Once a Month Cooking; Let's do this! Day 1

I have heard of the once-a-month-cooking theory before. Basically, you make large portions of several meals and freeze. While it does seem to have it's drawbacks (eating the same meals over and over, the outright expense of making so much at once, the logistics of storage), I was won over by the possible convience and savings. I can have a hot, cheap, homemade meal in 20 mins or so. That's less time than it takes to get takeout! And I am covering my own butt for when I lose motivation and start slacking with my meal planning.

I have cooked a week's worth of meals in one go. In fact, it was my preferred meal prep method for a while. Cook a bunch on Monday, heat it up all week. But for the once-a-month deal, I am trying to cook a lot each day for a week, then thaw/heat/eat for the month.

My Plan;
5 Freezer Meals a week.
1 Fresh Meal
1 Make-Your-Own-Takeout Night (pizza, Chinese, burgers and fries)

Even eating freezer meals requires cooking. You have to make pasta, rice, bake bread, make salad. But significant reduction in time spent cooking each day...

Let's try this!

Today, I made a vat of red beans. I think a shitton is the appropriate term. I hell of a lot; 2 large ham steaks, a pack of hot sausage and 5 lbs of red beans.
The stirring was hard. The chopping got old fast. But I put 5 dinners worth of red beans in the freezer, plus we ate some tonight.




I also made a huge batch of spaghetti sauce. I had to make it in 2 pots. I ended up with 6 quarts in the freezer and one in the fridge for dinner later this week,

I have to admit, I am exhausted. My kitchen was a wreck. But when I think of all the things I can do with the time we will be saving; gardening, sewing, crafting, cleaning, playdates.

*All my freezer meals are flat frozen in Zip-Loc Double Zipper bags. I have never had any bust or leak. Plus, they thaw so fast when you flat-freeze them. They take up almost no space and can be easily stacked.

Dried Beans FTW!

A few weeks ago, I got a 4 lb bag of dried pinto beans at Wal-Mart for $1.98. I had planned to make 4 separate meals from the bag, but last week, I was inspired to feed the freezer as well as the family. We spent on takeout when I wasn't feeling up to cooking and I wanted to have a few "safety net" meals waiting for the next time life happens and dinner doesn't. I had used 1 lb the week before and had 3 left. I had some super-bargain pork chops I tossed in, but I fully intend to make it without next time. These beans were great!

Mega Pot o' Pintos
3-4 lbs pintos, soaked
2 large sweet onions
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 Tbsp chopped garlic
2 pints Nearly Free Chicken Stock
2 cans Rotel

I simmered it all day, seasoned with Mexican spices, topped with taco sauce, cheese and sliced green onions. It was fabulous! Sooooo freaking good, so stinking cheap, very easy AND I got 3 big meals from it; 1 for that night, 2 waiting for me in the freezer.

With the pork chops I had tossed in, the entire pot (not counting toppers) costs about $6. For 3 huge meals!!!!

Being Realistic

So, the last week has been a swift kick in the ass.

I got in a car wreck on MLK. $500 deductible, 20% of my rental. Fast food and tak-out while I was feeling gross and overwhelmed with dealing with the business end of all this. Budget blown to shit.

So, being realistic. What is a realistic food budget for a family of 4? Maybe I grossly undershot what we should spend each month?

Daniel eats what Daniel eats. Sadly, it's stuff that I am not finding coupons for (Sunchips and Laughing Cow cheese, dear god, if anyone has coupons, hook me up) and he is slowly expanding his palate, but I am not going to push.

I am disappointed because I went over. But without my planning and hard work, we would be in a much deeper hole. So it balances. Kinda. Maybe.

Doggie Deal; $1.50 Pup-Peronis (and more!)

This week, Target has Pup-Peroni dog treats on sale 2 for $5, regularly $2.64 each. This is all varieties! You can get a coupon for $1 off each pack on their website. I also had 2 coupons for $1 off their new Pup-Peroni Combo Bites, also on sale. That makes the dog treats only $1.50 a pack, saving $1.14 on each.

I also had a register coupon for a free pack of Canine Carry-outs ($2.19) with the purchase of a Meaty Bones dog snack ($2.79).

I spent $8.79 on at least a months worth of dog snacks, retail price of $15.54! Plus, I got a register coupon for $1 off my next 2 Pup-Peroni products. The box of Meaty Bones had an attached coupon for another free Canine Carry-out with the purchase of 2.

And she deserves every treat! Faith is such a sweet girl and she works so hard to take good care of her boy!

My Favorite Meal; Corn and Potato Chowder

I have had several people request this recipe from me. Here it is, with pictures and a price breakdown at the end. It is my absolute favorite meal, hands down. It will keep for days and reheats well. I often make a pot to eat for lunch all week long.

Corn and Potato Chowder
6 strips center cut bacon
1 sweet onion, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp chopped garlic
3 green onions, sliced, green and white
3 Tbsp butter, divided
4 large red potatoes, cubed
1 lb frozen corn kernels
3 Tbsp flour
1 pint Nearly Free Chicken Stock
1 c water
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
1/3 c sour cream
1/2 cup cream or half & half (I use fat free)
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping

Cook bacon in large skillet til brown and crispy. Remove, set aside to cool. Cook onions, celery, and bell pepper in grease until golden. Add garlic and green onions near the end. Set aside.


In large soup pot, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add potatoes and let brown. Add corn. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 mins. Make a "well" in middle of corn and potatoes; add reserved Tbsp butter and let melt. Add flour, stir well for about 1 min. Add stock and water, veggies from skillet. Combine and let simmer over low heat for 18-20 mins. Chop bacon, set aside for topping. When potatoes are tender, add chicken soup, sour cream and cream or half & half. Season to taste; I use lots of black pepper, Crystal hot sauce, thyme and parsley. Turn off heat and stir in cheese. Serve immediately, topped with bacon and cheese.

6 strips bacon 1.00
1 sweet onion .50
2 stalks celery .15
1/2 red bell pepper .44
1/2 tsp garlic .05
3 green onions .10
3 Tbsp butter .25
4 large red potatoes 1.00
1 lb frozen corn kernels 1.00
3 Tbsp flour .05
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup .75
1/3 c sour cream .30
1/2 cup half & half .50
1 c. cheddar cheese 1.00
Total for Soup= $4.80
6 servings (maybe 8....) at 80 cents per serving

Saving at Sam's?

Last year, we got a membership to Sam's Club and we hardly ever use it. Granted, we didn't pay much for it and we got a free gift card. It's also at least a 45 minute haul to any Sam's near us.

We were in Baton Rouge on Friday so we figured, why not? Daniel eats half a pack of Laughing Cow cheese every day and that stuff adds up! We regularly pay $3 each at Wal-Mart, but a pack of 3 at Sam's is $6.78 (that's 74 cents saving on each). But we were there and it just feels like you should buy stuff. And we kinda went nuts. I am now over on my grocery budget for the month and I have a case of Rotel in my pantry.

Sam's; good deal or not?

Well, kinda. We can get bread for under $2 (reg $3) a loaf and we go through a loaf every 2 or 3 days. We got HUGE bags of Tositos and Sunchips for 2 for $5.98 when we pay over $3.50 for regular size bags without coupons. I even gotten a huge bag of sweet potato fries for maybe $1 more than the small bag at Wal-Mart. I even got a 2 lb brick of my favorite Starbucks coffee for $16.73 ( reg $7.14 for 12 ounces).

Everything I got was a good deal. But lots of things we saw were not. This is one of those times when knowing the regular price and being able to compare is so valuable. This is also when I decided that, yeah, I need to work on a price book. (I really want it on my iPad.... anyone with suggestions?)

But did I need any of this? Not really. I mean, we need cheese and chips for Daniel. That is what he eats, it is rarely on sale and I am not finding coupons. While I saved by getting 12 cans of Rotel tomatoes for $6.58 (reg 88 cents each, savings of $3.98) do I really need 12 cans of spicy tomatoes?

I am still not sure if Sam's will be good for us or not. Even though that trip made me go over on grocery budget for the month, it won't go bad. Long term, it could be good. But not sure yet.

Planning Ahead and ENJOYING a Splurge!

Yesterday, I splurged. On ME! I have been saving my Christmas money after I saw the previews of the new Vera Bradley Spring Collection. I researched, I browsed online. I stole my Mom's catalog! I even watched the world launch live on QVC. (Vera is my hobby, don't judge!) I planned a trip to Pearson's Luggage and Gifts, the best local VB retailer for Friday!

I have to say, the new collection is my favorite ever. It is so happy and pretty and it just makes me smile!


I wanted to make sure that I got my moneys-worth and that I would be happy with my purchases. I was practical; I have to be able to fit a large wallet, keys, and my phone. I need the option of tucking my iPad safely inside. It also needs to be big enough to accommodate 2 diapers and a small pack of wipes. I also need outside pockets.



I have to say, I am extremely happy with my
purchases. I love them all, I will treasure them and they will get used often. And for the record, I got a Pleated Tote in Boysenberry, a Side-by-Side and Turn-Lock Wallet in Lemon Parfait, and got two cute Frill coin purchases for free (valued at $14 each)

This was a big part of my project, not just saving, but enjoying what you spend on, making good decisions about where your money goes. It's about being smart. I don't have an ounce of buyers regret or credit card debt over my purchases.

But I do have a question; which one do I want to use first?

TWO Steak dinners for less than $1.20 per serving!

Keeping with my determination to use less meat and make the most of what I find at super-bargain prices, I planned yesterday and today's meals using a sirloin tip steak that I found on Manger's Special at Winn Dixie a while back. It was only $1.60.

It was not a huge cut of meat to begin with. I cut it into teeny strips and stir-fried it quickly, one pan with finely chopped onion and a bit of minced jalapeno, the other tossed in flour and browned in butter. To the first, I added a can of black beans, rinsed and drained, a packet of taco seasoning and a little water. When the second had browned, dumped out the steak and added a half chopped onion. When it browned, I added a can of cream of mushroom soup, let that brown, thinned it with some Nearly Free Chicken Stock and a 1/2 cup sour cream. Mixed with half a box macaroni, it made a great stroganoff.



I let the steak and beans simmer for about 20 minutes and packed it up in a glass bowl to reheat for tomorrow. It will be a perfect quick dinner; crisp some taco shells, chop some toppings and enjoy.


These are some of the cheapest meals yet! The stroganoff was $1.19 per serving (that's with a huge side of broccoli!) and the tacos will only be $1.14!!!!



Who knew you could eat steak and be this thrifty!

Looking Back, Changing Forward

After looking at my numbers from last week, I have to admit, I am pretty proud of myself. Just eliminating fast food meals was a huge accomplishment. It costs us about $20 to get takeout for all of us, for one meal. Even the more expensive meals were a clear savings over eating out.

So, new changes, from here on out;

• No more bagged salads. Unless they are on sale and I have a coupon, they are just not cost effective. I can make a salad easily enough and save a few bucks. As much as Wayne likes salad, I can save about $10 per week.
• I can not continue to pay $1.88+ for canned Bush's beans. They are a fast, easy side for Logan's lunch, but without a coupon and sale, they are just too much. I am going to try and make a huge pot from scratch and freeze them portioned out. Based on my guesstimate, I should be able to make the same amount for about 50 cents. If they are flat frozen in Ziplocs, they can be thawed quickly and will be just as convenient.
• Generally speaking, the dishes that don't focus on meat are the cheapest. I will try to come up with some new and interesting ways to cook beans. Also, I will try out new varieties of beans.
  

Evaluating Cost per Meal; First Week of January

This is a work in progress and I hope to continue this for a while. It has been eye opening to how we are spending on food. I have become more aware of what we are eating, balancing flavors and food combinations, in hopes of keeping costs down.

So here is what we ate every day last week. I was able to stick with my meal plan and our eat-out spending was $4; only a Sonic snack after school once all week. I made notes on my iPad as I cooked each night and did the math as accurately as I could.

*Note: these numbers are not all exact, some are estimates. I tried to shoot high when I was unsure of the actual price. The produce prices early in the week are higher, as I was using supermarket produce, compared to fruit stand produce later. Also, I am not going to count the price of dried seasonings, that number is too small to worry about. Unless I buy a spice specifically for a meal, I am not counting.

January 3, 2011
1 lb white beans 1.16 (on sale, reg 1.36)
1 onion .45
1/3 bunch celery .33
1/2 bell pepper .44
Garlic .05
1 stick smoked sausage (of pack of 3) 1.00
1/2 ham steak @ $3.33= 1.66
Spices .10
TOTAL for beans: $5.19

1cup of dry rice .35

Cornbread
1 cup white flour .25
2/3 cup cornmeal .25
1/3 cup white cornmeal .20
1 egg .13
Oil .10
Salt, baking powder, etc .10
1 1/2 cup milk .35
TOTAL for cornbread $1.25

TOTAL for MEAL $6.90
6 servings= $1.15 per serving!

January 4, 2011
1.44 lbs center cut loin chops $6.75, buy one get one free 3.38
1/2 onion .23
1 can cream of mushroom soup .75
1 tbsp butter .08
1/4 flour, for dusting chops .05
Chicken broth FREE!
Total for chops= 4.49

1 cup dry rice .35

1 bag dole salad 2.00
1 diced tomato .38
Total for salad= 2.38

1/3 bag broccoli florets .76

Leftover cornbread FREE!

TOTAL for MEAL= $7.98
4 servings= $1.99 per serving



January 5, 2011
1.25 lbs turkey Italian sausage ($1 coupon) 3.00
1 onion .45
1/2 bell pepper .44
1 can diced tomatoes .75
3 cans tomato sauce .99
1 jar Paul Newman marinara 1.88
Total for sauce= 7.51 for 2 meals
Total= 3.76

1/2 box ww pasta (reg $2, b1g1 free & $1 off 2) .50

1/2 bag Market pantry shredded Italian cheese .97

Total for casserole= $5.23

4 whole wheat pan rolls .40

TOTAL for MEAL= $5.63
4 servings= $1.41 per serving
January 6, 2011
1 lb black beans (1/2 2 lb bag) .84
1/3 lb bacon ($3 per lb) 1.00
1/3 red bell pepper (@ .60) .20
1/4 green bell pepper (@ .50) .13
Garlic .10
1 can Rotel tomatoes .88
Total for soup: 3.15

Sour cream for topping .25
1/2 block Cheddar cheese for topping .94
1 bunch green onions .25
Total for toppings: 1.19

Jiffy corn muffin mix .33
Egg .13
1/3 cup milk .09
Total for Corn Muffins= .55

1/2 head romaine lettuce .50
Diced tomato .38
Half bunch green onions .25
1 shredded carrot .10
Croutons .20
Total for salad= 1.47

TOTAL for MEAL = $6.31
4 servings = $1.58
January 6, 2011
Whole roasting chicken (3.35 total) 1.68
Two servings of chicken tonight, 1/2 frozen for another meal

1/2 bag baby potatoes .50
Olive oil, seasonings .25

1/2 head romaine lettuce .50
Diced tomato .35
Shredded carrot .10
Sliced bell pepper bits .20

Total for meal= $3.58
2 servings @ $1.79 per serving
PLUS 128ozs Nearly Free chicken stock!!!

January 8, 2011
London Broil ($6.84 b1g1 free) 3.42
1/3 bottle zesty Italian dressing .83
2 heaping spoonfuls garlic .35
Large squirt coarse ground mustard .25
Total for steak= $4.85

Can black beans .60
Can red beans .60
Can pinto beans .60
Garlic .15
Green onions .50
Oil for dressing .23
Vinegar for dressing .05
1 cups frozen corn .60
Total for bean salad= 3.33 (8 servings total)

Bagged salad 2.75
Diced tomato .35
Sliced bell pepper bits .20
Shredded cheese .25
Total for salad= 3.55
(Note to self, never let Wayne buy bagged salad again. Holy crap, that is expensive!)

TOTAL for MEAL= $11.73
4 generous servings @ $2.93
This is BY FAR the most expensive meal this week. Lessons learned: no more bagged salad! Make your own marinate! Bagged lettuce $2.75 vs. .99 for head romaine Italian dressing marinade $1.33 vs. .75 DIY marinade Would have saved $2.34 Cost of meal would have been $9.39 vs $11.73 Cost per serving would have been $2.35 vs $2.93

January 9, 2011
1/2 bag Winn Dixie frozen chicken tenders 2.75
Marinade:
Vegetable oil .10
Garlic .20
1/4 bottle Panda Express Mandarin sauce .50
Vinegar .05
Total for chicken: 3.60

4 light wheat buns 1.44

4 slices Market Pantry Cheese .78

Half bag Great Value fries 1.06

1 can Bush's baked beans 1.88
1/2 onion .10
2 tbsp brown sugar .05
Total for beans: 2.03
TOTAL for meal= 8.91
4 servings at $2.23 per serving

After taking notes all week, I realize what I did well and I am thinking about what I could do better. But that will have to wait for another post. And if you have any ideas for saving money, please post them in the comments!

Price Comparisons; Beverage Edition

One of the most obvious places I can cut back is on beverages.

But I don't wannnnnna. I love my Diet Dr. Peppers. But I just am not catching super-sales on canned drinks these days and those suckers are adding up, well over 30 cents a piece. And if I let myself, I can easily drink 4 cans a day. This habit has to be cut back. Enter subsitutes.

Oh, and I KNOW I could just drink water, blah blah blah. I do, but I prefer something with flavor. And caffeine. I need caffeine.

Coffee is just one of those hard to be thrifty things for me. I prefer Starbucks, my usual brew is Cafe Verona, but I love the Christmas blend and can even do a Pikes Place on occasion. Of course, I am making it at home, absolutely not buying coffee every day. But Starbucks ground coffee is now running $7.14 for 12 ozs. At least you get a free brewed coffee when you return the empty bag to the coffeehouse. That's $2 savings right there. Or that's what I am telling myself.

I was cheap and got Sam's Choice fair trade French roast two weeks ago. I saved $1.48. But no free cup. And it is just.... not good. This is one of those worth-the-money situations. I will just pay more for my Starbucks and enjoy my 2 cups a day.

I have also started making iced tea again. I blend decaf iced tea with herbal fruit teas for a change. Based on my rough calculations, it costs me about $1 for a gallon of iced tea (with Splenda). So much cheaper than canned drinks.

I keep repeating to myself, water is free, water is FREE. But Diet Dr. Pepper is love and coffee is happiness. There is room for all three.

Nearly FREE Chicken Stock

How did I not know this?

A few months ago, I saw a message board post that mentioned making chicken stock, how good and nearly free it was. I had never tried it, never even though of that! I asked and my friend, Kathy, explained. It's so easy! And thrifty.

All you need are scraps. I made roast chicken last night, so I just saved all the skin and bones, all the junk. Since I did not make gravy, I added the pan drippings too. And you just add more scraps! Whatever you have on hand; an extra onion, carrot peels, tomato ends, garlic cloves. I even tossed in a heart of celery that was getting limp. Just throw it all in there, leaves, peels and all. Looks pretty gross right now....

Veggies, chicken carcass, liberal amount of salt, some peppercorns, a bit of seasoning if you want and water. I cover it in my big stock pot and boil it for 2 hours. After boiling, I drain it, then strain through cloth.





Let the pot sit in the fridge overnight and the fat skims right off the top. Measure the cold stock into bags, I do a pint at a time, and freeze. This is much stronger and richer than plain canned chicken broth and so much cheaper than stock in paper boxes. Plus, it gives great flavor to awesome bargain meals, like red beans and soup.








Let's compare; a 26 oz jug of Swanson stock runs about $2.60. I got 8 pints out of my batch, so 128 ozs. Factoring in the cost of the bags and the energy used to make it, you are getting 5 x's more stock (and better tasting, better quality stock) for the same price, maybe even less, considering you just made it from scraps that would have been tossed out with the garbage!

Fruit Stand Bargains

Yesterday, I decided to pop into Berrytown Produce to grab a few onions for our soup and I got some really great deals. I am not a huge fan of Berrytown. The one in Ponchatoula has poor selection, the big one in Hammond is better, but not convenient sometimes. I feel like their produce doesn't last like it should, but it is a great deal if you are using it quickly. But it is easy to run in and out, the staff is always friendly and it saves me a trip to the supermarket.

I was pleasantly surprised with some of my bargains. Here they are, compared to the "everyday-low-price" I normally pay at Wal-Mart.

Large bag frozen corn $2.99 (probably same as anywhere else)
Huge green bell pepper .50 *compare to .88
5 yellow onions 1.40 *compare to 2.88
Bunch green onions .50 (I pay $1 for a big pack at Wal-Mart and they last much longer. Their green onions do not keep, at all)
2 bananas .48 (.59 lb) same-ish, maybe a few cents cheaper
Huge red bell pepper .89 *compare to 1.68 per lb
Bag of small red potatoes 1.00 *compare to $3+

The best bargains were the onions and potatoes. With the loose onions, I was able to check each one, while at the supermarket, each bag usually has at least one "bad" onion, plus it was half the price! The potatoes were a steal, 3 lbs for $1. That's at least 2 servings.

Also, it is a local business that supports local families and farmers. And their king cakes are Too. DIE. For.

Saving Money on Food; Shopping Smarter and Planning Ahead

Per my HomeRoutines, Wednesday is menu planning day and today is list making day. Making a family menu, and more importantly, STICKING TO IT, cuts our food spending drastically. Having a detailed and well planned shopping list means less buying of stuff we don't need and less waste. It can get boring and take the spontaneity out of cooking, but it is worth it for eliminating those 5 pm "oh crap, I didn't thaw anything/make anything/ out of a critical ingredient, screw it, go get McDonald's" moments. Even more than planning, using what I have on hand combined with what I can get on sale saves.

I start with what I have on hand with my menus. I often pick up markdown meats at Winn-Dixie for next to nothing. I have never bought a piece of meat that has gone bad, as long as it is frozen that day, it is fine. Starting there, I plan and fill in with what is on sale.

The issue for a lot of people is figuring out what is a good deal, comparing Wal-Mart's everyday-low-prices to a supermarkets specials. Luckily, I seem to remember prices. Some people keep a "price book", a little notebook where they record prices, either while shopping or at home with their receipts. I may have to do that one day, but for now, my memory is doing ok.

I used to plan my menus and shops the old-fashioned way; a newspaper and a marks-a-lot. While it is handy to be able to compare prices between competing stores, you have to go get a paper and you have to pay for it. Last year, I switched to the online format and I love it. Some stores, like Winn-Dixie even have an app (yes, there is an app for that!) that allows you to view circulars, make lists and even digitally clip coupons.

When it comes to what's on sale, how to you know what is cheaper? This is just in my opinion and my experience, it may not always be right, but it is a good start.

• B1G1 free meat at Winn-Dixie is always a good deal, much cheaper than Wal-Mart, better quality too.
• Sale items CAN be a better deal IF you have coupons. Like B1G1 free cereal, bread, peanut butter. Add a $_ off 2 coupon, even better 2 coupons (YES!!! You can use 2 coupons on B1G1 Free, after all, you are buying two items.) Example, last week, I got Ronzoni whole wheat pasta on sale B1G1 Free. It is regularly $4 for 2, which made it $2 for 2. Add in a coupon for $1 off two, $1 a box. Same pasta at Wal-Mart runs about $1.40. That works out to 50 cents per meal, 13 cents per serving. SCORE!
• Albertson's runs boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.68 a lb. monthly. That is cheaper than B1G1 at Winn-Dixie.

Sometimes we do menus for 2 weeks. This time, I had enough bargain backstock in my freezer to plan for a month. I have looked at several menu planning apps and I have not found one I really like yet. Simple chart with a pen works for now. I try to plan it as healthy and balanced as I can, spreading out each meat, planning a bean-based meal two times a week now for extra savings. We do eat the same things over and over, so planning is fairly easy. Always beans on Monday, usually a roast chicken, pasta once, a casserole, a pork dish, a ground beef dish, etc. For the time being, I am just adding it onto my iCalendar on the iPad so that all of my home info can be in one place.




Couponing in the newspaper and online can be a time suck but it can pay off. It helps to see what is on sale and then hunt for coupons. Sometimes you even luck up and get things for free! This week, Target has chicken nuggets for $4 per bag (reg. $5.69) and a $3 off 2 coupon on their website. That makes it $2.50 for a 40oz bag. Also, Kraft cheese is $2 and they have a 75 cents off coupon, making it $1.25 each. Sometimes you can print a few. Sometimes, like yesterday, your printer jams and you're screwed.

While coupons can be a good deal, they can entice you to buy stuff you really don't need because it's cheap. As much as possible, I try to stay in control with my coupons. (Speaking out out-of-control, TLC did a special on Extreme Couponing this week. I was horrified and impressed. More horrified.)

After I figure out what I need, I make a shopping list that has all the ingredients. I used a master list on paper successfully for a long time; it was a typed document of items that we need to keep on hand, arranged by category. All I had to do was highlighted what was needed. I kept a printed list in my old binder and marked things as we ran out, keeping a running list of what needed to be replenished from the store. But since my binder has been upgraded and digitized, I am now using the GroceryIQ app on my iPad. It also you to have several lists, all for different stores. You can even set up a favorites list. I added all the items from my master list into the favorites so now, I just check off each item as I scroll through my iPad and import them to a list. It also has a coupon link and you can email your list!

Planning takes time, but it can save us money and it has in the past.

Getting and Staying Organized; More Tech LOVE!

I can always start. But when I get off track, everything goes to hell. I like structure and routine. I also like lists, being able to see what I need to do and feel accomplished when it is done.

I have tried several housekeeping methods. I had a lot of success using the FlyLady method of housekeeping. I even made pretty charts and lists to keep in my pretty binder. I used them for a few months and they slowly fell to the wayside. The binder was bulky and I was always needing more space to hold the papers I was adding over and over. I wanted to utilize my new iPad to do all the things my binder did, yet smaller, neater and more portable.

Thanks to a few online friends, I found the HomeRoutines app for iPhone and iPad. The app is set with a good cleaning routine, however I changed a lot of it to reflect my routine that I have used before. I worked very hard at getting that schedule down and have troubleshot it all the way through. The app was easy to change to reflect my personal preferences and timetables. You can set reminders to beep at certain times to remind you to do your routine. It even has a bulit in timer for 15 minutes. Anyone can clean for 15 minutes. That little bit will inspire you to keep going!

It is pretty basic. I have 3 routines; morning, afternoon/evening and before bed. In the morning, I check my calendar, make beds, feed animals, bring laundry out, wipe down the high chairs, sweep kitchen, wipe down kitchen (table, counters, stove) and empty dishwasher. HomeRoutines has a pretty list and I get gold stars as I cross each task off. Same idea for evening, a few things before bed, such as packing Daniel's lunch and taking meat out the freezer for the next night's dinner.








Then you have zones. I have 7, one area for each day. (The photo posted shows one each week, which would never work for me, but since it is customizable, an easy adjustment.) Today is Wednesday, so I work the kids' room. I pick up in there every day, but on Wednesday, I really clean. Dust the shelves, clean the windows, dust the fan, clean under the bed, clean the baseboards and mop. I also have day specific chores listed as a zone. Today I review the grocery ads to prepare for Menu planning, organize the closet and toy bins and start laundry load before bed.

The theory is that if you clean one area well everyday and maintain everything else, your house stays clean. I know, for us, after a week, I have a very tidy house. Less stress, and money saved! When the house is neat and clean, things don't get lost. Less food spoils and gets thrown away, less fast food gets bought because I am stressed and overwhelmed and forgot to cook. HomeRoutines has been an epic win for me, well worth the $4.99

Plus, I am eternally 5 and I would do just about anything for a gold star.




Keeping with the app love, I also added Timer+ to my iPad. It lets you set several timers, each labeled, at one time. That really helps me stay on track when doing several things at once, like cooking and laundry.

Where Does It Go? The MAGIC of Technology

The first step in cutting back spending has to be figuring out how much you are spending on what. I know there have been so many weeks that we are waiting on payday and I just can not remember where I overspent. Those little purchases can add up fast; $4 at Starbucks, $10 at Ulta, $8 at McDonald's. The idea of keeping a written list is just too overwhelming. I looked at just making spreadsheets on Excel, but I didn't know how or where to start.




Enter Mint.com. I did a little research and it is totes safe. In fact, Consumer Reports gave it high marks, as did lots of other websites and magazines (this month's Real Simple among them), so I figured it was worth a shot. I registered and within 15 minutes, I was able to link in all of our accounts. Everything, right there. Checking account, credit card, investments if you have them, everything, in one site.





And then, Mint told me things I did not want to hear.


Holy shit, we spend a lot of money on fast food. Like, I wanted to vomit. I spent WHAT at Target in the last 3 months???? What the hell is that???

It was the reality check I needed. Somehow, seeing it made it real. In the age of debit cards, sometimes it is easy to lose touch with the fact that it still is money. I rarely handle cash anymore, unless it is gifted money (like that $100 tucked in my wallet, waiting for the new Vera Bradley launch on the 13th) and when I am just swiping a card, I lose touch with reality. That reality is what I need to change my ways and get me back on track.

Over the last few days, I have explored Mint a bit more and I am loving the features. You can put any purchases into a category and label it. You can see all of your accounts in one page. It even shows cash-on-hand vs. debt, which is huge.


Yesterday, I sat down and made a household budget, something we have never done. It was easy to get started, I finished in about 30 minutes. Part of the reason I have never budgeted before was because it was too overwhelming and I didn't know where to start. Mint guided me, telling me what categories to plan for, letting me know average spending and showing me what our spending has been over the last 90 days so that I could budget accordingly.


And now it gets really cool.

I set up a full budget; groceries, amusement, music, pet care, fast food, restaurants, etc. Mint has apps. I put the app on my iPhone and my iPad and I get alerts when we get close to our budgeted amounts. Plus, with a few clicks, I can check all our fiancees on the go.





While it is easy, it is still work. You have to make sure each purchase falls into the correct category. Some merchants, like Target, show up as "shopping". My awesome friend, Sonya, taught me how to split up those purchases. Just look under the Transactions tab, click "Edit Details" on the transaction you want to split. It'll open up, and on the left there is a "Split" button. Click that and you can split it however many ways you need. So, if I go to Target and spend $25, I can edit that to take $15 from my grocery budget and $10 from my household supplies. You can also mark purchases that are gifts, donations, etc. They also have a goals section, which guides you into saving for a home, a vacation, anything. I plan to revisit that in a month or two.

Overall, great tool, definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to get a better view of their fiancees to make positive changes.

New Year, New Resolutions

New Project for 2011; Frugal Family Project.

My Frugal Family Project is part not-spending, part saving, part debt reducing, some being happy with what we have, some do more with less. I really want to see where our money goes so I can clearly see where the waste is. I want to reduce our spending as much as I can so that we can pay off debt and move forward on other goals as a family; home ownership, continuing education, etc. I want to save, but even more, I want to be aware. I want to spend more on things that we enjoy, less on junk we do not need.

My Frugal Family Resolutions:

• Track our spending.
  
• Create a budget and stick to it.
• Feed my family healthier food for less money. This means cooking at home and cutting out convenience and fast foods as much as possible.
  
• Being more organized and productive at home. Having a clean and organized home saves money and saves time. If things don't get lost, they do not have to be replaced. No more food spoiling in a crowded fridge, no more junky pantry.
  
• Make spending a conscious decision, removing impulse from the money equation.
  

I am hoping keeping a new blog this year will encourage me to work hard to achieve these goals and set new ones. Here's to a new year!