Free Recipes

One of the first casualties of less disposable income is a healthy diet. People tend to eat more fast food and takeout because it’s seemingly cheaper. But the money you save could end up costing you your health which is obviously a bigger price to pay. There are a lot of misconceptions that prevent people from eating healthy on a more regular basis. There are also factors that prevent people from cooking their own meals. But if you can take a step back and get perspective on your daily diet, you’ll see how home cooking can be used strategically to save money. Even better, it’s a great chance to bolster your health with smart decisions that will leave your family smiling. Here are some delicious dishes you can make even if you have a limited budget. (more…)

Paying too much for groceries per month? The state of the economy has everyone looking for ways to save on monthly expenses. Whether you’re buying groceries for just yourself or buying them for your family, there are ways to cut your expenses with a bit of research, advance planning and organization. Learn the strategies below for saving money on food, which have other benefits as well.

1. Coupons
Clipping coupons is the best outright way for immediate savings on groceries. There are many sources for finding coupons. They are usually available in Sunday newspapers, magazines, online coupon sites, store websites and even social networking sites. Coupons are most effective when stacked or used on sale items. Become familiar with your grocery stores coupon policy.

2. Loyalty Programs
These days, most grocery stores have a loyalty or reward program. It usually just requires a home address, phone number or an email address. Savings can be big with these! Some grocers offer a special item every week at a really low cost for loyal customers, as well as a really nice freebie for initial sign up. I recently got an organic whole chicken (valued at $11) free, just for signing up for a loyalty program. (more…)

Healthy eating has a reputation for being expensive and out of reach for many of us, especially in this economy. There are, however, many foods that cost less than $1 per serving – comparable to a small bag of chips or a candy bar – and offer a variety of health benefits without added fat or processed sugar.

Incredible Eggs
Providing necessary protein as well as antioxidants, eggs are a delicious way to eat well while saving money. Even at $3 for a dozen, eggs are filling and taste great while only costing about $.25 each. Scramble an egg in the morning for a quick breakfast, or keep a stash of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge for a healthy snack on the go. To limit your intake of cholesterol, try to eat only one egg each day or eliminate the yolk, using only the egg whites in your recipes. (more…)

Just because you’re frugal doesn’t mean you’re cheap. Hosting friends and family is one of the joys of living under your means–it’s possible because you’ve made room in your budget for it! But feeding a houseful of folks doesn’t mean you have to resort to spaghetti and marinara. Does food for 20 sound daunting? These delicious recipes make it affordable and easy to prepare well-balanced meals for a big gathering. (more…)

Wish you were more frugal? Many people long to be frugal with today’s economic circumstances. But it can be hard to know exactly how to get started. Fortunately there are some easy ways to be frugal now. Try our favorite frugal tips for success – and you can be frugal too!

Frugal tip #1: switch to generics. This is an easy switch that many enjoy and can save you 50 -75% of the cost of an item in many circumstances. Those brand names cost a lot more money than a generic brand. Generic brands aren’t what they used to be – if you haven’t tried a generic brand in awhile you’ll be pleased. Generic brands are more popular and from foods, beauty items, drugstore needs they offer top-quality products for you and your family. This is a great way to get savings for everyone in your family in a wide range of needs. Why you may discover you like the generic – even better than the brand!

Frugal tip #2: learn to stock up on sales. This is another easy frugal tip that just takes a bit of organization. Some wanna be frugal shoppers find coupon cutting very challenging. But stores offer so many sales it is easy to shop the sales and get great bargains, you simply need to know how to take advantage of them. Make space in your kitchen cupboards, garage or closets to store stocked up items. From soup, spices, clothing or other needs this is an ideal way to save on many things.

Frugal tip #3: get your “rain checks”. When a store has a sale and they run out of an item, some stores offer what is called a “rain check.” This means that you can buy the item when it is back in stock – at the sale price! Not everyone knows to take advantage of this bargain. If you go to your favorite store for a particular item and they are out of it, remember to get that rain check! It could save your family thousands of dollars by year’s end.