Every week after I post my weekly totals it never fails that I get a few emails asking how I make meals based on the products that I buy each week 🙂 I realize to the average shopper it would seem as if I was only feeding my family goldfish and yogurt but that is not the case at all!! Often the items I buy in a week will not be used for several weeks, even months after I purchase it!Â
Here is what is on the menu today:
Breakfast:
Homemade Biscuits
Sliced Ham
Scrambled Eggs
Cheese & Yogurt (for the kids)
Lunch:
Sandwiches (Tuna for the adults & PB&J for the kids)
Hummus
Pita Chips
Jell-O with Fruit (request by my 4 year old)
Dinner
Lime Chile Marinated Pork Steaks
Mexican Rice**
Black Beans
Mexican Cornbread
I think I make pretty normal meals. I certainly don’t just feed the kids junk food. My boys are at the picky stage but I make sure they eat their veggies even if I have to sneak them in the meal. Both the rice and the cornbread will have tons of vegetables and they will not even know it! I may even make a pineapple upside down cake for dessert tonight.Â
I am not sure what is considered normal…but I would say we eat what any other “normal” family eats. I just don’t spend $100+ per week to create our meals. If you’ll notice the majority of things that make up this menu is not from my weekly shopping list. Actually, the majority of items have been in my pantry and/or freezer for quite a while. I can tell you the can of black beans have been in my pantry for over a year!! I bought 100+ cans about this time last year and they still have another year left on their shelf life.Â
I have been stockpiling for several years now and have become very good at being able to determine what I NEED to create our meals. Most weeks I make a general menu based on what I have in stock. I could probably feed us for several weeks just by buying milk and eggs. The menu might not be spectacular but I could do it! Before couponing and creating a menu plan, I wasted food!! I would just throw stuff in my cart and by the end of the week I would have spoiled food because I forgot what I bought!! Now I am able to make sure that the perishable food that I purchase is done so for a reason. I have also decided not to rely on convenience food as much. I could have popped open a can of biscuits this morning but it only took me an additional 5 minutes to make my own and I think they were even better! If my husband calls on his way home from work telling me he is in the mood for pizza instead of popping open a frozen pizza I am totally able to whip up a homemade dough, homemade sauce add a few toppings from my stockpile and we are set!! I am not saying we will not eat that DiGiorno pizza I purchased last week…but, I will wait and we will eat it on a night that we get home at 7:30 after t-ball practice and I am in no mood to spend an hour cooking and cleaning!Â
Stockpiling makes my life easier –I save money and time! Hopefully this will help explain what may seem to be a crazy grocery list 😉
**You guys have to try this recipe–it is so good!! I modify it a bit and use Rotel instead of tomatoes and a little crushed whole coriander–leave out the fresh jalapeno if you use Rotel or it will be too spicy for the kids!! I also add some corn & peas to sneak in more veggies 🙂 )
16 Comments
I get the same questions when people see my FB page of what I’ve bought and they’re seeing really wierd combinations. Some weeks I don’t buy any meat; but I’ve stocked up on meat in previous weeks, and like you said–the food I’ve bought this week will be eaten over the next 3 months. That means if the picture is full of cheese or mayo–you’ll know you won’t see that in another picture for about 3 months….It’s rotating the things we buy that helps us save money!
“shopping” from home is the way to go!
Rachael
When I go shopping and buy tons of pads people ask me the weirdest questions HAHA
I always add a meal plan with my sales/deals for the week on my blog. We are on a budget and I’m able to feed my family of four for under $100 a week (that includes paper goods, pet food, diapers, toiletries….)
Kristina-that was funny!! I’d love to here the questions!! 😀
Great post! Same here, people usually ask where the veggies are in my weekly trip. I say, well, they were on sale 3 weeks ago for $0.19 a pack, they are already in my freezer! Or, Target had cheap cans a few months ago and I stocked up, go check in the basement. In the summer we do supplement farm stand produce most weeks, though. Or meat, if what we want isn’t on sale we just buy it at Costco for almost as cheap as if I would have waited for a good sale. Their quality can’t be beat, that’s for sure!
well that explains it for me…I did kind of wonder where the substinance was, but I see how you do it. And I like how you plan out all 3 meals for the day. I started using your site about 3 months ago and I save on average about 50%. I’m sure if I didn’t have a special IC diet, I would save much more. Your site is a blessing and there is no doubt you help many families I’m sure your unaware of. The Bible says wives should be thrifty among other qualities and it’s a beautiful gift you have that you share with others.
Jenny
Before couponing, my idea of stockpiling was buying 2 cans of beans instead of one. I will never forget the day,I told my sister in law, I feel a little funny buying 3 or 4 of anything, then she directed me to Hot coupon world, stockpiling photo’s. I stayed up till 3 a.m shocked and amazed. Needless to say it was “game on” after that!!!lol My stockpile saves my life. I love my stockpile (lol). Thank you,so much Michelle,for all you do!!!
Great post! I had to laugh about the comment of the buggy full of pads.
I want to see some pictures of your stockpiles!
The Mexican Rice recipe looks yummy. In a pinch, Knorr makes a really good Mexican Rice. We eat it at least 2 times a month with Fish Tacos!!
great post! you have been a lifesaver! As a mother of 3 boys whose dad ( and my ex-husband!)decided to one day up and move far away, you have made a huge difference in our lives! couponing can be very time consuming, but oh so worth it, when every penny counts! i went from the woman who could spend whatever she wanted, but when he took his income away, we were still used to a certain standard of living, but not as much money. With a little bit of effort, we still have nice things, but don’t spend as much! Thank you for all your extra hard work!:)
Very well written!
Stockpiling really is great, and it sure helps rarely having to pay full price for anything.
Agree, agree, agree. I get asked to tell what I cook all the time…It’s normal family stuff too. Dinner is might be a grilled meat(DH wants to be outside), veggie, starch side or whole wheat pasta/sauce from the stockpile…Got to use all of that Kingsford from last summer! At first it is hard for people to understand the stockpile concept and how meal planning changes. We end up eating what is or what has been on sale even months ago– that’s how we plan our meals. 🙂
Here’s a GREAT recipe to use on stockpiled canned items! We absolutely love it and could eat it once a week! 🙂
1 onion, chopped
1 can chili beans
1 can black beans
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can tomato sauce
1 can or bottle beer (I use a can of chicken broth)
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 package taco seasoning
1 package of dry ranch dressing mix
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I stick them in straight from the freezer, they don’t have to be thawed)
shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)
crushed tortilla chips or corn chips(optional)
Directions:
1. Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, beer/chicken broth, and diced tomatoes in a slow cooker. Add taco seasoning and ranch mix, and stir to blend. Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients. Set slow cooker for low heat, cover, and cook for 6-8 hours (or high for 3-4).
2. Chicken should just fall apart when moved around with some tongs, if not take out and shred. Put chicken back in and cook for another 30 minutes or more (or even serve immediately). Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips or corn chips, if desired.
SOOO yummy!!! You can also make it with browned ground beef if you prefer that instead of chicken.
Forgot to say that that recipe is called Chicken Taco Soup. 🙂
Fantastic post! Thank you so much for this!!