Saving money on groceries

I have finally figured out the best way to save money on groceries.  I'm sharing it in hopes that it'll help someone.

The best way, for me, to save money on groceries is make one large shopping trip at the first of the month.  Walmart has been the best place for because they ad match and accept internet printable coupons. I will buy everything I need for the whole month, with the exception of produce and milk .  It does take some time and planning on my part to make it work but it's so worth my time.  I want to share some of my favorite sites with you that help make sit so much easier.  

First is http://saymmm.com/.  This free site is so wonderful.   

• You put you recipes into your account to plan menus.
• Create a calendar with all your recipes.
• Once your calendar is made you can print a grocery list. It's printable and will be categorized for easy shopping.

The first time you use it does take some time to get your recipes in, but the next month is so much easier with all your recipes already there.

I've been using this for almost 6 months and since it keeps all your recipes saved i have a collection my recipes to choose from.  I'll add a few new recipes in every month so we keep a variety of things.  You can also add additional items to your list before you print.  That way you have a complete grocery list including household items.

Next after I get my list of grocery items I'll check the current weeks ads and find the best deals on the items on my grocery list.  I'll circle them on the ad  with a bright marker so I can show the cashier when I'm at the checkout.  

After I look through the ads I'll take my grocery list and ads and search for my coupons.  

My favorite coupon sites are: http://grocerysmarts.com/  . 

• Select your state and store. 
• A list of coupons for that store and where to get them comes up.  I use both internet and newspaper coupons. It will tell you where to find both.

Another wonderful site is http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/coupon-database/ .  

• You can either look through there very large coupon database or use the search and type in exactly what your looking for.  I've found a lot of printable coupons on this site.  

If all else fails and I can't find a coupon for some of the things I'm looking for I'll use ask.com and type in: Printable _(fill in the blank)_ coupon.   I usually am able to find a lot that way.  

I never play full price for anything on my list if I can help it.  The more money I can save, the nicer I meals can be. I hope this will help you save some money. 

Week 14: Day 1

Letters- Jj

Numbers– 7

Across the sky and down from heaven.  That’s the way to make a seven!

Starfall:

http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/letter-j/load.htm?f

Months of the year song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5enDRrWyXaw

Discuss how 3 months of the year (January, June, & July) all have the /j/ sound at the beginning

Math - Count the number of buttons or snaps on the child’s shirt as they get dressed

Writing Skills- We practiced writing 7's.  I make a worksheet from microsoft word with large 7's.  

Play-   Read- Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Ideas:
• Book of the Week Ideas:
Jump is a great /j/ word.
As you say the words, do actions.  Kids love to yell and shake their finger "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

 5 monkey’s jumping on the bed coloring page

Posters letter–
J- Glue on pieces of old jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Art- Christmas tree page, decorate.

Art- Macaroni star

Place a few macaroni noodles in a zip-top plastic bag.  Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 4-5 drops of food coloring.  Mix to distribute the color.  Dye more macaroni in separate bags.  Open the top of the bag and let dry.  Using a star clip art, place a thin layer of glue on the paper.  Add the colored macaroni to create a colorful macaroni star.

 

Oops.  Elmer's glue isn't for eating.  Good thing it's non toxic

 

Week 14 printable lesson plan

Party Party!

We celebrated Fluttershy's and Rarity's 4th and 2nd birthday's this weekend.  It was so much fun.  It's nice that the are young enough to enjoy a dual party.  The cake was yummy and it was fun watching them open their presents. 

The theme was Strawberry shortcake.  We had a strawberry cake, Strawberry ice cream, and sprite with strawberry jello cubes. I wish I got a picture of the beverage.  It was so cute.  The Jello floated like ice cubes.  I made the jello more like jigglers.  There was lots of balloons and decorations. 

Flowers made with mike and ikes and twizzlers pull and peel licorice.

Decorations with fruit roll ups.

1 hour later we we get this.....

Kool-Aid clay

DIY yummy smelling Kool-Aid Clay

This recipe is so easy and fun.  Watch the color magically appear.  

1 1/8 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 small pkg any flavor Cool-aid packet

1/2 cup water

2 Tbsp oil

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Add cooking oil adn water  Stir mixture until it is the consistency of bread dough.  Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it on a floured surface until firm.  Store clay in an airtight container or plastic zip lock bag.  (note: I found I had to add a few drops of water more, mine was a bit too dry.)  

We chose to make grape.  It really smelled good.  We found it was a bit crumbly at first but as you knead and play with it more it stayed together better. 

Preschool Palace fun                                                            

Review square shape: Square poster,  and other posters from previous months.

Activity: Shape memory match. Take several index cards. Take 2 index cards and draw with a heavy marker 1 learned shape on each card. Repeat for all shapes learned, maybe even some new ones! Lay the cards upside down on the table and play the memory game with the shape cards.

Craft: Three colored crayon art. Let child choose three crayons. Then tape the three crayons together into one large crayon. Provide paper to make a design on paper using three-colored crayon.

Worksheet: Number 3 worksheet

We have a bunch of file folder games that I've made.  Today we went through several of them.  We covered shapes, big/small, numbers, and alphabets. 

Here is our craft for today.  We taped 3 crayons together and drew pictures.  Adds a fun twist to coloring.

Musical Squares

Fun with Squares

 Our ideas came from preschool palace.

Today we make brownies and are planning on cutting them into squares.  We cheated and used a Betty Crocker mix.  Sorry no yummy recipe this time. 

Fluttershy's picture is on the right and Rarity is on the left.  Surprisingly they don't look much different.  I was sure you'd see a difference between two years.  These are our square mosaic pictures.  When Fluttershy gets older I'm going to make a picture suggestion (like a house) and see what she comes up with.  Rarity was thrilled to stick all these sticky squares onto her paper.  

Musical Squares
We tweaked this came a bit for a smaller crowd.  It plays like musical chairs only we use colored squares.  We used our foam letter squares.  Instead of removing a square every time the music stopped I had them freeze.  It was a more of a get them up and move game.  Hopping around the circle like little bunnies.