• In the Kitchen
  • Recipe Index
  • Bento Lunches
  • Life As I Know It
  • Life in Texas
  • Faith Walk Farms

Following In My Shoes

tales of food and family

  • home
  • about
  • press
  • contact me

Meal Planning and Saving Money On Groceries

August 12, 2013

Share
Pin
Tweet
+1

Raise your hand if August is not only a seriously crazy and busy month for you but an expensive month to boot?

Between school supply shopping, new shoes for growing Kidlets, buying items for my classroom, and TWO back-to-back August birthdays (I’m looking at you, Mr. Boy, and you, Barney Kneeknuckles), it feels as thought August is nothing but a money-pit.

menu planning monday

With all the green dollar bills and silver coins evaporating from our checking account, the Husband asked that I be especially frugal this month with our grocery budget.

Even though I am always careful, as someone who lives daily in the banking/investment world, the Husband can’t help but think constantly about expenses and ways to shave down bills.

It’s either a hobby or an obsession.  I’m not quite sure which …

He started sending me links to sites like Money-Saving Mom, started listening to pod-casts detailing ways to save money, and turned the  thermostat to an ungodly setting.

This Mama don’t do hot … so I sat down with him and we talked about ways I could better help our family in the grocery and household expenditure arena.

I used to plan our meals according to what was on sale at the grocery store, but in past year or so, I stopped.  Instead, I went with what my taste-buds wanted or shopped according to recipe projects.  The weekly sales flyer?  I looked at it but didn’t use it as a starting point.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

This week, instead of letting my taste-buds hold the reins (ok … that’s just a weird image), I kept the Husband’s request in mind and looked for ways to make our meals more affordably.

Save Money On Groceries

  • The first step is to create a meal-plan … we all know that, right?  Planning for the week will already knock dollars off the grocery receipt simply because you aren’t making multiple trips to the store AND you aren’t succumbing to more expensive convenience and impulse items.
  • As I chose meals for our weekly plan, I shopped from our pantry and freezer first.  We have two refrigerators (one came with our house when we purchased it) and a deep-freeze, and since I tend to freeze a lot of food, we do have a lot of meal-starters available.  I need to get back in the habit of using those each week rather than “saving” them.
  • I incorporated the slow-cooker more frequently in my weekly plan.  (it really is a GREAT appliance for keeping the heat out of the kitchen AND for creating delicious meals with more inexpensive ingredients)
  • And, as mentioned above, the Husband and I looked at our grocery store deals.  AND … we discovered digital coupons. Now, I know that I’ve talked (extensively) about how I DON’T coupon but I discovered some AMAZING digital coupons available to my grocery store — deals like FREE milk, $5 off $50 worth of groceries and even more deals.   I know, I know … it’s all part of getting my business, but I do. not. care.  I will shop anywhere that is giving me free milk!

[exceptional-citing quoted=”rachel” template=”bubble-green-round” date=”” ]What Tips Do You Have For Saving Money on Groceries?[/exceptional-citing]

 

What We Are Eating This Week

Monday:  Slow-Cooker Tortellini Florentine Soup (recipe in development), French Bread Toast Points

Tuesday: Pork Tacos (recipe in development), Roasted Broccoli, Black Beans

Wednesday:   Leftovers

Thursday:  Slow-Cooker Wings (recipe posting soon as part of the Meal Maker Challenge), Onion Rings, Oven Roasted Green Beans

Friday:  Pizza Braid Hamburger Calizone, Salad

Saturday:  Smoked Turkey Legs, Green Beans, Salad

Sunday:  Leftovers

[exceptional-citing quoted=”rachel” template=”bubble-blue-round” date=”” ]Psssssst … if you’re looking for more meal ideas, I have two new recipes for you: Grilled Sirloin with Corn Salsa and Whole Wheat Pasta al Pomodoro!  And, if you want to help me in my Meal Maker Challenge you can repin them directly from the pins shown below![/exceptional-citing]

 
disclosure: I am participating in the H-E-B Meal Maker Challenge in a recipe contest and could win a gift-card if I win…. if YOU would like to win too, you can get full details from the Meal Maker Challenge site.

Share
Pin
Tweet
+1

Tagged With: meal planning

Get Posts Delivered To Your Inbox

Privacy Policy

About Rachel Lacy

Rachel Lacy is the author of Following In My Shoes, where she blogs about Mommyhood, Family-Friendly Recipes and Bento Lunches, and Life in Texas. She is a lover of all things Coffee and Nutella.
You can also connect with Rachel Lacy on Google+.

« Whole Wheat Pasta Al Pomodoro
Back to School Lunch Packing: Easy Lunchboxes Giveaway {closed} »

Welcome

Who is Rachel LacyMy name is Rachel -- I share tales about food and family. I'm a home-cook who focuses on fresh meals to both fuel us and to help us celebrate our family-life. My day starts with coffee. Lots of coffee.
Read More About Me.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Stay Connected

Recent Recipes

Egg-Nog Caramels

Egg-Nog Caramels

Simple Orange Cream Frosting for an Easy Peasy Christmas Cookie Party

Simple Orange Cream Frosting for an Easy Peasy Christmas Cookie Party

Flourless Cocoa-Monkey Muffins

Flourless Cocoa-Monkey Muffins

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Recent Bentos

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Grain-Free Waffle Recipe and An Open Letter To My Free-Loading Chickens

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

Crustless Pizza Cups {iheartlunch}

I Heart Lunch: Pizza Muffins (grainfree and nutfree)

I Heart Lunch: Pizza Muffins (grainfree and nutfree)

50 Grain-free After School Snacks

50 Grain-free After School Snacks

Favorite Posts

The Things I’ve Learned About Boys

The Things I’ve Learned About Boys

The Things I Hope We Both Remember When I Am 93

The Things I Hope We Both Remember When I Am 93

The Moment Your Four Year Old Announces She Is In Love

The Moment Your Four Year Old Announces She Is In Love

The Clock is Ticking

The Clock is Ticking

Featured

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

4 Ingredient Chicken Verde (slow-cooker recipe)

Wearing My Game-Day Boots and Making Game-Day Food: Slow-Cooker Asian Barbecue Sausage Bites

Wearing My Game-Day Boots and Making Game-Day Food: Slow-Cooker Asian Barbecue Sausage Bites

Slow-Cooker Paleo Italian Stuffed Peppers

Slow-Cooker Paleo Italian Stuffed Peppers

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs

Shop Bento

Check out my favorite bento and lunch-packing resources!

Copyright © 2022 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Home | About | Contact | Press | Archives | Disclosure | Privacy Policy ·

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I won't take it personally!!AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy