So when I was working, my hubby and I were on opposite schedules and didn't eat together very often. We didn't shop together and would usually buy food for ourselves, make the food, throw the leftovers in the fridge, forget about it, and throw it out. When we did eat together we would usually go out to eat because neither of us planned to make anything and couldn't just hop next-door to the store (we live 20-25 min away from the closest grocery store by freeway...aka we use the term "going into town" because we live far enough out in the boonies). So I'm kind of sad to confess that we were easily spending at or over $200 a week... for just two of us!! And to make things worse a TON of food was going to waste.
Since I've been home I revamped our budget and set a $100.00 a week budget for food. Its really around $80.00 with $20 saved each week for a monthly Costco trip/ good meat sale stock up trip. I'm happy to say we have been doing that and pretty successfully too! So here's how it happens:
All my local stores start their weekly sales on Wednesdays so my Sundays (remember earlier how I said my husband's weekends are Tuesday Wednesday?) start with me getting the sales papers in the mail and writing down all the sale items (that we would actually eat). The local papers I get are Sprouts (DOUBLE ADD WEDNESDAYS!!), Safeway, Frys, Bashas, and Albertsons. I also price match El Super and Food City but have to look online for their adds because they don't get sent to my house.
I then open up an Excel spread sheet (or Numbers on Mac) and type up all the sales were I keep track of the Item, Price, Quantity allotted to sale (gallon/each/ per pound), Place of sale and a area in the store I'll find the item (meat, dairy, produce, etc...). Then I alphabetize and organize the items by category just to make my life easier at checkout when I have to find the items I price match. I recently added an ending column: Walmart Price because in the last few months I know I've been saving money, I just wanted to keep track of HOW MUCH???? I wanted to know if I was saving a couple bucks or if this amount of work is actually worth it and I was saving ALOT of money. So I've kept track of my savings for the last two weeks so far.
Once I have my list of sales I then sit down and decide what to make for the week based off the sales and what I have on hand. The first few weeks I did this, I planned a different meal each day and still found that I was throwing out too much food. I had to remember there are only two of us and most recipes feed 4-6 people. I found that having at least two leftover days balances that. Also I have to note I plan DINNER meals only. I do make a shopping list for breakfast items I need and what things my hubby needs for lunch (items on the sale list as well, but those are stock up items so I usually buy lunch and breakfast stuff 1-2 times a month) but don't include it on the meal plan list for dinners. I end up eating dinner leftovers throughout the week too for my personal lunches. :)
I recently started coupling (by recently I mean I cut them today haha) but I by no means am going to be an extreme couponer! Sure I would love free stuff, but I only cut coupons for items I would actually buy. Also don't let the pile fool you; on this last trip I only used one coupon, but I'm saving the little pile in hopes that the items will be on sale and I can pair them up for additional savings!
Once I have my sale list/shopping list I head out to Walmart, that's right I go to Walmart. Don't get me wrong I would love to go to each individual store and get all the fresh stuff but I live in the boonies and when we go into town (see told you we use that term!) I'd prefer a one stop shop after planning sales and meals for a couple hours. I grab my stash of Thirty-One bags, (super durable canvas bags that eliminates the flimsy, not to mention non eco friendly plastic bags) my sales paper and list and head to the store. Walmart price matches all competitor add prices So when I check out I just go off my list and tell them the sale price. I bring the adds with me (even though Walmart does not require you to have the adds with you at checkout) just in case there are questions (there have been sometimes.. usually when I find an amazing sale on meat). As I go around the store I have also started to write down the Walmart price to see at the end how much I really save.
Once I get home I put everything up and collapse from the exhaustion of shopping. Staring last week I was curious to see how much I was actually saving so now when I get home I sit down and go through the receipt and my table of Walmart's original prices to see the difference. Soooo, last week I bought 86 items and saved $52.53. 32% savings! Not bad considering last weekend I had my wonderful mom and dad come for the holiday and fed four people for three of the seven days. And this week, I bought 44 items and saved $42.16, that's 40% savings! Now the fun will be when I get to the end of the month and I can see how much/ the percentage of saving for the month is!
To follow future savings of mine and to see what meals I make through the week (my hubby's lunches and our dinners.. and the occasional breakfast) follow my INSTAGRAM. Also if you have any of your own tips please let me know! I love saving money and meal planning!
