So, I recently spoke to someone about our grocery budgets. She was shocked at how low mine was. Not sure why. I am certainly not a coupon clipper. I don’t scout for sales or pre-plan my shopping. I like brand names. I was thinking and thinking about it, and then I came to some sort of run down.
School lunches make me want to punch myself in the face. I hate them. LOATHE them. I don’t know how people do it. I can never seem to find the right set of easy yet healthy yet cheap. Half of it comes home wasted. I hate them. I wish I knew how other super moms pack their lunches. I looked into those bento box lunch boxes and almost fainted. Some people spend 40 bucks on these things! My kids would lose them in 2 days. Permanent lunch containers are a no go for us. I googled “Five dollar meal” lunches. One site sent only 2 boiled eggs, some water, and an apple. Is this the norm? My kids would starve on that! I have not in any way been able to come to a conclusion about this. I have gotten better, but certainly haven’t mastered it.
As for dinners and other meals, basically, I buy what is on sale, plan out my meals while I am walking through Safeway (the only place I shop because the music is always good. Make fun of me now…) . I shop once a week, so every week has different items on sale. I use up my pantry before I shop. That’s about it. I find the fact that I cook at home with basic ingredients is the main reason. I love http://www.mealsmatter.org. They got me started on the basics of meal planning. And sometimes, I just look in my fridge, enter some ingredients into google with the word “recipe” and see what comes up. That’s it. That is all I do, and my grocery bill seems to be quite a bit lower than some people (if you also factor in take out as groceries, which I do). I love the fact that my husband brags to his friends about my cooking.
Other items? Well, I was watching Nineteen Kids and Counting. Man, those people make their own laundry soap! Wha? I am certainly not that domesticated yet. I just buy what I like, and try to wait for it to be on sale.
And now for my kid story of the day.
Yesterday, I stood my eight year old in front of a mirror and asked her “Honey, what do you see there?” She looked and said “I see a tall, wise girl… Standing behind me.” And THAT is why she is so awesome. 😀
Catholic Momma 