Food & Budgets

I am very easily inspired by other mothers. I see a little random thing a mom is doing, and copy it straightaway. (This is why I really wish we had some Moms' groups in the area.) Several weeks ago, I was at one mom's house, and I saw on her fridge a monthly meal plan. Not just any meal plan, but the detailed kind you find in your kid's backpack that he brought home from school 2 months ago. She had written out the main courses, along with fruit and veggie sides, for about every day of the month. I'd been doing meal plans off and on for a couple years, but it usually didn't take because I wasn't quite as detailed and organized about it. We recently received a free calendar in the mail, so I sat down and did the same thing as that one mom. It's amazing how cooking can be much more enjoyable when you minus the time you spend standing in the kitchen trying to plan out that night's meal. And we've been eating steady, healthy meals on a very consistent basis now. And, like most "smart" shoppers, I go through my meal plan, write out the ingredients I need, and go grocery shopping about 2x a month, sticking to my list. Amazing how much money you save this way. A long time ago, a much older woman asked me, while Dustin and I were still newlyweds, "Have you figured out grocery shopping yet?" At the time I thought what's there to figure out? Well, lady, 7 1/2 years later: Yes. I've finally got it figured out.

Last week, I went through my cupboards, looked through all my food, and attempted to make a a meal plan using what ingredients I already had in the house. The money I spent on feeding my family for 2 weeks came to a grand total of $45.00. !!! I've run out of a couple things, and will have to hit the store again, but that is definitely my personal best.

Of course, doing that has meant I've not attempted anything really different or extravagant. BUT, last night, over a dinner of spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread, Lara said, "Mmmmm, mommy! You are a good cooking-er!"

As long as my family is happy, I'm happy!!