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teachingmyown
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as is the refrigerator and freezers. The last couple of weeks have been hectic so we haven't been able to make a Costco run. Money has also been tight, so we have been buying as little as possible to get through to payday.
I am thinking that this is a good opportunity to "start from scratch" so to speak. I want to make a meal plan that will help us save money and take the daily guess work out of meals. Friday is payday. I would like to take out $400 cash and try to make it stretch until the next payday.
I am not sure where to start. How do you all go about making a menu that needs to fit in a certain price range? Obviously, I can't buy t-bone steaks or shrimp, but other than that I have a hard time figuring it out.
Do you have a favorite site with frugal, yet appetizing, meal plans? So many sites I look at make me want to cry when I picture myself trying to serve my family the meals listed. 
What about bulk cooking? I am thinking that maybe this would be a good time to try this, except maybe my limited budget would be prohibitive?
God put me in charge of this household, so it must be possible that I can learn to manage it. (as unlikey as it seems!)
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Mimip
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Molly,
The very first thing I would do is to look at all the sales of everything going on around you. Get the flyers and look at meat prices especially. Build on what you can get for really cheap.
Good Luck!
Oh and I'll say a prayer for you and this mission since our budget has never allowed us to do any bulk cooking 'cause we never have enough to buy ahead either. It is so hard!
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Milehimama
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Get the grocery ads or look them up.
You can find almost every store online at this link
See what meat is on sale, then plan your menus.
I have cards that I wrote that list stuff my family likes to eat, categorized by main protein. So, my 'ground beef' card lists:
Homemade hamburger helper
meatloaf
spaghetti
taco salad (add beans, make the meat stretch!)
dirty rice
shepherd's pie
sloppy joes
enchiladas
etc.
Then when ground beef is on sale, I have a list of ideas of how to use them. If I see on the grocery ad that ground beef and lettuce is on sale, we'll have taco salad. If I see that cheese and ground beef are on sale, we'll have enchiladas.
I started using lentils and rice as a substitute for ground beef, though. 1# of lentils + 1 # brown rice makes the equivalent of 3# of ground meat - for around $1.25!
We eat a lot of meatless meals here, that really cuts down on expenses. I spend about $125 a week for 2 adults and 8 children.
Also, at Orgjunkie.com she hosts "menu plan Monday" - several HUNDRED moms post their menus on their blogs every week!
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Ruth
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This is my Costco shopping list, which has been working very well for the past few months.
I came up with a 4 week menu a few years ago and it varies during the seasons. For example, in the cool months we have soup on Mondays, but in the warmer months we usually have a cold salad. I try to use the crock pot or pressure cooker on Tuesdays. We don't eat meat on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, although on Saturdays dh usually ends up grilling whatever meat he can find, and I have a lot of meatless recipes listed on my blog. Thursday is usually pasta and Sundays are casserole days.
I'll try to post a menu here later on if I get a chance to get back on. HTH
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Bookswithtea
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I know it sounds heretical, but I don't shop specifically the grocery sales.  I find that its too unpredictable. I need a list that works every month with prices that are relatively stable. I'm all for shopping sales within that list, but I have started to shop more from stores that have predictable pricing. Couponing overwhelms me. I use a warehouse store, Aldi (that's a new one for me, after watching the Duggars), Trader Joe's for a few oddball things, and then the grocery store for whatever I can't get at the other two.
I've been working on a menu that I hope my family will eat, too. Its so hard to find food that is nourishing, healthy and that children will eat! Also, my waistline cannot take a ton of grains and I find that most of the "eat cheap menus" rely heavily on a lot of noodles, rice, beans, etc.
I've been working on a fall menu this week. Its not done yet, but here's what I am imagining:
Breakfast: Rotation of
Yogurt (I make this from milk...much cheaper than buying)
Granola (cheaper since its homemade and more filling than cereal)
Oatmeal
and then once a week eggs. This assumes fresh fruit, juice, and if still hungry, whole wheat toast.
Lunch is a rotation of
homemade soup (ground beef) and homemade muffins
bean and cheese burritos or quesadillas
homemade soup (leftover beef/new chicken) and muffins
bean and chees burritos
homemade soup (leftover chicken)
sandwiches
something egg based
This assumes raw veggies and a glass of milk. My plan is to make a triple batch of muffins early in the week and freeze two dozen of them for the rest of the week.
Dinner rotation
Whole chicken
Meatloaf veg
Egg (I'm imagining Quiche here. 2 to feed my crew)
Pork (chops, loin roast etc)
Pizza (homemade crust, bulk cheese, inexpensive toppings)
Fish when I can afford it (or maybe spaghetti/chili?)
Some kind of roast beef/lamb/venison
This assumes veggies every night, something on sale/local/in season. I try not to cook my meats in the same pot as the grains so that I can choose to have extra veg. instead. I will serve rice or homemade bread/rolls on the side. I'm imagining a lot of crock pot usage with all of this. I may give it a try in the next few weeks, substituting grilled foods for the crock pot foods and main course salads for the soups.
Items that *kill* my budget are lunchmeat, premade yogurt, diapers/wipes, premade treats/ice cream , cold cereal, buying tons of cleaners, and trying to stick to specific recipes that call for expensive ingredients. By designing my list this way, the meat can always be prepared simply and I can use whatever veg is plentiful that week.
I also get stressed out easily when it comes to meal planning. Keeping it 1950's~ish (meat, veg, grain all separate) seems to stress me out less, and ironically, I've found that even my picky eaters grumble less.
A word about Aldi, if you have one in your area. I was very skeptical, expecting the quality to be terrible. I put in a baby toe several months ago, and slowly started trying more and more things. I haven't had a problem with anything except their hot fudge tasted cheap!  Their milk is hormone free, and the prices on local in season produce are amazing and usually not from Mexico. They can't beat my warehouse prices for some items, but they are remarkably cheaper than my grocery store and even beat the big-bad "W" store. 
I should say that we grow our own chickens and eggs, and buy beef, lamb and pork from locals (and sometimes we have venison to use 1/2 and 1/2 with ground beef), but I work that cost (including the chicken feed and the cost of growing the whole chickens) into my grocery budget by buying less for a few months. I would think that sale priced grocery store meat or warehouse store meat would be cheaper than what I'm doing. We don't allow unrestricted milk drinking. I serve it when I am concerned that the meal isn't high enough in protein. Juice is only in the morning. The rest of the day we drink water, iced tea, and I buy some kool aid type drinks in the summer for the kids. Sometimes I buy soda for myself in the 2 liter bottles.
My budget was $800 a month and I am trying to do $600 a month now with this plan above. I don't know if its going to work, but I don't think it'll be higher than $800 a month.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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folklaur
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Milehimama wrote:
I started using lentils and rice as a substitute for ground beef, though. 1# of lentils + 1 # brown rice makes the equivalent of 3# of ground meat - for around $1.25!
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i have used lentils instead of meat too. my family actually likes sloppy joes made with "bbq lentils" more than when i make it with meat.
dh was skeptical the first time, but even he likes it. not just "tolerates" it - he *likes* it. he said it would work good for things like taco filling too.
and lentils are cheeeeeeeap....and easy to cook, since they don't need soaking and cook pretty fast.
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RamFam
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Ruth wrote:
| I'll try to post a menu here later on if I get a chance to get back on. |
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Oh, good. I was hoping so. Thanks so much.
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Tom ^i^, Kyle (my Marine), Adeline '00, Wyatt '05, Isaac '07 Philip '08,Michael '10, and John Xavier Feb '13
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MelissaClaire
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I think having a good idea of what your family already likes will help you a ton. I read a blog this Spring that wrote out the steps for starting a menu binder--but the post isn't still there--but this is basically what I did after reading that article.
I'd ask all the kids (or have one of your kids ask everyone in the family) what meals they like--not just their favorites--but every meal they can think of that you make that they like eating.
Then write out those dinner ideas on their own page--Poultry, Meat, Pork, Soups, Meatless, Pasta, Breakfasts, Seafood, etc.
I then got a binder and made tabs for each of the categories and placed recipes for each of those menu ideas (and all the other recipes I've been collecting) in each section in clear protective pages.
She then suggested having each day of the week have a "theme"
Monday--sandwiches
Tuesday--poultry
Wednesday--meat
Thursday--crock pot
Friday--meatless
Saturday--grill
Sunday--grill or roast
(or something similar to that)
Then I sat down with my calendar and marked all of the evening obligations that impact dinner time. So I knew we needed quick and easy--or portable for tball game nights, something that could hold easy for piano lessons that tend to run long, etc.
Once you know what you're serving and have all of the recipes for each meal in front of you (which may require you to write out some of the "recipes" that you know by heart--but which would be a great thing to do so your kids would know how to make them in your absence or in their own homes) you'll know what you'll need to buy at the store.
I meal plan for a month at a time. One, because I really don't like doing it and it all gets done at once, and two, because I can shop better. If I'm using a recipe with an ingredient I don't normally keep on hand--like scallions or something--I can know to write in a different recipe that will use them up a few days later so they don't go to waste.
Also--I often try to cook once and use twice. If I'm serving mashed potatoes on Sunday, I make double and use them again on Tuesday. I might grill extra chicken on Monday and then use those leftovers for grilled chicken salads or something else later in the week.
When I'm able to get a great deal on chicken or meat I really stock up. I'll freeze some of it plain, but some I'll cook in the crock pot and shred, some I put in various marinades and throw it in the freezer for a later use.
Summertime is a good time to stock up on things like peppers fairly cheaply. I usually bag them and throw them in the freezer, but my sister said you can just throw them in the freezer without a bag and they are fine.
For tacos I usually stretch them with black beans and frozen corn. I might try using lentils if I can figure out how to cook them!
Milehimama wrote:
I started using lentils and rice as a substitute for ground beef, though. 1# of lentils + 1 # brown rice makes the equivalent of 3# of ground meat - for around $1.25!
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How do you cook these? I tried lentils years ago and thought they were yummy, but they wreaked havoc on my family's tummies!
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Mom to a dd ('02), ds ('03), ds ('05), dd ('07) and baby due 9/01/09
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Ruth
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Here is my Fall menu.
Breakfast Menu
Monday- Bacon, eggs and toast
Tuesday- sausage patties and homemade pancakes
Wednesday- homemade pancakes
Thursday- biscuits and sausage gravy
Friday- cereal before Mass and cream of wheat or more cereal after Mass
Saturday- home fries and eggs
Sunday- home fries, eggs and bacon
Fall menu
Week 1
Monday- Ham and mashed potatoes
Tuesday- Meatballs in the crockpot
Wednesday- Southwestern Pasta Salad
Thursday- Chicken with pasta and garlic sauce
Friday- Greek Pita salad
Saturday- Bean, rice and cheese burritos
Sunday- Lasagna
Week 2
Monday- Roast beef and rice
Tuesday- Pork ribs and Kale and potatoes
Wednesday- Creamy Orzo with peas
Thursday- Sausage Spaghetti
Friday- Broccoli Pasta Salad
Saturday- Minestrone soup
Sunday- Kielbasa with rice and veggies
Week 3
Monday- Italian Sausage Soup with Tortellini
Tuesday- Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Wednesday- Rice and beans
Thursday- Basil Chicken over Angel Hair
Friday- Spinach and Feta Pasta
Saturday- Greek Pasta with Tomatoes and White Beans
Sunday- Shepherd's Pie
Week four 4
Monday- Beef Stew
Tuesday- Slow Cooker Corned beef and potatoes
Wednesday- Sloppy Joes
Thursday- Cajun Chicken and rice
Friday- Garlic Spaghetti
Saturday- Pesto Pizza
Sunday- Burrito Pie
Another way I save money is by making my own cleaning supplies, using cloth diapers, dry creal once a week and I do not buy lunch meat, ever! We only drink OJ in the morning and milk and water the rest of the day. I only buy soda if we have company.
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Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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kingvozzo
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Bookswithtea wrote:
A word about Aldi, if you have one in your area....Their milk is hormone free, . |
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I've been wondering about this...It doesn't state it on the label, does it?
I second everthing Books says about Aldi. I haven't been disappointed in anything I've bought, mostly dry goods or cheeses. their tortillas are 50% cheaper than at the supermarket. My kids tease me because I'll buy 10-15 packages of 10 when I go there, but we eat them, and I don't get out there as easily as the regular supermarket. One down side is their hours (here at least) are significantly shorter than a typical market. Ours closes at 8pm nightly.
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Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Bookswithtea
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At my store, there are stickers saying so on the fridge door where the milk is kept.
Overall, I've been pretty happy with our purchases. I was already buying generics for things like canned tomatoes at another store, so it didn't bug me to buy them at Aldi instead. There are also plenty of convenience food options that are cheaper than most, but we are trying not to eat that stuff so we focus on the staples.
Wow, Ruth! Your menu looks lovely.  Thank you for sharing your Costco grocery list! I'm going to compare it to my master lists since you are within a similar budget range.
Here's what I buy at which stores, based on price. When an item is listed in more than one place, the price is very similar. I don't really know how often I buy each item in particular. I tend to just check the cabinets before I go shopping.
Warehouse store
Razor blades
Laundry soap
Dishwasher soap
Dish detergent
Cheddar 5 lb block
Mozzarella 5lb block
Flour
Sugars
Butter
Cream
Fruits/Veggies
Frozen veg
Olive oil
Nuts
Salmon patties
Butter
milk
Spices as needed
Baking soda/powder
parmesan cheese
mayo
ketchup
ranch dressing
Italian dressing
Minced gaarlic
Chocolate chips
cocoa
coffee
Softener salt
Murphy’s oil soap
Dog food
Aldi
Bleach
Croutons
Sugars
Flour
Canned tuna
Splenda
Salsa
pepperoni
Fresh veg/fruit
Buns
milk
tp
frozen oj
eggs
diced tomatoes
tomato sauce
tomato paste
hair spray
Refried beans
Sour cream
Tea bags
Tortillas
Pickles
Mustard
Relish
Canned pineapple
Canned mandarins
vinegar
Trader Joes
smooth peanut butter
chunky peanut butter
fage
Almond milk
I forgot to mention I also shop at a bulk foods store run by an Amish family, and I also buy maple syrup from the Amish once a year and honey from locals a few times a year.
Oats
Soft Wheat
Hard Wheat
Spelt
Millet
Sunflower seeds
Buttermilk powder
Barley
Brown rice
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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teachingmyown
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bookswithtea wrote:
| I know it sounds heretical, but I don't shop specifically the grocery sales. I find that its too unpredictable. |
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See, I think this too. I would go crazy trying to plan based on sales. I like Ruth's plan, a master list that goes with a set menu.
kingvozzo wrote:
| their tortillas are 50% cheaper than at the supermarket. My kids tease me because I'll buy 10-15 packages of 10 when I go there, but we eat them, and I don't get out there as easily as the regular supermarket. |
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I have to get back to Aldi's! We use so many tortillas in a week and they are so expensive at the regular grocery store. We were going to try to start making them ourselves.
Melissa, is this the webpage for making a menu binder that you were looking for? Kathy sent it to me earlier today.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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seven2hold
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Hi Molly! Yes that is the link to the make a menu binder. I should have known you'd have a thread over here with the questions you emailed me!
You mentioned that God put you in charge of your household, so you must be able to manage it. You are absolutely right. Pray to Mary for help (maybe Our Lady of Perpetual Help). I'm sure she was a frugal shopper who stretched meals. Just try and offer a Hail Mary before you write out a menu or look at a sale flyer or purchase groceries or prepare a meal. Ask her to help you!
Praying a Hail Mary now for you!
Kathy
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Wife to John
Mother to DD(91), DD(93), DD(95), DS(98), DD(00), DS(01), DS(03), DD(05), and DS(07)
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Milehimama
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I buy tortillas at the Mexican grocery - $1.50 or less for 100 count!
Lentils and rice -
1 cup lentils, 1 cup brown rice, 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then turn to low for 40-45 minutes until water is absorbed. You can add spices to the water if you want.
Here's my lentil and rice enchilada recipe:
http://www.milehimama.com/2009/07/03/how-to-make-lentil-ench iladas/
And my menus and shopping for the year:
http://www.milehimama.com/food-stamp-challenge/
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kingvozzo
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Milehimama wrote:
I buy tortillas at the Mexican grocery - $1.50 or less for 100 count!
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Do you mean 10 count? 
My reg. supermarket has store brand, 8 for $1.50, but Aldi's is 10 or $0.99
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teachingmyown
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My tortillas cost $2.19 for 8!  We go through at least 16 for a dinner.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Stephanie_Q
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Whenever I think about planning our meals, I start reading Hillybilly Housewife...but I never follow through. Menu planning is on my list of things to do...
Some of her stuff is not the healthiest IMO but it is EASY and pretty inexpensive. Here is a $45 Emergency menu for 4 to 6. There is also a more "regular" $70 Low Cost Menu for 4 to 6 to look at for ideas.
Milehimama / Noreen - are those corn tortillas rather than flour ones?
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dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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kingvozzo
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Stephanie_Q wrote:
Milehimama / Noreen - are those corn tortillas rather than flour ones? |
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Only flour here...my kids don't like the corn ones.
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MelissaClaire
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Milehimama wrote:
Lentils and rice -
1 cup lentils, 1 cup brown rice, 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then turn to low for 40-45 minutes until water is absorbed. You can add spices to the water if you want.
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thank you!
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Melissa
Mom to a dd ('02), ds ('03), ds ('05), dd ('07) and baby due 9/01/09
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SaraP
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I love the More With Less Cookbook for this kind of thing. My library system has several copies.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: The cupboard is bare
