Work Full-time, trying to be frugal and meal plan...

[jorismom]

I have been lurking a lot on this forum lately, getting some great ideas. We are already good at some things like buying store brands, trying to eat less meat, and not wasting food, and we are working on cutting back on the eating out and convenience food. But, I have never been much of a comparison shopper and I never clipped coupons or even glanced at the weekly grocery adds. Never meal planned. So, the last 2 weeks, I have jumped in with both feet to the meal planning around local grocery ads, and I can see how you can save a lot of money this way, especially when you have a coupon for something that is already on sale.

But, the big problem for me is that both my husband and I work full time, opposite shifts, with a 5 year old. I don't have a lot of time for shopping. Before watching ads, I would usually do most of my shopping at Trader Joe's, with some items at the regular grocery store and personal care items, cat food, detergent from Target. This week I am going to 6 different stores to do my shopping, because they each had something that was really worth the trip there. That is doubling my running around, and I hate shopping. Is it really worth it? Am I missing something?

[mamamilkers]

IMO, yes, that's too much running around. I think your time is too precious! I do three stores and sometimes that feels like too much. I rotate them, too, so I'm usually only going to two of the stores every two weeks (or so).

Unless something is a hugely great deal, then go to the extra store, buy a case of it, then you'll have it for a while

[sanguine_speed]

No, I don't think it's worth it. But regardless, what matters is whether *you* think it's worth it. We're in a similar position at my place, as we make financial sacrifices that we accept are part of "work expenses". Just as it costs money to buy clothes suitable for work, it also costs money to not be able to shop at three or four grocery stores each week or two. We also have take-out meals occasionally because the cost is sometimes too high to make one more meal (time, energy). These are also things to consider.

[holidaymama]

My husband and I also work full time...however, we are both teachers so we have the same hours.

I agree, that such as work clothes, there do come some financial sacrifices to grocery/eating that come with WOH. I wish there were not, but that's the way it is.

Well here is what we do. My weekend is usually spent towards all the things that a SAH mom can do during the week. I clean the house, we do the laundry, plan meals, grocery shop, bake, etc. For me, the wish I could SAH mom, I love these things for my weekend agenda!

I may be weird, but frugality is as much a hobby as a lifestyle for me...I am so into the planning and baking and cooking!

I usually rotate between 5 stores...it all depends on the kids moods, the deals, and my motivation. I usually shop at two of these a weekend. Whole Foods, Sprouts, Albertsons, Target, and Walmart.

You have to figure out what works for you as a WOH mom. Sometimes it is ALRIGHT to go out to eat on a Thursday night because you just dont want to cook!

[normajean]

When I shop by the ads, I pick the two stores that have the best prices that week, and go to those stores only. If I happen to be in the neighborhood of a store with a good price on only 1 or 2 things, I'll swing by and pick them up, but I don't make a special trip.

The stores around here seem to put the same things on sale anyway, for instance cereal goes on sale at the same time at all 4 stores in my area. So I only go to the store that has cereal, milk, fruit, and hamburger on sale, instead of the one that just has cereal and fruit, etc.

[kathirynne]

I am a single, WOHM to 4. These are a few things that have helped me:

1. Long term meal planning: I plan for 30 days at a time, and shop 1 time per month (unless there is an UNBEATABLE sale on something, then I make an extra, stock-up trip).

2. Uber cook on the weekends: I make 4-6 loaves of bread and 2 dozen muffins every weekend. I also make 3-4 meals and freeze them, to be pulled out of the freezer the night before I plan to serve them.

3. Advance prep: I prep as much as possible the night before. (For instance, if I need chopped celery and onion for tomorrow night's dinner, I will chop it tonight while tonight's dinner is in the oven, and store it in a container of water overnight.)

4. Crock pot: If you prep everything the night before and load up the Crockpot in the morning before you leave for work, your dinner will be ready when you get home. (Just don't forget to plug it in and turn it on...)

HTH

[ehcor]

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

Just as it costs money to buy clothes suitable for work, it also costs money to not be able to shop at three or four grocery stores each week or two. We also have take-out meals occasionally because the cost is sometimes too high to make one more meal (time, energy). These are also things to consider.

Us too

Edited to add--We're fortunate we can think this way, but after battling this for years we've finally decided that it's worth it to us to sacrifice some aspects of frugality for convenience. We work a lot, volunteer, work out, travel, go out with friends, etc. The occasional take out meal or paying a couple of dollars more for an item at the store closest to us is worth squeezing in everything that matters to us.

[Belleweather]

Stocking up has really helped cut down on my running around. It took a while... in the beginning I was chasing specials at all kinds of stores. But I always, always buy in bulk and store/freeze the extras. So eventually, even though Sore X had a special on ground beef or chicken or canned tomatoes or whatever, it didn't mater because we'd stocked up the last time they were on sale and didn't need more yet. The other great bonus is that you don't have to grocery shop nearly as often when you've got a stock pile. Now, unless it's either a great sale or something we've run out of, I make one after-work stop a week for perishables (Milk, eggs, veggies, fruit) and that's it.

[kijip]

We just don't chase deals at 8 different stores anymore. We shop at the co-op, order online with the CSA, and stock up at a few other places every so often. However, the way we shop and what we buy means that there is rarely a huge sale to take advantage of- whole bulk ingredients are about the same at the different stores that carry them here. Baking from scratch, using the crock pot and planning out meals saves us a lot of money and we both work and go to school while doing it.

[texmati]

These are some great tips! (I'm not a mom, but I am new to this wife/home manager deal).

Heres one tip that helped me: I tried to sit down and plan a menu, but I got frustrated when it seemed like I didn't know how to make enough meals to make it through the week. So I'm writing down what we *do* have for dinner everyday (even if it is going out). And I'm also planning on trying new things out on the weekend.

I eventually want to have a winter and summer 30 day menu that just repeats. I know it sound boring, but it will definitely be better than having taco bell every three days because neither of us can think of anything for dinner.

[savithny]

I don't chase deals to that extent.

At this point I'm not as frugal as I could be - because I work PT, I need to get the shopping done before DH comes home so we can have family time etc, and I have a kid who hates shopping. Most weeks, I use the grocery store with the childcare playland so that he has fun while I get the shopping done.

Ironically, everyone in town says that particular grocery store is "so expensive," but what the price book has shown me is that no, actually, they're not - -they can be, because of all the things you *could* buy, but my staples are cheaper there than at the other chain grocery stores. And there is a cost/benefit analysis with the time.

I've also found that as I've tried to cook from scratch ingredients and use fewer prepared foods, the difference in grocery store sales is significantly lessened, because most of the big deals are for packaged meals, cake mixes, canned goods, etc. (Also soaps and cleaning supplies, but I watch for sales on those in all the fliers and stock up when the prices hit bottom).

WIthout going all over hells half acre, you can save money by meal planning to shop with the seasons, plan meals around *your* store's sales (ie, rather than saying "I want chili; who has beans on sale?" you say "Look, my store has ground beef on special! I'll make tamale pie!"

In the end, you'll save money (and time) meal planning even if you only ever go to one store, simply because you will have all the fixings for your meals and not have to go out again (and buy more "While you're there"), and because you won't buy things that you waste. You can also plan for leftovers ("Plannedovers") that you can take for lunches to work to avoid eating out, or to have on hand on a busy night.

I know it seems like a lot of work, and it can be daunting at the beginning, but a price book can be your friend. Do you have a Palm or other personal organizer (through work or otherwise?) There are some programs for that (Handyshopper = free but no desktop component, Splashshopper (not free, but desktop component and more features) that work like an electronic price book -- or of course you can just keep a file with common purchases and the usual price at different stores as well as the lowest sale price you've seen. That lets you see how much of a deal you're getting and decide whether it is worth the extra trip or not.

[katheek77]

I go to two stores a week, max. Any combo of Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and the local supermarket. Otherwise, I think the gas and time eats into the savings. I do a little of frontier coops.

If you eat a lot of organics, coupons won't do much good, but, I keep an eye out for sales (all three do sales) and random coupons (I go to couponmom.com and see her listing for coupons on Sundays...if they have some that I will use, I buy the paper and use them when items go on sale).

I meal plan now, and try to use up what we have AND what's on sale. Example...I bought a roasting chicken this week, and will use it for three meals - roast chicken (with veggies), white chicken chili, and chicken noodle soup. The last will go in the freezer for "busy" days. I bought a pound of ground beef, and will use it for two planned meals as well. I try to figure out how I can "stretch" what I buy (example: I needed a half pepper for last night's meal, so, since I didn't have a "meal" to use it in, I chopped and froze the other half for a later meal). If I see that pot roast is buy one, get one free (about every two months around here) I have no qualms about altering that week's "plans" and going out and getting a couple - one for now, one to freeze, and at least six meals between them.

I'd do some freezer cooking on the weekend. Make a pan of lasagna, and divide it into servings for multiple meals. Or make a meatloaf, slice it, freeze it - then you only have to add a veggie to however many slices. That way, when you're just plain worn out, you can pull from the freezer.

The crockpot is your friend. Buy one. Not only is it generally low - prep (yeah, you chop veggies, and maybe brown meat, but, that's it), you can also buy "tougher" cuts, and just let them simmer all day.

Learn to make your own bread, yogurt, soft cheeses. Very easy, infinitely better tasting, and cheaper.

[HydeParkB]

We shop one or two sales a week. Any more, and we are spending too much money on gas and wasting time. We are not in a neighborhood with a lot of grocery options.

I am able to go shopping over lunch hour a lot of the time. This helps with keeping me from browsing (time limit) and splurging (space limit). I am able to take the frozen/refrigerator stuff into our break room for a few hours.

I like my crockpot and am trying out some new recipes this year. I've started doing whole chickens, and I have some bean recipes to try. Typically I will prep the ingredients the night before and assemble in the morning.

If the stores have really great sales, stock up, so you won't always have to run to all of them. On the other hand, make sure you are using up what you buy. I have more dry beans and rice than I actually use. I'm currently participating the in "Pantry Challenge" to try to use up some of our stockpile.

[jorismom]

Thanks for all of the great advise everyone. I think it is just overwhelming right now because I'm just trying to get organized. I looked over my lists again and managed to just go to two stores tonight. I will run into another tomorrow just to stock up on a really great deal, but not for a lot of shopping. I'm meal planning for two week stretches right now. We get paid every two weeks, so it makes sense for now to plan for that length.

I have a crockpot and I plan to use it more frequently. I have a big enough pantry, my problem is freezer space. After shopping tonight, my freezer is FULL. I can't really do any freezer-feeding until we eat up some of the stuff that is in there. I live in an apartment and space is at a premium, so I just have to make due. I do freeze left-overs into individual portions for lunches and also usually double batches when I am making soup or meatloaf so that I can freeze one.

Again, thanks for all the help!