I have a few, other posters are much more organized than I, but I will post my list...
1. I have taken the time to walk each grocery store we have WITHOUT buying anything. I price compared items that I would normally buy each week/month. I noted if it was a sale price or normal price. I did this by myself. No kids, no DH. I realized that one grocery store (Wegmans) and two discount stores (Aldi's and SuperWalmart) had consistantly lower prices on the items we eat most often. I cut the other stores out and only look for sales items that with a coupon would make it worth me going to these other stores. NOW don't get me wrong all are stores are extremely close to each other so gas is not the problem here. I continue to make sure that the stores prices are within line. I noticed this month that SuperWalmart is NOT worth going to. I can wait for a sale or by an off brand of the items that I may need. I will re-evaluate this decision in a few months.
2. I use Sam's Club for certain items every month, this eliminates the need to find these items on sale, match it with a coupon, etc. Plus, it is the same each month for me. If Sam's raises prices, I will re-examine these items. My best example is Laundry Soap. It is around the same price or a bit cheaper at Sams than it would be on sale at the local grocery store... BUT if a local grocery store has a great sale I will still go there if I have a coupon that brings the price down even more. These purchases are saved for months when the budget is tight.
3. Coupons and Time! I know that many people do not have the extra time, but I make it. I cut coupons at sport's practices, waiting in the car, in the dr's office. I only half watch some of my favorite shows so that I can organize them and make sure that they have not expired. I use a box as a coupon holder, the little things they sell are useless IMO. Send for freebies whenever you can, they come with great coupons most of the time that are not in the stores/papers. I allow myself time on Sunday night to read all the ads, DH and kids are forewarned not to bother me, and DH knows HE must help the kids, or not eat!!!! If there is a coupon that is really great, I ask my neighbors/family to cut if for me if they will not be using it... I in return will offer my extra's to them....
4. I do the CVS thing, but not to the extend of some of the DISers. Mostly for toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. I combine these trips to coincide with prescription day.
5. Menu's. Yes as boring and as tedious as they are I have a menu calendar. On one calendar I write activities for the month. I put it side by side with my meal calendar. Each week I make a dinner menu. And mostly I do stick my it. I can read back each month to see what was good, what wasn't. We only have 1, yes 1, yes 1... this is important... 1 night where I will throw caution to the wind and eat out. I would rather be miserable making grilled cheese sandwiches that were not on the dinner menu than spend $30.00 because I didn't feel up to cooking. There is little to no effort in soup, sandwich, and or a salad/fruit. You have to remember this. And it does NOT kill your significant other or children if they have to help. Everyone gets tired...
6. Snacks are treats. Water is a staple. Soda Pop is on the endagered food list. Fruit and Veggies rank highest in the food chain. And now for my get flamed statement...
, I do NOT allow my kids to drink milk like it is cheap juice or water. Milk is expensive and 3 glasses a day is more than enough. They eat other foods with calcium throughout the day. I could never understand families who buy 5-8 gallons a week?? Cereal is a staple, but you only use as much milk as needed?? Oh and cereal can be a snack without milk. I personally apologize to those who feel that milk is more important. I do not judge you for doing it, I just can't justify it for my family. Fruit and veggies are not considered snacks, but everyone is encourage to pick up some and eat them if they are hungry. The best thing about my system is that some items will stay in the house all month, and the kids will not even look at it... (An example, I purchased a bag of chips 2 weeks ago and there is still 1/3 of the bag left).
7. Conviction. Both of my kids pay out of their allowance/spending money for treats that I do not purchase. I do not go to Dairy Queen. Why, when I can get a Sundae Treat bar at the store for about $5.00 that will feed all 4 of us for 2 times. YES Dairy Queen is great, but not worth ruining my budget. Conviction.... being able to say NO even when your kids and hubby pout!!
8. So many things in life are expensive, but when you really look at it the best things in life are free and priceless...
Spending time with your family
A cheap frozen pizza and movie night (a Sunday night tradition)
Watching Little League Baseball/Softball/Soccer... Even if your kids are NOT on the team
A walk through the park or neighborhood
Give your kids the camera, thus allowing them to take random pictures, seeing what your children see through the camera
So I guess I will end with this. My kids used to complain all the time about what we had and didn't have. This friends house always get this and we never do. This friend has better clothes.. More toys... WE HAVE NOTHING!! I listened... I never confirmed their concerns. I just listened!!
So now they are growing up a bit (DD16, DS13) and their friends are constantly saying that they would give up everything to have a family like ours. My DD and DS are best friends. My DH is my best friend. My DD and DS are just that my children, not my friends, but we do have a great time together. We fight, some days like oil and water. But at the end of day, we always say good night and I Love You. AND our bellies are full!!!
Hope this helps, Diane
and I am going to adjust my July grocery bill down by some.... Make sure to check out the post!!
, am I a mean Mom??
You eat what everyone else is eating or you can have an Uncrustable (we make our own) from the freezer. This works for my kids as pb&j isn't their favorite so they only make that choice if they feel they have no choice & despise dinner. And if they have made that choice, I watch them carefully as there is nothing that irritates me more than a kid refusing to eat dinner because "they aren't hungry" & then an hour later eating a whole bag of chips. 
DH told me to stop fretting about it. He said he's not going to sacrifice nutrition to save a few bucks. It is what is is, I guess. The good news is we are leaving town tomorrow so no groceries for this week which might keep me close to the above figure for the month. With the kids home all month, it has not been easy. 
. I love a slice of cheddar for a snack. I also make many meals with cheese.
Good luck!!!
She did not get a rash.
