Emeals: It’s What’s for Dinner at the Jones House!

Dear Aimee,

I have three boys, and keeping them well fed without breaking the bank is quite a challenge. Any tips on how to feed hungry guys on a budget?

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy! – Elk City, Oklahoma

This is a topic that many seasoned mothers warned me about as we had one son, and then another, and then another. They would laugh and say, “Just wait until they start eating you out of house and home.” Isn’t it funny, in a not so humorous way, how older people are always right? My boys scarf down breakfast while asking what’s for lunch. The scary part comes when you analyze your spending category at the end of the month. Actually, I don’t ever do this, but I have an extraordinary left brained husband that revels in such tasks. I am usually cringing in the next room waiting for him to yell, “AIMEE!”

Well dear reader, I just might have a suggestion that will save you and me both from divorcing for irreconcilable shopping differences, at least in the grocery category.

I recently attended a social media conference, and while waiting in line for a free Hershey Easter basket, I got a great dinner time tip. By the way, women will wait an incredibly long time for something free, and an extraordinarily long time for something that is free and of the chocolate nature. Anyhow, this woman introduced me to her blog Saving Money Living Life, and a product called Emeals. Emeals is a website you subscribe to for a monthly fee of about $5. After filling out your preferences, where you shop, type of meals, and how many people you serve, you are then emailed a weekly menu plan complete with step by step recipes. But here is the piece de la resistance, it also attaches a shopping list catered to your local store, and gives you a total of how much the groceries should cost!

My family has been using this program for one week. The recipes are simple, everyone has loved the meals, and the best part is that the groceries cost about $90.00 for seven meals to feed six people. If you are a Financial Peace fan, you will be happy to know that Emeals is also Dave Ramsey approved. In fact you can enter BLISSDOM in the coupon code and receive a discount on your subscription. I have tried other programs like Emeals in the past, and have never found one quite so user friendly. My family is on the Wal-Mart, Low-Fat, 3-6 people plan. Wal-Mart is the only local store the site supports for our area, but of course you are welcome to take your list to your local grocer and stock up. You can also choose from Low-carb, vegetarian, gluten free, and many other preferences. The website is www.emeals.com.. I hope this helps. The only other recommended solution is to start your own cattle farm operation, and I am definitely keeping that idea simmering on the back burner.