With the increase of prices of everything across the board, I have been reflecting upon a time where I made due with less.

Of all the gifts I've received over the years from my father, by far the two best was a trip to the orthodontist and paying for my college education. Mind you, at the time, tuition was $2,500 a year, and he wanted me to apply for state residency, so he could pay $600 a year. Trundling me off to college also taught me some life long skills, like how to do my own laundry, manage my time and stretch $5 to feed myself for a week.

I kid you not. My father is a generous man but knew nothing about how a teenager could blow through their monthly food budget. By the time I was halfway through the month, I would be tapped out. Completely. And I was too chicken to call my dad and ask for more money.  

There was one memorable summer I spent in summer school with one of my best friends from college. Dave had less money than I did. What invariably would happen is by month's end, we were searching couch cushions for loose change so we could hit Happy Hour. One dollar could get you a cold beer and a really nice all you can eat Mexican buffet just about any night of the week.

Let's just say I had a lot of Bud Light and taquitos that summer.

One time, we hit pay dirt. We were trolling the vending machines in the hospital for left over change. On a whim, I tossed the coins back in the machine to get a drink. Not only did I get a Coke but tons of coins came spilling back out of the machine like the slots in Vegas. We hit it big time. Armed with enough quarters in our pockets to make our "drawers" sag, we headed off to our favorite bar to celebrate.

When we literally couldn't pool enough money together for Happy Hour, Top Ramen was the order of the day. Ah yes, those were the good old days.

I don't think I can get much of anything, anywhere for a $1, other than a McDonald's hamburger, and we all know what would happen if we ate one of those everyday.

So how do you feed yourself and your family on a budget?  

Well, a friend of mine, whose household emulates a small country, had a number of suggestions to navigate the cost conscious waters.  

Feeding a family of eight is no small task, so Laura Leininger often buys in bulk. Of course, it helps if you have an extra freezer for stocking up when items go on sale and store.  

She also knows all the "kids eat free nights" in Agoura and the surrounding communities. "We don't like to eat out alot, but when you are out and you have so many kids activities, you gotta eat," Leininger told me.  

I can only imagine what the management thinks when they see Laura and her brood coming. Must be like the look my husband gets when he's done abusing the all-you-can-eat buffet at Harrah's.

Leininger also keeps costs down by having her kids pack their own lunches. Yes, I said the kids pack the lunch. Her home is run with affectionate and effective military precision and the added benefit is it teaches kids about healthy eating.

Being aware of what your are buying is also important. "At Costco you can buy a bag of what looks like baby carrots (they are not, they are big carrots ground down to look like baby carrots) right next to a bag of less visually appealing carrots pieces that is 4 times the size but for the same price," she said.  

Another trick she uses is taking advantage of sales, and I don't mean just serving what's on sale for dinner the night you go shopping like I do. You have to see the big picture. Leininger dutifully watches for sales.  

For example, when chicken goes on sale for less than $1.99 a pound, she buys 50 to 100 pounds. That's a lot of chicken, but it makes sense financially when you consider that brand name skinless, boneless chicken is $6.99 a pound. When you do the math that means that instead of spending $349.50 for 50 pounds of poultry, she is spending $99.50. That's nearly a 70 percent savings.   

In fact, there is little she will buy unless it is on sale. It is this discipline which allows her to manage her budget so efficiently.

This method also allows her to have a well-stocked pantry, which limits impromptu trips to the market to get items she may need that are subsequently not on sale.  

Leininger is Mormon, and part of her culture is to be prepared for, in her words, "the big disaster," and she has always been counseled to have a year's supply of food for each person in the house. This kind of storage was invaluable when her husband started a new business, and they lived off of it.

Surprisingly, Leininger is not a big fan of coupons. "Unless I already buy the product, I don't use coupons. Manufacturers want you to get hooked on a product," said Leininger. "I will use some occasionally, it just depends. It has to be a really big coupon." Buy one get one is big. For Leininger, 25 cents off is a waste of time. 

An added benefit of not being a slave to coupons allows Leininger and her family to eat well. "If you can make it yourself, it will cost less than eating out," she said. "Rule number one to saving money is to make it from scratch. Food in store, prepared, or boxed foods, tend to be high in salt. At most, Leininger uses canned soup as starter, and will add additional veggies so it is healthier and not as salty.

She also recommends shopping the bottom of the aisle or top. Products at eye level tend to be the most expensive. Bulk oatmeal always on the bottom shelf.

Her wisdom is hard to refute. Long ago, I gave up on buying frozen waffles. My son has a serious waffle habit that was breaking the bank. Now I make my own using Bisquik and a few secret added ingredients. I freeze them and they toast up every bit as good as the original.

So with a little creativity, time and storage space, you, too, can manage on a budget.