What a Day!

Wheww! I am so glad today is finally over! I felt like I haven't stopped since this morning. Nick had his surgery on his shoulder today. Luckily, it was the minor one and not the major surgery like Russell had to have(Thank you LORD!) We got home about three o'clock and I was off again getting his prescriptions filled and picking up groceries while Gabby was still at Brenda's house. We finally got home around 5:30. Tanya brought supper. It was so nice not have to cook after such a long day! I was able to get our two weeks worth of groceries for $38! I told Rebekah I would send her tips on how I grocery shop for cheap but I think It would be easier just to blog on here. Rebekah, you can put it on your blog if you would like!. My biggest money saving helpers are my freezer and my menu list. The hardest part of grocery shopping for me is figuring out what to cook for supper. Awhile ago I grabbed a notebook and started writing down all the meals Nick would eat(he is so picky!) It took me a couple of weeks to get the list complete. I shop every two weeks for groceries and we usually eat out two to three times during that period. I pick twelve meals from my list and make my grocery list according to it. I have enough meals that usually we don't eat the same thing twice in one month. I also inventoried my freezer. I have a chest freezer so sometimes I completely forget what I have in there. I made a list and taped it to the top of the freezer. I mark off the item as I get it out to cook. My favorite little gadget is my Reynolds Handi-Vac. It sells for around $7 but I found a coupon for $4 off. It really works and is well worth even paying full price! Since the biggest part of my grocery budget goes to meat, I buy it on sale, seal it and freeze it. I also have an Emergency Grocery List. If I am broke and have NO COUPONS and know of nothing on sale, I resort to this list. It is $50 for a family of four. No tricky coupon stacking, just planning.Some of you have asked about it so here is my list and game plan:
Groceries:
2 whole (3lb) chickens -- 2 cans of frozen juice
1 lb hamburger meat -- 1 small bag of frozen corn
1pk of breakfast pork chops -- 1 envelope of spaghetti sauce mix
1 tub of margarine -- 1 pkg of biscuit mix
1 dozen eggs (medium) -- 1 pkg of corn bread mix
1 container of oatmeal -- 1 pkg of pizza dough mix
2 loaves of bread -- 1 bag of baby carrots
1/2 gal of milk -- 1 bag of salad mix
1 3lb bag of potatoes -- 2 cans of green beans
1 bag of pinto beans -- 2 cans of pork in beans
1/2 lb of thinly sliced -- 1 bag of shredded cheese
turkey(from deli) -- bananas
1 pkg of sliced pepperoni --spaghetti noodles
1 can of tomato paste
Plan Ahead:
Boil one chicken till done. Shred and set half aside for lunch options.The other half put back in broth and use your biscuit mix for dumplings. For meal 2-wrap 4 potatoes in aluminum foil and place in bottom of crock pot. Season chicken and place on top of potatoes. Cook on high all day. When done, you have Rotiss. chicken and baked potatoes ready. Make spaghetti sauce and divide it into 2. one part for spaghetti, use half the other for vegetable soup(use for tomato taste) and the other part for your pizza sauce. Set aside some of the shredded cheese for lunch options(grilled cheese, baked potatoes,etc) use the rest for pizza. Divide hamburger meat into two. Half for soup, half for spaghetti. Divide corn in half. Half for soup and half for side dish. Use a few carrots for your soup but the rest save to have a side dish of steamed carrots. One can of green beans go in the soup, the other is a side dish. Turn your pork and beans into baked beans by adding a little sugar, ketchup and onion powder then bake
MEALS:
Breakfast -alternate: 1 egg(each), toast and juice OR oatmeal, toast and juice (may have milk to drink one day)
Lunch Ideas- Make chicken salad with some leftover chicken, serve leftovers, turkey sandwiches,baked potato, grilled cheese, or salad topped with left over shredded chicken
Dinner: 1Spaghetti and salad/2Rotiss. chicken, baked potatoes, corn & green beans/3vegetable soup/4pinto beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread/5chicken & dumplings/6BBQ pork chops, baked beans, steamed carrots / 7 home-made pizza

You won't be eating steak every night but you won't have to resort to potted meat. Don't be afraid of generic items. Did you know a lot of storebrand items are made by name brand companies and sold to companies at a fraction of the cost?(Ex: Great Value brand bread is made by the same company that makes Iron Kids), Even though you don't know of any sales, keep your eyes open. Stores don't put all their sales in the ad paper. You might could spend less than $50! Scan the reduced section. Stores reduce items when their expiration dates are getting close. Piggly Wiggly ALWAYS has a reduced price meat and vegetable selection on items that will be going out of date soon.
Well, I hope this helps. I have always had to grocery shop on a strict budget. I just don't have the time blog about it. It is easier to pass my ideas onto the Thrify Sisters!