I've just accepted that I'll never be organized enough to get the full benefit from coupons. I'm not willing to put in the time. I'm a member of a CSA, so whatever fresh local produce I have is where my meal planning starts. Most meats that we eat are determined by what's on sale, but I'd like to get away from that and start eating more locally raised, or at least non-factory meats. I worry that devotion to coupons makes people so focused on the cost of food at the grocery store that they forget about all the other considerations, like whether it's fresh or local or organic or healthy or whether the farmer who grew it was paid a fair wage. And if you go to farmers markets, you'll discover that it's not always more expensive than the grocery. I got red and yellow peppers for 50 cents each last week. They're normally 2.99 at my grocery store.

I wish I were as organized as my mother. She has perfected the art of coupon clipping. Instead of paying $100 at the store, she'll use coupons (double & triple coupons) to knock $40-50 off the final tab! She can do this consistantly. It's a skill that she's been honing for years.

I have a tough time with coupons. Either I clip them and then forget about them or I don't buy the proper "size" or the right amount to have the coupon pay off. I think that the coupon part of my brain is wired incorrectly.

What I AM good at, though, is organizing my weekly menu. I made a word document with everything that I ever buy at the grocery store and on the back, there's a space for each day of the week and a list of all the meals that I make. So, every week, I print one out, look at all the meals, write in the meals for the days, flip the paper over and check off all of the ingredients that I need. I only shop once a week and I think it saves us money in the long run.

If anyone wants me to e-mail them the word document, just let me know. It's a great tool!

:)

Cady

www.cadydidrooms.com

Wow Cadydid! That's a great idea. I'd start out with something like that and go gangbusters for a couple of weeks and then forget all about it.

I'm best with pencil and paper when it comes to the shopping list - but I do pretty much the same thing and, the vast majority of time, only go to the store once a week. Definitely saves money because I always leave the store with a few things not on the list.

Cady, I'd love if it you could send me the link for that. I am in need of some new ideas for dinner and some new organizational tips. I have a very busy 13mo old and our next baby is due oct 20th. Anything I can do this week to prepare will be helping myself out!

CADY, I also checked out your website...you are quite the artist.  The murals are absolutely magnificent!

Hey, thanks, Mamamidknight! It's actually not a link, it's a word document and I'd be more than willing to e-mail it to you if you'd like. You can e-mail me at cadydid@nc.rr.com

Congrats on your upcoming new little one! You're having them pretty close! I did the same thing with my younger two.

Anyone who wants the list, just e-mail me and I'll send it to you, no problem.

:)

Cady

www.cadydidrooms.com

Sadly, I am neither a meal planner nor a coupon clipper. And my grocery bills reflect this. Maybe I am rebelling against my childhood--my mom was one who made the same meals each week ("It's Tuesday so it must be meatloaf..."). As a result, i never learned to eat or make a variety of meals. I have dozens of cookbooks but there is usually something in the recipe that I won't like. Naturally, my kids are fussy eaters as well.

Don't get stuck in the cooking rut, dwagner9! At least choose one thing to do to spice up the cooking life. It doesn't have to be a chore if it can be interesting! I have tons of good recipes, so maybe if you can tell me what your family likes, I gave give you some tips!

:)

Cady
www.cadydidrooms.com

I am just getting in step with cutting coupons. I have been real diligent with them for the past month or two. I have to say that I have to reign myself in sometimes. When I have a coupon for something we don't need or use, I used to buy it anyway.....just because I was saving money! But I working hard at not doing that now.

I was at Harris Teeter a few months ago and the lady in line before me filled her cart and paid $50.00 and saved $84.00 with coupons. I was shocked. I only had a hand full of things and spent as much as she did. This really motivated me. So now, for about 2 months, I've been clipping coupons and using them at Harris Teeter since the double them. I save about $10 - $15 a week. I see so many great coupons that I have no use for. I wish I knew of a place where we could swap coupons.

i'm one of those moms that clip coupons and meal plan. last week i saved over $58 on my bill at Kroger and spent $36. i usually find that i only use a small percentage of the coupons available in the paper but then i can get online and order multiples of the ones that i do use. each store has different rules about using multiple but where i shop i can use up to 4 of the same coupon. then i wait for sales and combine store sale flyers with coupons. so last week, i stocked up on granola bars, hot sauce, mustard, Cheerios, dishwashing soap, yogurt drinks and noodles. it doesn't take me that much time and the savings are worth it to me. i don't seem to save that much on my weekly groceries but when i can use them to replenish my stockpile then it is worth it.

Keira

Mama to Teaghan and Campbell 

My husband is the meal planner. We make a list of dinners for the week and create a menu. Next we go to the store on Sunday and get everything we need for the week. Since we started only going to the store once a week and using the menu, we save money on impulse outings and purchases.