How to Live Graciously On A Budget

Member

By oneloved
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (14 Ratings)

Live Graciously On A Budget

Much of living on a budget has to do with our attitudes. Most of the gadgets and prepared foods we use and take for granted were not here 100 years ago. Many people around the globe still do without them, so they really aren't necessities. I've seen firsthand how many of our brothers and sisters overseas live in shacks, made from whatever can be scrounged from their environment. We can choose to cut back our own lifestyles with an attitude of gratitude. What we save may allow us to relieve another's sufferings. Gratitude and thanksgiving are the foundation to living contentedly with less.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

First, get a basic ingredient cookbook, one that doesn't primarily call for processed foods. These are high in salt, calories and usually have little food value. Try the "More-With-Less Cookbook" by Doris Janzen Longacre. It has simple recipes and is filled with great ideas for stretching your food budget, as well as contributions from people who have learned to live economically.
Step 2

Basic ingredients for frugal living include fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, flour, salt, sugar, oil, meats, milk, butter and eggs. If you shop around the perimeter of the supermarket, you can do very well. We pay extra for the convenience of foods that are processed, prepared or pre-cut. Commonly processed foods like chips, cookies, frozen waffles, etc. can be made from scratch. This will probably slow down the temptation to over-indulge in these foods, as well. Instead of expensive processed cereals, you can buy oatmeal, bulk granola, and other grain cereals. The sugar-coated varieties aren't great for us anyway. Hot rice or oatmeal with milk, raisins and a touch of cinnamon or brown sugar is a thrifty favorite.
Step 3

Breads can be made from scratch very economically. This is a wonderful and rewarding skill. If you are a working mom, consider investing in a bread machine. You can usually get good savings by buying flour in bulk (remember, whole grain flours usually require refrigeration). Another option is to purchase discounted, day-old bakery items. Some of the items may still be the normal price, so shop carefully for savings.
Step 4

Fresh fruits and vegetables are expensive, so try starting a garden. If you have a patch of grass outside your house, perhaps it could be put to better use as a vegetable garden. Some apartments will let you use an outside space. If not, a container garden may suffice. A window sill is a great spot for growing herbs. Tin cans with holes in the bottom, placed on some old plate or bowl, make economical planters. An old bedroom trash can with drain holes can be used as a larger container for a tomato plant. One tomato plant can give you loads of wonderful fresh produce throughout the summer. You can find free information about container gardening on the web or at your local library. Even a working person can put their plants out during the day and bring in the pots during bad weather. You could also try to find a friend who is into gardening and offer to pay her for produce. Usually a neighbor will be happy to find someone to take extra produce or eggs instead of seeing their hard work go to waste. If you can get it in bulk, learn to can or freeze.
Step 5

Meats are more economical if we use them as an accent to a dish and not the main ingredient. Buy your meats in bigger cuts. A whole chicken is cheaper than one already cut into portions. You can learn to cut them up yourself and store them in freezer bags as you like. I like to make a broth with a whole chicken. Then I bone the chicken, portion out meat in three freezer bags and use the meat whenever I need it. I can make chicken tacos, chicken salads, chicken soup, creamed chicken, and feed 4 with each portion. One chicken can last three meals to four meals, if used sparingly. With beef or chicken stock, I often add leftover vegetables, gravies, grains (like rice or barley), or pasta. Beef stock can be made from shank bones or other beef bones (always chill before eating so you can skim off the fat). My soups are always an adventure that the family looks forward to. Remember legumes are always a wonderful, high-protein way to stretch or substitute for meat.
Step 6

For beverages, start with plain, old fashioned water. Liven it with a slice of lemon, lime or strawberry if you want. Make old-fashioned lemonade. Have you tried the same process with limes, oranges or grapefruits? Steer away from store bought soda. Sun tea is economical and delicious. Just take a gallon jar and place in the sun with a couple of tea bags. In a few hours bring inside and refrigerate. Make cocoa from scratch. Use milk in modest quantities (drink extra cereal milk, don't dump it!). Some of my friends stretch their milk by mixing half powdered milk with half regular milk. If you use powdered milk exclusively, as I did for years, add a touch of vanilla and chill thoroughly. This greatly improves the drinking flavor. For cooking savory items, you may want to leave out the vanilla. LivingOnADime.com has some great ideas to stretch your milk budget in their "Grocery Savings" section.
Step 7

Once you are successful with basic recipes it will be easier for you to menu plan. Planning your meals ahead every week will help keep you from buying things you really don't need or go to waste. To start, try a couple of budget menus from the web. HillbillyHousewife.com has a one-week $40.00 menu, and another at $70.00, which are very well done. AllRecipes.com has an entire "Budget Friendly Meals" section. Try web searching the phrase "budget cooking". There are several great sites to choose from.
Step 8

A family budget is also a necessary part of reaching your goals. If you save money on food, only to waste it on spontaneous purchases elsewhere, you defeat your purpose. It's important to learn to live within your means. You can find great tools for establishing a family budget at DaveRamsey.com. Even when things get better, if you're willing to keep your lifestyle simple, you'll have more to prepare for a worry-free future and share with others in need, and that's a wonderful feeling!

Comments

brandy1123 said

Flag This Comment

on 6/21/2009 great tips ,we all need to try to save

rnmom24 said

on 3/20/2009 Excellent, well written article! You and I seem like kindred spirits!:) Blessings... 5*

sherryk9210 said

on 10/5/2008 I purchased the book "More-with-less cooking" this book is great..a lot of good information !!! I thought you would enjoy my article on " BECOMING FINANCIALLY HEALTH ". It offers a lot of good advice also !!

***Thanks again***