Smart Shopping
In keeping with the menu theme, I thought I would share my trip to the grocery store today. Now, you're thinking - "wait a minute - you said you shop on Tuesdays". Well, yes - sometimes. But often, I can stretch my menu longer (due to unexpected eating out and whatnot). When this happens I will shop at Shop n Save on Thursday if they have really good deals. Of course I take my coupons and a list. This is often when I shop for our "essentials" for breakfast and lunch.
Shop n Save on Thursday can really be a great deal - if nothing else, you automatically get $10 off of $50 or more in groceries. Depending on which store you go to - some will even split your grocery bill if you have enough to qualify twice! That's $20 saved!
I do recommend going early if you can - Thursdays at Shop n Save get busy.
Here's the deal I got today:
I purchased 32 items for $55.11 including tax - That's about $1.72 per item!!!
After coupons, the $10 off in store and specials they were having throughout the store I saved a total of : $47.99 (which was 47% of my bill) I saved almost HALF of what my groceries should have cost.
I do buy some generic items, but I also got several name brand items and to prove it I'm going to list it all out for you.
- 1/2 gallon of nonbrand ice cream
- 2 Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers frozen meals (used a $1 off 2 coupon)
- 2 Shop n Save frozen pizzas
- 2 half gallons of Wild Harvest organic Whole milk
- 2 1 1/2 pound chicken breast tenderloins
- 1 homepride loaf of whole wheat bread
- 1 box of apple jacks cereal
- 1 box of fruit loops cereal (used a $1 off 2 coupon - qualified with the apple jacks and were on sale)
- 2 boxes of pops cereal (used a $1 off 2 coupon and they were on sale)
- 1 box of honeymaid graham crackers
- 2 cans of pringles
- 1 loaf of frozen garlic bread (shop n save brand)
- 2 fiber one yogurt four packs (used 2 $1.35 off coupons)
- 1 International delight creamer (used a Free coupon)
- 2 Fudgeshoppe Deluxe Grahams cookies
- 2 boxes Jollytime healthy pop popcorn
- 3 cans of Healthy Choice soup
- 1 twix candy bar (I'm pregnant and it caught my eye)
- 3 twelve packs of can soda (7up, dr pepper and rootbeer)
It took minimal work to look through the Shop n Save ad, look through my coupons and create a list. Hopefully I have inspired you to begin to save coupons and save money!!! Good luck. As always, let me know if you have any questions.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Organize your life in 2010!
I've always been told I am exceptionally organized, that is, of course, when I'm not being called anal.
I never really thought of it as a true talent, but rather something I needed in my life. It has come to my attention recently that perhaps I do possess a skill that others could benefit from.
So I've decided to take a passion of mine; that's right organizing is something I truly enjoy, and share how I do it with others. My organization is not limited to just closets and pantries. I organize my time, my family budget, my family schedule and many other things.
Some of what I share you may already do - somethings may be new to you - and some may not be interested in orgazning at all, but I hope to inspire some to make their lives a little simpler through organization.
I'm going to start off by sharing one of my goals for the new year - Cooking more at home! I will share my menus and how I go about planning it in the least stressful way possible. A small waiver here - I do not love to cook so if you ask for recipes I'm more than willing to share - but they are not my own. I also like simple meals that take limited time and everyday "normal' ingredients. So if you are a lover of cooking - this portion probably won't suit you as much.
I plan my family meals about a week in advance. I usually plan them from Tuesday to Monday. There is a method behind this. I like to wait to grocery shop until I get the store ads in the mail on Monday. I use coupons (more on that later) and look at what is on sale at various stores to help plan my menu.
Some people like to do a month in advance, but I personally think that is too much. We like to eat out from time to time and it is not always planned in advance. In fact I usually leave one unplanned day a week for eating out and keep easy frozen stirfry or some other meal in case we stay in. Other things come up as well, and if I'm only planned a week ahead I can easily push back some nights.
Now I do NOT plan my menu exclusively on what is on sale; however, if a sale correlates with some recipes I have, then I plan on making those meals. Make sense?
When do I find time to do this - Monday during my son's nap or after he has gone to bed. I sit down with the ads, my coupons, and my recipes and begin making my grocery list. Also - I don't plan sides to go with dinner usually. I just keep on hand various sides we like (canned veggies, fruit, potatoes, etc).
So here are the meals I have made thus far for January:
1/4 - spicy salmon over brown rice
1/5 - Cola Chops
1/6 - Southwest Chicken and taco soup
1/7 - beef stroganoff
1/8 - dinner with friends
1/9 - dinner out
1/10 - busy running around had to push to Monday
1/11 - Eggplant parmesean
1/12 - taco salad
1/13 - Easy skillet
1/14 - Stuffed peppers
1/15 - Hubby not home - microwave meal for me
1/16 - Easy frozen stirfry or dinner out
1/17 - Parmesean Chicken
1/18 - Chili
Now why do I bother to do this???
Taking some time on Monday saves me time and stress later in the week. After I go to the grocery store I know I have everything I need to make meals for 1 week. When dinner time approaches, there is no worry about what is for dinner - it is already planned and again the recipes I pick are simple, so no hassle there.
To me it is worth the peace of mind to give up a little time on Monday to organize my meals - and maybe you'll agree! Good luck! Let me know if it works for you or if you have any of your own suggestions to add.
I never really thought of it as a true talent, but rather something I needed in my life. It has come to my attention recently that perhaps I do possess a skill that others could benefit from.
So I've decided to take a passion of mine; that's right organizing is something I truly enjoy, and share how I do it with others. My organization is not limited to just closets and pantries. I organize my time, my family budget, my family schedule and many other things.
Some of what I share you may already do - somethings may be new to you - and some may not be interested in orgazning at all, but I hope to inspire some to make their lives a little simpler through organization.
I'm going to start off by sharing one of my goals for the new year - Cooking more at home! I will share my menus and how I go about planning it in the least stressful way possible. A small waiver here - I do not love to cook so if you ask for recipes I'm more than willing to share - but they are not my own. I also like simple meals that take limited time and everyday "normal' ingredients. So if you are a lover of cooking - this portion probably won't suit you as much.
I plan my family meals about a week in advance. I usually plan them from Tuesday to Monday. There is a method behind this. I like to wait to grocery shop until I get the store ads in the mail on Monday. I use coupons (more on that later) and look at what is on sale at various stores to help plan my menu.
Some people like to do a month in advance, but I personally think that is too much. We like to eat out from time to time and it is not always planned in advance. In fact I usually leave one unplanned day a week for eating out and keep easy frozen stirfry or some other meal in case we stay in. Other things come up as well, and if I'm only planned a week ahead I can easily push back some nights.
Now I do NOT plan my menu exclusively on what is on sale; however, if a sale correlates with some recipes I have, then I plan on making those meals. Make sense?
When do I find time to do this - Monday during my son's nap or after he has gone to bed. I sit down with the ads, my coupons, and my recipes and begin making my grocery list. Also - I don't plan sides to go with dinner usually. I just keep on hand various sides we like (canned veggies, fruit, potatoes, etc).
So here are the meals I have made thus far for January:
1/4 - spicy salmon over brown rice
1/5 - Cola Chops
1/6 - Southwest Chicken and taco soup
1/7 - beef stroganoff
1/8 - dinner with friends
1/9 - dinner out
1/10 - busy running around had to push to Monday
1/11 - Eggplant parmesean
1/12 - taco salad
1/13 - Easy skillet
1/14 - Stuffed peppers
1/15 - Hubby not home - microwave meal for me
1/16 - Easy frozen stirfry or dinner out
1/17 - Parmesean Chicken
1/18 - Chili
Now why do I bother to do this???
Taking some time on Monday saves me time and stress later in the week. After I go to the grocery store I know I have everything I need to make meals for 1 week. When dinner time approaches, there is no worry about what is for dinner - it is already planned and again the recipes I pick are simple, so no hassle there.
To me it is worth the peace of mind to give up a little time on Monday to organize my meals - and maybe you'll agree! Good luck! Let me know if it works for you or if you have any of your own suggestions to add.
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