My dd loves chocolate milk, so I make the syrup myself. That saves about $3/week.
I also usually only buy what is on sale, and base my menu around that.

Duh! I freeze our vegetables, but not once did it occur to me to freeze overripe bananas or other fruit.

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Jenny, wife to Brad, mommy to two crazy little kids with one on the way!

I coupon shop, based on the store's weekly ads.

I plan my dinners a week in advance based on what I buy on sale. I budget pizza night into our grocery budget - Mondays are my heavy cleaning days, and our favorite pizza place has extra large pizza for $9 including tax on Mondays. Knowing I can get all my housework done that day with 3 small boys (6, 3, and 8 weeks) and not have to worry about dinner that night is great! (I usually cook from scratch).

I also check out the clearance section at my grocery store. They sell dented cans and items they no longer carry for CHEAP!!! I always stock up on the items we use.

I use pharmacy coupons for free gift cards for groceries! I use them at CVS and Kroger. Target pharmacy has coupons in their ad occasionally also.

I am so happy I found this website! I felt like I was the only person who lived like this! Even if I won the lottery, I would still bargain shop!!!

I cook from scratch too and use up leftovers.

I agree with the poster who said the older cookbooks always have scratch recipes.

My two favorites are:

The Plaid Cookbook (Better Homes and Gardens). I love the way it is bound too. It stays open when I'm using a recipe.
Amazon.com: New Cook Book, 75th Anniversary Limited Edition: Books: Better Homes and Gardens Books,Tricia Laning

More with Less is my other favorite, also spiral bound, back to the basics. This is gives the syrup recipe, and lots of recipes using only 'from scratch' ingredients. Amazon.com: More-With-Less Cookbook (World Community Cookbook): Books: Doris Janzen Longacre

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

Yes, some grocery stores have clearance shelves but also be sure to look for a clearance area in the freezer section. I know my Fred Meyer puts a bunch of stuff in one freezer case at the end of the row. Makes for interesting shopping.

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yes, please share the recipies for those items!!! thanks!

Would love to know how to make my own choc syrup. We can go thru a bottle a day if I don't watch them. I do usually cook from scratch but since I went back to school it just seemed easier to pick something up on the way home. I finally said to DH, since you aren't working right now there is no reason why you can't do the cooking. So I made him up a weekly menu and he is doing the cooking. He even does the dishes most of the time. Now if I could only get them to pick up after themselves I would be doing great.

Janice

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mom to Eddie 15, Natalya 11

while I was looking for the cookbook suggested I found The american frugal Housewife: Dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy. Amazon has where you can read a bit of the book, in the LOOk inside button. It is a really interesting excerpt.. I am going to request it from my library. HAVE A GREAT Day!!!

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" A mom who loves her job, who gets paid in smiles, hugs, and kisses. Who accepts and expects payments daily. ":love:

Please foward name of cookbook. I would love to try some of these things.

A fun website for money saving ideas and recipes is -www.hillbillyhousewife.com

The author really has a sense of humor