The Inspiration

I started this blog after having many conversations with friends who don't meal plan. It's a trip to the grocery store everyday after work, then a hurry to prepare a meal while trying to keep the kids from eating all of the snacks before dinner! When I told them how I do it, they looked at me like I was weird! They said that if someone could just tell them what to prepare and what to shop for, it would be so much easier.
So, a few basic things that I do to save money and time:
*An extra freezer in the garage helps me be able to buy a lot of meat when it's on sale and also to buy a pig and half a cow every year. This way I can go to the freezer on Saturday or Sunday and look at what I have to plan with for the following week.
*A garden is a wonderful way to save money and the extra time it takes is enjoyable for me. Outside my kitchen on my back porch, I have several whiskey barrell halves filled with herbs. This allows me to use fresh herbs in my recipes and that really makes a difference!
*I only shop at the grocery store once a week. Every once in a while I have to make another trip, but I can usually get it all done once. If you notice, going to the store more often increases the chance of extra things getting into the basket leading to extra money spent and maybe even a little extra on your waisteline!
*I am a loyal Costco shopper, but only for things that I know I will use. All paper products, towels, sheets, and only food that we eat a lot of. It makes no sense to buy 96 of something that you THINK your family MIGHT like. Try a small box from the grocery store first!
*Planning meals ahead and combining dinner ingredients saves time and money. For instance, on Tuesday night you can cook two tri tips instead of one (if your family eats a whole on per meal). On Thursday you can fix french dip sandwiches! Just saute up some onions and peppers and add cheese - yum! Or cook a whole chicken one night and make a plan for the leftovers in a salad or soup. Less waste saves time and money.
*Do prep for more that one day at a time. If I know that I am making soup tomorrow and I am chopping onions for tacos tonite, I will chop the onions for my soup and save them in a ziplock bag for tomorrow. It's easier to chop what you can all at once and then you don't have to drag the cutting board out again! An added bonus is that the 5 extra minutes you spent chopping will make your next day's prep so much easier and faster.

Let me say that it doen's always work out this way for me and it won't for you either! Life happens and you just have to go with it. No one is perfect, but I don't get stressed everyday after work like my friends do, so I am thrilled to help. I hope someone benefits from this:) 

Also - I am a terrible typist so if you notice an error, please just ignore it unless it's so bad that you don't understand what I am trying to say!