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Anna’s Budget Tips-Stocking Your Pantry for Less

July 4, 2013 by Kathryn 8 Comments

A well stocked pantry means easy access to quick and healthy meals on busy days, no need to panic when friends or family drop by at the last minute and even sustenance in case of a power outage during a storm or other emergency event. Keeping the basics on hand can even help you save on your grocery bill too, something that is often at the top of the priority list for many families when it comes to the household budget.

So how can your pantry help you spend less?

groceries in bag

Stock Up When Items Are On Sale

Keep track of the non-perishable items your family enjoys and tends to eat regularly. This could be a list in your purse, on your phone or just a “mental note.” When you find a great deal on one of these (say when there’s a killer sale or you have a high value coupon), jump on it and grab a few. Whether it’s dry pasta, canned tuna, dried or canned beans, cereal, baking mixes or jars of salsa and sauces…just a few of these items and you’ve got the start of a great meal. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anna's Budget Tips, Articles, Features, Money Tagged With: anna, anna platz, anna's, anna's budget tips, budget, food, food budget, groceries, grocery budget, meal planning, pantry, save on food, save on groceries, savings, stocking, stocking pantry, tips

Get Fired Up for Summer Fun with New Seasonal Treats from the President’s Choice Insider’s Report-Giveaway

July 3, 2013 by Kathryn 218 Comments

With Canada Day behind us, summer is officially underway and that means that the President’s Choice Summer Insider’s Report has been released! I love checking out the newest seasonal products from PC and so I was very excited to receive a box full of some of the featured items this summer.

president's choice sparkling green teaI was especially pleased to see new PC Black Label products in my package. This is hands-down my favourite specialty line from President’s Choice and the new Cranberry & Coconut Muesli I received looked absolutely mouth-watering. It tasted just as good with a blend of fruit and nuts that was both hearty and delicious.

I also enjoyed the new sparkling iced tea, which came in a black tea, green tea and roobis tea varieties. I love iced tea but I have to admit that the idea of a sparkling version didn’t really captivate me. I changed my opinion shortly after trying it though; these sparkling teas are absolutely delicious! And though I’ve never been a fan of green tea, the Sparkling Green Tea with Honey and Citrus was the perfect light and sweet summer drink. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Reviews and Giveaways Tagged With: choice, decadent, food, groceries, ice cream, insider, insiders, loblaw, loblaws, pc insider report, president's, President's choice, report, seasonal, summer, summer 2013, summer food, summer insider's report, the decadent

Barbeque Time and a Great Grocery Giveaway with MarcAngelo Foods-Giveaway

June 22, 2013 by Kathryn 189 Comments

marcangelo souvlakiBarbeque season is here and while everyone loves that classic burger or hot dog, why not shake things up a bit this summer with some tasty Mediterranean main dishes perfect for the grill from MarcAngelo Foods? From Sweet BBQ Chicken Skewers to Honey Garlic Sausages, there are all kinds of fun choices to get you out of that burger rut. And many MarcAngelo products are now certified gluten-free too!

We recently received a gift card to try some of the tasty summer treats from MarcAngelo Foods. The boys are pretty picky eaters, but they love chicken so I decided to barbeque some of the Authentic Chicken Souvlaki skewers for our Saturday supper. With roasted potatoes and a salad, it was a nice light summer meal and a great change from the usual burgers and ribs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Reviews and Giveaways Tagged With: angelo, barbeque, bbq, food, Giveaway, gluten free, great, great grocery giveaway, groceries, grocery, marc, marc angelo, marcangelo, meat, sausages, souvlaki, summer, summer food

Real Canadian Superstore and Extra Foods Now Offering T&T Brand Products-Giveaway

March 28, 2013 by Kathryn 226 Comments

T&T korean kalbi marinade sauceOne of the things I love about shopping at Real Canadian Superstore is the selection. Whether I’m looking for a new dinner option or just a fun snack I haven’t tried before, I know that I’ll find plenty of new items to test out at my local store. Recently I received a package of some of the new T&T brand Asian products, which were tested and approved by the CEO of T&T Supermarket, that the store has introduced and I was intrigued by the new choices available.

Stir-fry is a pretty popular meal choice in our house since the boys love the bite-sized morsels of food and I love the speediness of the dish on a busy day. So I was especially excited to see the T&T Korean Kalbi Marinade Sauce in our package. I combined it with steak, red pepper, carrots and broccoli to create a quick and delicious dinner. The sauce had a unique sweet and spicy taste that all three of us loved and while it paired especially nicely with the beef I’m sure it would be tasty with chicken as well. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Reviews and Giveaways Tagged With: asian, ethnic, food, groceries, loblaws, President's choice, real canadian superstore, supermarket, superstore, T&T, T&T supermarket

Anna’s Budget Tips-Save Money with a Weekly Meal Plan

May 1, 2012 by Kathryn 8 Comments

Food generally makes up a large chunk of the household budget, so it is a good target when looking to save money. I have found that I am able to feed my family for a lot less when I create a weekly meal plan.

fresh saladWhen I know what I’m going to be making for dinner it is so much easier for me to get something healthy on the table at a reasonable hour. Takeout is far less tempting and I avoid a rushed trip to the grocery store at its busiest time of day with a young, tired and hungry child in tow.

There is no one “right way” to make a meal plan – some people find once a month is easier than once a week, some find it’s helpful to do a lot of the prep for weekday dinners on the weekend, but I will tell you what I have found (through much trial and lots of error!) works best for me.

At some point during the weekend I sit down and make a list of four to five dinners to have during the week from Sunday to Saturday. This leaves room for a few nights of leftovers or eating out. If I plan seven big dinners inevitably something goes to waste as there will always be a night when we won’t eat at home due to an event, an invitation from a friend or just because we’re all craving pizza.

To make the meal plan, I start by looking in the freezer, fridge and pantry for items we already have and create dishes around as many of them as possible. Then I pull out the binder where I keep all my favorite old recipes and new ones I have clipped from magazines or found online. I might also browse through my unreasonably large cookbook collection for some new things to try.

I feel like I have to mention that this part is really fun for me. I love to cook, test out new recipes and experiment with different ingredients and cuisines. I get way too many cooking magazines and read cookbooks like novels. If this isn’t your thing, there is no reason that your meal plan has to be filled with complicated multi-course dinners. Most online recipe collections have a “quick and easy” section. Seek out meals you can make in a slow cooker with just a few minutes of preparation the morning. Use convenience items from the grocery store such as frozen veggies, side dishes that steam right in the bag they come in, cooked rotisserie chicken, pre-washed lettuce and frozen entrees.

Once I have my list of dinners for the week (which goes up on the fridge) I make the list of ingredients I’ll need to make them (along with what we’ll need for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks) and head to the store. I try to find ingredients that will do double duty so nothing goes to waste. If I know I’ll need half an onion for one dish I’ll plan to toss the rest in the tacos I’m making a few days later. Other good ways to use bits of produce, meats, and cheeses: mix them into scrambled eggs, top a salad with them or make a wrap in a tortilla for lunch.

Each day when I get home from work I know I have a few options of things to cook with all the ingredients ready and waiting for me. I tend not to assign specific meals to each day and instead just choose from the list based on what everyone feels like having and how much time we have. I try to plan a couple of quick meals for crazy days and a few that are more involved for those evenings when I have a little time to breathe.

So – what do you think? Could this work for you? Do you have your own meal plan routine that helps you save time and money? And what’s your favorite thing to cook when you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry?

Anna Platz writes for the popular personal finance blog, Good Cents Savings, which focuses on helping you save money, stick to a budget, and live well on less. She is also the mother of a four year old daughter who is worth every penny!

Filed Under: Anna's Budget Tips, Articles, Features, Money Tagged With: budget, family budget, finance, groceries, meal plan, meals, money

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