YAY! I finally bought one. I have been just using my purse, and causing a big hold up in the check out line! Here it is:

Ok.. a few tips I have found..I am going to try most of these

1. Buy a water filter and make your own bottled water.

2. Buy bread at the bread outlet store and freeze excess loaves.

3. Make meals that are left over friendly, like soups and casseroles.

4. Join a food co-op.

5. Make dinners in a crock pot

6. Buy in bulk.

7. If you buy soda, buy 2 liter bottles instead of cans. It’s much cheaper per unit price.

8. Have potluck dinners.

9. When you eat out, share meals. Most restaurant meals are big enough for two people.

10. If you don’t have someone to share it with, split the meal and half and put when half in a to-go box for next day’s lunch.

11. Skip the soda when you go out to eat, and drink water.

12. Quit smoking.

13. Make your own coffee. Better yet, stop drinking coffee.

14. Quit drinking alcohol.

15. Quit drinking soda.

16. Find cheaper café’s and restaurants to go to.

17. Take a list when you go shopping and stick to it.

18. Buy generic brand products at the supermarket.

19. Bring your lunch to school or work instead of buying it.

20. Grow your own vegetables.
(or find a local farm/ veg stand)

21. Use coupons and loyalty cards at grocery stores.

22.Reduce meat consumption.

23. Eat more Chicken

24. Eat cereal instead of fast food or snacks

25. Have a late lunch/early dinner when going out to eat. You can save on lunch menu items.

26. Buy cheap food coupons on eBay.

27. Don’t buy prepackaged cheese or meat. Go to the deli and have them slice it for you. You can get more for you money.

28. Collect vegetable scraps in a bag in the freezer. As soon as it’s full, make a soup out of them.

29. Buy whole roasted chickens. When you have used all the meat, throw the bones into a soup.

30. Drink water with your meals

31. Shop at your local bread store.

32. Buy ground meat on sale and separate into meals.

33. Check out Dollar Stores. Many times you can find low prices on things you use everyday, such as soap, personal hygiene and more. Be careful, often you can buy the store brands at your local grocer for either equal or less than the dollar stores.

34. Stop wasting food! Give kids smaller portions! Refrigerate leftovers and use them for lunches. Or, Freeze leftovers and use them when you are in a “pinch”.

My parents have recently moved in with my already large family of 6. This now makes it so I have to figure out how to feed 4 adults and 4 children on a budget of $500!

I figure if I can make our dinners at $8 each night for 30 days (= $240) that leaves

$120 for breakfast

$100 for lunch items

$40 for diapers,cleaning supplies, and Misc needed items!

If anyone knows how I can make decent meals for cheap...PLEASE let me know!

Hi all... I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Heather and I created my alter ego "MomCents" back in 2001. I have a need to find deals, save money, pinch pennies. Some call this an addiction, while I just call it FUN!

The desire to find deals, coupons and save money came out of the necessity to contribute to our finances after our daughter was born. Kaitlyn was born by emergency c-section and was in the NICU for 18 days without insurance. This unpleasant stay in the hospital cost us $40,000. We were able to pay off this debt and other medical debt in 5 years on an income of 28K - 34k a year.

I enjoy sharing my findings and experience with others and hope we can learn from each other! Today is Sunday...time to clip some coupons!