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In today’s fast-paced society, the Hillbilly Housewife Web site — with its traditional recipes for making cornmeal mush and tips for turning leftover rice into breakfast pancakes — would seem to be a relic of a bygone era.
But with food and gas prices rising at a faster pace than most paychecks, the site devoted to frugal ways to feed a family has recently seen traffic increase by a third, to about 300,000 unique visitors a month. Susanne Myers, who took over the site from a friend about a year ago, says she’s been deluged with e-mails from people looking for cheap ways to fill their families’ stomachs.
“Especially toward the end of the month I get a lot of e-mails from women, (and) they’re pretty desperate,” Myers said.
They come from all walks of life, she said. One day, it might be a woman who has $20 left to feed her five kids; the next, a woman who was able to give up her pricey Starbucks habit after stumbling on Myers’ recipe for homemade mocha drinks. When milk prices surged, she got a lot of questions about using powdered milk, a cheaper alternative that the site advocates in many recipes.
Until recently, food was considered so cheap in the United States that many families rarely bothered with the type of serious, cost-saving home economics common a generation or two ago. Now the skyrocketing cost of everything from cereal to eggs is prompting some Americans to turn to traditional techniques for stretching a dollar or a meal.
The change comes as overall food and beverage prices have risen 5.8 percent over the past 12 months, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and some household staples have notched even bigger gains. Americans paid a whopping 12.1 percent more for cereal and bakery products this past July than they did a year ago. Fruits and vegetables are up 10.1 percent over the same period.
Many expect grocery prices to continue to rise as global demand increases and farmers and ranchers pass on higher costs for everything from chicken feed to fertilizer.
The food inflation is clearly affecting American lifestyles. An April survey by market researchers NPD Group found that more than half of adults who described themselves as “financially challenged” were trying to use up leftovers more often and prepare more meals at home than they did a year ago.
Harry Balzer, a vice president at NPD who long has followed U.S. eating habits, said Americans are still eating out but are choosing cheaper restaurants or skipping desserts and side dishes. To save money at home, he said, more people are choosing grain-based foods, such as pizza and pasta, over meat-based meals.
He doesn't think they will spend a larger percentage of their paycheck on food.
Grocery chains are reporting similar trends.
Supervalu Inc., whose brands include Albertsons, Cub Foods and Save-A-Lot, is seeing more customers redeeming coupons, taking advantage of sales and buying store brands as they grapple with rising food prices. Spokeswoman Haley Meyer said the retailer also has noticed more shoppers swapping out pricier items for cheaper alternatives, such as ground beef instead of steak.
“We’re seeing consistent customer numbers — we’re just seeing a shift in what they’re buying,” she said.
At Wal-Mart Stores Inc., spokeswoman Melissa O’Brien said customers appear to be substituting chicken for red meat and buying more pasta.
Wal-Mart also is seeing a brisker business in its ready-to-eat items, perhaps because people are choosing to buy items like a pizza from Wal-Mart rather than going out. Aiming to capitalize on that switch, the company recently launched a television commercial promoting its take-and-bake pizza.
Still, don't expect all Americans to start baking their own bread and preparing bean dishes from scratch. While the price spikes have prompted some people to try their hand at those things, and to say they will give up restaurant visits, Balzer said most Americans just aren’t willing to give up the time savings and convenience of prepared food.
“We love eating,” he said. “It’s the shopping, the preparing, the storing and the cleaning up. You’ll have a hard time convincing me that Americans will be willing to do this more.”
For those people who are trying to shop and eat more like their grandparents did, the change in behavior isn’t just a matter of time management. Accustomed to years of drive-through restaurants and pasta in a box, many simply don’t know how to cook from scratch.
The Hillbilly Housewife site assumes that its readers have only basic knowledge and offers detailed instructions including recipes, grocery lists and a step-by-step strategy for feeding a family on $45 or $70 per week. Another menu is specifically geared to families who are receiving a subsidized food box from the nonprofit Angel Food Ministries.
The site also recommends scouring grocery ads for sale items and planning meals based on what you can buy cheaply. And it counsels its readers to avoid items that might be marked up during high demand times, such as cranberries around Thanksgiving or condiments before the Fourth of July.
The site, one of many similar homegrown communities that have popped up on the Web, also is rife with tips for substituting traditional ingredients with cheaper ones, such as margarine instead of butter or beans instead of meat. Families are counseled to stretch orange juice by heaping glasses with ice cubes and to cut hot dogs into thin strips so they last longer.
Leftovers, which in many homes are forgotten in the back of the fridge, are assiduously incorporated into future meals under the Hillbilly Housewife’s guidelines. Myers, who lives in Rock Hill, S.C. and has a 5-year-old daughter, can stretch a whole chicken into several meals.
“I call it the rubber chicken,” she said.
Carol McManus remembers well the strategies for making a chicken into dinner one night, sandwiches the next and then a soup stock. Years ago, when her five children were young, she made a game out of seeing how much money she could save at the store while still making good family dinners, she said.
Spaghetti and meatballs might be repurposed the next night for pizza sauce, while pot roast might show up one night with potatoes and the next night with vegetables. She tried to shop as infrequently as every two weeks, since multiple trips to the grocery store often translate into higher bills.
McManus, whose children are now grown, runs a restaurant on the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard and recently completed a cookbook, “Table Talk,” focused on easy recipes for family meals. If there is an upside to the down economy, she said, it might be that people will re-embrace things like sitting down together for a meal each night.
She said she learned the value of a family dinner — as well as some of her frugal strategies — from her mother, who was a child during the Depression.
“Putting a meal on the table every night was like the most important thing to my mother and I think a lot of people growing up during the Depression,” she said. “That showed love, doing that.”
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{"commentId":2611796,"authorDomain":"rameshksm"}
Combination of things actually...
Costco...yes it costs $100 in membership fees, but I fill-up my car there and save about $0.50 cents every week (so that's $26 in savings)...buy dry-foods like beans and rice there (easily works to about $100 savings every year)...Also other sundries especially when they come with discount coupons...we estimate that above the membership fee, we save about $150 at a minimum...and not to mention, the $100 membership earns you a 2% cash-back...not a lot, but that's a start...
fresh & easy...this new grocery store chain is sprouting up all over our city...and they always have a $5 off coupon for purchases of $20 or more...we pick up a couple of these coupons per week...and then plan our purchase at the store to just about the $20 level each time...and in effect, get $40 worth of groceries for $30...effectively, everything we buy is at a 25% discount (and yes, we also price-shop so we don't buy anything at fresh & easy that we can get for cheap elsewhere)
Kroger's (Fry's) recently had a promotion in our area coinciding with the tax rebate checks that the Feds sent us as part of the economic stimulus...buy up a gift card for $300 or $600 or $1200 and the store would add 10% value for free...we picked up the $300 card and got a total value of $330...
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#51 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:28 PM EDT{"commentId":2611967,"authorDomain":"maryjblue"}
There are some great ideas here, but I have to say, the day I start making my own wine is the day that I stop drinking it, and a sad day that would be since wine is one of the finer simpler things in life. I'd rather have one great bottle of wine each month rather than some junk every day. Same for food, I'd rather take one great cut of meat and make it last (no one ever needs a 12 oz or more steak for themself for one meal). So, grill it, eat part, stir fry it w/ veggies the next meal, then put the leftover part on a salad the next night. That will beat some half-junk food-cheap-ground-whatever it is but it's "cheaper" any time! Plus it's more economical because you'll actually eat it and enjoy it. Duh.
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#52 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:40 PM EDT{"commentId":2623556,"authorDomain":"lauriemlanders"}
I think the idea of cheaper cuts of meat that many of us talked about were intended to serve a family. A 12 oz. steak, on sale for $4.99 per pound, only lasts my family for one meal (maybe two if we do stir-fry) A 2 lb. roast on sale for $1.99 per pound can feed my family for several meals. We actually enjoy pot roast, bbq beef, etc. done in the crock pot, so for us it IS economical.
We too enjoy a good bottle of wine and a nice, juicy steak; we just have to be able to feed our family the rest of the month. BTW, our neighbor made grape-rhubarb wine out of the excess produce we gave him, and while it's a little too sweet to drink a lot of, it makes EXCELLENT chicken marsala!
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{"commentId":2613739,"authorDomain":"louisx"}
learn one thing.... NOTHING is "cheap".
you must be on your toes 24/7. it is so easy to waste that you dont even realize it.
Watch the "little money" - it adds up!!
Some examples:
1. Watch those paper towels you dont need to use so many.
2. the end piece of soap can be stuck on the new one and will work just fine.
3. Zip lock bags can often be reused if not contaminated. If you have bread in it shake out the crums and reuse. also they can be used for hardware/auto/shop parts. Its easy to judge.
4. grocery bags can be used for bathroom trash /kitchen garbage. Cost =$0
I have actually seen people use new kitchen bags to throw out grocery bags.
5. Watch the stores like Costco/Walmart etc. The prices are not always good. Often the local grocery store has sales that beat these stores.
6. When in a store say to yourself "do i really need this item". Oh yes you can walk out without buying anything.
7. stay away from all restaurants including fast food/ others.
8. Stop smoking/drinking in excess - or at all. They are sending you a message by charging so much.
9. Use the internet to gather money saving methods of repair/replacement of broken items.
10. Use fans instead of A/C. Get a VERY large window fan that fits all the window opening (or a whole house fan) and set it on exhaust in the furthest room and open the windows of the rooms that you want to cool. typically this is most effective at night. on 2 story houses an upstairs fan on exhaust can cool the first floor by closing the upper floor windows and opening the loower floor windows - you will learn how to adjust to your needs.
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#53 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:09 PM EDT{"commentId":2614975,"authorDomain":"finella-raven"}
More penny pinching ideas:
1. Install a clothesline. One outside and one in the garage for the rainy season. Unplug the dryer.
2. Cancel your home internet access. It's free at the public library. Also check out a book.
3. Give up cable/satelite TV. Spend the time with your family or on a new hobby.
4. Don't buy Christmas presents, make them for your friends and family. The new hobby may help.
5. Install a programmable thermostat in your home so you don't heat or cool while no one's home.
6. Always use the express checkout at Walmart. You'll cut your shopping list to <20 items per visit.
7. Learn to drive a stick shift so your next vehicle gets better gas mileage.
8. Cancel cellphones or switch to a family plan with people you trust. Extra phones are $10.
9. Light a candle in winter. Looks pretty, smells good, and helps warm the room you're in.
10. Cook outside on the grill in summer. Saves on air conditioning.
11. Never buy used appliances. Buy new with Energy Star for years of savings on utility bills.
12. Take your kids to flea markets and thrift stores. They'll love how far their allowance stretches.
13. Buy bicycles at the pawnshop. Go for a bike ride but let the kids lead.
Have fun with the money saved.
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- 1 vote
#54 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:30 PM EDT{"commentId":2616197,"authorDomain":"danesnrotts"}
I have been gardening(mostly tomatoes and flowers) for years, and this year we started a "square foot garden" from a book I read,and used mostly organic methods.We are relatively inexperienced at most other fruits and vegetables,though.Unfortunately, too much rain and unseasonably cool weather in the spring and early summer have meant a less-than-spectacular harvest so far, although I finally had some success growing corn.We just picked it today, and it was delicious,but not enough for more than a few meals.We also branched out into green beans, honeydew and cantaloupe, and watermelon.We have several apple/cherry/plum/peach trees of the semi-dwarf varieties, but they are fairly young and not fruiting much yet.We also put in a few hardy almond trees(first small crop this year), and thornless blackberry bushes,as well as blueberry bushes.I am very much into edible landscaping, so many of these are incorporated throughout our yard.I will put in more almonds next year, as well as hardy kiwis,pawpaws, and pecan trees, but those will take several years(at least)to get a harvest.My kids enjoy helping in the garden,mostly with planting, harvesting and eating,of course.We compost whatever we can, and also have chickens(the eggs are incredible, we don't eat OUR chickens,LOL), so no leftovers ever go to waste.We were able to get lots of free mulch wood chips from our local electric company this year, and use newspaper and cardboard boxes under the mulch in the garden and flower beds.Flowers are important to attract pollinators ,like bees, to ensure a good harvest.I should mention that we have three acres, but most of it is in pasture for our horses, and I have to be careful not to plant anything toxic to horses anywhere near the pasture.We are also starting to install a rainwater harvesting tank(a metal stock tank swimming pool I bought at a yard sale for $25) to collect rain off the barn for the garden, and will then try to get smaller ones(maybe large trash can-like barrels) for the house.This cuts down on stormwater runoff and provides a supply of water for landscaping needs when it is too long between showers, and saves us from paying for the municipal water.I have found the Debbie Meyer green bags do a very good job of extending the shelf(refrigerator?) life of fresh produce for stuff that isn't eaten immediately.I have also found some very good knock-off recipes for things like KFC original recipe fried chicken( I do about 30 pounds at a time and freeze the surplus, and only do boneless,skinless breasts, drumsticks and wings, as that is what we like),which my family says is better than KFC, and Taco Bell crunchwraps.We also gave up soda for home-brewed iced tea,made with a mix of green and regular tea bags,or less frequently, sugar-free generic kool-aid.I will definitely try the pizza crust recipe someone posted earlier, and plan to try more crockpot meals in the future,since my crockpot is apparently under-utilized.:)
As far as other ways to save, I found folding clothes-drying racks at the Goodwill, where I regularly shop for clothes and lots of other stuff, as well as using a clothesline outside ,so we are saving on our electric bill.We switched to a thermal-carafe coffee maker a few years ago, which keeps a pot hot-to-warm for up to 5 hours without electricity.We just brew a pot and unplug the maker to save on phantom power,too.Probably the biggest money-saver(besides the compact flourescent lightbulbs) so far has been weather-proofing our 115 year-old fixer-upper farmhouse with spray-foam insulation and a "radiant-barrier" paint additive mixed into the interior paint when we painted two years ago.Combined with the radiant-barrier house wrap my husband installed under the new siding last year, we have only had to use our air-conditioning about TEN DAYS so far this summer.We use window fans at night and ceiling fans during the day and close the windows during the day when it is too warm outside. The house has been staying at least ten degrees cooler inside than the outdoor temperature,and in the winter we keep the thermostat at about 60-62 without freezing to death.The house feels more like 68-70 degrees then, which is good, because our propane costs are up 20% this year.This stuff works so well that I can't believe how few people have ever heard of it,but I recommend it to anyone who wants to save on heating and cooling costs.Sherwin Williams is now selling a thermal paint they claim can give 10-15 % savings, but I had to order my additive online.I suspect it is probably cheaper from an online supplier.Our house was so energy-INefficient when we bought it over two years ago that the previous owners couldn't afford to keep it heated!Our neighbors have been amazed at all the energy-efficient improvements we have done, and even paid my husband to do their siding, complete with the radiant barrier housewrap.Mother Earth News magazine has been a tremendous help in learning about ways to save energy and money,whether in the garden or in the home.Our next project will be a "solar heat collector" to mount on a south-facing window for free heat on sunny days this winter.I found the plans on Mother Earth News online.Even if it only works half as well as I expect, it will be worth the effort.
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#55 - Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:34 PM EDT{"commentId":2619684,"authorDomain":"boonchuy"}
We shop with weekly coupons from our local grocery stores and buy bulk, case lots, generics store brands whenever possible. We often see a 10% to 25% savings by doing so.
Still our grocery bill has increased far more than the 5.8% stated.
Eggs and dairy items have almost doubled. Vegetables, fruit and basic staples such as rice, flour, potatoes and bread have gone up 25% to 75%. And forget anything exotic or out of season.
Even salt has jumped from 39 cents to 70 cents a pound.
There has just been the two of us for years now and with age and the onset of age related health problems, there are diet restrictions coming into play. This also causes an increase in our food prices.
The weather where we are in western Washington has been lousy this year so our garden has produced very little but potatoes and some herbs.
We cook to have leftovers thus saving on gas and electricity. And we have a small group of friends with whom we swap ethnic and regional dishes. This helps give us a wider variety of meals.
Eating out is a once or so a month affair, mainly for special dishes we cannot or do not make at home.
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#56 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:56 AM EDT{"commentId":2619710,"authorDomain":"boonchuy"}
We shop with weekly coupons from our local grocery stores and buy bulk, case lots, generics store brands whenever possible. We often see a 10% to 25% savings by doing so.
Still our grocery bill has increased far more than the 5.8% stated.
Eggs and dairy items have almost doubled. Vegetables, fruit and basic staples such as rice, flour, potatoes and bread have gone up 25% to 75%. And forget anything exotic or out of season.
Even salt has jumped from 39 cents to 70 cents a pound.
There has just been the two of us for years now and with age and the onset of age related health problems, there are diet restrictions coming into play. This also causes an increase in our food prices.
The weather where we are in western Washington has been lousy this year so our garden has produced very little but potatoes and some herbs.
We cook to have leftovers thus saving on gas and electricity. And we have a small group of friends with whom we swap ethnic and regional dishes. This helps give us a wider variety of meals.
Eating out is a once or so a month affair, mainly for special dishes we cannot or do not make at home
{"commentId":2619710,"threadId":"340167","contentId":"1785245","authorDomain":"boonchuy"}
#57 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:58 AM EDT{"commentId":2625980,"authorDomain":"lisahaskins"}
The joke in our family is that we have the best recipe for a cheap meal that has been passed down couple generations. It is Macaroni and Tomato Juice (Campbells preferably) You can feed a family of four easily for under $3.00 (1.50 for pasta/ 1.50 for tomato juice, give or take).
It is a nice change from mac-n-cheese, and you only need salt and pepper for flavoring. Some people like a little butter, but I see no need in that. Boil macaroni or shell pasta and then rinse and add tomato juice (V-8 if you want).
My kids actually look forward to this, and I have all of my life!!
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#58 - Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:23 PM EDT{"commentId":2676297,"authorDomain":"marlena-1"}
My mother was born in '38, so felt the effects of the depression and the rationing of WWII. Her mom was a wiz at making something out of nothing, and it has been passed down through generations.
So when the going got tough, I put that, together with my schooling in dietetics and a stint as a restaurant owner into an action plan. Now we eat fabulous food for very little money- Under $300 (usually under $250) for a family of four. Said family includes two foodies: my 17 year old son and myself. The other two are 8 and 2. I don't know about you, but I seem to be driving my food budget around town!
I started to write a book about how I save, and turned it into a blog in order to get it out to people faster. You can find it at www.showmethedough.weebly.com. My methods are wacky, but effective. I agree with going back to the old ways, but time is something that we just don't have- so my methods are updated to adjust to that.
Now that the fundamentals are laid down on the blog, the recipes are coming fast. More all the time! Check it out. No more hamburger helper needed. No more dinners in a box. Pizza? 30 minutes from start to finish, and done in a way that will make you grin. The added plus? Everybody gets what they want (including you!). And for pennies compared to Pizza Hut. No, not much work at all.
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#59 - Mon Sep 1, 2008 12:31 AM EDT{"commentId":2824885,"authorDomain":"bearley"}
I was raised in the 60s and my mother had a garden and froze and canned food to feed her family of 9. What a treat home baked bread is now. We need to reinvent home cooking for health reasons also. Maybe health care costs would go down if we ate better diets, including more meals at home, and more food grown locally.
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#60 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 5:21 PM EDT{"commentId":2824983,"authorDomain":"bearley"}
I was raised in the 60s and my mother had a garden and froze and canned food to feed her family of 9. What a treat home baked bread is now. We need to reinvent home cooking for health reasons also. Maybe health care costs would go down if we ate better diets, including more meals at home, and more food grown locally. On the weekends our family gathers in the Kitchen to cook and eat, even my son is learning to cook. Betty
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#61 - Mon Sep 8, 2008 5:24 PM EDT{"commentId":2973701,"authorDomain":"charatanf"}
The Republican presidential candidate John McLain, who didn't know how many homes he owned, is utterly ignorant of the desperate economic situation of ordinary Americans. With Wall Street tottering, he has the gall to state that the economy is in good shape. So, John, if it ain't broke, no need to fix it. Did you ever hear such rubbish? Dream on, John!!!!
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#62 - Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:09 PM EDT{"commentId":4007439,"authorDomain":"countrykids"}
We have meals together in what we call Mediterranan style. Eat only one course at a time and talk and tell stories while we eat. The second course is only served when everyone is finished. Not only does this allow for great family time, but lets our tummies know long in advance when we are full. We serve anywhere from 4-6 courses. Sometimes with candles and wine glasses for our water or milk etc. food on our best china. Dad of course gets 2 helping instead of one. If there are left overs great but usually there arent because you barely make anything of each course. The kids love it and are never adverse to eating like this. It is also a great way to serve left overs when there isnt much of any one thing.
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#63 - Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:52 PM EST{"commentId":10406004,"authorDomain":"breelaboy"}
{"commentId":10435116,"authorDomain":"brianalampton"}
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