Saving Money and Monthly Grocery Shopping

There are always ways to improve, right?  I ran across a blog, Blissful and Domestic, a few months ago and was impressed that this family lives on approximately $14,000 a year.  One of the ways they save money is by planning ahead and doing one big grocery shopping trip a month.  I liked the idea of that.

I bet I run to the store several times a week for one item and walk out with $100 of stuff that I didn't know I "needed".   The author of the blog does her meal planning for the month - when I say meal planning, I mean all three meals for each day.  I am not that organized.  I seldom cook with recipes but we tend to eat the same type of meals so I had a fairly good idea of what we would need for the month.

If I were to make an estimate, I would guess that our monthly grocery bill, thanks to needless purchases, run about $600 - $700 or more a month.  I knew that we could eat for much less and I am always interested in feeding my girls food that is healthier and less processed.  So, the first month I focused on not going to the grocery store at all.  For an entire month we ate  what was in the pantry.  By the end of the month I was getting creative but we did it.  This month I sat down and made a shopping list that allowed us to buy groceries for the whole month.  My budget was $400.  I did some research and found out that all kinds of dairy products can be frozen... milk, cheese, cream, butter, etc.  My deep freezer is full of enough dairy products to get us through the month and tons of frozen veggies and meat.  The best part, I am under budget!

I've also started baking a lot of things I would normally have purchased such as bread, granola bars, and any other baked goods.  My first attempt at granola bars weren't great but I'll keep trying.  They turned out way to sweet... so they were a success for the girls but way too much sugar (in my opinion).  I like to bake and doing it myself costs so much less and I know what is going into the food.  That's a win-win situation.

One of the things I am most proud of and has been the most helpful was making my own mixes.  I made a huge batch of pancake mix, brown sugar maple instant oatmeal, and "cream of" dry soup mix. After a few months I think I'll be able to stream line the process even more. I'm not sure but I suspect I over bought for the month.  What do you do to cut your grocery costs? 

Singing Forest - recycled pallet painting

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for He comes,

He comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalms 96:11-13

 

 

 

 

 There is an art show coming up in March and the theme is recycled art.  Recycling is close to my heart.  I feel a deep responsibility to take care of the natural beauty that God created for us.  My heart aches at times when I think about the lack of respect we show the earth and although I frequently fail, I try to avoid the "more" trap.  It doesn't take a ton of energy to recycle or cut down on waste.  Plus, it saves money. I can find an hour a week to take my trash to the recycling center.  

 

 

 

 Gene was sweet enough to scavenge a pallet tossed to the side at one of the construction sights in our neighborhood, tear is down, and put it together as a canvas.  I'm so thankful for his willingness to support my passion.

 

 

 

I had the idea for this painting for several months.  God has gifted me with this ability and my inspirations usually come from my sermon notes during church.  I have a notebook that I take notes in during church.  On the right side of the page is the actual sermon notes and the left side of the page is sketch after sketch of inspiration based on what spoke to me during the service.  It is fun to browse through my notebook.

 

 

 

I tried to incorporate additional materials that would normally end out in the garbage.  The wings of the moth are made from a world map that was heading to the dumpster and the circle of the large flower is made from a scrap of waxed paper.  There are also bits of paper from a credit card mailer worked into the picture.

This was a fun piece to make.  It is definitely different from what I usually do and  I will absolutely do it again.

  

 

Re-usable Sandwich Bags for Christmas Gifts

Christmas Gifts!

Each year I try to come up with something fun and inexpensive to make the girls' teachers for Christmas that involves the Three R's (reduce, reuse, and recycle).  This year it is the Lunch Kit which includes two re-usable sandwich bags and a lunch sized napkin.  I started making the sandwich bags after volunteering in the lunchroom a few years ago.  I was horrified by all the plastic bags and containers that went in the trash after each lunch.  Where is all this trash going to go in another decade or two?  Now the girls use the re-usable sandwich bags for everything - not just sandwiches.  They are lined with a food safe material and can be wiped out or tossed in with the laundry.  We also use them for car rides or just holding little collections of " kid stuff".   Greta is always wanting me to make her new ones so she can show her friends.  Little does she know that they get examples.  ha ha

Gigi's piano teacher received one after the Christmas Recital  filled with chocolate as a thank you for her hard work and patience.  I can't tell you how many times Gigi went to practice pretending like she had practiced all week.  I am sure Carly could tell the difference but she always give Gigi encouraging remarks after practice (even if I am tattling on Gigi).

This collection of newly finished re-usable sandwich bags ready for new homes. They are $6 each or the Lunch Kit is $15 (two bags and a coordinating lunch sized napkin).  If you aren't local I would be happy to mail them to you with just the cost of shipping.  They are also sold in Ms Effie's Summer Kitchen, along with all kinds of other handmade items from fabulous women.

New Totes and Bags

I haven't been able to sew since July.  My simple old Singer died right before we moved and couldn't be repaired.  I thought I would go big and bought a fancy schmancy Viking that had every stitch available. By the time all the layers are together, this stuff is as durable as leather and as difficult to sew through.  My new fancy schmancy machine said "no can do" when I tried to sew a re-usable sandwich bag.

ARGHHHH!!!!!

I came to my senses and bought a new machine with a giant motor and zero computerized parts.  It sews wonderfully!  Look at what's going to Ms. Effie's Summer Kitchen.

 I love the silvery blue of this tote bag and polka dots are always fun.  These bags hold library books, groceries, or anything you need to carry.  I regularly use mine for groceries and tell the cashiers to fill it to the top.  If I can lift it the bag can hold it.

A new stack of re-usable sandwich bags.  They are the same size of a traditional zip closure sandwich bag and lined with a food safe material.  We use them everyday in the girls' lunch then wipe them out or put them in the wash when they get dirty.  The kids enjoy the patterns and I feel great knowing that we are being kind to the earth.

Reusable Lunch Stuff

What to do with some leftover fabric? How about reusable lunch bags?

I made these lunch baggies in a jiffy. The liner is waterproof and food safe (it is the lining used for making diaper covers). It has a Velcro closure so it is easy for the kids to open and close. Now I don't have to add more plastic baggies to the landfill. If you start out with an 8x8 square it will end out the exact size of a sandwich bag.

Guess what a couple of dishtowels can make? Reusable napkins for the lunch box. One dish towel makes about six 5x6 napkins. The girls love them.