Christine I think you're doing an amazing job in pointing out how difficult it can be to feed a family on a very tight budget. As well as providing options to stretch the dollars and pointing out resources that may be available to assist. I think you should continue to do week 3 & week 4 .
When I bake in a Dutch oven I put my formed dough on the parchment on the counter while its resting. That way I dont need to touch the dough again. I just lift the parchment with the dough on it and put the whole thing in the Dutch oven together. This is a great video, thank you for all the tips!!
I love these videos. Back in 2010-2012 I was in this very position New mum, husband and baby. We had 1 income and $60 a week to feed us. That’s not just food that’s toiletries and cleaning aswell.. nappies, wipes and formula was another $50. I spent $30 of the groceries budget at food barn. My friend and I would load 3 kids and both of us into my tiny car and drive to get our groceries. Together we would share/swap out our free fruit and veg boxes to suit our tastes without either of us throwing food away. I learnt how to freeze and be creative with meals. We had meat every night. One whole chicken was cut raw and made into 3 meals with left overs. Small packet of ham or bacon turned into fried rice about 3 times a week
Someone might have commented already, but Angie from This Gathered Nest turns the dough out onto the parchment paper to "knead" it and then is able to lift it up via the parchment and put it into the pot. That way it stays nice and formed and you don't get your hands icky again!
I always enjoy watching the grocery challenges, but I've always wondered why no one does a whole month challenge. You are at $114 right now, so lets say you have a budget of $228 for a month. If you spend half or so the first week, you can stock up on a lot of the staples and you can buy the larger size at a better price instead of rebuying the smaller size again later that same month. Or you could have picked up 2 of the discounted ground beef/pork packages. I've watched you long enough Christine, that I know you know this and you are incorporating this a little bit in this challenge, but I would enjoy seeing a well thought out monthly plan. I also think it would be helpful for people who don't cook a lot to know they can cook a large batch of rice or beans and they can freeze some for a meal next week. Or like you did with the bread, it doesn't take any more work to make 2 loaves instead of 1. As prices continue to climb, this becomes more and more important for people. Thank you Christine for all you do!!
We go to Sam's Club once a month to kind of stock up but we also bought a whole cow this year. As a family of four we eat really really good. The stock up we spend about $300-400 so monthly including the cost of the cow throughout the year we spend about $600 monthly. We were spending almost $800 monthly before we started doing the bulk buying once a month, it makes a huge difference. I like watching these budget hauls for ideas though but I can hardly ever find any clearance items. Started making some breads and rolls from scratch recently though it makes a big difference.
Thank you so much for this video. I actually cried on this one. It is overwhelming and so stressful when buying groceries these days. Even receiving public assistance is challenging to stay within that particular amount. I'm thankful to have learned to have a small garden and at least can or freeze some of it. It's still hard, and I appreciate you making this. Please keep them coming, you're inspiring to so many. We can get through this, together
When soaking your raisins add a splash of vanilla, delicious. Great series. I really appreciate that you always mention for people to reach our for assistance.
Great idea! I soak my dried fruits in apple juice or some other fruit juice. Then I'll warm up the remaining liquid and use it instead of water to give the bread extra flavor for not much more money.
I agree about mentioning assistance. When I was pregnant and my kids were little, we had to depend on WIC often and I was always so embarrassed. It seriously makes me tear up a little to hear someone mention it like it really is no big deal. Thank you, Christine.
When I first got married i had to feed a family of 3 and stretch a budget $88 a month for food and drink. It was super hard. There were days we had to actually eat with my husbands family. I really value the videos you do. I just wish I'd have found your channel 6 years sooner.
Thank you for sharing tips and tricks for how to stay in budget! We have 4 adult size people in our house. We live about 45 minutes from the closest discount store. We are fortunate that our local grocery store offers “Budget Bundles” on certain cuts of meat. You can get 4 packs of meat for $19.99. They usually offer a nice variety of things. I typically buy 3 bundles which will get us through the month. I add in any kinds of fruits and veggies that might be on sale. I hit up the discount bread racks for bread and a local church hands out Costco overstock bread, buns, bagels etc… FOR FREE every Friday and Saturday! My mom has a farmer that donates eggs every Sunday. She usually grabs a couple of dozen for us! If you throw in other staples such as household and personal care itemsI usually spend around $200-$300 a month for the 4 of us! My budget is $400. I usually save the difference for eating out or picking up a better cut of meat not offered in the “Budget Bundle” as a treat!
@@katherinelauer4666 my ADHD meal prep tip is make lists of meals and shop for those items, but don't assign meals to days. So I make a list of approx 5 dinners for the week (leaving room for leftovers, having to be out of the house or snacky dinners where we eat up little bits of whatever leftover and cheese, 🍿, fruit...) and then I buy those ingredients, trying to focus on what I find on sale and also trying to use up the same meats and such for ongoing meals (like buy a cheap rotisserie chicken, eat chicken for one meal then make soup for another meal with the carcass. Or chicken/mayo salad with the little bits of leftover chicken off bones then make bone broth). I also make a breakfast list of usually 3 breakfasts (no cold cereal unless it's a GREAT SALE, it's not cheap!) And a few lunches and lunch staples like bread, PB, jelly, pretzel, fruit. That way I am using a meal plan for shopping but I have a lot more flexibility.
When we were first married 48 yrs ago we use to get 1 large can bean with bacon soup, we sauteed a onion and garlic powder added a can of diced tomatoes juice and all then the soup and water we cooked it about 30 min and had that with crusty bread, try it it's really good. And yes please continue the budget grocery hauls.
Love these tips! My church just completed a financial class for some of our lower income families in the congregation and my friend and I will be teaching essentially a “Home Ec” class using the tools they learned in their financial class. She will be teaching how to keep and maintain a clean home on a budget and I was going to be doing grocery and food prep. These videos are a great tool I plan to take tips from to pass on, as well as suggest the attendants to watch for themselves as well! Ultimately going to the store with a bit of a meal plan is very helpful instead of going in and buying willy nilly. And having these meal ideas will help so many people see that you can stretch the dollar pretty far, despite the crazy inflation prices.
You could save a little bit more money by making a cream sauce with milk, flour, etc instead of buying cream of soup and cooking your own black beans (which I know you usually do). Love your videos! They are great inspiration for the already frugal person and excellent information for people learning to be frugal. Yes, please, week 3!
Love your videos. It's like talking to a girlfriend in her kitchen while she cooks. I'm definitely trying the bread recipes. Please continue the low budget weekly grocery hauls. I really appreciate them and learn a lot.
Honestly seeing how grocery prices have risen is so scary. I appreciate your content showing how family's can stretch their budget and giving various tips and tricks to help with how things have been.
Pantry staples are so important. Once you have a few herbs, spices and seasonings, all of a sudden those bland meals come to life. This little series is really interesting. As always, bringing great life skills to to educate us.
Thank you! Great ideas and the advice for food pantries is critical right now! Seniors like me need to move past the embarrassment and get the help they need❤️
My mom goes every month and they are as nice as can be. She honestly feels a little guilty with how much they give her but she gets to pick and I have peace of mind that she’s getting good food. I do what I can to preserve things for her so nothing goes to waste. I even take her “leftover” milk that’s almost at expiration (still good!) to make her farmers cheese and yogurt. If she thinks it’s getting ready to spoil, I’ll freeze, can, or dehydrate for her. I’ll even take the leftover fruits and make jams and jellies for her. She gets to put things away that’s now shelf/freezer stable and increase her pantry stock. No need to be embarrassed. We need to take care of our seniors.
Yes ! This is a fantastic series 👏 please keep going. One of my older men friends complained lol that all I ever posted on Facebook were photos o food cooked, purchased, eaten etc. I laughed. And said a) at least I am not gossiping , bragging b) food costs are among the few we can control c) I like saving money and eating 😋
A week 3 would be great and a 4th to complete a month, I would be interested in how many supplies you have left going forward, like Salt, yeast, flour etc. Although you spent a bit more it is still cost effective the way you shopped for items. Wonderful job!
I was like “wait, I see the cumin in the more expensive spices!!!” But you didn’t hear me lol 😂 but anywho, I adore you and I’m loving this series!!! Being a Mom of 3 beautiful girls, and wife to a hubby who loves food too, im really trying to shop smarter with the price increases!!!! So ty so much for all the tips and help!!!
I saw it in the tins immediately. But from personal experience, Kroger's tins spices are not that fragrant. Even the dollar spices at Aldi or Walmart are better.
I'd never tried making no-knead artisan bread until I found your channel in 2020. I live in south FL, and after a couple attempts, learned that six hours is about the most I need to let the dough sit (outside on the patio), any longer than that and it doesn't rise as well for some reason.
Appalachia's Homestead has a biscuit recipe that uses potato water instead of milk. I tried it, and I couldn't believe how well they turned out. As we face dairy shortages and increased prices, these kinds of recipes are very valuable. You should try the recipe. 🙂
Hello Christine...Greetings from Canada! I enjoy your videos and marvel at the way you can feed your family so well on so little! I make my own bread and would like to offer a suggestion for rising bread in a cooler climate. I rise mine in the oven but I put the light on. It keeps it slightly warm and the temperature is consistent. Works for me every time!
My husband and I are eating low carb (approx 50 g) and intermittent fasting. It’s definitely helped cut down on our grocery bill since we don’t eat breakfast or snack, but It’s hard to keep the budget low when a lot of the cheaper items are very high carb. Luckily I’ve got squash, zucchini, green beans, okra, peppers, and cucumbers coming out of my garden and will soon have lots of tomatoes. We also got 8 chickens last year that I’m so thankful for with how high egg prices are. We have a lot of breakfast for dinner and crustless quiche to save on meat prices.
Here's a budget meal I made last night. I halved 8 small medium poblanos,parboiled and laid in the bottom of a large rectangular baking dish. I fixed 1 box of Mexican rice a roni and put that on top of the peppers. I then shredded half a block of mozzarella and popped underneath the broiler to melt. Served 4 adults with enough leftover for 2 lunches. Served with a salad.
My goodness those bread 🍞 looked absolutely delicious definitely going to give them a crack at making these at home. Also yes please continue with week 3 and 4 to see what the difference is between now and 10 years ago in pricing ☺️
These videos are so helpful! I hope that you do a week 3 video. It’s also strangely encouraging that even a person like you with so much experience and creativity are struggling to find affordable prices for food. We are not alone. It’s ok to ask for help.
Your family is so blessed to have you as their Mom. I remember my Mom making homemade bread. It smelled so awesome!! She made cinnamon rolls to die for!! They were carmel nut rolls. 💞💞
I love all of these low budget tips! I love to see you get really good deals too! I check my clearance rack every time and the other day scored a family sized bag of M&M's for $.99! I also get my marked down bell peppers and either make stuffed peppers or cut them into strips for the freezer. =)
as a Diabetic with a budget of $20 a week it is a challenge, a box of commodities from the government every month, my small garden (15ft by 15ft), food bank once a month it can be done.
Thank you for mentioning the WIC program and other sources. It has helped me tremendously. I will say no one should be embarrassed to seek assistance whether it be financial or food related. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the awesome content ❤️
Yes please continue with week 3. There will be food left over from your initial stock up and this week. It's so interesting to see what creative things can happen with the remaining ingredients
You can use potatoes to replace the crusty bread if you don't have the supplies to make it. Potatoes can also be diced, sliced, or shredded for fried potatoes at breakfast or lunch. Remember to use WIC, food stamps, and pantries and ask churches, libraries, rec centers, and schools may have help also.
If you get plain Greek yogurt you can flavor it with frozen berries or fresh whichever is on sale. And then also use it as a sub for sour cream. I like to thin it out with some lemon or lime juice add some cilantro and salt for a nice pop of flavor on tacos
Artisan Bread with Steve has a lot of no knead recipes on his channel for variety. Love his recipes. A little extra sour cream and box of onion soup mix would be great as a veggie dip. We prefer the Knorr spring vegetable soup mix for that dip though. Still, it makes eating raw veggies better cheaply, it goes a long way.
Please continue with a week 3. I know we can’t get as close to the dollar amount as before when your family was smaller but I think you give some great frugal meal ideas!!
@@Ambassador4Christ625 I made it yesterday for breakfast today. Can I tell you it took willpower for 5 people not to cut into that bread. It is delicious!!
Please continue the series. I know that so many are finding it helpful. Also wanted to mention that Dollar General is a cheaper place to pick up the smoked sausage. Many times they have a digital coupon which is even better. It’s really sad at the price of grocery’s lately, things that were once affordable go to’s are no longer an option. Like cabbage, it is $.89 lb compare to $.25 lb not long ago. Praying that this is just temporary.
One of our local stores has a decent international spice section that I always go to first when I need something. They have about 4-5 different sizes you can buy the spice in, so if it's just something you need for one recipe you can buy the tiny bag. But what I love the most is buying the two larger-size containers of what I use all the time. The savings are awesome. Always worth checking that international aisle! I think this series is a perfect one and you give lots of excellent tips (and reminders) on shopping on a budget.
Christine - that bread looks amazing - can't wait to try... this is a great series... it reminds me of how happy I am to continue to stock up on pantry staples... I also think that dry beans are cheaper - I would have done black beans in my instant pot for the week and had enough for both meals... but not every one likes to do dry beans so I get it...
Thank you for all the wonderful tips!!! I have a tip about getting bread to rise. Turn the light on in the oven, put the bread dough in a metal bowl if you have one, put the bowl in the oven with just the light on and let it rise for about an hour or so. The temperature with just the light being on in the oven is the perfect temperature for getting bread or any yeast dough that needs to rise to have that perfect lift!! Turns out amazing every time!!! :)
I always buy most of my spices in the mexican/oriental Isles and reuse my containers for those spices so it's just buy and refill as needed. I love flavor and so I always have an abundance of spices, sauces, and dressings to mix and match for meals. 🙂
Love the bread and yes please keep doing low budget. It is so hard to keep coming up with new ideas for low budgeting with inflation going higher and low or no product in stores. I love what you come up with, and thank you.😀
I live in NYC now and used to live in LA for many years so the grocery landscape I’m accustomed to is pretty different to say the least-there are few large grocery chains and a lot of small ones and prices for individual items can be all over the map. Most of the items featured in this video are $ savers wherever you go, but some additional strategies I have found helpful in an urban shopping environment are 1. The Basket App, which compares prices for individual items and types of items at stores in and around your zip code. It’s a bit easier to pick out where you are going to shop if you can preview the prices for different items. 2. Smaller ethnic markets and Asian supermarket chains often have amazing deals on produce and bulk items 3. The Too Good to Go App, which allows you to purchase foods from local restaurants and bakeries at the end of the day at a steeply discounted price. For those of you looking to save $ in big cities, June Xie hosts an awesome Budget Eats series on the Delish Channel that shows low-budget weekly challenges based on what she can find in NYC. Eating well ( even for just two people) on a $25 per week budget is extra hard when you live in a high cost-of-living city, but it can definitely be done with a lot of creativity and taking advantage of the rich variety of foods and many small retailers.
Everything that you taught us today was very smart and very cost effective and I understand why you combine the foods that you do each week to make it all work!! The bread looks amazing🤗
One of the tricks I learned for any shopping. Ask yourself, "Do I a WANT this or do I NEED this?" Like I want a toilet that cleans itself, but I need a good toilet bowl brush. And, I want filet mignon, but I need 2 pounds ground beef. Or, I want these gorgeous earrings but I need a mega pack of paper towels. I'm 69yrs, wish I'd learned this trick when I was a teenager. It has made a major difference in my bank balance at the end of each month. Blessing and peace.
Another money saving tip is to look at the fine print on those sale prices. Those goldfish crackers were only that price if you bought 5 of them. There were other items you could mix and match (it was $1 off each if you bought 5 select items), but if you couldn't afford 5 items, the price on the goldfish would go up $1. Also the yogurt required that you use a digital coupon that you have to clip with the app b4 you check out. I work at Kroger and see these mistakes all the time and people think they are getting great deals and then get upset when the prices don't ring up as they think they should.
LOVED this video. It made me cry with how beautifully you share your wisdom with younger families who may be struggling like you were. And you do it in such an inspiring and charismatic way-it's SO EMPOWERING. Not only that, but I was never actually taught to cook, plan, or have a budget. This is PRICELESS for me😊
I had to go look up your pasta jambalaya recipe, and oh my word, I wish I’d been watching back then to see your kids grow up! Adorbs, Hailey, adorbs. Thanks for the recipe!
Our schools offer breakfast and lunch free for all children under 18. So make sure you check schools as a free resource. I think this food resource is ending soon however. Part three yes. Loved the bread recipe.
I've been making your no knead bread for well over a year, never used baking paper or flour and never had any sticking issues. It's my favourite bread recipe now - so easy, so delicious and everyone I've given a loaf to raves about it! I will DEFINITELY be trying the cinnamon raisin version asap.
Thank you for sharing your expertise 🥰 So many should watch this, and they will all benefit from it! I am pretty good on prices and finding deals, and live in Norway, so not the same stories, but the principles are the same, and is always good to get a refresher on 🤩🤑 Love and blessings from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
My adult kids beg for the no knead bread during the holidays. I have a 7.5 qt Dutch oven. It makes a flatter loaf. My kids like to tear apart the bread and eat It plain or dip It in our holiday dip. The only thing I do differently is I rest my dough on the parchment paper on the counter. Makes It easier to transfer the loaves into the pots. Thank you for all of your work.
We been living on alot of soups.That I made during the winter. When it's hot out side I made egg salad sandwich chips . And tonight we are having little smokes and pasta salad.
This is a great and informative video. The bread reminds me of sourdough batter. The best way to get it out of the bowl is to use a round flat canning lid to scrape it out onto the counter. Works like a charm. I am going to bake your bread. Have a beautiful day. Peace out. ☮️💕
Curious? Why not use the raisin water in the raisin bread for added flavor? I do this sometimes when making bread and want some more flavor (for breakfast or dessert, ect.) I use warm tea instead of water. Love your videos for new ideas and recipes thank you!
A tip I learned from Shirley Corriher's Cookwise cookbook - wet your hands (with water or olive oil) instead of flouring them to keep the dough from sticking.
Yes definitely would like to see more of the ideas for cooking meal plans,menus,and recipes,for money savings,,,,,,gas is over double where it was a year ago and utilities are getting crazy,,,food prices are going up so fast…milk is double,eggs are double,,ground meat is almost 2 dollars more a pound than six months ago,,,,even at Aldi coffee creamer is now 80 cents more in a month,,,I too have been hitting the grocery stores early in the morning and getting reduced produce and meats on the same or next day reduced,,,,,I’ve used your tips and it works,,,,,used your bread recipe,,,great taste,,,even if it’s not the prettiest,,,thanks for the info,,,,,
Oh, I love this series! I can add two things: I make my own jam by cooking frozen strawberries with gelling sugar and this jam we use for bread and to add flavor to plain greek yoghurt! It tastes way better than fruit yoghurt from a factory and is way cheeper. The frozen strawberries have a lot more flavor than fresh ones, but are just for cooking not snacking!
Christine - your reels are so helpful, especially at this time in the economy. It’s clear that you’ve experienced hard times so your advice is authentic.
I wish I had this back in 1980 when my 2 kids were small. We took a calculator with us to the food store and stopped when it reached a certain amount. I am absolutely sure we weren't buying correctly because we/I didn't know better. Keep doing what you do...someone is watching you and learning ....
Love this new series. I have made your crusty bread before but now I'm going to make the breakfast one. I love getting my hands dirty from making something home-made. Can't wait for the next one
I've made the white bread, rolled it out and spread warmed up Nutella in it rolled it up and baked it. I've also put thin sliced apples and cinnamon sugar in the loaf. The apples didn't work out the way I wanted it to, but the kids love it. They just eat it off a plate with fork.
The bread looks amazing and I will be trying the breakfast one. Yes please continue with this series. these are the type of videos that drew me to your channel in the beginning.
You may have done this before, but let your dough rest right on the parchments paper. It won’t stick to you or the counter and it saves a hand washing! Just pick up the paper and plop it right into your hot Dutch oven! I just discovered you channel recently and I’m loving it. Keep up the inspiring work!!
You can tell from your videos that your heart really goes towards people who are on a tight budget and can't afford much. Thank you for continuting to do these videos ❤️
Not sure if you've tried the best pancake recipe ever but it's 1 ripe banana smashed with a fork, mix in one egg, add 1/4 oats and stir well then let sit for 5 minutes or so. Optional: Add cinnamon or dark chocolate chips😋 Makes two pancakes. Cook in pan on low to medium heat (just like you would regular pancake mix). So easy, cheap, and delicious and keeps you full for a long time. My dogs also love them (minus the chocolate of course) P.s. My husband tops his with peanut butter.
Great video! My loaf pans and even what I think is a Dutch oven look way too small for this, so I think I'm going to check local thrift stores for a Dutch oven. I looked at cinnamon raisin bread at the store yesterday and thought I bet I can bake it cheaper...then your video popped up!
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Christine I think you're doing an amazing job in pointing out how difficult it can be to feed a family on a very tight budget. As well as providing options to stretch the dollars and pointing out resources that may be available to assist. I think you should continue to do week 3 & week 4 .
I agree! 😃
Yes, I agree as well. Helping families with building a working pantry on very limited funds, is God's calling.
I think you mean to stretch the *doll hairs 😀
I agree!! She’s inspired me and I’m making better use of the items I can get at my food pantry thanks to her! 💕🙏🏼
Yes! I totally agree
When making the cinnamon raisin bread- use that raisin soaking water! It provides a bit more natural sweetness and raisin flavor!
That is exactly what I was thinking!
Yes!
Thanks for saying this.. I was wondering if you cld do that.
When I bake in a Dutch oven I put my formed dough on the parchment on the counter while its resting. That way I dont need to touch the dough again. I just lift the parchment with the dough on it and put the whole thing in the Dutch oven together.
This is a great video, thank you for all the tips!!
Awesome idea!!! I hadn’t even thought of that! Thankyou!!
I’d love to see a week 3 and 4 to finish out the month.
Would love to keep seeing how you incorporate items from past weeks into saving money the following week as well 🤩
Agreed
I love these videos. Back in 2010-2012 I was in this very position
New mum, husband and baby. We had 1 income and $60 a week to feed us. That’s not just food that’s toiletries and cleaning aswell.. nappies, wipes and formula was another $50.
I spent $30 of the groceries budget at food barn. My friend and I would load 3 kids and both of us into my tiny car and drive to get our groceries. Together we would share/swap out our free fruit and veg boxes to suit our tastes without either of us throwing food away. I learnt how to freeze and be creative with meals. We had meat every night. One whole chicken was cut raw and made into 3 meals with left overs. Small packet of ham or bacon turned into fried rice about 3 times a week
yes please - continue the series! that bread looked amazeballz!!
Yes, it looks great! Wish I could eat it.
Someone might have commented already, but Angie from This Gathered Nest turns the dough out onto the parchment paper to "knead" it and then is able to lift it up via the parchment and put it into the pot. That way it stays nice and formed and you don't get your hands icky again!
I always enjoy watching the grocery challenges, but I've always wondered why no one does a whole month challenge. You are at $114 right now, so lets say you have a budget of $228 for a month. If you spend half or so the first week, you can stock up on a lot of the staples and you can buy the larger size at a better price instead of rebuying the smaller size again later that same month. Or you could have picked up 2 of the discounted ground beef/pork packages.
I've watched you long enough Christine, that I know you know this and you are incorporating this a little bit in this challenge, but I would enjoy seeing a well thought out monthly plan. I also think it would be helpful for people who don't cook a lot to know they can cook a large batch of rice or beans and they can freeze some for a meal next week. Or like you did with the bread, it doesn't take any more work to make 2 loaves instead of 1.
As prices continue to climb, this becomes more and more important for people. Thank you Christine for all you do!!
Homemade soups are also cheap, healthy and many can be made in bulk and frozen flat in zip bags
I think in the beginning of the video she said the video before this is for a whole month
@@anniepeach2417 Yes !! And the title says so ,too !!! Lol.😆👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
We go to Sam's Club once a month to kind of stock up but we also bought a whole cow this year. As a family of four we eat really really good. The stock up we spend about $300-400 so monthly including the cost of the cow throughout the year we spend about $600 monthly. We were spending almost $800 monthly before we started doing the bulk buying once a month, it makes a huge difference. I like watching these budget hauls for ideas though but I can hardly ever find any clearance items. Started making some breads and rolls from scratch recently though it makes a big difference.
Thank you so much for this video. I actually cried on this one. It is overwhelming and so stressful when buying groceries these days. Even receiving public assistance is challenging to stay within that particular amount. I'm thankful to have learned to have a small garden and at least can or freeze some of it. It's still hard, and I appreciate you making this. Please keep them coming, you're inspiring to so many. We can get through this, together
When soaking your raisins add a splash of vanilla, delicious. Great series. I really appreciate that you always mention for people to reach our for assistance.
Great idea! I soak my dried fruits in apple juice or some other fruit juice. Then I'll warm up the remaining liquid and use it instead of water to give the bread extra flavor for not much more money.
I agree about mentioning assistance. When I was pregnant and my kids were little, we had to depend on WIC often and I was always so embarrassed. It seriously makes me tear up a little to hear someone mention it like it really is no big deal. Thank you, Christine.
@@vlmellody51 I was wondering why she didn’t use her raisin juice instead of plain water.
@@Gardeningchristine maybe she just forgot, or thought the water was no longer warm enough🤷♀️
@@Gardeningchristine me too!
When I first got married i had to feed a family of 3 and stretch a budget $88 a month for food and drink. It was super hard. There were days we had to actually eat with my husbands family. I really value the videos you do. I just wish I'd have found your channel 6 years sooner.
Thank you for sharing tips and tricks for how to stay in budget! We have 4 adult size people in our house. We live about 45 minutes from the closest discount store. We are fortunate that our local grocery store offers “Budget Bundles” on certain cuts of meat. You can get 4 packs of meat for $19.99. They usually offer a nice variety of things. I typically buy 3 bundles which will get us through the month. I add in any kinds of fruits and veggies that might be on sale. I hit up the discount bread racks for bread and a local church hands out Costco overstock bread, buns, bagels etc… FOR FREE every Friday and Saturday! My mom has a farmer that donates eggs every Sunday. She usually grabs a couple of dozen for us! If you throw in other staples such as household and personal care itemsI usually spend around $200-$300 a month for the 4 of us! My budget is $400. I usually save the difference for eating out or picking up a better cut of meat not offered in the “Budget Bundle” as a treat!
Wow you’re awesome!
Wow I'm doing things way wrong. I need to make a list and start meal planning. It's definitely not easy for me with my forgiveness/adhd.
@@katherinelauer4666 my ADHD meal prep tip is make lists of meals and shop for those items, but don't assign meals to days. So I make a list of approx 5 dinners for the week (leaving room for leftovers, having to be out of the house or snacky dinners where we eat up little bits of whatever leftover and cheese, 🍿, fruit...) and then I buy those ingredients, trying to focus on what I find on sale and also trying to use up the same meats and such for ongoing meals (like buy a cheap rotisserie chicken, eat chicken for one meal then make soup for another meal with the carcass. Or chicken/mayo salad with the little bits of leftover chicken off bones then make bone broth). I also make a breakfast list of usually 3 breakfasts (no cold cereal unless it's a GREAT SALE, it's not cheap!) And a few lunches and lunch staples like bread, PB, jelly, pretzel, fruit.
That way I am using a meal plan for shopping but I have a lot more flexibility.
When we were first married 48 yrs ago we use to get 1 large can bean with bacon soup, we sauteed a onion and garlic powder added a can of diced tomatoes juice and all then the soup and water we cooked it about 30 min and had that with crusty bread, try it it's really good. And yes please continue the budget grocery hauls.
Love these tips! My church just completed a financial class for some of our lower income families in the congregation and my friend and I will be teaching essentially a “Home Ec” class using the tools they learned in their financial class. She will be teaching how to keep and maintain a clean home on a budget and I was going to be doing grocery and food prep. These videos are a great tool I plan to take tips from to pass on, as well as suggest the attendants to watch for themselves as well! Ultimately going to the store with a bit of a meal plan is very helpful instead of going in and buying willy nilly. And having these meal ideas will help so many people see that you can stretch the dollar pretty far, despite the crazy inflation prices.
You could save a little bit more money by making a cream sauce with milk, flour, etc instead of buying cream of soup and cooking your own black beans (which I know you usually do). Love your videos! They are great inspiration for the already frugal person and excellent information for people learning to be frugal. Yes, please, week 3!
Love your videos. It's like talking to a girlfriend in her kitchen while she cooks. I'm definitely trying the bread recipes. Please continue the low budget weekly grocery hauls. I really appreciate them and learn a lot.
Living on a fixed income at a time like this has been frightening. I’m extremely grateful for all of the videos you post!
Honestly seeing how grocery prices have risen is so scary. I appreciate your content showing how family's can stretch their budget and giving various tips and tricks to help with how things have been.
Pantry staples are so important. Once you have a few herbs, spices and seasonings, all of a sudden those bland meals come to life. This little series is really interesting. As always, bringing great life skills to to educate us.
Plz keep going with these videos. Man it's scary to see how much food prices have gone up. It's hard on a very fixed budget for sure
Thank you! Great ideas and the advice for food pantries is critical right now! Seniors like me need to move past the embarrassment and get the help they need❤️
My mom goes every month and they are as nice as can be. She honestly feels a little guilty with how much they give her but she gets to pick and I have peace of mind that she’s getting good food. I do what I can to preserve things for her so nothing goes to waste. I even take her “leftover” milk that’s almost at expiration (still good!) to make her farmers cheese and yogurt. If she thinks it’s getting ready to spoil, I’ll freeze, can, or dehydrate for her. I’ll even take the leftover fruits and make jams and jellies for her. She gets to put things away that’s now shelf/freezer stable and increase her pantry stock. No need to be embarrassed. We need to take care of our seniors.
Yes ! This is a fantastic series 👏 please keep going.
One of my older men friends complained lol that all I ever posted on Facebook were photos o food cooked, purchased, eaten etc.
I laughed. And said
a) at least I am not gossiping , bragging
b) food costs are among the few we can control
c) I like saving money and eating 😋
A week 3 would be great and a 4th to complete a month, I would be interested in how many supplies you have left going forward, like Salt, yeast, flour etc. Although you spent a bit more it is still cost effective the way you shopped for items. Wonderful job!
DEFINITELY gonna need to see a week 3! 😀
I was like “wait, I see the cumin in the more expensive spices!!!” But you didn’t hear me lol 😂 but anywho, I adore you and I’m loving this series!!! Being a Mom of 3 beautiful girls, and wife to a hubby who loves food too, im really trying to shop smarter with the price increases!!!! So ty so much for all the tips and help!!!
I saw it in the tins immediately. But from personal experience, Kroger's tins spices are not that fragrant. Even the dollar spices at Aldi or Walmart are better.
I saw it in tins and for bogo she could have done chili powder there too
I was watching this video on my TV but grabbed my phone to come and say I see the cumin!!! Glad to see that someone else saw this 4 months ago 😂
I'd never tried making no-knead artisan bread until I found your channel in 2020. I live in south FL, and after a couple attempts, learned that six hours is about the most I need to let the dough sit (outside on the patio), any longer than that and it doesn't rise as well for some reason.
Please continue. I'd love to see what a full month would be now in comparison to your previous $100.
You are a gift to those who are not as experienced with frugal cooking. Heaven sent, I'd say.
Appalachia's Homestead has a biscuit recipe that uses potato water instead of milk. I tried it, and I couldn't believe how well they turned out. As we face dairy shortages and increased prices, these kinds of recipes are very valuable. You should try the recipe. 🙂
She's great. I'll have to try the recipe.
Hello Christine...Greetings from Canada! I enjoy your videos and marvel at the way you can feed your family so well on so little! I make my own bread and would like to offer a suggestion for rising bread in a cooler climate. I rise mine in the oven but I put the light on. It keeps it slightly warm and the temperature is consistent. Works for me every time!
I’m in Ottawa and do the same
Newfoundlander here… I put mine in the microwave with a cup of boiling water . It says nice and warm in there and the bread rises great!
My husband and I are eating low carb (approx 50 g) and intermittent fasting. It’s definitely helped cut down on our grocery bill since we don’t eat breakfast or snack, but It’s hard to keep the budget low when a lot of the cheaper items are very high carb. Luckily I’ve got squash, zucchini, green beans, okra, peppers, and cucumbers coming out of my garden and will soon have lots of tomatoes. We also got 8 chickens last year that I’m so thankful for with how high egg prices are. We have a lot of breakfast for dinner and crustless quiche to save on meat prices.
Please continue to do the weekly budget shopping with Neal plan and recipes. Very helpful!!!
Would love to see week 3+4! I'd be interested in an organic haul/budget/meal ideas video too :)
Here's a budget meal I made last night. I halved 8 small medium poblanos,parboiled and laid in the bottom of a large rectangular baking dish. I fixed 1 box of Mexican rice a roni and put that on top of the peppers. I then shredded half a block of mozzarella and popped underneath the broiler to melt. Served 4 adults with enough leftover for 2 lunches. Served with a salad.
My goodness those bread 🍞 looked absolutely delicious definitely going to give them a crack at making these at home.
Also yes please continue with week 3 and 4 to see what the difference is between now and 10 years ago in pricing ☺️
These videos are so helpful! I hope that you do a week 3 video. It’s also strangely encouraging that even a person like you with so much experience and creativity are struggling to find affordable prices for food. We are not alone. It’s ok to ask for help.
Your family is so blessed to have you as their Mom. I remember my Mom making homemade bread. It smelled so awesome!! She made cinnamon rolls to die for!! They were carmel nut rolls. 💞💞
I'd love to see her recipe, if you're willing to share it. 😊
I love all of these low budget tips! I love to see you get really good deals too! I check my clearance rack every time and the other day scored a family sized bag of M&M's for $.99! I also get my marked down bell peppers and either make stuffed peppers or cut them into strips for the freezer. =)
as a Diabetic with a budget of $20 a week it is a challenge, a box of commodities from the government every month, my small garden (15ft by 15ft), food bank once a month it can be done.
The Old Bay goldfish are deliciousssss. Marylander here. ;) 👋🏽🙋🏽♀️
Thank you for mentioning the WIC program and other sources. It has helped me tremendously. I will say no one should be embarrassed to seek assistance whether it be financial or food related. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the awesome content ❤️
Yes please continue on to week three! I am enjoying the challenge!
Yes please continue with week 3. There will be food left over from your initial stock up and this week. It's so interesting to see what creative things can happen with the remaining ingredients
You can use potatoes to replace the crusty bread if you don't have the supplies to make it. Potatoes can also be diced, sliced, or shredded for fried potatoes at breakfast or lunch. Remember to use WIC, food stamps, and pantries and ask churches, libraries, rec centers, and schools may have help also.
Yes, please continue. love this little series. loved your grocery halls for the month from your discount stores too.
If you get plain Greek yogurt you can flavor it with frozen berries or fresh whichever is on sale. And then also use it as a sub for sour cream. I like to thin it out with some lemon or lime juice add some cilantro and salt for a nice pop of flavor on tacos
Artisan Bread with Steve has a lot of no knead recipes on his channel for variety. Love his recipes. A little extra sour cream and box of onion soup mix would be great as a veggie dip. We prefer the Knorr spring vegetable soup mix for that dip though. Still, it makes eating raw veggies better cheaply, it goes a long way.
Love him! He taught me to bake bread at the beginning of this mess. I'll never buy it again.
Please continue with a week 3. I know we can’t get as close to the dollar amount as before when your family was smaller but I think you give some great frugal meal ideas!!
Yes, definitely continue to week 3. These videos are so helpful! Thank you so much for what you do & the inspiration!
I absolutely would love to see another week. And I don't have raisins but I have dried cranberries so I am going to give that one a try tomorrow!
How did your bread turn out?
Dried cranberries are amazing in artisan bread. I add chopped walnuts to mine along with the cranberries. It makes a nice hardy toast for breakfast.
I made the bread today and I used dried tart cherries because i have a bunch leftover from holiday baking. It was great.
@@Ambassador4Christ625 I made it yesterday for breakfast today. Can I tell you it took willpower for 5 people not to cut into that bread. It is delicious!!
@@ArstyImogenSky that's wonderful 😊. I know right. We sliced ours and heated it up a bit and served with butter...sooooo yummy.
Please continue the series. I know that so many are finding it helpful. Also wanted to mention that Dollar General is a cheaper place to pick up the smoked sausage. Many times they have a digital coupon which is even better. It’s really sad at the price of grocery’s lately, things that were once affordable go to’s are no longer an option. Like cabbage, it is $.89 lb compare to $.25 lb not long ago. Praying that this is just temporary.
One of our local stores has a decent international spice section that I always go to first when I need something. They have about 4-5 different sizes you can buy the spice in, so if it's just something you need for one recipe you can buy the tiny bag. But what I love the most is buying the two larger-size containers of what I use all the time. The savings are awesome. Always worth checking that international aisle!
I think this series is a perfect one and you give lots of excellent tips (and reminders) on shopping on a budget.
You could probably soak your raisins in the 1 1/2 cups water instead of draining the raisins. It may help add some taste
Christine - that bread looks amazing - can't wait to try... this is a great series... it reminds me of how happy I am to continue to stock up on pantry staples... I also think that dry beans are cheaper - I would have done black beans in my instant pot for the week and had enough for both meals... but not every one likes to do dry beans so I get it...
I was also surprised she didn’t use dry! I’ve seen lots of videos where she does prefer them.
I lb dry beans as the same yield of 5 cans at a fraction of the price
Thank you for all the wonderful tips!!! I have a tip about getting bread to rise. Turn the light on in the oven, put the bread dough in a metal bowl if you have one, put the bowl in the oven with just the light on and let it rise for about an hour or so. The temperature with just the light being on in the oven is the perfect temperature for getting bread or any yeast dough that needs to rise to have that perfect lift!! Turns out amazing every time!!! :)
Love these kinds of informational videos.
Love your demeanor.
Love your overall helpfulness.
You rock, woman!
I always buy most of my spices in the mexican/oriental Isles and reuse my containers for those spices so it's just buy and refill as needed. I love flavor and so I always have an abundance of spices, sauces, and dressings to mix and match for meals. 🙂
Love the bread and yes please keep doing low budget. It is so hard to keep coming up with new ideas for low budgeting with inflation going higher and low or no product in stores. I love what you come up with, and thank you.😀
I live in NYC now and used to live in LA for many years so the grocery landscape I’m accustomed to is pretty different to say the least-there are few large grocery chains and a lot of small ones and prices for individual items can be all over the map. Most of the items featured in this video are $ savers wherever you go, but some additional strategies I have found helpful in an urban shopping environment are 1. The Basket App, which compares prices for individual items and types of items at stores in and around your zip code. It’s a bit easier to pick out where you are going to shop if you can preview the prices for different items. 2. Smaller ethnic markets and Asian supermarket chains often have amazing deals on produce and bulk items 3. The Too Good to Go App, which allows you to purchase foods from local restaurants and bakeries at the end of the day at a steeply discounted price. For those of you looking to save $ in big cities, June Xie hosts an awesome Budget Eats series on the Delish Channel that shows low-budget weekly challenges based on what she can find in NYC. Eating well ( even for just two people) on a $25 per week budget is extra hard when you live in a high cost-of-living city, but it can definitely be done with a lot of creativity and taking advantage of the rich variety of foods and many small retailers.
Everything that you taught us today was very smart and very cost effective and I understand why you combine the foods that you do each week to make it all work!! The bread looks amazing🤗
One of the tricks I learned for any shopping. Ask yourself, "Do I a WANT this or do I NEED this?" Like I want a toilet that cleans itself, but I need a good toilet bowl brush. And, I want filet mignon, but I need 2 pounds ground beef. Or, I want these gorgeous earrings but I need a mega pack of paper towels.
I'm 69yrs, wish I'd learned this trick when I was a teenager. It has made a major difference in my bank balance at the end of each month.
Blessing and peace.
Another money saving tip is to look at the fine print on those sale prices. Those goldfish crackers were only that price if you bought 5 of them. There were other items you could mix and match (it was $1 off each if you bought 5 select items), but if you couldn't afford 5 items, the price on the goldfish would go up $1. Also the yogurt required that you use a digital coupon that you have to clip with the app b4 you check out. I work at Kroger and see these mistakes all the time and people think they are getting great deals and then get upset when the prices don't ring up as they think they should.
LOVED this video. It made me cry with how beautifully you share your wisdom with younger families who may be struggling like you were. And you do it in such an inspiring and charismatic way-it's SO EMPOWERING.
Not only that, but I was never actually taught to cook, plan, or have a budget. This is PRICELESS for me😊
Absolutely Yes!! Please do a week 3 & Yes to a week 4 too
I had to go look up your pasta jambalaya recipe, and oh my word, I wish I’d been watching back then to see your kids grow up! Adorbs, Hailey, adorbs. Thanks for the recipe!
Our schools offer breakfast and lunch free for all children under 18. So make sure you check schools as a free resource. I think this food resource is ending soon however. Part three yes. Loved the bread recipe.
That’s a great point, thank you
Yes! Continue helping folks scale back their food budget.
Yes, please continue with this series. I would also love the recipes for the meals you made.
Yes, keep going on the low budget grocery month please! Love your videos!
Hi Christine, another great video! Please do a week 3 & 4 videos! These videos are really helpful! Thanks again and take care!👍😊❣️
I've been making your no knead bread for well over a year, never used baking paper or flour and never had any sticking issues. It's my favourite bread recipe now - so easy, so delicious and everyone I've given a loaf to raves about it! I will DEFINITELY be trying the cinnamon raisin version asap.
Thank you for sharing your expertise 🥰 So many should watch this, and they will all benefit from it! I am pretty good on prices and finding deals, and live in Norway, so not the same stories, but the principles are the same, and is always good to get a refresher on 🤩🤑
Love and blessings from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
My adult kids beg for the no knead bread during the holidays. I have a 7.5 qt Dutch oven. It makes a flatter loaf. My kids like to tear apart the bread and eat It plain or dip It in our holiday dip. The only thing I do differently is I rest my dough on the parchment paper on the counter. Makes It easier to transfer the loaves into the pots. Thank you for all of your work.
This is so helpful; yes, please do a week three!
We been living on alot of soups.That I made during the winter. When it's hot out side I made egg salad sandwich chips . And tonight we are having little smokes and pasta salad.
This is a great and informative video. The bread reminds me of sourdough batter. The best way to get it out of the bowl is to use a round flat canning lid to scrape it out onto the counter. Works like a charm. I am going to bake your bread. Have a beautiful day. Peace out. ☮️💕
The canning lid is a great idea!
Let’s see that savory crepe recipe! I’m so interested as to what that looks like and what the steps are. I’ve only ever had sweet crepes 😊
Curious? Why not use the raisin water in the raisin bread for added flavor? I do this sometimes when making bread and want some more flavor (for breakfast or dessert, ect.) I use warm tea instead of water. Love your videos for new ideas and recipes thank you!
I would enjoy a week 3. You help me with ideas to feed my family of 5. Thanks for so many tips and tricks to save money.
Yes, please continue! I’m loving this series.
A tip I learned from Shirley Corriher's Cookwise cookbook - wet your hands (with water or olive oil) instead of flouring them to keep the dough from sticking.
And yes, please continue on the inexpensive grocery month! Unless your family is getting annoyed. :D
Yes definitely would like to see more of the ideas for cooking meal plans,menus,and recipes,for money savings,,,,,,gas is over double where it was a year ago and utilities are getting crazy,,,food prices are going up so fast…milk is double,eggs are double,,ground meat is almost 2 dollars more a pound than six months ago,,,,even at Aldi coffee creamer is now 80 cents more in a month,,,I too have been hitting the grocery stores early in the morning and getting reduced produce and meats on the same or next day reduced,,,,,I’ve used your tips and it works,,,,,used your bread recipe,,,great taste,,,even if it’s not the prettiest,,,thanks for the info,,,,,
Oh, I love this series! I can add two things: I make my own jam by cooking frozen strawberries with gelling sugar and this jam we use for bread and to add flavor to plain greek yoghurt! It tastes way better than fruit yoghurt from a factory and is way cheeper. The frozen strawberries have a lot more flavor than fresh ones, but are just for cooking not snacking!
Christine - your reels are so helpful, especially at this time in the economy. It’s clear that you’ve experienced hard times so your advice is authentic.
Thank you so much for sharing and caring Christine🙏🏼🤗😘🥰🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Christine thank you for sharing all your budget tips and offering a realistic grocery budget for these inflationary times.
2:47 I appreciate how you show how to think about carry over, that the raisins you buy this week will carry over into next week!
I am loving this series of low budget grocery options. And am inspired to try this bread recipe. Thank you so much!
I wish I had this back in 1980 when my 2 kids were small. We took a calculator with us to the food store and stopped when it reached a certain amount. I am absolutely sure we weren't buying correctly because we/I didn't know better. Keep doing what you do...someone is watching you and learning ....
Love this new series. I have made your crusty bread before but now I'm going to make the breakfast one. I love getting my hands dirty from making something home-made. Can't wait for the next one
I've made the white bread, rolled it out and spread warmed up Nutella in it rolled it up and baked it. I've also put thin sliced apples and cinnamon sugar in the loaf. The apples didn't work out the way I wanted it to, but the kids love it. They just eat it off a plate with fork.
The bread looks amazing and I will be trying the breakfast one. Yes please continue with this series. these are the type of videos that drew me to your channel in the beginning.
please continue this series! love using your recipes and advice when i’m shopping for my household
Let your dough rise on the parchment paper for the 30 minute rise then lift the parchment paper right in the hot pan. No more sticky doughy fingers!
Yes, please.. week 3 would be awesome!
You may have done this before, but let your dough rest right on the parchments paper. It won’t stick to you or the counter and it saves a hand washing! Just pick up the paper and plop it right into your hot Dutch oven! I just discovered you channel recently and I’m loving it. Keep up the inspiring work!!
Yes! Week 3 please! 😍 Can’t wait to try the cinnamon raisin bread.
You can tell from your videos that your heart really goes towards people who are on a tight budget and can't afford much. Thank you for continuting to do these videos ❤️
This series is soooo helpful! Please continue. Sending love from Ontario 🇨🇦
Not sure if you've tried the best pancake recipe ever but it's 1 ripe banana smashed with a fork, mix in one egg, add 1/4 oats and stir well then let sit for 5 minutes or so. Optional: Add cinnamon or dark chocolate chips😋 Makes two pancakes. Cook in pan on low to medium heat (just like you would regular pancake mix). So easy, cheap, and delicious and keeps you full for a long time. My dogs also love them (minus the chocolate of course) P.s. My husband tops his with peanut butter.
Great video! My loaf pans and even what I think is a Dutch oven look way too small for this, so I think I'm going to check local thrift stores for a Dutch oven. I looked at cinnamon raisin bread at the store yesterday and thought I bet I can bake it cheaper...then your video popped up!