Any tips for saving money while grocery shopping (Vegan)?

Years ago I was on a very tight budget for household of 6. I only had $360 to spend on food and cleaners and pet food. Plus our house was the teenager hang out.

We had all sort of different kinds of foods starting with oatmeal or scrabble egg meals (1 potato grated or cubed up, with a slice of onion, 1/4 of bell pepper, 1 slice of deli ham cubed up, 6 eggs), cheese, or beef or chicken enchiladas, tacos, beef and bean burritos, pizza, pasta dishes, grilled hot dogs or hamburgers, Stew and Soups plus chicken wings, strips, or even baked or fried, I would fix brisket for us and with that we ate as as a roast dinner, Bar B Que dinner and even sandwiches to even Beef Wellington or Burgundy Beef for very special events. I learnt a few things during this time like you, we only had one store close but an one hour drive I had more selections to use 3 grocery stores, Walmart and Dollar General. I use the local store as place to fill in for odds and ends that I might need before I went back to do most of my shopping at the large location.

I always made a monthly food menu plans for us. And as our children got older I would ask them for their input but they had to stay in guidelines. Sundays I would make a roast or bake a chicken or turkey and with left overs most often became a stew or soup that feed us 2 more meals with grilled cheese sandwiches which all kids like.

Make as much food from scratch as possible also helps. I raised small garden every year and I allow each child to pick one item they want in it and that was their area to also help weed and care for. I froze a lot of the this as well for later use.

When the kids were small they were so proud and when they were older it was one place to keep us bonded. I made my own breads,treats and I bought in balk as much as possible. I used powder milk to cooked or baked with because if stored properly it last so much longer then fresh milk.

I now print out coupons for the food we use. I make my on laundry soap from scratch which also saves money. Our children had allergies to the some of the soap fillers so their Doctor told me how to make this very easy cloth soap and in the long run so much cheaper to use.

2-5.5oz bars of finely grated FELS-NAPTHA soap bars (or ZOTOS or IVORY bars but same weight), 1-3lb box BORAX, 1-3lb box of Washing Soda. Now I add 1-1 lb of Oxy Clean and 1- 3lb box of powder bleach as well. Mix up well.

(I put all of this in a double lid trash bags then por in my storage bucket). This make about 10 lbs of soap but you only need about 1/4 cup in a top loader and in a front loader you only use 2 Tablespoons. When our family was at home I washed 2 load of laundry ever day and this soap last one month for me and it cost around ten dollars for me to make now days.

I have an old 5 gallon bucket with a lid on it that I mix it up in and store it. I also sometimes use vinegar for fabric softener because help whiten up stuff but also remove soap like softener does only thing is it can not be used on dry colors. I feed my family fruit daily but I would slice up a like 2 apple or pears or oranges and served them on a plate.

Take you family on picnic near a fish hole. If you don't know how to clean fish learn. Fresh free fish and entertainment all in one trip.

Stay away form fancy cuts of meat. Use whole wheat pasta, learn to make your own egg noodles for your food dish. They actually taste so much better.

My family loved stir fry and fried rice. If I only need a half of a bell pepper for a dish I just go ahead and slice the whole thing and froze the other half. I also had a container in the freezer that I would add that couple of tablespoons of that left over veggie too instead of throwing them away.

It was my future veggies to use for a stew. I made cake mix Cakes but they are on sale a lot and can always find coupons for them. Sometime dog and cat food is cheaper to buy at a feed store that sales cattle and horse food.

I buy fifty pound bags for 15.00 dollars a sack. They don't have all the pretty colored piece but mine has lamb, chicken, beef and rice and some vitamins. Which our dogs look health and the vet says so.

But clean products are not groceries yet so many of us count them as such. Sorry this is so long but hope it help. Also there is allrecipes.com that has several good recipes and menus to help you with ideas.

Focus on mamking meals with cheap but healthy ingredients. Whole wheat pasta is no more expensive then the starchy unhealthy white kind. Tuna helper or tuna salad is another idea.

Tuna, elbow wheat macaroni, mayo and peas. A whole bowl costs like 8 bucks and is good for 8-9lunches. Macaroni and cheese is another cheap idea, its not too bad when you use 1/3 amt of cheese recommended and add some broccoli Beef hot dogs with a side of potato chips is another cheap idea kids love.

Not the best health wise, but a good weekday dinner once in a while Home made soup is one of the cheapest healthiest thigns , plus it can be frozen. Really easy, broth, chicken, laods of veggies. Toasted bread on the side.

MMM.

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