Saving Money: Portion control with Drinks

We were going through lots of milk and tea.  I was in the habit of buying at least 5 gallons of milk every two weeks. My kids love to drink these things, but it is a killer on the budget!   Water is better for them ayway.  So I bought us each a water bottle and wrote our names on it with a Sharpie marker.  I don't know why, but there is something psychological about having a water bottle. You are more likely to drink water.  Who knows what is behind that?

They are allowed 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of juice, and 1 cup of tea per day.  That accounts for their three meals.  In between meals they are only allowed water.   I now only buy 3 gallons of milk every two weeks, and Michael has some tea available to him when he gets home from work instead of an empty container!  It works for us.