FTWM to SAHM vlog series: Budgets & Meal Planning

Thursday, March 26, 2015

goodness.  Does it ever feel like a day totally gets away from you?  That was my yesterday, seriously, like it was just slipping through my fingertips.  So the vlog is coming at ya a day late because I don't know what happened to yesterday.

I'm talking today about money today.  As a Sahm, I sort of view the saving aspect of money has one of the main responsibilities of my "job" now.  My husband brings money IN as his job and part of my job as a Sahm is that I try to keep it from going OUT in unnecessary places.

We accomplish that first by being aware of our budget and the movement of our (much smaller amount of) money now as a one paycheck family.  And also by saving money when we can - one of the bigger ways of doing that by meal-planning.  Watch on to learn more and check out the resources & links listed below for more info!



Links & Resources:

Budgeting

Dave Ramsey's Seven Baby Steps

Staying at Home with your kids when you can barely afford it from The Humble Homemaker (her post really aligns with how we do things here at Team Studer on a day to day basis.  Almost all hand-me-downs, no shopping to browse, free entertainment, etc)

How to become a stay at home mom on one income from Your Modern Family

About the Spending Fast from And Then We Saved
and then check out her Total Savings from the Year long Spending Fast

Meal-planning:

My entire Recipe Pinboard for meal-planning
From my blog:  A year of meal planning & tips

Our top favorite meals:
Korean Beef
YUM Chicken - also known as 'crack chicken':  Slow Cooker meal
Soft shell Tacos  (anything Mexican actually.  burritos, quesadillas, Tater Tot Enchilada Bake, Taco Pasta, Baked Tacos, Taco Potatoes (a side!)
Crispy Shrimp & Pasta
Three Packet Roast:  Slow Cooker Meal
Chicken Zucchini Casserole
Asian Pork Chops
Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos:  Slow Cooker Meal
Shredded Deer Meat Sandwiches:  Slow Cooker Meal
Spicy Kielbasa Alfredo Bake (although we turn down the spice a little.  The original recipes make it really hot!)

Even though I don't plan for them, I do try to spice up our meals for breakfast and lunch.  For breakfast I try to challenge myself to two 'real' breakfasts a week (ie. NOT cereal/waffles).  For lunch, we do a mix of regular kid friendly lunches (hot dogs/mac&cheese/chicken nuggest), leftovers from dinner, and Bento Box style lunches.


What are your tips and tricks for budgeting and saving money in your family?
Courtesy of at
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2 comments:

  1. AshleyMarch 27, 2015 at 7:00 AM

    Great post! I'm so impressed that you meal plan for the entire month. We're paid twice a month, so I try to plan two weeks at a time, but I've been struggling! I'm still not back to a regular habit yet, but working on it. The dinners you posted look delicious though...I'll be adding some of those to my list!

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  2. Shelly CunninghamMarch 27, 2015 at 5:59 PM

    Love, love, loved this. We, too, do meal planning really (really) far in advance, and turn to the pantry to create meals as necessary. It's a giant pain, but knowing I have meals planned makes every day better. I hate that dreaded "it's dinner time & I have nothing planned" feeling.
    So inspired by you!

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