Do you hate flipping through your coupons at the grocery store? I sure do.
I found if I use an envelope to make my grocery list on and then put all my coupons in the envelope, it works great. By looking through my coupons at home, it reminds me that I need some items, too.
It really helps to only clip coupons that you use on a regular basis or if you have been wanting to try an item.
I know I mentioned before that it is a bad idea to go shopping right before dinner/after you worked all day. Mainly because the grocery store is so crowded and you end up spending more time standing in line. But also because it puts you home later, dinner is later and getting out of the kitchen is later.
I have always heard “don’t go shopping when you are hungry.” I truly believe that is a good rule. It is for me, anyway. I find my shopping cart full of junk when I shop hungry. I have even grabbed a bag of those “Sweet Sixteen” powdered donuts and as soon as I get to the car, I eat three or four of them. If you want to save on your grocery bill, do not shop when you are hungry.
Another helpful hint, make a grocery list. I hate to get home from the grocery store and realize I forgot something that I needed NOW. Like last night, I forgot to buy Dawn. No list, no Dawn. I guess Dawn hasn’t been on sale lately or I would have had an extra one under the sink. I am rather “focused” on stocking up on food so it amazes me when I run of anything.
I like to keep a list as I realize I am out or almost out of an item. I keep the list on the refrigerator door. If I don’t make a list, I sometimes buy things thinking I need it and I already had an extra bottle hiding in my cabinet.
Another idea is to go through your refrigerator, freezer and cabinets before you head out to go grocery shopping. It will refresh you memory so you will be aware of what you already have at home.
Make sure you gather your coupons and put them in your purse, too. I even have a coupon that says you get $10 off for a purchase of $100 from Winn Dixie. Those are nice but I seldom buy that much food at one time for just me and my husband. I guess I just never get low enough on food that I need that much at one time.
Also, the circulars that come out weekly really help you save money. I often plan my menus from what is on sale for the week. There are certain foods I buy only when they are on sale….like T-bone steaks.
Seasonal foods are great to stock up on, too. During Thanksgiving and Christmas certain foods are on sale…like cranberry sauce, canned yams, hams and turkeys. Last year, I must have bought 24 cans of cranberry sauce. They were 50 cents a can instead of 99 cents. And why not buy an extra turkey. You can slice it up and make sandwiches or turkey salad. So take advantage of those seasonal sales.
Most people are too busy to really put much thought into grocery shopping. It is just one of those things you have to do. I truly feel that I save at least $100 a month by taking advantage of the circulars. I guess I have made it a game. I like to save at least 30% at Winn Dixie. My last shopping trip I spent $49 dollars and saved $23. That was without any coupons. And I only bought stuff I knew I would use.
When I do use coupons, I only clip out the coupons of things I normally purchase. It is very tempting to purchase items that you have a coupon for $1.00 off and think, “Oh, I think I will try that.” You end up spending more money. So don’t even clip the coupon unless it is a staple in your home.
So, I hope you will take advantage of the circulars and maybe clip a few coupons for things you use often. And don’t forget that grocery list. Happy grocery shopping. It is the only kind of shopping I enjoy. I know, I am a sick puppy as my daughters say.
When my two daughters shared a bathroom, there never seemed to be enough places to sit their lotions and bottles of bubble bath and stuff like that.
I used a plastic shoe rack that hangs over the door to hold the extra bottles of stuff that normally sat around the sink. It sure made cleaning the bathroom easier, too.
Today, Calvin and I have one hanging in our bathroom, too. We have Listerine, Hydrogen Perioxide, bubble baths, disposable razors, my curling iron, baby powder, nail polish remover, and so on hung behind our bathroom door. No one sees the stuff unless they close our bathroom door from the inside. Fortunately, we have a guest bathroom.
Yes, I do have a cabinet under my sink but I keep my cleaning products there plus extra soap, toothpaste, toilet paper and hair products there.
I was thinking as a young military wife with very little money and normally living in small quarters, I wish I thought of that idea back then.
Actually, at Wal-mart I saw a picture on the front of one these shoe rack type things that hang over the door showing various things stuffed in it instead of shoes. I was glad to see others were doing what I have been doing for a very long time.
I have been searching on the internet for the list of monthly sales that you find at places like Sears. You know, like white sales in January, appliance sales in some month….so on. I couldn’t find a website. Does anyone know where I can find a list of the monthly sales at retail stores?
We have been married 10 years now and we have done some silly things for our anniversaries. This one still makes me laugh.
I told my husband years ago that I don’t like cut flowers because I hate to see them die. So, if he wants to buy me flowers, he now knows to buy me a plant. He was okay with that and has not brought flowers home for me. So that eliminates flowers.
I am always struggling with my weight so I don’t want candy. So no candy for special occasions either.
So that leaves us with cards. But, I hate to waste five bucks on a card that just gets put away and takes up space. So, one year, we wrote a page of sweet words of our love for one another. Now, that is a special piece of paper I will always treasure.
But my favorite memory: We were at Wal-mart together and we realized we hadn’t gotten a card for each other yet. So, I suggested we pick out cards and let the other person read it and then put them back. It was hilarious. We spent about half an hour looking at cards and laughing at the silly ones. Finally, we found just the perfect one for each other. We read them, smiled, shared a quick kiss and put them back.
We still laugh about that every year on our anniversary.
Notice I never eliminated jewelry as an anniversary present. I am cheap but I am not stupid.
I guess most people have heard of Craig’s List before but I never really knew much about it. Go to Craig’s List website and look under your town. You can sell or buy items. There are other categories, too besides buying/selling items. It is great. I plan to sell some furniture as soon as I figure out how to get my pictures from the digital camera to the computer and then into the ad.
My daughter, Bonnie has decided to leave Raleigh, NC and move to Florida. I will be so glad to have some family living close. Now if I could just get my other two children to move here. There is hope though. Amber married Jason who lived in Tallahassee years ago (which is 2 1/2 hours from me). He would love to move back to Tallahassee. They live in Atlanta, now. And my son’s in-laws live in Florida in Palm Coast which is only an hour and a half from me. If they moved to Florida, they would be close to both sets of grandparents. Good idea, huh?
Okay, back to my subject. What mother doesn’t love talking about her kids, even if they are all grown up.
Bonnie bought a couch a couple years ago on Craig’s List and now she has sold the same couch on Craig’s List. She is trying to get rid of the big items so it will be cheaper to move. I am thinking when she moves here, I will be selling things on Ebay and Craig’s List.
I could buy and sell and never leave the house. woo-hoo
I thought ebay shopping was too complicated…getting ID numbers, password and then getting paypal set up thru my checking. Well, realistically I didn’t do all that. My daughter, Amber came for a visit this past weekend and she did it for me.
What fun though!!! I have already won two bids. I have bid on 6 others. I am normally not much of a shopper. I do enjoy the flea markets, Goodwill, and yard sales. I actually love to grocery shop, too. But, shopping for clothes and jewelry and even Christmas presents…not so fun to me.
The prices I paid for my two items I won were really good but then the shipping makes it a little more but in this case, they are hard to find items. The Pyrex nesting bowl I won the bid for, I have been looking for at the flea markets for probably two years. The other item was for my sister, Sandy and after all the work her and her husband did two weekends ago at my home, no price is too high (though it was not high). Of course, you do save the price of gas (my favorite flea market is probably 30 miles away).
I have my mother’s dishes (Corelle Butterfly pattern) and her Pyrex Butterfly pattern bowls and casserole dishes. I have been slowly adding pieces. I am bidding on some berry bowls and bread/pie plates on Ebay.
When my mom and dad moved in with my youngest sister, Jeannie (and her husband, Mike), she no longer needed her table and chairs and china hutch. When they were preparing for their move, mom had asked all of us kids what items we might want. I quickly asked for these pieces because they hold such dear memories to me. Sitting at mom’s kitchen table enjoying delicious meals and sipping on coffee after breakfast…..great memories. So now, I have mom’s dishes and her kitchen furniture. It really feels like home. Because I am almost 600 miles from my mom, dad, sisters and brothers, it makes me feel a little closer to them.
So guys, go out there and Ebay shop. It is fun. Just don’t go crazy buying things you don’t need. I collect Pyrex nesting bowls so I am happy to find the missing bowls to complete my sets. Hopefully, one day my children will enjoy these, too. Maybe they will be antiques and worth something, too. lol
It is a matter of getting organized.
I put the meat on first since I want it cooked thoroughly and it gets more tender with time, in this case 25 minutes.
So, let’s say I put the pork chops in the pan with a little water, spice it with worcheshire sauce, garlic salt and Nature’s Seasoning and cover.
While the pork chops are cooking, I take some Zattaran yellow rice out. I get the water boiling and add the butter.
Then I open a can of green beans, drain and rinse off a couple times while still in the can. Pour into a pan, add water that covers the beans with half an inch more on top. Don’t overfill because the water has to get hot before it starts cooking. I add Nature’s Seasoning or sometimes a slice of bacon for flavoring. My mom cooks her canned green beans for hours and I swear, they taste just like fresh picked green beans.
By this time, the water is boiling for the rice. I add the rice into the water, stir, put on low and cover. Flip the pork chops and then add more spices or BBQ sauce. If you want to run take a shower, make sure you have enough water in the pork chops so they don’t burn.
That took all of five minutes. Everything is going so I set the table. Remember to try the Goodwill dishes–different place settings. It helps to change the look of the meal.
Have you tried the frozen biscuits that are quick frozen individually? Pillsbury makes them but there are a lot of different companies making them. They take about twenty minutes so turn your oven on before you even put the meat on. I wouldn’t put the biscuits in until after I get everything else going.
Another thing, my mom and I love jellied cranberry sauce. I decided a few years ago that it is a shame to just eat it for Thanksgiving and Christmas so I keep a can in the refrigerator at all times. One can lasts for at least two meals for the two of us. We actually eat it instead of something sweet after dinner.
It only takes about five minutes to get that meal cooking. The rice and biscuits both take about 20 minutes to cook so you have time to set the table, throw a load of laundry in the washer, go to the restroom, feed the dogs, pour yourself a glass of wine, etc.
I know it isn’t fun to work all day and then immediately walk into the kitchen to start dinner. And it makes your day even longer if you have to run by the grocery store before you can cook. That’s why it is important to shop smart. Buy meat in larger portions, individually wrap and freeze. Keep rice, mac and cheese and even hamburger helper on hand. I keep sweet potatoes and white russett (ONLY) on hand, too. Then keep canned green beans, frozen corn, frozen broccoli, frozen califlower, frozen brussel sprouts for example. Keep your cupboards full. Frozen vegetables ROCK. I steam them and it only takes minutes. When I don’t want to make a mess, I put a russett potato in the microwave. Poke holes in potato first.
Make grocery lists. If possible, plan two or three meals a head of time making sure you have all the ingredients.
Either while you are eating your dinner or when you are cleaning up, take out something from the freezer for your dinner tomorrow. If for some reason, you don’t end up cooking dinner the next night, the meat will keep for an additional day. So, if you see you don’t have something for dinner that you need for tomorrow’s meal, go to the grocery store that night, not on the way home from work. The grocery stores are not nearly as crowded after dinner as they are right after work so you aren’t the only one who does that.
I have found that since I grocery shop smarter, I really enjoy fixing a nice meal for dinner. There is no hassle because everything I need is at my fingertips.
If you look in my freezer, you will see individually wrapped pork chops, cube steak, hamburger meat, fish, steaks, roast, and chicken. Then I have frozen vegetables, a couple bottles of frozen water for my husband’s lunches, bacon, hot dogs, a frozen DiGirono pizza, perogies, bagels, loaf of bread, frozen biscuits and etc. I guess I treat my kitchen as a restaurant. I keep stocked up.
If you have room in your freezer, always keep a loaf of bread in there. When you take it out, and it thaws, it tastes so fresh. It always annoyed me to have to run to the store to get a loaf of bread or a carton of milk. With the high cost of gas, that loaf of bread just got real expensive.
Well, this is a long post so I will stop now.
My sister, Cindy mentioned she would like more information on getting food on the table fast. My husband loves that I can walk in the door and we can sit down to eat within half an hour.
Part of it is being ready to cook when I walk in the door. I buy food that is fast to fix. I remember to take something out either the night before or in the morning or have back-up quick foods.
I buy ground beef or ground chuck and divide it into one pound portions and freeze in aluminum foil or freezer bags. Frozen hamburger meat is so versatile. You can cook it on the stove with some water for faster cooking and then you can make taco salad, chili, sandwiches (sloppy joes) or even hamburger helper meals. This part of my back-up plan when I forget to take something out for dinner.
I buy T-bones or Ribeyes on sale and have them cut into 3/4 inch steaks so they cook faster. I individually wrap them in aluminum foil or in a freezer bag. Don’t freeze them together because they take much longer to thaw.
Pork chops, buy in bulk on sale, wrap individually. You can grill the pork chops with onions, or steam them and and add BBQ sauce or make gravy with them.
The gravy is just a matter of taking a cup or so of cold water, adding a tablespoon of all purpose floor and stirring until totally dissolved. Then add the flour mixture to pork chops when the chops are done and cooking on low. Stir until the gravy mixes well with juices and starts thickening. If it gets too thick, just add some tap water. Add a little worcheshire sauce for flavoring. You can add a package of pork seasoning to make the gravy if you prefer.
Chicken…I buy the frozen chicken breasts that are boneless. They are individually frozen (IQF-Individually Quick Frozen)so that helps. Just throw the package of breasts in the freezer. They are ready when you are. This is another “oops, I forgot to take something out meal”.
Steam and spice the chicken the way you like (BBQ, grilled with lemon pepper, etc) . Be brave, add soy sauce or teriyaki.
Another quick meal is make a salad and then chop up the grilled chicken and throw on top. My favorite salad is served with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, shredded cheese, boiled egg and chicken with Ranch Dressing.
Keep boiled eggs on hand. Great for salads or a quick egg salad sandwich. Egg salad sandwiches are great for breakfast, too. You can eat it on the run. Better than a donut.
I have already written about making roasts by cooking them overnight and then make french dip sandwiches with the leftovers.
And then who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner occasionally. We only have a big breakfast on weekends so it is great to have bacon, egg, cheese bagels and home-fried potatoes during the week.
Okay, that’s how to do the meat part of the meal quickly.
As a young military wife, moving was just something you did. It could get expensive to buy new curtains for every room in the house for the numerous moves. All of the young mothers were staying home back in those days and we just had to make ends meet with the one income. I was more concerned about getting food on the table and clothes on the kids.
First, I put venetian blinds up. Then, I would buy a colored twin-size “flat” sheet for the window in the bedroom. There are so many cute sheets out now that you can really be creative. You can tie them back on the side with some cute decorative rope or just leave it hanging on the side. You can coordinate with the sheets and bedspread, too. The twin sheets even have a seam you can use to run the rod through. How simple is that? No, it isn’t fancy but you can really dress up a window with some color.
For instance, my son was really into Star Wars stuff when he was young. I bought an extra top twin sheet that had the same Star Wars pattern on it and put it up for a curtain.
This can work well for your child that has just gone off to college or that little girl who wants Dora in her bedroom one day and Barbie the next. Just buy a bedspread and one twin sheet for the curtain in the pattern she likes. You could even rotate the patterns if you have enough energy….lol.
Remember to buy twin ” flat ” sheets.