So each week there are going to be a few different parts to my post. I will keep adding things throughout the day (Thursday).
The first part will be my grocery list for the week. These are items that I write down as I go through the week and I realize we run out of or are close to running out of. This list just stays on the fridge and I keep adding to it. Some weeks it is pretty long and others there are only a few things on it.
*meatballs
*olive oil (if I can find a good deal)
*chocolate (for choc milk - if I can find a good deal)
*milk
*chicken
*pasta
*cheese (shredded and chunk)
*bread
*dish soap
*diapers for Em (even though we have switched to cloth, we still use disposable at night)
*diced tomatoes
*hamburger (small)
*mashed potatoes
*cream cheese (if I can find a good deal)
*french bread
The second part will be the deal that I have found a various locations (Meijer, Kroger, Martins). Every Thursday I look through the weekly ads to see what each store has on sale. I write down all of deals I think I would like to purchase. Just because I write them down does not necessarily mean that I will purchase them. They are just the main items I want to remember just in case. Here is my list of 'deals':
MEIJER:
Milk 2/5
Grapes 1.18/lb
bolagna 5/5
pasta .89
pasta sauce 5/5
bread .89
chic breast tenders 6.99
MARTINS:
Milk 2/5
shredded cheese 3/5
kraft mac 'n cheese 5/4
cake mix .99
sour cream/dip .99
spartan (Martin's off brand) pizza dough, crescents, cinnamon rolls 3/4
KROGER:
chips 4/5
beef patties 5.99
bananas .39/lb
hand soap .69
lunchables 10/10
The third part is going to be our weekly mean plan. What we will be eating for the following week. Our week will start on Friday and go until the following Thursday. As you all know plans change, but this will be the outline for the week. Hopefully this will help me stick to meals and save a little by planning ahead.
Friday: Grab a bite to eat on our drive to Carmel.
Saturday: Out of town for a friends' son's birthday. We will be eating at their house today.
Sunday: Breakfast at our friends' house. Lunch - grab a bite to eat on our drive home. Dinner - mom and dad's
Monday: Pasta
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes, chips, dip
Wednesday: meat loaf, biscuts, corn/green beans
Thursday: leftovers
The fourth part of my weekly blog will be the pictures of what I bought and the receipts to show how much I spent. I try to get as close to $50 as I can. Sometimes it is a little more, usually on the weeks I need to get formula and diapers. Some weeks I don't spend quite as much. On those weeks that I don't spend as much I will get a gift card to one of my most frequently shopped stores to use on future purchases. This works out because on the weeks I spend a little more, I can use my gift cards to keep my cost down by using the gift cards.
Here is a picture of what I got this week. I went to Aldi, Martin's, Kroger, Meijer and Walmart. I spent $63.13. This was a little over, but As you can see, this trip included formula and diapers.
This is a similar picture, but it includes a few extra items. I also had a gift card to Meijer and used it to purchase the few things to the left in the picture. It added an extra $13.00ish to my bill, but I didn't have to pay for it out of my pocket. However, if you don't have kids, what I paid in diapers and formula, you could have bought these additional products. For about the same $13.00.
So here's a list of things that are included in my picture:
boneless skinless chicken
hamburger meat
2 bread
2 chips
tortilla chips
2 boxes of mashed potatoes
3 boxes of mac n cheese
mayo 2 milk
2 crutons
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 boxes of pasta
bananas
cream cheese
2 shredded cheese
block of cheese
dip
2 individual pizzas
diapers
formula (normally $18.88 - I had a coupon for $5 off)
2 small formula (FREEBIES from the doctor's office - I always ask for samples when I take the girls in for check ups)
bolagna
freeze pops
All of this was $63.13
bag of meatballs
2 pasta sauce
3 boxes of pasta
diced tomatoes
grapes
$14ish from Meijer
