Maughan - 100 Meals for $5 or Less

If youve picked up this book, you are someone who feels frustrated at how much things cost nowadaysclothing, cars, office supplies, utilities and more. All too often, it seems that theres never quite enough to cover all the bills and allow for the little extras that life throws at youfrom emergency car repairs to school clothes for the kids. Even families who earn enough and live within their means encounter instances when a few hundred dollars extra would really come in handy, perhaps to put toward a family vacation, pay down credit card debts or contribute to a savings plan.

Short of getting a part-time job or asking the boss for a raise, it might seem like theres nothing much you can do to change things. While its not too difficult to put off buying luxury items, theres no putting off the need to buy groceries and feed your family. However, many people are discovering that by cutting wasteful spending from their household food budget, they can make the dollars they do earn go further.

The time has come to take a good look at the money you spend on food. This book will give you tips and advice on how to trim the fat from your familys food budgetone of the few areas of spending you can actually control. Besides providing you with imaginative recipes made from low-cost ingredients, this book offers advice on budget-saving techniques such as menu planning, analyzing the psychology of shopping, the invaluable price list and more. In a few short weeks, you can develop some good shopping and cooking habits that will benefit yourself, your family and your wallet.

A recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the average American family spends more than $8,000 per year on food. Compare that to other monthly expenses, and the grocery bill usually comes in as the second biggest after the mortgage or rent. With an average of $700 spent each month at the grocery store, the average family can really use some help. The good news is that the familys food budget is the best place to cut wasteful spending. You cant easily change your mortgage or car payment, but with some planning, determination and a positive attitude, you can trim your grocery bill, become a smarter shopper and still eat well. Imagine cutting your family grocery bill by a third or even half! Think of what you could do with a few hundred extra dollars a month. With smart meal planning and savvy shopping, you dont need to get another jobsimply make your current income stretch a little further.

Imagine that trimming your food budget is a small part-time job. With a few hours of effort each week, you can save thousands of dollars each year, depending on how dedicated you want to be. The great news is that this is a part-time job that everyone can dono experience needed. Even if you only apply half of the advice presented here, youll notice a difference in how you cook, shop and save. Once you learn and practice these smart shopping and cooking techniques, itll become second nature to you. Since grocery shopping and cooking meals for your family is something you have to do anyway, why not have a little fun, try some new cost-efficient recipes and save money at the same time?

When my husband was in law school, we managed an apartment complex to make ends meet. We perfected the art of thrifty living; yet, as poor students, it grew increasingly frustrating to stare into the pantry at nothing but spaghetti ingredients. Sometimes wed walk on the wild side and have tomato meat sauce rather than garden vegetable sauce. I was determined to see how I could improve the situation and serve different foods, instead of spaghetti.

I quizzed my parents, who raised seven (well-fed) kids, and got lots of good advice there. I scoured my cookbooks for recipes that were healthy and delicious yet didnt cost more than spaghetti ingredients. Through trial and error and a little research, I was able to make it work. Slowly and surely, I figured out how to bargain shop and still create pleasing meals for my family. As a result, we didnt have to face three years of spaghetti, nor did we break the bank.

Even now, with three kids, two pets, a mortgage and a job, I still enjoy managing the food budget to allow for fun extras. I take advantage of sales, bargains and quality discount stores. I love to challenge myself to come up with great meals that cost pennies. Its fun, it makes the paychecks go further, and I love the compliments my family gives me during a delicious meal.

Anyone interested in saving money should really learn the art of smart shopping and budget meal planning. These recipes are some of the best around and use ingredients that are frequently on sale or are generally some of the least expensive at regular price.

For those of you who have never thought about trimming your grocery budget, the steps are set up in a simple, straightforward way. You can try a few to see how you and your family like them, and then try a few more. Quite soon, youll be noticing some significant savings and the quality of your meals will increase. If you are an experienced budget shopper, there are plenty of things here for you to try that youve maybe never considered before. Instead of dining for months on spaghetti, try some of these tried-and-true methods to save more money on groceries.

Your new part-time job is to learn and apply the techniques in this book and mix them with a bit of your own common sense. Take the opportunity to make a change and then decide just how youre going to spend all the money you save. Join me in preparing low-cost meals and saving a few dollars. See what it feels like to find great recipes that your family asks for again and again. Experience the thrill of really seeing an impact in your budget. I know you can do it, so lets get started.