Grocery Help for Family of 7....

[klbb90]

I would look at the sugar, butter and fresh vegetables. I'm not sure of its purpose, but could you cut down on the amount used. I saw that you can, I remember reading that you can cut down on the amount of sugar used to can fruits by adding baking soda. Do a google search, I know the answer is out there on how to can with less sugar. Butter, (I would never recommend margarine even if it is cheaper) look closely at how it is used and see if it could be cut back even if you go from 5lbs to 4lbs it would help. Fresh vegetables, foraging is great and the kids can help. Dandelions are okay, but I prefer plantain. Its like any salad green and is everywhere there is disturbed soil. The young leaves are best. My yard could easily support a family of 6 in wild greens if need be and I don't even have to plant or work for them (except harvesting). There are even garden flowers that can be eaten like day lilies (root, bud and flower). They come back year after year with little to no effort and look good. Wild grape leaves are another great green. The leaves, even when young, are pretty big so require less work to harvest. The Greeks have been eating them for centuries. An excellent source of protein that is wild that will come available in a month is the pollen from cattails. Its easy to harvest and fun. Just put a plastic/paper bag around the top, tilt the top and tap. Something that is available right now is the seeds from maple trees. I have silver maples. As kids we called them helicopters and threw them in the air to watch them float to earth. Your kids could help you gather them. The seeds actually have a slightly sweet taste to them like maple sugar. Don't use the seeds of a Norway Maple.

Something else. Don't look at just the raw food cost but the cost to prepare. Perhaps cutting down on the fuel cost to cook would squeeze out a few more food dollars. Make a solar oven. Cost can be as low as a few dollars depending on what you have around the house to use for materials. Try to use beans that require less cooking, therefore less energy = lower electric/gas/ect bills.

Hope something here helps. Best wishes.

[ScrimpAndSave]

What is your annual income?

[LuxLiving]

She said in another post that together she and her husband gross 27K a year.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Thank you I apologize for not seeing that.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

In another thread in which aukxsona described how incredibly thrfty she and her husband are, she said they gross $27,000 a year. It looks like part of that may be unreliable income as aukxsona has a number of projects for profit that she works on from home. But, ScrimpAndSave, would that make a difference to you in what recommendation you have for saving on food spending?

My suggestions to cut back on tea:

Dig Sassafras roots for tea. You can dig enough to store and the roots store very well. You can get more tea out of the roots by shaving them and using the shavings rather then just big chunks of the root. Some people who are clearing land to build, make a fence, etc would probably be happy to let you dig. If you've never done it before, you'll need a shovel and an ax or hatchet. Heavy duty loppers or a small pruning saw can help you cut off root pieces, too.

Collect rose hips. Makes a tart tea containing vitamin C. Also can be used to perk up your store bought black tea with lemony flavor. Can be used to extend the volume you get from your black tea,

Grow Fennel, Agastache tea ( Agastache foeniculum), and lemon balm With fennel, you can use the seeds or leaves for tea. The seeds retain their flavor for years. Crush seeds before using to get more out of less. If you grow the "bulbing" fennel, also called Finnocchio, you will have a delicious gourmet vegetable that is so good simmered in chicken broth. With Agastache, use the leave fresh and green; do not dry and store these leaves as they taste like crayons after dried. Lemon balm leaves are used fresh and green, though you might like them dried as well. Lemon balm likes to grow in a bit of shade, so right up against a house, shed or barn is great. Lemon balm is refreshing as an iced tea by itself, or can also extend and freshen your store bought black tea.

See if you can talk to a section manager or two where you grocery shop. If you can catch them at a time when they can listen, they might be happy to set aside mark downs for you personally when they have it, especially if they would be able to give you a call and have you show up at the store with in an hour or two. Really be personal and tell then your situation, as up front as you have here. Sometimes stores just need to get rid of food fast and if they know they have a customer for it, they will let it go hugely marked down. Otherwise it may very well hit the dumpster.

Please come, when you have time, to talk gardening in the gardening section that is sort of hidden in the Food, Recipes, and Coupons forum. I'd love to hear what are your most production, nutritious substantial foods you grow. I have always said that sweet potatoes would be one of my survival crops as they are so productive, nutritious, filling, and long-storing.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Oh yeah, someone mentioned using the quicker cooking beans to save on fuel costs. That is something I do, too. Actually the cheapest beans are usually the faster cooking ones anyway. I cook a lot of lentils. Thye cook in just 40 minutes and adjust well to all those southern ways of cooking beans. (I'm from TN) But of course, always soak your beans before cooking to bring cook time down, ands thereby save on fuel. Beans can be pressure cooked to save, too. Rice can be soaked a bit before cooking, but depending on how you want the texture, you may not want to pre-soak.

If ever you get the chance to get into a big city that would have an import store that caters to immigrants, save some of your "souvenir money" for shopping. I get incredible deals in such stores. Spices very cheap, all kinds of beans and rices very cheap. They might also be a good source of vegetables that you could grow for your own eating. The roots crops especially can often be replanted in your own garden and gotten to grow. Also fresh lemon grass, yucca root, hmmm, in Arkansas maybe even manioc. The advantage of this kind of crop is that just once small piece can grow with very little attention form Farmer Aukxsona into a nice patch. Good to eat...good to sell at farmer's market? (I don't know...I once knew a woman from Mountain Home who had a hard time selling even different varieties of vegetables as familiar as green beans and tomatoes. But maybe near Batesville people are more curious and adventurous with their eating.)

That reminds me-- Have you tried Jerusalem artichoke? It will grow without cultivation and all you need to do is dig when you want some. The patch will expand greatly every year, so best to plant in a space where it will not overtake your other plants. The tubers are starchy, but not as starchy as potatoes. They taste a bit like artichokes (no surprise) or sunflower seeds. This is a vegetable you might be able to get a state of in an import grocery.

[LuxLiving]

I remember some of the best iced tea as a child was that my mom made from the peppermint growing by the back door.

And I have a friend that grows & shares the Jerusalem artichokes. They slice up kind of like water chestnuts...nice and crunchy on a salad!

[crazyliblady]

Auxsona,

My heart goes out to you. I have a higher family income and no children and my husband and I are struggling to pay off hospital debt and a credit card.

Do either you or your spouse close enough to work to walk or ride a bike? If so, you could considerably reduce your gas consumption and have more money for food.

Have you heard of Freecycle? Freecycle is a web-based group where people exchange stuff they do not need. I have seen people list everything from cars, to children's clothing, and computers. If you were able to obtain other needed items via Freecycle, it would free up money for food. The only stipulation with freecycle that I know of is that the requestor has to go get the item from whoever is giving it away. You can join a freecycle group in your area by going to Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities.

Try Craigslist also. There is a category for free stuff.

Please let us know how things are going for you.

crazyliblady

[aukxsona]

Wow so many replies. Hmmm... I have never collected Sassafrass. (I can't spell) I have collected crab apples, persimmons, black berries, and grape leaves. You can even pickle the grape leaves. I have a recipe some where. The tea... it is a problem. I spend about 3 dollars a month on it.

Our car is currently broken down, so we already bike. My husband is getting a new tranny in it. He has to do it himself. Quite a bit of work. We are also a part of freecycle in both Izard and Independence Counties. However, with out a car...it makes it hard to get stuff. I had someone offer me 20 some odd tires, would have really helped build my potato hills, but I can't get to them right now. Hopefully he'll hold them for me.

We do use rose hips already and peppermint. We also do the lentils a lot. Our sugar is mostly used to season the oatmeal, baking, and tea or coffee. My husband uses about a cup! I don't know how else to cut down other than not buy it and have the family complain. (They will too)

So unusual veggies aren't selling for your friend huh? I hope they do for me. In New London, CT where I used to live they were huge sell outs. I know the locals just want fresh. Our Mayor knows my plan and said he would buy from me. So I have one committed customer. Another gardener from the Master gardener program was very enthusiastic about rare veggies. Plus last Fall I entered Lemon Cucumbers into the North Central Arkansas District Fair and won Best of Show for them. So may be folks around here are ready...I hope.

Jerusalem artichokes are delicious. I can't find a bulk supplier to buy from. The only places I saw, offer may be 3 a piece. (14 dollars) Not very cheap at all. May be if I didn't harvest for a couple years until it spread to a decent size...I don't know. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are proven performers in this house. They take the least space and give the best yields.

About going to the big city, I have looked in Batesville, no ethnic stores that are cheaper. I have looked in Searcy, some. May be I am not looking close enough. The only ethnic store I found sold everything in Spanish, in kilos and at higher prices. I could read the Spanish a little, (go me) but converting the kilos to lbs had me with a calculator. Then converting the price per pound and comparing it...ugh. To find out only Masa was worth it.

The solar oven is on my to do list. I think that might replace my slow cooker if it works in the summer. It will be a great home school project. Thanks for all the ideas.

[scfr]

25-cents for a loaf of bread is a great price. Does your husband's company allow him to buy more than 2 loaves per month, can he buy more than what your family consumes, and if so do you have neighbors who would want to swap with you? For example, a loaf of bread for whatever fruits or vegetables they grow (or for a grocery item such as rice)?

[cptacek]

I've read somewhere where you can cook wheat like rice. Even though the price of wheat is up compared to last year, you might be able to get it from a grain elevator for market price (like $8 a bushel right now) and still save money. I've also read, but can't find right now, how to "cook" it using a thermos overnight for breakfast.

Oh, and if you do decide to get a goat, make sure to get the ones WITH horns. This may sound silly, especially with both sets of kids around (yours and the goats HA) but if they have horns, you can use them as handles to control them

[Beckiboo]

I am very impressed at your ability to support your family so frugally!

I'm not sure how much space you have in your garden, but if you have plenty of space, you could have your kids plant pumpkins. Then before Halloween they could sell them. We have a neighbor with kids who sit by a trailer full of pumpkins at the end of their driveway on the weekends every fall, selling loads of pumpkins. We look forward to getting the pick of the bunch, and I think they make pretty decent money on it.

Maybe talk to friends and family about bartering? I prefer homemade jams and jellies, but do not prepare them myself. I would be glad to trade my concord grapes for a few jars of jam. Maybe someone you know would have a similar trade off.

We also get wild asparagus growing in the ditches around here in the spring. Every year I see the same family traveling around and picking it. I guess they remember where it was from last year. But if you live rurally, you might want to start watching the ditches as you go for walks or bike rides. Nothing more enjoyable than fresh picked asparagus!

[SnoopyCool]

This post has been so inspiring! I assumed I was somewhat frugal, but the things you guys do are amazing I am taking notes.

[cptacek]

The bakery uses sugar...do they buy it in bulk? Could your husband buy it from them at that price?

[aukxsona]

Yes, we have already gone over the bulk buying thing. No his business won't give us a discount on supplies, we are very lucky for the bread. I know that some locals would like bread, but the amount would require a car to haul. Once our car is up and running we should be able to.

[rennigade]

Probably not a bad idea to look for new jobs. Simple factories around where I used to live i hickville PA would pay $11-19/hr.

[LuxLiving]

Aukxsona, I don't know if you caught this but it's a list of some salvage/discount type stores in your area:
Arkansas
Alma
A to Z Discount Grocery, 4810 North Highway 71, Ph 479-632-8348
Amity
Amity Salvage Grocery, 637 West Thompson St., Ph 870-342-9506
Harrison, South Harrison
Harrison's Bent & Dent Grocery, 3864 Highway 7 South, Ph 870-391-2210
Wholesale Outlet, 519 North Main Street, Ph 870-743-5248
Huntsville
Ma & Pa Bent N Dent Groceries, 15045 Highway 412, Ph 479-738-6272
Midland City
Discount Groceries, Highway 231 South, Ph 334-983-1250
Mulberry
Higgen’s Produce (and Grocery), 3741 Mulberry, Ph 479-997-8601
Nophlet
Z & C Salvage Grocery, 300 W Padgett Street, Ph 870-665-9692
Salem
Highway 62 (Call for directions) Ph 870-895-4800

[aukxsona]

The Salem one is the only one I have ever heard of. It is very hard to get up there right now, but they do have great discounts.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Thought of another free harvest that I think might grow in your area. Mulberries. If so, look NOW, because being a little south of me, I think your trees might be just about finished bearing.

Take with you shallow containers, as mulberries are very fragile. They bruise under the weight of a second layer of berries very easily. I like to collect them directly into colanders so that I won't toss them about so much going from field to kitchen. They are most tasty in years when there has not been a lot of rain at ripening time. Otherwise they seem to take on enough water to dilute the sugars. But I'm sure they would still have some nutrients even when not so sweet. I guess you could add a little white sugar to them if it has been rainy.

Not only are mulberries fragile, but their attachment to the tree when ripe is fragile. All you have to do is touch the berry and it falls off in your hand. One time I went out with a little girl and we stretched a sheet below the branches of a small tree. We staked the sheet so that it was like a fairy trampoline under the tree. Then we shook the tree and let the berries fall, cushioned, into the sheet. We still had to sort out the not quite ripe ones and the past ripe ones.

Mulberries do not keep well in the fridge or out of the fridge. They dehydrate quickly. So you should expect to eat them right away. You can use a bit of the juice to color white frosting, (Once I tried them as a fabric dye, but by themselves, they did not make a permanent die. Kids can make a water color paint, but that doesn't help your food budget.)

[GoodBuyGirl]

As far as oatmeal goes, January is national oatmeal month and Quaker always puts out coupons and the stores have mega oatmeal sales.
I've always been able to get free oatmeal with coupons at this time. Just start keeping your eye out for coupons in late December early January.
I know it doesn't help much now.