Jan. 17, 2007 - Feeding the Family - Tips & Discoveries

This is just a few unorganized list of tips that may be helpful to you.  These tips are more towards saving money and time on the grocery shopping.

1)  When I DON'T Clip Coupons

I used to buy the Sunday newspaper for all the coupons.  But what I discovered is that I would spend $1.75 each week for the paper only to end up with maybe 6 coupons.  When I totalled up the amount saved on the coupons then subtracted out the cost of the paper....well.....my time of sitting and sifting was not paying off.  And on top of that, I didn't always end up using every coupon that I clipped. 

Plus, on most items I purchase the store brand anyway. Even with a coupon, the name brand still usually cost more (which is why the coupons I clipped never got used)

I cancelled my newspaper subscription. 

2) When I DO Clip Coupons

I only clip coupons now if the source doesn't cost me anything. First, that would be when my m-i-l is able to bring me her Sunday paper.  Second, the internet, which I'm still searching out. So far, I have found Coupons.com.   However, I'm still not finding coupons to be worth the time and effort involved.  Plus, there's just not very many items that I purchase the name brand on.

If you are aware of any other great internet grocery coupon resources, please let me know!

3)  Comparing Prices

Just because something is on sale does not make it the best deal for you.  It was very laborious but I made it my business to know the prices.  I started my own price log starting with the highest priced and most frequently purchased items such as cereals and meats. 

Let's take boneless skinless chicken breast for example.  Around here it costs $5.49/lb.  I started noting that sale prices were sometimes advertised as $2.99/lb and sometimes $1.77/lb.  Well, that stopped me in my tracks!   When it comes to meats, cereals and dairy I do not buy when it goes on sale but rather when it goes on sale for the lowest possible sale price.

4) Wholesale - Best Buy or Not?

For so many years I made the assumption that wholesale was the best buy.  I now know that just isn't so!  I am still trying to price these things out but so far I have found that some things are cheaper if I wait for them to go on sale at the market.  Over the next year or two I am hoping to determine if I am really saving money with the wholesale club after I factor in my $45 annual fee.

Gordon Food Service is a free wholesaler.  But so far only peanut butter is cheaper.   It could come in handy, though, if I find I must buy something that is not on sale at the market. Then, GFS is a better alternative as would be the wholesale club should I continue my membership.

5) Wholesale - The Best Things!

My wholesale club (Sam's Club) is not a convenient stop for several reasons.  Here's what I recently discovered about it!  First, I can do all my price comparisons online.  It is so much easier than trying to do this at the store especially because it's not easy to compare prices between the grocer in smaller quantities and the wholesaler in bulk quantities.  Much easier to do my figuring from home!

Secondly, I can do my shopping online.  With Sam's, I simply select and submit all the items I want to purchase.  Within a couple of hours of making my selections, the club has them carted and ready for me to pickup at the customer service desk.  And even better, I can pay for them at cust. svc. instead of having to stand in line. 

6) Bed, Bath & Beyond

If you shop at Bed, Bath & Beyond, be sure to never pay for anything at full price.  Always use their 20% off coupons. (Get on their mailing list if you're not).  They accept coupons no matter their expiration.  They only allow the use of 3 (I think) coupons per visit).  However, they allow you to bring back your receipt along with additional coupons to get adjustments.    I don't purchase very much from BBB but I collect the coupons (my neighbors give me theirs, too) for when I do shop there.

Please share any money saving tips you have that will help me!!!!!

• 0 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link

Jan. 12, 2007 - Feeding the Family - Shopping List & Shopping

Here is my grocery list.  I love my grocery list!  I have tweeked it over the years to maximize my efforts to save $$.  This is what works for me.

There's a lot here but take the time to read it.  All these little things I set in motion for feeding my family has brought my grocery bill down.  Plus, I rarely find myself saying "I don't know what to do for dinner" or "I don't have anything for dinner".  And, at any given moment I can tell my hub how much I've spent on groceries.

Most important!!!:  Pray before walking into the market.  I ask God to help me be wise in my puchases.  To not give in to temptation to purchase the yummy things I see that I don't need.

I keep my list posted on the refrig to make it easy to add things as I think of needs.  My hub can easily add things, too.   And, my weekly menu plan is under the grocery list for quick reference. (That's the family calendar to the left of it - which is looking nicely empty for a change!)

On Mondays I do my menu plan and grocery list.  On Tuesdays I do my shopping (at either 10:00 or 1:00).  If I don't have a set day & time to do my shopping I will most certainly procrastinate!  I also know myself well enough to know that I just can't do both tasks in one day, which is why I do my planning the day before.

Let me tell you about my grocery list because I believe it has saved me both time and money.

1)  I have my list set up in the order I go through the store.

2)  I start by looking through the sales ads and add to my shopping list anything I use/need.  Notice that I put an 'O' next to those items that are on sale.  2 reasons: I can see at a glance how much I am buying that is not on sale.  My goal is to pay for nothing at full price.  Also, it makes it easy for me to double check the sale price again while at the store, making certain the sale priced item is indeed the best value. 

3)  I put an 'X' next to items I will be using a coupon.  This helps me remember to double check the coupon while at the store for requirements such as quantity, size, type, etc.  I can also double check one more time if this is the best value.  Just because there is a coupon doesn't mean it's the best value!

*** Notice the laundry detergent on my list?  It has both X and O.  Lots of hugs and kisses on that one!!

4) I do most of my shopping at Kroger because I have a Kroger credit card.  I use it for grocery shopping only.  This helps me easily keep track of how much I am spending.  I never pay interest on it because I pay it off with each paycheck (2x/month).  And the biggest bonus of all is that the card earns me $$$.  Last year I received back $300 in Kroger certificates.  They also send me some awesome coupons.

 At the bottom of my shopping list, I have listed some of the other local stores.  I check their sales ads as well and write down what they have on sale that I could use.  Sometime during the week I make those extra little stops.

5) Also at the bottom of my shopping list you will see "Watchlist".  These are items that I know I am running low on and need to start watching for them to go on sale.  This is important to saving money.  If you run out of a necessity, you will go and buy it and it probably won't be on sale. Think ahead!

 ***I can e-mail the list to anyone who wants it but it is not editable because I started with a Microsoft Works template.  I'm also not sure yet how I will attach it to e-mail so that you can open it but I'm sure I'll think of a way!  Just leave me your e-mail address.

In a couple days I will finish up my Feeding the Family series with some remaining tips and discoveries that I'm very excited to share!

• 5 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link

Jan. 10, 2007 - Feeding the Family - Menu Planning

I guess menu planning is mostly a "just sit and do it" sort of thing.   But there are a couple of things I do to make it less dreadful and a much quicker and organized process.   My menu planning is really quite simple but to put it in writing and to make clear sense was far more difficult than I thought!  I also figured out how to show you the forms I made!

*** Most Important!!!  Start with prayer!  I pray for God's help to plan healthy meals for the week.  And to plan them budget-wise.

1)  I put together a Master List of my family's favorite meals (dinners).   My list has about 20 meals.  I wrote down 2 sides/vegetables to go with each entree.  Also note, I have lots of other recipes/meals I make aside from these 20.  This is just my central list when I don't feel like thinking much or in a hurry. My hubby likes it when I try out new recipes.  So I try to do that once every week or two.

I have this Master List on the inside of my Recipe Notebook.   I have a recipe box and cookbooks but I can't stand taking the time to sort through all this.  So I now have a small 3 ring Recipe Notebook that I purchased from Pampered Chef.  This is where I keep the recipe cards for the meals on my Master List. Quick & easy to access when making out my grocery list and when I'm getting ready to fix dinner. 

2)  So, once a week (for me it's Monday), I fill in my menu plan for the week.  I use my master list to choose from.  I also have the grocer's sale ads in front of me.  What's on sale sometimes determines what's for dinner!  

3) For breakfast and lunch it used to be "whatever".  But recently I decided to plan these meals out as well in order to attain variety and healthier choices. I'm certain I'll be tweeking this a lot in the upcoming weeks as we try this out.

4) As I am completing my weekly menu plan, I am also doing a grocery list.  My beloved grocery list I will share with you in the next day or so. 

5) I keep the week's menu plan on the refrig so I can see at a glance what is for dinner that evening and to have an idea how much prep time I will need.  It also gives both me and husband a quick know on how old the leftovers are - are they still edible or should they be pitched - no more trying to remember when something was made.

** I will be more than happy to e-mail my Weekly Menu Planner to anyone who wants it.  You would need to have Excel.  Then you can edit it for yourself.  Just be sure to leave me your e-mail address in comments.  If you have any filter on your mailbox be sure you allow mine in (jjconnelly@hotmail.com)

• 10 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link

Jan. 8, 2007 - Feeding the Family - Introduction

I had previously mentioned to traininghearts that the 2 most overwhelming tasks to me in the past   were Feeding the Family and Laundry.    I am not one to be satisfied with being overwhelmed but rather look for ways to gain some sense of control or routine over it.  She asked me what I figured out on grocery shopping.  I thought it might be fun to try to explain what system I have put in place to no longer be drowning in it.    However, as I began to formulate in my head how best to explain my "system" I am now realizing that this will be no easy task.  I definitely cannot do this in one short post.  Maybe I will spend the week daily dishing out portions:

Part 1 - Planning the Menu

Part 2 - Grocery List / Coupons

Part 3 - The Shopping

Part 4 - Remaining Thoughts & Tips

I will also try to figure out how to post or link the forms that I have created for myself.   If anyone has any ideas on how I can best show these forms to you, let me know.  Should I just upload like a photo?  What about sizing it? Can I somehow put a link to them? One is in Excel the other in Microsoft Works.  The forms were created around my own needs and desires and have been tweeked over time but may give you an idea  or 2 for yourself.

So, I will start with Part 1 on Tuesday and plan on finishing up with Part 4 on Friday. Then you can view just those posts in my Organization category in the sidebar.  On the heels of "Feeding the Family" I will plan on sharing my Laundry System, which is marvelous but only if I am diligent to not stray from it (although, isn't every task pretty much that way!?!).

Along with this, let me put a plea out there for help in the area that I am currently trying to gain mastery over:

Storage of Games - We have a ton of them! We love them! But they take up soooooo much space.  I get upset at the kids for never putting them back properly.  But I understand why because they are so difficult to restack with all the different shapes and sizes!

• 4 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link

Dec. 12, 2006 - Tackle It Tuesday

Tackle it Tuesday

I usually use the FlyLady system for keeping my house clean and organized.  Of course, my house is not as clean and organized as I would like it to be.  I don't expect that it will be until the Empty Nest season of life.  And that's ok, except that I am trying to keep as good a grip on housework as possible.

Other than FlyLady's routine system (which is wonderful!), the thing that helps me tremendously is to change up the routine periodically.  Recently, one of the changes I made is to Tackle it Tuesday (see linkbox at bottom of blog).

Today I decided to post my before picture.  I am posting it prior to beginning my tackle so as to help me be accountable.  I certainly wouldn't want to leave this image in your head. So the added motivation of posting an "after" picture will help keep me from procrastinating today.  I hope to have my "after" pic up by the end of the day.

Ok - about the picture.  This is a section of my master bedroom.  The worst room in the house (other than the basement).  It is so neglected.  I suppose because it is the room least used, least trafficked and not seen by any guests. Actually, it is not the least used because the master bedroom is used for many purposes!  Other than the obvious uses of getting dressed, sleeping and making babies........it is the Revolving Laundry Dumping Grounds as well as the Holding Dock for Homeless Items.

What you see in the photo is a section from the Holding Dock.  The vacuum has no home along with baby books, ultrasound pictures from my twins (4 yrs ago), photo albums, various papers, "wounded" clothing, etc.

I will tackle this today and find home placement for all these items!

Let the adoptions begin!

• 1 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link

Nov. 21, 2006 - I Destroyed My Wedding Invitations!

Well, this is all thanks to Jenny! I had mentioned a few days ago that I got rid of my cookbooks.  This cleared up a cluttered cupboard that I can now clutter up with clutter from another cluttered space in my cluttered home.

Jenny mentioned something about her wedding invitations making hideout under her bed.  Well....gave me an idea!   I had to do some digging in my basement but I finally found my box of wedding invitations and thank you notes with all the envelopes.  Bye Bye!  To the recycle bin at church that the youth use to raise money!  I was planning on keeping the envelopes for some other purpose (yeah, right!) but they were all sealed shut from basement dampness I suppose. Guess that was a blessing to the basement!

Ok, so now I have a tiny little available space in my basement.  Jenny, probably not enough space for you to move your wedding invites to. Sorry.  However, if you have a box of chocolate that you want me to store in my basement I could accomodate that!  I could fit quite a large box, really. (Read my "I locked up the Kids" post on Nov 16 to find out my preference on chocolate - however any kind will do) 

• 3 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link

Nov. 16, 2006 - 3 Reasons to Get Rid of Your Cookbooks (part 2)

I did it! *sigh* Well, sort of.  I started by taking out everything in my cookbook cupboard.  This was the easy part because it actually all fell out!  But then....I hesitated.....I began to find a compelling reason for each book to go back into the cupboard.  And slowly it started filling up. I couldn't get it all to fit in an organized fashion...filling up with 28 cookbooks (I was close in my estimation of 24!) and a bunch of papers from recipes I've torn out of various magazines.

HALT! Hold everything! Remember the 3 reasons? I began chanting them until the mission was accomplished.

1) I could really use this cupboard for clutter from another part of my house.

2) There are millions of recipes (with photos!) on the internet.

3) The books rarely if ever get opened.  If they do, it's for only those 1 or 2 recipes I use (which my husband is scanning for me so I can part with the book).  Besides, don't forget that everyone I know has at least 28 cookbooks on their shelf I can go and browse should I feel the urge.

100 chants later my job is done! With some compromise, of course.  I couldn't let myself down and not have some sort of compromise included! 7 of the cookbooks had a force stronger than my own and ended up back in the cupboard.  I will revisit those 7 in a few weeks or months to see if the force has weakened and they can join those who perished before them.

As for the other 21.  They didn't exactly perish.  They went into a box (that was good) but ended up in the basement.  So the clutter just got moved to another cluttered space.  How I would love to know what my basement floor looks like!  I will revisit this box in about 18 years.

I love my new cupboard, though!  It is very neat and tidy and half empty!  Today I will look around for something to clutter it up with!  *smile*

• 3 Notes • Leave a Note! • Permanent Link