Job Change....budget on paper

I recently gave notice on my preschool teaching job and will be returning to working for a restaurant/caterer and I sat down and put pen to paper listing all of our income vs. our bills.  It wasn't a pretty sight.  It's time to buckle down and get back to the Dave Ramsey way of living.  I was much happier when our debts were far less. 

So here's to a new chapter in my family's life......FRUGAL LIVING here we come!

Menu Planning Monday - March 21st

Well for the next 2 weeks this looking to be frugal mom is on Spring Break.  I am hoping to not only get some major house cleaning done, outside yard work accomplished but also look for some new meals to add to my menu planning.  Here's what's on the menu for the upcoming week:

Monday:  Chicken & Cheese Enchildas, Spanish Rice
Tuesday:  Homemade Italian Hoagies on Ciabatta Rolls, Chips
Wednesday:  Steak on the grill, Twice Baked Potatoes, Salad, Applesauce
Thursday:  Pasta, Salad, Garlic Toast
Friday:  Southern Oven Fried Chicken, Green Beans, Augratin Potatoes, Applesauce.

Meun Planning Monday - March 14th

Monday:  Parmensan Crusted Tilapia, Baked Potato, Salad, Applesauce
Tuesday:  BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Corn, Applesauce
Wednesday:  Philly Steak stuffed Pitas, French Fries
Thursday:  Lasanga Hamburger Helper, Salad, Garlic Toast
Friday:  Pizza & Wings

First attempts at my price book

I mentioned the other day about a great Grocery Price Book template that I was going to put to use.  Well after this weekend's shopping trip I sat down with the numbers that I collected going up and down the isles and found that the two discount stores (Aldi's and Save A-lot) have very comparable pricing.  The only difference is Save A-Lot with take manufacter's coupons for items.  So sometimes a good deal there is even better if I can pair it with a coupon.

I found out too that the large grocery chain in my area (Giant Eagle) is severely over priced compared to my two discount stores.  I haven't had a chance to check out Wal-mart for things like OTC meds and health and beauty stuff....that will come another time.  But at least I am doing my best to get a handle on my grocery budget and by knowing the prices I typically can pay for things helps me know if and when something on "sale" is really that a sale.

Menu Plan Monday ~ March 7th

Menu Planning.....I know is one of those things that those living frugally talk up and down about how it saves them money and I completely agree but it also saves me time and stress.  I no longer stand in my kitchen wondering what I am going to make for dinner or thinking/wishing I had had the foresight to take something out of the freezer to defrost before I went to work that morning or better yet the night before.

So by planning my weekly menu I do save money and time so here's what my family is having for dinner this week:

Monday:  Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans & Applesauce

Tuesday:  Ham BBQ Sandwiches, French Fries & Salad

Wednesday:  Take Out from Pizza Hut

                     (this is our hair cut night and we (my family along with my parents get dinner out.  Pizza Hut has a great deal 2 medium 1 topping pizzas, single order of bread stick and 2 liter of Pop for $20 ~ that's $10 a family we can't beat it)

Thursday:  Breakfast for Dinner-French Toast, Sausage & Scrambled Eggs

Friday:  Chinese Honey Chicken, Oriental Rice, Asian Salad

Saturday & Sunday -- mainly leftovers from the week.

Found a GREAT grocery price book template

I've heard many frugal people talk about keeping a grocery price book so that you can know if a sale price is really a "good" deal or just an advertising tatic to get us into the store.  Admittedly I tried this before yet it seemed like a daunting task of trying to come up with my own design or sitting at the computer trying to get all my info in some sort of managable form.  In reality it took so much time that no matter how great the idea of a price book is ~ I abandoned the idea.

Thanks to the site No Credit Needed and this Grocery Price Book link I am making another attempt at getting my own price book in order.  It's my goal to shave as much off my weekly grocery budget ($125 for a family of 4) and put those savings towards paying down/off some consumer debt. 
Without my price book in the month of February I was able to put back a total of $61 in savings which I just put towards our Chase Card.  It feels good to send that extra payment.

I am curious to know if anyone else uses a price book or some other way of tracking grocery prices/spending.

$3.49 a gallon REALLY????

How on earth is anyone supposed to be able to function with those sorts of prices?  

My Pacifica has over a 20 gallon tank so to fill it up we are fast approaching more than $70!  That's just unfathonable.  At this rate all of what my husband makes a week is going to putting gas in our cars so we can just get to and from the job that does nothing but pay for our gas! 

I know boycotts don't really work but there has to be something we as the consumer can do to show that we aren't going to take much more of this.  How can anyone be expected to survive?   With talk of $5.00/gal by summer we will be walking everywhere but work and I am still thinking that trying to grocery shop - actually lugging the bags home will be a bit cumbersome.  LOL!

Anyone have any suggestions on gas conservation?  I'm all ears.