...a new member needs our help. Thought I would link her intro thread here so we could be sure to share some tips!

Welcome Twins0516

New and Confused!

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welcome!
my first is advice is to make a menu(if you don't already even roughly plan out snacks and beverages for the kids)

2nd i would definately go with the cash method its alot easier to stay on budget when you know there is no more money when you get to the checkout.

what ever i did not spend i would put in an envelope and if you needed extra at the end of the month it would be there and if you do not need it put it into a savings acct.

my last tip would be try to shop alone i know its hard with two little ones but if at all possible try to go alone. i spend alot less if i'm alone.

good luck it takes time but you can do it.

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

HAVE A BOOTIFUL HALLOWEEN

1. Is your local store on the grocerygame.com ? If so, start there.
2. I know that I am going to hear grief on this but gas credit cards now have rewards on them for free gas after a certain dollar amount is spent. Make sure that you pay the balance off each month. I get a "free " tank every 2-3 months.
3. Plan menus in advanced. I do chicken on Monday, Tuesday is steak/roast, wednesday is pasta, thursday is pork chops, friday is pizza, saturday is sandwich/burgers with homemade soup from the chicken or beef and sunday is fish. If chicken is on sale cheap one week, I stock up(meaning a 2-3 month supply). I do the same with the beef and pork. There have been times where I have spent half of my grocery budget on sale meat items so I will not have to worry about them later. My hubby eats the leftovers for lunch at work(his co workers are jealous).
4. I purchase my seasonings at Rite Aid or Family Dollar when they are 2 for $1.00.
5. If you can budget it, get a small extra freezer to store the bulk of meat in.

rdhill007.....If chicken is on sale cheap one week, I stock up(meaning a 2-3 month supply). I do the same with the beef and pork. There have been times where I have spent half of my grocery budget on sale meat items so I will not have to worry about them later. My hubby eats the leftovers for lunch at work(his co workers are jealous).


O.k....I don't understand how this works?? If you spend half of your grocery budget on stocking up on meat, how do you buy enough food for you family for that week? Do you just live on the meat you stocked up on...I don't get it? How do you get all that you need for that week's groceries if you only have half of the money left, aren't you going to come up short before the week is over?

The most I spend on 2 months of meat is $200.

I cut and cook the chicken breasts up in thin strips(4 whole chicken breasts will do atleast one months worth of cooking). This works for fajitas, wraps, stir frys, chicken nuggets, ect. The most I spend on a package is $20.00. Whole chickens run $5.00 each when on sale. This makes soup, chicken and dumplings, ect. for leftovers. Cost runs $5.00 a week tops.

A cryovac loin of beef and/ or pork at $3.99 a pound runs $45.00. I cut the tips for stroganoff, the thin strips for fajitas and stir frys, the "whole " pieces for steak. The middle of the loin is the "filet mignon " cut of the meat. I do not cook the loin at one time, I freeze raw. Cost runs $6.00 a week.

Hamburger/turkey burger I brown half when I get home and make meatloaf "muffins "out of the rest. I put the browned burger in "meal bags "(enough for one meal). Cost runs $2.50 a week.

The fish that I buy is either tilapia, shrimp or flounder. The shrimp for medium runs $5.99 a pound(you get 50 pieces on average), this equates to 2 meals. I use the shrimp in stir frys, pasta sauce, ect. The filets, I put in "meal bags "(enough for one meal and hubby's work). I buy it on sale at $4.99 a pound-A pound makes one meal. Cost averages $4.00 a week

I keep 2 bags of burrito size flour tortillas in the house at all times. Wrap and go when in a hurry.

I purchase and freeze fresh veggies when in season. I freeze individually after sliced and put into "meal bags " once they are frozen.

The only things that I buy in the actual store is milk, cereal, oatmeal, bread, pasta, sauce, tortillas and fruit(when not in season). I purchase the cereal, bread, pasta, sauce and oatmeal with coupons and when on sale. At most $15.00 a week.

I feed a family of 4 for $50 a week, sometimes less with coupons.

I have a college degree as a chef and I owned a restaurant before having children. I learned to budget the best that way.

IMO, the best resources are RV cookbooks, misery meals and not just beans if you are just starting out. These teach you how to use leftovers.

I also do stuff like bertolli does and freeze meals in bags for soccer practice nights.

Thanks for the info. !