How to Feed a Family of Four on One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Step1
A full cart once a month will save you more money than one that is a
third full three times.
Do all your grocery shopping at once. Pick a date for grocery
shopping and do your entire month's worth of grocery shopping at that
time. Periodic trips to the store add up quickly. If you know that
you are not going to be back for a month, you will be more likely to
purchase items that will be used and not make impulse purchases.
Step2 Set aside thirty dollars for perishable goods. Milk, fresh
fruits and vegetables and breads may need to be replenished
throughout the month since it is not wise to buy a month's worth of
them at a time or they will spoil. However, that thirty dollars must
last until the end of the month, so ration it carefully. Seven
dollars a week should purchase a gallon of store-brand milk and some
type of fruit or vegetable that can be served over several days.
Melons and bananas are good examples of fruits that can be made to
last all week.
Step3
You do not have to give up your favorite fruits, just buy them when
they are naturally in season.
Buy seasonal fruit. Fruit that is raised out of season is more
expensive than that which is in season so buy seasonally to get more
for your money.
Step4 Buy frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables are far more nutritious
than canned and can be added to soups, salads and other dishes in
small amounts to make them tastier and more nutritious. They also
tend to be relatively inexpensive and a bag will usually last a full
month if you do not cook it all at once.
Step5 Buy in bulk. When it makes sense, purchase food in bulk.
However, make sure that it is food that you will use. For example,
you may wish to buy rice, pasta, chicken or diced tomatoes in large
amounts because these items serve as the basis for many dishes.
However, it does not make sense to buy something in bulk that you
seldom use.
Step6
Restaurant coupons do not help you eat on a strict budget
because they encourage you to eat out. To eat on one hundred dollars
a month you must eliminate most if not all out-of-house dining.
Clip coupons. You can save nearly a third of your budget by
carefully using coupons. However, make sure that the coupons do not
control your grocery list or you will end up spending more than you
save. Decide first what you want to buy, then examine your coupons to
see if you can save.
Step7
Making any one of these items will likely cost as much as the entire
meal that precedes them.
Give up sweets. Desserts are not nutritious and are generally one of
the more expensive aspects of a food budget. Giving them up entirely
will take an enormous chunk out of your food bill.
Step8 Set designated snack and meal times. Many people--children and
adults alike--eat simply because they are bored. Set specific times
for all meals and snacks, then do not snack in between times. It will
lead to less wasted food at meals and help your entire family avoid a
bad eating habit.
Step9 Comparison shop every time. Many discount or "dollar" stores
receive shipments of damaged goods that vary from month to month. Go
to your local dollar store to see what is available before going to
the grocery or bulk-buy store. Sometimes the dollar store may have
items that are significantly less expensive because the packaging is
crumpled or damaged, and buying these goods can save you a great deal
of money. However, make sure that a dollar is the cheapest price you
can get before you get carried away. For example, canned goods are
frequently forty to fifty cents cheaper at a regular grocery than at
a discount store.
Step10
A large pot of spaghetti will last an entire week in the form of
dinner, leftovers and micowave lunches.
Be repetitive. A limited budget does limit the number of dishes you
can serve. Do not hesitate to serve spaghetti or rice multiple times
in one week. School lunches will also be limited to sandwiches and
leftovers. As long as they are nutritious, then there is nothing
wrong with repetition.
