You all know that I like to menu plan before I get my groceries. I have been SO uninspired the last few weeks that I decided instead of doing a full month of menu planning I am going to do it for a week. With having sweet tooth I was way off the beaten track and of course a 4 year old licking their lips doesn’t help with that!
Just a little FYI before I get started: I am not into the whole organic scene myself but you can easily save money with organic food too my friend Rachel is awesome at it!
First thing I like to do is see what is on sale at all the local grocery stores around me. Walmart matches everything from all other stores if they sell it! The only exception to this is buy one get one free. They will even accept competitor coupons if specific to an item (sorry guys you can’t use the Fresh and Easy $5 off $50 coupons). This way I plan my meals around what is on sale.
So this past week Albertsons had Chicken on sale for $1.69 LB. Which is a steal! Walmarts was $1.99.
Beef was 2.98 LB at Frys for 93% lean. I felt like I robbed the place at that price. Normally it is close to $5.00 LB
Cheese was 1.89 at Frys
I already had some ingredients at home so that helps
This weeks menu plan was:
Oatmeal Pancakes cost $0.00(I had everything for this)
Upside down PIzza Cost $.88 per person (feeds 8)
Three Cheese Alfredo Cost $1.00 per person (feed 6) and there was sauce left over to make again for another day.
Honey Balsalmic Chicken $1.50 per person (including a veggie)
Veggie stir fry: $0.50 person
Total person is $3.88 per person for the week.
**disclaimer most of these meals except the main ingredient I had. I always try to use the spices etc that are in the pantry already. If you need all the spices it will cost more but only once then you can use the spices over and over again!
Now there are other things that you need too like drinks and stuff. I usually am a water/juice/milk person but you can REALLY save big on those if you try!
Milk last week was $1.59 a gallon. I bought two and froze one (Yup you can freeze milk!!)
OJ does not go bad that fast so if it is on sale get more. I usually get 6 which gets us halfway through the month (Huuby and son will not do anything but juice)
I know you can just get water from the tap but in AZ there is a taste with water and it is awful. I always buy water for that reason. That is normally like $0.88 per gallon.
add in a few veggies and you can feed per person in a week with the right sales (which happen every week) until $15.00 for breakfast, lunch and dinner total!
I would love to hear about your savings! Tell me what was the best deal you have even gotten!
Twitter: GroovyMamma1
says:
Ugh! I wish I could be this organized when it comes to buying groceries. I applaud you for taking the time to search ads and find the best deals. I will definitely becoming back to learn more from you!
I menu plan one week at a time – it’s much less stressful!! I like that you price match at Walmart!
Sara Phillips recently posted..Back to School with Famous Footwear
Twitter: jaided
says:
I almost never see milk that cheap around here, and it never crossed my mind that you could freeze it! Cool! (pun not intended)
Jai recently posted..SpongeBob SquarePants: Ghouls Fools DVD Review
I need to do more ‘homework’ before I go shopping. I do a little price matching and I menu plan for two weeks. But I do need to spend a little more time at it.
There are times that I am just lazy and go without a list! BOY does the price change then LOL! It is hard to keep up with it sometimes! Keep trying that is all you can do!
Twitter: StrollerParking
says:
Wow. That is impressive. I can’t even usually manage to get a week’s worth of meal planning done, although I do try. My biggest challenge is what to make with all the random ingredients I have leftover from the meals that were in my meal plan. Currently I have green onions, red onions and cilantro leftover from dishes I made this week, and I never use those ingredients. I try typing them into various recipe sites, but it never comes up with anything that I want to make. Frustrating! Anyway, thanks for the inspiration!
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Some times I can’t either! I have left over stuff a lot that just don’t go together. For the cilantro and onions maybe make a salsa! They are easy and tasty! I love salsa!