Family Food Prepping on a Single Income: Tips to Provide More by Spending Less

Is it possible to feed a large family on a single income without busting your budget? With a little creative planning, it is! Read on for tried and true tips from a mom of four.

Shopping

• Where? The days of coupon cutting are over. Sure, you can find a good coupon deal every now and then, but for the most part where you shop will have more of an impact on your budget. Aldi is a great resource for budget friendly finds. They have a nice variety of kid approved prepackaged snacks that are easy on the wallet. Normally, anything that isn’t made from scratch is going to cost too much to justify the expense, but stores such as Aldi make it easier to say yes to that box of gummy bears they want to pack in their lunch. Sharp Shopper also has great deals on groceries, just be sure to check expiration dates for the freshest picks.
• Compare! Comparison shopping can save a lot of money, if you have the time to devote to it. Knowing the usual price of your particular pantry’s staples is key, if you are short on time. Save receipts and keep a list of those staples and prices for future reference. When the price of your favorite brand goes up, it may be time to switch to another brand that’s more affordable
• Look there! Always, always, always look for the sticker that tells you the unit price on an item. The lower the unit price, the better the deal, and if you have a lot of mouths to feed, a better deal matters!

Cooking

• Being an “ingredients household” may mean the kids can’t grab a snack instead of waiting for dinner to be served, but that will help your finances, and their appetites, in the long run. Here’s another example of how investing a little time can save you some dough (the spendable kind): Meal planning and prep. Meals fully cooked from scratch are going to yield you the biggest savings. This usually requires the largest time commitment. Resources like the Passionate Penny Pincher can help you learn how to prep enough freezer meals in two hours to last for 2 weeks! Planning ahead is key.
• If you have a wide range of ages to feed, include things like pasta or sweet potatoes that are appropriate for toddlers to teens. Rice, beans, and ground meat are other basic foods that can be simplified or seasoned up for various ages and preferences. These double as some of the best use of your grocery dollars, as well.
• It’s tempting to try and please everyone at your table with every meal. As a mother of a particularly picky child, I get it. A good rule of thumb is to plan and prepare the most nutritious, affordable foods you can. There may be a learning curve, especially if you are used to convenience foods, but with some time you just might find you and your children prefer simple home-cooked meals.

Not all of these changes have to happen overnight, but you can start with a single step to save money and provide nutritious meals for you and your family! Set achievable goals at a pace that works for you and have fun saving!

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