[MomToTwoBoys]

It's a few days into 2011, but I've already learned something new about my frugality that I wasn't aware of before:

I'm spending too much on groceries.

I usually spend about $250 per biweek on groceries. Apparently, this is something that I should have had under control before now. In staying with my inlaws, I've found out that I spend way more than I need to. Here's a few tricks I learned:

1) Bread and butter with a salad is cheaper than doubling the main dish.
2) Having a leftovers night once or twice a week is good to clean out the fridge. (Now I had been doing it before, but it wasn't efficient enough.)
3) Two cans of soup and a sandwich with some crackers is pretty good as far as lunch is concerned.
4) Buying a few extra items each time I shop will actually benefit my stockpile more than I was before.
5) It's actually cheaper to send lunch with hubby made up of sandwiches, yogurt, and fruit is way cheaper than using leftovers from the night before.
6) I don't need to cook for a family of eight. (I was doing this before.)
7) Eating a good breakfast will lessen the amount you eat at lunch and dinner.

I picked up a few shopping tips as well, but until I figure out what is actually in the new neighborhood,I have to wait to modify that system when the time comes.

So did you learn anything new in the new year?

 

[mauimagic]

You're really on top of things and it's only four days into the New Year!!

This year I am only eating what I bring to school - no more snacking on the kids' snacks and everything else that eople bring into my room.

Not eating out of the bag really does make a difference - I am using cute little snack dishes for any snacks I may want and then I need to eat sitting down - not in passing.

These two new ideas are going to make a big difference in my health this year!!

 

[2ndGenGranola]

I've learned that is it no more expensive and often cheaper to have things delivered to my house giving me back time and eliminating temptation.

Local organic farmers will deliver to the house weekly at a comparable price to stores or cheaper. I'll get fresh, organic, USA food and not have to deal with the kids in a store.

Sam's click and pull gets me in and out in 10 minutes. Once again, I "shop" while the kids are doing their homeschool work and I pick it up the next morning. I already know how much it will be so I can have cash ready. They are the cheapest place for water softener salts, cat food, paper goods, soy...

Amazon carries many of the beans/soups/nutritional yeast we get from the hfs at a savings of $1-1.50 a bag ($4-6 a case!!) . We are now on their auto ship for either 3,4,6 month intervals.

Delivery helps resist the temptation of goodies. Plus, it give me back TIME. I have probably gained about 3 hours a week by doing this.