A while ago I posted about the way I make my grocery list. Feel free to read the whole post here. To sum it up: I create a weekly menu at the top of my list, then the list of ingredients I will need to accomplish the menu, then next to each item I write the price of the item (my best assumption of the price if I don't know the exact amount, rounding up/down as necessary). I have been doing my shopping like this for years and I have to say that 99% of the time I know how much I'm going to spend on my groceries within $10.00. I'm never surprised at check out, which is nice when you want to stick to a budget. Also, due to rounding up/down on the prices, I always have some wiggle room so even if I break down and grab a pack of Oreos that weren't on my list I still don't go over my estimated amount. I recommend giving it a try, what have you got to lose?
To make it easier, I created a free grocery list printable with space for your menu at the top and an organized list of your items with a column for your price estimates. All I ask is that if you use it and enjoy this new method of shopping you share it with your friends!
Grocery List Printable
I saw this recipe a while back and thought it sounded fantastic!
Original Recipe Source: The Larson Lingo
I made some adjustments and turned this into one of our favorite family meals. You make it in the crock pot so it is easy and delicious:
I've always wanted to make my children's baby food but ended up buying store bought out of convenience. When my last son was born he was diagnosed with Galactosemia. I decided that I would make his food so I would never have to be worried about ingredients that may be potentially dangerous to him.
As soon as I started making his food I learned that not only was it incredibly easy, it was also a huge savings, and I had confidence that my son was getting the healthiest food possible. I can't wait until my garden is full of fresh veggies again, but for now I pick up what I need in fresh produce for very little cost and it goes a long way. You don't even need a bunch of fancy equipment, more than likely you already have everything you need at home.
