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