If you have yet to hear or notice the exciting news, in 2023, BAH and BAS rates will increase for service members to keep up with inflation! To know your new BAS amount in light of the new BAS rates for 2023, you can check this link according to your spouse’s rank:

https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/bas/.

The new pay increase took me back to my relationship with BAS and how grocery shopping and planning have evolved since the start of my husband’s career for the better.

We have all been hit by the effects of inflation in one way or another.

One area that has been affected the most is people’s grocery bills. I had no clue how I could maintain my desire to eat clean, bless my family with meals they would enjoy, and stay on budget. On top of all that, I have to eat gluten and dairy free for health reasons! I did not know if it would be possible to accomplish the lifestyle I wanted for my family at a price that kept our financial goals in check. 

It is not only possible, but it has become a hobby that I get so excited to plan for each week. We stay on budget, my husband loves what I cook, and I am constantly having fun trying new creative ways to accomplish these goals. So, here are some of my best tips and tricks to eat clean, have yummy meals, and do so frugally.

Plan out your menu for the week.

When my husband and I married, my grocery shopping trips were made with no game plan.

I would go to the grocery store each week and shop for what looked good or based on one or two recipes I saw on Pinterest and wanted to try.

When it came down to being more intentional about a budget, I realized the first and best way to do this is to have a clear game plan of what I would be making so I could shop for only the ingredients I would use.

Making a dinner menu for each week has been a total game-changer. I used to feel overwhelmed by this, but now I get so excited to do it each Sunday.

My husband even has fun sharing ideas for meals he looks forward to having.

Choose meals that have similar ingredients.

Part of meal planning is being intentional about what meals you will buy for that week. Instead of choosing meals with different base ingredients, try to find meals that taste different but have similar base ingredients.

An example is buying a larger pack of ground turkey and making several other dishes (meatballs, ground turkey bowls, burgers, ground turkey stir fry, etc.). You could use 1 or 2 main proteins weekly and make different dishes. Another way to do this is to pick a theme for the week and make it fun for the family.

One week I was craving Asian food, so I cooked Korean food every day! This way, the base spices, sauces, and vegetables are all interchangeable. 

Go back to the basics.

Before becoming a momma and being so intentional about my grocery budget and time, many recipes I would get so excited about on the internet would take 20 ingredients and an hour or more to make! But now, I realize that some of my family enjoy simple, quick, and basic meals where I let the ingredients do the talking.

For example, my husband loves and always asks for protein bowls! They are so quick, easy, and healthy to make! I take a protein (chicken, ground turkey, sirloin, etc.) and a carb (rice, quinoa, potatoes, etc.) and then veggies or multiple veggies and make yummy bowls and drizzle some sauce (olive oil or salad dressings). These bowls are usually comprised of leftovers from other meals I made earlier in the week.

Boom! Healthy, similar ingredients and making ingredients I had used a previous night and give it a makeover.

Make things at home from scratch (it’s not as scary as you think!)

Making things from scratch is easier than it may seem! It cuts down grocery bills each week so much because you can buy the base ingredients in bulk and pre-made store products know they can charge more for “taking out the work” of doing it yourself. Something I used to buy all the time store-brand was almond milk. The thought of making my own seemed intimidating, and I didn’t think it would be worth the time/effort.

However, for Christmas, I asked my family for a nut milk maker, and they were so kind to bless my husband and me with one. It takes 90 seconds and 1 cup of almonds and makes enough milk to last the whole week.

Now, instead of spending $4 for each carton of almond milk, I can buy one bulk bag of almonds and make it over a month or even more! Some other things you can make at home are specific chips (bake/dehydrate vegetables in the oven), broths, flavored oatmeal, trail mixes, etc.

Cut out “snacky” items and name brands.

A massive pitfall to cheap grocery bills is snacks! Snacks are up charged at stores because they are fast, convenient, and delicious! However, most snacks charge an extra price tag for that and are unhealthy. My family has transitioned to whole-food snacks. Such as hummus and veggie sticks, nuts, fruits, homemade muffins, and many more simple and healthy options!

If you have any great tips on maximizing BAS, we would love to hear from you! Comment below or email us at hello@missionmilspouse.org

*Get to know Lindsey better by visiting her profile on our Meet The Command Team page.