Do you use food boxes from Angel Food Ministries? If so, check out our food box resources.
Whether you are choosing to be more frugal in order to have extra for something important to you or you are forced to be frugal just to get by, there are many online resources that make saving money easier. For those who found this page desparately trying to just get by, take a look at Dee Ann Guzman's Meals for Hard Times. It is a 3 part series that will help you get through the leanest of times. If you are just browsing, take a look through the resources below.
Articles about frugal and budget living
Websites about frugal and budget living
Frugal living articles
This symbol indicates a Menus 4 Moms resource.
How to Maximize Coupon Savings
by Amy Strait
In the past week there has been some discussion on the Menus4Moms Yahoo Group about the Grocery Game (http://www.thegrocerygame.com/). I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of my feelings on ways to grow your coupons savings while grocery shopping.
Feeding a Family for $300 a month?
by Tawra Kellum
I do something that most people think they can't do today. I feed my family of 5 for $300 a month. Most people say that's an impossible feat, but what boggles minds even more is that I do it without using coupons.
Work Week Menus
by Tammy Paquin
It's been at least six years since I balanced working outside the home almost full-time and having two kids. Friends were always amazed that I managed homemade meals on the table each night. Becoming a stay home mom with three kids made meal planning a bit easier because I was home, BUT several of the lessons I learned as a work outside the home mom still apply. I'll give you a sample menu for one week to show how I would pull all these easy lessons together.
Saving Time and Money with Stashes
by Barbara Frank
With the nearest large city an hour away, we’re trying to conserve gas by combining trips there. For example, if I need to take someone to the doctor for a check-up, I think ahead to which stores I pass by on the way home, where I can pick up needed items as long as I’m in the neighborhood. But what’s really helped us limit the amount of driving we’re doing these days is something I’ve done for years: keeping stashes.
Stop Eating Your Way Into Debt
by Jill Cooper
At this time of year, there are usually 3 things people are panicking about: how to lose weight, how to save money, and how to get organized. We have already touched on losing weight so this week I would like to touch on saving money. Hopefully most of you realize that you can get into deep debt if you buy a house or a car you can't afford. That seems to be pretty obvious, although a lot of people do it anyway. But that is not what I want to deal with today. The Bible talks about the little foxes that spoil the vine. What that is talking about is the little things that sneak into our lives without us realizing it. They start picking away at the vines in our lives until it destroys us. One of those "little foxes" is eating out.
Top 10 Budget Busters
by Michelle Jones
Many people make sincere attempts to set up a household budget and get themselves together financially, but too often these attempts fail. And for those with the most difficult financial circumstances, it may take several attempts to finally create a plan that works.
Acres of Apples, Frugal to the Core
by Jill Cooper
I've always dreamed of having an apple tree in my back yard. You know the old saying, "be careful what you wish for?" Now that I actually have my own apple tree, I stand in my yard watching the apples piling up around me thinking, "Oh no -- What do I do with this mess now?"... I have had to come up with some yummier "apple disposal" methods. If you find that you have a few dozen more apples than you know what to do with, these recipes... will help settle your frugal dilemma.
Save on School Lunches
by Jill Cooper
It’s a bitter sweet time for most moms. Bitter because you’re back to hectic mornings, finding everyone’s books and papers and trying to get them out of the door on time... because you now have 180 lunches to make over the next 9 months if you have 1 child and 720 if you have 4 -- But hey, who’s counting? It is sweet because the peaceful quietness that penetrates the house is like gentle music to your ears and you can take a lovely relaxing bubble bath without what sounds like the whole US army trying to break down the bathroom door. Well, now that I think about it, I’ve not known many moms that had the luxury of a bubble bath in the middle of the day but I can dream can’t I? I can’t help you find time for that bubble bath but maybe I can help you with those 720 lunches.
Back to school, or back to the poor house?
by Tawra Kellam
Back to school is a time when many moms witness their money sprout wings and take flight, finding their homes at retail stores across America. I know that consumer spending is good for the economy, but I don't take it upon myself to keep the entire US economy propped up.
Home Cooking
by Jill Cooper
OK -- There's no way around it. Just accept the fact that tomorrow your family will eat three meals -- again. Burying your head in the sand and not thinking about it will not make it go away. I know that even the thought of making a meal at home strikes terror in some of your hearts and the only reason the rest of you aren't feeling terror is because you are probably so tired you can't feel terror or any other emotion. But with going out to eat being one of the top 3 causes of credit card debt and child obesity and diabetes on the rise, I think we need to start reconsidering cooking at home.
Packing Food for Road Trips
by Jill Cooper
If you have some money saved for a trip but you know that the gas cost is going to eat most of your funds, try cutting your budget in another area, like your food. Consider taking your food with you.
For the love of money
by Jill Cooper
One of the biggest factors in most of our money problems come from the fact that we deal with our money emotionally. If you don't think money and emotions are tied together, think again. Take a serious look at all the ways your money and emotions are connected.
Saving Time and Money at the Grocery Store in the Electronic Age
by Paul Davis
Most experts agree that customer loyalty in the grocery sector is virtually dead. Ten years ago it was somewhat unusual for a consumer to drive past the closest grocery store to shop at a competing store. Today, within a few mile radius, eight supercenters and chains can be fighting it out, in a market, which the experts might say can only support three or four. So while the chains struggle to find their niche and battle on price, the price conscious shopper benefits.
10 Pantry Staples to Make Quick Cooking Taste Like All Day Cooking
by Tracy Alt
Stocking up on often used pantry items when they are on sale is the perfect way to not only save money on item you know will not go to waste but also to ensure that you will have enough ingredients on hand at all times to throw a meal together in a matter of minutes. Here is a list of my top ten pantry items that will help you add that all-day cooked flavor to quick cooking meals.
Can You Afford to Stay Home?
by Sandy Simmons
Many families that have both parents working would like to be able to have one parent stay at home when their children are young, but are not sure if they can afford it financially. Below are some tips to see if living on one income might be the right choice for your family.
How to Save Money on Groceries by Reducing Food Waste
by Sandy Simmons
Most articles on maximizing your food dollars focus on buying food in bulk, buying food at warehouses, stocking up at sales and related tips. The theme is to always buy as much food as possible for the least amount of money. These tips do work, especially if you have a large family. However, one often overlooked aspect of saving money on food is to buy just the amount your family needs and avoid any waste.
Save Up to 50% on your grocery bill!
by Jill Cooper
I have discovered the secret of saving money feeding babies, toddlers and preschoolers...What I have been practicing now for many years has now become one of the new buzz phrases -- "portion control". Usually when we think of portion control it is in connection with dieters and not young children or saving money... Next time you scrape those half eaten plates of food into the trash, think about this: 30% to 50% of the food and drinks we buy, whether we eat at home or out, get thrown away.
Use a Dresser to Organize Your Garage!
by Tawra Kellum
It seems like organizing your garage can be a never ending task. Lots of companies make millions of dollars selling all kinds of storage systems to try to make your garage just a little bit more organized. OK I'm about to confess -- We've had this problem, too! I know, it's hard to believe, isn't it? The cool thing is we found a great organization tool that cost us nothing.
Seven Tips to Help With Household Budgeting
by Sandy Simmons
Do you frequently get cash from ATMs and then have no idea where it ends up? Do you end up paying late fees simply because you don't have a good system in place for tracking and paying your bills? If you don't have a good budget system in place, it is easy to lose track of your hard earned money. The tips below can help you to keep your finances under control.
Saving on your grocery budget when you’re tired
by Jill Cooper
Many people with chronic illnesses that cause fatigue are overwhelmed at the thought of grocery shopping. Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellum understand that feeling and offer these tips to help.
Shopping at Aldi
by Tawra Kellam
I spend $250-$300 a month on groceries for my family of five. One of the best things I do to keep my budget is to do most of my food shopping at Aldi. You can get a good price, get in and get out fast and you don’t have to mess with using coupons. Aldi is a small discount warehouse store. It is not an outlet store and does not sell outdated or rejected products.
The Well-stocked Pantry
by Mary Ann Kelley
Once you get in the habit of keeping a stocked pantry, you will find that your grocery bill decreases. It is not because you are buying less, but because you are paying less. If your pantry isn't stocked, you have to pay whatever the current price is for basic items, but with a stocked pantry you simply refresh your supply when you find the items on sale.
Eating Healthy On a Budget
by Rebecca Pratt
When you’re on a tight budget, the thought of preparing tasty, healthy meals on a regular basis can seem daunting. Not only is it easy to get sucked in by grocery merchandising tricks, but it’s also normal for most of us to fall into a mealtime rut, eating the same foods over and over. But you’re in control of your kitchen—and if you cook smart, you can enjoy the first-class meals you deserve.
Frugal Tips for A Cleaner Kitchen!
by Cyndi Roberts
Everyone I know likes a sparkling clean kitchen...but no one I know is fond of spending a lot of time in the kitchen! With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you keep your kitchen shining with a minimum investment of time!
Meals for Hard Times
by Dee Ann Guzman
An excellent description on how to feed your family for a week with only $30.
3 Tricks To Eat Healthy Even When The Money Is Tight
by Rene Graeber
There is an unfortunate fact of life that many high nutrient, low fat, low calorie foods are expensive, while many nutrient free, calorie dense foods are cheap. This can make buying and cooking healthy foods for yourself and your family quite a challenge, particularly when the food budget is limited. With some advance planning, however, it is still possible to create a week full of wonderful, nutritious meals, not matter how small your food budget. The key is to plan ahead, shop smart, and make the most out of the foods you buy.
Thirteen Easy Ways to Reduce your Food Budget
by Monica Resinger
When trying to cut expenses, food is a great place to start because there are so many opportunities to save. One way to watch your savings pile up and be able to use it for a goal, such as a vacation, down payment on a home or paying off debt, is to put the cash you saved from any purchase into an envelope or a jar until you get enough to make a bank savings deposit. Make a strict rule to not use the money for anything else but your goal. Here are thirteeen easy ways to reduce your food budget that will help you achieve this.
Save Money on Holiday Meals - from OrganizedHome.com
Frugal Holiday Decorating Tips - from OrganizedHome.com
Free Menu Planner - trying to keep your grocery bill on budget can be a challenge. There are many websites, articles, and books to give you ideas for your own meal planning on a budget. The most important thing to keep in mind when trying to come in within a grocery budget is that if you don't have a plan, you will never make your budget goals. The Menus 4 Moms meal planner is an excellent tool for this.
Frugal living websites
Fractured Frugal Friends - With both free and premium (but inexpensive) content, F3 is a tightknit community of members dedicated to frugal living with very active message boards. You will find articles about bulk cooking, frugal living, and a variety of other topics to help you save money. There is periodically an edition of their online magazine/newsletter in which all content is free; past content is only available to subscribers.
Living On A Dime - No matter what your income level, this site will challenge you to think about how your money is spent. Founded by two women who each paid off an extraordinary amount of debt on income that is close to the poverty level, the site contains articles and a blog that will impact the way you think about spending any amount of money.
Frugal recipes from Miserly Moms - submitted by readers of Miserly Moms
The Dollar Stretcher - one of the oldest and best frugal sites; be sure to check out their articles on how to save money on groceries and food.
Miserly Moms - "Through the use of the tips I share and the other resources recommended, I hope that many people will be able to afford to cut back on working hours or quit altogether in order to spend more time with their family." (Jonni McCoy)
The Budget Decorator - Being on a budget doesn't mean your home can't be warm and inviting.
Not Just Beans - Your online source for frugal living tips and free recipes. The home of the Dining On A Dime and Not Just Beans.
Coupon and saving sites
Frugal Cents - Coupon codes and special deals
Miscellaneous thrifty sites
Dr. Dipstick's Temple of Thrifty Motoring - Helps for the mechanically uninclined that will extend the life of your vehicles.
Submit your favorite frugal site