A Meager Grocery Budget

Since my husband and I are on such a tight budget, we have to stick to a strict grocery budget of $280 a month.  When you do the math, it is about $9/day for food.  That is very small but absolutely doable!

We eat the same thing every day for breakfast and lunch.  It is monotonous but we know that we can mix things up and have a great dinner to look forward to.  It keeps us right on track and we can avoid overspending that way.

Here is a sample day for food:

Breakfast (about 50 cents/person)-

Cereal for Jonny

Cereal or Yogurt for me 

Lunch (about $1.25/person)-

Sandwich

String Cheese

A piece of fruit/Fruit Snacks

Snack item (Ritz Crackers/cheese, Austin PB sandwiches crackers, or store-brand Breadsticks/Cheese)

Granola Bar

OR 

Leftovers from dinner 

Snacks:

A piece of fruit

Popcorn

Vegetables and dip

Cheese and Crackers

Quesadilla

Bowl of cereal

Dinner (between $5-7 for meal)

The trick here is to find dinners that can last for more than one meal.  I am not a huge fan of leftovers, but we try to work in at least one "leftover" dinner night a week to cut down on the expenses.  

Examples:

Chili

Lasagna

Breakfast Casserole

Chicken Pot Pie

Swedish Meatballs

Take a look at your monthly grocery budget.  Do you need to trim it down? Try some of these ideas to see if they work for you and your family.

Coming soon: Dinners on a budget-- how to make delicious food that doesn't break the bank. This will be a recurring post topic. 

Traveling Tips- Carry On Only

I found an extremely helpful article in the June 2011 Westways AAA magazine about saving money on traveling.  Now that airlines charge you your first-born for a checked bag, I am all about carry-on luggage only.  Then, you don't have to worry about your bags getting lost, paying the fees, or waiting for your bags at baggage claim.

These tips come from Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman of Westways magazine.
1- Chose colors that can mix and match easily.
2- Pack only 3 or 4 plain shirts that can be dressed up with accents (jewelry/scarves).
3- Wear something on the plane that you can wear again-- something a little bulky that will relieve space in the suitcase.
4- Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane and pack only 1 or 2 more pairs.
5- Plan on washing your clothes.
6- Think layers.
7- Don't take anything you don't need.

Click on this link below to see exactly how to pack your bag.  I know it isn't the most exciting, but the tips are pretty nice-- just exchange your style and think about what you can substitute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqBc1r4av7M