Monday, March 02, 2009

One Frugal Gem to Trim Our Budget

Like most others I have been looking for frugal ideas to trim our budget. I have a few of my own tricks that I have used over the years, but I'm always up for a new idea. So when I got my Biblical Womanhood newsletter this past week, I was excited to see her "Frugal Friday: Eight Tips for Saving $100 This Year", a guest post by Hope Ware. As I looked through her 8 tips, I nodded, yes, yes, yes, those are all good. Each one seemed to be things I was already doing, or was aware of, and then I happened upon the gem (at least for me).

Institute a weekly baking day. Isn't that a great idea? I thought so too. I bake sporadically. I bake bread, I make homemade pizza, I bake muffins once in awhile. But I had never really thought about having a baking day.

Hope explains how she does it:
Each week, I use one day as a day to bulk bake. I bake 3 loaves of bread, 2 tins of muffins, 2 tins of cornbread, and any other bread that I might need during the week.

One reason I like to make a weekly menu plan is that I can consult it ahead of time and see what bread products I'll need that week. I always bake a little more than I think I will need. Muffins freeze great and can be thawed in small amounts for lunches for the children or for your husband to take to work.


How many times have I planned on having pasta and didn't have any french bread, foccacia or bread sticks? Which would have been a perfect addition to the meal. And I end up going to the store, rather than going without. Or how often do I buy a take n bake pizza or even order delivery--yikes! because I don't have a pizza crust already made up, ready to go in the freezer. I can see having a baking day will help trim my grocery budget, and save me time and energy too. I'm liking this idea!

So how 'bout you, my treasured reader? What gems of frugalness do you live by? What have you discovered recently that you are adding to your repetroire? It seems like everyone is trying to tighten their belts just a bit nowdays. I know we are. Let's share ideas with each other here at Challenges and Adventures. I'm all ears.




6 comments:

*carrie* said...

I appreciated the frugal ideas post, too. Something I'm trying to do in preparation before the baby is make double batches of things so I can freeze half. I should probably make that a "policy" all the time, as it's really not much extra effort to make twice the amount.

Joanna Barrett said...

Love the idea, Now I just need to decide wich of my busy days is least busiest to do it! :) I've been doing the menu thing before I shop for a months worth of groceries--I use the freezer ALOT and I try very very hard not to shop for groceries for an entire month--some months it works, some it doesn't, but it has helped me to keep the monthly budget for groceries under control.

gail said...

carrie--good for you in doubling up recipes. i need to start doing that too.

joanna--yes, the menu plan really helps with grocery shopping. i've been doing it on a weekly basis as i can't think up a whole months worth of meals at one time--lol.

Tracy Berta-daughter to the King, wife, mother, speaker, writer said...

Gail,

Hey girl! Thanks so much for all of your kind comments! Love when you stop by!

Blessings!

(Am I using too many exclamation points????????)LOL!!!

Alicia The Snowflake said...

What a great idea! I try to save money & be frugal. But life and schedules get in the way. KWIM? Thanks for the inspiration to keep trying!

Anonymous said...

I have done weekly baking off and on for a few years. It really is frugal and convenient for the rest of the week. Especially in the summer, because you are only using your oven once a week.
Toni