This was unexpected...
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- Go to meetfabric.com/FRUGALFITMOM and apply today, risk-free
Music by Epidemic Sound
Find me online:
~~Instagram - frugalfitmo...
~~Facebook - / christinethefrugalfitmom
~~Website - frugalfitmom.com
For business inquiries please contact me at: contact@tablerockmanagement.com
✨ FREQUENTLY MENTIONED LINKS + DISCOUNTS ✨
ludabottles.com/FFM
Get 2000 Bonus points with FETCH rewards: FP9XH
Get a $10 bonus on Ibotta - ibotta.risj.net/E65yD
Shop my Favorites on Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/frugalfitmom
00:00 Intro
1:00 Meet Siel
2:30 $ spent so far
5:01 Fabric by Gerber Life
6:21 Kitchen Tour
10:15 Grocery Shopping
12:20 Grocery Haul
19:21 Level with me
22:24 Store choice
Disclaimer
In compliance with FTC guidelines: Any/all of the links on site/video are affiliate links of which Frugal Fit Mom receives product credit or a small commission from sales of certain items, but the price is the same for you. Frugal Fit Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Links on this site may include affiliate links to Amazon and its affiliate sites on which the owner of this website will make a referral commission. Thank you for supporting my channel!
#frugalliving #grocerybudget #frugalfitmom
Christine, thank you so much for having us on your channel and for your advice! This is definitely the most awkward thing I've ever done on the internet 😂, but if it helps us save money and encourages other families in a similar situation, I'm glad we did it! It's already helped me to pay more attention to what we are buying. I'm excited to try these tips and I will definitely let you know how we're doing in a few months 😊
You got this! Sending you nothing but love and positive vibes. 🥰
Yes!!!! We want to see you back for an update!!!! ❤❤❤❤
I also recommend making some high-protein breakfast casseroles (egg-based, with ground beef/sausage and some veggies) that you can precook, then freeze in single servings. Quick, easy , healthy, filling and way cheaper than boxed cereal, frozen waffles or sweets. Edit to add: Congrats on taking the public exposure and congrats on baby #2.
@@gamingwithfrodoI make breakfast burritos and regular burritos for quick breakfasts and snacks. Roll up in tin foil to freeze and when you want one(or2) unwrap, nuke 2-3 minutes, done!
I'd love to see a follow up!
You've got this!!
Hey Siel! This is Caitlyn from the last video. Can I just say that I am SO proud of you for reaching out to Christine and putting yourself out there! It's been only a month and Christine's advice and tips has already made a huge difference for me and I hope the same for you. At the end of the day, I just hope you feel a flood of encouragement and compassion from the comment section like I did. Wishing you and your family all the best!
I hope you both know how much the rest of us are rooting for you!
I think you both should have update videos in 6 months to a year. It would be interesting to see your progress.
You gals are terrific! Putting yourself out there like this, so helpful for others! Much respect and thanks!❤❤❤
Love the idea of a follow up video for both of these brave and wonderful women!!!❤ Kudos to you both!! I’ve watched Christine’s channel for the past 3-4 years and seriously she helped me a great deal just in becoming more disciplined (hate that word actually but no other word is spot on😊) also really enjoy FFM podcast as well! Thank you to all for your inspiration and also your deep love for your families to find better ways forward not only financially but nutritiously…KUDOS❤
Caitlyn I cannot your visit, so you know the name of your video?
It doesn't matter what she was doing, what mistakes she was making, she was willing to ask for help and openly and honestly share what she was doing in the hopes of fixing it. So many people never even get that far (admitting they have a problem, and then asking for help).
💞
Lots of people don’t even realise they have a problem with food choices and continue oblivious to how much money they could be saving with better options!
well said@@jillyd2807
I wish there was a Part 2 where Christine could help her meal plan from all her grocery, pantry and freezer items. Great video!
This is a great idea tbh, would love to see some sort of follow up like this.
Yes!! I’d watch that, and that would totally help their budget to eat through some of this things they already have and/or make some freezer meals for when the baby comes to not fall back on takeout/convince foods
I literally cried when she shared how much they were spending. So glad you’re helping this young woman.
Literally?
I was stunnnned. It’s slightly more than we spend on groceries+household consumables for a family of 5+dog (including teens).
Way to go on looking for ways to save Siel!!!
We spend less than $800/mo for a family of 9, and I'm still trying to cut it back by going to grocery outlet and the local farmers market for deep discounts...
❤❤❤
If it's a stock up month I could see that. At least they have a stock pile to use and can really button it up now lol.
If you fall, you haven’t failed, you’ve gained wisdom! Get up, do what’s right and move on!! You’re a family warrior! Very impressed with what you’re doing!
I applaud the mom for being open about her family’s food budget issues. I hope she gets the help she needs and has a smooth pregnancy ☺️❤🙏
Another suggestion from an experienced meal planner is for Siel to write down an inventory list of what she actually has in her freezers already (throwing out the food she finds with freezer burn) - number one, to know what she already has, & number two, know what to utilize for her first attempt at meal planning. Then, as she uses items up/replenishes them, update that list until it is finally small enough to have a visual control of her inventory. I just know this works for us. We also keep a running grocery list on our fridge so that anyone who uses the last of something and wants more of it, can write it on the list right away - takes out the guesswork.
@jgheart3018 - I so agree, with the freezer list and the running grocery list! I have a list taped to the lid of my chest freezer, so know exactly what is in there. When I open, for example, a bag of frozen veggies, I move the bag to the freezer atop my fridge which is small enough that I can see everything at a glance. Same with loaves of bread, ice cream and so on. I cannot abide food waste, so nothing gets thrown out or is allowed to spoil.
I have a dry erase board right across from the stand up freezer we have at my eye level (so kids can't erase it) so that I write down what we have in it (under categories: meat, dairy, produce, bread, and other) and take a photo of it then save it as a favorite so I can reference it when grocery shopping. It has helped me not buy more clearance foods when we actually have that in the freezer.
Current inventory is a must for Seil, great suggestion!!!!❤
Thank you Seil for sharing. Kroger stores are great places to shop and meal plan. They also rotate their sales items. That means in 6 weeks those chicken legs will be on sale for 99 cents. You did not need them this time, but you plan to buy them the next time. Example we have a Foodland every 6 weeks they put Jimmy Dean bacon on sale for $2.99. We buy 3 each time. It's the only time we buy bacon. Good luck.
Yes yes and yes!!!!! I do this!!! And meal plan from my freezer protein stock piles
One tip I learned is it can be helpful to pre make your own mixes from scratch (pancake, brownie, oatmeal bake) and have them in ball jars with labels saying what to add and how long to bake. This makes it very convenient and cheap 😊 love all the tips Christine!
Great idea!!! I was thinking, I hate cooking and sometimes just don’t have the time. But if that part is already done, that helps! Thanks for that tip!!
I had a recipe for homemade pancake mix. It called for powdered milk so I only added eggs and water. Never told family about powdered milk, they never guessed.
LOVE this idea! ❤
I’ll take the recipes or links! Pretty please 🙏. 😉😘
I had pre measured 2, 4 and 8 oz of flour and sugar ready in zip lock bags ready for pancakes, add some 4 oz sugar for cakes. I had 1/4 and 1 tsp of baking pwder in tiny jewellery ziplocks. I knew some basic recepies off by heart and where the batter should be in the mixing jug so I didn't have to measure the milk. I ended up stopping doing the prep for cakes and biscuits coz we'd just steal it for pancakes.
I realized my husband was not getting full off of his frozen breakfast sandwich so I started making him breakfast burritos. I just batch make eggs and sausage and make 15+ at a time and we are good for 3 weeks. He gets better calories and more satiated.
These are great tips that can give her a place to see massive improvement. I loved this video.
Same exact story for me but we use turkey bacon ha ha. Burritos are the mvp
Thank you, Christine for breaking down the WHY of “this rather than that,” rather than just saying, “You shouldn’t be buying the fancy pasta.” This is constructive criticism that we can all benefit from!
That's an excellent point about the explanations. It really did help me.
The pasta is not fancy at all, just a healthier option for people that choose to take that route. Cheaper is not healthier. Invest in your health or end up paying what you have saved up in medical bills down the road.
@@diversekakes In general, I agree with you. But having cooked for my gluten-free husband for 20 years and being quite health-conscious when it comes to food, I think it’s inaccurate to put it in strict either/or terms. Part of Christine’s mission is to help us make informed choices that work for us, and that’s what she was doing here. It’s entirely possible to eat a healthy diet on a budget.
@@ellendunn559 i absolutely agree
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉🎉
Round of applause for Siel for being so brave and sharing her budget with us!
Christine, can you please please please do a video on other gimmicky grocery items. The protein pasta blew my mind
I'm over here crying when she showed her monthly grocery bill. So glad for these tips!
Applause for your bravery, Siel. OMG, I LOVE your kitchen!
I agree- her kitchen is a dream with the beautiful colored cabinets and fun floor tiles. Wishing them all the best!
My husband is diabetic and we have discovered the chickpea pasta does not mess with his blood sugar like regular pasta. It has been amazing for us and allowed us to have pasta as a family again. 😊
Yes that's the beauty of chickpea pasta. ❤❤❤ Great comment.
Yes! Some of these investments are worth it.
I have found certain types of pasta trigger a BS rise more than others. It's weird what effects us and everyone has different triggers. My tip is eat protein with your carbs. It really does help balance it so you don't get those spikes. I can have a small amount of regular pasta if I combine it with a lean protein, like chicken. So my pasta salad now includes chicken..lol.
@@gleaner8177 The one they showed was the Aldi brand. The name brand one is Banza. Target has a knock off and then the Aldi one. Not sure about other stores.
Palmini is even better for keto/low-carb/diabetes. Aldi sells it in addition to their own brand of hearts of palm pasta (and rice!).
Thank you to the young women who submitted the video today she’s very brave
Wasn't expecting to cry watching this😭 So thankful for you Christine. You are helping so many people!
I cried too. Been there, I get it too.
This really got me too. So many of us can relate to the difficult childhood and how it affects us forever. I love these personalized grocery coaching videos you're doing.
First - Good for Siel for putting herself out there. Courage - and it will help others. Second - I feel compelled to do the big math. If she can knock $200 a month off the bill, that's $2400 a year that can be used elsewhere or saved. $300 a month = $3600. Getting control of the grocery budget is not insignificant. There's real cash on the table here. That said, I appreciated your advice that she doesn't need to get there all at once. It's a process for sure. I've found it empowering and confidence building to learn to do more from scratch. It doesn't have to be a chore, there's joy in it. Great video, I love this series.
Siel, if extra effort is too hard rn, id say plan on doing the meal prep, shop your stock and check for specials. Learning how to make eggos from scratch can wait till you and the newborn are settled. Even if it takes a year, just implementing some of Christine's suggestions will move you forward and you have years to continually improve
OMG! I absolutely love her kitchen floors! That is stunning tile! Thanks for being brave enough to share your kitchen, groceries, and budget struggles with us! We can all learn from each other!
Siel you are so brave for sharing! Thanks for being so vulnerable. You and Christine are helping so many!
I never thought a grocery budget video could bring me to tears! Love this young lady!
Siel, The 1st step is you are trying to get help. I live in Olathe. I recognized where you lived. Where you live can be expensive. Aldi is not as less always as less than Walmart. You can buy a whole chicken from Aldi for around $6.95, put it in your crockpot, fill it with water, use seasoning if you have it, cook all day and the broth at the end is your chicken broth. Plus you have chicken for about 3 meals. The chicken is good for casseroles, soups or pizza. You could make casseroles, freeze them and have ready for the baby being born. That way you don't have to stress over meals around baby time. What Christine said is correct. Another idea is google dinner ideas that are cheap and not very many ingredients. Southern Frugal Momma and Our Tribe of Many are helpful. My suggestion is to learn to cook well. You can make your own granola bars, pizza, yogurt, cream of mushroom soup, cookies, bread and etc. If you have a yard, make a garden. Start slow. You don't have to become a great baker, gardener or cook overnight but anything will help you. Becky, on Acre Homestead is a person to learn how to garden, bake and cook. Christine is amazing and I have been watching her for a longtime. Way to go, trying to change. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!❤
Another suggestion for people who over purchase is to do an online order. Then you are not walking the aisles and grabbing things that tempt you. Walmart is best for this as there's no price increases or fees for ordering online.
1. Plan your meals. What do you already have that you can use? What ingredients do you need to make those meals?
2. Write a detailed grocery list.
3. If you can, do an online order for pick up.
4. Allow yourself one treat.
Those are my suggestions
This! It allows you to see your total at all times. And if you have a budget you can easily take things out that aren’t a necessity that week to stay as close to budget as possible.
That’s how I cut down on my grocery bill. Online ordering while looking through my pantry. Less likely to buy temptation foods & extra food that I didn’t need.
You gotta be careful though as some places have higher prices online than in store.
@@Crafts4Othersit may not be the most frugal means of shopping, but can certainly help with impulse control.
Walmart grocery pickup could save some time, too.
She should give herself a pregnancy craving budget. I remember those and grocery shopping was a nightmare. Maybe $5-10 for it, guilt free. But then otherwise stick to her list.
Love that idea!
This was such an amazing video. Getting to see Christine help Siel is so special. I wish I had someone to help me 40+ years ago when I was newly married and starting out. No one teaches these things and is often a hard lesson. Kudos to Siel for reaching out and asking for help. And to Christine for helping her. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Acknowledgement is 50% of the battle....you've got this, Siel!!!
Way to be brave! It’s so hard to admit where we struggle, but you did it, filmed yourself, and shared it. You’ve got this!
Chickpea pasta does not spike your blood sugar as does normal...
@nesanesa9547 Not as regular pasta-true. For myself, it doesn't spike sky high, but it does push mine a little too much. We're all different. I use Banza, but only once evert 6-8 weeks.Each person will find what works for their body.
Hey Seil! You know what the is the upside of just starting on becoming more frugal?
You’re going to notice SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!
You’re going to feel so proud of yourself 😊
Congratulations on baby 💕
It’s going to be crazy and wonderful!
You approached this with such compassion and grace. I am so glad she was brave enough to reach out for help and so glad you are able to help her!
Thank you for showing us a real person's problem. Thank you for Siel being brave enough and smart enough to know she needed help - and to share with us. Good luck Siel!
I'm only 2 minutes in, but you made me realize something that I never knew about myself. I grew up in poverty as well, so I also have the tendency to over buy groceries. However the last few years I have been stocking up on lots of shelf-stable items because of that and the trauma from the pandemic combined. I have been fighting my city council for chickens or quail to no avail and I just realized why it makes me so fired up. Great insight, thank you 🙏🏻
Hey Siel.... We want an update in a few months please!?!? You got this young lady. 💪👏
I cried with her. The vulnerability, wow. Thank you...wish there were more human beings like her in the world!❤
I have so many food allergies in our family, including wheat, corn, eggs, and msg and nitrites. Looking at your substitutions, i wouldn't be able to follow a bunch of them--like switching to boullion powder, cheaper pastas. That said, i do flyer shop, and make as much as i can from scratch. A whole chicken can make 2meals for a family of 4, then i simmer the carcass in the slow cooker for 4 litres of broth
Same here. We have lactose and gluten intolerance and a whey allergy, plus grapes and legumes are not physically tolerated (they come back up). I cook almost everything from scratch with whole foods. Admittedly I buy organic produce often, and free range eggs. Living in Canada, most food is so much more expensive (like double the price) I have a veggie garden and still spend about $300 per week ($1200 per month). I do buy some dairy free granola bars for my son’s lunches and tortilla chips for my husband…and occasional gluten free/dairy free ice cream on sale (for about $8 dollars for a tiny tub, which is still highway robbery). There is room for improvement but that’s the scene here.
Opening yourself up for criticism (even constructive) takes courage! Way to go!! I was also one of those mamas that spent the first 12-16 weeks of pregnancy barely functioning. If I wasn't sick, I felt like I was going to be sick. It's survival mode at that stage... BUT, survival is only for a season. We eventually move out of survival mode and into thrive mode. With a few new skills and self-discipline muscles YOU can also thrive!!
I wholeheartedly second everything Christine said (household of 8 spending $800 a month here)!! I would add - 1. Set a budget (spending limit) for food each week. 2. Make a meal plan for the week. 3. Have a savings goal. If you are saving for a specific thing (medical expenses, a getaway with just your husband before Baby #2 comes, paying off debt, whatever it is for you) then it is easier to choose to spend less on food. For example, Fridays are pizza night for my family. I can make it from scratch for really cheap, buy frozen, or order take-out. I motivate myself to make it from scratch by thinking of the $25 I saved as $25 I just put into our "Future RV Trailer" fund.
Very nice comment👍
I can agree it’s much easier to have self discipline when you know what that saved money is going towards
I totally agree about the money management aspect of this comment! We started cash stuffing using envelopes and a small binder at the beginning of 2022. I don't have envelopes for the things that are automatically paid, like utilities, but allot money for groceries, eating out, pet expenses, golf, prescription copays, and personal allowances for each of us. We have sinking funds for vacation and home improvement expenses. This has helped so much. We no longer use our debit cards on a day to day basis. It makes you aware of how much you are spending. When the envelope is empty, you can t spend any more until next week. I really wish I had learned to do this 20 years ago.
Christine! I love your empathetic heart! You had me crying, because you were tearing up! I loved you already , but this! THIS put you on a whole other plain!
This is a beautiful video, one of her best.❤
You didn’t mention only cooking from her pantry and freezer for the first month. That’s what I did years back to jumpstart my grocery budgeting journey and it was a real eye opener! I honestly had no idea how much food I really had in my house.
I’d say she’s in a busy stage of life right now and she’s got a lot going on 😂 my contribution would be to start processing the meat into edible food-thaw three pounds of that ground beef at a time and make something like taco meat, meatloaf, burger patties, etc! Especially with a new baby coming ❤ good luck, Siel!
My kids call me a food hoarder because I am the same way. I joke I died of starvation in my previous life. Realistically, I had six kids and was active duty in the US Navy. I hoarded so I could be secure. Eating out was astronomically expense. Buying on sale, clearance, or discounted enabled me to feed my family for half what this viewer spent. What is challenging now is getting out of the mindset since my kids are all adults and independent.
It's not that I hord, but I grew up in areas that could make you isolated. You'd better have made up a solid emergency food shelf to handle those times. You need 3 to 5 days supplies to cover the number of people to be fed. A diabetic friend learned the hard way. Massive tree fell in a storm totally blocking all road access for 3 1/2 days. And no cell service. They had 1 can tuna, 3 tbsp peanut butter, 1/ 4 serving pack saltine crackers, and one can of soup. Leason learned. Please take this experience to heart!
I helped a hoarder client with this point of view. She also grew up with scarcity and could suddenly become less able and need convenience food and was a prepper.
I said she needs a week of food in the fridge, a month of ready foods in the freezer and a year of food in case of emergency. She's a good gardener and has seeds for after that. We compromised a year for her and her immediate family. Separating the categories really helped her stop putting more than she could eat in the fridge.
Spiel was so brave to reveal her spending. I admire her for wanting to change and being proactive to figure out how to do it.
She was just the sweetest 🥹. It’s so nice to see them reach out for some help. We’ve all needed help ar some point . Christine, you were lovely and kind to her.😊
Siel is brave and Christine is fantastic... what an outstanding place to find support. Christine will never make you feel bad for your choices. It's your money you get to prioritize it... she will, however, help you figure out your priorities and help you figure out compromises and other choices.
She's going to figure it out with your help! Once she masters meal planning, utilizing the pick-up option at Walmart helps stick to a budget and items on the list. No roaming aisles means less money spent on impulse items. She and/or her husband could also make the breakfast sandwiches a week in advance and pop in the freezer, make a big batch of pancakes and waffles for the freezer. Baked oatmeal with add-ins is a good breakfast to make once and eat for several days.
Meal planning and lists have reduced my monthly food budget a tremendous amount! Sticking to the list takes discipline and using grocery pick ups helped initially. Fast forward a year later and I’m sticking to my list b/c I know it saves money. ❤❤ God bless Siel and HUGE hugs and kisses to her and her husband for sharing their journey!! Keep watching FFM b/c she shows us how living on a budget is rewarding and delicious!!!❤❤
When you are sick and pregnant for sure give yourself grace. I bought things I NEVER bought just so my kids were fed. I was sick for 9 months with all four of my kiddos. Hang in there!!
Siel, pregnancy is SO hard, especially with other kiddo(s) in the home. Your reaching out is both inspiring and amazing. I’ve had to reel in other areas of my life that felt astronomically out of control, and half the battle is just that initial (1) knowing you could benefit from help, and (2) “doing the math.” Go YOU!
YES!! Siel is taking a lot of positive action!! Groceries are so high these days.. some items have almost doubled, so shopping sales is huge savings! One thing I do is write with a sharpie a small list of some meals or snacks that I have ingredients for like zucchini pie, guacamole, coleslaw, sweet potatoes, spinach, strawberries. This list is so I don't forget the hidden items I have to use before they go bad... it's my effort to prevent food from going in the trash vs on my plate. The list is in an obvious place on a "can't miss" kitchen cabinet and has been a good reminder so I don't have to think that much about my next meal!
I loved that this young lady was so honest in sharing her grocery bills. I like that Christine separated out the non-food items. Saw $7 for paper towels. I hope those last a long time. I use 6 rolls in about a year's time. Use rags or towels instead. They are simple to wash with your other laundry.
I really relate to this. I’ve got a PhD and I never learned how to meal plan because I went from Mom’s house to dorm and now I’m in my early 30s going “what’s meal prep?” 😅 I’m not a picky eater, I just have this mentality that I have better things to do with my time. My instantpot has been a godsend and one pan meals are lifesavers! Anyone with recipes for me, send them my way! (Note: allergic to mushrooms) 😊
We buy paper towels every six months and spend $16 at Costco I think. I don't always like to use cloth on things like picking up food messes.
A roll of aper towels lasts us for 2-3 months, too. Paper towels are used to wipe out the whirly electric popcorn popper, wipe out cast iron skillets, the very rare indoor dog upchuck mishap and very little else. I have a basket of microfiber cloths right by the sink and we use those instead of paper towels.
Hey Christine, can you do a follow up with this young woman? She's sincere and is really asking for help.
I buy the Aldi 6-pack of paper towels and that will last us about 2.5 weeks. I don't like to use them more than twice (drying something that's cleaned already) and then for the counter with a cleaner or to wipe up floor spills, then toss, because it's disgusting and unsanitary to reuse an actual towel for everything. I do use a hand towel for washed-hand drying, but that's it. To each her own for your own uses! (Edit to add: We also have an elderly dog that requires the use of a lot of paper towels and baby wipes, and I can guess that having a 2-year old also requires more sanitary and absorbent clean-ups.)
I think it's deeper than just childhood. This is literally our biology. Remember the story of the ants and the grasshopper. When you live in a place where crops grow seasonally hoarding food is survival.
I have full freezers and I grew up with plenty of food so there is def more to it lol.
Personally, I'm not going to stop putting food back. Not when the govt. Is clearly lieing about the economy. I'm just spending more. The best you can do is cut out luxuries, and convience foods sweet lady with her heart in the right place but there is very little in their pantry.
In 2022, i started my long term prepper pantry that we rotate and replace from. My mom was very aware of the state of the world and warned me that i needed to get prepared.
After 1.5yrs, i have finally slowed down. I still replace everything i buy weakly, but i have met my goal for 10 people if the SHTF. We are now filling holes with extra vitamins, first aid, meds, tools etc. Thanks for the great ideas and God Bless you all
Thank you Christine for showing so much love and compassion to this family and helping them and us!! I love watching content like this!!
Placing an online order for curbside pickup for most items has worked well for me in maintaining a budget. I still have to go inside for meat sales or for smaller trips.
That first step is the hardest, LITERALLY, admitting there is an issue, finding it and facing is huge, I admire the young lady for reaching out for help and thank you Christine for being there to help her and people like her.
Siel was so brave asking for help. It is hard to say I can't do this alone. One thing that I would change is the breakfast sandwiches. Siel said she didn't know what she was going to do with the rolls she boiught. Season some ground beef and make burgers, then toaste the inside of the rolls. Add, burger, egg and cheese. Freeze these for breakfast. It will save money and will be filling.
Thank you, Siel, for putting yourself and your grocery budget out there. You are not alone. You have lots of company! We hear you!
Took a lot of courage to do this, Siel!
Siel.. you got this we had this issue a few years back family of 7 spending around 1500 a month and not eating great. We got that down to 750 once we made a few changes and started cooking more from scratch. You got this 🎉
Brave people opening up their hearts & wallets for us all to learn from.❤
Both my side and my husband's side struggle with managing finances. Christine you're like a third mom to me who teaches me how to make smart money decisions. You've changed how I shop. You encouraged me to actually take the time to digest and learn money management instead of just ignoring it due to feeling overwhelmed.
Going shopping with my spouse actually saves money because he questions everything I’m buying and we end up putting things back. I always go alone so I can buy what I want. 😂
Really, REALLY great advice in this video!! I would add If she really wants to use credit cards to be utilizing the reward points I would definitely recommend buying her groceries online. I always love taking cash to curb spending, but it can get really stressful trying to add everything up as you go while you're in the store, plus tax, etc. etc. The online shopping is really nice to see your running total and you can add or subtract items once you're ready to check out. Plus, WAY less impulse buying while you wander the isles.
Aldi pick up is awesome
This young woman is amazing and strong and courageous. I can detail why but I don’t believe I need to.
❤ this video! Siel is amazing! She’s so brave to open up about her spending!
Sometimes we forget that others don't have the skills/knowledge that we have obtained over the years of practicing frugality. It's wonderful that you're helping people. One thing I have learned is just because a store says it's discount, doesn't mean it is. I recently went to a discount bakery that had higher prices than my local discount stores for bread. Really disappointing.
Years of practicing!!! Yes!!!
You're so brave to share Siel. And in many ways, you're in a wonderful place to make changes because it's far easier to find things you can change at your spending level now than if you were starting with a lower amount. We're all rooting for you! You've got this.
You can totally put homemade waffles and pancakes in the freezer if you're looking for that convenience later. We actually just put the leftovers every time we make them in the freezer and they add up fast.
“I need some eggs up in here!” That man is so darn cute!
Lil gal, I appreciate that you came to Christine for help. This will help your family thrive!!!!!
Have a blessed day❤️
Husband also has to be a willing participant & agreeable to eat what is placed in front of him! I'm a real believer in planning to use up what you have, down to the last tomato!
So true, my husband doesn’t like leftovers and I don’t like peanut butter so that deal goes out of the window.
But I cook everything from scratch and bake.
When cook potatoes and pasta I always double it . Once you have cooked potatoes and noodle it’s easy to turn them into meals in no time.
We halted our meat intake not because of the cost we just don’t care for it that much.
When I was a child way back when we only had meat on Sunday’s. Very common in Europe .
I am 75 and still very health . Of course junk food is never been part of my diet. We all can do with less.
I noticed some cleaning supplies. So I'm guessing this includes household, cleaning, diapers, wipes, etc. She needs to separate those amounts to actually see food amount. Christine made valid points. Most of us do this before we learn. And depending what stage of life we're in stuff changes. Being pregnant with a little one means simple is best. Crockpot, one pot and sheet pan meals will help you. Besides Christine, See Mindy mom would work for you. I find that prepping some stuff and making 2 and freezing one helps. That could help you for later. Especially for late pregnancy and after you are home from delivering the baby.
Siel, you are so smart to recognize this problem as your young family is growing! I will add my thanks for you being so brave to put your story out there for all of the thousands of young couples dealing with the economy right now. Christine is the perfect person to bring these things to because she has been right where you are. The lists and meal planning are absolutely a struggle for me too, and we have grown children and have been married for 35 years! I found The Tightwad Gazette when my first son was little and it helped me so much. Don't get overwhelmed! Try planning two meals this week, then three next week. Take pictures of your freezer and pantry to take with you if necessary. I hate writing things down, so this works for me. We're all cheering for you!!
LOL! Just got my copy of the tightwad Gazette last month. A little dated but fantastic just the same. The principle of being thrify doesn't change. Great this young lady reached out for assistance. One thing that might help at this point too, would be using what they have to prepare freezer meals. Especially since once the new baby comes they won't feel like cooking. I'd suggest cloth diapers too if they aren't using them already. We saved thousands using cloth diapers on three children.
Meal planning is big. One thing I would add is if you like "convenience foods," cook in bulk and freeze, so make three lasagnas at the same time and freeze two of them for later, make a huge batch of stew and freeze in family-sized portions. I make large batches of everything, so that most of the week I have homemade convenience foods. It cuts down on the work immensely.
Awww!!! I felt so bad for this sweet young mama!!! I remember being married at 18 with 2 babies and struggling so hard to feed my little family!! I hope she takes all of Christine’s advice and can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel ❤
One suggestion I have that was actually shared this summer on another UA-cam channel that deals with frugal living, is to download the app for Flash food. In my area all of the Meyer's stores are in the program. You go online to see what they are selling at 1/2 off and place your order for pickup the same day. You pay online and when you go to the store you go to the customer counter to pick up. This is food that is nearing its best buy date, or it is food that their vendors need to move out because they are over stocked. You can get some really good deals on meat and produce as well as baked goods. For example the store had angus hamburger on sale for $3.50 per lb. that was normally $7 per lb. I was able to buy 2 lbs. for $3.50 and I immediately put it in my freezer. The produce is packed in boxes for $5. Sometimes it is a mix and sometimes it is a fruit box or a veggie box. One box I purchased in the spring had 5 large mangoes and 8 pomegranates in the box for $5. If you have a large family or have the ability to freeze the food it is well worth it.
The helper and the helpee in this video are both brave and kind. Very helpful content.
So proud of her for taking charge now and asking for help. Groceries can be so hard. One thing that has helped me the last few weeks is ordering online and picking up. I’ve been so surprised how much I have lowered my grocery bill. I shop Kroger and when I spend at least $35 I get this service for free. I’ve started shopping pretty strictly by my menu and sales and online coupon availability. If there is a good sale or coupon is for something I use often then I buy several to last me at the cheaper price.
Ok first step is realising bad habits & changing them. This is awesome 👏 work! Amazing family & great tips from Christine as always!! ❤❤❤❤❤
This was a great show!
One thing that helped me cut back on overspending at the grocery store was to do the pickup service. I know Aldi's does not offer that. I am not tempted when I order just the items that are needed. It's so easy to wander in each aisle and throw things in the cart that are budget busters.
I wish they would teach things like this in high school, budgeting food prep, sewing, cooking etc. I know parents are busy today but there's still a lot that can be done to save money and time.
I just love her!!! We all need help with this. I’m soon going to retire and live on a fixed income. That has me looking into ways I can cut my food bill. So glad she let you tell her story❤️
I used to rotate meals especially when my children were young. I had hamburger night, chicken night, plan over night, etc. Then I rotated different meals on using my planned protein--i.e hamburger=tacoes, speghetti, burritoes, hamburgers... This worked great for us and we didn't get bored. Good luck Siel, your family is adorable!!
Sending so many hugs to Siel. I had hyperemesis gravidarum when I was pregnant with each of my 4 kids. It was very very bad with my youngest. I was going to be induced early because of it but ended going into a coma first and he was born via c-section. It was very odd and very rare and caused by an auto immune fluke. This will likely not happen to anyone else. I'm cursed. Lol. He's fine now. He's 8.
It may be difficult for them to cook from scratch right now with her being pregnant and sick and him working and likely helping with other things since she's not feeling well. I was not making steak and eggs or pancakes from scratch when I was pregnant and very dehydrated. These are great tips for later, but I think some of these will need to wait.
I had HG too. I’m still traumatized by it. There were several weeks where I was spending $20+/day on sparkling green tea lemonades from Carabou because it was the only fluid that stayed down. The experience of still having to force myself to function when I was so far from okay severely impacted my mental health. I couldn’t prepare food at all. My son is five now and I think I have PTSD from all we went through. This poor woman shouldn’t be worried about anything beyond survival rn.
When younger, I would totally have agreed with every grocery decision you have espoused, and have done them as well. But now, with SO many dietary restrictions, I do buy that brand or type of pasta, but in lentil pastas (chic pea is off my dietary list as well.) Lentil pasta is gluten free, and although it has a little stronger taste than wheat based, it is totally a good swap out for my diet. I was stoked to find several 'outdated', 2/3 the cost marked down packages of lentil pasta in our local grocery store, and bought every one. It lasted throughout the summer months.
I also buy the smart chicken or the 'no antibiotic ever' type upon my doctor's recommendation. It's more expensive, however I have been buying the whole chicken instead of the Styrofoam flats of specific chicken parts because it is so much cheaper per lb to buy whole. Check that out. I cut the whole chicken up into meal sized portions and freeze, and it saves me so much money to spend a little time cutting up chicken. (caveat: a really sharp knife is very beneficial for cutting up chicken).
Summer gives us great harvests from the garden, and that is also a way I cut cost a bit, and also know I am getting such fresh, great food, with no pesticides, which I can freeze or can for consumption later on. My tomato harvest was super this year and I have so many quarts of healthy tomato sauce. I try to garden on a budget as well, saving seeds, growing my own seedlings, using LED grow lights. I make my own transferrable grow pots out of newspaper, saving money there as well.
As far as the chicken 'stock' bullion, I tend to save the bones from cooking whole chickens to make bone broth which I either use immediately or save for later in the freezer. It is way more flavorful than purchased shelf stable broth, and cheaper since I am using something I already had purchased.
I also enjoy making my own protein bars, which is way cheaper than buying individual packages. Plus I know the ingredients in my bars. I have gained so many diet specific recipes first from Pinterest, then from FB Reels that it has been interesting and fulfilling to cook so much from scratch again, something I had gotten away from in my 40's and 50's. I feel healthier for watching ingredients and cooking from scratch.
Scarcity hit my mother, and in turn, myself. I continued as she had done all my younger life. But now, after watching so many minimalism videos, have gotten to the point where I have gone to a smaller satellite freezer in addition to the side by side fridge/freezer we have, using plastic baskets as drawers to access back into the deep recesses and use up what I have so that I can fill spaces again with sale meats and other sale items, and put them into the meal rotation. And yes, there's a little frost build up in mine as well. LOL. One of these days I'll get to that.....
Tip for shopping at Aldi: I am the only person in my household, so I bring one bag with me. I skip the cart and shop right into my bag. If it doesn’t fit in the bag, it stays at Aldi lol.
I keep my shopping list on my phone. I only add something when I run out or I’m very close to it.
I too feel more comfortable with a freezer and pantry full of food from not having a lot as a young person. Heading towards empty nest now and taking control by making an inventory of our freezer and actually using it! Feels good
Love all of these suggestions EXCEPT not taking your husband. When my husband & I go shopping together we always spend less. We have a competition to see who can cut more out of the grocery budget and make it fun. But I know we are the exception. 😊
When Christine says the chips will kill your budget and my brain automatically inserts the scene from The Lorax where the bad guy sings. Let it die. Let it die. Let it die 😂
As a lover of the Lorax soundtrack, this is hilarious!!!
I just realized that I also hoard food. I was unemployed gor several months and literally livedbom $35 a month
That didn't allow for much food even though food was cheaper those days. I would buy half a ham andake that all of my protein for the month. All my meals would revolve around that ham. I was lucky because ai did have a little pantry that helped stretch everything out.I learned to be really creative with my pantry.
Thank you gor this kind of video. It helps more people than you think. And thank you to the young lady for opening up to gain your knowledge.
She needs to try a “no spend challenge.” If I had all that food it would last me FOREVER!
Love to CL for being brave to put herself out there. Good luck and God bless you and your family!
This video helps a little. I meal plan every week and shop with a list. I think what kills our budget is snacks and we include everything in our grocery budget. I buy dog food, cleaners, laundry soap, personal care and it comes in around $1500 a month! OMG help me!
Thank you, Christine, for doing these grocery audits they are great to watch and really helpful. I second the lady's comment who asked if you could do a follow-up in a few months/year (whatever works for each different family).
Good job, Siel!! Asking for the help you need is the best step you can take! Good luck, we are all rooting for you.
That was so good! We're all pulling for you, Siel! There are some great tips here. If I were to add one, it would be to keep a running list of meal ideas to make meal planning easier. Once I started that, it has made it so much simpler and faster.
This is awesome! Good for you, Siel, for taking stock of your spending and trying to trim some. I'm taking notes! (Also, your kitchen is Ahhh-MAZE-balls, I love it.)
And Christine, you rule -- +10 points for Buffy sidebars. :)
Thanks for sharing, Siel.
Thanks for all the tips, Christine.
I never go grocery shopping without a list. My husband and I are retired, and we do grocery shop together. He pushes the cart and follows me around as I check things off our list. There still can be tense moments but we laugh about it. 🤪😁
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week.
We’re the same way- my hubby and I usually go grocery shopping together and it’s always a bonding/shared responsibility type thing. And he helps ME not to overspend! 😊
Having a good stock pile of rice, dry beans, pasta, jarred spaghetti sauce etc. And keep in mind that canned goods have best buy dates- not expiration. They last for years longer than you would expect.
Canned tomato products and pineapple start to break down in the can however.
Peanut butter- i keep 1.5yrs on hand- one big jar per month, date mark them and rotate.
Oils will last about 1yr past the bestbuy.
I struggled for years also because we had very little $ for food. I donate twice a month to our blessing box nearby. Alot of people are struggling right now
I love how shopping online and doing store pickup is great! It really helps as you can add things to the list as you run out or are checking your pantry. Then you are aware of the approximate total and prevents the impulse buys. In my area the store pickup costs $1.00 ! Totally worth it!
I love her kitchen. I’d put the snacks on the high shelves. Pretty soon she’ll have 2 toddlers to keep out of the snack cabinet
Omg the kitchen is so stinkin cute ❤
It took a lot of courage for her to admit how much she spends, and I applaud her for reaching out for help in getting the grocery budget in control. She’s certainly not by herself as so many families are struggling with their food budget with inflation today. Another big issue is not having experience with cooking from scratch, along with weekly and monthly meal plans. So glad she contacted you - it’s gonna get better! Sending blessing to her & the family 😇
Been in her place with the pregnancy situation. Lived on milk and saltines for over 7 months. Was still nauseous until 6 weeks after birth. But lets get down to the difficulties. Processed foods will kill you budget. I learned this week how to make corn tortillas and make my own chips. Also how to make pretzels at home. Refuse to buy things I can make myself. Blessed and grateful that I actually have the time to shop, plan and prepare meals etc. Does she have a crockpot? Crockpot meals are so easy and true convenience meals. I premake and freeze breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches and hamburgers. So much cheaper than processed stuff. Homemade pancakes and waffles freeze very well. Making meatloaf, bake two and freeze one for another time. I use left overs to make homemade individual frozen dinners. This works great at holiday times. So much food and what to do with it? Right. Anyway the program is great and kudos to the new Mom for reaching out.