Publix Trip & Tailgating Disaster (for the budget)

We did AWESOME this week with our grocery spending. I was true to my word and only stocked up on a few things at Publix because they were super cheap. Our tailgating grocery store/walmart/sam's/package store trips were a whole different story! And then when it's 95 degrees outside, feels like 106, you still have 8 hours until game time, and you have (awesome) friends who are willing to stop and pick up a tent on the way to the tailgate, you drop $120 in a heartbeat and it's worth every penny! (Especially when it decides to pour down rain later in the afternoon!!!)
Here are the Publix stats. I'm not even going to share with you the tailgating stats ;)

Spent: $10.84
Saved: $22.93
Bought:
2 boxes Crystal Light drink mix
2 Bailey's coffee creamers
1 can of Pam
5 containers of cream cheese
1 bottle of canola oil
1 bagged salad

Whip Your Grocery Budget Into Shape: Shop at Multiple Stores

Welcome to the second major series of posts on Frugal Made Fun! Each week, I'll post 1-2 tips on how to develop your own plan to save money on groceries. I'm going to start with some of the most basic, easiest things you can do to save money, and then progress from there. You can take as much or little advice as you like. As the series progresses, a little more work may be involved, but you will definitely save more money.



If you are lucky enough to have a few grocery stores near each other, near your house, or on your way home, you can take advantage of sale offers at all of them! Just scan the flyers to see if any items you commonly use are at rock-bottom prices and be sure to swing by and pick up a few. You don't have to shop at mutliple stores every week, but it doesn't hurt to look through the weekly ad just to see if any items you use are on sale!

Eat from the Pantry Challenge!

One good way to save money is not to spend it! (Umm, duh). We currently have so much food in our pantry and freezer that I'm going to try to have an Eat from the Pantry Challenge for the next 2 months! We will only buy perishable items, like fruits & veggies, milk, eggs, bread, etc. Of course it helps that we'll be moving in the next couple of months....extra incentive to eat up everything in the freezer!

I already have our meals planned for the next 4 weeks, and a few random meals after that. I may have to get creative near the end! That or we'll be eating a LOT of pasta. I'll keep you posted on how it's going!

Whip Your Grocery Budget Into Shape: Start a Price Book

Welcome to the second major series of posts on Frugal Made Fun! Each week, I'll post 1-2 tips on how to develop your own plan to save money on groceries. I'm going to start with some of the most basic, easiest things you can do to save money, and then progress from there. You can take as much or little advice as you like. As the series progresses, a little more work may be involved, but you will definitely save more money.


What is a pricebook you ask? It's when you keep track of prices of commonly used items at various stores. It doesn't have to be a book. Just write down some items on a piece of paper that you commonly buy when grocery shopping. Write how much they cost at your regular grocery store. The next time you go to Walmart, Target, a warehouse club, or another grocery store, jot down the price of the items on your list at those stores. This helps you to not only find which store has the best deal but also to know what a "good" price is for that item (i.e. writing down the sale price or figuring out if it is actually cheaper per serving to buy the item in bulk).

After a while, you'll just know if an item is on sale at a good price or not. I don't have prices memorized, but I know a ballpark of what I am willing or not willing to pay for various items. Here is a good blog post about pricelists. There are some examples and even a blank one to get you started.

Menu Plan Monday

Have you known me to ever stick to a menu plan since I've been doing this blog? Last week was no different, so you're again going to see some repeats in the next couple of weeks! I did end up making Roasted Cajun Potatoes with Cilantro Avocado Lime dipping sauce and I made chicken tortilla casserole on Saturday instead of Sunday.

Sunday: Chilli Noodle Casserole
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Ravioli, garlic bread, salad
Wednesday: Lemon Garlic Tilapia, orzo, frozen veggies
Thursday: Sausage & Broccoli Noodle Casserole
Friday: Dinner with the fam (and a bus full of Penn State fans!)
Saturday: Tailgating!!! So some brats, burgers, & dogs hot off the grill!

Be sure to check out Menu Plan Monday over at Org Junkie's site. Over 300 bloggers link up which means lots of new recipes and ideas!

Publix...the Addiction Continues

Publix did it to me once again! Every week I swear I am just going to stock up on any "staples" and only if they are rock bottom prices. I just can't stay away! The first pic was a quick trip I made right after we got back from the mountains on Monday. I picked up some BLUE plates and cups for the upcoming Penn State v. Alabama game in Tuscaloosa next weekend. And they were out of Fiber One yogurt when I went last week (the flavor I like at least).

Spent: $5.86

Saved: $16.44

Here is a pic of my trip from this week. The $5/5 Kraft product coupons are really what got me! Who can pass up free sour cream and $1 bags of shredded and sliced cheese?! Especially when the shredded cheese freezes so well!

Spent: $28.01

Saved: $64.78

Bought:
1 bottle Wisk Laundry Detergent
5 boxes Mueller's pasta
2 YoPlus yogurt 4 packs
5 bags shredded cheese
2 packages sliced cheese
2 containers of sour cream
1 bag of rice
2 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning packets
1 loaf of white bread
1 loaf of wheat bread
2 bottles ranch dressing
2 packages Dixie paper plates
2 Green Giant valley fresh steamers
2 Newman's Own pasta sauce
2 packages Ballpark hot dogs
1 Glade candle
1 Velveeta

Whip Your Grocery Budget Into Shape: Menu Plan Around the Flyers

Welcome to the second major series of posts on Frugal Made Fun! Each week, I'll post 1-2 tips on how to develop your own plan to save money on groceries. I'm going to start with some of the most basic, easiest things you can do to save money, and then progress from there. You can take as much or little advice as you like. As the series progresses, a little more work may be involved, but you will definitely save more money.



Plan your menu around the flyers. Some stores even publish a few recipes or meal ideas on their website or right in their flyer using items that are on sale that week. Also, if you do enough googling, there are various bloggers who publish meal plans/recipes based on what a particular grocery store has on sale that week.


Allrecipes.com is a lifesaver for me. If you have a flyer next to you, type some of the sale items into the "Ingredient search" or the main search box. Then sort by "rating" for numerous yummy recipes!

Just make your list and then off to the store you go!