Show & Tell- I would like to know what you do to make life easier!

Now that plans are set for May and June I've got a few things I would like to share.

 

A Neat Website

A friend of a friend posted a link on Facebook for a website called Meetup.com . I joined a group a few weeks ago and plans haven't really panned out for me. It seems like that particular group always meets on the days that I work. HOWEVER, I found a new group, SLC Area Active Moms, that fits my schedule! I'm so excited about this website! It even has an app for my phone and when I RSVP it adds the event to my calendar!

There are a lot of different groups you can join- Drink Wine? There is a group that goes out for wine parties! Hike, Bike, Garden, Write, Have Pets? Check it out! I'm pretty sure there is something for everyone! AND it's not just for Salt Lake- Live in Texas? Find something in your area :)

My Way Explained

 

Menu Planning and Grocery Shopping:
Oh how I loathe both of these tasks! But running a household is my job as a momma and wife so I've figured out a few ways to make it run smoother, faster and save a few dollars (for shoes) along the way.

First, I do my menu planning... and shopping list! Yep! At the same time! Along with this I check in my "overflow" pantry to see what I need to restock. (I basically have a grocery store in my basement of the items I use most often. Every time I need an ingredient, like can of diced tomatoes, I double it and put the extra can in my storage. Over the last 6 months I've been doing this, thus creating food storage without going over budget. Best part is, if we overspend on another budget I can skip some items on my list to save money and just use my overflow pantry! No stress!)

 

Overflow Pantry (I'm only showing 1/2 because the other 1/2 is not all organized quite yet. But it includes water, hygiene products, paper towels, napkins etc.)

In my pantry I have two sheets always taped to the inside of the door. 1: Shopping List. 2: Menu.
I also have a place for a pen and extra lists. I then tape coupons for items on my list to the door so everything is in one place when I go shopping.

The Shopping List: This can be filled out by anyone and everyone. You eat the last cracker? Add it to the list. Want potato chips? Add it to the list. (I have a Misc. section so if the budget allows we can get potato chips) This is an ongoing list to be added to until we go shopping. (We go shopping once every week and a half or so. The less often we go, the less impulse we buy.)

The Menu: This is filled out by me... every week... It gets old, but I have a secret! Keep reading and I'll let you in on it.

 

How It Works: I take both sheets- menu on one side, 1/2 way filled out list on the other.  I have a pen and my go to cookbooks- What's For Dinner. I scour over Pinterest (a time waster but I LOVE to use menu planning as an excuse to take some time on Pinterest.) Then I grab a few cookbooks given to me from family/friends with recipes they have gathered. You know, the recipes people actually use with recipes that actually make sense...
On my menu I have a place for 5 lunches and 7 dinners. (My family has a habit of fending for ourselves on weekend lunches and breakfast is a free for all) You can add meals and details to your menu as needed. I find what I like to eat, what I feel like I can accomplish and I write the meal name an where to find the recipe on my menu. Then before I move on to the next menu item I write my grocery list for that meal. (I have a stock of food so if I already have an item I don't bother writing it) I do this until my menu is full.

My shopping list is separated into categories according to the layout of the store I go to. This makes shopping a breeze! And if its not on the list we don't buy it. Period. That's where most of our money saving comes in.

Now my secret! After each meal, I leave comments on my menu. "The hubby said more pepper" or "I would like more spice". Maybe my daughter actually ate it! After all of the meals have been made, eaten and commented on, I 3 hole punch my, now complete, menu and place it in a binder. When I am short on time or really don't want to think about a menu I pull out my trusty binder and find meals and where to get the recipe in just seconds. I can repeat a week, or grab a few recipes at a time. I also know which meals to avoid if nobody liked it or what to add if the meal needed improvement.

My favorite comment was on a vegetarian meal I tried for the first time. My husband wrote "Add Chicken" Haha! So much for trying to eat like a vegetarian for a night!

Tips and Other News

I have 1 "on your own" lunch and sometimes even do 1 "on your own" dinner. I plan for 7 meals, one full week, and it almost always lasts 10-12 days because we have left overs.  I also make lunches super easy like Tuna sandwiches or SpaghettiO Casserole.

 

SpagettiO Casserole Recipe:
2 Cans SpaghettiO's
1 LB Browned Ground Beef (or Turkey)

1 Cup Sour Cream

Pepper and Onion Powder to your likings

-Add items to a casserole dish and bake covered. 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes

 

Each week I challenge myself to make 1 meal I've never made before. Those meals are usually the hit of the week and I end up adding them to my circulation.

 

Stay on budget by using cash only!

Stock up when things are on sale (case lot sales are my favorite!) Also, right now with Memorial Day right around the corner stock up on BBQ Sauce, Mayo and Ketchup!

Go shopping on Sundays or Mondays. Early morning or late night. Less crowds, more time to focus and ads and coupons generally start on Sunday.

If you're like me and like to shop at one store find a high/low store, like Smiths, that has higher priced items for some things but when they have sales the price is really low- stock up when the prices are low, of course.

Did you know the average family spends $76-125 per week on groceries? How does your budget add up?

 

If you'd like my format for the menu and shopping list email me ladiesallday@gmail.com and I will forward them to you.

 

I would like to know 1 recipe that you like best and actually use! Even if its Ramen Noodle Soup! Leave a comment so we can all share.

 

 

Other Resources

Allrecipes.com has an app for your phone that not only has ideas for recipes but you can also get a  Menu Planner Use promo code PARENTS at checkout for a discount.

Cozi is a free app that I use for organizing my family. There is a shopping list that can be shared with everyone in the family. I love this feature!!

Recipe.com has an app will help you find best deals in your town. It even tracks seasonal sales for you!

Did you know the average coupon saves you $1.46! Start looking online for free coupons, gather the newspaper coupons. This can save you tremendous money! I use coupons.com. They have a coupon for milk and cheese- some of my staple items! Couponmom.com is another good one

What I Need From You

I am still taking RSVP's for the May Event and also if you would like to do the 5K in June you'd better get signed up right now! Tickets are selling out fast!

I also want to do a little "Show & Tell" in the mean time. Email me, ladiesallday@gmail.com what you know you rock at, with pictures if you have them. Let me know if I can post them for others to share as well. If it's easier to comment that works for me!

 

Last But Not Least

 

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I appreciate your help promoting this blog :)

 

Thanks!
L