Readjusting to life on this side of the pond has been challenging....Grocery shopping was something that I thought would be EASIER and CHEAPER here.....NOOOOT!! Our first visit to purchase ONE week worth of food, w/very FEW staples, cost us nearly $300 bucks!! I almost passed OUT b/c I did the math 300 X 4= 1200 a MONTH, WOWZERS....We cannot afford to EAT was my thought LOL....So, it took me ALL day of searching tips etc. for frugal eating BUT I came up w/a 2 week menu...I wanted to share, just in case you don't have the time to do surfing etc. and you really want to PINCH THOSE PENNIES!!! My prayer is to get even better as I do it more but I didn't think it was too bad for the first try :)
Our total was 287.76 BUT w/sales and coupons 76.00 was taken off giving us a grand total of 211.76 so word of advice PAY ATTENTION to instore sales and coupons!!! :) NO, I will not become a CRAZY coupon Lady b/c WOW, it gives me too much of a headache LOL...To break it down even more, we spent 5.04 per meal for a family of 5 (3 meals a day) Your bill will be less if you have all of your staples, we did NOT, so that is also factored into our 211 total...So, you would be looking at less than 5 bucks a meal...
THE PLAN
BULK cooking, meaning each recipe will be DOUBLED, which CUTS the cost...I will cook ONE meal, take half and FREEZE it for the following week....CUTS my COST and my TIME, basically I cook 7 out of 14 days and really only 6 b/c I am having one day called FEND FOR YOURSELF aka LEFT OVER DAY ;-) For breakfast for the 14 days, the kids can choose oatmeal (box instant) or pancakes, which I make ahead of time from scratch and freeze. Lunch this time around is sandwiches (freeze your bread if you need to) & veggies, I KNOW be JEALOUS lol....For snacks etc. we purchased some fruits, veggies, pudding, peanut butter, etc...FRESH stuff will be used this week and the shelf stuff for next week, hopefully that means I will not have to go back to the STORE until next pay day LOL...Dinner menu below.....our sides etc. are basic frozen veggies, canned goods, and frozen breads...I tried to find meals that were ALL in ones = CHEAPER!!
Mon. 18- Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Tues. 19- Layered Fiesta Casserole
Wed. 20- Saucy Pork medallions
Thur. 21- Ultimate Drumsticks
Fri. 22- Ravioli Casserole
Sat. 23- FEND FOR YOURSELF (all the left overs from the week)
Sun. 24- Crockpot Beef Stew
**If you click the above dinner it will link you to the recipe**
Our total was 287.76 BUT w/sales and coupons 76.00 was taken off giving us a grand total of 211.76 so word of advice PAY ATTENTION to instore sales and coupons!!! :) NO, I will not become a CRAZY coupon Lady b/c WOW, it gives me too much of a headache LOL...To break it down even more, we spent 5.04 per meal for a family of 5 (3 meals a day) Your bill will be less if you have all of your staples, we did NOT, so that is also factored into our 211 total...So, you would be looking at less than 5 bucks a meal...
THE PLAN
BULK cooking, meaning each recipe will be DOUBLED, which CUTS the cost...I will cook ONE meal, take half and FREEZE it for the following week....CUTS my COST and my TIME, basically I cook 7 out of 14 days and really only 6 b/c I am having one day called FEND FOR YOURSELF aka LEFT OVER DAY ;-) For breakfast for the 14 days, the kids can choose oatmeal (box instant) or pancakes, which I make ahead of time from scratch and freeze. Lunch this time around is sandwiches (freeze your bread if you need to) & veggies, I KNOW be JEALOUS lol....For snacks etc. we purchased some fruits, veggies, pudding, peanut butter, etc...FRESH stuff will be used this week and the shelf stuff for next week, hopefully that means I will not have to go back to the STORE until next pay day LOL...Dinner menu below.....our sides etc. are basic frozen veggies, canned goods, and frozen breads...I tried to find meals that were ALL in ones = CHEAPER!!
Mon. 18- Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Tues. 19- Layered Fiesta Casserole
Wed. 20- Saucy Pork medallions
Thur. 21- Ultimate Drumsticks
Fri. 22- Ravioli Casserole
Sat. 23- FEND FOR YOURSELF (all the left overs from the week)
Sun. 24- Crockpot Beef Stew
**If you click the above dinner it will link you to the recipe**
Mon. 25- Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Tues. 26- Layered Fiesta Casserole
Wed. 27- Saucy Pork medallions
Thur. 28- Ultimate Drumsticks
Fri. 29- Ravioli Casserole
Sat. 30- FEND FOR YOURSELF (all the left overs from the week)
Sun. 1- Crockpot Beef Stew
**If you decide to use the recipes, DON'T FORGET, to DOUBLE it or you will not have enough for the next week :)**
Pancake mix can be found here: http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-pancake-mix-271940
In the future I will be trying to make more things from scratch and get BACK AWAY from BOXED junk!! Relearning HEALTHY living after taking a 6 month "vacation"....So THANKFUL I get to STAY AT HOME full time again, so it's my JOB to get things back in order :) and to STOP eating out, AGAIN.... Be BLESSED not STRESSED....
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19
2 comments:
Great post! I just put Peter back on a gluten free diet and I am determined to include the whole family in this as much as possible without breaking the bank. Thanks for some great ideas and the extra motivation to make it happen. :-)
I did not know Peter had a gluten issue...that can be very expensive if you're not careful. If I come across some gluten free, CHEAP, meals I'll send them to you :) GOOD LUCK!!
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