Eat Well for Less

Speaking of saving money by cooking at home. Do you ever find yourself at grocery store on the way home from work or late in the afternoon in search for something for dinner? If you do, it's likely that you end up bringing home a quick meal with little nutritional content. That's what's easy, after all! So, what's the answer to to the dinner puzzle? Meal planning.

An article written by Cynthia Ewer for Organized Home offers great tips and advice for how to begin meal planning. Cynthia was absolutely right in stating that meal planning saves money, time, and improves nutrition! 

Thankfully, Cynthia also outlined a simple set of steps for how to begin meal planning:

1. Scan the food ads for specials and sales. Rough out a draft menu plan: seven dinner entrees that can be made from weekly specials, side dishes and salads.
2. Wander to pantry and refrigerator to check for any of last week's purchases that are languishing beneath wilting lettuce or hardening tortillas. Check for draft recipe ingredients. Review your shopping list and note needed items.
3. Ready, set, shop--but shop with an open mind. That 59-cent fryer won't look like such a bargain next to a marked-down mega-pack of boneless chicken breasts at 89 cents a pound. Be ready to substitute if you find a great deal.
4. Return from shopping. As you put away groceries, flesh out the menu plan. Match it up with the family's calendar, saving the oven roast for a lazy Sunday afternoon, the quick-fix pizza for soccer night.
5. Post the menu plan on the refrigerator door. Refer to it during the coming week as you prepare meals.

This article is a must-read if you're interested in meal planning. Beyond simple how-to's, it's full of great advice!

Get started with one of two free printable meal planning charts from The Project Girl!

Also, check out how four college roommates succeeded at meal planning here.

Friday Food Tip: Dinner for under $1.50 per serving

The best way to save money on food costs is to cook your meals at home. Having recipes and ingredients on-hand makes it easier to prepare a meal. Family.com offers a list of 15 dinners for under $1.50 per serving. Check it out! They all look so delicious! Here are a few selections from the list:

Almost Lasagna

Italian Turkey Sliders with Honey Dijon Mayo

Easy Calzone Rolls

Friday Food Tip: Dine out. Just spend less.

Dining out is easy, convenient, and fun. It might not be realistic to cut all dining out from your budget. If you're looking to save money, all you have to do is spend less!

It really is as easy as it sounds. Here are some simple tips:

• Stick with water: Skip the soda, coffee, tea or wine. Ordering a glass of soda can add up to $3 to your bill. It's not a bargain when you consider how much less you pay for a fountain drink at the gas station.
• Forego the appetizer: They're deliciously tempting, but appetizers often cost nearly the same price as an entree. Many establishments provide a free appetizer such as bread or chips — enjoy it, chew some gum, and look forward to your meal knowing you saved as much as $
• Say no to dessert: Scratch around $7 from your bill by saying no the sweet and tempting desserts. Your diet with thank you too!
• Pasta instead of steak: You might not eat at a steak house every time you go out, but the concept still applies. If you're used to treating yourself with the most expensive item on the menu, take a step down and order a pasta dish or fancy salad.
• Use a coupon: Check the newspaper, in your mailbox, or online for coupons offering free appetizers, half-off meals, and other great deals.

What tips do you have to share about saving money dining out?