Comments on: Shopping, Food Storage, Sales, and Stockpiling ~ Menu Planning 101

By: staci @ teaching money to kids

staci @ teaching money to kids — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:17:04 +0000

Another idea for shopping is to do it every 3 weeks, instead of 2 or four.
Many stores have a regular rotation for what goes on sale based on the week of the month. SO if you shop only once a month, or even twice a month you may not be able to stockpile certain items, because they are going on sale on your off week. By shopping every 3 weeks, you will eventually rotate through the sales and potentially be able to stockpile all of the different types of food.
We have also found that often gas station have the cheapest gas, so we don’t even have to go to the market. Especially during the summer, when we get produce from our garden or farmers markets.

By: Mellisa Rock

Mellisa Rock — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:20:31 +0000

Oh no!! I didn’t see that this was the end of this series until just now. I want to thank you so much for taking the time to the time to walk us through this. I have done my first grocery shopping trip and have a menu plan set up for the next two weeks. I am going to get the 2 weeks after that ready and start watching sales. I am also thinking of keeping a list of kitchen staples that I can stockpile in my coupon binder, so that I will only buy the things that I know we will use! Tonight was the first night of our menu plan and it was a great feeling to know exactly what was for dinner…veggie lasagna/salad/garlic bread…thanks again!

By: Domestic Extraordinaire

Domestic Extraordinaire — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:35:21 +0000

I am in the process of re-doing my kitchen to utilize its very small space. So, when I get it all done (by next week) I hope to put all of these lessons into practice. Thank you so much for all your hard work & sharing!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:51:50 +0000

I have to give you a huge “Thank you” for this topic! Over my nine years of marriage I have always struggled so much with menus. I always menu plan, but it takes me forever. I’ve come up with different (complicated) ways of doing it, but it almost always took me over an hour to make out my menu plan for the week! Very frustrating!

Since we’re on a quest to eat healthier, I sat down and wrote down 20 of my healthiest meals. On a separate piece of paper, I wrote down some of our favorites that aren’t quite as healthy. My list of sides and veggies came pretty quickly.

Then I sat down and planned my menu for the week. Instead of an hour it took me mere minutes. OK, so why didn’t I ever think of doing it this way???

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

By: Kara

Kara — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:24:54 +0000

What a great post! I have really enjoyed this whole series. Thanks for taking the time to write it!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:50:24 +0000

I have a bunch of related posts on my blog, but it would only let me link up one of them… feel free to pursue some of the various posts on apfreewriting101.blogspot.com.

I’m a SAHM who HATES to shop. I only shop sales when they are actually good enough to make me want to leave the house with two kids 2 and under in tow. I do a massive shopping trip once every three months or so to restock my pantry and freezer (we bought a chest freezer for meat, frozen meals, cheese, butter, etc).

By: TheHappyHousewife

TheHappyHousewife — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:22:59 +0000

I am glad to be able to help. I have used cash to shop for a few years now. I cannot believe how much money I have saved using a cash budget! It really helps.
Toni

By: OldNuffToKnoBtr

OldNuffToKnoBtr — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:21:00 +0000

I’m relearning how to do the menu planning, coupon using, grocery listing and stockpiling that I did when I was raising my family.

I’m semi retired now–had to take a part time job because of costs–and I need to relearn these skills. Social Security is limited and my retiremnt income was reduced by the recession.

It really is fun to be planning ahead again for groceries. I have determined the amount I will spend each week and will use cash only to grocery shop. I have made up my menus for this week using what I have on hand and what is on sale. I have crossed a few things off the list to stay within my cash allotment. Thanks for your help and motivation.

By: Emily @ Under$1000PerMonth

Emily @ Under$1000PerMonth — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:29:14 +0000

I agree totally about stockpiling in small spaces. We don’t have enough room for a stand alone freezer, but we still have almost 70 lbs of on-sale ground beef in our regular freezer.