“Cheap Food for Hard Times” was created to provide a meeting space where others can share their dinner ideas and money saving meal plans.  I know we all have our quick dinner recipes that are both money saving , cheap , and provide a healthy meal for our loved ones.

One of the biggest trends in America right now is that we are all going through some really hard times and are truly living paycheck to paycheck..  There  are so many of us that have been laid off from jobs and hopefully getting unemployment if your lucky .  We have become a nation of  experts  at  being able to juggle bills and it feels like an endless cycle. I speak from personal experience as  I work in a call center for a major  mobile phone carrier.  I speak to thousands of people every year and it feels like I am able to touch the pulse of the nation, pretty much on a daily basis.
The number of people that are going through major financial hardship is staggering.  People like you and me who have families with 3 to 4 kids and either one or both of the parents are laid off from their jobs.  We live by grace , goodwill of friends and family and good old American ingenuity just to make it through these hard times .  Even if you are lucky enough to have a job you still are probably not doing what you love to do.  It often feels like fighting tooth and nail  to survive in the workplace.  Most employers can afford to be picky and with everyone looking for a job, they won’t hesitate to let you go.

When you don’t have much money you cut back on your food budget.  Your meal planning consists of finding cheap food for quick recipes that will provide a healthy meal for you and your family.
So I invite you to share your healthy dinner ideas for a budget meal so that we can all help each other to stretch out that food budget to the max, for another 2 weeks, til the next paycheck.

Show the ones you care about , some  delicious ways  you appreciate them. A nice dinner or lunch at the Olive Garden or Red Lobster is sure to put a smile on their face!