Monday, January 14, 2013

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!

4 comments:

  1. Just to add to your grocery shopping on a budget. Something I learned not too long ago, and this sounds so simple and pathetic that I never thought of this before. Plan your meals around the sales!

    I also have recently went to a couponing class. And they too teach you to plan around the sales, as well as really only use your coupons on sale items, and if you really need something that isnt on sale go ahead and use your coupon. I have only done this a little over a month but the first 2 weeks, I saved us $100 on groceries! We usually spend $200 on groceries every 2 weeks. Which to me is ridiculous for 2 of us. And I have now got it down to $100 every 2 weeks.

    I had learned if you watch the sales and your coupons sometimes you can get a credit towards the remainder of your purchase if the sale is less than the coupon! And Im not sure if there are Homelands there, but Homelands here double coupons! And this is the biggest help in saving!

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  2. You're absolutely right!! Planning around sales is huge! Emeals actually does that for you!! You select a grocery store and they plan the meals each week according to what's in season and what is on sale :) saves you some time!
    Thanks for commenting!

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  3. Abby,

    I just came up stairs with freshly scrubbed hands and a cup of tea. Goal...chill out and relax after making 8 freezer meals.

    When we started sticking to a budget and looking at where our money was going, I was shocked at what we were spending in restaurants and drive-thrus. So, in the last two years, we've been limiting ourselves to eating out after-church on Sundays and on special occasions only. It's taken a lot more planning and much more dishwashing, but it has had a huge impact on our budget.

    I love your blog! Praying for us to start seeing more referrals again soon!

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    1. Thanks Collen for your comment! Yes! I am praying hard for referrals this week.

      I love that I can connect with other mothers who have struggled through "learning to live on budget." Your family's "plan" sounds a lot like ours! I was actually making a few freezer meals as well when I received this comment!

      Best wishes to you! Please share any budgeting tips you have :))

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Thanks so much for your comments!