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Food
Geeze do we love food here. Who doesn't right? But it can get pretty expensive. We love to eat out, but the cost... Well, we can't do it as much as we would like. Actually we try to only eat out a couple of times a month (not the hubby, he eats out for lunch everyday but work usually pays for it so that doesn't count as far as budget goes).
When it comes to grocery shopping, I used to be one of those dreaded coupon people... You know the ones. They have a cart full of stuff, and then have a mountain of coupons. There were times when I would save 99% of my bill using coupons! Usually averaged about 60% though. I used to really enjoy seeing the savings (and I still would), but I just don't seem to have the time anymore, with having 3 active boys ages 6, 3, and 1. The 1 year old is really the culprit in me not having the time to coupon. I used to spend 3-5 hours a week clipping coupons and matching them to stores deals, just don't have the time anymore.
So I menu plan, for the entire month, and deal shop. I buy all our meat at Costco because it is the best cut and best price. I also buy frozen fruit and veggies there, as well as most of my baking supplies (flour, sugar, etc.). I do a lot of baking, so buying these in bulk is important for me to stay at budget.
At the beginning of the year I sat down and figured out how much I would need to supply our family of 5 with food, personal goods, and diapers. I budget $300-$400 a month for these things. It is tough though. We have a couple of meals a week that are constant which allows me to buy those things in bulk. Monday are Muffin Mondays for breakfast, so when those muffin mixes go on sale I stock up! The other constant is Taco Tuesdays. Again when taco shells go on sale I stock up. Then I buy the meat, cheese, and taco seasoning in bulk. I try to make about 5 lbs of taco meat at the beginning of the month, then separate it into a little over 1 lb bags to last us for all the Tuesdays in the month and freeze it. Super easy dinners on Tuesdays, which is wonderful. I think we are going to start also instituting a corn dog muffin Thursday too, as these are quick and easy and the boys really love them.
I am always working on quick ways to bring down our food budget, but without couponing I think we are at a wall. Things will get better once the little ones are out of diapers and pull ups, but until then it is what it is.
What do you do about food at your home?
When it comes to grocery shopping, I used to be one of those dreaded coupon people... You know the ones. They have a cart full of stuff, and then have a mountain of coupons. There were times when I would save 99% of my bill using coupons! Usually averaged about 60% though. I used to really enjoy seeing the savings (and I still would), but I just don't seem to have the time anymore, with having 3 active boys ages 6, 3, and 1. The 1 year old is really the culprit in me not having the time to coupon. I used to spend 3-5 hours a week clipping coupons and matching them to stores deals, just don't have the time anymore.
So I menu plan, for the entire month, and deal shop. I buy all our meat at Costco because it is the best cut and best price. I also buy frozen fruit and veggies there, as well as most of my baking supplies (flour, sugar, etc.). I do a lot of baking, so buying these in bulk is important for me to stay at budget.
At the beginning of the year I sat down and figured out how much I would need to supply our family of 5 with food, personal goods, and diapers. I budget $300-$400 a month for these things. It is tough though. We have a couple of meals a week that are constant which allows me to buy those things in bulk. Monday are Muffin Mondays for breakfast, so when those muffin mixes go on sale I stock up! The other constant is Taco Tuesdays. Again when taco shells go on sale I stock up. Then I buy the meat, cheese, and taco seasoning in bulk. I try to make about 5 lbs of taco meat at the beginning of the month, then separate it into a little over 1 lb bags to last us for all the Tuesdays in the month and freeze it. Super easy dinners on Tuesdays, which is wonderful. I think we are going to start also instituting a corn dog muffin Thursday too, as these are quick and easy and the boys really love them.
I am always working on quick ways to bring down our food budget, but without couponing I think we are at a wall. Things will get better once the little ones are out of diapers and pull ups, but until then it is what it is.
What do you do about food at your home?
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