I know it is early to think about this but..

**oct2667us** · 11-30-2006, 08:41 AM

I just found out that i will only have 261 for food in January. that is going to be kind hard for me to last the hole 30 days. i guess i will have to make alot of extra to freeze in Dec.

**celina** · 11-30-2006, 08:43 AM

fore warned is forearmed....who is in your family, how are pantry and freezer

i find the months im limited are the ones i shine the most in...well i have no choice.... and you have plenty of warning, freeze those xmas leftovers...and cookies people drop by....dont let anything go to waste in dec....clean out your fridge and make sure everythign in there is edible and not a science experiment..

**FrugalMomof3** · 11-30-2006, 08:46 AM

I am sure you will make do, planning ahead is the key!

**autumnlynn** · 11-30-2006, 09:25 AM

It's great that you know ahead of time that you will have a limited budget in January. The key is to start stockpiling your freezer now.

**favesis37** · 11-30-2006, 09:27 AM

i agree! stock up on what you can, freeze everything you can. good luck!

**MarshHen** · 11-30-2006, 10:40 AM

Oh no, it's never too early to plan ahead. Especially when it comes to saving money on the food bill. Since it's winter, soups and stews are always filling, easy and a great way to use up pre-frozen leftovers. Even a 1/2 cup of leftover frozen vegetables add so much flavor to soups and stews. If you have a crockpot, tougher, cheaper cuts of meat come out tender after being slow cooked all day. For casseroles, soups and stews that call for canned soups, I buy the dollar store brands. I also buy canned vegetables, spices, pasta shells, cooking oil and other staples there.

Right now may be a good time to plan out a menu for next month. It will help you stock up now on items you will need, and it will inspire you to be creative with what you have. You will be delighted at how frugal you can be.

If you get stuck, just holler and we will pull you through.

**Buckeye5** · 11-30-2006, 11:09 AM

Do pancakes for dinner, grilled cheese and tomato soup. Homemade mac and cheese is inexpensive too. Potatoe soup is a good one. Homemade pizza also. Meatless meals are the least expensive. Make muffins ahead of time and freeze. Use these for breakfast and snacks. you can do a lot with pasta too.

**MarshHen** · 11-30-2006, 11:25 AM

Oh yeah, we eat alot of pasta here. Especially with leftovers. I take leftover sauce or gravy and add cooked pasta, any leftover meats I may have, vegetables and heat it all up together in a large skillet with some cheese on top and it's supper. Most times, hubby and dd don't even realize it's leftovers. Pasta makes soups and stews go alot further too.

**pqb57** · 11-30-2006, 11:43 AM

Planning ahead is the key. We have some recipes that we pull out when we are short on cash that are cheap to make but taste good and are good for us, maybe we should have a new forum for cheap eats.

**oct2667us** · 11-30-2006, 04:07 PM

thank you all. I know Ican do this now.I am so glad I have yall to help

**FrugalWitch** · 11-30-2006, 04:36 PM

Rice, buy the biggest cheapest sack you can find. Pasta buy heaps and gobs. Dried beans, onions, taters. Not only are all those basics generally very cheap but they are versatile as all heck.
Instead of having meat as the center of the meal start having some meatless days. On days you have meat treat it as the side dish, make a little go a long way.

Cut out all junkfood, be ruthless! No sodas. When grocery money is tight don't waste one red cent on the junky-snacky things, use the money for real, filling and nutritious food. (Don't worry if family members bitch and moan about it, doing without junk has never killed anyone yet)

**yankeegal** · 12-01-2006, 07:21 PM

All great ideas....you have "planning" time on your side-You can do it!!!!

**dmvezina** · 12-01-2006, 07:52 PM

I agree with everyone else. Since you know ahead of time, I would stockpile what you will be able to use can and afford now. Plan, plan, plan!!!
Check out the "manager's specials" at the meat department. I get so many of my meats like that. I bring them home & just throw in the freezer. Or take them out of the package and put in a freezer bag with a marinade of some sort and then in the freezer they go.

Good luck!

**pecunierrant** · 12-01-2006, 10:54 PM

Youve gotten great tips from everyone. Are there any budgeting changes that can be made in the meantime.. If its a temporary shortfall maybe selling some things to pad the food coffers?
Keep your chin up, you can do it.