I have noticed prices creeping up everywhere around here ... WM, Food Lion, Costco, etc.
I have been online forever and I used to be really active with the natural, make your own forums, websites, and e-groups. These are my ideas:
- I plan to garden more this year. For now I plan to use up what I stockpiled (frozen and some dehydrated and canned stuff). I think learning how to preserve food in the future will come in handy. This includes canning, dehydrating, and freezing.
- I have always stockpiled, fortunately. I have the usual toiletries and basic stockpile, but thanks to my Mormon cousins I have collected food that I store in my closet. I am talking big 10# cans of stuff.
My husband was laid off many, many times and this will come in handy. It might be late in the game for some, but it's an idea that may be used in the future.
- I cook more - way more - and I have made more changes.
I have cookbooks galore, like Taste of Home, Mennonite cookbooks, Amish cookbooks, etc. I already make dishes with rice, beans, grains, legumes, and pastas. Plus, soups, salads, vegetarian, and ethnic foods. I already do the theme nights and now my kids help cook, too.
I also shop at ethnic grocery stores more. Yet I noticed their prices have gone up a little, too. ugh Now I make our own pizza, muffins, waffles, pancakes, hotdog buns, hamburger buns, etc. I also make my own baking mixes which can be used to make rolls, biscuits, etc. with one recipe or by adding to a basic recipe.
- I use less milk, too. I choose other foods with calcium or drink other milks, like soy or rice milk. We rarely buy canned juice, but I did buy a used Vitamix mixer from ebay to make our own drinks.
- I eat out less. Now we're down to eating out only once per month at the most. I make our own "copycat" recipes.
- Popcorn is our friend.
Really, it's a great, inexpensive snack - except be careful giving it to little one's because it's a choking hazard. I pop it using a regular popper that I have since we were married. I make all types of my own seasonings (pizza, cheese, etc.) with recipes I have collected over time from online sources.
- I do the usual make my own cleansers using natural products. I also use vinegar for many, many things, like for cleaning and as a clothes rinse in my washer.
- I buy locally. I have always gone to farmer's markets and also use pickyourown.org. I can't wait until it gets warmer!
- I stretch meals, too. I do what is called the "rubber chicken" which is stretching chicken to use over several meals. I only eat chicken now, but you can also do this for other meats. Cook your meat and then plan for other meals liek someone has already mentioned.
- I also barter with friends and neighbors. If I have a surplus of tomatoes, I trade for some cucumbers or whatever. I also donate my excess produce from my garden to food banks. I know the food banks are really aching this year.
Hope this helps anyone out there...