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Start Saving from Scratch – Part 4 of 6

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Start Saving from Scratch

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

My menu plan is back to running smoothly. The last two months fell into the category of spontaneous rather than planned. Thankfully, it was a short season – a break, but I’m back now.

Having stocked up on some great deals this past week, I am back in my swing. To start saving from scratch, I pushed the reset button.

This series is at the halfway point. Starting at the beginning, Part 1 focused on organizing the food supply, then Part 2 dealt with creating a menu, and Part 3 pulled it together compiling a grocery list. With the planning done, it’s time to hit the stores.

Part 4: Gathering your Savings

Entering the Store

If you shop with small children, check your store’s bakery for free cookies. After checking the entry ways and customer service for coupons, we head to the bakery. Obtaining a sugar cookie with sprinkles keeps my girls occupied during our shopping trip. I usually make Publix our last stop because my kids like their cookies the best. 😉

Shopping the Store

In using time wisely to gathering my savings, I follow these seven steps:

Paying the Store

When choosing my cashier, I look for my favorites. As you shop each week, you will find the better cashiers, who are coupon-friendly. To make checkout run smoothly, I place the groceries on the conveyor belt in this order. This order helps me prepare for any quirky situations (e.g., rain checks).

Once our transaction begins, I assist the cashier throughout the process. My having the items in order, I get our loyalty card scanned, present reusable bags, ask for bag credits, present rain checks, and provide coupons. Staying organized makes checkout smooth, uncomplicated, and efficient.

Before leaving the store, I check the receipt and request any rain checks. When I find discrepancies, I address them with customer service before leaving the store.

As I gather my savings, I get quicker and more efficient the more I shop. I am faster this year than I was last year. Experience is your friend, so keep practicing. Once you get into the rhythm, the process goes smoothly.

Try to relax. I understand the fear of having a coupon rejected or getting out of order. It’s OK. Customer service can correct any issues. Do your best, and keep practicing while gathering your savings.

Question: How do you make your shopping trips successful?

Start Saving from Scratch – Part 3 of 6

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Start Saving from Scratch

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Hopefully, you are gaining momentum in the kitchen. In start saving from scratch, I feel like I can make an informed decision because I know what I have in my house and what I need to feed my family.

In the process of saving money while feeding my family, I have organized my food supply and created a menu. Rather than guessing, I know what is in my food supply and on the menu. Now, I continue saving by compiling a grocery list.

Part 3: Compiling a Grocery List

Preparing the Grocery List

My grocery list comes together from two sources: products needed and products on sale.

Identify Products Needed

To identify the products needed, I consult the pad of paper on the side of my refrigerator. Throughout the week as we open the last jar of ketchup or notice we are running low on flour, we add that item to the list. Also, any items needed to complete a meal are added to this list.

With a quick look over the pantry, freezer, and refrigerator, I can add any items that are low in supply. Usually milk and bread make it on the list from browsing my supply.

Identify Products on Sale

To see the deep savings, I shop the buy one, get one free and sale items at the grocery store. To save time, I consult blogs that specialize in food savings. My favorite grocery store match-ups are found at Southern Savers where I just click the box next to my selected item. At the end of that store’s sales, I can create my grocery list with those items selected.

Composing the Grocery List

With the products identified, I can then print the coupons from the links provided and collect the remaining coupons from my binders. Knowing how many items I can purchase and need, I add those numbers to my grocery list.

With the grocery list complete, I place it with the coupons into that store’s envelope. I then repeat this process with each store.

Any item remaining on the pad that was not on sale for the week at either Publix or Bi-lo, I will purchase at Aldi. In my area, Aldi is the least expensive solution for feeding my family.

At the conclusion of this process, I end up with a maximum of 3 grocery lists: Publix, Bi-Lo, and Aldi. Some weeks, I bypass a store if there are no deals I need. By shopping the sales, I am restocking my supply at home with products at a low cost. As I make my menu in the weeks to come, I will use the products on sale this week to feed my family for less.

In using time wisely, I have adjusted this process to work for me. As you work through the steps, make adjustments as needed to find a system that works for you. Happy savings!

Question: Where do you find the best coupon match-ups for your area?

Start Saving from Scratch – Part 2 of 6

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Start Saving from Scratch

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Going back to the drawing board provides a fresh start saving from scratch. Beginning with the basics and then working up allows the process to stay manageable. When the foundation crumbles, then one needs to start over.

In starting over, I took last week’s challenge and organized my food supply. This time around, the pantry took longer although I did not defrost my freezer. I stayed inside as much as possible this week with the drop in temperature.

In continuing this series with an organized pantry, freezer, and refrigerator, I move onto creating a menu.

Part 2: Creating a Menu

In discovering a menu plan, I have used a weekly and monthly plan. Though I no longer plan the full month in advance, I prefer to schedule our meals a week in advance on a monthly menu planner. I like the calendar in the kitchen and a place to add meals as I get inspiration.

1. Choose Meals

With my pantry, freezer, and refrigerator organized, I can “shop” from my food supply to create meals that I have in stock.

2. Assign Meals

Once I have a meal decided, I assign that meal to a day on my menu planner.

Sample Menu Plan

Sunday: 

B – Egg sandwiches with fruit cups

L – Roast beef in crock pot, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and bread

D – Pancakes and bacon

Monday:

B – Cereal and fruit

L – Pizza at school

D – Baked chicken, rice, and vegetables

3. Partial Meals

After assigning the meals I can make with the ingredients at home, I might have a few days left on my planner for the week. I continue to see what parts of meals I have in my food supply. For example, to make open-faced pork chop sandwiches I might have the pork chops, cream of chicken, and milk, but I lack the hamburger buns.

For these partial meals, I add the meal to my menu planner on a day after I plan to grocery shop. I then add the remaining items needed, in this case the hamburger buns, to my weekly grocery list. I then plan hamburgers or chicken patties for another meal to use the leftover hamburger buns before they spoil.

In using time wisely to prepare for the week and to save money on food items, I use what we have at home and then write down the missing items on my grocery list for pickup during the week.

Shopping your food supply may only generate a meal or two, at first. But as you build your stockpile, you will find more and more meals in your food supply. Start where you are and work from there, and the savings will come. Happy menu planning!

Question: What type of menu planner do you prefer?