worse. Please give me some ideas for foods from scratch that are good left overs! We may not be able to afford much food for awhile and I need to make what I am able to buy last! And hope that our friggin water doesn't get turned off!!

ACK! Thanks mama's!

BTW, we eat meat.


Sarah B and her three

do you have an angel food network..you can get a good deal of food for $25 per month.


http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.php

Dried beans, barley, and seasonal veggies make great soup/stew! You can freeze it too.

Convenience foods cost so much more. Even beans...dried beans are a ton cheaper than canned, etc.

Good luck to you! :)

Cheap meals = stir fry, cabbage soup, spagetti, chilli (home made) breakfast for dinner, tuna cassarole, burritos, dressed up ramen noodles, pb&j sandwiches,

If you are low income maybe you should apply for foodstamps. Go to the foodbank, and plan your meals around what they give you.

Are you on WIC? Foodstamps? Those may both be worth checking into.

Bread is cheap to make and filling. It really isn't so much work as long as you are home for a couple hours anyway.

Beans, when we were really cash poor we soaked a bag of beans overnight and boiled them up the next day. I kept some out and cooked them with spices or made them into bean soup with what ever veggis I had on hand. Beans are very versitile. Some one posted a receipe for salsa beans and corn meal pancakes at one time and we use that receipe often. If you find a receipe for salsa (I splurge and use from a bottle) it would be a very cheap, healthy and yummy meal as well. There are endless options with beans. Beans and rice are great staples.

Cornmeal and oatmeal are good filling hot breakfasts. They are a lot cheaper than cold cereal.

Home baked cookies work well for snacks, my sil makes ginger snaps without the ginger for her kids because it is a nice lowfat receipe and not too sweet. The kids think it is a special treat especially when they get to help cut them into shapes.

I hope you are able to have some fun with new receipes and creative money saving.

dry beans,

We don't qualify for foodstamps by something like $300.00, which sucks! When I am attending births, we are able to somewhat supplement our income, but I have no births right now, and then two I am not getting paid for.

We do chili a lot. Also wild rice soup is inexpensive and goes a long way. I guess I am looking for recipes too, if anyone has any they would like to share!

*edited to change amount we don't qualify by...I just looked it up!

what about wic?

We are on WIC and I tryed to get ahold of our local food bank, but no one is ever there. We eat oatmeal every day for breakfast, because we can get it on WIC, and the kids love it. We just made baked oatmeal for the first time yesterday, and we LOVE it! I am going to try to cook more when I feel like cooking, and hopefully be able to make a couple of days worth of food at once. That way I won't feel so tied to the kitchen, but I will still be putting lots of good food on the table!

These are all great ideas! I would love the recipe for the corncakes..

oh, there are no income guidlines for the angel food deal ~ anyone can particiapte.

i just noticed i don't see one in mn. ~ bummer

I should also say that I cook a lot and bake a lot, so any recipes that your family loves we would be honored to have.

I think I am more scared then anything. I have some anxiety and I hate it when I feel like everything is out of control. I know everything will work out, I just hate feeling like I can't provide for my children. I know it will be OK.

It looks like they don't have my state listed. Too bad, it looked like a great thing.

cyp

http://www.recipelink.com/mf/14/8929

the above is a link to a decent recipe for homemade hot pockets

I made a double batch and made 12 pizza pockets using 1# italian sausage, crumbled and cooked, 1" mozzarela cheese, shredded, and 1 batch of homemade spaghetti sauce. The pockets are tasty, cheap, and 1 each fills up me and dh and the kids split a third - so 4 main dish meals for under $10. I wrapped them, post-baking, in foil individually and froze them - reheat them by baking at 325 till hot and crusty. (I underbaked them a bit to start)

Cathy who is also trying to stretch a budget but only if it tastes good

use hamburger in casseroles and it will stretch further.

I do a ghoulash....

boil noodles
when noodles are cooked, throw in some corn, 1/2 lb friend hamburger, can of stewed tomatoes....i use my spatula to break up tomatoes more

simple--not very runny, cheap and the kids love it

Thank you! That looks great. I have some italian sausage in the freezer and I can get mozzarela on WIC. I also have some canned tomatoes that I could use to whip up a sauce! Yummy!

Sarah

Jessica - The kids would love to help me make that too!

do you have a breadmaker or make your own bread??

we have been making bread every day..and the kids love to have a slice of it in the morning with some pb & j on it as breakfast...and it is great for me to use up all the freezer jam I made! LOL

My MIL got me a breadmaker and I do have a lot of different flours that I can use. I need to start it back up!

I've been poor sooo long that I think I got the habit... LOL. I secons oatmeal, beans, and rice... I'll add a couple suggestions

*Ground meat is very cheap (try to buy the lean kind) and it can be used in a thousand ways. When it's on sale I buy a lot, then I put in my food processor onion, garlic, carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, cooked beans, everything I can get my hand on in my freezer, eggs, bread crumbs (a couple toasts crashed will do), bran (inexpensive when bought in bulk, adds fiber to your diet) salt and spices and form into balls, loaf, muffins etc. I bake, drain excess grease and freeze... it really lasts ages!!!

*I'd buy the very rip bananas or apples in final sale in my local food store (usually $ 0.99 for a big bag) and make immediately into banana or apple loaf. It freezes very well and works great for snacks, breakfasts and lunchs. My super easy recipe for loaves and muffins is:

2 c flour (I prefer whole wheat, if not 1.5c white flour plus 0.5c bran will do)
2 eggs
1/3 c oil
1/2 - 3/4 c sugar (less if making something with veggies)
cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg to taste
vanilla (1 tsp)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1-2 cups of mashed/grated fruit or vegetable (apple, peach, banana, carrot, zucchini... whatever is on sale!), and/or some raisins, nuts, almonds.... smae principle, whatever is cheap :)

Mix everything together (usually dry ingredients first, then add wet or viceversa) and put in muffin or loaf tins. For muffins, bake at 425 20-25 mins. Four loaf bake at 350 50mins - 1h, You see I'n not too "technical" but I've done this sooo many times taht I just eyeball quantities, put everything in my food processor bake and go!

Hope this helps!!

Catalina

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ has some good, cheap recipes.

can you cut back in other ways? Cancel cell service, cable, etc. Look at what you're outgoing expenses are and figure out what you can do without? Are you using cloth diapers? Making your own cleaners? Can you hang things to dry on a rack or line? Can you sell an extra vehicle or go down to liability insurance for a little while? What about refinancing your home for a lower interest rate? Can you drive less and do 1 day out where you run all errands right next to eachother? Pack lunches instead of buying them at school/work? Are you using cheap shampoo, do it yourself haircuts, etc?
Umm - trying to think of things we had to do when we were in your place (not insinuating that you do or don't do these things already - just remembering).

There are also some great food pantries out there - you might try calling for assistance if it's really bad. They were awesome to us. Even if you don't qualify for WIC or emergency food stamps, they're there. Do you belong to a bulk store (Sam's or Costco?) You can get HUGE bags of flour, rice, beans, etc there for so cheap. (Freeze the excess, of course) :) But don't join just for this - or find a friend local to you who has a membership and will let you go with them :) Even better!!

great minds think alike jess!

great minds think alike jess!

LOL--we really are similar! :lol:

can you cut back in other ways? Cancel cell service, cable, etc. Look at what you're outgoing expenses are and figure out what you can do without? Are you using cloth diapers? Making your own cleaners? Can you hang things to dry on a rack or line? Can you sell an extra vehicle or go down to liability insurance for a little while? What about refinancing your home for a lower interest rate? Can you drive less and do 1 day out where you run all errands right next to eachother? Pack lunches instead of buying them at school/work? Are you using cheap shampoo, do it yourself haircuts, etc?
Umm - trying to think of things we had to do when we were in your place (not insinuating that you do or don't do these things already - just remembering).

There are also some great food pantries out there - you might try calling for assistance if it's really bad. They were awesome to us. Even if you don't qualify for WIC or emergency food stamps, they're there. Do you belong to a bulk store (Sam's or Costco?) You can get HUGE bags of flour, rice, beans, etc there for so cheap. (Freeze the excess, of course) :) But don't join just for this - or find a friend local to you who has a membership and will let you go with them :) Even better!!

I am going to answer these for myself so that I can see if there is something I can cut back on...

Cancel cell service, cable, etc. ~ My cell is pay as you go and I only fill it if I have births coming up, because people have to be able to get ahold of me. It costs maybe ten dollars for three months. Not too bad. Cable is a package deal with internet and phone for 119.00 a month. I could possibly cancel it, I should check out what internet is alone and what phone would be alone. Good ideas!

Are you using cloth diapers? Yes

Making your own cleaners? Yes, or we buy cheap bulk...

Can you hang things to dry on a rack or line? With laundry for five plus linens for five...heck no! Not in Minnesota in my small house~ LOL!! It will be spring soon and then definately! Great idea and one that I love to do!

Can you sell an extra vehicle or go down to liability insurance for a little while? No, the girls have school and my husband is a technician who drives around all day. We have to have full coverage for work at the maximum amount. But our insurance is 100 bucks a month for two cars full coverage with window and hail damage and towing. Not bad at all.

What about refinancing your home for a lower interest rate? Did that last year, lower interest but higher payment for rolling other stuff in.

Can you drive less and do 1 day out where you run all errands right next to eachother? I don't drive very much right now to save on gas, but I could do all my errands together. Other then school and having to get the kids out of the house every once in awhile so I don't kill them, we are home.

Pack lunches instead of buying them at school/work? Eat here every day.

Are you using cheap shampoo, do it yourself haircuts, etc? Believe me...we cut our own hair! LOL..I should say chop. Shampoo is 75% off at Aveda from my sister. A gallon of conditioner and a gallon of shampoo for 25.00 has lasted us for 8 months.

Thank you! I can look into the cable.

Cable is a package deal with internet and phone for 119.00 a month. I could possibly cancel it, I should check out what internet is alone and what phone would be alone.
Just as a frame of reference, we were paying about that through Charter for our cable and cable internet. We switched to DSL and pay $14.95 a month for that (about 1/3rd of cable internet in our area) and cut down the cable drastically. If you have good reception, you might even consider turning it off. You can always add it back on if you miss it too much once things are caught up :)

And definitely check into the resources in your community. That's what they're there for :)

Cable is a package deal with internet and phone for 119.00 a month. I could possibly cancel it, I should check out what internet is alone and what phone would be alone.
Just as a frame of reference, we were paying about that through Charter for our cable and cable internet. We switched to DSL and pay $14.95 a month for that (about 1/3rd of cable internet in our area) and cut down the cable drastically. If you have good reception, you might even consider turning it off. You can always add it back on if you miss it too much once things are caught up :)

And definitely check into the resources in your community. That's what they're there for :)

Another thought - what about increasing your doula-ing jobs? Can you offer a special for clients who prepay (maybe 30-40% off if they pay it all up front)? Can you find more ways to advertise your services - call hospitals and see if they are having a maternity shower/fair this spring (many around here do)? What about a local maternity boutique or resale shop known to carry breastfeeding supplies that might draw the crunchy crowd? A farmer's market where you can pair up with a vendor who is already there that will hand out your fliers/info sheet? Can you hook up with a birthing center or midwife who will refer you business? :)

I've been poor sooo long that I think I got the habit... LOL. I secons oatmeal, beans, and rice... I'll add a couple suggestions

*Ground meat is very cheap (try to buy the lean kind) and it can be used in a thousand ways. When it's on sale I buy a lot, then I put in my food processor onion, garlic, carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, cooked beans, everything I can get my hand on in my freezer, eggs, bread crumbs (a couple toasts crashed will do), bran (inexpensive when bought in bulk, adds fiber to your diet) salt and spices and form into balls, loaf, muffins etc. I bake, drain excess grease and freeze... it really lasts ages!!!

*I'd buy the very rip bananas or apples in final sale in my local food store (usually $ 0.99 for a big bag) and make immediately into banana or apple loaf. It freezes very well and works great for snacks, breakfasts and lunchs. My super easy recipe for loaves and muffins is:

2 c flour (I prefer whole wheat, if not 1.5c white flour plus 0.5c bran will do)
2 eggs
1/3 c oil
1/2 - 3/4 c sugar (less if making something with veggies)
cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg to taste
vanilla (1 tsp)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1-2 cups of mashed/grated fruit or vegetable (apple, peach, banana, carrot, zucchini... whatever is on sale!), and/or some raisins, nuts, almonds.... smae principle, whatever is cheap :)

Mix everything together (usually dry ingredients first, then add wet or viceversa) and put in muffin or loaf tins. For muffins, bake at 425 20-25 mins. Four loaf bake at 350 50mins - 1h, You see I'n not too "technical" but I've done this sooo many times taht I just eyeball quantities, put everything in my food processor bake and go!

Hope this helps!!

Catalina

I am going to print this out to use. Thank you so much!

As for doula work, I have the Childbirth Collective, which is great. The problem is right now (and really it isn't a problem) is that I have four births in April.

Two are apprenticing with a midwife and I am truly blessed to be going to them. I attend the prenatal and postpartum visits and it is very hands on for me.

Two of them are doula work, one a good friend and the other a family I have worked with before. The family is paying me, and have already paid half in December (which of course is gone) and I will get the other half after the baby is born.

I don't want to take on another family unless it would be right now, this instant, because the EDD are April 11th (1st time mom) April 11th (2nd time mom) April 24th (3rd time high risk) May 5th (7th time mom)

So if God sends a family my way, that would be great. I have had to turn down (and I seriously kid you not) four family's in April. Everyone is due then!

do you have an angel food network..you can get a good deal of food for $25 per month.

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.php
Do they take food stamps? My aunt only gets $40 in foodstamps each month; this program could help her out immensly! Thanks for sharing this info!
ETA: Nevermond! They take foodstamps, at least in Johnstown, Pa
"Food Stamps can only be accepted at a sign-up date. You must show your Food Stamp Card and current ID"

I just looked and it does look like they accept food stamps.

Our church is an Angel Food host. We are trying it for the first time this month. I'll let y'all know how it goes after I pick up our box this Saturday.

When I cut meat out of our diet, it helped our budget a LOT even with buying healthier and organics I spend less than when we ate meat. If you can't cut it totally consider having it only with dinner and even then stretch it like ground beef has been suggested.

Cheap Breakfasts:
oatmeal
grits
eggs (depending on prices in your area)
homemade biscuts (with or without gravy)
pancakes
homemade muffins
french toast

Lunches:
soups homemade - split pea, lentil, etc
pb&j, tuna, etc type sandwiches

Dinners:
chili
pinto beans and cornbread
tacos or burritos (beans, no meat, we don't use cheese either)
pizza (cheap if you make it yourself)
spaghetti or other pasta (again, skip the meat! lol)
casseroles or similar dishes
rice - throw some fried egg and veggies in and you've got cheap fried rice
baked potatoes with toppings

Snacks:
homemade granola bars
fruit
applesauce
bread/toast

Cut cable, newspaper, magazines, any other monthly subscriptions. You really can live without it. ;) I admit, there are days I miss cable, but I love not having the bill! :thumbsup: We have cell phones only, no landline.

We have DSL for internet, much cheaper than cable in our area. Look into your phone/internet plan and see if you can cut back. Try getting rid of long distance if a set # of minutes is packaged in (unless you REALLY do use the minutes).

Find out if you can get electric/oil/water whatever utilities on an averaged type plan where you pay the same year round so you don't have huge bills some months.

Make it a game to use less electric. The kids and I do this and they have a blast catching things that got left on. lol "Mom!! You forgot to turn off the light!!" Or "hey, your coffeepot is oooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnn!" (followed by hysterical laughing when they catch me). Unplug everything not in use. Use only natural lighting during the day (windows open, lights off!).

Hmm... trying to think of more things... there were lots of good ideas already shared.

:hug: I know how you feel. It'll be okay.

do you have an angel food network..you can get a good deal of food for $25 per month.


http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.php


WOW! That's such a great deal. I was looking at the menu and that's a lot of food for the cost!

Find out if you can get electric/oil/water whatever utilities on an averaged type plan where you pay the same year round so you don't have huge bills some months.

We DO do this and it makes such a HUGE difference. We pay 179.00 a month instead of what would easily be 350.00 or 400.00 for Minnesota. It think that it also helps that it has been so warm here this year.

I would love to know how to make granola or granola bars. That is definately something that my whole family would enjoy! Somewhere in there I completely forgot about things like tuna and egg salad sandwiches. Those are great ideas. We have a membership to Sams and we buy eight pounds of fries for five dollars or so on sale. We can throw some parmesan cheese, seasonings and EVOO on them and they turn out great! I will definately be adding those to my menu.

Sarah, Cub carries the ground turkey for 1.00 a lb in the freezer section. We eat that alot. Or I buy in bulk at Sam's- if you ever want to go LMK. They're noodles are super cheap.

WM also started carrying food. We've had really good luck with their house brand and it's chopped even more money off my budget.

Cutting meat would be hard...not because we eat a lot of meat, but because I have a problem with food.

There was a time when I couldn't feed my kids and I truly think it has scarred me. I go nuts (can't you tell) when I feel like I can't provide, and I will skip bills to have food in the house. We are OK for food right now, but we won't be able to buy ANY food for at least a month. I think the 16th of March to be exact...so a little less then a month. We have some WIC (I think 2 gallons of milk and some cheese and a carton of eggs) that we can use to get there, but I really have to make what I have last. Very scary for me.

I really want to say THANK YOU for all of your ideas and recommendations. I will use them and think about some of them and take them all to heart.

The "Not just beans" cookbook has saved us many times. The 2nd (basicly the same) book's name is "Dining on a dime". You only need one or the other not both. It is sooooo worth the money.

Another thing I do is lots of rice & I make pantry meals that don't match or go together. For example last night we have grilled chs, baked beans & frozen veggies. Tonight we are having homemade mini pizza's w/ veggies . As long as it follows the food guidelines it works around here. lol No one seems to mind. And it keeps me out of the grocery store longer. : )

My lunch almost every day is bean and cheese homemade burritos. Very cheap. The kids have different stuff.

HTH! : )

Thanks mama! We can definately substitute ground beef for turkey. We just ran out of ground beef (we buy in bulk from a local organic famer *2.50 a pound!) and he won't have anymore for awhile, so I am not sure what to do about that. We can't afford 4.00-5.00 a pound. That is insane! Maybe turkey tacos? Blech! Turkey meatloaf sounds good though!

And turkey hamburgers with sage. Yummy.

Mandy - It does help. Thank you!

Turkey tacos wouldn't be bad - you put seasoning in there and it's probably not at all detectable. We had Boca tacos last night for dinner :)

You could also make turkey sloppy joes, jerk turkey burgers (throw some crushed pineapple in there and jerk seasoning with bread crumbs or cracker crumbs), spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, all kinds of things :) Pretty much anything with a sauce or seasoning is usually okay!

here's my granola bar recipe :)

Chewy Granola Bars...

*Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
*combine the following and mix well with electric mixer until smooth
~1/2 cup fruit puree or fruit butter (I use apple butter, a friend uses pureed
figs or raisins)
~1/2 cup solid fat (I've used margarine, butter and sunflower seed butter,
all with success)
~1 egg or equivalent egg substitute
~1 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
~1 1/2 tsp vanilla
*In a separate bowl, combine the following and mix well
~2 c flour (any kind)
~2 c. rolled oats
~2 tsp. baking soda
~3/4 tsp cinnamon
~1 tsp. salt
~1/2 cup mix-ins (raisins, nuts, flaxseed, wheat germ, coconut, dried
fruit, etc)
*Pour dry ingredients into wet mixture and mix well.
*If desired, add 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
*Press into greased 9x13 pan and bake for 18-20 minutes. Do not overcook or they won't be chewy. Let cool, cut into squares and store in a sealed container.

Something about "jerk turkey burgers" has me laughing!


Ok, kids are gone with MIL and babe is sleeping. Time to clean!

we used to call them jerky burgers ;)

the thing about turkey is that it really does have a different taste..so if you can, cook it a lot longer so the seasonings can really be absorbed.

neighbors in SSP has a food shelf you can use when ever needed.
Aldi in IGH is my main shopping place. Not the best food but cheap. I get a cart load for $40- dont buy much prepackaged food and mainly get frozen ground hamberger and turkey for meat.

There is a church near your house that has a food program for doing a small amount of volenter work. The program was called fair share but the name has changed.

I have a book with lots of info. I need to dig it out and can get you addresses and phone #s.

my fav cheap recipie is burritos
I use:
hamberger
onion
taco seasoning
diced tomatoes
rice
corn
cheese
black beans
sour cream

I cut up flour totilas put in a bowl and cover with the mix. It makes a big pot so plenty for all or lots of leftovers.

Could you do postpartum (sp) doula? My friend had a c-sect. and was really having a hard time pp - physically & mentally and had a doula come in for a few days each week. It was $$$ but her mom paid b/c she really really needed it. I think she paid $25/hr or something crazy like that.

How about taking in some hourly babysitting? Most moms around here would pay an adult $10/hr for daytime babysitting (maybe less if they baby came to your house). My current daycare provider does hourly for $5/hr. I use her when I need a 2nd day of work a week.

Deb - I will PM you my address.

The recipe looks easy and delicious. I will print it out and make it tomorrow!

Natalie - I used to be a PP doula. I loved it then and I would love to do it still. It is about 20-25 dollars and hour. GREAT MONEY! I was actually thinking about it yesterday. I am still listed as a PP doula at the Collective and occasionally get calls. I wasn't doing it before becuase everyone wanted overnights and I am nursing still all night myself. And my children are very young and it would be friggin expensive for three kids in daycare, which I am not comfortable with anyway. But I was thinking that I could provide care for other doulas (which I do anyway for births and prenatals) why not see if I could start PP doula-ing again? I think that I should do that!

Sarah

I don't know if it's been added but here are some things we do to save money...


*we use ground turkey only. You can get it for around 1.00 a lb. ALWAYS stretch your meat with fillers! Oats work great with turkey as does TVP (buy in bulk at HFS). If I make spaghetti sauce, I use 1 lb. ground turkey and one cup rehydrated TVP. It's great and it makes a ton. For turkey burgers, I add about 1 cup of oats to 1 lb. of turkey.

*buy things like spaghetti sauce in bulk. I got 3 jars of organic Ragu at Sam's the other day for under $5. Good deal! You can buy bulk whole wheat noodles there, too and have cheap pasta. Buying things like bread there is good, too. You can get the bag with two loaves and freeze one. PB and honey on whole wheat with some fresh, peeled carrots makes a very cheap and easy lunch.

*Always buy generic brands. They rarely taste different and they always WAY cheaper. Even OTC medications - they are usually 1/3 of the price with the exact same ingredients.

*Don't take the "easy" route. Buy things whole that need prep by you (like a head of lettuce intead of a bag of salad or a bunch of carrots intead of the pre-peeled baby carrots). Buy a head of healthy, leafy green lettuce and wash the whole thing, chop it and put it in a bag to store. It's just as convenient and about 1/3 of the price of bagged salad.

*Be creative! My kid's favorite hot lunch is shells and cheese with tuna and salad. You can serve yourself and all your kids that for about $3.00. If you make turkey burgers one night and have leftovers, crumble the meat into some scrambled eggs with a little cheese for breakfast or lunch the next day.

*Cut coupons, but BE CAREFUL! Sometimes coupons sway you into buying things you don't need or won't use just because you have a coupon. Also, many times you can get a generic brand for less than the discounted price of the item you have the coupon for. Always comparison shop!

*Look for the book "Saving Dinner". It's a paperback meal planning cookbook and it's GREAT. It WILL save you money. :)

Here is one of our favoites. My kids love it just as it is or we also use it to make burritos.
Lentils and Rice
3/4c uncooked lentils: green or red
½ c uncooked long grain brown rice
¼ c instant minced onions or 1small onion
3c chicken broth
½ tsp basil
¼ tsp oregano
¼ tsp thyme
¼ tsp garlic powder

Blend together in a casserole dish
Cover and bake for 2 to 2 ½ hours at 300 degrees
During last 20 minutes top with ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
Just before serving stir to blend cheese. If desired garnish with a haedful of minced fresh parsley

Makes 4-6 servings

another cheap easy idea..especially if you get wic cheese:

baked macaroni and cheese:

boil noodles.

layer in a baking dish noodles, grated cheese, noodles, grated cheese.
combine 1-2 eggs with some milk, pour over noodles/cheese dish.

bake for 20 minutes or so.

very yummy!

Jessica - I have a great mac recipe, but this one looks even easier! Yummy!

Thank you all so much for these great ideas and recipes. My family is going to be so happy!

Here are some sites that have GREAT ideas:

http://www.freelancebyu.com/thirtydollars_a_week.htm

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/deenybear/page5.htm (check the whole page)

The Hillbilly Housewife has a $45 and a $70 weekly menu too.

My best suggestions is to get the most of what you can out of the meats and such that you get and stretch it with starches. A whole turkey or chicken should make numerous meals (the roasted bird, then remove leftover meat to make atleast one casserole then make soup with the carcass), eat lots of beans (go to allrecipes.com for recipes), use rice and pasta too. Eat breakfast for dinner, cut back on milk and juice and drink just water for now (not a good long term solution but good in a pinch). Challenge yourself to come up with foods with what you have on hand. Maybe even list what you have on hand and we can help you with that!

If I had very little money, I'd buy beans, rice, big bags of potatoes, carrots, onions, flour, margarine, milk or dry milk, whatever meat is on sale and what other veggies and fruit I could afford. With these minimal things, you can get away with a lot.

Good luck! I wish I could help you more!

Ann

I haven't read the whole thread, but have you been here?

http://www.amfa33.org/strike/food_bank.htm

A gal that lives just south of me orders from them and they bring a truck load down once a month--I got in on it this month and it was all such a wonderful deal. It's worth checking out. :)

As far as making/earning money--(and I apologize since I didn't read the thread all the way through, so this may have been touched on) I used to deliver pizzas for Dominos and made GREAT money. I worked one or two nights a week and tips alone were sometimes nearly $100 in a night. And you have money right away instead of waiting for a check. :big hug:

what grocery store is near you/ do you shop at?

WOW! That's such a great deal. I was looking at the menu and that's a lot of food for the cost!

You know I wasn't so sure it was a good deal. They said it is worth $40 or more, but I do shop at aldi a lot and i'm not sure if it would cost me more there plus it doesn't really include fresh produce.

I have to find out what Aldi is...also, I will look into what you sent Brayg.

Oh, and I shop at Cub Foods most of the time. They have an organic section, which is pretty nice, and we can get all of our WIC from there too.

We won't be buying organic this month or next...

Great links everyone. I will most definately use them all!

I have to find out what Aldi is...also, I will look into what you sent Brayg.
If you don't have an Aldi's, you might want to see if you have a Save-A-Lot store. We do most of our shopping at Save-A-Lot to save money on food. Their everyday prices are less than the generic store brand prices I could buy at Kroger.

Hillbillyhousewifes is amazing! I will soooo being going to the site all the time!

I don't know where in MN you are, but our nearest Aldi is in Burnsville.

It looks like we do have an Aldi very close. I will have to check it out when I get some gas in my car!

There is one in Inver Grove Heights

I can't remember what burb you're in, but there's an Aldi in Little Canada too. I've been getting my meat at SuperTarget. I buy when there are coupons on the package because of the freeze or use before date is close. Do you need anything?

Granola Bars

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cup crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 cup chocolate chips (or you can use coconut, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup nuts, raisins, dried fruit, 1/2 cup fruit preserves)

In a large bowl, cream sugars and butter until fluffy. Add honey, vanilla and egg. Mix well. Blend in flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Stir in remaining ingredients. Press firmly into the bottom of a greased 9 X 13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Bars will firm as they stand. Cool and cut into bars. Save the crumbs for yogurt or ice cream topping. Makes approx. 24 bars.

check your pm's mama :)

I've posted this a few other times...

How to eat cheaply, a short term plan

Staples to buy in bulk:

Beans
Brown rice
Flour or wheat berries if you have a grinder
Cornmeal
Yeast
Lentils
Corn tortillas (I buy 100 for under $3 and they keep over a month in the refrigerator)
Oatmeal
White sugar
Vegetable oil

Produce:

Cabbage
Onions
Potatoes
Carrots
Cheapest fruit you can find, no more than 25 cents a serving
-or- canned pineapple in juice

Other:

Vegan margarine
Salt/Pepper
Crushed garlic (a $2 jar lasts a long time)
Cheapest salsa you can find; usually a canned Mexican variety
Vinegar
Tahini (a luxury but I use it in my potato soup)

Find a good, simple bread recipe that doesn’t call for honey, buttermilk, or other expensive ingredients. Leave out the milk. Make daily for toast and to eat with soup. You can also make pita bread.

Lunches and Dinners:

Cabbage salad
Sauted or roasted carrots, onions, and potatoes
Tacos with beans, rice, and cabbage
Creamy Potato soup
Basic vegetable soup
Lentil soup
Lentils and rice
Lentils and cabbage
Sauted cabbage and carrots over rice
Bean soup (my simplest version is pinto beans, garlic, and salt; DH adds salsa)
Polenta with beans
Tostadas

Breakfasts:

Fresh bread, plain
Bread, toasted
Oatmeal
Rice porridge
Cornmeal mush

This is a healthy way to eat cheaply; not as healthy as lots of fresh produce, but full of fiber, vitamins, protein, etc.

Here are just some suggestions to cut back...you may already be doing these or they may not apply to your family, but just thought I'd put them out there.

Turn down your hot water heater.
Put insulation around any drafty doors or windows.
Cancel trash pick-up service and take trash to the dumps yourself.
Cancel newspaper delivery.
Look for cheaper internet service provider.
Contact your utility companies and inquire about assistance programs. If nothing else, they might come up with a payment plan to spread things out a little.
If you attend a church, you might want to inquire about a caring fund....our church will give families in a time of financial crisis a small sum (usually anywhere from $100-$500) to help get them thru a rough time.
If your children do extracurricular activities (sports, dance classes, gymnastics, etc.), talk to their instructors/coaches and see if they could waive or reduce fees until you get on your feet.

See if you could barter your services (doula) in exchange for things you need or for food.

Consider watching another child....even if it's just temporary or part-time, it could bring in some extra $ while allowing you to still be home with your children.

We'll be thinking of you...and will contribute what little paypal we have to the fund that Kas set up.

http://www.aldi.us/
you can use their site to find where one is near you. I love aldi's!

Oh, and I shop at Cub Foods most of the time. They have an organic section, which is pretty nice, and we can get all of our WIC from there too.

We won't be buying organic this month or next...
I'll need your address but you will have something coming by the end of next week ... not this week... I have to wait on processing.

sarah, check your paypal :)

hopefully there's enough to pick up the ingredients needed to make the above listed recipes.

hang in there, mama.:hbeat:

And FYI for the mom who suggested Save-A-Lot - they're owned by the same company who owns Cub Foods :)

Thank you all so much. We will be able to buy a couple of weeks worth of groceries using the lists above. Thank you!!

i"m sorry I haven't had time to read all the posts so I apologize if this has been mentioned.
I second the "not just beans" cookbook.

another hint I have is TVP (textured vegtable protein) You can buy this at your local Heath food store. I use it with ground beef and you can pretty much use it to double your beef. You would boil an amount for about 3 or 4 minutes and then mix it in with your ground meat and cook just like the rest of the meat. So if the recipie calls for 1lb of ground beef, use half and then add in some TVP until you get the desired amount. as your family becomes acustomed to the taste you can add in more and take out more meat.
HTH :)

:big hug:

I need to just print out this thread! There are so many helpful tips and recipes!

My MIL got me a breadmaker and I do have a lot of different flours that I can use. I need to start it back up!

you can also just make the dough and throw it in the oven while something else is baking.

we roll ours into a rectangle then put peanut butter and jelly on it, roll it up, then slice and bake like cinnamon rolls. convenience pb&j, kwim?

i hear you on not wanting to be tied to the kitchen.

I just wanted to add something encouraging....

I don't know how you grew up, but I grew up POOR. LOL! I mean, waiting in line at Salvation Army for Christmas presents and your neighbors on food stamps feel sorry for you and leave their blocks of gov't cheese and powdered milk on your doorstep type poor. Anyway, I know this time in our lives was really stressful for my mother. She was always worried. Honestly, I don't remember what we ate. I was a kid and I didn't care - whatever we had tasted just fine to me. The only negative thing I remember about the whole thing really was that it made my mom stressed and sad. Just remember that. Whatever happens, your children are fine with it. They are happy and loved. They have their parents and eachother and that's all they care about. It's WAAAYYY harder on the mama. :big hug: I hope things are looking up real soon. Until then, don't let it get you down.

Check your pm's :)

Mia

Thanks mama! We can definately substitute ground beef for turkey. We just ran out of ground beef (we buy in bulk from a local organic famer *2.50 a pound!) and he won't have anymore for awhile, so I am not sure what to do about that. We can't afford 4.00-5.00 a pound. That is insane! Maybe turkey tacos? Blech! Turkey meatloaf sounds good though!

And turkey hamburgers with sage. Yummy.

Keep an eye out for great loss leader deals at your grocery stores. These are deals that get you into the store in the hopes that you'll purchase non-sale items.

Do you have any big grocery chains near you?

I know it varies depending on where you live, but I've heard of people getting chicken for $.29/lb. Here, chicken (on sale) is cheaper than ground beef--by a lot.

Buy whole chickens and get a few meals out of it. Roast it for one meal, use some of the leftover chicken for chicken salad, then boil the bones for a delicious homemade soup.

(((((((Sarah)))))))))

It IS a scary feeling when you feel you can't provide, I totally understand. I think you are getting some AWESOME ideas on this thread, I know i will be using alot of them for my own family!

Keep your spirits up, Mama, the children probably won't even have any idea anything is wrong :) Your doing a great job :)

Also, when you are getting down there in supplies, post a list with what you have and have the mommas here help with ideas of what to make. I know that it helps to have a different perspective on things, when you are looking at what you have and you see "nothing to eat". Having someone else look at what you have and being able to see something helps.

I will keep your family in prayer. Things will get better.

First of all, just hang on because things will get better! All of the ideas posted here are going to help. I would also add checking out if you have a salvage grocery store near you. I know it was discussed somewhere on here a little bit ago. I love my salvage store, I can find some amazing deals and feed my family healthy food. Saying some prayers for your family here!:heart: