Part of cutting expenses in a family's budge is trying to find ways to cut the grocery bill.  This can be the most expense part of the budget for some families.  With our family of 6, it's not uncommon some months to spend $600-700. Needless to say, this is the first place we look to when we need to pinch our pennies.

It's become like a game for me to accomplish two things while in the kitchen.  My first game is trying to see how healthy & low-fat I can make our favorites.  To my surprise, it really hasn't been that difficult.  I've had a few moments when I thought the kids might start chunky stuff at me.

My next game, is how cheap can I make a meal. 


Oh sure you eat Roman Noodles for like $0.40/pack or Mac&Cheese for like $0.90/box.  I want variety.  I want choices.  I want flavor.  I want NORMAL food!

The key to this game, is timing & planning.  You have to actually sit down & go through sales ads for the local stores.  Pick out the best sale items and then plan your weekly menu around what is on sale.  Last week United had boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for $0.97/lb.  We stocked up.  We now have many packs of chicken in our freezer.  That week I also cooked at least 3 meals with chicken.  Apples were also on sale last week.  One of meals was actually one of my favorite Weight Watchers meals.  Chicken with Apples & Onions!  MMMM...mmmmm.mmmmm!!!!  And because the two main ingredients were on sale,  fed my family this yummy meal for right around $1.00 per person. We also had chicken & broccoli pasta bake.  Box of whole wheat pasta-less than $1.00, chicken from sale, frozen broccoli & cheese-about $1.50, cream of mushroom soup-$0.50, splash of milk, & a cup of shredded cheese. This meal also was about $0.90-1.00/per person.

Here are a few links to some great recipes for meals that are around $1.00/serving.

100 recipes for under $1.00/serving

10 Healthy Meals for under $1.00/serving

Inexpensive Meals

Here's a few of my favorites:

Black beans & rice ( or red beans): 
It doesn't get simpler than this!

Spaghetti & Meatballs:
(I buy whole wheat spaghetti for about $1.25/box, cheap bottle of sauce & doctor it up with my own spices & veggies, & meatballs from a HUGE package that we buy at Sam's Club for about $8-10)


Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken:

3 c + 3/4 c buttermilk
1/3 tbs coarse salt
2 tbs sugar
2 1/2 to 3 lbs chicken pieces (whatever is cheapest)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
peanut oil for frying

1. For brine, in a resealable plastic bag set in a bowl combine 3 cups of buttermilk, coarse salt & sugar. Cut chicken in pieces & add to bag. Chill for 2-4 hrs. Remove chicken from brine & drain.  Pat dry with paper towel & discard brine.
2.  In large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 tsp salt & pepper.  Place the 3/4 c buttermilk in shallow dish.  Coat chicken with flour mixture. Dip in buttermilk & coat again with flour mixture.
3.  Meanwhile, in a deep frying pan or deep fryer, heat 1 1/2 inches oil to 350 F.
4.  Using tongs, carefully add a few pieces of chicken to oil. (Maintain temp at around 325 F) Fry chicken for 12-15 minutes or until chicken is not longer pink (165F) & coating is golden.  Turn at least once.  Drain on paper towels. Keep chicken ward in 300F oven until finished frying all chicken.

6 servings at about $0.90/serving.
549 calories, 30g fat (6sat), 88 mg cholesterol, 1,191 mg sodium, 35 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 34 g protein



Cream-filled Cupcakes (Like Hostess Chocolate ones)

2 c all-purpose flour
1 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 c buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c sugar
3 lg eggs
Filling & swirl:
4 tbs unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c confectioners' sugar
2-3 tbs milk
Glaze:
1/2 c heavy cream
1 tbs light corn syrup 1 c semisweet chocolate chips

1.  Heat over to 350F. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
2.  Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda & salt n a medium bowl.  Whisk to blend.  Combine the buttermilk & the vanilla in a measuring cup.
3.  Beat the butter & the sugar in a  medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium high speed until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the flour mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
4.  Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups.  Bake at 350F until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean,  18-20 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack and cool 10 minutes.  Invert & cool completely.
5.  Filling & Swirl.  Beat butter in a medium-sized bowl until light and fluffy.  Gradually add confectioners' sugar.  Add 2 tbs of the milk & beat 5 minutes until almost white and light and fluffy.  Add additional milk if mixture is too thick.   Spoon frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a medium-sized plain round tip.  Remove cakes from pan.  Insert tip of pastry bag into top of cakes, about 1/2 inch deep & squeeze.
6.  Make the Glaze: Heat the cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until the mixture just comes to a boil.  Remove from heat & stir in the chocolate chips. Cover & let stand 5 minutes.  Whisk until smooth.
7.  Dip the tops of the filled cupcakes into the chocolate glaze.  Place on a cooling rack to set for 10 minutes.
8.  Change the piping tip to a smaller round one.  Pipe the decorative swirls on top of the glazed cupcakes.

24 servings at $0.48 each
256 calories, 12g fat (7g sat), 49mg cholesterol, 156mg sodium, 37g carbs, 2g fiber, 4g protein

General:

1. Make a goal chart to become debt-free and as you pay off debts, mark them off and reward yourself.  Splurge on a dinner out (using a coupon or special or course)
2. I do the “envelope” budgeting system. All spending money I take out at the beginning of each month.  I then pay for everything with that cash, when it is gone there is no more till the next month. This budgeting method works for best for me.  Try this one, or another method that works best for you!
3. Wait at least 24 hours before purchasing any pricey item.  Use that time to research and shop around.  Don't let peer pressure or your emotions get the best of you! Remember the main goal!
4. If something breaks try to fix it or even going without it for a bit before going out and purchasing a replacement. Try not to hire someone to fix things, rather swap services (like craig’s list or even Facebook & Twitter).
5. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. Just keep in mind that the more you spend, the less you will have to save or pay off debt!
6. Surround yourself with “frugal-minded” people. If you don’t have any friends who are willing to make a frugal journey with you try looking online, There are some really great sites and blogs online.  A great source of information and support!

Grocery:

7. Use a price sheet so that you can know if a “sale” is really a bargain or if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
8. Buy meat that is on Manager Special (expiring that day or shortly after). Call the meat department at your local stores and ask when they mark down meat! Look online for freezer recipes to make use of that meat.  It's soooo handy to already have supper in the freezer and all you have to do is stick it in the microwave!
9. Mix ground beef with an egg and several handfuls of quick oats (makes the meat go farther). Use in meatballs, meat loaf, etc.
10. Bake your own bread – let the yeast sit in sugar water till it smells fermented and use half the yeast (the most expensive ingredient in bread). *I have not tried this as of yet
11. If you are big milk drinkers, buy whole milk and a box of dry milk and make your own mock-2% milk by mixing half whole, half non-fat dry reconstituted milk. You have two gallons for a fraction of the cost. You can also use the dry milk in your cooking and save the "regular" milk for drinking.
12. Go meatless 1-2 nights a week. You can substitute dry beans. They are VERY cheap and filling.
13. Meal plan and coordinate so that leftovers can be utilized fully, yet keeping variety. (Ex: Tacos day one, use left over taco meat day 2 for stuffed peppers)
14. Try to stretch as much time between shopping trips. The fewer times you go shopping, the fewer chances you have to “impulse buy”.
15. ONLY shop from a list. If it is not on the list DO NOT BUY IT. It is best to make a check off inventory list of all things you could need and highlight what you’re out or low on.
16. Eat something small before you go. It is harder to resist the temptation to over buy when you have an empty tummy.
17. Keep your change (dollar bills and coins) use this as your “fun fund”
18. Buy generic – many times this is considerably less than the alternative even if you have coupons. I used to work at a grocery store & the store brand was actually "overflow" from most of the name brands! (I'm pretty sure the Mac&Cheese wasn't included in that!)
19. Use coupons if you prefer something name brand and only if you buy that item regularly. Also, ask if your grocery shop has “double days”.
20. Get your coupons online!  There are several sites that offer printable coupons.  You can also sign up for money saving text messages and even smart phone applications that delivers coupons that can be scanned via the phone at the checkout.

Household:

21. Wash your dishes by hand… I have a hard time with this one, I know it saves water/energy, but I love the convenience of my dishwasher! If you must use the dishwasher, don't use the heated dry option and use the normal wash without the hot star option.
22. Wash clothes in cold water and only if you have a full load to do. Dry your clothes on the line and if you don’t like the “crunchy” feel, stick them in the dryer for 5 min with a wet rag after they’ve hung out. Not only does this save money, it also keeps your darks from fading as quickly!
23. Wash your clothes inside out so they will look nicer longer… and only wash if something is truly dirty.
24. If you like fabric softener, put some on a towel and throw it in with the dryer. A quarter size “spill” on the towel can do about 3 loads – a great way to save softener! You can also make your own softener & detergent using one of the recipes from my last post!
25. In the winter, use your dryer and stove during the early evening to help heat your home. In the summer, use them in the very early morning (or not at all) to help keep your home cool.
26. Cook all your meals for a 2-week period (esp. in the summer) so that your oven only has to do the work one time for multiple meals. Keep meals in the freezer and re-heat with the microwave – uses less energy, and you save time. Also, having home-cooked freezer meals cut down on the tendency to order take-out when you’re having an exceptionally busy day.  
27. In the summer take a cold bath/wash rag to help you feel cool before bed, and keep the thermostat as high as possible or the A/C off if possible (we live in TX – its not possible). Each degree change can save up to 3% on your energy costs!
28. In a room that has a tendency to be dark, put a mirror near the light to refract the light around the room. One light bulb has the power of two with this trick! We have tons of mirrors in our master bath and I only need to turn on the lights after the sun has set.
29. Unplug items (toaster, shaver, cell phone charger, TV) when not in use. Small amounts of electricity are still being used even if they are off, but plugged in. (I don't usually practice this, but I should.)
30. Use Craig’s List to purchase used items (furniture, etc.) or freecycle or go to garage sales.  Facebook also can be another source.  Our town has several groups on Facebook to buy, sale, or trade items.
31. Buy paint from the “oops” counter at the hardware store. Also, if the color of your walls allows, add a faux finish over the existing color. This uses a lot less paint and allows you to spruce up more rooms at a fraction of the cost. I used a glaze on three of the walls in my dining room and used a fraction the amount that I used on other walls with normal paint.
32. Cut your cell-phone or house phone, you don’t need both. If possible, become a single-phone family. For long distance, calling cards are great! You can usually find cards with under 2 cents a min! Pay-as-you-go cell phone plans are great if you are not a big phone user. Check out Straight Talk at Walmart for cheap unlimited talk, text, & web. You can now get smart phones from them for about the same price as the big companies.
33. Make your own household cleaners.       Vinegar, baking soda, Hydrogen peroxide, borax & bleach are all really cheap and you can make any and every household cleaner from laundry detergent to the equivalents of Windex and Comet from mixtures of those ingredients. Refer to my last post for some of these recipes.
34. Check your insurance.  You can generally save if you combine auto & home.  You can also get discounts when you haven't had any claims, alarm systems, etc.
35. Get a programmable thermostat for your household heat and water heater. You can turn the temps down an hour or two after you go to bed, or during the warmer times of the day, or the times when you typically don’t use your hot water. No reason to heat what is not being used!

Personal:

36. Cut your family's hair… if possible, have a friend cut your’s… Also, longer hairstyles do not need to be maintained as frequently as shorter ones. (I also do not do this. Just too nervous...lol)
37. Buy clothes for your kids used – they grow out of them so fast new is not worth it! And used usually look just as good! Ebay, and consignment stores are a goldmine when it comes to used clothing!
38. Limit the number of toys your children are able to have in the house. This will lower the clutter, increase the value of the toys you currently own, increase your children’s creativity as they learn to play with less, and also will decrease spending on toys.
39. Try home remedies before Doctor visits. Those co-pays can add up and its amazing how a humidifier, Vitamin C & some good ole’ rest will make the bugs go away!
40. Make gifts for holidays and birthdays, often these mean more than ones purchased at the store as they show you put time and effort into the recipient.
41. Make your own personal hygiene products (or do without). The girls and I just did DIY facials and spa treatments a couple weekends ago.  Went online and found some great recipes.  Our skin never felt so soft or looked so good!
42. Cloth diaper your kiddos. If you use this cloth diapering method your whole stash can cost less than a hundred dollars and can potentially be handed down to future kiddos. Cloth diapering also encourages early potty-training!
43. Make your own baby food by pureeing what the rest of the family is eating, or you can use dehydrated and powdered veggies – if you like the convenience of those pricey jars.

Entertainment:

44. Eat out rarely if ever! If you do eat out, only drink water. Also, check your newspapers for discounts and grand openings; you can usually get more for your buck then.
45. Invite people over to your home & have them bring a dish rather than meeting them at a restaurant. You’ll have more time to chat and get to try some new recipes as well!
46. Get movies for your Friday night from the library rather than Blockbuster or netflix. They are usually free! Also check out Hulu. They have a number of TV shows online for free!
47. Either eliminate or see if you can combine any of the following: Internet, Television, Long-Distance, Cell Phones.
48. Set-up a baby-sitting swap with a friend who has children. You’ll save money and know that someone “experienced” is watching your kids.
49. Find dates that are more events than just “going out to eat”. These can sometimes save your budget and are usually more memorable.
50. See what interesting sites are near where you live & take a day trip for some "get-away" time.  Go online or check with the local travel bureau for local attractions!  You might be surprised what is in your own backyard!

I hope at least some of these tips & tricks may be useful to you. When you are consistent, you will start seeing a change in how thick your wallet is!

Who doesn't like to save money? Who doesn't want to use safe products for their family? Over the years I've come across many homemade recipes for detergents to tricks of reusing products. These will not only help save you money, but they are also better for your family. Most ingredients are natural & not harsh chemicals that is found in many store bought cleaners.
Homemade Cleaners:

Laundry Detergent

1 cup Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap grated (I use cheese grater)
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (laundry aisle at store)
1/2 cup Borax (laundry aisle at store)
1/2 cup powdered bleach (optional)

Mix & stir in lidded container.1TBSP for lightly soiled loads or 2 TBSP for heavily soiled clothes.
Est. cost $1.00 for 32 TBSPs

(you can also make a big batch using 1 bar of soap, 1 box washing soda, 1 box borax, & 1 box powdered bleach)

Stain Remover

1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
2 TBSP ammonia
3 cups water

Add top three to water and stir. Spray stain before washing.  (I've personally never used this, but I have read where it does work pretty well.)

Fabric Softener

1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar

Fill washer with water (no clothes), add baking soda & stir. Now add clothes.  Add vinegar to final rinse.
I have adapted for HE machine as follows:
I add baking soda to homemade laundry detergent & put vinegar in fabric softener compartment.  Works the same.  (In times of extremely dry weather you will still have static.  In these times, I also use softener sheet in dryer.)

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 cup Borax
1/2 cup Vinegar

Flush to wet sides.  Sprinkle Borax all along the sides and inside.  Drizzle vinegar over Borax & leave overnight (or as long as you can). Next day, scrub & flush.

All Purpose Cleaner & Disinfectant

1 tsp Borax
1/2 tsp Washing Soda
2 TBSP Lemon Juice

Combine in spray bottle.  Add one cup very hot water (do not burn yourself) and shake to dissolve.  Stores a very long time.

Kitchen Disinfectant

White vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in separate spray bottles.  Spray one right after the other for best results. (I have not tried this.)

Weed Killer

Sprinkle weed with baking soda and let sit for 30-45 minutes.  Pour some white vinegar onto weed (until soaked) Rinse with fresh water the next day.

Drain Cleaner

Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the drain.  Follow with 1/2 cup white vinegar.  It will start to foam.  Cover and let sit for about 30 minutes and then flush with cool water.  For stubborn, slow running drains pour one cup baking soda and one cup salt down drain.  Follow with 2 quarts boiling water.  Let sit 30 minutes then flush with cool water.

Oven Cleaner

3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt

Add enough water to make into a paste and spread it around oven.  Leave overnight (8 hrs). Spray with water if it has dried.  Wipe it up.  Spray with white vinegar to get rid of any baking soda residue.

Dishwasher Soap

Equal parts Borax and baking soda.  (I use 2 TBSPs each.) Fill rinse compartment with white vinegar.

Spray Starch

3-4 tsp Cornstarch
2 cups Water

Mix & pour in a spray bottle. (Hint: If you use on dark colored clothes, add 1/2 cup brewed black tea and it will not leave white hazy residue)

I will post part 2 within a few days.  More homemade cleaners and other tips to come.

These are the 5 verses that have changed my financial life. Each one of them has had a strong impact on many decisions in my life. I hope you will let them do the same to you as well.

1. Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
God, is always faithful. That is why we should always be trusting Him as our supplier! It doesn’t matter if there is a financial crisis, if you get laid off, or your if your retirement looses 1/2 it’s value – God will still supply your needs just as He promised as long as you trust in Him.

2. Malachi 3:10: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
It is a bold step of faith to start tithing. Some argue that tithing is not required in the New Testament. There is no escaping the truth that tithing opens the door for blessing that can not be opened without doing it. From my own personal tithing experience, I can attest that I am overwhelmingly convinced beyond any shadow of a doubt that tithing increases blessing. As Joyce Meyer says, "If they HAD to give 10% under Law in the old testament, what should be giving under Grace now??"

3. 1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
This verse is so often misquoted that it is almost laughable. Money is not evil. The love of it is. Having a million in your bank account doesn’t mean that you love it. Having $5 in your account doesn’t prove that you don’t. For example, Warren Buffett has billions in his accounts, and he is giving almost all of it away to benefit the lives of others.

4. Acts 20:35: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Giving sets us free, while hoarding entraps us (James 5:2). Giving changes the lives of others (John 3:16). Giving brings blessing back to us (Luke 6:38). Giving allows us to store up treasures in Heaven rather than here on the earth (Matthew 19:21). Giving really can be fun. We also need to be teaching our children at an early age, the joys of giving to others!

5. Proverbs 22:7: The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
The freedom of being debt free has always been so exciting to me that I have been willing to give up tons of material stuff in exchange for it. Getting out of debt is not easy and often requires a fight, but the freedom that comes with it is so worth it!!

If you're like me, you want to save as much money as you can when you go to the grocery store.  For some people it's a game, a sport.  For me.....not so much.

I found this link VERY useful though.  This site has compiled a list of when items go on sale at the grocery stores.  Not all stores are the same, but the information is excellent.  I worked almost 3 years as a checker at a grocery store and discovered myself there was a cycle to the sales.

So, here is the link and Happy Savings!!!!

My name is Michelle Osborn and I'm a financial coach at Lifeway Personal Financial Coaching in Pampa, Texas.  I officially started the company in January 2011.  I obtained my BAAS in Finance in December 2011 from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. After 13 years of delivering mail, I resigned from the USPS in order to stay home with my son and three step-children.  I now do coaching from my home and help my husband out with his business as well.



I believe in debt-free, Christian based values. I try to pass those on to my clients and show them, they don't have to bow down to the big credit card companies. I not only teach about financial issues, but I help people gain knowledge & self-esteem to live the life they dream about.  I'm living proof that you can achieve your dreams.


I have a vision for this blog to provide you with real information, not just something the news wires put out.  This blog is for real people with real problems. Looking for an every day way to cut costs?  I'm your blog! Looking for a story about someone who makes mistakes in life and is far from perfect? I'm your blog!

So sit back, hold on, and let's waddle our way through life together.  It may not be pretty, but it's sure to be fun and will definitely worthwhile!