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I absolutely LOVE bringing meals to new moms or friends in need. However, when we were in the heat of our debt slaying battle over the last four years, it wasn’t always easy. Here are four ways to keep your costs low but still lavish generous love on those who are in need!
1) Be choosy. This sounds horribly stingy but if I took a meal to every new mom in our church, I’d probably be delivering one a week. It simply isn’t an option for us financially or for our family’s time schedule either. So be selective in whom you choose to bring a meal. You simply can’t take one to everyone. Learn to say “no” and dump the guilt. Tough stuff, I know. But once you’re debt free, you can choose to give meals away like nobody’s business.
2) Think simple. Keep side dishes at a minimum and don’t plan a 14 course meal. I like to include a veggie, a fruit, a main dish, and a dessert. Our signature dessert of choice are good ‘ole Rice Krispy Treats. Nom nom nom. A fruit can be as simple as a jar of apple sauce {plus they’ll get more than one meal’s worth of side dish from it} and a veggie as simple as some chopped carrots.
3) Move Inside the Box or Double Up. I love taking a deli pizza to a family in need. At Aldi I can pick up a large cheese pizza in the box for only $4.99. They can choose to bake it whenever they’re hungry and it usually provides enough for leftovers the next day. Or you can choose to fix a large meal and split it between your family and the family you’re blessing. Buy a large pork roast and cut it in half to make pulled pork for both families in two separate crockpots.
4) Set Up a Generous Budget. Now that we’re debt free {Thank you Jesus!}, I have what is called our “generous” budget. Outside of our tithe, it’s a fund that we’re using for things exactly like this – meals for people in need, charity donations for 5Ks or other fund raising, a gift to brighten someone’s day, books that we’d love people to read, or a random cash bomb {yikes, that is SO much fun!}. There’s a budget for it so I don’t go overboard and buy books for everyone I know or sign up for 15 meals in 2 weeks. 🙂 Prior to the generous budget, I skimped on our own meals to provide meals for others {which is always an option if I have wiggle room in the grocery budget, too}.
Random side note, I LOVE using meal baby to help organize meals for those in need. Which can be another way to show your love!
What’s your go-to meal for someone in need? How do you lavish love on someone without sending your bank account in the red?
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you! by Andy Stanley is priced at $2.99 on Amazon for Kindle
