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Slinging Hash…

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This is a post from way back when (March 2011 to be exact) that Blogger randomly re-posted in present day.  Guess the computer powers that be thought it was worth sharing again! 

Come back tomorrow to see some other ways I get dinner on the table and a few things that have changed in this process.

Wednesday is always an exciting day for me. It’s the day when I get these in my mailbox:

I am not one of the Extreme Coupon ladies you see on tv but I do try my best to match my weekly menu to what is on sale and/or what I have coupons for. No stock piles of 40 bags of chips and 1000 bottles of salad dressing lurk around my house though. I like to call it responsible couponing because I only use them to purchase what I actually need and will use. I like to think that I have decent enough eating habits that I will never need 52 bottles of Malox.

I’ve already outed myself as an organizational freak obsessed person so it probably isn’t going to come as any surprise that I keep a spreadsheet with all of my coupons listed including the item, value, expiration date and its restrictions (doubling, only to one store, etc.). As I use each coupon, it gets deleted off the list. New coupons are added after the Sunday paper comes in. I’m not venturing into the extreme category yet, right? Just checking because sometimes I do worry.
A lot of my friends and neighbors inquire about my general process for grocery shopping and cooking meals for my family. I used to make these elaborate meals that would take 2 hours to make most nights…before kids of course. Now, it is pretty challenging to make sure the family gets a home cooked meal…some nights even take-out is difficult!…each night. It’s been even harder since the arrival of #2, Baby E but I try to follow the same pattern each week to create a plan that makes it easier.

Step 1:

Read the sale ads to the store(s) you shop at regularly. I am fortunate to have three grocery stores within a 2 miles radius of my house so I read three. Two sales begin on Wednesdays and one on Fridays. The Friday store puts out a “preview” ad on Wednesdays too though. In reading the ads, I tend to focus on the “meal builders” that are on sale:

  • Meat

 

  • Produce

 

 

  • Grains

 

 

Step 2:
Once I have a good list of what is on sale, I build a menu that includes the main dish and side dishes for each day of the week. If I know we have plans for one night, I’ll just put a note in that space instead of a meal. It looks a lot like this:

The bottom of the menu has a list of pantry items that I am assuming I have on hand. I put it there just as a reminder to do a quick check and make sure they are in the house before heading out the store. That way, if they aren’t, I can easily add them to my list.
Step 3:
On the pages behind the menu, I copy and paste all of the recipes I’ll be using for that week (in order). You can see from the menu sample that most nights feature 1-2 dishes that are made from scratch and 1-2 that are more of the re-heat nature. We use a lot of frozen vegetables that steam in the bag to speed up the dinner process. I’d love to cook the entire meal from scratch and use fresh everything but it is pretty hard with a 3 year old talking constantly and 9 month old demanding your attention.

Step 4:
Menu set. Recipes pulled. Shopping list is next. I organize my shopping list into the order that go around the store: Produce, Bread, Meat, etc. It helps me get in/out of the store so much faster!
Under each category, I just type in the item I need and the letter of the meal it corresponds to (see menu above).  Adding that little extra detail makes it easy for me to quickly delete everything on the list related to a specific meal/night if things change after I’ve printed or, as so often happens, when I am in the store! A quick yellow highlight of the items on sale at the store and the list is finished.
Step 5:
I keep my coupons in a plain old accordion style filing box that fits neatly into my purse. $3.99 and it works great! I know friends who use a series of envelopes and love that system too.
C-Line Biodegradable 13-Pocket Expanding File, Coupon Size, 1 File Folder, Color May Vary 48410

I usually take my list and compare it to the spreadsheet of coupons I mentioned earlier to match up any like items. Just like the list, I organize the coupons like the store is organized to make things simple. Coupons go in the front pocket of the organizer and I am ready to shop!

 
There you have it…my 5 step process to not having to come home thinking each week night “What in the world is for dinner!” It takes me about 30 minutes each week to do it + 30-45 minutes to finish all of the shopping (sometimes a little more if I am going to more than one store) but I find it is so worth it! The little bit of time spent up front on this tends to save me money each week (the bill usually comes in around $75 to feed the 4 of us) and definitely saves me from headaches during the week.
Do you have little ways that you work to keep down the grocery budget? Tips to put healthy meals on the table each week in a reasonable amount of time?
Pictures: Just Us Four; Amazon.com

© 2012 Just Us Four.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Comments

  1. Vanita says

    I thought I was organized…but you have taught me a lot in this article! Thanks; maybe we will have our act together for dinner next week.

    Reply

  4. Biz says

    Thank you for sharing.
    I am just getting on board with couponing and it’s a bit overwhelming so all the tips help!

    Biz

    Reply

  5. Marilyn says

    WOW, this is great.. Very awesome tips.. ;)) Thanks SO much for linking to Pin’Inspirational Thursday.. Sincerely appreciate it.. Wishing you a lovely start to your weekend.. Hope you are back again next week.. ;)) xo~ Marilyn

    Reply

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