Money managing help

[I-like-food]

Thanks everyone for the saving tips. I think my biggest obstacle is going to be letting go of some of the meals I cherish the most. On the other hand, I think it's best that I do change my diet for the better of my overall health. I had some lab tests done and my cholesterol and liver levels are high, and my sugar level is borderline. These meals and money saving tips posted here on this thread are a Godsend! I hope to kill two birds with one stone; eating well to improve my health, and saving a lot of money! Thank you everyone!!

Sincerely,
I-Like-Food

[jpg7n16]

So what steps are you going to implement?

[disneysteve]

I think my biggest obstacle is going to be letting go of some of the meals I cherish the most.

Like what?

[skydivingchic]

Dude. DBF and I spend ~$750/month total for two people to eat (groceries and eating out included) in a high cost of living area and on a diet that is notoriously high cost. This is making no real effort to save money on groceries. Our grocery cart is filled with foods that only have one or two ingredients - meats, plain greek yogurt, fruit, veges, nuts. For the most part, we have elimianted pasta and anything with wheat in it, which tend to be cheaper options. I have a fast metabolism and am a very active, athletic person. I eat a TON of food to support all that. We have both lost weight - me through a diet/exercise combo, and DBF through diet changes alone. My blood work has improved (his probably has too, but he hasn't had it checked). We both feel tons better. My only shopping rules - nothing with wheat or added sugar.

I tell you all this to show you how outlandish your food costs are. If you stop eating out, your bills will be cut down significantly. Cut out the processed crap, and your blood work should improve. Also, you will avoid the sugar crashes and subsequent "HUNGRY - GIVE ME FOOD NOW" cravings. I used to have blood sugar crashes and you did not want to be the person standing between me and food when that happened. I haven't had those issues in quite some time now. Sure, I still get hungry sometimes, but if I don't get food for another hour, it is not the end of the world, I can still function.

I survived college on spaghetti. Seriously. That was my meal multiple times every week. I honestly do not miss it. We haven't had pizza in probably a year. Don't miss it. We don't deprive ourselves - if we want some ice cream, we go for ice cream. But it isn't an everyday thing. Once you get over the inital hump, things get much easier and you don't have the cravings anymore.

Spaghetti sauce. I used to make homemade spaghetti sauce with meatballs in the crockpot. Yes, it takes hours to simmer. But it makes a HUGE batch that can then be split up and used over time. The crockpot is your friend - learn to use it. You can use cheaper cuts of meat and you can make big batches of stuff to have left overs. Also, there is usually very little prep work - chop some veges, add some spices, put the meat in there and plug it in. Come back at the end of the day and enjoy a delicious meal.

So, that all is a bit random. The moral of the story here. You CAN do this. Cut the processed crap, start getting some exercise (start taking a daily walk around your neighborhood or something), stop eating out every meal. Your health and your wallet will thank you.

[I-like-food]

I'm going to first buy healthy food items in bulk. There are a lot of foods out there that are low calorie, but very filling and healthy at the same time. I have fatty liver build up and my physician told me I need to lose weight. I need to use several food items that are bought in bulk and make meals out of them; then develop a regimen that will work best for me. That's a start for now.

I love pizza, burgers, steaks, and a lot of meat. But I know that I have to let go or at least cut down on some of my favorites due to my health. Hopefully I can discover ways to make myself meals that are cost effective and will improve my overall health. I like spaghetti and would make spaghetti on occasion; however, spaghetti has to be one of those meals that I have to cut back on because of its calories. I'm hoping that in a month from now there will be improvement in both my health and the amount of money I have left at the end of each month.

Regards,
I-Like-Food

[jpg7n16]

I'm hoping that in a month from now there will be improvement in both my health and the amount of money I have left at the end of each month.

I'm hoping that for you too Best of luck!!

[Gailete]

Sometimes it isn't what you eat, but how much of it you eat. If you are pounding down a huge plate of spaghetti with sauce loaded with meat, lots of cheese, garlic or buttered bread on the side then yeah, not so good. But a dish of spaghetti with a cup of noodles, meat sauce with a pound of groundmeat in at least 8 servings of sauce, with a large salad on the side should be filling and still give you one of your favorites. This is one of the nice things about cooking for yourself. YOU can control the amount of salt and fats going into a product. When my kids were young and money was super tight, I could make one pot of spaghetti sauce with one pound of hamburger (drain it before adding anything else) and it was enough sauce to feed our family of 4 spaghetti 3 times and I had a husband that was Italian and could really eat!

You don't have to look at this as an all or nothing prospect. You need to improve your eating habits and it doesn't work if you jump in the deep end of the pool as you will be downing by the end of the week. This is why I suggested gradual changes so your mind and body can adapt. Wishing you success. Keep us updated.

[skydivingchic]

Use spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti. Healthier and far less calories. Plus a good way to sneak in some extra veges.

Another idea. DBF and I make something we call red italian stuff. All the stuff we like about pizza or spaghetti without the wheat and associated high carbs/calories. Take a pound of ground beef and cook it with an onion, some garlic, and some spices. Dump a jar of spaghetti sauce in there (read the ingredients - sugar should not be one of them, just tomatoes and spices), a can of tomato paste (again, read the ingredients, sugar is in everything), add a 10-oz package of frozen spinach (defrosted and squeezed dry), and whatever spices you want. Simmer for 20 minutes. Enjoy. This makes 5 servings for us.