Hello Hello Hello! Yes, that's right, I am back from my little bloggy vacay and feeling quite refreshed!!! Did y'all miss me as much as I missed you?! It was nice to not have to "worry" about making sure I had a post ready for the day and spending more time than I should at the computer, however, I am super glad I am back!!! Only downside is, I didn't prepare a post for today as I should have! Oops!
I have loads to share with y'all, like how I survived my wisdom teeth removal, the gift I made for our dear friends who had an engagement party this past weekend, the surprise I received at said party, Baby Reef's lack of skills at being Houdini, meal plans for this week, possible upcoming travel plans, etc! Since I need photos for many of these posts and I totally stink at remembering my camera some will have to wait for later this week! Hope that's okay! Of course it's okay, it's my blog right?!
Anywho, I figured I'd go on and post about our Meal Plans for the week! Many of you wanted me to keep y'all updated on how the once a week grocery trips, meal planning, and trying to not waist money on food were going. Considered this your update!
Monday night: Taco Night
Tuesday night: Free Night since I am going to the movies with my momma!
Wednesday night: Jamaican Spice Chicken with sweet baked potatoes and green beans
Thursday night: Shrimp and Spinach Tortellini
Friday night: Fillets topped with melted blue cheese, mashed potatoes, and squash.
Saturday night: Free night
Sunday night: Homemade Pizza of some sort!
I will say the weekly grocery trips are kind of a pain, mainly because the weeks go by so fast and before I know it, it's Sunday again and I've got to make a list, plan the meals out, and figure out when I'm going to get to the store. I have enjoyed it though! I like to think it is making me cook more and allowing us to try new dishes and ideas! For the last three weeks, I have made sure to schedule easy meals for Monday night, as that is the hubby's night to cook now! I have been going to Zumba on Monday evenings so the hubby has been helping out in the kitchen those nights so we aren't eating dinner at 8:30! He has done so well and I can't thank him enough for helping me out!
Weekly shopping has also allowed me to eat breakfast that include fresh fruit and to pack my lunch for work. I only buy a few pieces of fruit {so they don't go bad and I actually eat them}, usually greek yogurt {which I buy a larger container and dish it out in a small tupperware dish in the morning} and then oatmeal or cereal. I try to switch it up as well. For instance I had yogurt and a pear this morning. Tomorrow I may have oatmeal and a banana, and then Wednesday I'll take cereal and milk to with me to eat when I get to work. I've actually eaten breakfast everyday during the week for, I'd say at least, the last month. I can't really tell if it "helps" in losing weight, but I feel good about myself that I am actually making sure I have something in my system before lunch!
I can't really tell yet, if we are actually saving money. I'd really like to track our finances and budgets better. I may just add that to my Mini Goals list for next month. I'd like to think we are saving money or at least not being wasteful with it, as food isn't going to total waste. I have yet to throw away any foods that have gone bad before I could eat or use them. So I feel like we are at least winning in that department! I've also gotten really good at buying ONLY what is on the list! If it's not on the list it doesn't go in the basket! Although sometimes I forget things that we are COMPLETELY out of, like last night it was dryer sheets, and we've been out of them for awhile, so they did make their way into the basket.
If any of y'all are meal planning how is it working out for you?! Are you liking it better? Can you tell you're saving money?? I'd love to hear y'alls thoughts!
Welp, that's all I have for today lovelies!!! Hope you all are having a stellar Monday! See ya tomorrow!
XoXo,
Your meal plan sounds delicious! I think your plan for shopping/eating sounds great. I do the same thing, it sure does make going to the grocery easier! I try to work in nights for leftovers (or cook a bigger recipe) so I don't have to cook every single night and that seems to help too.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Lauren! We do the exact same thing with our meals, and it has been really helpful! I even post our "meal schedule" for each week on the fridge every Sunday. I was planning on writing a post on this exact topic! Great work! :)
ReplyDeleteYour plan sounds really good! I've been doing it a little, but I plan to really start once I move at the end of the month. I'll be directly across the street from a grocery store! I don't know that it helps my budget either since delivery and take out is insanely cheap here, but at least I know what I'm actually eating, and that everything's not covered in salt and oil. Justifying the cost by thinking I'm saving in future medical bills or pills?
ReplyDeleteGuess who's back... back again... Lauran's back.. tell a friend! I immediately started singing when I read your title. Glad you're back, friend!
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion for budgeting is to look back at your last month's bank statement and add up what you spend eating out (add up lunch at work separately from dinners out) then add up what you spend on groceries.
ReplyDeleteFor my hubs and I, we decided on an average amount on eating out and groceries per month, then divided by 2 pay periods (we are paid on the 1st and 15th). Then we pull out cash for both groceries and eating out. This way, you can easily track what you're spending because you'll be able to see at the end of the month (or pay period) how much cash you have left for each!
I'd be happy to give you more info on how we've been using a cash budget successfully since February - haven't gone over the budget..yet! Try putting the grocery money and eating out money in separate envelopes then carry them in your wallet so you always have them! :)
have you used mint.com to track your finances? We use it and I love it. It makes it so easy to sort where you are spending your money...sometimes a little too easy for my hubby to see those target purchases that can't all be groceries ;)
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