E-Meals - Budget Series

I know it has been a long time, but there were still a few things I wanted to post on my "budget series." If you missed the first blog post in this series you can view it HERE!

God continues to work on Lee and I regarding the importance of being good stewards and managing the things He has given us.

He is teaching us to be good stewards (we are still far, far away from that).
He is teaching us to trust in Him as provider.
He is teaching us to give out of NEED, not only out of EXCESS.
He is teaching us to budget when we have very, very little and to continue budgeting when we have more.
The better we manage our "stuff," the more we can give to those in need.

Like I said. I am just beginning to learn the surface of what God wants to teach me on money.

In these "budget series" posts, I am just a beggar, trying to tell another beggar where I found the bread :))

For today....

GROCERY SHOPPING

I doubt that you had warm, fuzzy feelings arise when you read those two words :)
If you did, good for you!

Grocery shopping is C.R.A.Z.Y.
Seriously.

I can go... spend hundreds of dollars... and barely have ingredients for a healthy dinner that night - much less for the whole week!

When we first went on budget, we knew that groceries was one area that could fluctuate.
For example: Car note - same every month. House note - same every month.
That's not the case for groceries.
So we began our journey with figuring out how to frugally, but effectively grocery shop!

Y'all this is one area that has challenged me, grown me and amazed me all in one. There has been (and continues to be) a big learning curb in this area. These are some things that have worked for us.

1) Shop intentionally - you have to say "no" to spontaneous spending. It's hard. It's harder than I would have ever imagined to walk through the store constantly having to say "no" to my desire to spend.
2) Shop with a plan - This is where E-meals came in for us. A sweet, sweet friend introduced me to E-Meals and it has literally been the BEST blessing ever for a new wife and mom just learning how to cook and shop. Obviously, E-meals is not paying me to advertise and this may not work for your family, but here is the link in case you're interested. Dave Ramsey approves :))

Dave Ramsey's thoughts on emeals

Emeals Home Page

3) Buy what you need to survive - This took time for us to figure out, but we finally discovered exactly how many meals, diapers, toilet paper, milk, etc., etc. we needed to get through 2 weeks (since our pay periods are every 2 weeks). We shop at the beginning of the pay period. We shop intentionally and with a plan, and it prevents us from making multiple runs to the store within a pay period. This helps because everyone knows that you walk into the store to get ONE item and leave with TEN!! We have cut back so much by just "having everything" already.

4) Coupon if you can - I am not a big couponer, but I will use them if I can. Don't roll your eyes if you're only saving a few dollars! It's helps.

These were just some of the ways we got started with a budget! We have progressed and found other ways to achieve this as well, particularly in the cooking category :) God cares about my finances. Jesus talked more about money than He did heaven and hell combined. He cares about our stewardship. He is teaching me to care.

Future posts:
Freezer cooking
Homemade STUFF


No updates in the adoption arena. We are sitting strong at number 75! Please continue to pray for movement and for children to be placed in forever families!