Eating healthy.Saving money. Four words that seem like they just don't belong together.Now a days it is easier to just eat fast food and in most cases the healthier options cost more than the yucky choices.How does this make sense? I wish i knew but the only answer i really have is America.That is just how America is.I am here to tell you that there are ways though,they just take a little effort and some cooking, and you are good to go.Below I'm going to include four easy beginner steps to help you get on the right path for healthy cheap living.
Step one: Set a budget.Budget. Such a hard word to say when you just don't wanna and an even harder thing to stick to.Unfortunately in life,its a necessity if you wanna live a comfortable life with both fun and minimal debt.Sometimes even when you're loaded, its still nice to have a budget so that you can think ahead and put money away for your future or your kids futures.So sit down with that notebook,pen,list of bills,and your calendar and get ready to add em up.Creating a budget isn't hard.You just have to look at how much money is made a month, how much bills cost that month,and how much money is left over after bills are paid.Then you just take that money and decide OK,this is how much I'm gonna put into savings a month, this is how much fun money i can spend for this month,this is how much money we need for gas, and this is how much money we should spend on groceries a week..Once you have a number,its easy to keep to it.If you can be strong that is.Just remember how much more you are going to get out of life if you save that money and pay off that debt!!! It's exciting! To be free of those debt bonds and to have money afterwards to use as you wish,maybe for new clothes or that new TV your husband asked for last Christmas?I don't know about you but i can't wait!
Step Two:Create a plan. Create a plan? What's that mean? I've done my research and I've learned from both experience and stats that the best way to go grocery shopping with both a budget and a healthy menu in mind is easiest when paired with a game plan.This can be easy or it can become hard,depending on your schedule,your kids schedules, and your eating choices.For me,i only have to plan for two people but we are both trying to maintain a mass building diet so therefor our schedule contains a total of 6-7 meals/snacks a day. This can be a bit of a creative pain. So once a week i sit down and begin writing a food plan out.It starts with each meal,what each meal contains and what ingredients are used in each meal.Then after i complete seven days worth of meals,i begin my grocery list.... Don't start yet! If you just go through that list and write down all the ingredients you have listed,chances are you will go out and just spend and spend when you don't need to..First thing to remember when creating a grocery list is to always shop at home first! Go check your pantry,fridge, and cabinets for the ingredients on your list before heading to that Walmart or Publix! Often times we forget this step and end up buying extras or purchasing things we already have and it ends with thrown away items,ruined food, and thrown away money!So check that food supply first!
Step Three: Grocery Shopping. After you have created your weekly food plan,and visited your pantry for partial ingredients, get ready to head to the grocery store. Now i don't know about you, but for me this is hard.When i go shopping,i wanna go down every aisle and buy any and everything that looks like i might eat it.I've got to stop though! The biggest thing that people often waste money on is food. Not partying, or traveling, but FOOD.Crazy huh? Think about it though.How much food do you end up throwing away because its expired or gone bad? How many times do you go out to eat for dinner to find that easy route for the night? How often do you go out with friends to live life as a wild,young and free adult,but forget that the money really shouldn't be spent? More than we would like to admit.Lol. It's OK though.I'm here to tell you that is why we created that food plan. Now when you go to the store,you know exactly what you need and shouldn't have any leftover ingredients by the end of that week with items you didn't use.Its all planned out.You just have to remember to follow it.Stick to your list! or stick to your ticket as Hagrid told Harry Potter in the first Sorcery's Stone...Trust me,it's a key.Stick to it and you will be fine!
Step Four: Meal Prep. Grocery shopping is done,dealing with those crazy people at Walmart can be put off for another week, and you are finally at home where you can relax because you just saved hundreds of dollars by sticking to your budget and to your list..Not yet.The list is no good,if you don't keep up with it. Now again,this depends on your schedule,your kid's schedule and your eating choices but for me,it means prepping for those days that my husband and i both work.Its so easy to just grab something at work or swing by the closest McDonalds on break but its also the wrong healthy choice and hurts your wallet once you add it up.Think about it.2 people. 20$ a day, 5 days a week= 100$ in take out lunches for you and your husband a week! Add that up and its $400 a month wasted!!! Crazy right? So meal prep.That's my solution.Go to Ross or Walmart or even order it online from Amazon and purchase some lunch boxes and little storage containers.It looks silly i know, but trust me its worth it! Schedule a day when your free and set it aside for meal prep.Cook your meats beforehand and store them so that they only need heated up.Put your fruit and veggies into already proportioned baggies and the sides in their personal containers as well.Even grab a few labels and throw on there for easy remembering for those quick grab and go days.Another plus to doing this,it makes your fridge look neater ;)
After that,it's pretty simple.Just remember to grab your lunch boxes and stay on schedule with your food plan for the week and your all set till the next week.You can always change days around if you decide you want taco Tuesday to be taco Wednesday instead or salmon Thursday to become salmon Monday. Just try to stick to those recipes and use what you have.Avoid the grocery store till the next week and avoid eating out as often as well.With meal prepping,it should help make things easier for those lazy days when you don't wanna cook after a long day at work.
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