Beyond Coupons {Stocking the pantry with herbs and spices}

Cooking with the right spices can save you money.  How, you ask? 

• You will feel like Ree Drummond or Trisha Yearwood when you cook a fabulous meal from home.  When you feel good about what you cook, you tend to cook more and eat out less.

• You can be creative and experiment to find the right blends that your family enjoys.

• Your food will taste better!

What is the difference between an (a?) herb and a spice?  According to www.spiceislands.com an herb is the leafy part of the plant that you use to add flavorings to food and can be used fresh or dried.   A spice comes from another part of the plant, such as cinnamon (bark of a tree!) or even a root (ginger).  Ok, funny story time:

When I was a senior in high school I had my first job as a cashier at Food Lion in Starke.  I had to pass the "produce test" in order to earn my right to run the register.  So the manager, who I might add, was a grumpy, grumpy lady brought me a tray of produce and I had to identify it within so many seconds.  I had never, ever seen rhubarb or ginger root before and had no idea what it was.  Being the good student that I am, I took home colored photos of all things fruit, vegetable, or Indian name (name that game show!!!) to study.  I worked there for a solid year and only once or twice sold ginger root to anyone!

Here is a list of the top herbs and spices you should have on hand.  It just so happens that all of these are BOGO at Winn-Dixie this week! 

• Rosemary, dried and ground
• Bay leaves
• Basil
• Parsley
• Rubbed sage
• Thyme
• Oregano
• Dill
• Allspice (ground)
• Black Pepper
• Cinnamon
• Curry powder
• Cloves (ground)
• Powered Garlic
• Ginger
• Celery Powder or Salt
• Chili Powder
• Mustard (dry)
• Nutmeg
• Onion Powder
• Paprika

Extracts to have on hand:

• real vanilla.  For the love of cupcakes do NOT buy imitation vanilla.  Real vanilla at BOGO prices means I stock up!
• almond
• lemon

It's Yard Sale Season! {Tips to make the most of it}

My heart swelled with excitement when I saw the long list of local yard sales that were listed in the paper.  With the long, cold, rainy winter I'm ready for some sun filled Saturday mornings and for me that means yard sales from April-August. 

Here's how I make the most of this season of sales.

First, I have a list of items that I'm looking for during the yard sale season.  I used to do pencil/paper but now I have a list on my reminders app on my phone.  As I find items I can delete them form the list.

Items on my list often include kid's clothing for Annika and Camryn.  I buy up to 2 sizes too big at great prices and store them until needed.  I keep an updated list (on my phone) of their current sizes, including shoes, and what items they need for the summer and also next winter.  I used to not keep the list so detailed but would get sidetracked into buying more than they needed even though the prices were great.  Space is at a premium in a large family plus I love the little kid's to not have too many choices.  Last year in Pre-K, Camryn had 3 zip up jackets, 2 heavy coats, and a few hoodies.  It was too much!!!  When we have one of each we keep up with them better and keep them clean better for some reason.  However, next year she's going to need a bigger size so that is now on my list.

Other items that I'm always looking for include vintage dishcloths, vintage tablecloths, handmade quilts, crocheted doilies, books, kids' board games, Little People toys, blocks, Legos, outside toys, white dishware, spoons, Vintage Pyrex, and Milk Glass items.  Adding to my list this year are small household appliances, like Blenders, toasters, kitchen gadgets and utensils, containers for storing items, and other house items my oldest girls may eventually need when they move out on their own.  I'd really much rather not think about or acknowledge that one year from now I'll be staring high school graduation in the face but I'd also love for them to be prepared, on a budget, and not tempted to rack up debt. 

Second, I have a budget and I take only cash with me when I go to yard sales.  I plan to spend no more than $100 per month. Most weeks and months it is much less!

Third, go early and go late.  The early bird gets the worm and the best available items.  But if you go late in the day you can find the picked over items marked down or the owners willing to take much less than what they originally wanted to charge.

Fourth, know which areas to hit up.  Facebook and Craigslist are great for finding and then mapping your route to yard sales.  Neighborhood sales are a favorite, since you can hit many sales in one general area. 

Last, get a feel for the type of sale you are attending.  I dub yard sales in one of three categories; one type is a fundraiser where lots of people have brought donations to sell.  These are great if you are looking for a variety of sizes of clothing and a eclectic grouping of items for sale. 

The other two types I think are more of an intuitive approach on the part of the shopper.  One kind of sale is the decluttering/I'm getting rid of this crap sale.  These sales are made by people who generally buy too much stuff all the time.  They are always shopping and eventually get tired of their cluttery stuff and decide to sell it.  They get all excited to recoup 5-10% of their original cost because it is going out the door and they can then go buy more! 

The last kind of sale is the "I'm desperate for money" to pay a bill, go on vacation, pay for Christmas kind of sale.  These people usually have about the same amount of stuff to sell as the others but they are not usually willing to negotiate on prices.  They may even have unrealistic ideas about how much their stuff is worth.  They may even get upset if you offer less than their original price.  These are my least favorite to attend for obvious reasons.  I tend to leave these sales fairly quickly.

I hope you enjoy this year's yard sale season.  Use these tips to maximize both your money, your space, and your time! 

Menu Plan April 3rd

My menu plan for the week:

We have not had many good deals on beef in the last few weeks and I imagine that will continue.  I read that beef and dairy prices are on the rise due to the cold, long, never ending winter.  My dad says they had a snow storm yesterday in Las Vegas mountains.  I eat what's on sale or what we have stocked so this menu is without beef.  We will rely on chicken and pork to get us through. 

I also have (yet again) a busy week full of kids' activities.  Eight more weeks until summer!!!!!!!
Business doesn't have to mean eating out; plan ahead and all is good!

Main meals:

Crockpot pork cacciatore
Recipe Here
This will use our almost free noodles, our BOGO pork chops, and our stockpile of tomatoes.  I use chicken broth instead of the wine.  Served with green beans and garlic bread.

Chicken and Noodle Casserole
Recipe Here
Served with green peas.

Breakfast for Dinner
One of my favorite, easy dinners!  Fresh cantaloupe on the side.

Broccoli and Cheese soup
Served with baked potato bar.  Your choice of toppings

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Recipe from Iheartkitchen.com  Instead of making the meatballs I will use the BOGO Armour meatballs.  Served with rice, some frozen veggies, and crescent rolls.

Breakfasts:
Frozen Waffles, cereal, grilled cheese sandwiches, smoothies

Snacks:  popcorn, boiled eggs, cantaloupe, bananas, magnum ice cream bars, cheese-its, cookies, peanut butter sandwiches

Ingredient list:
pork chops
canned tomatoes
pasta sauce
onions, garlic
Italian seasonings
shredded mozzarella
canned or frozen green beans
frozen garlic bread
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
egg noodles
cream of mushroom soup
cream of chicken soup
sour cream
crackers
frozen pancakes
syrup
eggs
sausage
crescent rolls
broccoli crowns
chicken broth
shredded cheddar
milk
baking potatoes
Armour meatballs
rice
frozen or canned veggies
pineapple juice or canned pineapple
vinegar
soy sauce
ketchup
cereal
kraft cheese singles
popcorn
cantaloupe
ice cream bars
cheez-its
Keebler cookies
Planters peanut butter
milk
juice
Bread

Menu Plan for March 27th Shopping List

I've said for many years that coupon and deal shopping only save you money if you are actually eating the food.  Some of you are thinking that sounds dumb but others of you know exactly what I'm talking about!  See there are some of us that are OCD, or disorganized, or perfectionists, or all of these. 

Those who are OCD like to look at our stockpile and praise it.  If someone dares to touch it, we freak! 

Some of us are a disorganized mess (raising my hand here), we know we have food to cook but we "forget" to take something out, we can't seem to make things go together to create a meal, or we only have a few minutes to throw something together so we just get drive-thru instead. 

And then we have perfectionists.  These women have it in their head that they must serve a hot, well-balanced meal daily, while rotating types of meat, and throwing in everyone's favorites here and there.  In the words of Queen Elsa, "Let it Go!"  Last week I cooked a meal every single night, except Wednesday, and every single meal (including Wednesday) was made from chicken.  Because that's what we had available and it's been a long time since payday, amen teachers?

Many of you are now perfecting the couponing and doing great at spending less, so let's add in a menu plan.  Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom, says that menu planning is the single best way to save money.  Even better than couponing!  So we should do both to maximize our savings.

Here is a list of what I've got planned for my menu this week, along with items from our shopping list and pantry, and links to recipes.

~Pork Roast with smashed red potatoes and green bean bake

~Grilled chicken legs with mac and cheese and creamed peas

~Lemon shrimp pasta with a side salad

~Rosemary Porkchops with baked potato bar, rolls

~frozen pizza and fruit salad

Back ups: frozen ravioli, fish sticks

Snacks: cheez-its, grapes, cucumber slices, popcorn, ice cream, boiled eggs, juice to drink

Shopping list:

Pork Roast (I'm using 2 of the Hormel Always Tender)

Red Potatoes

2 cans of green beans

brown sugar

large package of chicken legs

Kraft deluxe mac and cheese

2 cans of green peas

2 packages frozen shrimp

lemons

olive oil

box of spaghetti or linguine noodles

parsley

2 bags of salad, toppings

large package of pork chops, center cut

Russet potatoes

sour cream, butter

bacon bits

brocolli

shredded cheese

tombstone pizzas

grapes

strawberries

oranges

cucumbers

Pop Secret popcorn

cheez- its

Blue Bunny Ice Cream

Klondike Bars

staples:

milk, bread, eggs, juice

Beyond Coupons: Prepare to Shop

I am writing a series on how to save money on groceries beyond the typical paper coupons. Join me as we reduce our spending on the necessary evils at the grocery store!

Here's how the typical family shops for groceries:
*They go several times a week, if not once a day to buy what they are going to eat that day or the next.

* They shop all the aisles, and usually end up grabbing items on each of the endcaps and the checkout lane.

* They think about the favorite foods of each family member, buying many items for each person.

* They only buy enough food to get through the week with really no plan of what items may go together to make a meal.

* They buy packaged, convenience foods.

* They use a few coupons.

* They spend a lot of money.

Here's how a typical couponer shops for groceries:
* They have a list of the best deals and will choose mostly from the list.

* They go to the store once a week but may visit several stores on that day for good deals.

* They have a "road map" of what meals they will cook for dinner for the week.

* They buy the essentials at full price unless they just happen to be on sale for the week.

* They buy one or two of the best deals from the list.

* They hand over a stack of coupons and save around $15-$20 with them plus another $30 by buying on sale.

I would prefer all of my shopping trips to go like this:
* I've checked my pantry and freezer and know what whole meals I can make with what's on hand.

* I've made a list of meals I could make if I bought one or two items to go with what I have on hand.

* I've printed my shopping list of BOGO's and best deals and have highlighted which ones I need to buy to either stock up the pantry or freezer, or good deals that I can afford to add to the pantry.

* I may buy 10 items of the deep discounted items.

*  I've made a complete meal plan for the week, including what each adult or child will take for lunch and eat for breakfast.  I've even planned for healthy and guilty snacking.

*  I've planned for remaking leftovers.  Most of the family doesn't like being served the same meal twice in a row but will gladly eat them if I remake them into something different.

* I bring my stack of coupons with me plus my shopping list.

* I bring a bottle of water with me to avoid the dreaded $1.25 20 oz. diet Coke.  It also makes me feel full so that I don't overfill the buggy!

* I pray before I go in!  I ask that God direct me to what I am to buy and open my eyes to any good deals I may not be aware of in the sections of the store that I will visit.

*I put one of the little shopping baskets in the buggy so that any impulse deals can go into the basket.  I then rethink those items before checking out.  If they go straight in with all the other items from my list I don't realize how many "impulse" buys I have accumulated.

* I only shop the aisles that contain the items on my list.

* I shop the produce, dairy, and meat sections looking for reduced or discounted items.

* I shop once or twice a week, usually separating my food purchases from non-food.

* I come home, putting everything away with the like items it goes with to make the meal.

* I prep any vegetables that will be needed for the week.  Chopping, dicing, freezing as necessary.

* I reassess my meal plan based on all the items I bought or items that the store may have been out of.

How do you prepare for shopping the grocery store??

Deals for Upcoming Week of March 6th-11th

Here's how the coupon deals are looking for the upcoming week:

Winn-Dixie
CoverGirl Eye Products, BOGO $2.79 (Will make the single eye shadows free!)

Atkins Scrambles or Entrees 7-9 oz, BOGO $4.49 (will be $1.25 or less)

All brand laundry detergent BOGO (will be $2 or less each)

A great deal on K-cups, all flavors

And a Fuel Perks deal on Kraft products like Kraft cheese.

Publix

Gas Card Week! $10 off $50 Gas card when you purchase $50 in groceries before coupons.

Dial Body Wash BOGO ($1.40 or less each)

Tyson Chicken Nuggets, Tenders, Patties, Country Fried Steak or Steak Fingers, 20.5-32 oz, ($1.99 or less)

Right Guard Body Wash, 16 oz,($1 or less each)

Nabisco Wheat Thins or Triscuit Crackers BOGO - ($1.75 or less each)

Hershey's Nuggets Milk Chocolate, 10.5-12 oz bag, BOGO - ($1.50 or less each bag)

Planter's Peanut Butter ($1.50 each)

Stock up deals will be:  All detergent, Body Washes, Tyson Chicken, and Planter's Peanut Butter.  We will be getting 6-10 of each of these! 

I will add any deals as they pop up.

  If you would like coupons this week please sign up.

How will you pick up?

I will pick up at your house Please mail

What price should you pay for ___________?

As I'm teaching people to save money I often hear "But how much is a good price?" Not too many generations ago paying $.50 for a dozen eggs would have been sticker shock and heaven forbid that they pay more than a $1 per pound for ground beef.  Well, those times were good times but we can still find good deals in the here and now.

Another thing to consider is that today we buy all kinds of stuff that people in past generations would have not bought or either did not have the opportunity to buy.  We live in the first world and have "created" products to spend our hard earned dollars on to make other people have even more money to buy more products that they don't really need either.  People in the third world don't have our created problems of deciding which grocery store or which day to shop or how many of each "snack" to buy.  Laura Ingalls got candy in her Christmas stocking and no other day of the year.  Coca-cola first began as an afternoon drink during the summer in the hot south.  It was drank every day all year.  So even when these items are cheap and easy to obtain you don't have to buy them.  Use your dollars how you want for your family.  (As I type this, there are twenty 2 Liter drinks and fourteen 12 packs of soda in my garage, first world problems!)

Here's what I'm willing to spend on certain items:

Produce:  Less than $1 per pound.  Which means I buy in season at peak ripeness when supply is high.  If you took economics you know companies lower their prices when supply is high to move products out before they spoil.

Meat:  Less than $3 per pound  I know that Harvey's almost every single Wednesday has ground beef for $1.99 per pound.  It's a Wednesday special only and not available other days.  So if I need ground beef for the week I know I have to get to Walmart to argue, intimidate, convince get a price match.  If I miss it then we don't eat ground beef for the rest of the week.  Another reason to stockpile! 

I recently got 20 pounds of antibiotic free chicken breast for $.50 per pound.  It was on clearance at Winn Dixie because they had ordered to much of the Springer Mountain chicken breasts for a previous week's sale.  They had to get rid of it before it went bad so they marked it all to $1.99 per pound (it had been $5.99 per pound!).  I also had $1.50 off coupons for each pack. I got every pack I could. 

Eggs:  $.99 per pound

Bread:  $1.oo per loaf

Sugar:  $.50 per pound

Canned veggies:  $.40 per can or less

Cereal:  $1.50 per box or less

Anything else I can add?  Leave a comment