As a formerly homeless and currently disabled single mother, I know about making ends meet. I suggest always making a shopping list and always sticking to it. Planning meals within your budget is vital. My food budget is less than $3-5 a day total for my entire family. Parents, if you too are plagued with worry about feeding your kids what's worked for me, is "fasting for the future."
When "fasting for the future " it's highly suggested to skip at least 2 meals a day, while always eating any and all leftover scraps from the meals being skipped ...but still above all else always still being fed regularly the children to reduce waist and ease hunger /hypoglycemia when "fasting for the future " , as I call it. Fasting for the future will ultimately result in fatigue and malnutrition, but think of the growing children and their health and development, the choice becomes clear. So compensate yourself by budgeting in at least $10+ monthly for yourself minimum, as you will need it. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup as a parent, so always eat the scraps. No matter how meager. Trust me. Rice and beans are filling and nutrient dense. Dried beans soaked overnight and simmered with a meat bone can be Devine. ONLY purchase produce in season. Oatmeal, pancakes, peanut butter, and jelly are also great low-cost meals overall. Call 211 for local free food centers and utilize them as much as possible
Think 3 times before spending. Do I need this? Is this a smart purchase? Will I get buyers' remorse? Purchase mixes and bake at home to save money. Or even better learn to cook from scratch. Choose recipes with very few ingredients to avoid expensive meals. Or plan meals around what you have on hand. Googling, for example, " corn, beans, and canned chicken recipe," and peruse your culinary options. Thinking and planning ahead are essential.
Other options to save money are simply not to spend money. Look for free swap style rummage sales like junk in the trunk, etc. Go on free local facebook pages. Utilize any and all resources from non-profit organizations. By wearing the same clothing, even though you lost 60 pounds, you can save a ton of money. We survive off of less than $1k month for a family of 4. I'm wearing my boots another winter even though there are holes in the bottom of them where the heel has worn down and my socks get wet. That's $50+ saved for an emergency or another expense.