[Oregonmom]

I am new here too, and we too live one one income. If you have a yard, plant some veggies. A patio only, then try some planters. Even things like radishes and carrots can be done in them, by seed, and they grow fast. We have a small yard, and I built a large raised bed with fence boards, it is 8 foot by 5 foot, and 12 inches deep (that's two boards together). Now I live in Oregon, where lumber is cheap (Douglas Fir fence boards are $1.25 each), but you could still make something, even out of old pallet lumber. Look around for bakery thrift stores in your area, find good bread for cheap. Making a point to go to the grocery stores in the morning on Mondays, when the weekend rush is over, and meats might be marked down (freezing them of course). Take note of produce prices between stores, there can be really big differences. Live in an area where there are fruit orchards? If so, when the season comes, check at the orchard for "cull" fruit. Here for us it is Oregons famed "Hood River" apple and pear orchards, where we can get cull apples and pears (means they ripened after the main harvest, or were not as nice looking) for dirt cheap, sometimes about .57 cents a pound. U-picking at nearby farms, woodland berries (make sure you know what is safe) are FREE. Fishing costs little but the license and maybe a pole, but you can freeze the fish.

My way of shopping is to simply purchase the basics. Meats, potatoes, rice, pasta's. Keeping spices in the cabinet, and bulk parmesan cheese, as well as bulk powdered milk, baking supplies and simply cook from scratch, believe me, it is the cheapest way to make it all go further. A cheap cut of meat is fine if marinated, or cooked slowly (roasting in oven or a crock pot). My favorite is to set an entire chicken in a roasting pan a lot of water at 350 degrees, half an onion, two celery stalks and two carrots spices (paprika, dried parsley, pepper garlic, thyme and salt and roast till the chicken cannot even hold together. The vegetables should be discarded, as they will be almost mushy and inedible, but the taste of the meat and broth will be phenomenol. Thicken the broth, then make some simple dumplings to top it with, return to the oven with lid on. Serve alone or with a salad.

You can do the same with a cheap cut of beef, except the dumplings, when meat is nearly done, add some potato (use red potatoes, leave skins on) quarters and some peeled and cut up carrots (if you like) and roast a bit linger till vegetables are done. Make a gravy and serve. No extra pans, and makes some leftovers for lunch. You can do this in an over roaster, or a big crock pot. If you find a day old loaf of french bread at the store, slice and slather with some butter or margarine, sprinkle on some parmesan cheese and broil till browned...voila', cheese toast on the side of any meal.