I have been following the congressional food stamp challenge, which I see as a publicity stunt with the best possible intentions. People go hungry in the "Land of Plenty" everyday and too many people remain ignorant to this fact. I think that drawing attention to this problem is a good thing.
I was watching the news this morning and they mentioned something about food prices going up another 7% because corn grown in this country is being used to create ethanol instead of going into animal feed, so the price of feed has gone up and therefor dairy products, meat, and chicken will also be going up. They mentioned $5 gallons of milk and sky high prices on butter.
This could all be scare mongering... the news outlets are known to do that, one of the reasons I try not to watch all that often. But it got me thinking about stretching food budgets, frugal shopping, cooking from scratch, and all of those things.
I cook from scratch a lot of the time. Not all of the time because I work full time and go to school and some days I am just tired.
I buy in bulk, divide and freeze.
I buy powdered milk and frozen concentrated juices.
We don't buy soda or powdered drink mixes on a regular basis, I make my iced tea from scratch.
I bake my own bread, biscuits, crackers, cookies, muffins, scones, etc.
I frequent the produce outlet (although the quality is going down and the prices going up).
I only buy meat (other than chicken breasts, ground beef, and ground turkey) when it is on clearance.
I have started to keep a price book and know which store have the best prices on staples (for example, Trader Joes bananas are .19 each, and the large eggs .99 without a sale or coupons)
My mom and I will be cooking and canning Jam, applesauce, and tomato sauce at the end of the summer.
My question is.... what else can be done to combat rising food prices?
I don't run from grocery store to grocery store... gas is too expensive and I am very frugal with my gas budget.
I don't garden... I don't have the time or the inclination and the dogs tear up the gardens anyway. [Hubby and I do have herbs and raspberries planted]
So what am I missing? If you have ideas I would love to hear them!
2 comments:
I think you are doing a great job! Those are all accomplishments, particularly when you are working on top of it!
I am doing the garden thing this year, just because I was really worried about produce prices this year. I am hoping that helps a bit in this area of the budget.
You should be proud of yourself- those are all great ways of saving money.
Fast. But in your condition I don't recommend it.
Seriously, though, I hear your question. I wish I was doing as well as you are on all the things you're doing. Next up for me, the price book project. Outside of what you are already doing, the only things that come to mind are: eat more potatoes, eat more dried bulk food such as beans, get more invitations to friends' houses. The last is my favorite! :)
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