Your host for today is Bella from Cupy Cakey! If you want to learn a bit more about her, be sure to check yesterday’s post where we asked Bella to tell us something about herself that we might not expect. Ok, on with the show. Bella, the stage is yours!
- Make a list – seems simple but by not making this list you can truly waste time & money.
- Coupon matchups for items needed – Because I am also a frugal blogger it’s a must for me to get the best bang for my buck while keeping my family eating healthy. This preparation is key for me. Finding the best deals on the items I need to make the meals for our family of 4 living on one income is a must. If you spend less than an hour a week preparing your menu plan and grocery matchups together; you will see a huge difference in your weekly spending. And for me my stress level is at bay when I know what I’ll be cooking.
Being Flexible: Just recently I’ve needed to add this preparation to my list. After having twins I quickly realized that things very rarely go according to plan. If I have a great menu plan for the week prepared and I’ve done my shopping, by the time that day rolls around I needed to be prepared that things just might not work out. What do I do? I ama big fan of cooking from your pantry! I can whip up something from my pantry with as little as two ingredients and keep it healthy for my family because I keep stock items in my pantry.
My goal at the beginning of every month is to simply replenish my stock items, i.e. butter, bread, cheese, etc… By only doing this once a month and purchasing them at their rock bottom price, I stay out of the store picking up items I don’t need that try to break the budget. All the items mentioned above freeze very well by the way. Here’s a great list over at The US Department of Agriculture on freezing foods and duration.
Creating & Cleaning: Make it fun! Cooking should not be stressful. I’ll be the first to admit, I hit burnout quite often. And when I do, I step away and use other resources like having an upside down dinner (this is when we eat breakfast for dinner} or my hubby will gladly step in and whip up one of his masterpieces.
The sweetest thing you can ever say to me after I’m done cooking my masterpiece is that you will do the cleaning. In a perfect world that would be great. However, my twins are only 5 and I let them help me as often as possible but what I try to do is clean as I cook. By doing this it helps me stay more organized, and before I know it I’m done cooking and the kitchen is clean. This is the only way to go for me!
It’s been great guest posting over at Mommie Cooks! Hope to see you all sometime over at Cupycakey.com to get the latest treat location near you!
I agree with cleaning! I love it when my sweet husband makes me sit down after dinner so that he can do all of the dishes for us. I get to put up my feet and he so joyfully sings and laughs with me as the suds fill the sink.
Thanks for all the great tips! I love sitting down and making a menu for the week! Thanks for sharing and posting!
The list making gives me trouble. I once stopped at another grocery store on the way home from the first one because I forgot to get portabello mushrooms. There' no limit to my forgetfulness.
And someone that will clean up after? Heaven.
great stuff! happy 4th, and stop by soon to pick up your awards!
anne
http://www.anniebakes.net
You have many great tips here. I'm new to meal planning and making lists for grocery shopping so I appreciate what you've shared with us. I know it's a must, but it's also a learned-skill that takes practice and patience. I've borrowed so many ingredients from my neighbours, which is always why I'm sending them sweets. I don't mind cleaning after dinner because I clean as I go as well so it's usually only a few things left, and loading the dishwasher. Now.. to go visit you over at Cup Cakey – love the name of that blog!
We're just wrapping up some family time at the beach. Fun times! SITS sent me by, and I'm glad they did…
Fireworks on the 4th