Maureen writes... Trying to be the organized mom, I keep a list of our meals, who likes them, what to have as sides, which meats we like & how expensive they are in an excel spreadsheet. I open up the spreadsheet every time I work on our grocery list and meal plan. I do this so we don't keep having the same things over and over, and forget about other things we like. … [Read more...]
Grocery Budget Makeover – Processed Food Edition
Kristine needs help!!!!!!! I am a full-time working (and pumping) mom to a 3 month old and a 4 year old. We are the typical "kool-aid family". We eat LOTS of prepackaged, high sugar foods. The problem is...I'M the picky eater and the organic/produce section of the grocery store intimidate me! I can walk through the produce section and not know what half of the items … [Read more...]
Grocery Budget Makeover – Kid Food Allergies
Marisa writes... We are a family of 7 on one income and I spend about $200/week on food, not including diapers from Costco. We have 5 kids.. 1 with dairy, egg and peanut allergies 1 with HFA (high functioning autism) with severe tactile issues so he only eats about 5 foods 1 more with peanut allergies. I am a big time short order cook and I think that is why … [Read more...]
Grocery Budget Makeover – Meal Planning
Amanda writes... I am in the process of trying to "makeover" my grocery budget. I started a couple of weeks ago to find and use more coupons, make a grocery list and meal plan, and track prices of items so I can buy them/stock up when they are on the greatest sale. It has been challenging and a little overwhelming here at the start! I love the idea of meal planning, … [Read more...]
Pantry Staples List
I recently asked on the $5 Dinners Facebook Fan page what you would like to see in a "grocery shopping list" template. And while I have a few shopping lists in the works, several of you asked for a basic pantry staples list. So I wanted to ask everyone for help in creating an Pantry Staples List. What ingredients MUST be in your pantry at all times? What ingredient … [Read more...]
How to Save on Diapers
Diapers. Oh diapers. They are expensive...but they don't have to be. (I don't use cloth diapers. I explain here.) My goal, as with everything, is to pay as little as possible...and this rings especially true with diapers...as I buy them often. I watch the drugstore circulars and the grocery store circulars to see if there are any great deals to be had. (I use … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving – Your Plan Ahead Guide
Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the whole year. I love every part of it... the colors of the trees outside the piles of leaves in the street that await the leaf sucker-upper the rock bottom prices in the grocery stores the insane number of coupons that are released during November the fantastic Thanksgiving deals that can be found matching up coupons with sale … [Read more...]
Save on Proteins
Typically, the most expensive part of my $5 Dinners is the protein. As grocery prices in general continue to rise, the budget gets tighter and tighter. I have been looking at ways to cut grocery costs, but still provide healthy proteins for my family. I try to vary my proteins throughout each week. I normally serve a meal with chicken, then fish, another with pork, the next … [Read more...]
Tips for Shopping with Your Kids
Here's my 5� on grocery shopping with your kids!In my situation, I take them "most of the time". I don't have free babysitting whenver I need it during the week. I prefer to keep our weekends free for family events, so that leaves me with taking the kids to the store!1. Have a Plan and a List! When making your list, think about the store. Rewrite your list so that its in th … [Read more...]