Holy moly!! I did not budget for summer lunches and snacks for the kids!! - Page 2

No because our school lunches basically sets me back around $65 a month - for hot lunch during the school year.  So hopefully I'll be saving a bit this summer.

I use the lunch money that I would normally spend during the school year.

Mine has been reduced dramatically. With my daughter in South Carolina for BCT and my oldest son no longer living with us, It is just my 12 yo and myself..oh, and when hubby is home every other weekend. We eat like birds for the most part...however, it tends to "free up" money for foods we could never buy before...such as junk food lol. Yeah, I must get a grasp on that lol.

Mines about the same because the money I used for lunch accts now is in the food budget. My kids took their lunch all but maybe 4 times a month so it's not much different here.

I would suggest making snack times a set time that has helped otherwise they would graze all day.

So here breakfast is usually by 6:30(my kids naturally start getting up at 5:45am) then snack time is about 9am then lunch between 11 and 12 then snack time at 2:45 then dinner between 5 and 6pm that helps us to have set times. then they are not asking for stuff every hour or so lol.
 

Having only a 1yo, I haven't thought that far ahead, but thanks for bringing that topic up!  It's a good thing to think about and prepare for when my kid gets older!

So far it hasn't been too bad...but there are days when my DS can eat like he hasn't ate in 3 days! haha  I stock up on Ramen Noodles and Pizza Rolls for them for lunch...not too hard to make and in the microwave. 

Yes, my food bill is always higher in the summer.  The kids are very active and their appetites are bigger.  Or they want something hot instead of a sandwich at lunch so they make themselves a microwave meal.  They often fix eggs for breakfast in the summer because they don't have time for the during the school year.  Add that to the fact they we probably end up eating lunch out once a week in the summer and our food bill is definitely higher.
 

Do you have an ALDI nearby?  Their snacks are pretty cheap.  It's amazing what $25 buys there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim 

Do you have an ALDI nearby?  Their snacks are pretty cheap.  It's amazing what $25 buys there.

That's definitely true!  I do head to Aldi's to buy my basics and snack foods.  I can get a big bag of pretzels for around $1.  That keeps the kids happy at the pool for at least one or two snack times.  I also try and buy fruit from the local stand.  It usually costs a little less and the fruit is as fresh as you can get.