Showing posts with label Grocery Savings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grocery Savings. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Grab Your Coupon Here
Before you head to the store, browse these coupons. There may be one...or two you can use!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Feeding a Large Family Healthy Meals on a Budget
So what exactly constitutes healthy eating? I realize that we will all define healthy eating a bit differently. Some may define it as homemade meals rather than fast food or convenience meals, and some may define eating healthy as an all raw and organic diet. Whatever your definition is, there are always ways to squeeze more healthful foods into your budget.
For our family, eating healthy is fairly simple, and perhaps a little old-school. It includes homemade meals, lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and watching our sugar intake. We stick to the natural fats (BUTTER, Olive Oil, and Coconut Oil) and believe that red meat, dairy, and pasta are good for you when eaten in moderation.
So how do we feed our large family healthy meals on a budget? Here's some of how we do it.....
Read the full article here.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Very Cool Meal Planning Help
Okay, friends...you know that I am pretty fanatical about menu planning. But this takes even my system a step further by incorporating your local grocery store sales into the planning....and does it for you!!! How cool is that?
Here's how it works: Food on the Table is an easy meal planning service that is based on sales at local grocery stores. With Food on the Table, users will be able to: find thousands of easy, healthy recipes - save money by knowing the items that are on sale - and simplify your shopping experience with a well organized grocery list.
If you struggle at all with meal planning, then this may be your solution. If you've got a great system already, this may help streamline your sale shopping.
Okay ladies.....I'm very interested in your opinion on this! Click on the banner above, sign up for the free trial, and tell me what you think!
*Contains an affiliate link.
Monday, November 07, 2011
8 Tips for Surviving the Economy Crunch
Anyone else feeling a bit tight these days? Are you struggling to make ends meet? Or just trying to put money away with little success?
As our family has grown, we've always been frugally minded. However, with gas, groceries, and everything else on the rise...except my husband's paycheck...we've really had to tighten up and be wiser about our spending. And did I mention that we're also planning a wedding?
Here are 8 ways that we have cut expenses to survive the economy crunch!
Calculate that trip!
We often calculate how much it will cost to drive to Grandma's out of state, or to the amusement park in the next city, but what about those frequent "short" trips? Those sudden trips to the grocery store or those trips to Sonic for Happy Hour. ;-) It's important to know what even your short trips are costing because they add up quickly.
First, find out how many miles your vehicle gets to the gallon....in city. Now, think of a place you go often. How many miles is it from your home? Divide the total miles of your trip by how many miles your vehicle gets per gallon. Then multiply that result by the cost of gas per gallon. This will tell you how much your trip costs. Formula here.
For instance, Sonic is 4 miles from our home. So round trip is 8 miles. Our van, "Clifford, the Big Red Van" only gets about 10 miles to the gallon (pitiful, I know). SO, it will cost me $2.52 (current price per gallon $3.15) to get to Sonic and back. So now, my half price large Diet Coke just cost me $3.52 instead of $1.00. If I do this everyday, I've just spent $105.60 in one month for Diet Coke. Scary huh?
It's so important, if you're struggling financially, to calculate your gas costs. We've had to cut out a lot of frivolous trips to save on our gas budget. If you've got a fuel efficient car, it may not be so bad. But with a 15-passenger van and a Suburban, we really have to pay attention to our fuel costs.
Turn up (or down) that thermostat!
We've all heard that during the summer, we should keep our thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. How many of us actually do this? We do. You'll be amazed at how quickly you acclimate to a warmer temp in your home. Now that we're approaching winter, try setting your thermostat one to two degrees cooler than usual.
Check the unit price!
When shopping for groceries, be sure and look at the unit price when comparing prices. Look at the price per ounce or pound to find the best bargain. If you're set on a particular name brand item, search for a coupon first or price match it if your local store does this.
Buying in bulk is often a great way to save money, but be careful! Buying in bulk may not always be the best option. For example, we shop at Sams. Sams carries mostly name brand items. Even though they may be cheaper than the traditional grocery store, most time, buying the generic store brand will be less expensive than buying name brand bulk.
Eat at home!
If you're accustomed to eating out a lot, you can save huge by eating at home. Plan a menu and make a coordinating shopping list. And stick to it! This will also prevent those frequent store runs since you will already have everything on hand to prepare your meals.
Check for used items first!
If you need something for your family or your home, don't forget to see if you can find it used first. Chances are, depending upon the item, you can find it on eBay or Craigslist. If you need clothing or Children's clothing, don't forget about those great thrift stores.
Downgrade your cable package
About a year ago, we downgraded our TV package. We went to just the basic package which means we can watch only local channels for news and weather. We saved quite a bit by doing this and we haven't missed all those channels one teeny, weeny bit. Okay, so I do miss my Food Network and HGTV, but I've gone on
Sell Stuff
Look around your home and let go of things you don't need. Sell books, toys, baby items, furniture, etc. It's always fun to bring in a little extra cash from things you weren't using anyway.
After seeing a friend's FB status about cashing in her unused gold jewelry, and getting more than she thought, I went through my small stash and found three broken gold chains and a small ring I never wear. I took them to Gold Gals and made a quick 76 bucks from broken jewelry I may have ended up throwing out.
Join Swagbucks!
I'm tellin' ya! If you haven't done this yet, you're missing out on free stuff. I purchased most of my home schooling material last year from Amazon credit that I earned from Swagbucks for free. In addition, anytime I want a new book, or birthday gifts for our children, I build up my Amazon gift credit by buying Amazon gift cards with my Swagbucks. Currently, I am saving up for Christmas shopping. 450 SB gets you a $5 Amazon gift card. I usually accumulate 450 SB every week to week and a half just by doing regular Internet searches. But there are other ways to rack up the Bucks, too.
Once you redeem your SB for a gift card, you then go into your Amazon account and credit it with a code. You can let it build as high as you want. If you're not an Amazon fan, there are pages and pages of redeemable prizes and gifts. You've GOTTA jump on the Swagbucks train! :)
How have you managed to cut back on your budget? What would you add to this list?
Photo Credit
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Free Printable Coupons
If you buy any the of the following products, or have wanted to try one, now is the perfect time. Click on any of these links and print your free coupons. I thought these were note worthy.
$1.50 off Clorox 2 Stain Fighter/ Color Booster
$4.00 off any Non-Drowsy Claritan Allergy Product
$1.00 off any Robitussin Product
$2.00 any one e.p.t. pregnancy test
$1.50 off any Johnson's Natural product
$0.40 off three (3) Campbell's Condensed Soup
Or, click below to browse the whole selection.
Coupons . com
Monday, September 12, 2011
Menu Planning
Pin It
One of the most rewarding aspects of motherhood is feeding my family. Putting meals on the table that will nourish and satisfy my husband and children bring a sense of joy and fulfillment to my heart. But it can also be challenging and overwhelming keeping a family fed three times a day, every day!
Growing up, my mom would write down meals for the week, and then compose a coordinating grocery list. So, when I got married, I did the same. Each week, for years, I would sit down and think about what we were going to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As my big girls got older, they too would help in this area.
But it was still a big job! Especially as our family grew. Often times, just sitting there thinking of what to eat was mentally exhausting.
One day it occurred to me....why not put this menu into a database, with the coordinating shopping list, and hit "SAVE"!! And, each time we write a new menu, we'll do the same and eventually accumulate many menus from which we will rotate. Then, all we have to do is print off a menu and coordinating list and shop!
So that's what we have done for the last seven to eight years. We now have about ten menus that rotate every two weeks. If we get tired of a particular meal, or want to incorporate a new recipe, we simply change it out on the database and adjust the ingredients on the list. Done! So much easier than starting from scratch each time.
For us, two week menus work best since my husband gets paid every two weeks. In addition, I only have to 'big' shop twice a month instead of four. But plan your menu according to what works best for your family schedule. Whether weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, having an organized menu plan will save time and money in the end.
Here is the menu we are currently using. Click on image to enlarge.
And here is the coordinating grocery list. (click on image to enlarge)
As you can see, this list contains only food items that we need for every recipe on the menu. If we need to restock other items such as cleaning supplies, paper products, or toiletries, we simply add them to the end of the list where it says "Other Items Needed".
The night before we shop, we print off our list and go through the freezer, fridge, and pantry and cross off anything we do not need. For instance, we have yeast on the list because we bake breads, rolls, etc. But since we buy yeast in bulk, we don't always need to restock it. Same goes for Chicken Stock. I almost always make my own, so I rarely have to buy it. But, I have it on the list just in case I don't have any in the freezer. It's always best to include all ingredients on your list, and simply cross off what you don't need. The key is ensuring you have all the ingredients you need to prepare your meals so that you're not running to the to the store in a pinch.
What if I don't want to prepare or eat what is planned on that particular day?
Because we've shopped for everything on the list, we're free to swap dishes as we please. If we've had a hectic day and there is a more labor intensive meal planned that day, we just switch out for something faster or easier to prepare. Or, if another meal sounds better that day, we switch. The important element here is that you have everything on hand, and you don't have to think about what to eat. This also helps us to look ahead and get meat out of the freezer and into the fridge for thawing.
We try to balance our meals. Some require a little more prep time or cooking time. Some are quick and easy. Some are cheap and some require more costly ingredients. We like variety in the meals themselves, as well as the work involved.
What is FFY?
FFY is Fend For Yourself. Since we usually eat a big lunch on Sunday, dinner is usually clearing out leftovers, or making a sandwich, or snacking on fruit and crackers. Greg and I tend to the little ones, but the older, capable kids fend for themselves!
In our family, life is so busy and there's much work to be done. This menu system has saved a lot of time.....and gas. Since we've shopped for everything we'll need, I'm not running back and forth to the store. If we need milk or fresh produce, we make a stop while we're out running other errands. The best part is...I never have to stare into the fridge, ominously trying to decide what to make for dinner.
So how about you? What are your favorite tips for feeding your family with efficiency? Do you have any questions about my system? Please leave a comment...I'd love to hear from you!
Photo Credit
One of the most rewarding aspects of motherhood is feeding my family. Putting meals on the table that will nourish and satisfy my husband and children bring a sense of joy and fulfillment to my heart. But it can also be challenging and overwhelming keeping a family fed three times a day, every day!
Growing up, my mom would write down meals for the week, and then compose a coordinating grocery list. So, when I got married, I did the same. Each week, for years, I would sit down and think about what we were going to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As my big girls got older, they too would help in this area.
But it was still a big job! Especially as our family grew. Often times, just sitting there thinking of what to eat was mentally exhausting.
One day it occurred to me....why not put this menu into a database, with the coordinating shopping list, and hit "SAVE"!! And, each time we write a new menu, we'll do the same and eventually accumulate many menus from which we will rotate. Then, all we have to do is print off a menu and coordinating list and shop!
So that's what we have done for the last seven to eight years. We now have about ten menus that rotate every two weeks. If we get tired of a particular meal, or want to incorporate a new recipe, we simply change it out on the database and adjust the ingredients on the list. Done! So much easier than starting from scratch each time.
For us, two week menus work best since my husband gets paid every two weeks. In addition, I only have to 'big' shop twice a month instead of four. But plan your menu according to what works best for your family schedule. Whether weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, having an organized menu plan will save time and money in the end.
Here is the menu we are currently using. Click on image to enlarge.
And here is the coordinating grocery list. (click on image to enlarge)
As you can see, this list contains only food items that we need for every recipe on the menu. If we need to restock other items such as cleaning supplies, paper products, or toiletries, we simply add them to the end of the list where it says "Other Items Needed".
The night before we shop, we print off our list and go through the freezer, fridge, and pantry and cross off anything we do not need. For instance, we have yeast on the list because we bake breads, rolls, etc. But since we buy yeast in bulk, we don't always need to restock it. Same goes for Chicken Stock. I almost always make my own, so I rarely have to buy it. But, I have it on the list just in case I don't have any in the freezer. It's always best to include all ingredients on your list, and simply cross off what you don't need. The key is ensuring you have all the ingredients you need to prepare your meals so that you're not running to the to the store in a pinch.
What if I don't want to prepare or eat what is planned on that particular day?
Because we've shopped for everything on the list, we're free to swap dishes as we please. If we've had a hectic day and there is a more labor intensive meal planned that day, we just switch out for something faster or easier to prepare. Or, if another meal sounds better that day, we switch. The important element here is that you have everything on hand, and you don't have to think about what to eat. This also helps us to look ahead and get meat out of the freezer and into the fridge for thawing.
We try to balance our meals. Some require a little more prep time or cooking time. Some are quick and easy. Some are cheap and some require more costly ingredients. We like variety in the meals themselves, as well as the work involved.
What is FFY?
FFY is Fend For Yourself. Since we usually eat a big lunch on Sunday, dinner is usually clearing out leftovers, or making a sandwich, or snacking on fruit and crackers. Greg and I tend to the little ones, but the older, capable kids fend for themselves!
In our family, life is so busy and there's much work to be done. This menu system has saved a lot of time.....and gas. Since we've shopped for everything we'll need, I'm not running back and forth to the store. If we need milk or fresh produce, we make a stop while we're out running other errands. The best part is...I never have to stare into the fridge, ominously trying to decide what to make for dinner.
So how about you? What are your favorite tips for feeding your family with efficiency? Do you have any questions about my system? Please leave a comment...I'd love to hear from you!
Photo Credit
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Homemade Laundry Detergent
There are some things that are worth the time and effort to save money, and there are other things that are worth the money to save time. Make sense?
Well, making our own laundry detergent has proven to be one of our best money savers over the last two to three years. And we only have to invest about 15-20 minutes of our time every three to four months.
Not bad, eh?
Not only is this a great way to save money, but this detergent is also safe for HE washers, because of the low suds ingredients.
I'll give the recipe in a small batch so that you can try it without wasting too much if you don't like it!
But you'll like! You WILL!!
Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent
1 Fels Naptha Laundry Bar (or Zote) I buy this at Walmart in the laundry aisle.
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda...it must say Super Washing Soda.....it's usually located right next to the Borax but not all stores carry this....you may have to shop around. If you live in Texas, HEB carries it.)
If you just bought one bar and one box each of these, it will cost you only about $5 and depending on family size will last three to six months. Although, you'll need about three bars of Fels Naptha or Zote to go through your entire boxes of powders.
Directions
Grate bar. If you have a food processor with a cheese grater attachment, use it! Before we had this, we had to grate the bar by hand on a box grater.
In a processor or blender, combine 1 cup of grated bar, 1/2 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup of Washing Soda. Process or blend until you get a fine powder consistency. It's best to do this in small batches to get a fine powder. Repeat this until you run out of your grated bar. If you've bought several bars....well, keep on goin'! Store in an air tight container.
Use
For small to medium loads, use 1 tablespoon. Seriously! This is why it lasts so long!
For large or heavily soiled loads, use 2 tablespoons. It's that simple! Then, fabric soften as desired!
A side note: I've heard people say that they didn't like the ZOTE because it has a waxy texture, whereas the Fels Naptha has a flaky texture. I personally don't have a problem with Zote. My clothes get clean and they smell good. However, since my Walmart now sells Fels Naptha, I buy that.
My little girls love that ZOTE is pink! ;-) Try both and see what you like best. Let me know what you think!
*Update: We still make our detergent most of the time, but occasionally, we buy the big bucket from Sams, which is also economical.
Well, making our own laundry detergent has proven to be one of our best money savers over the last two to three years. And we only have to invest about 15-20 minutes of our time every three to four months.
Not bad, eh?
Not only is this a great way to save money, but this detergent is also safe for HE washers, because of the low suds ingredients.
I'll give the recipe in a small batch so that you can try it without wasting too much if you don't like it!
But you'll like! You WILL!!
Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent
1 Fels Naptha Laundry Bar (or Zote) I buy this at Walmart in the laundry aisle.
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda...it must say Super Washing Soda.....it's usually located right next to the Borax but not all stores carry this....you may have to shop around. If you live in Texas, HEB carries it.)
If you just bought one bar and one box each of these, it will cost you only about $5 and depending on family size will last three to six months. Although, you'll need about three bars of Fels Naptha or Zote to go through your entire boxes of powders.
Directions
Grate bar. If you have a food processor with a cheese grater attachment, use it! Before we had this, we had to grate the bar by hand on a box grater.
In a processor or blender, combine 1 cup of grated bar, 1/2 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup of Washing Soda. Process or blend until you get a fine powder consistency. It's best to do this in small batches to get a fine powder. Repeat this until you run out of your grated bar. If you've bought several bars....well, keep on goin'! Store in an air tight container.
Use
For small to medium loads, use 1 tablespoon. Seriously! This is why it lasts so long!
For large or heavily soiled loads, use 2 tablespoons. It's that simple! Then, fabric soften as desired!
A side note: I've heard people say that they didn't like the ZOTE because it has a waxy texture, whereas the Fels Naptha has a flaky texture. I personally don't have a problem with Zote. My clothes get clean and they smell good. However, since my Walmart now sells Fels Naptha, I buy that.
My little girls love that ZOTE is pink! ;-) Try both and see what you like best. Let me know what you think!
*Update: We still make our detergent most of the time, but occasionally, we buy the big bucket from Sams, which is also economical.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Wednesday Weekly's
Here are the best specials that are going on this week at HEB:
Sanderson Farms Whole Chicken: $0.69 lb. This is a great time to stock up on whole chickens. The last time these went on sale I bought a ton of them. This price beats out Hill Country Fair at $0.84 lb!
White Seedless Grapes: 5 lbs for $5. These are normally $3.99 lb!
Large White Shrimp (previously frozen): $3.99 lb This is the cheapest I've seen in a LONG time!
When I go to HEB to buy my chicken, I'l browse for sales not listed in the ad, so I may come back to edit later! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Sanderson Farms Whole Chicken: $0.69 lb. This is a great time to stock up on whole chickens. The last time these went on sale I bought a ton of them. This price beats out Hill Country Fair at $0.84 lb!
White Seedless Grapes: 5 lbs for $5. These are normally $3.99 lb!
Large White Shrimp (previously frozen): $3.99 lb This is the cheapest I've seen in a LONG time!
When I go to HEB to buy my chicken, I'l browse for sales not listed in the ad, so I may come back to edit later! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
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