As most of you know I am a penny pincher. I, at times, refuse to spend money on myself or pay retail for ANYTHING! If I can't find a coupon for it or I can't find it on clearance, then it's likely that I will not purchase the product. Same goes for me when I grocery shop. Most people will go for the generic product versus the name brand, simply because it's cheaper. Me, well I get the name brand WITH a coupon and still get it cheaper than what you penny pinchers do. I'm just good like that! ;)
I use to have someone tell me all the time that making a menu would help you save money. You could buy in bulk, seperate and save a lot of money freezing things. Rickey and I have been married for 17 years (bless his heart) and I've tried the menu thing a couple of times. Well, it turns out that a menu, buying bulk and freezing does save a ton of money. I've just never taken the time each month to make a menu and shopping list. Until now! Not only have I made a menu and shopping list for one month, I've made one for an entire year. Yes, an entire YEAR! I ran across this brilliant idea HERE. I was thinking this idea was going to take days and days from start to finish. Actually, I was wrong. After printing out all of the sheets, including the extra recipe cards, shopping list sheets and other goodies. I was able to complete this in about 4 hours total. I didn't take the time to write down each recipe if it was in a cookbook. I just wrote name of cookbook and page number. When I used the menu, I loved the idea but it was always hard getting everyone to tell me what they wanted. Now, as we are watching tv or just sitting around, I'll have them write down something they like. Sometimes they'll even come home from a friends house and say they have had something that was really good. I'll make a quick call, get the recipe and add it to the menu. For those of you that are Pinterest followers, that is a great source for recipes.
Here's how I done mine. After printing everything from the link above. I made out my menu and shopping lists. Inserted all of them into the binder like the link directs. Before making each shopping trip, I'll scan local sales papers, see where I need to shop or ad match, attach all coupons to the shopping list and go. Last month I had $897 worth of groceries and to my shopping helper's (Rickey) amazement, we spent less than $175.00. For my blog reading friends that live close to me or close to a Fred's store, this is a great place to get "free" items. Dawn dish detergent, palmolive, cascade and other things needed around the house I always get for free or less than a quarter. Fred is my new best friend! :)
So, all of you take the time to look at the link that was provided for the Yearly Menu Binder and see what you think. If you are considering this, please remember to click on her "new" links to different printables to take full advantage of each item to put the binder together. Mine looks wonderful and I'm sure everybody elses will too! Need my help, let me know!
One last thing about saving to the max...... I NEVER buy spice products in the store, unless I can get it for free. The reason: I am a swagbucks member. I have a swagbucks toolbar and when I need to search for something I do so thru that toolbar. When searching you can earn "swagbucks" and use them to buy products ranging from posters to electronics. I've gained enough by referring people, searching, watching swagtv videos and other things that I have actually purchased Amazon & paypal gift cards and order my spices online from Amazon or other sources that take paypal. I get amazing deals, most of the time catching them on clearance. I've also purchased X-box controllers, DS covers, games, stylus pens, Wii games, movies, shirts, even a few school supplies. Why not, it's all FREE because I searched! Want to follow my savings and see what it's all about? Well, go to THIS and sign up under me and get yourself searching for some swags!
***Go HERE for swagbucks sign up***
***Go HERE for the 2012 update***
***Go HERE for the printables***
***Go HERE for directions on putting it together***
If you don't understand the directions and need help, slip me a message on facebook and I'll do what I can to help you!
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