The important thing to remember is every recipe can be within budget.
Any recipe can be within your budget as long as you shop smart.
A few things to remember
Always make a list and follow it! - Going to the store without a list not only causes you to forget the necessities but it also leaves you open to buying things that aren't really needed. If you follow your list you will save alot in extra expenses.
Don't take the kids! - Leave them home with dad/mom, leave them with a sitter, whatever you decide. But don't bring them with you. First of all, kids are picky. If they see you buying something they dont want, your going to hear "but I dont like that!!!!" even when they ate the same thing yesterday. Your also going to get the "I wants..." Which are usually accompanied by a tantrum. Eventually kids will get bored. I've never met a child who enjoys grocery shopping for long periods of time, which brings me to my next point.
Time is KEY!!! - Smart shopping is NOT quick. You need to have time to visit more than one store, to walk through the isles and find the sales. The sales are not always at the end of an isle or in the middle of one, often times you find the more expensive products at a discount. Yes discounts are nice, but chances are you are going to find the same things with a different brand name for less. Make sure you dedicate at least 2 hours to shopping, even if you do not use all that time, at least you know you have it.
Never go hungry! - I know people say this all the time and they are right. When you go to the store and your hungry you want to get everything you see. Because you just keep thinking about what you want to eat. Make sure you eat right before you go this way you are full.
Smart shopping means finding what you need at the best deals and not buying unnecessary items. If you shop smart you can feed a family of four for as little at $10 a day.
