Eating on a budget

I know my menus lately haven't been super budget-friendly, but they are improving! Believe it or not last year I was spending about $225 per week at the grocery store and I have that down to about $125 now. My vbf encouraged me to share some of my cheap eats. Last month we paid Audrey's annual preschool tuition bill so we were, how do you say?--tightening our belt. Here's what worked for us...

• Menu planning. This is the number one thing that helped immensely in keeping costs lower. It helped in making sure we use what's already in the freezer and pantry, plus also prevents that 6 pm panic that causes last-minute runs for take-out.
• Strategic use of leftovers. Monday night's roasted chicken turns into Tuesday night's chicken pot pie. Wednesday's taco filling turns into Thursday's taco soup.
• Double up. I pretty much don't make anything that I don't make a double recipe of and immediately stick half in the freezer. It's great for stretching dishes because sauces and pastas can really make things go further.
• Eggs, eggs, eggs. My favorite cheap source of protein. Quiches, fritattas, or good old "breakfast for dinner" is great. Who doesn't love pancakes? Oh, right, me.
• Go meatless. Twice a week try black bean quesadillas or briami.
• No leftovers for lunches. I got this idea from my major-mom-crush Kim R. It's much cheaper to prepare lunches (sandwiches, soups, salads, etc) than it is dinner, so the rule in their house is dinner leftovers are for dinner. So she typically cooks for two or three nights, and then has a fend-for-yourself night where everyone scavenges leftovers.
• Save fresh produce for a special treat. Frozen fruit and vegetables are excellent quality and usually are a better buy.

Any other tips?

Frugal Friday Edition #3

Just a couple of things for Frugal Friday...

Amazon is having a great Stride Rite sale. Check out these cute sandals for only $15 (regularly $32.95). When you add them to your cart they ring up an extra 20% off the list price, making them $12! I picked up these for Audrey for next spring (cost less than the cheap ones I got at Wal-Mart!).

Pottery Barn Kids has this stocking and it would be a great baby gift for only $5.99--I would leave it un-monogrammed so it could be used for future younger siblings.
This isn't exactly a steal, but I'm in love with this apron and it's on sale!

Target has lots of shoes 75% off. We found these for $5.50 today.

Also HEB has split chicken breasts at an almost-unheard-of $1/lb. These are skin-on, bone-in, which I actually greatly prefer to boneless skinless for the extra flavor the skin imparts during roasting and the bone during poaching.

Frugal Friday preview

Couldn't wait until tomorrow to post this coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase, good today only at Walgreens. Not as good as the previous ones ($5 off $15) but still good.

Here's what I got.

Jumbo pack of Pampers $9.49 less $1.50 manufacturer's coupon
3 2-packs of Sharpie permanent markers (buy 1 at $1.99 get 2 free)
2 boxes Saltines (2/$4)
1 box Wheat Thins ($2) less $.50 manufacturer's coupon
1 box Ritz crackers ($2)
1 box Triscuits ($2) [buy $10 of Nabisco crackers get $3 in register rewards]
2 wireless notebooks (2/$.99) [I keep these in the car for Audrey to color in.]

Grand total before tax was $20.47, less $5 coupon left me with $15.47 plus $3 in register rewards for when I send Josh back tonight! (one coupon per person)

In my dreams...

Oh wow, got the new J. Crew catalog yesterday and I am in love.

The perfect twist on a little black dress...

In the catalog it's shown without the rosette belt which I prefer.


These shoes are adorable, I'd love them in bright blue.


I'll take this skirt in bright rhubarb,
and this bag.


Audrey would look adorable in this.



Now I just need to come up with a few thousand to blow on over-priced clothes!

Another cute find...

Just tried on this dress at Ann Taylor Loft and it's adorable.

It's also the softest, lightest, most comfortable garment I've tried on in a long while. But because I had a huge lunch it felt a little bit maternity, which made it easy to resist. They are evidently stocking a new designer called Trulli--it had different tags than everything else. I'd love to see what else Trulli has to offer!

Frugal Friday Edition #2

EDITED TO ADD:
Christine from Michael's in Temple just called and said they are running a 60% off special on custom framing until August 2nd. Just come in and tell them that you want Christine's special! Perfect timing to get some of these beauties framed.

Check out these elephant pajamas I got at Gap Kids this week...



They are still priced high online but in Waco they were marked down to $4.89--I had a coupon that knocked them to $3.78!



HEB has a couple of can't miss deals too...



and peaches for $.77/lb. If they're ripe I'm making French Peach Pie.




Express has a printable coupon for $10 off a $20 purchase this weekend.


And there are still a few days left to use your Lowe's Visa coupon $10 off $25 purchase (sign up here).

Frugal Friday

Ok in addition to Menu Monday I thought I'd try Frugal Friday. Here are some of my favorite most recent finds. At Sur La Table, this set is a steal for $39.

My mom and I found this Happy Birthday banner at Hobby Lobby for $9.99 ($6 with your 40% off coupon!).