Summer is here, and the kids are home. Ok, so now all they want to do is eat! It is amazing how fast food goes when the kids are home. When planning my menu for summer months I do add a little bit more for snacks and lunch foods. This time I decided to go a more on the cheap side because of the increase in grocery prices. My budget per child is approximately $2.50. This does not include our day out to eat but I do use a coupon on that day.
Planning:
Make a list of food that is healthy but affordable. Peanut butter, bread, mac and cheese, carrot sticks, egg sandwiches, tuna casserole. All of these are healthy, kids will eat them, and pretty cheap to make.
Having a list of inexpensive items to purchase for lunch will cut back on sponateous items like lunchables ( my mistake). Go to Pinterest and make a board or check out my recipes board for ideas!
Easy To Put Together:
If the menu is easy to put together and the kids like it fast food purchases are less likely to happen!
Plan A Fun Activity:
If you plan $5.00 to spend a day for lunch, then use coupons . Try to get the meals at $2.50 per day. With the money that you save on making cheap lunches tell the kids that if they do not complain a fun activitiy will be planned. Make it something that you would not ordinarily plan. Take them out to a really nice restaurant and let them work on their manners. They will have fun and have some character training.
Shopping Strategy:
Saving money definitely involves a strategy. Right now I go to Meijer because they are having better sale items than the Kroger I go to in the winter. If that changes to Marsh next week then I will go to Marsh. Meijer also still accepts double coupons and Kroger does not.
Between my Mperks, coupons, and shopping for sale items I have saved at least $25.00 per week. I was tempted to go with barbecue sandwiches because they had BOGO on the sauce, but my kids were opposed to that idea!
Free Summer Lunches
Some districts, towns, and cities have free summer food programs for kids. As long as the child is under 18 they can eat for free. In our town it is at the YMCA and select schools, so once a week I plan for us to go to the YMCA swim, eat, and enjoy a free day.
Saving money in the summer is possible, it just requires a strategy!
I love saving money. I like to buy what is on sale and use coupons. When we go out or on vacation where I know we will be eating out, I take along the coupons from my paper. I have heard many people use restaurant discount coupons, where you buy a certain amount before and then use it at participating restaurants, but I have never tried it. I think I will be a pack lunch mom when my little ones go to school. I like to save wherever I can!! Thanks for the great tips!