Menu Plan: Week of 3.8.15

Menu Plan Week 3.8.15

Breakfast

Cereal, yogurt, or scrambled egg sandwiches

Lunch 

school lunch and/or packed lunch for Little Man, Miss Priss eats at daycare, homemade Taco Soup all week for me

Dinner

Chicken tacos, rice, refried beans

Omelettes, bacon, fruit

Hot dogs, baked beans, peas, applesauce

Pepperoni Stromboli, salad

Chicken nuggets, french fries, apples

Peanut butter sandwiches, chips, fruit, veggies

Why I Only Grocery Shop at ONE Store

      

Can I I just say how much I dislike loathe Walmart?  I walk in that store and I immediately feel like a crazy person.  Droves of people are there, I am almost guaranteed to see someone I know-especially if I'm there without having fixed my hair or done my makeup, and there is just a general since of chaos.  But alas, if you live anywhere like we do, then Walmart has become a necessary evil.  If I need anything other than groceries, I almost always have to go there or drive 45 minutes to the nearest point of civilization.  About 99.9% of the time I choose Walmart because I don't want to spend the gas money to drive somewhere else.  While I don't have the luxury of choosing from many stores to shop around at for most items, I can at least choose a different place for grocery shopping!!

I have found that deciding on one place to grocery shop consistently really does make sense for us when trying to save money.  I don't have the time or desire to drive around to different stores trying to snag every little deal.  Time is money people!!  So here are my Top 5 reasons to stick with only one grocery store.  Drum roll please...

1.  You can shop faster.  

      I know where probably 98% of the items I need are located at Food Lion.  I can arrange my grocery list according to the path I take in the store and really streamline the whole process.  If I have ever been in say, Walmart (again, my own personal Hell) to pick up medicine or something else and decide to do my grocery shopping-it takes me at least twice as long!  I walk up and down the aisles, back and forth, crisscrossing my way between people in a desperate search for sugar.  I can't hardly stand it--wasting time is a major thorn in my side!  SO, when I shop where I know where things are located, I feel at peace.  I can concentrate on what I'm doing and get out of there rather quickly.

Why I Don't Let My Husband Grocery Shop...

After a really stressful week, my husband so kindly offered to go to the grocery store.  I was so excited, not because I hate to go grocery shopping--it's actually calming sometimes compared to being at home with the two little monsters--but I just really wanted to lay on the couch and do nothing.  As he's walking out the door, he tells me to text him a list because he'll go to the store after he leaves his part-time job (What a great man!  He works so hard for us!  And yes, I'm feeling a little guilty writing a post that seems like I'm complaining when he's going to the grocery story for me after leaving his second job...)

A little while later, I dutifully looked through the cabinets, saw what we need to get our week started and to pack Little Man's lunches.
           
        "milk, string cheese, Capri Sun, applesauce cups--store brand, green apples, and bananas"

I sent that text with my fingers crossed because I know good and well that he has a hard time sticking to the list!  I hate to waste money on the extras!!!  I was actually waiting for a reply text that said something like, "What aisle do I find applesauce on?", but I got nothing.  Relieved, I zoned out for a little while longer and relaxed with some mindless TV.  (Again...feeling a little guilty...)

Well, a little while later, the front door opens up, and in he walks with about 5 full bags.  UH-OH!  What has he bought?  Now, I'm not a huge food prude, well maybe a little, but I do try really hard to stick to a budget and not buy overly processed food.  I started unpacking the bags, and this is what I found.

Aaahhh!!! I could hardly take it!  THIS WASN'T ON THE LIST!!!!!  All thankfulness had disappeared and all I could see were chemicals eating away our insides and money flying out the door.  I tried really hard to contain myself and not appear as crazy as I felt.

"What is that?"  I calmly asked.
He replied, "Well, you had a stressful week with your grandmother's funeral so I got you cookies.  The kids were really good through all of it and I thought they might like a treat for breakfast,  And, well, the cinnamon rolls are for me."

Well, then I felt like a total, selfish.... you can fill in the rest.  But the whole situation really got me thinking.  Do I get so caught up in always trying to make sure we eat exactly right, don't ever "waste" a dime, and follow all of the rules that I'm somehow missing out on the little pleasures?  Hubby didn't seem to stress one second about buying these.  He knew we had all been sad all week and thought we could use a little pick me up.  I think somehow men are better at this.  They know when it's okay to cut corners and when we can break the little rules.

I truly wish I could be the same.  I frequently get focused on doing it all the "right" way, that I never allow for the forbidden third cookie after dinner or staying up a little later on a school night.  Sometimes it would just be nice to let all of that go for a little bit and just be.

Will I start purchasing this stuff on a regular basis?  Probably not, I just don't think I can bring myself to do it.  BUT will I fully indulge without guilt whenever hubby decides to buy it?--ABSOLUTELY!!!  And truth be told, I have snuck a few spoonfuls of cookie dough, the kids have LOVED their new cereal, and I'm writing this post right now scarfing up one, well two, of the leftover cinnamon rolls.  Thank you Dear for knowing what we all need and when we need it!

Let me know if you struggle with this too!!  I'd love to hear from you.

August Meal Plan and Shopping Week 2

I think I am one of those weird people who actually like grocery shopping and meal planning.  There is something so exciting about planning out good, healthy meals and knowing I am going to have food in the house for the week.  Such a stress reliever to not have to worry about rushing to the store last minute every day!  Meal planning is a must folks!  Trust me--you'll thank me later!

When it comes to meal planning, I have tried it all.  Monthly, bimonthly-meaning every 2 weeks, (does any one else get confused and wonder if that means twice a month or every two months?  Maybe it's just me...), and weekly.  I think with school just around the corner and life about to get CRAAAZY we're going to stick with weekly.  It seems that something is always popping up last minute and weekly shopping will be more flexible.

We don't necessarily plan out what meal we're going to eat which day, but just have different options available.  I know, living on the wild side, right?  =)

If you are dying to eat like us, here's our grocery list!  A little higher than I planned on, but we needed a few things that are only once a month items.

Food Lion
Whole Wheat English Muffins                         $1.50
Sugar                                                             $1.97- .35 Savings Center Coupon (hadn't planned on this,                                                                           a coupon printed when I scanned my card, so I took                                                                                     advantage of the savings.  Sugar coupons are rare!)
Butter Snap Pretzels                                       $2.50
Croutons                                                        $1.29
Wonder Bread                                               $2.39 (.25 back from Ibotta, .25 back from Savings Star)
Bleu Cheese Dressing                                     $2.00
Ranch Dressing                                              $2.00
Bagel Thins                                                    $1.99
Turkey Pepperoni                                           $3.49 (Ssshh, don't tell my family it's turkey!)
Shrimp                                                           $7.99 - 1.25 Coupon Hub digital coupon
Shaved Ham                                                   $2.50
Celery                                                            $1.69
Lettuce                                                           $1.49
Onion                                                             $1.28 (.25 back from Checkout 51)
Dozen Eggs                                                    $2.08 (.25 back from Ibotta)
Cool Whip                                                     $1.22
Whole Milk Mozzarella                                   $3.69
String Cheese                                                $3.69 (coupon didn't work...)
Milk                                                              $3.79 (.25 back from Ibotta)
Greek Vanilla Yogurt                                      $4.99
Hawaiian Rolls                                               $3.99
Gouda                                                           $5.49
Chapstick                                                      $1.89 (ooooh my sun burnt lips!)              
Kids Soap X2                                                $4.00-1.00 instant savings
coupon for $4 off when you spend $45 or more!
                                                          Total: $63.91-$1.00 rebates: $62.91

Grants
Oooooh how I love that this local grocery store is now in our town!!!
Chicken breasts                                             $5.54 (half this week, half for meals next week)
Bacon X 2                                                     $5.58(again, one this week, one next--what a great price!)
Sliced Swiss                                                  $2.89
Polish Sausage                                               $2.14
Fresh Blueberries                                           $2.00
Fresh Raspberries                                          $2.00
Fresh Blackberries                                         $2.00
Fresh Strawberries X 2                                  $4.00
Multi Grain Crackers                                      $2.50
Butter X 2                                                     $6.00 (why is butter so expensive?)
Chive and Onion Cream Cheese                    $2.69
Ketchup X 2                                                 $2.00
Bananas                                                        $1.28 (.49/lb)
Peaches                                                        $3.88 (.99/lb)
Scott Paper Towels                                       $5.00
Peanut Butter M&Ms                                    $.69 (oops...my little treat ;)  )
                                                     Total: $59.34

Weekly Total: $122.25  Monthly Total: $122.25 (BUT we were at the beach for the 1st week...)

A little higher than my goal of $100 a week or $475 for the month, but I think I'll make that up considering there will be carryover foods from this week.  Also, this is for all of our food this week, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The kiddos and I will be eating breakfast and lunch every day here, and the hubby has a separate budget for his lunch out.  His schedule is so sporadic and hectic that some days, rather most days, it is practically impossible for him to drive home.  We also don't have a separate budget for going out to dinner.  We have a $50 entertainment budget and if we decide to eat out somewhere, it comes from there.


I splurged a little on things like Gouda for $6 and a bunch of fresh fruit.  If I buy a few nicer, more expensive things at the grocery store I think I am less likely to want to go out to dinner because I don't feel like I'm missing out and it is still way cheaper than buying a meal.  Do you agree or is that wishful thinking??