Money Saving Monday-April 11, 2011 & Money Saving Tips included

Money Saving:I am listing the links to where you can find the deals for the week.  Since, I am going to share a few tips of what I have learned and what I am doing to save money besides coupons.
CVS: here
GIANT: here
WEIS: here
DARRENKAMPS: circular here
TARGET: here

Tips-Sorry some of these may be repeated from before:
1. Look carefully at those On-Sale Items.
Sometimes a sale isn't really a sale. It just looks like a sale. Plus, sale prices can be very different store to store. This is where it is important to know the stock up prices!

2. Bulk Shoppers Beware
 Figure out the price per ounce. Those bulk items may not save you money. Plus, if you only use 1/2 of it before it goes bad is it really a savings? But, sometimes you can really score some great deals in the bulk section.

3. Look High and Low
Scan the whole shelf. Often good deals are higher or lower and not at eye level.

4. Shop the Outer Perimeter First
Prepackaged foods usually sit in the middle of the store. For your health stock up on the perimeter of the store items first. It's better to spend your budgeted amount there than on those packaged items.

5. Spend wisely
Simply think about what you need versus what you want. Consider the amount of calories and nutrients you're getting for the price you are paying. You'll find that perimeter becomes your friend quickly.

6. Remember that not all food is created equal! When you think about your food budget, think about the foods you are putting into your body. It's an adjustment to move away from processed foods and although we have some in our house, I am making an effort to move us even further away from them. (In doing so, I think the budget may need an adjustment, not huge, but a tweak.) Watching the labels and mostly buying foods that don't require a box/label (you know those good for you whole foods). We are a work in progress at our house--not everything in my fridge is organic and neither is everything on my shelves. But, I'm working on watching what we are putting into our bodies and improving that for my family.

7. Buy in season, on sale and locally I am excited that spring is here and summer is upon us. This means more items at the local markets and that will be our first stop this summer when produce shopping. At least that is the plan.

8. Plan ahead If you set good plans, most of the time that will help you. Go into a store without a plan and you will leave with more than you need. Take a look at your freezer, refrige, shelves before you go. What do you really need?

9. Shop the reduced section I can't tell you how much money this has saved my family. Of course, this is hit or miss and you can't depend on it for the savings. But, when you do get a good deal, it just makes your bill even lower!

10. Stockpile, but know when to STOP! Honestly, stockpiling is a good thing when you get the rock bottom price. You can save a lot of money over a period of time that way. But, you have to know that price (hoping to put more work into the stockpile page for you all) and know when your stockpile is getting too big. My stockpile and food shopping would not win me a spot on the newest TV show, but I am more than OK with that. Stockpiling is for more than food. Think shampoo, hairspray, etc.
The $20 Challenge update:
Instead of posting my weekly $20 challenge results, I will post an end of the month wrap up. I feel you all could get quickly board of my ramblings. So, I will do a wrap up post. Does that sound about right? We can do a check in with eachother. I will say I overspent this week. But, it was worth it.

This week's menu-Little Man helped to plan it:

• Chicken Fajitas (I know they were just last week, but I was begged to make them again!)
• Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner)-Egg Fiesta (eggs with peppers and onions), sausage (for the boys), whole grain toast, sliced apples
• Sloppy Amy's ;) (Think healthier version of Sloppy Joe's)
• Mexican Fiesta, fresh veggies
• Fish, Potatoes, fresh veggies (We didn't have that last week--we had pizza instead!)
• Pork Chops, Rice and Salad (This has been on the list before, but always booted off for leftovers or something.) I'll grill up some Chicken for me this night.
• Spaghetti with meatballs (for the boys) I'll have leftover chicken instead. Served with fresh fruit

Last week we also didn't have one of the new recipes (BBQ Breaded Chicken Tenders) as we ended up with more leftovers than I thought. So, that will be put into the following week as I have the ingredients on hand for it. I'll let you know how it turns out.
The Sweet and Hot Pepper Chicken was OK. Not great. Not spicy that's for sure. I did adapt a few things in the recipe. But, it's not a home run, so not worth sharing really. Not even sure I'd ever make it again.

I wish we had a Whole Foods market around here. I hear it's quite the place! Anyone know of some good Natural Food Stores around here? If so, PLEASE post them for me! Also, please post your favorite Farmers Markets. Do you have favorite venders? Know of organic venders? This will help all of us.
I am done with the Mega Post. Happy Monday!!!

Money Saving Monday (April 4th) The $20 Challenge Update & Deals

The deals this week (Shortened version, due to posting late. Sorry you all!)
Giant Deals: here
There are some great dollar doublers! For instance:
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Bread - $3.99 BOGO, use $1.00 off 2 coupon. That doubles to $2.00 off. Which means 2 breads for $1.99. YEAH!
If you held on to your Kool-Aid coupons, you can score some good deals there as well.
Tropicana had a $1.00 off coupon and that doubled. Plus, you can use the paper one. Which means 2 things of Tropicana for $2.49.
Don't forget to scan your bonus card and see if there are other coupons you can use. I was able to score an extra .50 off my order. I know .50 doesn't seem like much, but I will take it for pushing 2 buttons! :)

CVS Deals:here are the match ups for the week of 4/3 Thanks to For the Mommas!

Weis Deals:here

Darrenkamps has bananas for .44 lb this week. I think long gone are the .39lb days. Sigh!
The sales flyer is located here

My $20 Challenge update
Oh and that $8.00 I saved last week was spent the one time I asked my dear husband to stop and pick up one thing at the store. I had run out of time to make homemade applesauce for our guest and asked if he could pick up a jar on his way home. My mistake as you know when you send a husband in for one thing, he has to pick up something else. :) He was a dear to pick that up for me and I am only 1/2 joking about picking up other things. Because, yes he did and yes, it did eat up the $8.00 I had left, plus about another 0.40.

We also stopped in one more time to take the cereal deal. We did it twice. 8 boxes of cereal for $6.00 out of pocket and 2 Free milks. Now, here is something I learned. When using coupons at Giant. Say you have 4 of the same coupon and you are buying 4 of the same things. The system is made to pick up the first coupon and double it, the rest are at face value. So, the double coupon thing is only on one if you have 4 of the same. YUCK! Meaning in a cereal deal, find 4 different coupons so that they can double them all. You learn from my mistake! So why buy all the cereal, we got a good deal and when we come across good deals we feel that you can always donate if you don't use them!

This week, I came in under $60. Yes, food shopping and menu done. So, for the last 2 weeks, I should have spent $120 to stick to my budget. I have spent $119.93. So, hanging in there. Has anyone else been doing this with me? Are you all also including your eating out in that budget?

My Menu: (Does anyone still want to see this?) Chime in or it's gone. As I don't want to post things that are not helpful or wanted.
Chicken Fajitas (YUM!)
Grilled BBQ Chicken Flat Bread Pizza (My Family can't wait for these again! We have not had them in a long time!)
BBQ Breaded Chicken Tenders (New recipe), carrots, rice
Turkey Burgers, salad
Fish, potatoes, salad
Chicken Sandwiches done on the grill, salad
Sweet and Hot Pepper Chicken (Kind of a Chinese or Thai thing. It's new, we will see how it goes!) If it goes well, I will share the recipe here. Because like I said, if I can make it, you certainly can! :)

Do you all still want me to share my boring menus?

Just checking as I want this blog to be as helpful as possible. If you say, no you certainly won't hurt my feelings. So let me know via posts. To post the menu for the week or not? Chime in and let me know.
By the way, there is a post for Capture it this week, but you have to check the blog. :)

Menu Week of March 28th

This weeks dinner menu includes (in no order):

• Cajun Chicken Strips, Salad and Sliced apples
• Grilled Pork Chops, Rice and Veggies (leftover chicken for me ;))
• Spicy Chicken Pasta and Salad (per request)
• Meal for guests-still up in the air as we are tossing around ideas
• Fish, potato wedges (homemade), and salad
• BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots
• Leftovers

Menu Week of 3/21

This weeks Menu--in no order

• Steak, baked potatoes, steamed veggies (I'm having left over Chicken)
• Chicken Tacos (Soft shell), fresh veggies and fruit
• Sweet and Sour Chicken & Rice (I didn't use this the week before because I needed a quicker meal), carrots on the side.
• Pizza with Fresh Veggies and Fruit
• Grilled Chicken Salad & Veggies
• Leftovers
• Extended Family visiting--big dinner to be determined...

Menu Ideas...(Week of 3/14)

Ok, so I realized that it might be misleading for me to have Monday-Sunday and meals placed behind them. That's not totally how I operate. I used to try to do that, but it wasn't always working out. So, I usually have 7 meals and a bonus meal. I try to plan them out by days depending on our activities that week. However, we can flip and switch as long as I have all the ingredients on hand. (Which for the 8 meals I always do.) I also have a few back up meals that are always on hand incase we say no way to all of these.

This week's meal ideas--in no particular order:

• Ham, rice with veggies, sliced apples (I will have leftover meat instead of ham)
• Spicy Chicken Pasta (loads of veggies in here), fruit
• Pork Chops, potatoes, baked apples (I will eat leftovers instead of the pork chops)
• Sweet and Sour Chicken with rice, salad
• Fish, homemade fries (baked), fresh veggies with dip
• Chicken Parm, pasta and a salad (This was a new recipe I never made a few weeks ago. If it turns out good, I will share.)
• Leftover Night

Menu Inspiration Week of 3/7

Well, just so you all know. Chicken Parm is another week. My dear hubby requested Cajun Chicken Strips tonight. (Sunday). So, we will wait to try the Chicken Parm until later this month.
This weeks Menu:
Monday- Banquet for my son's basketball season. No cooking for me YEAH!
Tuesday- Chicken, Mashed potatoes, and carrots (organic and raw) Can I say that I can taste the difference in organic carrots? My whole family can, I am not going nuts. Then again, maybe we are all just nuts. :)
Wednesday- Oven baked Fish, potatoes (not sure how I am making them yet), and steamed veggies
Thursday- (Dinner guests) They requested Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and a salad (Cookies for dessert)
Friday- Homemade pizza and fresh veggies with dip, apple slices
Saturday- Breakfast for Dinner (Pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, yogurt)
Sunday- Mexican Fiesta (Chicken, rice, salsa, and spices mixed in together), salad

Have a favorite meal to share? Please do! :) I am always looking for something new to make. There is nothing new on the list this week. I might try a new pancake recipe, but other than that nothing new.

Menu Inspiration? :)

Hummm...HT I don't know if my menu's will be inspiration for anyone, but I am more than willing to share! :) Since I said I only needed one comment, I will share this week's menu with you all. Please share some of your favorite things to eat and what you are eating. Leave it in the comments section so we can all get ideas!

This week's Dinners:

Monday:  Chicken Quesadillas (homemade), raw carrots, celery & light ranch dressing as the dip, leftover homemade applesauce (this was yummy)
Tuesday: (Leftovers for me as I don't eat red meat or pork for that matter), But, I will make Beef Tips, rice, & steamed broccoli
Wednesday: Turkey Tacos (we make this with: corn, ground turkey meat, seasoning and sometimes beans), served with Tortilla chips. I try to make these whole grain & or at least low fat--not that it makes it much healthier ;). Served with a mixed salad on the side or the meat on top of the salad. Salsa is the dressing and there is no sour cream or other added stuff. The other side is strawberries.
Thursday: I will eat leftover turkey meat mix (I'll add extra hot spices to it for me though!). Then, I will cook steaks, baked potatoes, & have a side salad.
Friday: Homemade Pizza, Mix up of fresh raw veggies with light ranch dressing as a dip, fresh fruit
Saturday: Out to dinner
Sunday: Homemade Chicken Parm. (if the new recipe turns out good I will let you know and post it), pasta, pasta sauce, and a mixed salad. Possible dessert: Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies (they are already made and frozen) or fruit smoothies.

Little man will be eating red meat twice this week! I bet he says something about that--it's not normal in our house.

Menu Planning...

 Crafts and Sutch has another wonderful idea. Go figure! You already know I love her blog. But, really you should go over here to check out her menu-organizer-and-recipe-holder idea. So cute!

Money Saving Monday (2/7/11)

A large part of saving money on your food is due in part to careful planning. Both in the menu and where to shop. Here are a few things that might be helpful.

Dinner Meal Planner forms can be found:
here at Family Fun. It's cute.
super healthy kids (Wonderful site)
Or there is a free online service to help you Eat Real Good
and also at this new site I found netmums.com
My friend Angie suggested I share this on the blog. e-mealz There is a cost with this one.
Please know, I have my own form that I created for my family that is always being revamped to suit our needs better for meal planning and shopping. I am happy to share that with all of you. If you want it, just let me know.

Weekly Deals:
Darrenkamps:
I shopped their reduced produce, bakery and meats this week. I also got ground turkey (not in the reduced section) for $1.99lb that is their normal for a larger amount of ground turkey. I have a dish this week and next that I will use that for. They also have Chicken on Sale this week $1.49lb for boneless skinless breasts. I love this store!
Find the CVS deals here.
Find Giant deals here thanks to for the mommas
Find Weis deals here thanks to for the mommas

Sorry, I took the short way out this week. But, I try to get this up on Sunday's for you to have first thing Monday morning and well, it is the Superbowl weekend! :)

Thanks to everyone that is following along on this blog via email, feeds or just checking in. I am always amazed to see how many of you do click on over here and are stopping by. Thanks!