Hellobee Boards

@Mamaof2: don't go into stores, don't shop online. Those were my biggest cost savers when I cut down to having just $50/month for play money. If I don't go into the store, I won't see things I want. If I remove my credit card from any of my online shopping sites (amazon) I can't spend money there unless I go through the hassle of setting it up again. I know it sounds silly and simple but it worked so well for me and I'm starting to do it again now, too!

ETA: Obviously you have to go food shopping. Make a menu plan every week on Saturday. On Sunday, go food shopping. Buy JUST the things you need for the meals you are eating that week. That includes lunch items and dinner. The best lunches are pb and jelly sandwiches, chips and a fruit item (apples and oranges are cheap right now). Or, do leftovers for lunch, that will save on lunch things if you like hot lunches. Buy chicken and pork, those are normally the cheapest meat items. If you cook them different ways, it doesn't feel like you're "always" eating chicken. Instead of salads, eat frozen veggies. Instead of all fresh fruits, get canned or jarred pears, peaches and pineapple that are packed in juice. If they're packed in light syrup, just rinse them off before eating them.

@Mamaof2: on no! Sorry about the unexpected budget cut!! Can you file unemployment for the shortage? Wishing you lots of good luck on finding better opportunities very soon!

@mediagirl: This is so true and great tips! My godfather would always tell his kids, "nothing is better than the zero zero deal" (don't buy therefore don't spend) and it stuck with me.

The biggest way I save money on food is to plan my menu ahead of time and reuse ingredients. Like if I am buying an onion but will only use half of it for the pizza I'm making, I put quesadillas on the list to use the other half. No waste! I also make a lot of stuff where meat is not "the star of the show." And when I have to buy something I can't use all of, I freeze it. Like for example if I buy a jar of pasta sauce for the sauce for pizza, I only use like 1/2 cup of it. Instead of letting it rot in the fridge I either make pasta later that week, or I freeze the leftover sauce in ice cube trays then pop the cubes into a gallon size freezer bag and keep them in the freezer. That way I have sauce for the next 4 times I make pizza and I don't have to spend another 2.99 on sauce again.