Feed your family frugally -- Page 2
By Amy C. Fleitas • Bankrate.com

Bankrate: How did your mother influence your book?

Kellam: I learned from her. My brother, mother and myself -- lived on $500 a month after she divorced my dad. She paid off $35,000 in five years on $1,000 a month. She actually helped co-write the book, by me calling her to say "How do I do this?"

Kellam: Yes, definitely. If you eat organic or are on a high-protein diet, it's going to be more expensive. But the expenses are really in the sodas, roll-ups and quickie TV dinners. We pretty much cook from scratch. There are lots and lots of meals that you can make in 30 minutes or less.

Bankrate: A lot of diets now emphasize low-carb for weight loss and health, while your book has many high-carb recipes. Do you still think your recipes are healthy?

Kellam: I think there should be moderation in everything. If you're on a high-protein diet, purchase items like chicken and beef on sale and freeze them. You can buy cheese and bacon on sale and freeze them, too. I've put healthy substitutes in the back of the book. For example, the hamburger casserole -- take out the macaroni and you have a great meal for a high-protein diet.

Bankrate: What is the number one mistake people make when going to the grocery store?

Kellam: Their attitude. Since grocery shopping is something you have to do over and over, people don't plan. But you should plan. People don't realize they are working one or two days to pay for items they don't need. Plan out your meals before you go to the store. The extra 10 to 15 minutes you take to plan could save you hundreds of dollars a month.

Bankrate: What should people aim to spend, per person, on groceries?

Kellam: That really depends on where you are living. In Kansas, our groceries are lower, but so are our incomes. In New York, groceries are higher, but so are incomes. In my house, we feed two adults and three children on $175 per month. Families who have four teenage boys are lucky to get by with $600 a month. I guess a price to aim for is $75 to $100 per person per month, depending on the circumstances.

Bankrate: Do coupons really make a difference, or are they a waste of time?

Kellam: For me, they are a waste of time. I think some people use coupons as an excuse to buy things they don't need -- roll-ups, juice boxes and those things. There is a warehouse store near me where I can purchase generic brands. You can go to a Wal-Mart that has groceries and they will match any ad price that you bring in.

Bankrate: What is your favorite recipe in the book?

Kellam: Well, they are all my favorites. The most popular request is for the granola bars and the pizza. People just love them. The baby wipes and the window cleaner are popular, too.

Bankrate: Throughout the book you give helpful advice -- frugal tips on cooking and housekeeping. Where did all these tips come from?

Kellam: My mom and my grandmother.

Bankrate: What's the secret to cooking great meals without spending a fortune?

Kellam: Make do with what you have. If I realize I don't have enough cornmeal, I'll make muffins instead of cornbread. If I'm out of salad, I'll make frozen veggies instead.

Plan as much as you can so you don't spend as much at the store. People really like to eat their favorite meals over and over. Write down your 10 favorite meals and then stock up on the supplies for them. Just take that one step, and it's not so overwhelming.

Tawra Kellam's "Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites" is available at Amazon.com, or at www.notjustbeans.com.