School lunches cost more each year. Schools offer lots of options but not all of them are healthy. Making your child’s school lunch is more economical and healthier alternative.

Kids like school lunches because they are provided with a variety of choices. Homemade lunches can offer the same varieties but with a smaller price tag. You can give your child choices while still not breaking the budget.

First, ask your children about their favorite lunchtime meals. If you send foods that your children enjoy, you are more likely to elicit their cooperation when it’s time to help pack – and eat – the lunches.

If your child likes foods that need refrigeration, be sure to purchase an ice pack for their lunch and an insulated lunch bag. Seal the ice pack in a plastic bag before putting it in the freezer. The plastic bag keeps this fluid from touching your child’s food.

Most school cafeterias have microwave ovens available for student use. Dinner leftovers make excellent lunch fare. Invest in microwave-safe bowls to store your child’s lunch.

Fresh fruit offers a sugar boost that is better than a candy bar. Include a cup of fresh strawberries, apples, oranges, or whatever fruit is in season. If they need more sweetness, add a cup of yogurt to use as a fruit dip. One fun option is to freeze the fruit the night before and put it into the lunch bag still frozen. That way, your child will enjoy “slushie” fruit for lunch.

Kids won’t eat anything that requires too much work. Cut their peanut butter and jelly sandwich into bite-sized pieces for easier handling. If your kids are older and health-conscious, serve a turkey and veggie delight in pita bread. Soft chicken tacos or ham roll-ups are delicious also.

If your kids don’t want the traditional milk at lunch, they may make a trip to the soda machine. To avoid this, invest in bottles of fruit juices. Make sure that the juices are 100% juice and not mostly sugar. Another alternative is water bottles and flavored drink packets. Crystal Light and Kool-Aid brands offer drink mix packets that are perfect for a bottle of water.

Save money on utensils and napkins. Buying plastic forks and napkins seems like a good idea but kids throw them away after each meal. Let your kids use the utensils and paper products provided by the school.

School lunches can be delicious, nutritious, and more affordable if they are made at home. Provide your children’s favorites without the preservatives and added fat.

I found a great free sample offer on Folger’s Coffee and thought I would share it. Might be fun to try a new coffee flavor!

Head on over to Proctor and Gamble Free Folger Gourmet Selection Coffee Sample to get one for yourself.

We don’t entertain nearly as much as we used to. Most of our parties are now “kid friendly” but we still have found some methods that help us to save money when entertaining family and friends. We’ve found that we can still have an enjoyable party without spending a load of money and what matters most is the time spent together rather than the food we serve or the party decorations we bought. Here are some ways we save money on entertaining expenses:

1. Set a budget and stick to it. We always start by deciding what our party budget will be and we do not go over that amount. If you are tempted to overspend, then take only cash with you when you are shopping for party needs. When the money is gone, it’s gone.

2. Plan way in advance. We always plan parties well in advance which allows me time to prepare the food myself, purchase any needed items on sale, and just generally avoid last minute spending. I like to make a timeline of when certain items will need to be accomplished which helps to keep the stress of last minute preparations down.

3. Do it yourself. I save a lot of money by preparing my own appetizers, dips, and other snack food. It doesn’t take much time to put together a veggie tray, bake a plate of cookies, or even make a batch of cupcakes.

4. Use what you already have. When hosting themed parties we just gather together items that we already have. I have several nice tablecloths for different occasions, so instead of purchasing a disposable one, I choose one that fits the theme of the party. Likewise, if I am hosting a party for grownups I use my nice dishes instead of paper plates.

5. Shop the dollar store for party goods. When I do need to purchase paper goods such as plates, napkins, utensils, etc. the dollar store is my place to shop. You can’t beat their seasonal supplies either with all kinds of great party goods for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Super Bowl, etc.