Aug 20, 2009 6:08 am US/Eastern
Money Saver: Eat A Meal For Under $10
ARMONK, N.Y. (CBS) ―
While we are all trying to make meals on a budget, some families are turning it into a game.
CBS 2 HD found one family taking the $10 meal challenge.
Richard Doetsch, 20, and his sisters, Marguerite, 18, and 8-year-old Isabelle, are all on a mission.
"We are trying to have a dinner under $10," Richard said.
And he means the whole enchilada ... or in this case?
"Fajitas," Isabelle said.
While the average family of five spends more than $10,000 a year on food, the Doetschs have been competing to create $10 meals. This particular day it was fajitas for $5 at Stop & Shop, including chicken, tortillas, cheese and even vegetables. And that's where some math and choosing some of the lightest vegetables come into play.
Another way they're saving money is they check out every single price and weigh all the produce in order to drive their costs down.
The tab that day?
Try $9.40.
"It is really cheap. The bigger challenge is to pick something that everyone in the family would eat," Virginia Doetsch said.
With an average family of five spending more than $10,000 a year on food, this mom hopes to help her kids learn to budget. And what do they want?
"We figured if we saved money in the kitchen we could spend it on things that are more important to us," Marguerite said.
Here are some other ways to trim your food bill? Look for what's on sale and for things that are in season and cheaper than those that have to be trekked in from across the country.
Also, shop your pantry, and use what you have to make a new meal. Stock up on inexpensive produce at local farmers markets. Buy non-perishables before you need them. Stores put items on sale about once every three months.
It's a philosophy they're sharing with others.
It's also time to try new things, like using the ingredients you have on hand and putting them into a recipe search engine.
The following are links on different types of money saving recipes:
Cooks.com
5 Ingredient Meals
Easy 5 Ingredient Meals
Not Beans Again
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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