Crafting for your budget: pack a lunch
It's always a good idea to think about what you can make instead of buy and to make things that help your budget. Even more so in a time like this with the economy crashing and burning and prices necessarily rising. If you can be 'green' while you're at it, better yet. (The green movement is one trend I hope sticks around; it's about time, right?)I'm going to try to post about something economy- and eco-friendly on a regular basis. Hopefully I'll remind myself and others to not only craft for a hobby but also for frugality's sake. We could learn something from other countries that don't view spending as a sport. </soapbox>
Pack a lunch!Going out and taking out for lunch is expensive, and it's only going to get even more expensive. Thinking about how much money you've saved always feels good and is especially reassuring now; not to mention that you'll feel super responsible and less wasteful. Lunch near where I work averages about $10 a day. That's $50 a week and $2600 a year. Gah! Here's some idears:
- Plan your meals for the coming week on Sundays. Think of key, in-season ingredients that are common to several dishes. I try to think of 2 or 3 proteins and vegetables that I'll use for lunch and dinner throughout the week. For example: tomatoes, potatoes and chicken. That can get you pasta; stuffed tomatoes; roasted potatoes; chicken parm; potato, corn and chicken chowder, etc. And yes, I live alone so I'm cooking for one -gasp!- Just make two servings of your recipes and have one for dinner and one for lunch the next day or so.
Some of my favorites recipe sites are Five Mushrooms, Allrecipes, and Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn.
To plan meals, I use my "What to Eat" pad from knockknock. This pad is also helpful to keep track of what you need at the store so you can make a meal at a moment's notice. But guess what, you don't really need a fancy pad. Just keep notepad near your fridge. - Make a lunch tote. It looks like all you need is a small amount of fabric, some batting and a closure like Velcro or snaps for a square-bottomed bag, with or without a handle. One of these will be a new project of mine:
http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?page=section/classroom/sewprojects/lunchtote/lunchsack.html
http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa072100a.htm
http://tumblingblocks.net/blog/index.cfm/2007/7/31/oilcloth-lunch-bag
Happy lunching!
Image from tumblingblocks.net
