How to diet on a budget

I love food and I love cooking, but it comes at a price, and it can sometimes be expensive to keep up this habit, so as a grad student, I've had to learn some easy and quick ways to eat healthy and lose weight on a budget! Extreme couponing is too time consuming and too hard, so here are some tips to help you save! I love working out and so here are some easy tips to get in workouts where you can! As well as anything inspirational to get more ppl working out! If I had more money I would probably have a lot more clothes, so I'm posting some of my favorite fashion looks...just for fun! var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-30620136-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

[onabudgetdiet]

How to get the most bang for your buck

So your on a tight budget and your also very busy (o and did I mention trying to eat healthy as well??) Sounds like a lose/lose situation. WRONG! Well you can have your low fat cake and eat it too! When it comes to stretching meals there are two main components that come to mind: a. Small amount of prep b. have meal expanders handy A. By a small amount of prep, I mean look at your schedule, see what days are going to be the toughest to make food (you know the 12 hr work day doesn't make most people want to go home and prepare a 4 course meal...if for you it does, then no need to read further! Jk :) Tip 1. When you have 5 minutes, look at your planner and see what days you are especially busy?? Tip 2. Think buying in bulk. A family of 5 could plow through a pack of chicken in one meal, so make sure you buy plenty of your protein of choice to make it at once. To save money, buy the protein when it is cheap and put it in the freezer. Take it out a night or 2 before cooking it to de-thaw Tip 3. KISS (keep it simple you know what) There are a lot of recipes that are healthy and only require spices and a few veggie, so have a few go tos. Tip 4. Portion out your food when you are done cooking. You know you won't have much time to make food for the next couple nights (or the money to buy lots of protein!) so before you sit down to eat or prepare the rest of dinner, put part of your cooked protein in the fridge. B. Have some meal expanders around. Tip 1. Think cheap! Whole grains such as whole wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, and couscous. These are all very inexpensive/serving. Also, frozen veggies are very inexpensive and take only minutes to cook on the stove or in the microwave. Or go nuts and add both! By adding these meal expanders to your protein, you can really stretch a dollar and save a lot of time. Also there is nothing wrong with fresh, if you office had a catering event and you could take home part of a garden salad, just go ahead and add your protein :) Tip 2. Combine left over protein with another meal. This may or may not be time consuming depending on what you make, but it at least takes the protein cooking time out of the equation. You could make a chili in the crock pot and add left over cubed pork. So as an example, you come home late from work, look in the fridge and see grilled chicken...now what? Well it takes 15-20 minutes to make quinoa, so you start that right away, then put the chicken in the microwave or on a skillet to heat up and take some frozen veggies, put them in a bowl with water, and stick em in the microwave for a couple minutes. Once the quinoa is done cooking, you can put it all together, douce it with your favorite spices, or hot sauce. And BOOM! In 15-20 minutes your have a healthy, fast and pretty cheap meal. So skip the fast food, because your can get much healthier, filling, and cheaper options by following these tricks!

[onabudgetdiet]

prepping for the holidays (hint hint…start now!!!)

So I kind of went MIA for a bit, but no worries I've kept up my couponing and retail busting ways.  

With the holidays quickly approaching, I figured this would be a good time to start thinking about how to keep costs low, yet relatives' impressions high.

Tip #1: Plan your meals ahead of time (duh)…based on what you already have.

Here is the kicker; just because it looks good on pinterest doesn't mean you have to make that exact version.  Start by going through your pantry, freezer, and other areas of stockpiling.  Remember there are so many different versions of pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and stuffing that one can make.  For example, if you have almond extract instead of vanilla extract use that instead in your holiday desserts. This will minimize your costs immediately because people always forget to take in to consideration how much pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, honey, pumpkin pure, evaporated milk, and butter costs!  Individually it's cheap, but as a whole it can drive the cost.

Tip #2 Start your holiday shopping searches now!

The more time you give yourself, the more chances that your coupons and store savings match up.  Many of your more expensive items (MEAT) can be frozen through the holidays, so look for deals under $1/lb, this is where you can save upwards of $30-$40, of course it depends how much meat you need.  There are a few cycles of store circulars that you can slowly take advantage of.  If you need 30 items for holiday cooking, look and see what you can buy low each week.  Eventually you may have to pay full price the week of the holiday, but again, this will help minimize costs overall.

Tip #3 Take advantage of your friends and relatives :)

People always want to know what can they bring???  You can ask for the more expensive items, such as a bottle of wine, flowers, or a specialty meal that they love to make.  This way you can be cheap, without appearing cheap.  If you asked someone to bring the turkey, that one might be a bit much, but any of the others can be budget busters, that you can pawn onto your guests.

Tip #4 DIY

Instead of heading out to the craft store to pay way to much money for holiday decorations, see what you already have in your home, could borrow from a friend, or DIY.  Perhaps your are hosting your neighbors, and they have nice table covers, or extra holiday decorations.  For place cards, use your creativity on the computer.  There are so many website you can get ideas from (well mainly pinterest), and it saves you money.  

Tip #5 Get your family involved

Why hire help when you have your family!  Depending on the age of your kids, you can have them do chores to prep for people coming over, whether it is cleaning, cooking, or setting up the table(s).  

Now you can have a lovely holiday meal and time with the people you care about being around, and not breaking the bank!  These tips are also great to utilize for entertaining in general, it just happens to be near the holidays now :)

Holiday recipe (healthy remix): swap the regular bacon with turkey bacon, but all other ingredients are used during the holiday time, so it should be easy to make with left overs.

http://shrinkingkitchen.com/best-ever-holiday-stuffing/

[onabudgetdiet]

So you want to go orgo??

I have already dispelled the myths about eating healthy on a budget.  However, some people want to take it even further.  I am always going to be an advocate of getting the cheapest yet healthiest combo of food, but sometimes that means cutting out organic food.  Good news!  It doesn't have to be that way!  This post is going to cover how you can incorporate organic food products into your diet, without shrinking you wallet (too much).

1. Grow your own fruits/veggies (duh!) Obviously this is the cheapest way go to, but depending on where you live you may not be in the most conducive environment (ex: no backyard, small balcony, or no balcony.  Herbs maybe an easier option as they take up less room.  

I obvi didn't spend much time on this one b/c it's pretty common sense.

2. Whole foods has coupons??

Yes, this is true!  Whole foods has their own coupons!  Their coupon policy isn't quite as flexible as other stores, but you can still get cheap deals!  Type in whole foods coupons into your google search box and it will take you to whole food's website, and all you have to do is click the ones you want, print them out and enjoy the savings.  Some of the coupons on whole foods website can also be found elsewhere (online or inserts), and some stores may let you stack your coupons.  For example, if whole foods has a sale on almond milk (2/$4 on shelf stable almond milk) and there is a whole foods coupon for $1 off 2 quarts of shelf stable almond milk, and you have a $.50 off 2 quarts of shelf stable almond milk manufacter's coupon, then stacking the two would mean for $.50 you would be able to get 2 quarts of shelf stable almond milk (aka $.25/quart).  

It's much cheaper than you would find anywhere else, and there is something kinda naughty about what feels like scamming the system.  While all your friends are spending their paychecks to get the same food you have, you are spending a fraction of the cost at the hoity toity grocery store.

3. O how coupons have changed.  Watching extreme couponing it makes me upset to see the couponers putting their couponing talents towards junk (no all couponers on the show do, but most of them fall prey to this habit).  This gives the notion that there are only coupons for candy, chips, cereal, soda and pasta (and there are), but there are so many coupons out there now for much healthier and organic foods!  Newman's own is a great example.  This brand makes pasta sauce, salad dressing, even frozen pizza.  Stores are jumping on board with the organic craze, and now have sections devoted to organic foods.  All you have to do is use the couponing basics (get the coupons + find the sales= match made in organic coupon savings heaven.

So you still think Organic is too pricey…think again!  You have to be a bit more crafty, but it is very possible to start incorporating organic foods into your diet, without going broke.  Who knows, maybe couponing in the organic food market will become the next new hipster trend??

[onabudgetdiet]

So your good at couponing, now it's time to get your sig other on board

You may be the one doing an hour a week to save money on your grocery bill, but is there a way to get others in your life to take advantage of savings as well?

YES!!

It won't be to the extent that you are saving, but if your splitting your finances with someone else, PAY ATTENTION, this can be helpful for even the biggest "non-believers" or "I don't care-ers"

CVS (super easy to do)

Preloaded savings-Once you've gotten your CVS card and signed up to get savings online, then it's as easy as 1-2-3.  CVS will sometimes send you deals to your email that will say upload to card.  It takes about 15 seconds to do this.  These deals can be $5 off your next trip or even 20% off non-sale items.  So even if you haven't prepped your "honey" for a trip, he/she will already take advantage of the savings.  The downfall is it is usually only for a couple days, so if your sig other needs their special shampoo, razor, or deodorant, then check to see if you have coupons your can give them to help drop the savings even more.  

hint-anything you give them, make it a simple transaction (i.e a short list with the coupons in one transaction)

Rewards bucks

Always check your receipt!!! There are often CVS deals at the bottom of the receipts.  Tell your sig other to bring back the receipt and you can do the clipping.  The best one's are the rewards bucks b/c they are pretty much free money (I mean you had to spend money to get them, which is why I say pretty much, but not entirely free money).  

So after you've already preloaded the savings, made the list, gave the coupons needed, then give the extra rewards "free money" bucks to your sig other.  All they have to do is hand it in before paying.  They just might be amazed at how much can be saved.  Therefore, they have saved the money and had to do none of the work.        

Side note: may seem slightly                                                                                                                         unfair but then again can                                                                                                     relationships always be 100% 50/50

Giant

Gas Points

There is a little bit extra savings that can be had at the grocery store.  For those who drive a ton, Gas points are going to be your new best friend.  At Giant for every $100 you spend you earn $.10 a gallon for gas points next time you fill up.  There are sometimes coupons that come in the inserts for like an extra 300 gas points ($.30 off a gallon) for spending like $50.  In the circulars there are deals for buying certain products and getting an extra couple hundred gas points.  Well if you have a big truck, those gas points can add up.  Imagine what a dollar off a gallon of gas would be?? possibly 10 or 15 dollars off a tank of gas, or maybe for the smaller cars a few dollars off.  By the end of the year it could be an extra $100 savings.  So here is how you can get your sig other to use it.  The good news is that the gas points are automatically put on the loyalty card.  All that needs to be done is finding a gas station that takes your gas points (around here it is shell) and input your loyalty card first, then fill up like normal.  I wouldn't know if NJ had anything like this b/c i've never filled up my own gas in that state.  

Now you have some basic tools to get your almost as good as you half on board with couponing without the work (on their part)

[onabudgetdiet]

grocery store surprises and no sale neccesities

As much preparing as it takes to save some decent dough, there are sometimes nice little surprises when you get to the grocery store that weren't exactly advertised.  Even if you weren't planning on buying those items you might want to and you'll get a little bit extra savings.

1. Discontinued items--> these aren't bad or problem food items; it is usually a flavor or style that is being discontinued.  For instance a certain flavor soup or salad dressing.  These go for like 30% off the retail price, so it will help your savings %.  If it is an item that you particularly like or think you'll use and is non perishable, go buy it before it's all gone!

2. in-store manufacturer's coupons--> These are different than the catalina's that i've talked about.  Catalina's are manufacturer's coupons that print out with your receipt to be used at that store again.  These coupons are by the item that is on the coupon. So I wasn't planning on buying sargento cheese last time I went grocery shopping, but there was a coupon buy the sargento cheese and there was a sale on the cheese, so I bought it because I needed cheese anyways.  The problem is that these coupons can't be doubled, but they usually don't expire for a couple months, so if it's an item that doesn't tend to have a coupon from inserts or the internet, then go ahead and snag a few of the coupons (I mean come on, they are free-bee coupons, I just can't resist) and pair them up with the sales.  

   <---this is what it looks like

Now for the no sale neccesities

As much as I want to use a coupon and/or at least store savings for everything I buy that isn't always the case.  I am still trying to eat healthy and have the diet food that I need.  Most of this involves perishable items (there is really no excuse for paying full price for most of the non-perishable items) like out of season produce or dairy (meat can last a long time by freezing).  

          Just a side note…every couponers' fear (or at least this one) is that you buy something at one price week 1 and it's on sale and you have a coupon by week 2, but you already overpaid!!!

The best way to minimize excess spending is to understand patterns and buy short term.  The later should seem like umm duh and it is, but it's thrown in there just as a reminder.  The former isn't as common sense-y.  As far as patterns, pay attention to how often an item goes on sale.  If it something that goes on sale often and you don't need it that week, then wait for it to go on sale again before buying that item.  OR if you need it that week buy only a minimal amount, just what you need for a short period of time and wait for it to go on sale to buy it in bulk.  

It becomes a harder game when you haven't quite picked up on patterns.  This has recently happened to me with milk.  I love almond milk (it's lower in calories than skim milk with just as much calcium, less protein though), and there was a period of time when it went on sale and I had coupons.  However, it is a perishable item and I didn't haven't coupons for the non-perishable version, so I couldn't "bulk up" on almond milk (get it…couldn't "bulk up" b/c there is less protein than skim milk, vs. "bulking up" as in buying a ton of it…haha, my attempt as a pun).  Anyways, I was making out like a bandit, pretty much saving quite a bit on almond milk b/c of the store sale and coupons.  Well it stopped going on sale and my milk was running low, so when I ran out, I just bought one carton to get me through the week.  I have so many almond milk coupons, so I used one of my coupons and saved some, but with the hope that the next week it would go on sale and I could buy a couple.  Well eventually it went on sale and I was able to buy a couple cartons of almond milk. 

                                                       Moral of the milk predicament: Don't stress to much if you need it, buy just for that week and wait for the sale or if your coupon is about to expire, use it, it isn't going to be the difference b/w the trip to hawaii vs. the trip to the beach.  

Recipe

Tomato and cheese toasted breakfast: Inspired by the surprise coupon for sargento cheese (200 cal)

-1 100 calorie sandwich thins (100 cal)

-2 slices sargento thin cheddar slices (45 cal each)

-2 quarter inch thick slices of a big juicy tomato (10 cal)

on the bottom in this order: bread, cheese, tomato for both slices of bread.  Then toast in a toaster oven and enjoy.

[onabudgetdiet]

red hot chic by asaber featuring a leather shoulder bag

Bardot crop shirt, $52 / H&M blazer, $47 / H&M leather biker jacket, $47 / A|X Armani Exchange white straight leg jeans / Party shoes, $31 / Nicole Miller leather shoulder bag / Lucky Brand jewelry / Miso hoop earrings, $6.28

[onabudgetdiet]

Does Time Really = $$$

Does time really equal money?  Does spending more time in the kitchen or preparing endlessly for your next shopping trip mean you will be taking a hit elsewhere??  Unless you happen to have won the lottery and can sit on the couch watching tv all day while going out to eat every night, then for you time may equal money.  Sometimes just giving in for the cheap quick meal option seems like the best idea, regardless of nutritional information...hence why so many fast food chains still thrive.  It's the convenience and efficiency that we strive for because of all the overtime hours we put in, or the more time we are having to spend rushing others around.  So I guess time does equal money.  But that's still no excuse!

I often suffer from this dilemma as well, but i've learned some good ideas and strategies that can help to maximize (or should I say minimize) money and calories.

1. ANTICIPATION- this is key!! Look at your schedule in advance and know what are going to be the hard times to make that good cooked meal.  Not that anyone is perfect and can anticipate everything, but this can help avoid those last minute trips to Popyes for the family meal.  Just know some meals that can be made quickly and what foods are required to make them, so you can make a quick and easy grocery trip before hand.  In addition, go buy fresh fruits (apple/bananas/oranges) and Greek Yogurts that can be taken as you walk out the door.  There are always deals on different fresh fruits throughout the year and greek yogurt has plenty of coupons out there as well as store brands, so they are not as expensive as they used to be.

   +

   Dilemma: You look at your calendar and see that you are going to get home late from work a couple nights during the following week and know that you not only need to have food for your family, but also for yourself for the next day. 

   Q: How to anticipate??

   A: Congrats for looking ahead!  If you have a couple hours the day or so before you can prep some quick and easy meals that the only directions required are put in the oven at X degrees for Y amount of minutes.  Now this assumes that there is another responsible person who can follow 2 easy direction.  An even easier option would be to prep food for a slow cooker (and many veggies can be prepped a couple days (at the most) in advance).  Then the only thing that needs to be done is 5 min in the morning to put everything in the slow cooker and let the magic take over the next few hours.  This takes the work away from other people who might possibly burn down your home.  You could make this in larger quantities and BOOM food to get you through those busy couple days, with very minimal time and effort.

2. FROZEN VEGGIES- This is like god's gift to all the non-chef/busy/budget conscious people of the world.  Frozen veggies are picked when they are at their peak and then frozen to be used at your convenience :)  and best of all they are cheap!  You can buy packs that are 10/$10 and they make a great and healthy addition to many meals.  There are a lot of coupons out there in the wonderful world of couponing that make these frozen delights even cheaper.  Now I shouldn't just say frozen veggies, because the frozen healthy category also applies to many fruits, meats, and fish, which are essential to any diet.  Depending on the brand, frozen veggies can be thrown into a microwave for a few minutes while you are quickly cooking a piece of chicken on the stove top.  5 minutes later you have a healthy and nutritious meal.

   3. MEAL REPLACEMENTS:  Now this isn't to endorse every meal as a meal replacement, but they can be used when all else fails!  Get one of those bottles with the wire ball inside b/c it takes about 15 seconds to make a drink and if you are running out the door, then the lumps will probably get out on their own without much more effort on your part ;)  The Atkin's vanilla protein shake is a great balance of nutrition, but cost about $1-$2/shake.    

+

Dilemma: you woke up late to your alarm clock and need to rush into work.  There is a vending machine that you pass on the way to your office that will take all of 15 seconds to get a cheap and convenient pop tart from.  But being health conscious, you know that is not the best idea, just as you know that skipping breakfast and waiting for lunch may be an even worse idea.

Q: what is a super fast breakfast option that can be made in lightning speed and taken on the go?

A: a protein bar or a protein shake.  CAUTION: not all meal replacements should be treated equally.  Look for ones with high amounts of protein and fiber and low in sugar and carbs.  There is a good chance this might cost you more than make breakfast, but not much more.  I think they are good to have around for the lightning fast meal because they can be eaten on the go and if you choose the right one it still has the protein, carb, fiber balance that you need.   These meals are non-perishable, so keep your eye out for the coupons along with the store deals.  Even if you don't need them, remember that at some point you or someone else will so you don't want to have to pay more for them.  

So moral of this story:  You don't have to be a gourmet chef or have all the time in the world to make good nutritious meals.  You can still keep up your on the go budget friendly lifestyle without indulging in poor nutrition choices.  However, one thing to keep in mind is salt content...some frozen food items do contain more salt, which is why the fresh version is always better if you can.  

quick cheap meal #1:

shrimp stir-fry (time to make=5-7 min, cost of meal=$1.50ish, calories about 150-200 depending on the shrimp used)

7 medium frozen shrimp

1/2 bag birdseye broccoli stir-fry

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp teriyaki sauce

directions:

take the shrimp and put them in a colander with water running over it to de-thaw.  Meanwhile, spray a pan with non-stick spray and pour the stir fry in on medium heat.  When the shrimp and thawed enough, discard the tails and throw the shrimp in with the veggies.  Once almost done cooking, pour the soy sauce and teriyaki sauce in.  Then pour into a bowl or to go container for later.  

quick cheap meal #2

broccoli cheddar soup (time to make=5-7 minutes, cost of meal=$2 or less, calories about 170)

broccoli and cheddar tray (obviously in the frozen food section)

1 wedge light laughing cow cheese

1/2 cup unsweetended almond milk

1/4 cup f.f shredded cheddar cheese

directions:

follow microwave directions for the broccoli and cheddar tray.  Meanwhile in a blender, pour the almond milk, cheese wedge and cheddar cheese. Once the microwave has dinged, then pour the broccoli and cheddar into the blender.  Add more milk if needed (unsweetended almond milk is pretty low in calories)

Bonus meal: This is actually a hungry girl tip and I love it!

loaded lean cuisine 

1 lean cuisine meal under 300 calories

other half of frozen broccoli stir-fry mixture

direction:

put lean cuisine and broccoli stir-fry in the microwave for the amount of time on the directions.  Then take out of the microwave and mix together in a bowl or a plate.  Feel to see if it needs to go back into the microwave for another minute or so.  

[onabudgetdiet]

cheapest foods

Depending on your diet there are cheap healthy options for everyone.  Whether it's a low sugar, low-carb, low-fat, organic, diabetic, or just an overall healthy diet the options are there for you!

A couple things to remember:

Prepare and stay organized! Using your coupons from newspaper inserts, the internet, or catalina's (coupons that print out from the store) along with store circulars or deals can help to cut down on those costs. 

Regular food items aren't the only one's with deals...many food items that have regular and low fat/sugar/cal/etc, often have deals for many of the different varieties...sometimes it's only the low-fat sliced cheese that is on sale for the sliced cheeses or the turkey bacon instead of regular bacon that is on sale

So here is a list of some foods that i've caught onto that tend to be cheaper (and that's before they even go on sale!!) 

Bagged Rice--> this is something that buying in bulk is a huge money saver.  Rice has an extremely long shelf life.  I don't want to give an exact price b/c it varies depending on where you shop.  Look for brown rice, it is loaded with the right kind of carbs.  It also has fiber and protein to help keep us full with a well functioning digestive system.  Can be used in so many meals from stir- fry to chili to side dishes.  Rice isn't going to fair so well on a low carb or low calorie diet, but it is fairly easy to make and low in fat and no cholesterol

Tuna--> Canned Tuna is a great deal because it is great for a lot of diets, fast to make and of course cheap!!  There are often cans of tuna for under $1 a can.  Tuna can be made with mayo, carrots, and dijon mustard and put on a salad or a sandwich or even eaten by itself.  Tuna is great for a low carb-high protein diet and is also low in fat and calories.  Make sure to buy the tuna in water, not oil!

Beans--> You can buy beans in cans or in a bag.  They are a great example of food that is pretty cheap on it's own and often goes on sale.  A common theme so far has been a long shelf life and beans are no different!  So load up on this deal during those stock up sales!  Beans are also a versatile food that can be used in salads or chilies.  They are loaded with fiber and protein to keep you fuller longer.  However, it is a bit high in carbs and calories.   

Pasta--> Stick to the whole-grain, that's what will be best for fiber and protein.  Pasta also is a food to hold out for and buy during stock ups.  It can often be found for $1 for a box (8 servings) and lasts for quite a while.  Imagine how much you can save when you combine the stock up deals with your coupons?!?!?!?  Pasta is also just such a flexible food.  It tastes great with seafood, meats, cheeses, sauces or just butter.  Super easy for the lazy or lacking creativity eater.  Just be careful, b/c its way to easy to eat a lot of it and it's loaded with carbs and cals.

Yogurt-->Greek yogurt seems to be all the craze now and rightfully so it's thick, yet creamy, filling yet relatively low in calories.  However, unless you are couponing and happen to stumble upon a good deal along with it, it will be a bit pricier than some other yogurts.  The best greek yogurt deals i've seen end up being right around $1 or a little bit less for one 6oz container of greek yogurt.  However, regular yogurt can also be good for you, and even better for your wallet!  I'm guessing that because greek yogurt is taking off, other types need to compete, and not better way to compete than lower prices.  I've found deals that are like 10 yoplait yogurts for like $6.  Doing the math makes it almost $.50/container + whatever coupons deals you have could make it even cheaper.  Yogurts can be combined with fruits for smoothies, or with honey, chocolate chips, even cereal (if you're that courageous).  It is a good source of protein and calcium.  A bit high in the carbs and sugar category, but that also depends on whether you buy plain or one's with fruit on the bottom.

Eggs--> A lot of protein and no carbs/sugars.  It's great for a quick and easy breakfast or in a meatball recipe.  Eggs are also a food that goes on sale pretty frequently in some way shape or form; it maybe actual eggs in a carton or egg substitute.

  Bread-->there are all different kinds of bread that are a good deal.  Whole grain slices, wraps, bagels, english muffins and probably a few others that i'm missing.  Look for the whole grain slices for more fiber and protein.  There are some breads that tend to be pretty cheap and often go on sale (BOGO, buy one, get one 50% off).  Believe it or not, bread is a great stock up item. Bread can be put in the freezer to preserve it much longer.  I like to throw it in the fridge the night before and it's de-thawed.  

Cheese-->Sorry, but not all cheeses are the same.  Some can be pretty pricey. However, there are some that aren't going to break the bank and can be used in so many foods.  Look for the cheapest brands from shredded, to sliced, to string cheese, there is usually a deal out there that is even cheaper.  Often the low fat cheeses are on sale too and finding coupons aren't to difficult either.

Fruits and veggies-->frozen fruits/veggies are often cheaper than fresh.  You can find bags that are 10/$10 and they are easy to de-thaw/stem.  However for those foods that don't come in the frozen foods section or you just want fresh fruit/veggies, wait for them to be in season, that's when you'll find the best deals.  Currently, I can buy Avocados/Mangos 10/$10...not to shabby.  Or if you have the time and are in to it...grow your own!

 vs. 

Frozen fish/seafood--> Salmon/scallops=a bit on the expensive side, frozen shrimp/tilapia=much cheaper.  If you are sick of tuna/eggs and on a high protein low carb diet, these frozen foods can be relatively cheap and you can still feel like you are having an expensive dinner without actually spending a lot of money.

for more cheap and healthy foods check out: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cheap-healthy-15-nutritious-foods-about-2-dollars?page=4

Cheap recipe:

Tuna melt (entire meal could easily be made for about $1)

-2 slices of whole grain bread

-one can tuna (in water) drained

-1 tbsp fat free mayo

-1 tsp dijon mustard

-3 shredded baby carrots

-1 slice large tomato

-2 slices of cheddar cheese

-1 stick of celery diced

directions: combine tuna, carrots, celery, mustard and mayo in a bowl.  Put 1 slice of cheese on each piece of bread, then put the tuna on one side of the bread, then the slice of tomato and the other piece of bread and cheese on top.  Heat up a skillet (medium heat) and put the sandwich on, flipping after about a minute or 2.

Eat up, save $$

[onabudgetdiet]

elegantly classy by asaber featuring straw handbags

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[onabudgetdiet]

sexy or preppy with colors! by asaber featuring high heels

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[onabudgetdiet]

winter into spring by asaber featuring ray ban shades

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[onabudgetdiet]

how to combine coupons with store savings w/out making it a full time job

Today I went to the grocery store and saved a bit over 30%, with about 30 min of prep the night before...I think that's pretty awesome.  ok so here is how it works.  Start with your newspaper inserts (or your neighbor's or co-workers, whoever is willing to give you them) and clip the coupons that you want, then go online and "clip" the coupons that you want and finally collect your catalinas you've gotten from previous grocery trips.  Hopefully you've organized them into separate categories (as this makes it easier to find the ones that your looking for).  Then pull out your circular for your local grocery store.  If you don't get it sent to you then you can alway look it up online.  Now it's time for a matching game!!

Going section by section in the circular look and see what deals you want and if you have coupons to match it.  I try to match my coupons as soon as possible b/c you don't want your coupon to expire!  This will be the way to get the most bang for your buck...aka most savings.  When going to the grocery store I keep my coupons in an envelope that I know I can get deals with from the circular, so i'm not going through and scrambling at the checkout.  However, I do always carry my small, but organized to-go accordian folder in case there are deals that weren't in the circular so it will be easy for me to track down the coupon I need and put them with the rest of the coupons i'll be using at checkout. 

For example:  If Brand X bars usually retails for $2.50 a box and is on sale for 2/$4 then that means you will save $1/2 boxes or $.50 a box.  Now, if you have a coupon for Brand X that is $1 off a box of Brand X, then you can combine the store savings with the coupon and get 2 boxes for $3.  Originally you would have paid $5 for 2 boxes, but you saved $2 combining both the store savings and coupons.

or in easier visual terms:

Brand X: $2.50/box

Brand X deal: 2 boxes/$4 or each box is $2

Brand X coupon: $1 off a box of Brand X

Coupon with store deal: 2 boxes for $4 (store deal) - $1 (coupon)=$3 for two boxes

Example 2->doubling: let's say that Brand X was a coupon for $.75 off a box instead of $1.00 off.  That $.75 might actually be worth more money through doubling.  Doubling means that the store with double the value of the coupon, and in this case it would be worth $1.50 and 2 boxes of Brand X would cost $2.50 instead of the retail price of $5.00 (that's 50% savings!!!).  First rule in doubling...check your store's coupon policy. Often you can only double on coupons up to $.99 and you often can't combine coupons.  Also if a coupon says not subject to doubling, as the catalina's often say, then the coupon can't be doubled.  

Brand X: $2.50/box

Brand X deal: 2 boxes/$4 or each box is $2

Brand X coupon: $.75 off a box of Brand X

Brand X coupon doubles: $1.50 off a box of Brand X

Coupon with store deal: 2 boxes for $4 (store deal) - $1.50 (coupon)=$2.50 for two boxes

I know this might seem like a lot of math, but it's a great way to sharpen those mental math or calculator skills...and over time you learn how to do this really fast, and saving time saves $$$

Good news for dieters...there are often foods that are actually healthy for you that you can get through coupons...FiberOne has a lot of coupons out there, there are some soy/almond milk products with coupons, laughing cow cheese wedges, greek yogurt...These are all healthy foods that you don't have to pay retail price for!!  Just put in about 30 min a week...that's all you need to save you some big bucks...And although fresh produce savings doesn't come in coupon form, frozen ones often do and they last a lot longer, also there are sometimes catalina's that say something like spend $20 in the produce section and get $5 off your next transaction...Still an awesome deal, given that being the savvy shopper that you are you are already saving $$ in produce from the circular deals.  

Coupon recipe: Tuna melt! (300 cal)

What you'll need:

-2 slices of light bread (pepperidge farm coupon)

-1 5 oz can Tuna packed in water (bumble bee coupon)

-2 laughing cow cheese wedges (from laughing cow coupon)

-1 tbsp fat free mayo (using hellman's coupon)

-1 tsp dijon mustard

-lettuce, tomato, 1 tbsp diced celery, 3 shredded baby carrots

Let's put it together:

1. Spread a wedge of cheese on each slice of bread, then put in toaster to desired crispness

2. In a bowl, mix the drained tuna, celery, carrots, mustard, and mayo, can add pepper if desired or cayenne for a spicy kick

3. put tuna on top of one slice of the bread, then the lettuce and tomato, then put the other piece of bread on top for your ubber delish tuna melt!  If too messy to eat, then eat it as two open face sandwiches.  

[onabudgetdiet]

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[onabudgetdiet]

casual by asaber featuring denim shorts

Wrap shirt, £49 Quiksilver denim shorts, $50 Phase Eight flat sandals, £59 TOMS slip on shoes, $54 Fossil sunglasses, £59 Wet Seal fedora hat, $13

[onabudgetdiet]

cowboy chic by asaber featuring a matte eyeshadow

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[onabudgetdiet]

Thought it would be fun to include some fashion ideas!

daytime chic by asaber featuring gold jewelry

Mary Portas long sleeve shirt, £70 AllSaints leather jacket, $495 Kookai low rise jeans, £69 Dorothy Perkins high heel pumps, $57 Suede platform pumps, £33 Gorjana gold jewelry, $105 Polka dot scarve Madewell fedora hat, $58 Diane von Fürstenberg plastic sunglasses, $150

[onabudgetdiet]

couponing...so where do I get them?? + bonus recipe with easy to find coupons

For those of you who don't religiously watch extreme couponing here's a bit of a summary to actually acquire the beloved coupons. On the show some ppl dumpster dive or steal newspapers from neighbors, print coupons out from like 10 different computers, but that's not necessary for the average money savers.  Also, some of the items they are buying aren't going to help your diet!  Don't get me wrong, they hardly spend any money, but for many of them couponing is essentially their job and it takes up 40+ hours a week.  I spend about 30 min once a week couponing, that's it...30 minutes!! In addition to using my bonus card I also try to use coupons, which adds an extra $15-$20 of savings.  You could easily save more than that with coupons, but I try to get the most bang for my buck and match up coupons with items already on sale.

So without further adu, here are tips for getting coupons:

online--> there are many sites that you can sign up for an print out coupons.  some of those sites are www.coupons.com, www.dailygrocerycoupon.com, and www.couponmom.com.  That's just to name a few, but they have everything you might find at a grocery store so not just food and beverages, but also household and personal care products.  These sites often require you to sign up before printing them out and you have to install the printing software to actually print.  Some store have instore coupons like target and even whole foods!  Not all coupons are for junk food...yeah!!!  There are sometimes coupons for whole grain cereal, soy milk, V8, green tea.

                                             apps-->there are some apps you can get on your phone that will save you from even having to clip coupons.  The one that I use is savingstar.  I know what your thinking how does that work??  Well you click on the coupons that are offered and like up your bonus card to your local store and whenever you buy that item that deal goes towards your savingstar account and can be used towards a paypal account, bank account or even stores like amazon.  so for your eco-friendly ppl who dont want to print this is a good app for you!!

Newspaper inserts-->ok here is where the big savings are!!  don't just throw away the inserts that come with the sunday paper or else your practically throwing away free money!!  There are soo many savings in here, there are all types of foods from cheese and dairy to soups and yogurts, fiberOne products.  So many healthy foods are packed into these inserts, so get your scissors ready!

catalinas-->ok last but not least, catalinas...what are they?? they are the pieces of paper that come out with your receipt.  These are also free money so don't just throw them away.  Catalina's have a variety of deals.  Some of the deals from catalinas that you might not get from other coupons are deals on produce (ex. spend $20 in produce and get $5 off next transaction), get $2.50 off next order if buying a certain number of a few different products.  Some of the catalinas are advertised in the store by the actual products and some are nice surprises, especially the one's that just say $2.00 off next purchase!  

So now that you have all these tips for getting coupons go buy a small accordian so you can organize your coupons.

so here is a hungry girl inspired bonus recipe with some common coupons:

grilled cheese and tomato soup (340 calories)

ingredients:

-6 sprays of I can't believe it's not butter spray

-2 slices of light bread

-dash of garlic powder

-2 wedges light laughing cow cheese wedge

-1 slice thin sargento provolone cheese slice

-1 handheld low sodium tomato soup

directions:

Spread a wedge on each slice of bread, put the provolone cheese in the middle.  Spray the top of the bread with the spray butter then a dash of garlic powder, and same with the bottom.  Then put in your panini maker or on a skillet with non-stick spray and flip after about a minute.  Meanwhile, follow the directions on the tomato soup to heat up in the microwave.  Enjoy your budget and diet friendly food!  (not to mention, super fast!)