A Heart For Home
The $50.00 Grocery Challenge
Here's the challenge: You have ONLY the following in the pantry and $50.00 cash. What would your meal plan for the week look like? What would you buy with that $50.00 to feed a family of 5 with for one week? Post your meal planner on your blog or this one. Let's get creative and help one another. 1 dz. eggs
I'm going to use the following and see what I could come up with. Knowing what I have been spending for the past few weeks has made me get creative. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Prices On Groceries To Rise Even More?
Hubby went with me to the grocery store a few weeks back. He couldn't believe the prices he saw. Just how does a family of 5 live off of $50.00 a week for groceries? Praying, planning and preparing is the only way I know how to. The Lord will meet our needs, He always has and I know He always will! To God be the glory! Always! Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
A Price Book & The Dollar Stretcher- Great Information
Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <><
Are You Changing Your Spending Habits?
" http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D921N71G0&show_article=1- Here are some of the things that we have started doing around our home: #1- I am trying to limit my weekly gas budget of $50.00 to $25.00. That would be a half of a tank instead of a full one. It means going out less. (I'm a natural Homebody anyway so it doesn't bother me.) That would save us $100 a month. That's a good thing. #2- I am working on cutting the grocery bill too. No more colas and pre packaged meals. I make most of our meals from scratch and am working on only stocking up on sale items each week. Stocking up has really helped. I have actually been able to keep my grocery bill at about $35 per week (food only.) for a family of 5 for about a month now. #3- Lowering the temp.on the air conditioning thermostat. (kids hate this one #4-I am wanting to cut the cable. Hubby and kids are DEAD set against this one #5- I have changed plans on my cell phone. I was spending $55 a month and am now spending $28 a month. It doesn't seem like much, but I know that every bit counts. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< $10.00 For A Gallon of Gas??? Can You Imagine That???This is an interesting article. I can't stand the thought of it actually happening. Although I can see it in the near future. There are just TOO many greedy people in this world!
http://www.nysun.com/news/business/gas-price-may-soon-cost-sawbuck Have a blessed day and pray for our country! Amanda <>< Wheat Price Information
I found this site that keeps track of the ever rising wheat prices. It updates ever so often, so it would be a good idea to go back to often. Very informative. http://www.gmiflour.com/gmflour/markettracker.asp#chart Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
Menus and Grocery (Major) Shopping Once a Month
Tuesday- Tater Tot Casserole & Veggie Wednesday- Bacon, Eggs & Grits Thursday- Turkey, Pasta & Veggie Friday- Rerun of Thursday Saturday- Griled Burgers & Fries Sunday- Reruns of Sat. Monday-Turkey, Crock Pot Cheese Taters & Veggie Tuesday-Spagettie & Salad & Home made Rolls Wednesday-Rerun of Tuesday Thursday-Bacon, Eggs & Grits Friday- BBQ Beef, Fries, Veggie & Rolls Saturday- Rerun of Friday Sunday-BBQ Chicken Breasts & Veggie & Tater Tots Monday- Homemade Pepperoni Pizza & Cheese Sticks Tuesday- Pot Roast, Rice & Veggie Wednesday- Rerun of Tuesday These are the ingredients that I will need for the above menu for the next 2 weeks - Pepperoni, Moz. cheese (8 oz.), lettuce, tomato,mushrooms,tea, sugar,milk, chips, cheese slices, potatoes, cheddar cheese (1 lb.), orange juice, grape juice. I already have all lunches and breakfasts covered as well as desserts and snacks. Now, once this menu is completed, the pantry will be just about empty. I will have to do my once a month grocery shopping again. I can honestly say that I LOVE doing the once a month grocery shopping. It keeps me from spending extra gas money running to and fro. It has also been nice to have "extras" on hand to help others when needed. I will have about $150.00 to spend at the first of May. That is what I will use to do my shopping with for a month. I won't spend it all at once. I just make up a list of weekly menus and buy accordingly. I stock up on whatever meat that is on sale for that week.( I'll have about $25.00 put aside for that.) Thank you Lord for supplying my needs. Thank you Lord for everything! To God be the praise! Have a blessed day in The Lord! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7 Weekly Menu and Spring Fever
Good afternoon friends! I can't believe that I haven't blogged in almost a week. I have had NO desire to write about anything. We have been dealing with an "uck" bug around here. I am also dealing with spring fever. I just want to be outside in the garden and out of the house. Getting school done around here has also burned me out. I just want this school year to end. I need a LONG break! Here is this weeks menu: Monday- Spagetti and rolls Tuesday- Edie Burgers, Broccoli & Home Made Bread Wednesday- Rerun of Tuesday Thursday- BBQ Chicken, Noodles & Veggie with Bread Friday- Sausage, Crock Pot Mac. & Cheese & a Veggie Saturday- Reruns of Friday I did find a really good deal this week on bread flour. I bought (9) 5 lb. bags @ $1.25 per bag. It is usually $2.50-$3.00 for a 5 lb. bag. So I saved a considerable amount and won't need any for at least 4 months. I also stocked up on peanut butter at .99 cents a jar, usually $1.99 a jar. They also had butter on sale at Wal Mart for $1.50 a lb. That was a stock up price for me as well. Let's just say that I have the basic pantry items on stock and got them at a good price. Have a blessed afternoon in The Lord! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
Kitchen Table Finances
This is a great article on keeping the pantry full while reducing your budget using sale items. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7 Menus and Random Thoughts
Monday's menu? It's Tuesday right? Every day seems to be running together lately. A sign of maturity or is it stress? I know, I'm rambling here. Monday- Sausage & Crock Pot Mac and Cheese Tuesday- BBQ Chicken & Mac. & Cheese & Broccoli Wednesday- Hot Dogs & Chips Thursday- Edie Burgers & Rice & Veggie & Rolls Friday-Rerun of Thursday Saturday-Tater Tot Casserole & Veggie & Rolls Sunday- Rerun of Saturday Breakfast will be the French toast that I made this morning. I had almost 4 dozen eggs that needed to be used. God is ever so faithful to my family. He meets my every need and He is to get all of the glory! Have a blessed day in The Lord! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
Are You Feeling the "Food Pinch" At the Local Grocery Store Yet?I thought that this was an interesting graph on food inflation. The wheat, soybeans,corn and egg prices amaze me. I didn't realize that eggs had gone up so much myself until I had to purchase some earlier in the year when my birds stopped laying. Eggs $ $1.99 for a dozen nation wide. I personally have been spending about $60.00 per week on just food for a family of 5.. There are no organics in this house. I would only have $40.00 per week to spend if I went that way. We are using more frozen veggies and less prepackaged foods for better health. Cooking fron scratch lets me know what is going into our food. Why does the basics of life have to be so expensive? Either way, I thank The Lord for providing our daily needs. It is all in His control. I am blessed! To God be THE glory! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7 Another Great Biblical Solution To Rising Economics and The One Income Family
http://www.generationswithvision.com/broadcast.aspx - Online conversations on rising prices and one income families. Solutions to keeping Mom's at home and still having our "NEEDS" by God. Bless all who pass this way! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7 One Income Family Ideas For Saving Money
Here is a list of articles for those of you with families living on one income. http://www.stretcher.com/menu/1income.htm
It has stories of families who share their experiences. It's a blessing for me to go back and read these articles when I "feel" like I can't "tighten the belt," so to speak anymore. May The Lord bless all who pass this way today! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
Monthly Grocery Shopping Menu & Update
I have decided that putting my weekly menu online, keeps me in line. Here is this weeks menu: Sunday- Homemade Chinese Wontons (Race Day Tradition) Monday- Sausage Casserole and Veggie Tuesday-Rerun of Monday Wednesday- Pot Roast, Rice,Veggie & Rolls Thursday-Rerun of Wednesday Friday-Taco Salad (more meat than actual salad Saturday- Church Chicken Bog (I'll take a dessert) I think that I really did save money by doing my shopping the way that I did at the first of the month. I learn so much from this blogging community! Have a blessed day in The Lord! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
Yearly Grocery Shopping (Cut Down to 30 Days)
Good morning friends! I pray that where ever you are today, that The Lord will bless you as you go about His work! Speaking of "work," I have a lot to accompolish this morning. I'm heading off to try what I have heard others call "yearly shopping." Only I will only be doing it for a month. I have my list and have checked it twice. I only have $200 to spend, so that ends up being $50 a week for a family of 5. I have been scanning the circulars for the past few weeks waiting for a good sale on meats. I found several stores this week that have the things I need at good "loss leader" prices. I pray that I can spend my husbands hard earned money wisly. Got to go and get the kids up. It's 6:00 a.m. here and time to get on the road before 7:00 a.m. Have a blessed day in The Lord! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
He Supplies My Every Need!
Good morning friends! It is cold here this morning as well as cloudy. A good day to do some baking. Here is the list of what I need to bake today: Banana Muffins,cupcakes (strawberry and yellow),chocolate chip muffins.and blueberry muffins. I will make enough to last (hopefully) for the next 2-3 weeks. I pop them in the freezer and use them as hubby's snacks for lunch and for a quick breakfasts. I had planned on going to the Bulk store this morning before I did my baking. I decided to save my gas for the rest of the week. Hubby's is down to working 4 days a week and our income has been drastically cut. So things are kind of "tight" right now. So staying home sounds like a better idea. I was also going through my pantry last night and looking for ideas for supper. I want to use up what is left in both fridge and freezer before going out and buying more. I ended up with about 5 different meals I could make for dinner this week, that I didn't even know I had. This is our weeks menu- Saturday- Sloppy Joe Sandwiches & Tots Sunday- Enchilladas & Cheesy Rice with an Eclair Cake that DD makes (this is what I am taking to our Church Dinner) Monday- Pot Roast, Cheese Taters, & Broccoli Tuesday-Rerun of Monday Wednesday- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Rice Thursday- BBQ Beef & Baked Taters & Veggie Friday- Rerun of Thursday Again, I use a lot of leftovers. If I freeze it for another time, it won't get used. Waste not want not! I was amazing that I ended up with what I did. I didn't realize I had that much to choose from. I just started looking through some cookbooks for recipes for the things I knew I already had. With that, I came up with the "extra" food. Thank you Lord for supplying all of our needs. I pray you all have a blessed day! Amanda <>< II Corinthians 5:7
A Great Day to Crunch The Numbers~I have been looking online for a place the breaks down the cost of the "average" baking supplies that one would use when baking their own foods. Here is a great site: http://sensetosave.com/2007/10/07/the-cost-per-unit-of-baking-items/ The lady that has done this work has done a great job. It is a very detailed site on lots of money saving ideas. I am going to try and figure the cost of an average weeks worth of meals for my family of 5. I would love to be able to get my grocery bill down to $50.00 per week (food alone.) Right now it averages about $50-$70 a week. Hubby LOVES his meat, so I can't ditch that. I have definately learned that preparing your own meals at home is the less expensive way to go compared to store bought premade dinners. Home made tastes better too! Anyone else know of any other ways to save on groceries that you would like to share? Have a blessed day in The Lord! Amanda <>< Matthew 6:33
My Bath & Body Works Savings~Well, I made it to the Bath & Body Works today. It opened at 9:00 this morning. I had the baby today, so we got there at 10:00. There was a line all the way to the back of the store. All of their body creams that are normally $10.50 and up were only $3.00. That was their Signature Collection too. It was also the same price for their Body Sprays and Body Bath Cream Washes,$3.00 per bottle, normally $10.50. I was so happy to find my favorite scent, Cotton Blossom ,was back in the store. I was told that they had discontinued that scent. I stocked up with 6 bottles of it. Here are my savings: Cotton Blossom Body Spray=6 bottles @ $3.00 each-total cost-$18.00 (Prices before Sale would have totaled $63.00) Cotton Blossom Body Cream Wash= 3 bottles @ $3.00 each- total cost-$9.00 (Prices before Sale would have totaled $31.50) Cotton Blossom Body Cream= 3 bottles @ $3.00 each- total cost $9.00 ( Prices before Sale would have totaled $31.50) Toasted Vanilla Body Cream= 1 bottle @ $3.00- (Price before Sale would have been $10.50 ) Magnolia Blossom Body Gel=1 bottle @ $4.00- (Price before Sale was $7.50) Cotton Blossom "pocket" body lotion 1 bottle @ $1.00 (Price before Sale was $3.50) Cotton Blossom "pocket" body spray= 1 bottle @ $1.00 (Price before Sale was $3.50) Total Price after Sale was $48.00 Total Price before sale was $151.00 That was a savings of $103.00- I have enough to last through the year. It is the ONLY time that I will go to Bath & Body Works. The Sale is also online. Going online might save you gas and your sanity Amanda <>< Matthew 6:33
Bath and Body Works Sale!
Bath & Body Works has a huge sale starting tomorrow at their local mall stores. 5 @ $20.00.Their Body Creams that are normally $10.50 and up will be only $3.00. Their online sale began today. I LOVE these kind of sales. I stock up for birthdays and other special occasions. Happy Shopping! Amanda <>< Matthew 6:33 Frugal Ideas Galore!I thought that this was a cool site (http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-a.htm#cleanrecipes) that shows so many ways to save money. There are at least 4 pages with all kinds of ideas dealing with debt, budgeting,to making your own household cleaners. I'm determined to stay on budget this year. Reading these kinds of articles "keeps me in the mood" so to speak. Amanda <>< |
It would be interesting to see what others come up with as well. Who knows, you might even help someone who needs new creative ideas for her household.
) I keep the temp. set at 85 degrees during the day using a fan in the living room to keep the air circulating. We don't use the air at night. Only fans.
. It would save us another $50.00 per month. If hubby's hours go down any more, cable goes down too!
