Making Meals With Your Deals

Week for the Bake Sale and Grocery Shopping

2011-09-23T15:48:00.000-04:00

So this weekend I am doing a Bake Sale so on top of regular shopping I had to buy stuff for baking. My total for the week was valued at 210.14 I only paid 159.15. All things considered I think I did pretty well after the Bake Sale I will lst everything I was able to bake. Now the last few nights we've eaten Baked Penne that I made on Tuesday Night. How I made it was I cooked 1 pound of penne (I used penne because I did not have Ziti if I do this again I will lessen this to 12-14 oz). While the pasta was going I sauteed 1/2 onion in oil in a large skillet until tender, I added 4 cloves of garlic minced (less if you are not a garlic fan), I then added 1 pound ground beef and cooked until it was browned evenly, drained the mixture, put it back in the pan, poured in 1 jar pasta sauce and salt to taste, set that aside. Drain the pasta and return to pot, set that aside. I melted 3 tbls butter in a large saucepan, I added 3 tbls flour to the butter whisking until it was smooth and let it cook for 1 min. I then added 3 cups of milk still whisking until it bubbles, stir in 1 cup parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste pour this over the pasta and toss to coat. I spray a 13 X 9 baking dish and pour in pasta, then top with beef sauce, finally sprinkle 1 pk of mozzarella cheese and remaining parmesan on top. Bake at 350 for 20-25 min until cheese it browned slightly I served it with a tossed salad. Tonight I plan to make cornbread coated pork chops with stuffed peppers, I will put the recipe up tonight.

PUBLIX- 56.67 I paid 38.61
graham cracker crumbs

kettle chips- 2

progresso soup- 4

sirloin cap steak-1

grapes-1

eggs-1 dozen

milk-1

P. F. Chang's frozen dinner- 2 pks

angel soft toilet paper- 1

nestle cookie dough- 2-12 pks

diet coke-1-2 liter

KROGER- 89.70 I paid 68.43
coca cola- 1-8 pack

sesame oil- 1

champagne-1

whole milk-quart

chicken stock-1

beef stock-1

buttermilk-quart

shredded cheese-3 pks

butter-2 pks

egg roll wrappers-1 pk

carolina pride bacon-2

cow pals string cheese-1

parsley-1

thyme-1

cilantro-1

chives-1

shallots-3

zucchini-3

dry milk-1

bread flour-1

vanilla pudding-1 box

parsnips-1 bag

brut deodorant-1

chocolate chips-1

cinnamon-1

allspice-1

cloves-1

ALDI- 40.32
bread-1 loaf

hamburger buns-1 pk

mushrooms-2 pks

roma tomatoes-8

bananas-7

green peppers-3

lasagna noodles-1 box

mini bagels-1 pk

heavy whipping cream-2

applesauce-1 jar

sliced cheese-2 pks

walnuts- 2 pks

peaches-2

raisins-1 box

vanilla extract-2

red wine-1 bottle

INGLES- 23.45 I paid 11.79
spagettios-4 cans

canned pumpkin-1

gain dish soap-1

chicken breast tenders-2 pks

Baked Penne Twice

2011-09-21T23:07:00.000-04:00

Since I am doing alot of prep work for a Bake Sale ths Sunday my meals this week are easy and big so we can eat them two nights in a row. Tuesday night I made Baked Penne. Tonight we ate at my parent's house and tomorrow we will eat the rest of the Baked Penne. I have also done my shopping for the week including Bake Sale stuff. I will post the totals and how I made my Baked Penne tomorrow. Happy Hunting!

Oven Baked French Toast and Leftover Soup

2011-09-18T23:10:00.000-04:00

For breakfast (I prepared it Sat night) I baked one pillsbury French bread loaf and sliced it 1/2 in thick, buttered one side and placed them buttered side up in a baking dish. I then took 4 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 2 tbls of syrup and mixed it together and poured it over the slices, covered the dish and put it in the fridge overnight. This morning I placed the slices on a slightly greased baking sheet and baked them in a 350 oven for about 30 min until the were golden. Easy and delicious and budget friendly.Today we went to an apple orchard to pick apples so this morning I started the crockpot and turned the roast into soup. I added chicken broth, carrots, celery, and onions, pulled the meat apart and let it go on low while we were gone. When we returned I put the heat to high and poured in 1/2 box of pasta and let it go until the pasta was done. I topped it with a dollop of sour cream, a few french's fried onions, and sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Pizza and Football

2011-09-17T20:42:00.000-04:00

Since it is Saturday to make my life easier we made tonight pizza night. I made a BBQ pizza and a S'MORE'S pizza. I used pillsbury pizza dough for both. For the BBQ pizza I rolled it out, pricked holes in it with a fork, rubbed it with oil, sprinkled cumin, cayenne, chipotle chili pepper, onion powder ontop, covered it with sliced onions and Llyod's precooked BBQ, finally I topped it with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. For the S'MORE'S pizza I rolled it out, pricked it, prebaked it for 5 mins, spread butter ontop, sprinkled crushed graham crackers and brown sugar ontop, broke up three Hershey's bars and put them ontop and finally topped it with marshmallows. After baking the S'MORE'S pizza I drizzled Hershey's syrup on top and sprinkled more graham crumbs.

Trip to ALDI Pork Roast in the Crock Pot Dinner

2011-09-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we went to ALDI I spent 9.16 to get some fresh produce for the week. I got celery, carrots, bananas, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, and peppers. While doing all that I had the roast going at home. I preheated my crockpot, while that was warming using a large skillet I rubbed the roast with oil salt and pepper then seared it on all sides, I transferred it to the crockpot and deglazed the pan with a bottle of beer, I scraped all the bits up with a rubber spatula and let it simmer for a few minutes. While it was simmering I sliced an onion and put it in with the roast and put 3 bay leaves in as well. I poured the beer over the roast covered it and put the temp to high for 3 hours. After three hours I poured 1 can of cream of mushroom soup over it and turned the temp to low for 2 hours. I chopped up 3 baking potatoes and put them on a lightly greased baking sheet, I sprinkled season-all over top and put them in a 400 oven until they were golden (about 30 mins). I also put pillsbury biscuits in the oven they only take 8 mins to bake. I also cut up some celery and spread them with cream cheese for crunch and something green. We have leftovers which this morning I turned into soup and it is sitting in the crockpot for tonight or for lunch (details tomorrow).

Yogurt And Smoothie Stock-up Week plus more

2011-09-15T23:41:00.000-04:00

Tonight I made it to Kroger and Publix for groceries. I'm hoping to finish with Wal-mart ALDI and Ingles tomorrow night. The total value of everything was 176.98 but I paid 83.79. This trip provided us with yogurt for probably one month at least fresh meat for the next week and various other things.

Kroger- 101.02 I paid 39.36

kid's yoplait yogurt 8- 6 packs

regular yoplait yogurt 5- 4-packs and one 32 oz container

skinny cow candy-1

jamba smoothie mix- 4

rice-2

perdue shortcuts- 2

kid's disney vitamins-3

boneless skinless chkn breast-1

ground turkey- 1

Publix- 75.96 I paid 44.43

pork sirloin cutlets-1

boston butt roast-1

pillsbury toaster strudel-2

pillsbury refridgerated doughs- 8

yoplait smoothie-1

crunchmaster crackers-2

cottonelle wipes-1

dannon activia greek and french yogurt- 6

eggland's best egg's- 2 dozen

tomato-2

pears-3

milk-1 gallon

Now I plan to review my lists for tomorrow and make sure everything is good. Good Night and Happy Hunting I will post tomorrow night with meal plan and rest of shopping.

August 21 purchases

2011-08-25T23:34:00.000-04:00

My husband was out of town from the 21 until the 31 so many of the groceries were to build a stockpile for meals when he returns. My daughter and I enjoyed many breakfasts for dinner and we even made a soup last three days. My total value for the week was 270.40 and I paid 101.95.

Ingles-44.06 I paid 19.32

Lipton Tea to go-2

ken's salad dressing-2

Pillsbury biscuits- 2

scotties tissues-3

glade air freshener- 2

glade refills-2

carolina pride hot dogs- 2

Publix-93.09 I paid 35.47

mentos gum-2

swanson chicken broth-1

kc masterpiece bbq sauce- 2

grapes-1

Fruit loops-2

Frosted Flakes-3

pork sirloin chops-1

7-bone roast-1

degree deodorant-2

mitchum deodorant-3

country crock spread-1

lenders bagel-1

TGIF green beans-1

Kroger-133.25 I paid 47.16

metro water-2

envirokids rice bars-1

kotex pads-2

clean and clear face wash-1

dial body wash-2

kandoo sanitizer-2

minute maid frozen lemonade-2

carolina pride bacon-2

beef round steak-1

gladware containers-2

betty crocker cookie mix-1

laughing cow cheese-1

sunny delight-2

snack well's granola bars-3

kandoo soap-1

carefree liners-2

bounty napkins-1

del monte tomatoes-2

hormel completes-1

ginger root-1

mentos gum-6

bananas-1 bunch

vinegar-1

flour-1

chicken breast-2 pkgs

New Posts to Come

2011-08-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

Sorry I have not posted in a few weeks but I will post tonight. Between people being sick and going on vacation I have not had the time to devote to it. So look for a new post tonight.....Happy Hunting!

Week of June 10

2011-07-16T23:11:00.000-04:00

This week has been busy with pink eye in our house I have been kept busy. Here is a list of what I was able to find this week followed by what we ate. Total value this week was 277.07 and I paid 110.82.

Farmer's Market- 9.00
tomatos
okra
squash

ALDI- 10.65
tomatos
cucumber
romaine hearts
mushrooms
strawberries
extra virgin olive oil

PUBLIX- 101.31 I paid- 32.04
shrimp
sockeye salmon
method dish soap (2)
nesquik (3)
smart balance spread (4)
weber seasoning (2)
splenda (1)
all laundry detergent (1)
kellogg pop tarts (3)
raid ant and roach (2)
scott scented wipes (2)
scotch scissors (4)
papermate pens (2)
bic pencils (2)
hershey's syrup (6)

KROGER- 88.53 I paid- 28.82
bread
chicken (2 packs)
pop secret popcorn (4)
pringles (6)
tide stain release (2)
M&Ms (3)
crunch bar (3)
butterfinger (2)
baby ruth (2)
kettle chips (2)
colgate (2)
2 liters pepsi (2)
silk soymilk (2)

INGLES- 67.58 I paid- 30.31
bugles (2)
chex mix (7)
nature valley granola thins (3)
smart balance popcorn (2)
smart balance cooking spray (2)
smart balance peanut butter (2)
energy bars (4)
bone-in chicken (1)

Wednesday- Grilled chicken and salad
Thursday- leftovers
Friday- Out to dinner date night
Saturday- Grilled salmon and shrimp, squash, okra
Sunday- chicken kebobs, rice, leftover veggies
Monday- bbq chicken and salad or veggies
Tuesday- burgers, beans

Week of July 3

2011-07-07T23:53:00.000-04:00

This has been one crazy week. I did get to see how my couponing has paid off. We were able to buy a washer without alot of stress thanks to the money I have saved. Grand total was 221.22 and I paid 79.61.

KROGER 82.28 I paid 29.70
totino's pizza rolls (2)
dannon yogurt 24 oz. (4)
betty crocker brownie mix (4)
garnier fructis shampoo/conditioner (5)
pepperidge farm cookies (4)
minute maid frozen lemonade (6- 4 packs)
stacy's pita chips (2)
carefree liners (2)
twizzlers (2)

ALDI 7.86
romaine hearts
strawberries
bananas
cheese crumbles
plums (4)

INGLES 27.89 I paid 7.62
hormel completes (2)
sour cream (2)
rayovac batteries (2)
mayfield ice cream 1.5 quarts (2)

PUBLIX 103.19 I paid 34.43
oscar mayer deli selects shaved (4)
reynolds wrap foil (6)
kraft cheese (2)
pillsbury crescents (2)
m&ms pretzel (2)
barilla mini wheel pasta (2)
luigi italian ice (2)
hunt petite diced tomatos (1)
bumble bee tuna (1- 4 pack)
welch's fruit snack (2)
oreo cakesters (1)
oreo golden fudge creams (1)
dove deodorant (2)
boneless pork chops (1)

How we ate was quite scattered after the holiday my husband was working late so my daughter and I ate whatever was easy.
WEdnesday we had bbq chicken with fruit and steamed veggies
Thursday we had tuna salad made with hummus (actually very good and I put two scoops ontop of my romaine, tom, and cucumber drizzled with a little dressing lite and delicious)
Friday we will have London Broil mashed potatos and salad
Saturday we are going to a birthday party
Sunday pork chops with salad and rolls and fruit salad
Monday I have chicken that I will either toss with pasta or mix with hummus

Week of June 26 Actual Purchases

2011-06-30T16:20:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of what I actually purchased, since last week I only spent $80 the rest of my ($125) carried over to this week (minus what I spent for a paper and fresh fruit and veggies at the farmer's market). That gave me 30 extra dollars to work with this week. Grand total for the week is 305.47 and I paid 115.44. That gives me money for the farmers market saturday and a paper on sunday.

Publix- 95.51 I paid- 36.82
tomatos- 2
ritz crackers- 2
stayfree pads-2
wet ones wipes- 4
ground beef- 2 pkgs
ben and jerry's ice cream- 8 containers
johnson's baby wash- 2
nutrigrain bars- 2 boxes
soymilk- 1
resolve spray n wash- 3 bottles

Rite Aid- 51.88 I paid- 6.64
stayfree pads- 8 pks
ob tampons- 4 packs

Ingles- 53.12 I paid- 22.64
kraft salad dressing- 4
welch's grape jelly- 2
mt olive pickle relish- 2 jars
philadelphia cooking creme- 3 containers
rayovac batteries- 1 pkg
skinless chicken breast- 1 pk
hot pocket snackers- 2 pks
yoplait smoothies- 2 pks

Kroger- 93.47 I paid- 37.85
london broil- 1
boneless skinless chicken breast- 2 pks
vitamins- 2
flax seeds- 1
3 musketeers- 4
franks hot sauce- 2 bottles
sabra hummus- 2
coke zero- 5-2 liters
cheerios- 3 boxes
hefty freezer bags- 2 boxes

Aldi- 11.49
bananas
baby carrots
mushrooms
blueberries
garlic
peaches-2
plums-4
2% milk- 1 gallon

For the meals this week.
Tuesday we had top sirloin, potatos, salad
Wednesday we had burgers, home fries, and green peas
Thursday we have chicken stirfry frozen meal that I have on hand that I add extra stuff to
Friday we have chicken breast roasted in the oven with salad and rice or pasta
Saturday we have london broil grilled, potatos and salad
Sunday we have leftovers
Monday Burgers or hot dogs, pasta salad, beans
Tuesday roasted sausage peppers and onions over rice

Again everything is subject to change but this is my plan.

Week of June 26

2011-06-27T15:02:00.000-04:00

Here is my list of things that I intend to purchase this week, if items are listed at several stores it is because the price is the same so I can check other stores if one is out. Again I will post my actual purchase and meals after I shop.

refresh tampons- CVS
stayfree pads- Rite Aid
OB tampons- Rite Aid
gold bond ultimate deep moisture body wash- Rite Aid
carefree liners- Target
seattles best coffee can- Target
air wick freshmatic ultra- Target
advil- Walmart
john frieda full repair styler- walmart
seattles best coffee can- walmart
dial trial body wash- walmart
tylenol precise- walgreens
welch's jelly- ingles
kraft salad dressing- ingles
mt. olive pickles- ingles
kelloggs cereal- ingles
febreze spray- ingles
kraft philadelphia cooking creme- ingles
hot pocket snackers- ingles
mayfield ice cream- ingles
yoplait smoothies- ingles
rayovac batteries- ingles
tyson skinless bone-in chicken breast- ingles
coca cola 2 litrs and 12 packs- kroger
banquet brown and serve sausage- kroger
hefty bags- kroger
john frieda full repair styler- kroger
resolve cleaner- kroger
vitamins- kroger
general mills cereal- kroger
sabra hummus- kroger
3 muskateers- kroger
ribs- kroger
ground turkey- kroger
salmon- kroger
off bug spray- kroger
cheese- kroger
hellmans- kroger
milk- kroger
chicken breast- kroger
pop tarts- kroger
oreos- kroger
pork chops- kroger
london broil- kroger
nutrigrain bars- publix
nexcare bandaids- publix
wet ones- publix
johnson's baby poroducts- publix
lance cracker creations- publix
kraft philadephia cooking creme- publix
kelloggs cereal- publix
olay regenerist- publix
chex mix snacks- publix
ben and jerrys ice cream- publix
pop secret popcorn- publix
ritz crackers- publix
nabisco crackers- publix
lipton tea- publix
whole fruit bars- publix
ponds towelettes- publix
tomatos-publix
lean beef- publix
mushrooms- publix
actvia yogurt- publix
apples- publix
coconut water- publix
strawberries- ALDI
blueberries- aldi
cantaloupe- aldi
corn- aldi

That's all I could find we'll see what happens when I hit the stores. Happy hunting!

Week of June 19 Actual Purchase

2011-06-22T21:34:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of everything I actually bought. The total value of everything was 172.55 and I only paid 80.27 which is a savings of about 53%. There were a couple items at Publix that I had to get a raincheck for, a rain check is a voucher that extends the sale price of an item for you if they are out of stock.

ALDI- 7.11
         strawberries
         mushrooms
         nectarines
         peaches
         plums
         cheese cubes

KROGER- 13. 76-----I paid 6.12
         tetley tea 2 packs
         french's spicy mustard 2
         pure protein bars 4

CVS- 19.23-----I paid 1.64
         hershey's bliss chocolates
         coke zero 3
         colgate total 2

TARGET- .89-----I paid .14 (I was here getting clothes for the family the only reason I got this deal)
          up and up pantiliners

RITE AID- 19.51-----I paid 2.64
          stride gum 3
          benedryl spray
          benedryl gel

WALMART- 13.51------I paid 10.01
          truvia 3 boxes
          nail file 2
          razors

WALGREENS- 1.71-----I paid 1.01 (an errand took me by the store so the only reason I went and got it)
         eggs

INGLES- 35.72-------I paid 15.32
         domino sugar 2-4 lb bags
         tortilla stuffers 2
         canned beans 2
         hefty plates 2 packs
         fab 2
         chicken tenders

PUBLIX- 61.11-------I paid 36.28
          toasted chips 2
          smart balance popcorn 2
          cake mix 6
          potatos
          texas pete wing sauce 2
          crystal light 2
          yoplait fiber one 2
          emerald trail mix 2
          kraft mayo 2
          hormel meals for kids 2
         carolina pride smoked sausage 3
         top sirloin 2 packs
         pork chops
         blueberries
         pure protein 2
         texas pete chili sauce 6

I know you're thinking I don't have time to go to all these places every week. Well most of the stores are near each other so I can go to 3 or 4 in one night. I usually do my shopping one evening when my daughter is asleep. Also I don't go to all these stores every week unless it is worth is for me. This week my husband and I were going to different stores to look at cameras so I took advantage of savings at stores I don't always make it to. Do what works for you make your list and go to the store that gets you the most. This week my number one goal was going to publix, every other store was only if I was able to make it to the store. Below are my meal ideas that I have for the week.

Sunday June 19 and Mon June 20 we had leftovers from my daughters birthday
Tuesday June 21 we had llyods bbq bush's baked beans and leftover coleslaw (things purchased previously)
Wednesday June 22 we had top sirloin (1 pack) with mushrooms, potatos, and salad
Thursday June 23 we will have smoked sausage with peppers and onions and rice
Friday June 24 pork chops, potatos, and salad
Saturday June 25 smaoked sausage on the grill in buns, baked beans, and salad
Sunday June 26 leftovers (or the other bbq I have)
Monday June 27 chicken tenders, salad, and pasta

everything is always subject to change but at least this way in my head I know that I bought enough to make it through the week plus I have more in case I don't make it to the store on Monday.

Week of June 19 non-food items

2011-06-20T12:42:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of non-food items that I intend to purchase this week. Again I will post a follow-up after I go to the stores.
fab laundry detergent- INGLES
Hefty plates, etc- INGLES
Aussie hair care- INGLES
Gillette Body Wash- PUBLIX
Resolve Spray 'n wash- PUBLIX
Bayer Advanced medicine- PUBLIX
colgate toothpaste- CVS
cortaid anti-itch lotion- RITE AID
pantiliners target brand- TARGET
sally hansen toe spacers- WALMART
john frieda full repair styler- WALMART
glad trash bags- TARGET

Week of June 19

2011-06-20T01:21:00.002-04:00

In between all the Father's Day activities I have managed to scour the internet and the ADs to create my list for the week. Below I have the list, after I purchase I will post my meals and totals for this week. I have only posted food items.
cantaloupe- ALDI
plums- ALDI
nectarines- ALDI
peaches- ALDI
strawberries- ALDI
bread-KROGER
downy- KROGER
Hillshire Farms Sausage- KROGER
Zaterains Rice Mixes- KROGER
Tyson Split Chicken Breast- KROGER
French's Spicy Brown Mustard- KROGER
Sundown Vitamins- KROGER
Tetley Tea-KROGER
Ribeye steak-PUBLIX
shrimp skewers- PUBLIX
top sirloin fillets- PUBLIX
boneless pork loin chops- PUBLIX
chuck short ribs- PUBLIX
raspberries- PUBLIX
blueberries- PUBLIX
blackberries- PUBLIX
tomatoes on the vine- PUBLIX
bell pepper- PUBLIX
hormel compleats- PUBLIX
texas pete chili sauce- PUBLIX
smart balance popcorn- PUBLIX
texas pete wing sauce- PUBLIX
deer park water- PUBLIX
duncan hines cake mix- PUBLIX
lance cracker creations- PUBLIX
crystal light- PUBLIX
yoplait fiber one- PUBLIX
emerald trail mix- PUBLIX
carolina pride smoked sausage- PUBLIX
nabisco toasted chips- PUBLIX
kraft mayo- PUBLIX
rice krispies- PUBLIX
milk- PUBLIX
eggs- TARGET
bertolli- TARGET
hellmans- TARGET
tyson boneless skinless chicken tenders- INGLES
margaret holmes canned veggies- INGLES
lipton family tea bags- INGLES
domino sugar- INGLES
old el paso tortilla stuffers- INGLES
powerbar energy of protein bites- CVS
Hershey's bliss chocolates- CVS
Stride gum- RITE AID
I will do a follow-up post on what I actually got and my meal ideas for the week. Keep in mind some things I get will not be used this week. I bake MANY cakes for friends and family so when the mix is cheap I stock up on it. The same is true for other items. You should never feel obligated to buy something that you know you will never use. Try to donate those items or just don't get them.

Two Parties in One Week and Regular Shopping

2011-06-14T13:20:00.001-04:00

Ok first I want to share the website I use to find my deals, it is www.couponmom.com , it is very easy to use and what I've become comfortable using there are hundreds of sites to choose from find one that you can be comfortable with and stick to it. On Friday you can usually get a preview to see if there are coupons in the Sunday paper and how good they are. So here is what I typically do on Sunday during nap time I clip all of my coupons (I buy a double paper so I get double the coupons) and put them into my organizer. If there is time I go on couponmom.com and print my list of deals that I want to get this week and locate the coupons. When my daughter goes to sleep I finish what I started then I go through the ads for my grocery stores to see what fresh produce and meat deals are available, also occaisionally there will be a deal not mentioned on the website because it is less than 50% savings but if it is something I need I circle it and look for my coupons. That is all I do to make up my list for grocery shopping for the week. This week was a challenge on Saturday we are having a birthday party for my daughter and on Monday I hosted a girls night for six of us. So I streched as much as I could but knowing that both of these events were coming up I have purchased some things in past weeks that I could save until now. So here is what I bought:

scrubbing pads (4)
balance bars (2 6 pks)
lemon (1)
green onion (1 bunch)
parsley(1 bunch)
tarragon(1 pk)
grapes(1 bag)
hershey's kisses (1 pk)
celery(1 bunch)
feta cheese(1 pk)
provolone cheese(1 pack)
parmesan cheese (1 pk)
block cheese (2)
bush's baked beans (3 cans)
sundried tomato (1 jar)
pickles (1 jar)
boneless chicken breast (2 pk)
chicken wings (1 family pack)
A-1 steak sauce (2 bottles)
knorr rice sides (4)
V8 splash juice (4 bottles)
half and hal organic (2 pints)
pillsbury cake mix (1)
pillsbury frosting (1)
red roses (1 dozen happened to be on clearance for 2.75 the only reason I got them)

I will post next week's list and meals on Sunday night when I finish my planning so you can get an idea earlier in the week. Happy Hunting!

Organization is the key for me

2011-06-14T12:56:00.000-04:00

I mentioned organization before but I want to take a minute and explain how I have gotten myself organized. This is how I do it feel free to tailor my advice to your situation. I took one night months ago to completely empty my pantry throw out my old stuff and then put like products together (canned goods, baking and cooking items (spices, oils, etc.), condiments, rice and pasta, breakfast foods, snack foods, meal in a box. When you put things back look at the dates and arrange things where the first to expire is in front and the last to expire is in the back (this is if you have 12 bottles of bbq sauce for instance). I took another night to do the same process for the freezer. I put meats on the bottom, keep my veggies together, my frozen meals together (pizza for instance), and ice cream and desserts together. My freezer is a regular freezer so I do have issues with space you just have to figure out what works for you. My fridge I try to clean out regularly because it varies week to week depending on sales and specials. When it comes to organizing my coupons I have a large zippered binder divided into 7 sections (pharmacy, cleaning, toiletries, pantry, fridge, freezer, paper products), behind each divider I have page protectors labeled with sub categories that hold my coupons. Yes, I cut every coupon out and always have them with me. You never know when you will find an unadvertised deal or something on closeout price. I organize everything simply because I do not want to spend hours doing this at most I spend 4-5 hours per week planning my shopping, I do it while my daughter naps and when she goes to sleep on Sundays.

First Post

2011-06-08T22:49:00.000-04:00

This is an experiment for me. I have a had a few friends ask questions about how I turn the great deals I get from couponing into actual meals. A few tips for you if you want to give the whole couponing and budgeting thing a shot:

Practice makes perfect or if at first you don't succeed try try again, I've been doing this a little over a year and I still hit snags and get frustrated, try not to stress out about it
Organize any and everything when it comes to this it will make your life much easier and you will spend less time doing this. I mean organize your coupons, your shopping lists, your pantry, fridge, and freezer.
When possible shop alone, I love my daughter, but it is very difficult to shop and chase after her and verify my coupons. I love my husband too, but he usually wants things that are either not on sale or on my list.
Do what you can for your family and your budget. Every family and budget is different, tailor my advice to your situation.
If something is a good price buy 2 one for you to use and one to freeze(talking about meats). If it is a great price buy 3 one to use and 2 to freeze.
This will take a little time but start to build your own pantry and freezer stores (not like on the crazy TV show). I have about 5-6 meats in my freezer at a time. I have about 10-12 boxes of pasta and rice(you see where I'm going with this). Typically sales go almost 6 weeks-3 months before repeating(meats). Try to get a reasonable amount to make it to the next sale.
Get a few meal ideas that are inter changeable. What I mean is you can use either chicken or turkey or beef or pork. This way you won't feel stuck when the meat you want is on sale. Tacos are a great example you can use ground chicken, turkey, or beef.
When "meal in a box/bag" stuff goes on sale get it and SAVE IT for days when you have no energy, time, or patience to cook a full meal. Following that same idea don't be afraid to "doctor" a "meal in a bag/box", what I mean is add extra veggies or meat or even rice/pasta. I've taken frozen pizza (cheese or pepperoni) and added my own toppings and cheese.
Make sure you are correctly portioning your meals and use veggies/salads to fill up on (good for your diet and budget). Until I actually took the time to weight our portions out we were overeating. Now when we have a meal we have leftovers for both of us to eat tomorrow.
Feel free to interchange items in recipes you find, many ingredients are interchangeable such as rice and pasta, and many veggies.
Know that by getting a brand or a product you are unfamiliar with may not always turn out to be a good idea, move past it.

Now looking at what I bought this week and how I used it

What I bought

pepperidge farm swirl bread-I bought 3, 2 will be frozen for future
hormel natural choice lunchmeat- I bought 2 packs
jack daniels bbq sauce- I bought 2 bottles
SunnyD- I bought 2 bottles
ritz crackers- I bought 2 packages
ronzoni garden delight pasta-I bought 2 packages
kings hawaiian sub rolls- I bought 2 packages
country crock butter- I bought 2 tubs
dannon dan-o-nino yogurt- I bought 2 packs
dannon danimals- I bought 2 packs
taco bell home originals kit- I bought 2
publix cream cheese- I bought 1
mushrooms- I bought 1 pack
yoplait yogurt- I bought 8
pork bone-in steaks- I bought 1 pack of 2
chicken leg quarters- I bought 1 pack of 4
whole chicken- I bought 1
eggs- I bought 1 18-count
milk- I bought 1 gal.
strawberries- I bought 1 pack
watermelon- I shared one with my mother
bananas- I bought 1 bunch
wheat bread- I bought 1 loaf

How did we eat? I've just listed dinners, if something is listed that is not on my shopping list it was purchased before this week, if needed you can substitute items. Lettuce I bought last week and is still good (thank-you produce saver bags). I also frequent the farmer's market on saturday and get veggies at a very good price. It will be a difficult thing to follow if you have never done this, just know that in weeks to come you will notice the savings and you will build a home stock to look to.

Tuesday

Dinner

popcorn shrimp
red potatoes
salad

Wednesday

Dinner

pork steaks (italien seasoning)
potatoes
salad
rolls

Thursday

Dinner

bbq chicken (1/2 package)

I put the chicken in my crockpot with water, salt, and 2 bay leaves and let it cook through, then I pull the skin and bone off and shred the chicken empty the pot and mix in bbq sauce, I put the heat on low and let it sit for no more than 1 hour like that.

salad
rice or pasta

Friday

Dinner

we have an event at my husband's company
but if we are still hungry later we have leftovers or a sandwich

Saturday

Dinner

herb butter rubbed roasted chicken

softened butter mixed with my italien seasoning herbs rubbed on whole chicken roasted in oven

rice
salad
rolls

Sunday

Dinner

leftover chicken
veggie "mac'n cheese"

pasta cooked back in pot on stove (still hot), add cheese of your choice a little milk and throw in mixed vegetables (i use frozen steam veggies for this)

salad

Monday

Dinner

ground turkey with tacos
rice or beans

If you notice I did not use every item I bought. The other items will be saved for future use. We usually have leftovers on Sunday because I am doing my couponing for the week but I try to change it a little so it's not really the same.