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I have a few systems that I have been using for the past couple of years that is ALMOST working for me. I have to figure out how to *tweak* it a bit tho.
For the Budget:
I bought 3 inch plastic binder and 13 school type folders. And a big package of manila envelopes. I labeled 12 of the folders by month and the 13th is "Misc.". Then I went and made a spreadsheet of the Monthly Budget. My spreadsheet is saved in 2 forms, one with fixed payments only and one with both fixed and estimated monthly payments. At the beginning of each month I print out the one with the fixed payments and I put it in that months folder and put it at the front of the binder. Dh's paystubs go into the right side of the folder as he gets them, the bank statements after the checkbook is balanced, and ALL receipts. When I get the mail I sort as I go, bills go to the desk, junk gets shredded on the spot. I pretty much shred everything I can. As the bills come in I write the check, apply postage etc *except* put my address label on it. Where my label goes I put the date I need to mail the check, then I file it in order in a basket standing up so the date is visible, when I need to mail it all I have to do is stick the label over the date and put it in the mailbox. The statement goes in the left pocket of that months folder until the check is mailed, then it gets marked paid and moved over to the right side of the folder, and the check amount is noted on the printed out copy of the monthly budget. At the end of the month I go back into my second spreadsheet and enter the amounts of the non-fixed payments and adjust the estimated payments for next month if I need to. My spreadsheet can tell me if I went over my budget by bill, category and total *shudder* for the month. Then I print that one out and stick it in the folder and get the next month ready. At the end of the year I go through each folder and make notes on the budget sheets as needed, staple each month's business together (only the stuff I need to keep) and put everything in a manila envelope labeled with the year. The Misc. folder is where I stuff any notes I have made for the next year, like my wish list for the tax return, estimates for repairs not done, estimates for "the Spring Project", vacation ideas, you get the picture. Then I can figure them into the budget, compare the dreams to the reality of the budget and discard or adjust as needed.
I use index cards to write reminders for the once a year expenses and staple them to the appropriate month's folder. Like the school registration, how much I spent on school supplies for each kid, birthday present ideas, if certain things will probably be on sale or clearance and if I need to start saving for something that will happen the following month. I have a separate savings account that DH knows about but is forbidden to touch for stuff that *has* to be saved for, anything extra left over for the month (hardly ever happens, lol) and my slush fund that I only use in extreme emergencies like vet bills or furnace repairs. I transfer money into that account with each paycheck after the important bills are paid but before the "discretionary" expenses.
This works for me most of the time, but right now things are so tight that my second account is almost nothing. We had some pretty heavy extreme emergencies last year.
Groceries:
To trim the grocery expenses I have been doing menus for 2 weeks at a time (dh gets paid every other week). This took some preplanning, but it has been worth it! First I sat the family down and asked them to give me their favorite meals. When I had a decent sized list I bought a big recipe box and big index cards. I wrote a complete dinner on each one. I listed the main food, a side dish and a vegetable if necessary (these I am flexible about depending on what is on sale). Then I put as much info as I could on the front of each card, I listed every ingredient I would need, prep time, cooking method and cooking time and I tried to approximate the cost of the complete meal (that one is tricky). On the back I wrote out the recipes. I have these loosely arranged by main meat.
On the Wednesday after payday I sit down with my coffee and 3 pieces of paper. The first one I write down the days of the week and leave spaces, the second one is my rough draft grocery list, the third I leave blank until I am almost done. I look on the calendar and see what is going on for the next two weeks, which nights we need something quick, which nights DH is off, etc and note it on my menu page. Then I go through the grocery ads and highlight specials, sales, new stuff to try etc, but I don't write out the grocery list yet. First I go to the freezer in the garage and the pantry to see what I have! That alone has saved me money, I was buying too much stuff I already had. Then I pull out the menu cards that I could use for what is already in the freezer and pick what I want to make. I add whatever ingredients I will need to buy to the grocery list. Then I copy anything off the grocery list on the dry erase board on the pantry door. I have *almost* trained the family to write it down if they use the last of something. LAST I go back through the grocery ads and pull menu cards for what is highlighted and add to the grocery list as I go, making notes as to which store has what cheaper and the price advertised. Once I have 10 or so menu cards picked I arrange them on the menu list for the next 2 weeks so we have a variety. And I leave at least one night a week open for a "clean out the fridge night" and a night or two to try something new. New menu cards are made if it is a hit. When I am completely done, I redo the grocery list by store, then category within each store by layout. I include advertised sale prices and if I have a coupon.
When I go shopping I start at the cheapest store overall and work my way through the list. If I find an item cheaper than another has it advertised I get it and cross it off. If I find a spectacular deal I can either substitute it for something already on my list or buy it for the freezer. Because I really only shop every two weeks I can spend a bit more time going to 3 different stores if I need to. I don't have to shop much during the week at all so I guess I save time in the long run doing it this way. Generally the only thing I have to make a quick trip to the store for is milk. We go through more milk than I have fridge space for.
By doing it this way I have trimmed the grocery expenses considerably, and our town is going to be getting a Sam's Club next year so I probably will be able to save some more too. We are also eating more healthy and since the menu is on the fridge, I don't get the dreaded "What's for dinner" question anymore either!
Love your ideas. Especially the dinner menu's in advance. I HATE trying to figure out what I'm going to make for dinner. Basically we eat whatever is on sale at the grocery store that week. I'm going to try some of your ideas...Thanks for sharing them
GardenGeek:
Check out RECIPEZAAR. It is free, or you can join for a small annual fee, like DG. You will have access to thousands of cooks and thousands of cook books. It is also very useful in creating menu's. You can create your own folders. I created a 2 wk folder I can move recipes in and out of. Anytime I choose I can make a grocery list. This is extra wonderful. No more last minute "going out for dinner" spending too much $$$; or last minute shopping for just-tonite also spending too much $$$. The lists are so well organized, that it even helps eliminate impulse buying in the store! I get all I need in one section then move to the next getting only what I need.
SAH Dad
Kim
I admire your organization in the grocery department. I have difficulties there because
DH and I work opposite schedules and only see each other a few nights a week. So I tend to purchase and prepare soups and casseroles that can be reheated.
Also my job is sometimes "emergency based" meaning I will be planning to cook and suddenly I have to pull an all nighter and no dinner gets prepared at all. Arriving at 12:30 am one morning I am not in the mood to cook.
I have been trying for years to nail down a meal plan that I are quick - natural (not based on convenience foods) - economical and healthy.
I call them the four ingredient meals - not counting seasonings.
We don't eat out because of the expense and poor quality...
So the trouble is to get to the end of the week with the budget in tact - everyone fed - and no food in the garbage because it went bad.
matches Sunday paper coupons, against weekly ads. For example: Coupon mom tells me Safeway has Wonder bread Buy one get one free. And it also tells me to go back to the coupons from 1/29 where there was a $1 coupon for 2 loaves. My stores double coupons.
So, I get 2 loaves of bread, for $2.48 use the coupon for $2. My end result is 2 loaves of Wonder bread for 24 cents each.
Yes, you can do this without the help of the websites, but it majorly saves me time. Plus I HATE cutting out coupons so this way I only cut out what I intend to use this week. Another side benefit, is that I have tried stuff I wouldn't ordinarily, because if it is cheap enough, I'll try most anything once.
Coupon mom site is free, the grocery game site charges but it comes up with some unadvertised specials so I use it for that, and for what I buy at Albertsons since that store isn't on the couponmom site.
Sol,
Thanks for the links,,,I'll be checking into them. I don't get a paper so I don't get that many coupons,,,but I have heard of web sites that offer some,,,also someone said if you go to a manufacturers web site, they usually have coupons.
Actually, I have saved enough that I now take the Sunday paper twice just to get extra coupons. It more than pays for itself, although I tend to buy bulk and freeze. You aren't far from MSP, I'll bet there are a lot of coupons in their Sunday edition.
MG just directed me to this post. Really good ideas here and some I already do!
I have a question for you coupon people after looking at the Grocery Game site. Hubby likes his coupons and uses them on things we already buy and doesn't buy something because he has a coupon. A couple of months ago, he walked into Kroger with coupons he printed online. He got the coupon link from Kroger.com So he gets all his stuff in the basket, proceeds to the checkout and readies to pay. That is when they inform him they no longer take self printed coupons, even when they are from their own site. They said too many people have altered them. Anyone else run into this?
They did kindly offer to help him pull all the coupon items back out of the bags. HOW NICE! He told them for the amount of money we spend there, between groceries and gas, he just couldn't believe they would not allow his coupons and that he is seriously considering moving our shopping money to Walmart! LOL A few weeks later, he got a nice letter in the mail, on Kroger letterhead signed by nearly everyone at the store, stating how much they appreciate his business. Hmph! I cannot imagine the coupon refusal ever happening at the Kroger we shopped for 17 years, where everyone there knew us on site and many knew all of my kids by name!
I don't see how they can offer the coupons on their website, then refuse to honor them. That seems like really bad customer care, not to mention fraud since it is in essence a lure to get you into the store, similar to a "bait and switch" type thing.
I wonder if it was a "local" decision or a corporate policy? Maybe a call to corporate is in order? I'd be seriously POed in any case, I use a ton of coupons and a good chunk of them are self-printed.
Howdy! You know what, I think I will call our old store and ask them about it. Then I think I'll fire off a nastyOgram to the corporate office. I don't think it's right. They should at least remove the link from their site that says "Here, get some coupons!".
I'm figuring out the Angel Food thing right now. It's hard to budget food and menus when 2 kids won't touch beef or pork. LOL Do you have to buy extra pasta and fruits and vegetables with your plan?
Oh I would be firing off more than one nastygram, lol.
Yes, I do add fruits and veggies, and we go thru a ton of rice, pasta and other side dishes. What they consider food portions and what my 16 year old son consider food portions are vastly different, lol. The Angel boxes are a gret way to stretch the money tho.
What's up with the older two not eating beef or pork, is it a taste issue or a "meat guilt" issue? Is tofu an option?
Okay, I was looking at the food units and they seem light on side dishes and surprisingly heavy on meat (which costs more anyway). I giggled at the one box of macaroni and cheese. I think we normally make three. We were discussing joining Sam's again. We could always pick up veggies and pasta in bulk. Even if I was a little old lady, I don't think I could stretch the veggie and fruit part for a whole month.
Am I the only one that wonders if food portions are maybe extreme? We often count out the number of say chips or measure rice or pasta and think huh?? Hubby and I are both heavy but the kids aren't. I hate to think I am over feeding them. You know they are ALWAYS hungry!
The oldest two had a number of friends that were vegetarian, before we moved. They said they wanted to eat less animal and I said okay. Hubby and I figured it was a phase but I think it's been close to three years now. They'd forgo chicken too if I'd let them. My second child is very animal sensitive and doesn't think you should kill anything to eat it. LOL She has no problem with by products like milk and eggs. I think she'd really live on beans if I would let her. We've taken a cautious approach to it though. I had a friend a few years ago, that gave up meat, then slowly anything with animal in it. He got a wild hair one day, ate a burger and got deathly ill. He won't even eat a donut with animal fat now!
Oh we discussed tofu and both about yakked on the floor. Question answered.
Bad - Both my DDs did the no meat thing... older(21) for about 5 yrs and the younger(9) is on at least yr 6 now. Some idiot at school gave older a PETA magazine. Darn her, she shared w/her sister. The mags show up occassionally in the mail go straight into the trash!! Older DDs orders, LOL!
The older now eats some occassionally, even wanted a steak for her birthday in Nov, but not since! LOL But not the little one (9), except for (homemade Thai style) chicken egg rolls and chicken nuggets. Must have told her they were fake meat or something cuz she said one day she eats them cuz they are fake, LOL
Think they say that 2 cookies is a serving so they can have a smaller calorie and fat content on their labels! Not like anyone would believe that was a valid serving anyways, except maybe a 2 yr old! ~ Suzi :)
Great ideas! Thanks!
I used to shop at different stores to get the best deals but now I just save all the adds during the week and take them to WalMart. They will take any specials and match them. The only hassle is seperating them at check out time. They are so good about putting in the sale amount and never question a thing, they also take coupons. They won't do buy one and get one free...I learned this the hard way!
I keep my coupons in alphabetical order by name of product so it's quick to access something on sale.
Let me know what you think about Sams... I find there is really no difference from Sams to WalMart. I tend to spend to much money when I go into Sams and its hard to stay on the budget. There are a "few" things that are cheaper but not much.
