Comments on: Money Well Spent?

By: Ari Tackitt

Ari Tackitt — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:34:50 +0000

It’s such a pleasure to see my ad for ParentalInstincts.com on your blog today … it looks good!

By: Thando - Website Development

Thando - Website Development — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:09:43 +0000

Wow, I should start planning my week like that too. I never plan what I’m going to have for supper, I just eat whatever that comes to mind when I step into the kitchen towards dinner time. You’re quite well organized, huh. I admire that

By: Dorothy Stahlnecker

Dorothy Stahlnecker — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:47:00 +0000

This is a fabulous post, and I began changing my food buying habits and be more conscience to eating leftovers or even cooking more mash potatoes, making a bigger meatloaf and then making Shepard pie with the leftovers. (it works, adding veggies to the base). Then I got crazy about all the free cosmetics and soaps I didn’t use and went to waste along with perfumes I started, didn’t finish and then left laying in closets..now I use everything to the end..I’ve become a nut and I love it.. You never know how much you waste until you really dig down and work at being waste conscience.

My best, Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

By: Ari Tackitt

Ari Tackitt — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:21:34 +0000

I found you via Entrecard, and I’m very pleased I did … your blog is packed with incredibly useful advice. As the economy continues to worsen, we too are planning to rein in our grocery spending … I look forward to learning more about how you do that.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:19:00 +0000

Hi Jodie,
I use my bread mix to make pizza dough - my children get their own to add toppings as they please We always have leftover pieces for lunch the next day!
Bread mix could also make bread rolls, which you could freeze and use later!
My daughter also learnt to make “atomic bombs” in home economics at school.
They are hollowed out bread rolls, filled with a filling of your choice - we love ham, cheese and capsicum/pineapple. Or leftover bolognaise sauce is great with a cheese topping. Then you just put the top back on, wrap in foil and bake for 15-20 minutes.
As for the powdered milk I use it for everything (my children don’t mind the taste). You could use it to make milkshakes as the fruit/flavourings will hide the taste if your children won’t drink it plain! Alos makes great iced coffee (using decaf instant coffee)!
Lis
xx

By: Sharon

Sharon — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:22:02 +0000

I must get together with you and find out exactly how you are going about this. It sounds like something I need to try,

By: lightening

lightening — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:58:28 +0000

Jason - I’m really lax when it comes to “safe” freezing times. I’m a bit more fussy with fish and chicken but other meat I’ve had no problems with. Of course, everyone needs to make their own decisions on what they feel is okay in this area. I just tend to make sure I cook it well.

River - good idea although my kids have started to get funny about mashed potato mixed with their meat. Little rotters. With pastry would work though.

Marita - ours have been going through a painful stage of late too. Grrrr…. Especially the 4 year old.

Lin - particularly if you could see how much food I seem to have on hand!!! Utter craziness!!!

Jeanie - My general budget includes meat, yes. I did actually buy corned beef last week but at the moment I’m not buying meat because we have too much on hand that needs using up. I do buy my meat in bulk though and get lamb at a discounted rate which helps. With all the price increases, I think $150 sounds reasonable. I’m thinking that’s what I’ll budget next year (currently $130) for our groceries and while we do have 2 extra children, they’re probably offset by me being able to access cheaper meat.

By: jeanie

jeanie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:43:37 +0000

Does your money include meat? I am finding it extremely hard to keep below $150 per week for two adults and a child, and we are fairly frugal I thought!!!

Could you use the bread mix in any way to make a pie crust? I was just imagining some sort of pie with your mince and bread mix crust…

By: Lin Burress @ Telling It Like It Is

Lin Burress @ Telling It Like It Is — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:23:18 +0000

Isn’t it amazing how much money can be saved if we all just took stock of what we already have on hand? Just a few days ago my hubby was preparing a “grocery list” of items he thought we needed, only to discover at my insistence that we have everything we need to fix meals for an entire week and that we don’t need anything from his list. Except for milk, which we always seem to run out of.

Thankfully, I’ll be doing the shopping for the Thanksgiving holiday while he is at work today, so I’ll be able to be much more frugal than he would normally be.

By: Marita

Marita — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:18:03 +0000

I’m finding myself incredibly frustrated in the kitchen at the moment. Heidi’s refusal to eat any food that touches is really making life a little difficult. I spoke to her special ed. teacher about it and she said just to let it go for the next couple of months and then tackle the food issue again when everything else settles down.

So night after night after night Heidi gets a plate of plain pasta or two minute noodles and then that is all her sister wants to eat also. Grrr Kids!