Day 2 - Grocery & Meal Planning

They say don't go to the grocery store hungry or tired, I say don't ever go without a plan!!! In my experience every time I think I can "wing it" or "pick up the basics" it results in takeout dinners and at least 3 additional trips to the grocery store; but plenty of triscuts and ice cream.  So I started organizing my grocery purchases by 2 things: 1. What meals am I making for the next 7 days and 2. Whats on sale? By browsing the ads I can see what stores (I rotate 4 different ones weekly by what they have on sale) have what that week and base my meals around that.  Easy.  So if jumbo packs of chicken breasts are on sale my family can assume we are having at least 2 dinners and a lunch based around chicken.  That way I'm not really paying full price for any meals.  There are a couple other standbys I incorporate:

• If an item we eat alot is on a major sale (ie: 50% or more off regular price) I stock up and freeze or store (as long as it fits into the budget)
• Check your coupons - I've found produce, *dairy and meat coupons when I least expect to. Combining coupons with a sale makes for a fantastic deal
• Incorporate 1-2 vegetarian meals a week - this will save you BIG time
• Only buy items you and your family actually eat.  If everyone hates mushrooms, don't assume they will convert just because you got them on sale
• Make sure to buy enough food/ beverage that you cover all meals for 7 full days - the point is to eliminate trips to fast food, delis, etc.
• STAY ON A BUDGET!!! Have 1 lump sum per week (we do $100) and take it out in cash, you'd be surprised how much a few dollars every week adds up.  If you have any leftover bank it for a holiday meal, potluck, etc where you might need extra money for food products not pertaining to your weekly meals 

* you can find unlimited (yes unlimited) free printable Real CA dairy milk, cheese and dairy product coupons here until 12/31/2011.  I use one per gallon of milk I buy weekly and per block of cheese, so usually saves me about $2.75 weekly just on milk & cheese.

That's it - those are my rules for this house, and its working.  I take the leftover paper cash and store it for the next holiday or birthday party coming up, and the extra coins (change) I stock in a jar to be changed in every other month (more on this later).

Happy grocery day!!