Get Your Plan Together

Hands down, my most popular post so far is Menu Planning Basics. Are you a planner? You should be! You will save money and time, you won't stress about what to cook during the dinner rush hour, and you'll waste less food. You can do this.

To see a full list of every menu plan I've made, CLICK HERE. There are tons of cute planners and shopping lists on my Pinterest Page, check them out! You will not regret it. 

How To Trim Your Grocery Budget

Trimming your grocery budget can be one of the biggest and best things you do all week to save yourself money. Take a look at what you're working with for the month and work out what your food budget is. You have a budget right????? Of course you do!

If you are looking at the numbers and see you've been overspending at the grocery store, there are some ways to cut back.

Plan a menu. This is an absolute necessity if you want to save. You can be as strict as you want about it and it doesn't have to be boring. If you don't feel like eating soup on Tuesday no one is going to call the police. Just eat pasta instead and have soup on Thursday. It's not that tough. The point is to say "Hey, this is what I'm eating this week. I'll go buy the things to make these dinners so I don't order Thai again."

Make a list (& stick to it). Once you figure out what you're making, make a list of the foods you'll need to cook them. And then...and this is the tricky part...only buy those things.

Buy spices from the bulk bin. Spices go bad quickly and if you need to buy it for one recipe, chances are that it doesn't warrant purchasing a whole jar. If you used it that much you'd have it. Check out the bulk bins in co-ops, health food stores, and ethnic markets. Take your measuring spoons with you and get just what you need. You will not be the first person to buy 7 cents of cumin.

Have a plan for leftovers. Count on taking them for lunch or reworking them into a side dish later in the week. Say you have a few servings of pasta left over - you can add the noodles into your eggs in the morning and have a hearty frittata.

Cook from scratch. Only when you can and if you're able; and don't start by grinding your own wheat to make bread flour, either. Making pancakes from scratch takes five minutes and uses pantry staples. As a bonus you know exactly what you're eating. Kale chips, croutons, smoothies, mashed potatoes, broths and stocks, vanilla, and beer. If it exists in the world you are able to make it at home.

East seasonally. Springtime means asparagus and berries and pea shoots and mango and a bunch of other things. Produce in season is plentiful and stores will have it on sale. Try something cheap you may have not had before. If you don't like it, hey, now you know. But if you do? Score. Buying what's cheap and in season is a fun and healthy way to cook.

These are just a few ways to cut back. How have you been able to spend less at the store?

Menu Monday

Every once in a blue moon there is a week with nothing inspiring on sale. This was totally one of those weeks. Luckily I have a large repertoire of cheap meals up my sleeve. Tostadas, garlicky pasta, chili, and potatoes are the star this week. Take a look: 

New Batch of Free Printables

I just loaded up the Mind On Your Money Pinterest page with a bunch of new free printables! They are fun and stylish - who wouldn't want this timeless image up on their fridge to remind them to buy chickpeas:

Chic and understated, I imagine they will match any decor. 

So head on over to my Pinterest page and print yourself some! You'll be so glad you did. 

Menu Monday

it cost you nothing - pay me no mind

Look, I'm on my grind cousin, ain't got time for fronting - Jay Z, "Heart of the City"

Finally – I am back to a normal routine. This trip back to Pittsburgh took a lot out of me in every possible way and I am forever grateful to my circle of friends for being the wonderful people they are. But more on that later!

Menu Monday

This past week was a little bit different for me since I had a houseguest. We ate out much, much more than usual and ate much, much more junk food than usual. I feel like a big puffy balloon! And there were lots of apples left in the fruit bowl. When life hands you old apples, make muffins. 

Menu Monday

Jennifer Lawrence speaks the truth. 

Menu Monday

Parmesan my panino - Dake, "Used To"

Before I get into the menu plan for this week, I just have to stand up and publicly thank Drake for not saying 'panini' in this line. Panino is ONE sandwich, panini is MORE THAN ONE. This is one of my biggest pet peeves and also a callback to a hilarious story by David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day. You would never go to a shop and order "a sandwiches" would you? No. You wouldn't because you aren't horrible. 

Anywho! On to the food. Here's what we are eating this week: 

Menu Monday

How come you're always such a fussy young man. Don't want no Captain Crunch, don't want no Raisin Bran. Well, don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan. So eat it, just eat it - Weird Al, "Eat It"

Menu Monday

I don't mean to brag, I don't mean to boast, but we like hot butter on your breakfast toast - Sugar Hill Gang, "Rappers Delight"

For years and years I have been writing in one way or another about what my family eats each week. People have always responded very well to my menu plans and I know I'm spending much less than others so there is definitely a place for Menu Monday here.

Menu Planning Basics

Yeah livin the raw deal, three course meal: spaghetti, fettuccine, and veal. - Puff Daddy, "All About the Benjamins" 

After shelter, food is usually the biggest item on your budget. So how do you cut costs on food?