So I just got back from my first grocery trip of the frugal year and I did pretty good I think. Now thankfully I already had some groceries including meat and fruit so I was very lucky there. I have an allowance of 250 dollars for two weeks and that includes groceries, gas, and curriculum for Corwin that I am going to buy tomorrow cause Mardel is having a teacher sale. I spent 20 bucks to fill up my tank and 65 dollars in groceries but Wal-Mart did not have formula or Franks hot sauce which I will buy tomorrow and that will bump my total up to a hundred. I am going to try and spend as little as possible at Mardel and save the rest for emergencies. I already know I am going to run out of diapers but is all I can think of. Here are my (super cheap) meals for the week
Sat-pork chops
Sun-hamburgers
Mon- potato soup
Tues-eggs
wed-red beans and rice
Thur-chicken stir fry
Fri-pork chops
sat-fried rice
sun- tortilla soup
Mon-eggs
Tues-general Tso's Chicken
wed hamburgers
Now I can't see us eating this cheaply for the whole year but I am trying to get a small savings going for emergencies. Normally my budget for all the things that I buy will be $600 a month. Luckily my hubby is king of cheap dinners from his college days. I think my big problems are not buying crafty things like scrap booking supplies or yarn and avoiding half price books. Ack I can't believe I just wrote that I am going to avoid half price books. its only a year its only a year its only a year.
2 comments:
1st, make friends with your library!
2nd, eating cheap does not have to be boring. Its all about being prepared in your freezer and pantry. Look up "well stocked pantry" to get an idea. Then buy meats when they are onsale or in bulk and divide and freeze. I rarely pay more than 99cents and yet I have a freezer stocked with 2-3 chicken types, pork, and beef. Use your crockpot to draw out extra flavors. Invest in the book "fix it and forget it" for the crockpot if you don't have it. It lays out the recipes in groups of similars (6-8 across a page in columns) then you can compare and use the recipe that you have the most ingredients for.
You can also use mygrocerydeals.com (for free) to look up items and find best deals. or you can pay a few dollars and use something like thegrocerygame.com or couponcents.com to help you get the most out of your coupons. I have friends using the paid sites and they have cut their grocery budgets in half or more.
You might also consider trying Once a Month meals (google it), there are plenty of free recipes online and it helps you make the most of buying in bulk. When my hubby is gone, I try and do a twice a month meal plan since my kids don't let me get all that cooking done at one time.
Email if you have questions.
You are off to a great start! Way to save! I wish you continued luck in this new year.
Post a Comment