Groceries, Savings, Healthy Eating

At the very bottom of this post there is a list of about 80 items that I have been "tracking" for lowest prices. Even though I took out some of the hard work for you, it will take time to really save money on your grocery bill.

What you will need:
A notebook of whatever size. Mine is smaller about 4 x 5 so that I can carry it in my purse if I need to, calculator, pen and any Grocery adds, coupons, and any grocery receipts.

Every week, grocery stores send out adds via mail or e-mail (some stores, such as target, walgreens, etc. have coupons online or adds online to view). What the stores don't want to tell you is that even though it is in an add, doesn't mean it's their lowest price. This is the challenging part, the tracking.

In your notebook, write down any thing that comes from the add or that you buy for the week. You will want to write down the price AND the size. Size is important because sometimes it's cheaper to buy in bulk, sometimes it's not.

For about the first month or two you will just be getting your normal groceries or looking at adds. You will write down the sales price. Then, you can see what rotates and when it rotates. Like I know that in the summer grapes, strawberries are cheaper so I don't tend to buy those off season.

You can copy my list (of what I have been tracking for several years) to help you get started.

THE KEY TO SAVINGS:
After you have found the lowest price, then you have to wait for it to be that low. Canned vegetables for example can be as low as 38 cents. One week a store might advertise cans for . 48 and you think this is great! You might need to buy one or two for you weekly dinners.. but the week after that, or maybe two weeks after the cans then will drop to .38 cents. So it's best to check your list and wait for the price to drop even more!

Don't be overwhelmed:
First, start with only watching your 10-15 most common items. The fact that you have my list below to help you, will save you a lot of heartache and headache. But don't be overwhelmed with whatever you do.

Then find when the best to buy is. When the item is at it's lowest, is when you want to buy the most... have a cabinet empty to hold all of your spare non-perishables. If you it is an item (like fresh vegetables or fruit) that will go bad, when the item is at its cheapest is when you use it in all of your meals. Making a weekly menu based off of what you are buying for the week will save money.

Once you feel comfortable with finding the lowest price is when you can start adding in coupons. I have personally not yet mastered coupons for usually I can find the price to be lower with just waiting. Some stores will double coupons, some stores match adds you will just have to find what works for you.

Don't be afraid to ask questions at your grocery store. And don't be afraid to google for answers. www.couponmom.com is a site that collects coupons that you can print from your computer. It is free, as far as I can tell and what I have used. Only print the coupons you need... don't waste your ink! =]

My personal goal this weeks is not to eat out AT ALL for an entire week, seven days. I will try to update on here with what we ate and how much my grocery bill was.

Hope this helps! And her is my list:

The left side is my most common items, followed by baking items. The right side is not as common items and items that you can find at the dollar tree.

Also, I just listed the item... I am a person that is NOT afraid to buy generic. It all taste the same for us, and when we cook, you can't even tell if it's the store brand or a name brand. But just watch for adds... the store brand is not always the best buy!

Grocery

Christmas!!!

I was 30 weeks and a few days in this picture. Getting so large! =] But I'm filled with baby love. <3



We were able to put up our little tree and stockings. The cute blue one is for Gideon! I really liked our Christmas "stuff" throughout the house, and was really sad when we had to take it down. I know we didn't HAVE to take anything down, but if we didn't do at that point in time... I would never do it! =]



Here is my husband (the oldest one in red on the right) with his cousins. He's the oldest and first grandkid and we will be having the first great-grandkid! It's nice to spend the holidays with a bunch of kiddos. I love getting to see my family at Christmas, but we are all just a bunch of old-folks!



My sister and her husband opening presents. My mom is in the background with her loot of goodies. It was a good Christmas at the Payne's this year. Gideon is going to be so spoiled next year!



I baked a lot this year, here is my baking check list for 2011:
3 batches of banana bread
2 batches of peanut butter cookies
2 batches of snickerdoodles
2 batches of chocolate chip cookies
2 batches of puppy chow mix
1 Pumpkin spice cake with homemade icing (yum!)

Overall, a lot of goodies for everyone to enjoy~


Christmas was great this year. There were a few friends I wish we were able to see, but life is life and we just have to move on sometimes. Also, I have been writing my "entries" backwards. Here is a look at 2011 a bit of a run through with the past year.

Graduation Pictures

Here are a few of the pictures from me graduating! I'm so blessed to have such great support through friends and family. Thank you to everyone who has been there for me and continue to support my dreams and ambitions. (unedited pictures)

I was 29 weeks pregnant at graduation!

January 2012

Above is a picture of me at Thanksgiving, I was about 26 weeks.

I am currently 32 weeks at this point. I need to upload a newer picture.

Where to begin with this update?

2011 was a great year, from what I can remember... it seems so long ago. The first semester of the year went well and quick.

We moved into our lovely new home in April. I can't believe that we have been living here for almost a year. It's so spectacular and we are very blessed to have this place. We have our room, a nursery for Gideon Xavier, a business/spare room, and then the finished garage is Jeremiah's game room/band room. It's fantastic. So very thankful for everything.

We got to take our Europe trip... that's why we started this blog in the first place. It was yet another blessing to check off of our list. We traveled to London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Bern and then back home. We have our favorite memories. And it makes me want to travel more. Ireland is very much on my list, and Greece! But next time it won't be so "go-go all the time" but I just want to go to the location and relax/enjoy the place, then come back.

Paris, is where we found out about the tragedy of Joplin. I hearts sunk instantly. God watched over our friends and family. Although the building process is still going on, the town is still sticking together. It impresses me how quickly the town has done everything. I continue to pray that God will watch over the rebuild and the emotional repairs that take place for everyone.

July 4th is when we found out we were pregnant! Gideon, as we later found out he is a boy, was in our plan and so excited to meet him. However, I decided that those pregnancy test are tricky.

August, I started student teaching with my wonderful 180 kiddos. I had such a fantastic time at the school. My cooperating teacher was by far the most amazing person to work with/for. I learned so much while being there and can not wait until I get my own classroom! The pregnancy only proposed a few challenges, sick here and there, and just constantly being tired. But made it through.

November, we paid off Jeremiah's car... which is a big deal!! Hooray! =] Thanksgiving was pretty low key at Jeremiah's family. We had J's brother stay with us a few days, and we helped my dad cut wood.

December came and went. Jeremiah had a great birthday, and I graduated. Christmas was another fantastic memory. Although I was a bit bitter at moments, just not understanding some people's motives. But it was a great time.

New years we had a very low key family game night with some of our friends. It was exactly what we needed/wanted.

New Years Resolution:
1) Take more pictures (specially because Jeremiah/Graduation got me a new camera!)
2) Lose the baby weight incredibly fast.
3) Go to church more.
4) Get out of debit and save for Gideon's college and our house.
5) Be the best wife/daughter/friend/mother possible. Love all, no matter how much the irritate me.


So thankful for all of the opportunities 2011 brought. Glad for all of the friends I have made and the family that is there.

CURRENTLY:
Jeremiah is still working at NCO, part of the tech. support for Quickbooks. However the past three weeks have been really rough on him. He's been sick with this pain in side (has had it since June, at least that we can remember). So he's been missing a lot of work (lean on God, he will provide for us). But we also have spent the last four days at the doctors/hospital running test, this and that.

I am currently unemployed, for the first time in my life, in a really long time. I am subbing at the school I student taught at, but haven't had too many calls. Trying to get everything ready for Gideon's arrival. Counting down the weeks at this point. 8 more weeks! We can do this.

I feel incredibly huge, but I know everything will be okay! As long as he is healthy.

Well, this is long and I should get off of here.

Frustrated, but I will get over that. Just confused about a few friends and family... I want to say what is on my mind... but then again I don't want to start anything. Just.. bahhhahahaha.

Off I go.

xoxo,
Megan, Jeremiah, and Gideon

In St. Louis!

Jeremiah's birthday is tomorrow. This weekend there is a magic tournament in St. Louis that we went to. Our friends Clayton, Zach, and Denny went with us. We are sharing a hotel room with them which is very interesting.

Jeremiah is still in his match today, he is doing pretty well from what I understand.

I just came up here to get away from the house... get away from the dishes, the laundry, the just sitting in a chair or on the couch or just being home. A mini-vacation you could say.

After this week I have 8 days left in the classroom! Graduate in two weeks... two weeks... two weeks! Time is just flying by. Then a week after that is Christmas and have about two months until beautiful Gideon is here.

I have some fears; that I don't drink enough water. I know that seems strange. I feel as if I gained a lot of weight but I eat healthy and don't really big out any more than I did before I was pregnant. But I just hope Gideon is getting enough nutrients that he should. What a silly fear!

So many fears and worries as becoming a parent. All the diapers I have yet to buy and need to get. *sigh* I am thankful for all the financial support we have gotten. We have a crib and matching dresser already thanks to our families and several other things. My mom has quit her job to be our paid babysitter. I know everything will be okay, just have to go with the flow, lean on God, and say a prayer.

Wow, had several different rants. Life is great!

xoxo,
MJ, JJ, and little GXJ

What... how big are you?

Yes sir-reee, this is how LARGE I WAS at 25 weeks! How super crazy is that? Pretty crazy I'd say. He's growing like a week for sure. I need to start walking more and getting healthy as well. I'm so tired from school though.... all the time!

Gideon's nursery is coming along great! Mom and I got fabric last night for curtains, wall hangings, bedding kit, and a blanket... it will be so cute! Bright fun colors!

After Thanksgiving it is pretty down hill as far as school goes! I'm so thrilled!!

Well short update, have a lot I would like to get done today.. Go shopping!

Weekly update...

WOW, I feel incredibly productive today!

Here are my accomplishments in 9 hours (it's only 7pm as of now).

Grade four classes of quizzes while watching Breakfast at Tiffany's (I've never seen it before)

Did SIX, yes I said SIX, loads of laundry and I only have one basket of clothes to fold!

Vacuumed the house and made the bed (with clean sheets!)

Made biscuits and grave for breakfast, a massive salad for lunch, and here shortly will be making chicken pot pie for dinner!

Did lots of dishes as well... baked a lot the past few days!

Wrote my reflection from my current observation from school.

Finished up my Teacher Work Sample 28 slide powerpoint, four lesson plans, and a four page reflection... all are complete (mainly the reflection was completed today)!

Read two case studies for next seminar

Wrote my mid-term evaluation reflection and uploaded to site. Another 4 page document.

WOWWWWW

Now, after I make dinner I'm going to edit some pictures while sipping some hot apple cider!


This week went by incredibly fast. Friday and Saturday I was at my grandparents, stayed with them because Saturday was my cousin's wedding. It was a very interesting wedding, and I'm so thankful of how happy they are!

I just feel so relived that I accomplished so much today, it is very reassuring of how the rest of my week will turn out.

I have also booked another photo shoot with my old friend Cori from Kohls and her family. =]

Gideon is doing great, he's been kicking me a lot and making my nights a little bit more sleepless; but overall I couldn't love him anymore. this weekend his Great, Great, Aunt Sherry bought him a cute little monkey hat and a blanket! They are perfect. I called my landlord about painting, and they don't think we will be able to paint the nursery but come Friday and over Thanksgiving break we are going to be picking out nursery stuff!! We are 22 weeks preggers! How crazy is that! Now, with all of my extra free time next week, I need to walk walk walk! =]

Well, better go make some dinner.

Have a great week and a very safe and happy Halloween!

xoxo,
Jones Family