Pieces of Us: More penny pinchers

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October 02, 2008

More penny pinchers

I thought I would share a few more of my money saving ideas since there has been an interest lately. I like to trim the budget and the first place I trim is snacks.

"But kids NEED snacks in their lunches!" you say.

I agree.

Even though we do not have to pack school lunches I still like to offer my brood a variety of fun lunch options. While those little packs -that are all the rage now- are so convenient, they are murder on the budget. Packaging everything up individually jacks up the price.

Making lunches everyday while stopping to fill the little baggies takes up a lot of time. So when i buy a bag of trail mix or crackers or what not I open it right away and portion it out by serving size. That way we have lots of quick-to-grab-on-the-go packs and they are also a nice portion. I know if I do not portion them, little sticky fingers will sneak in the cupboard and eat too many right from the box.

Since Gabby is diabetic, the controlled portion size is perfect. I write the carb count on the baggie with a sharpie and she can just grab on and know what she needs to bolus right there. Another money saver and quick and easy snack is Jello.

They do sell those individual Jello cups that come 6 to a pack but they are very pricey, I think over 3 dollars a pack. I always use the same tubs I use for the baby purees and make a whole bunch of them that the kids can have with meals or for a snack. I make Sugar Free ones and it is something Gabby can have without having to worry about whether it will bother her blood sugar. They travel really well too.

My last tip is a time saver. When I do my big shopping I come home and dice up a whole celery and a couple of onions and put them in air tight containers. This way when I am going to make a dish I can just grab out a container and save time on chopping. A lot of time it is chaotic and I am rushed at dinner and this little time saver is really nice. Plus the celery does not go limp in the drawer!

That is it for today!

Posted by Jess & Lisa on October 02, 2008 at 11:55 PM in Penny Pinchers and Time Savers | Permalink

Comments

Not a comment on saving money, but yes, she said nucular. That drives me batty!

Posted by: Jen | October 03, 2008 at 02:56 PM

That`s smart!

Posted by: Maddy | November 07, 2008 at 07:35 PM

just found your site and it is great. one question, where did you get your wallet? it looks wonderful.

Beth

Posted by: Beth | March 04, 2012 at 10:49 PM

The comments to this entry are closed.

Who We Are

Lisa- The Blogger

This is me. I like to think I am complex and multi-faceted but I think much of the time I am a silly, zany, free-spirited person who really enjoys life. I like to make people happy, I like to be happy. I am a sanguine through and through. I love crafting, Pinterest, gathering ideas, computer stuff, watching movies, sleepovers and hugging on my offspring. I don't like internet haters who assume to 'know' me just by what they read here. There is a reason this is called 'Pieces' Of Us. It's just a small peek in the window. You may think you know, but you have no idea.
Mike- The Sportsman

Mike is more than just a sportsman but he does like to shoot a deer now and then. In his other spare moments which are few and far between he is taking college courses to finish his degree or tending to his pack as Cubmaster. He loves to spend time with the kids and they think he is pretty great even if he is a goofball who loves to embarrass them.
Madeline- The Free Spirited Bohemian One

This kid could be happy with just some books, a drawing pad and a pencil. She has an aptitude for art and has really excelled at drawing over the past year. She is patient and kind but has a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Maddy is dependable, if you want something done, she's your girl and she does it with a cheerful spirit.
Gabriella- The Creative Ray of Light

Gabby has sparkle, she has pizzazz, she has talent. She is the kid you never have to tell to practice the piano instead you tell her to take a break. She loves to chat with her friends on the computer (what teen doesn't?) and write stories with her twin sister. She's a practical joker and has a terrific sense of humor. Did I mention she is also a talented actress as well?
AJ- The Deep Thinker

This boy is going places! AJ is always thinking. He is a true philosopher pondering the whys of everything but he is also an inventor/engineer also determining the hows. He spends hours building and taking things apart. We worry that he will one day blow up the house but for now he is pretty darn useful at optimizing our computers and rewiring things that break around here.
Genevieve Audrey- The Spunky One

Spunky doesn't even begin to describe it. She is a social butterfly and she loves to sit and chat as long as her victim will listen. Ginny is a tiny little thing but her spirit is huge and she's smart to boot. She is proving to be an excellent big sister and is teaching Jilly the ropes.
Caleb Allen- The Littlest Man

He doesn't like it when you run your fingers through his hair so we do it all the more. Caleb is just so cute and snuggly. He is always full of enthusiasm whether it be positive or negative. He either really loves something or he doesn't like it at all. We love him regardless.
Jillian Clementine- The Boss

She may be small but she makes up for it big time. Jillian likes to let people know who is in charge and we often have to take her down a peg... or five. She says funny things so often that she has her own blog Jillyish. She loves to use huge words like intrusive and incredible or any other adjective that shouldn't come out of a three year old. She will also tell you that she is too shy to say Hi but don't believe it because she is pure drama.
Jess..ica- She hiccups

She may not be blood but we claim her as one of us. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without her around. She makes us laugh and she can sing like a hamster. Everyone needs a friend with a hamster voice. Now she'll probably ask me to take this down but I'm not gonna. Because we love her.