New Year's Resolution....

SAVE MONEY!

Yes, my New Year's Resolution this year is to save more money. Aubrey and I are trying so hard to save money for a down payment on a house. One of the many ways we can do this is to save on groceries. As much as I like to cook, I absolutely hate going to the grocery store. I try to go only once on a week day when the crowds are minimal. You should see me when I go... I can zip through there like you've never seen before. I'm in and out in just a matter of minutes... even if I have a cart full of groceries. I hate it that bad!

These are some of the ways I save money on groceries:

1. Make a grocery list:
We have a magnetic note pad that we keep on our fridge. If we run out of something or if we're running low on something, we write it on the list. This keeps me from having to waste gas driving to the grocery store during the week for one or two items that I forgot to pick up. I DO NOT pick up anything extra that's not on my grocery list.

2. Plan my menu for the week:
Before going to the grocery store, I sit down with a cookbook and my computer and look for recipes. I'll plan out my menu for the whole week. I add the ingredients that I need for these meals on my grocery list (above). When looking for a recipe, I try to find recipes that call for ingredients that I need to use up in the pantry/fridge so they don't ruin. I also try to cook meals that use some of the same ingredients. For example, earlier this week I made Mongolian Beef. I had to buy green onions for that meal. Since I didn't use the whole package of onions, I used them for another meal (potato soup). That way I didn't have to waste the ones I didn't use.

3. Freeze Food:
This is something that I've had to get used to. When I first got married, I never froze anything. I'd let leftovers sit in the fridge, and often it would ruin. I bought some plastic containers and decided to start freezing our leftovers. The more I did it, the easier it got. If I know I'm going to have a busy day, I'll take a container out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge overnight. That way, supper is super quick and easy.

4. Cut coupons:
Sometimes my grocery store will print out a coupon attached to my receipt. If it's something I use, I'll save it. If it's something I don't use, I throw it away (there's no use in buying something if I'm not going to use it.... no matter how good the deal is). I'm also a big fan of Costco. They send out coupons every month, and I'll cut out the ones that I need and stock up. Other places you can find coupons are online and in the paper.

I found this blog on other ways I can save money on grocery shopping, and I'm so pumped to try these tips. I hope you find these tips useful. Feel free to share any tips you've found helpful to you and your wallet.