DiscussionsDiscussions in the Kitchen

Back to packing lunches and getting back to weekly routines- yes the kids are back to school! How do you stay on a budget this time of year? Tell us what wallet-friendly recipes your family enjoys.
Please share with us your budget savvy recipes, tips, and ingredients!
If you are looking for some budget friendly ideas, check out this link! 

Speaking of budgets, I also thought this was interesting to share. A few months ago, Adage.com said since the recession, searches for casserole recipes have increased. Now, at NPR.org, Gillian Guttierez says that the recession has everyone thinking about and eating more hotdogs. Is this true for you?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2009/08/indicator_more_hot_dogs.html

( Also, if you are buying more hotdogs lately and you’re in need some fresh ideas check out these recipes! http://www.pillsbury.com/search/searchresults.aspx?terms=hotdogs&tab=All)

Not only are we eating more hot dogs - I am also finding a number of less expensive ways to

provide meals and lunches and breakfasts for my family - we are eating more leftovers and

I am packing more lunches and snacks rather than buying out or from a machine.

We're not eating any more hot dogs, but we ARE budgeting our food a lot closer. We're having more casseroles, and at least one "leftover night" a week. This is good though, as I'm looking for new recipes that are budget-friendly and we get to try a lot of new stuff!

Yes! We definitely are eating more hot dogs! As a kid I remember having pork-n-beans with a hot dog sliced in and a biscuit for lunch. It was one of my favorite lunches! I make this as a family dinner once or twice a month. To save some money I don't pack my child a lunch, I buy a school lunch ticket; it comes out to $2.40 a day with milk included and it's a hot lunch most days. I feel that's less than I'd spend on all the items I'd have to purchase to make her a cold lunch. And by the way, have you checked out what's on those school lunch menus? Way better than when I used to get a school lunch. I still buy a bag of apples or baby carrots for her take as a snack though. Besides casseroles we eat soup for dinner. It's filling and heavy on the veggies. This is less expensive than planning the meal around the meat as I can use meat as flavoring not necessarily the main ingredient.