Back in the Day

 Happy Wednesday! Hope you are all well.  It is another lovely morning here.  Sunny and cool.  I have big plans on things I want to get done today - we will see!  Bits has been playing since breakfast, as usual.  He goes full speed until about 10AM - then crashes and sleeps all day.  Blackie is enjoying the window this morning.  He loves the fresh air.

Last evening I was going through a lot of old pictures I found and got to thinking about days gone by.

Do you remember when we could get tons of groceries for almost nothing because of coupons?  I used to play the coupon game (my MIL taught me) and saved what I am sure was thousands of dollars over time.

They doubled and tripled back then, and coupons had good value!  We had one grocery store that had a triple up day every now and then and would triple coupons with up to .50 value.  My goodness did I have fun.  You would see women with their boxes of coupons scouring the aisles.  Many times, I would walk out with close to a $100 worth of groceries for pennies.  That is when my pantry prep actually started.

THEN EXTREME COUPONING came on TV and kind of ruined it for us all.  I still see viewings of that now & then.

I remember this store and I remember these prices from when I was a kiddo.  I used to love going to the grocery with Mom.  She had $15 a week that she went with, and that was what she used.  Sometimes coming home with money.  We had such a big garden, that helped a ton.  

I remember when she increased her budget to $25 and you would have thought the world was ending!!

She was keen on making a menu for the week with what she had purchased.  I think it was mainly meat, eggs, milk and baking items when I was growing up.  Everything had a purpose.  She could work leftovers like a wonder, and they were always good.

I remember once she had purchased a Buddig's beef packet (yes 1) to make chipped beef gravy.  My sister had got into the frig one day and saw it and made a sandwich for a snack.  Mom went to make dinner and there was no Buddig's!  Her whole plan went down the drain for that night, so she improvised.  We always had tons of fresh fruit in the summer and homemade cookies and treats in the winter - so sis wasn't supposed to snack on the dinner 'food'!  We had sandwiches or a cup of soup for lunches.

I guess that is why I use up everything today.  I mean I eat what I want, when I want - but there is always something here to munch on.  I can make a meal of pretty much all leftovers.  Is it balanced - maybe not - but I do snack of fruit and veggies during the day, so I get my balance.

Here's one.  Leftover country gravy over toast, leftover potato pancakes (from leftover mashed), a scrambled egg and 2 little smokies.  There are 10 smokies in a pack - so that is 5 meals for a sale priced pack of smokies!  Yep - it was good and it was filling.  I ate handfuls of cherry tomatoes and some fruit during the day.  Pretty darn cheap eating!

I can make anything a salad.  Salad doesn't have to be lettuce to me.  Any types of cut up veggies (whatever I have) and a little dressing.  Salad is good as a meal if you throw in a little chopped meat (or tuna) maybe some cheese, a hardboiled egg - whatever you have.  It makes a great side and gives you a helping of veggies.  I like salad with pasta as well.

We can't turn back time, to get those grocery prices like above or the double coupons anymore - but we can make a plan to use what we have and use it ALL up!

Use the digital store coupons on your store cards if you can.  Make sure it is something that you will use.  Nothing is a deal, if it goes to waste.  Find outlet stores if you can - they can give great pricing.  Find cheaper stores like Aldi.  Go in with others if necessary, on purchases and split the price.   Also, if in need, use your area food pantries to supplement what you can buy or grow.  Most pantries are just that - supplemental - they don't give you everything you need.

Eat meat as a side - not a main course.

Learn to make meals that you can shred a piece or two of chicken to make an entire meal (casseroles or stir fry) - the same with pork or beef.  Use ground meat - season to make it taste higher end!

Learn to use rice, pasta and potatoes as fillers - they can stretch foods a lot further.

Check with neighbors - do they have fruit trees or nut trees they aren't taking advantage of?  

Barter with folks.  

Put up (can or freeze) anything you can.

You can get by 'a little' cheaper than many people, but you have to learn a few tricks.

I wish the prices of old could still be - but it is not going to happen.  I love that we share ideas here to help make it a little easier on all of us - trying to get by a little cheaper.

Inflation will never go away - but we can learn a few tricks of our own.  Heck, we can play the $ game too!!!

Have a great and productive day!!!