Let’s face it -the economy is not great right now and who wouldn’t want to cut a little money of their monthly bills. I think everyone is looking for a way to save money for the big “what if’s” in life.I was given the chance to review A Month of Meals eBook, and I was excited to give it a try. I am already big on using coupons, but I still feel my grocery bill is a little steep and I cringe when I get my total amount each week.
With A Month of Meals you can discover how to save hundreds on your grocery bills ( of course this depends on the size of your family) , reduce dinnertime stress ( and I am sure a lot of us sit in the morning and wonder what we are going to make for dinner, heck some of us might be thinking about this right up to dinner) , and it also helps with idea’s to make dinner time more about family. This e-book offers fast and easy recipes for yummy meals, gives you complete shopping lists, and tips to make dinner easy!!
I printed this book out and got right into it. I wanted to make sure I was giving this a full month review and I was determine to use every tip I could that I could work into my family to safe that extra money, time and my sanity!
The meals are really good and kid-friendly, although some I was unable to make because I have yet to introduce sea food to the two younger boys. I just added one of my cheap yummy meals that I know the monkey’s already enjoy, to my personal menu.
Here are a few of my families favorite meals that are listed in this book:
- Veggie Wraps
- Quesadilla’s
- Chicken Saute
- Spaghetti Pie
I recommend this ebook to anyone looking for great money-saving meals and I have the proof. We are a family of 5 and in one month I was able to cut my monthly grocery bill by over $100.00. My family spends up to $600.00 a month on groceries and my goal, now that I have read this book, is to get it down to $475.00. Taking the tools I have learned, and my love of coupons, I think I can make it work!
Wait, that’s not all… Jamie as offered the MomDot readers a special link to get this book at a discount:
http://www.amonthofmeals.com/MealPlanForMomdotReaders.html
Huge savings!!!!
But it doesn’t end there Jamie is giving one lucky reader a chance to win the book for free!!
To enter:
Share one money saving tip you have when it comes to meals or grocery shopping! For every tip you leave behind, you may have one entry into this contest till it closes.
Contest ends on thursday 29th
Get a group of friends together that collect coupons. That way you can get rid of ones you don’t need and get one’s that you do in trade. You can also find a number of online coupon groups through places such as Yahoo Groups. This way you can trade with people all over the country.
Get a group of friends together and buy in bulk then split the groceries and the cost equally. Often buying in bulk can save you quite a bit of money.
Buying cheaper cuts of meat is another idea. For example, instead of buying chicken breasts, buy chicken with the bone and skin. Or, if you are buying beef, instead of buying an expensive cut, buy a cheaper one and cook it using a slow cooker.
With my leftovers, I make small plates to freeze. They make a great dinner or lunch when u don’t feel like cooking.
Planning your meals around the things that are on sale that week is a easy way to save.
When shopping I always look out for manufacturers coupons.
I buy the Entertainment book every year because even though I have to pay for it to get it, there are several coupons that allow me to save when I shop at places like Safeway.
I think making meals that allow you to make another meal with the leftovers is a great way to save money.
Don’t be afraid of food clearance items. Canned or boxed goods may just be discontinued or getting too close to the sell by date. If the store is one you trust I’d even look into marked down meat items. If you aren’t going to cook them that evening, immediately separate and freeze the meat when you get home.
When meat – beef, chicken, seafood or pork – is on sale for a good price buy it in bulk. Use plastic bags to separate individual or family portions and freeze them for future use. This way you are guaranteed a cut you like for a price that is much lower than normal many times.
I get a coupon book from my local natural health food store and use those at my larger chain store and get a better discount on organic items.
Use leftovers! You would be surprised what you can come up with if you actually use food again vs. just throwing it out (like my husband is notorious for doing!
I’ve also made a price list from all my receipts then setup a spreadsheet and I knew how much my grocery bill would be.
I always make my weekly menu, make a list, check to make sure I don’t already have anything that’s on the list. Then only buy what is on the list.
i plan and shop according to sales ads. I also write a list and do not deviate from it.
I always shop sales, and cook from scratch. I’ve really saved more money recently, by not making so much food. If I am cooking for just me and my husband, I would still cook for 10 people, and then we’d have left-overs that no one would eat. We were literally throwing food away! By cutting back how much I cook, we are making more meals out of the same stash! Hope this helps! OH- and how I’d love to win this book! hehe…
jenny’s last blog post..Freebies
Know what your family’s favorite meals cost and buy the ingredients on sale.
Julie’s last blog post..Winner: Kissing and Cooking
Put a menu and shopping list on paper. And stick to it.
Julie’s last blog post..Winner: Kissing and Cooking
Shop without kids. The amount of impulse purchases is directly related to the number of children on the shopping trip!
Julie’s last blog post..Lessons from 2008
I always plan at least 7 meals before I grocery shop. I make a detailed list, and have at least a week free from stressing over “Mom, what’s for dinner?”