Christmas 2017 // Kid Gifts

So, what are we getting the girls for Christmas? I actually have all my shopping done for them already. Say what?! You may know that I'm always a late shopper, and I wanted it off my plate early this year. Here is a list of the things they are actually getting or that we already own -- not just stuff I think would be cool and that I don't intend to buy.

// 1: Play Silks

I bought two of Sarah’s enchanted play silks -- one in rainbow and the other in blossom. I love how they could be used for anything from dress-up to fort-making. Open-ended play items are my favorite because they foster so much creativity . . . and they don’t require batteries!

I had alternatively considered buying the girls a set of these polyester play cloths. They’re a bit less expensive but have good reviews. In the end, I got roped in by the fun blend of colors.


// 2: Hanging Pod

As a joint gift from Santa, the girls are getting a hanging pod swing for the basement. I’ve seen these so many places, but I found one that is a cotton canvas on Amazon for just $23. It got good reviews and can hold up to 170 pounds, so anyone in the house can use it. We’re going to hang it in the basement from a beam.




// 3: Play Tent, etc.

As another joint gift, I purchased a new pop-up play tent in the shape of a castle. I like how it's sort of gender-neutral (a lot of them were pink and purple). It's 53' tall, so even Ada will be able to stand inside of it. The best part is that it folds away easily and can be toted around the house because it's so light.

Oh, and I got them this pack of felt crowns to share on their adventures.



// 4: Mermaid Sensory Board

As yet another joined gift, I bought a yard of sequin mermaid fabric and I'm going to make a large sensory board (by fixing it to either a large cork board we have or maybe using a frame) with it so the girls can draw and play. We saw this at a local children's museum, and I immediately thought it would be an awesome idea!


// 5: Plush Toys

Then Ada's getting a stuffed bear made with alpaca fur that we bought at a festival in my hometown.

Eloise is getting a stuffed llama because llamas are her favorite.



// 6: Girl Gifts To Each Other

The girls got each other gifts as well. Ada got Eloise a set of plush donuts (she has a thing with donuts) for the play kitchen. Eloise "got" Ada the game Pie Face. I'm thinking that one will be fun when the whole family is visiting at Christmas.


// 7: Name Puzzle

I got Eloise a personalized name puzzle for her birthday, but it didn’t arrive on time so I saved it for Christmas. I figure this is a nice, heirloom sort of gift. I also just love her name.


// 8: Art Stuff

I love the idea of giving things that the kids will really use, and they always need art supplies. For Eloise, I picked up some of these beeswax crayons. They’re rectangular, so perfect for little hands. I looked through a variety of brands and these seem to get good marks for quality and price.

I am also getting some watercoloring supplies for both girls. A nice big pad of paper and a huge set of colors.


// 9: Magnet Blocks

While we already own these, I highly recommend magnetic blocks of some kind. We’re a Magformers family. I love how they are perfect for big and little hands. We build things with them but also make pictures on the refrigerator. They may be the toy that’s most often picked out of everything in the box.


// 10: Dolls

I bought a cute cloth doll by HABA for Ada years ago . . . and I never gave it to her. I set it aside as a gift for a future child. So, Eloise is getting the doll this year along with a sleep outfit for her. Or him. The one we have is quite androgynous, which is actually kind of nice.


// 11: More Dolls

What’s Ada’s big gift? Well, it’s something I didn’t expect to buy -- but she really (REALLY) wanted it. So, it’ll end up being a joint gift from me and my grandparents (they always give us money). I tracked down one of those Luvabella dolls this summer. I didn’t pay the crazy prices they’re going for now. It’s got AI and crazy robotics stuff going on. Kind of creepy, but she’s obsessed.

This list is almost complete, but there are a couple other items I got second hand that I intend to write about in the next week or two. I have some stocking stuffers I’ll be sure to share in that post as well. I’ll also be back soon with some gift lists for the men and women in your lives. Stephen and I aren’t getting much this year. Our recent furnace repair took care of that for us.

But I hope to post a bit about our Thanksgiving menu tomorrow. Maybe? My kids have been sick. It’s no fun at all. I’ve mostly been focusing on my freelance work, so I do apologize for neglecting the blog.

Happy Tuesday -- I’m off to Ada’s first choir concert!

Note: These are linked to Amazon, so if you purchase through the link I get a (very) small kickback. 
Thanks for supporting the blog for all these years!

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Want, Need, Wear, Read // Kids

It's time to start sharing my annual gift lists! This year, I'm going with the whole "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" that you have probably seen on almost every blog every written (including my own). The thing is, this gifting philosophy makes sense for so many reasons. It simplifies matters, it resists over-consumption, and it may even help keep your house clutter-free.

Today's list is all for the kids in your life (I'll have another one specifically for baby). So sit back, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and enjoy!

Unicorn Cycle

Rainbow Silk Streamer

Hanging Pod Chair  

Classic LEGO Box

Tree Blocks 

MasterChef Jr. Cooking Essentials Kit

Pop-Up Rocket Ship

Flip + Doodle Desk with Stool

Toy Hammock

CamelBak Water Bottle

Wet Brush De-tangler

Easel Drawing Pad 

LEGO Baseplate Mat

Animal Print Flannel Sheets

SWOOP Bag Storage

Divided Plates

Acorn Slippers

Animal Knee Socks

Animal Knit Hat/Scarf Set (assorted!) 

Organic Cotton Underwear

Fleece-Lined Gloves

Rocket Pajamas

Colorful Headbands

Rabbit Print Leggings

Mom, I'm Bored Activity Book

Charlotte's Web

Ada Twist, Scientist 

James and the Giant Peach

I Can Read: Frog + Toad Set

The Secret Garden

Brain Quest Cards

Dry Erase Coloring Book

Also check out . . . 

• 30 Gifts Under $30 // Kids
• 30 Gifts Under $30 // Baby
• 30 Gifts Under $30 // Women
• 30 Gifts Under $30 // Men
• Gifts for Kids, 2015 Edition
• Gifts for Him, 2015 Edition

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(Major) Grocery Sticker Shock

I've been shopping at Aldi almost exclusively for over two months now. It's simplified our whole grocery buying process considerably. Even if I don't make a list before heading to the store, I'm not tempted by a wide array of foods I don't normally need, and I've even become accustomed to the taste of certain Aldi brands versus our old mainstays.

For example, I buy Greek yogurt almost every week. While on vacation in Wellsboro this week, I had to get Chobani at $5.99 a container (ouch!) . . . and the taste and texture aren't doing it for me. Well, that's not the only disappointment I experienced this week. I had some major sticker shock when I went shopping at one of my hometown's grocery stores.

Here's the receipt.

OK. So this is what I bought to feed myself and Ada -- not Stephen -- for the week. And upon first glance, it looks like I still got a good amount of food for just under $70. However, closer inspection reveals that a lot of those "items" are really just small discounts on high prices.

I've crossed out the discounts to show the food only.


I've also circled the discounts to show them clearly. Not too impressive. Now, to be entirely fair, I did end up buying some more convenient foods than usual this week. So, this is by no means a direct comparison.

Still, just for the fun of it, I did compare like-products from my latest Aldi haul.

Cheese: $1.99 versus $3.39
Greek yogurt: $3.89 versus $5.99
Almond Milk: $2.49 versus $3.69
Hummus: $3.99 versus $5.99 (large container)
Beans: $0.65 versus $1.19
Milk: $2.15 versus $4.00 (didn't buy, just noticed!)
Brie: $2.99 versus $7.99 (no joke! I didn't buy!)

They did have a good deal on avocados -- 10 for $10 -- so I'll give the store that. However, if I had to routinely shop at this store, I wouldn't be able to afford to feed my family and still have money for other things. Most of my friends actually shop out of town for their food, at least from what they tell me. It's just unfortunate that food can be so expensive some places!

What do you think? Are the prices in my receipt above similar to what you encounter at your local store? I think where you're located has a lot to do with it, as my hometown is somewhat out of the way of major highways and all. Whatever the case may be, I'm looking forward to filling my cart for a grand $100 total and having enough food for almost two weeks!

More #unsponsored ALDI recipes/posts:

• Roasted Asparagus + Hummus Toasts (recipe)
• A whole + HUGE cart! $108!
• Zucchini Burgers Recipe -- vegan + gluten-free
• What $77 Looks like at Aldi
• Fresh Orange Wakeup Smoothie -- 19 grams of protein!
• Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup -- lots of hidden veggies!
• A month of groceries = $291!
• The FULL THREAD of Aldi posts...

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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8 Vegetarian Proteins Perfect for Breakfast

As a long-time vegetarian, I must admit I struggle with adding enough protein to my diet. Over the last several months, I've been making strides toward getting my act together. When I eat more protein, I undeniably feel fuller for longer and have a distinct sense of mental clarity that usually gets lost in all my shameless carb-consumption.

Good or bad or, perhaps, lazy,  what I make for breakfast sets the tone for how my day of eating might go. So, I've been focusing on protein-rich foods -- or, rather, I had planned to. But how much should we really start the day with? Apparently I wasn't getting nearly enough!

Exerts seem to agree that runners need "1.0 to 1.6 grams per kilogram a day (or .45 to .72 grams per pound)" each day. So, for me, a 130 pound woman, this means roughly 75 grams daily if I want to hit that goal dead center. Divided by three meals (and maybe a snack or two), I should be shooting for around 20-25 grams at breakfast.

That sounds like a lot.

Solid protein sources that go well with breakfast recipes:

// 1. An EGG contains roughly 6 grams of protein, so if you eat two of them for breakfast, you're already getting in a good chunk of your daily goal!

// 2. 6 ounces of nonfat GREEK YOGURT is just 100 calories, but boasts 18 grams of protein in a neat little container. I avoid flavored varieties, though, which contain an alarming amount of sugar and cost more than a big tub of plain!

// 3. A serving of packaged TOFU comes in at 8 grams of protein, though I often eat a double serving -- 16 grams, yahoo!

// 4. 2 tablespoons of NUT BUTTER contains as much as 8 grams of protein. But be sure to choose varieties with low sugar, no hydrogenated oils or consider making your own.

// 5. A cup of low-fat COTTAGE CHEESE packs an impressive 28 grams of protein, and it's quickly becoming my new favorite snack.

// 6. A half cup of BLACK BEANS will give you 8 grams of protein. Kidney beans, 9 grams. Garbanzos, 7 grams. White beans, 8 grams.

// 7. A cup of SOY MILK provides 8 grams of protein. Skim milk also comes in at 8 grams.

// 8. Each cup of QUINOA has 8 grams of protein. A great substitution for rolled oats, which have an impressive 5 grams per 1/2 dry cup, on more savory days.

+     +     +      +      +     +     +

Having a handy guide for which foods to choose is only half the battle. Stay tuned! In my next post on this topic, I'll be offering up 15 recipe-lite breakfasts incorporating these foods (and others) to total my protein requirement.

Do you care much about protein for breakfast? What foods do you like?

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Gifts for the Active Family

When friends or family ask us what we want or need for Christmas, birthdays, etc., we often don't know what to tell them. As far as "stuff" goes, we're pretty good. But if I think hard, we have our best times when we're outdoors, being active, enjoying the world together. And there are a whole host of items that are helpful for making this experience more enjoyable or comfortable.

Here are some ideas from our family to yours. And, yes, those Sorel boots are well worth the investment! Stephen just bought a pair, too. We use them a lot on their own -- but also with our snowshoes, which we're finally getting use of this year!




One thing's for sure: There aren't many shopping days left (in general OR online -- Amazon.com says just 2 days left for free shipping for Christmas delivery), so be sure to check out these other gift lists.

Fun Gifts for Foodies
Active Gifts for Women
On Stephen's List
On Ashley's List
On Ada's List + 80 toddler gift ideas split into 20 fun categories!

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6 Habits of Highly Annoying Racers

I feel like I already wrote this post . . . twice. But really, I'm just easily annoyed. Especially when exerting myself, like in my most recent 4-miler. It's something I should work on. And I'm sure I've been guilty of a few of these habits in the past. Anyway, here are 6 of the most eye-roll inducing things I see racers doing these days.

(And just so there are no hard feelings, I also think it's annoying to continually share workouts as they are happening. Yet, I do it all the time. Case in point: #yay4milerun)

#1: Starting In the Wrong Spot.

I can give some leeway with this one because -- especially at smaller races -- it can be hard to figure out who's running what pace. But if you run 13-minute miles, it's not smart to start in the first 1/4 of the group. Instead, ask those around you generally how they are planning to finish and try to line up accordingly. And if you never run and are just participating for fun -- please refrain from sprinting the first quarter mile and dropping to a halt, getting in the way of practiced runners. I can't tell you how many times I've nearly tripped over people or have seen others trampled in the crowd.

#2: Expressing Negative Thoughts.

I've heard anything from "Seriously? Only 8:30/mile? Ugh!!!" to "Oh, GAWD. Just LOOK at that huge hill!!!" If you have nothing nice to say, it's best to keep your mouth shut. Or if you just have to blab, try to find something positive to chat about. Maybe there is a killer mountain up ahead, but it's better to say something like: "Alright, guys. We can do this!" Something to keep the group going strong.

#3: Tweeting or Instagram-ing Mid-Run.

This one gets a double eye-roll. Posting before or after the race is fine. Jitters and nerves get the best of me, too, so a little shout for good luck is sometimes in order. And sharing a great finish time is always on my list of priorities -- after I cross the finish line. The way I see it, if you signed up for the race + have time to tweet in the middle, you're not running hard enough. 

#4: Blatantly Disregarding Race Rules.

Maybe it's my inner-goody-two-shoes, but I hate, hate, hate when runners ignore race rules. Examples are no dogs, no strollers, etc. And the ever-popular no head-phones. It means you can't wear headphones -- for your safety. Also: So I don't have to listen to muffled Selena Gomez crap my whole race. If it's hard to run without music, try doing it at least once a week so race day won't shock your system.

#5: Passing Someone RIGHT Before the Finish.

We all try to get the last kick in at the end of a race. Feel free to breeze past those people with little gas left in their tanks and feel good about it. But if you are within like 5 feet of the finish, don't trip someone to move up a place in the overall lineup. It's not worth it. It's just lame and rude. And you could seriously hurt someone. I actually saw a human collision once; it wasn't pretty.

#6: Disrespecting the Race. (From Stephen)

If you disrespect the race, you're indirectly disrespecting the racers. Yeah, you might only be doing this half marathon as a warmup to your epic full marathon. But we don't need to hear all about how above it you are. And runners: If you encounter someone like this, don't give in and say something like: "Oh, well I'm only doing the half today . . ." Self-deprecation isn't necessary. You're awesome and "real" runners run all sorts of speeds + distances.

What annoys you at races? Am I being too harsh? Probably.

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Every Other Week Shopping Guide

When I go grocery shopping for two weeks, I focus on basic staples that can be turned into a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (I was hoping to just take a snapshot of our latest receipt, but I can't find it!)

I've discovered a lot. For example, oats can be used in almost everything.

Here's a sample shopping list.

• 10 pounds potatoes 
• 8 pounds apples
• 5 pounds carrots
• 2 bulbs garlic
• Bag cooking onions
• 4 broccoli heads
• 2 containers tofu
• 2-pack almond milk
• 2 containers veggie broth
• Large container rolled oats (42 ounces)
• Bag of bread flour
• 2 containers (32 ounce) plain low-fat yogurt
• 2 large cans (28 ounce) whole tomatoes 
• 2 large cans (28 ounce) kidney beans
• 2 regular cans chickpeas
• Large bag of frozen peas
• 2 bags shredded mozzarella
• 2 small cans tomato paste
• Large carton (18) eggs
• Large box of Kix cereal (treat for all of us!)
• Bag of chocolate chips for cookie-making!

$$$ + MEAL PLANNING

With this type of list, the total generally comes in around $80, leaving me $30 for the following week's haul if we're sticking to a $60 budget. As I mentioned in my last post, we have $100/week total for groceries AND entertainment, so sometimes we spend it all on food, other times not. It's just good to flex it that way. Generally we are able to stay within around $65 a week average for food.

I look at meal-planning in a two-week stretch. The meals are repetitive, but don't necessarily need to be. It's just easier that way when getting used to buying large quantities of the same ingredients.


Here's what we are eating this week and likely next.

BREAKFAST

• Muffins for breakfasts -- latest recipe tomorrow
• Egg + 1/2 banana for Ada's breakfast everyday
• Ashley + Stephen eats eggs w/muffins or oatmeal + banana

SNACKS/LUNCH
 

• Sourdough bread or other loaf of bread, sometimes 2 loaves
• Applesauce, lasts the whole week for a side-dish/baby food
• Tahini-free hummus (just chickpeas pureed with water and lemon juice + salt/pepper)
• Crock pot veggie soup, lunches Monday through Thursday
• Ada eats veggies strained out of the soup w/ applesauce + cheese or tofu
• Dinner leftovers to accompany lunch
• Stephen gets a sandwich with a coworker one day a week for lunch
• On that day, Ashley picks at what we can find in the fridge

DINNER/ETC.

• Veggie burgers + oven-baked fries + 5-minute naan for "buns" -- 2 nights
• Breakfast for dinner night (eggs + potatoes + side veggie)
• Tofu Stir-Fry Dinner w/ Broccoli + Onions + Rice
• Pizza Thursday -- we started making our own, we have lots of recipes, saves like $15
• Ada eats beans, tofu, peas, bits of our dinner, etc.
• Misc. Night for dinner depending on leftover ingredients.
• We usually make a special dinner or go out one night a week
• I also make dessert 2-3x/week. A half dozen cookies, usually -- I have been using olive oil lately versus Earth Balance

I do most of the meal prepping on Sunday afternoon for week 1 and will do the same for week 2. It's fun to watch a gigantic bag of potatoes get used up with each and every recipe. Almost like a challenge to see just how many ways I can use them.


SOME TIPS

// Stock up on items that don't go bad in a week's time.

Broccoli is hearty, green peppers are, too, and both last the full two weeks. On the other hand, squash can be iffy and go limp. Carrots are robust for longer than two weeks typically. Mushrooms -- not on your life. It's all experimentation.

// Have a plan for what you buy. 

I can't stress enough the importance of meal planning. Once you get more used to it, you just know in your head what meals work + what foods you'll need to make them. But until it becomes second nature -- write it out on a piece of paper and write you list from it.Try to choose meals that utilize the same ingredients, like how we have potatoes for fries AND put them in our veggie stew AND use them for a side on breakfast-for-dinner night.

// Invest in a good spice collection.

I don't know what we'd do without our spices. They can make two completely same meals taste entirely different. Our favorites are curry powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, dill, fenugreek, rosemary, and -- oh, who am I kidding? -- we like them all!


// Consider making your own bread. 

Sometimes I joke with Stephen that I feel like we have to mill our own grain for everything we eat. We make virtually everything from scratch, which sounds exhausting and possibly insane -- but it really pays off for us. Plus, it doesn't take nearly as long as it sounds. We have a basic 5-minute naan recipe that we use to make bread to accompany meals on-demand, and this way there isn't any waste -- moldy bread -- at the end of the week.

// Keep it in sight. 

The tendency I have with buying things in larger quantities is to put them in the back of the cupboard. Forget they are there. I have done it more times than I'd like to admit, even when I have had the best intentions. It can be helpful to write out a pantry list somewhere in your kitchen and cross off items as they dwindle -- because you'll also see what you still have!

// Freeze meals ahead. 

If you're worried something won't keep, make it into a soup or other meal you can freeze and reheat the next week or more into the future. I also think freezing might help us save even more money AND time -- because shopping every three weeks or even monthly for the big stuff could then be possible. This is something I'm currently working on and hope to write more about soon. We love our upright freezer. One of the best purchases we've made.

// Learn how to substitute ingredients.

This tip can be handy if you have more of something left over than you thought you would. In muffins, you can use applesauce in place of eggs or oil, for example. You can also swap ingredients out of veggie burgers like crazy to fit your taste and available ingredients. I will try to write a post specifically on swapping sometime soon. It's one of the most useful skills you can develop in the kitchen. An easy way to start is stick with similar ingredients (garbanzos for canelli beans) in similar rations.

// If you have babies + toddlers, skip the kid-specific stuff.

We got roped into buying the special yogurts and snacks for a while, but we have resisted since the beginning of the new year. IT IS SO EXPENSIVE! Ada eats what we eat generally, though I do try to make some meals more kid-friendly and appealing to her. And while we occasionally keep around a few packets of baby food, we are considering buying reusable pouches to fill with our own purees when we're out and about.


A couple of you have asked us about our organics-buying policy. We actually covered it on Writing Chapter Three around this time last year. Here's that series of posts:

Buying Organic: Weighing the Costs
Organic Grocery Haul: $112.72
Organics: Responding to Reader Comments
Organics: Moving Forward

If you have any other questions or suggestions, let me know! I also wanted to share a few things from the comments section in the last post.

• Allison shared: Why You Should Shop with a Cart, Not a Basket
• Kristina suggested "to boost frugalness, make stock instead of buying it. I usually make mine out of trimmings-- a few weeks' worth of saved carrot peels, potato skins, parsley stems, celery leaves (I save them in the freezer) plus leek greens or an onion or two, a teaspoon of peppercorns, some thyme and a bay leaf. Fill up your biggest pot with water, throw everything in, and simmer gently for about an hour. Then strain and freeze. It's essentially free this way, which is awesome."
• Shannan shared: "I usually make a big list of meal options and then make a grocery list of what we need in order to make those meals. That way, when we get home from work, we don't have to try and think of something to make. I pull out the list and we decide what to eat from there!"
• Kim added: "Usually the second week becomes a clean out the fridge, freezer and pantry week. I make a few big meals that I can freeze like pasta fagoli. Pasta is so cheap that is makes for good fill in meals. I also keep baked cookies and breakfast foods in the fridge and freezer all the time so we aren't tempted to buy many snacks."

Thanks as always for all your tips + tricks!

MORE RELATED POSTS

Shop for TWO Weeks
Ongoing Grocery Saga + YOUR Tips
How Low can we Go?
$60 Sweet Spot
Eating Well Need Not Cost a Fortune
Grocery Bills: Progress
Grocery Bills: Even More Progress
Grocery Bills: What's Up Now?
Slashing Grocery Bills: We're Going Strong
Grocery Bills: Major Fail!
How to Store Bulk Foods
Cooking and Baking on a Budget: How To
How to Bake It Vegan: Common Substitutions

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Grocery Savings: Shop for Two Weeks

Confession: We fell -- hard -- off the wagon with regard to budgeting for food. We were doing better than we thought financially through the last half of 2012, so we didn't feel the pressure to pinch pennies. We were also busy with the holidays + traveling, so stuffing our faces with whatever tasted good was just . . . easy and comforting.

I'd say we were spending around $90 a week at the store.

Still "good" by most definitions. But now that we have to buy a new-to-us car, I'm back on the budget wagon. I have allotted $100 a week for groceries/entertainment with $65 going toward food and $35 otherwise. But, of course, these numbers can flex as necessary. Things are tight, but that doesn't mean we can't eat healthy, filling foods -- and even be creative with them!

It's taken me quite some time to put some of the grocery savings techniques you guys/gals gave me into practice. But now that I have some experience, I thought I'd tell the world: Shopping two weeks at a time is where it's AT for saving with grocery budget and wasting less food.

It's a trial I had been meaning to test myself with for months years . . . and finally got around to it in the last month, month + a half. And now I'm a convert and would like to try shopping for an entire month in the near future!

Shopping two weeks at a time (and possibly for longer periods) can be tricky, though. It requires meal-planning, awareness (to avoid wastefulness), and some serious practice. It's well worth the effort. Not only do we save money this way -- our last weekly bill figured to be $60 -- meal preparation is so much easier!

Some examples of items we buy in 2-week quantity . . .

• Vegetable stock, 32 ounce carton x 2 -- sale
• Plain low-fat yogurt, the 32 ounce container x 2 -- sale
• Whole tomatoes, 28 ounce can x 2
• Apples (comes in a gigantic 8 pound bag)
• Carrots (another gigantic bag)
• Onions (yup -- big bag)
• Potatoes + sweet potatoes (same thing)
• Cabbage
• Beets
• Almond milk x 2 cartons
• Shredded mozzarella x 2 packages -- sale
• Tofu x 2 packages -- sale
• Peanut butter, 2 pack (lasts us longer than 2 weeks)
• Bag wheat flour 
• Bag bread flour
• Frozen peas, bulk bag
• Frozen strawberries, bulk bag
• Beans, lots of beans

There are several items we do like to buy fresh each week. Bananas, for example, get pretty funky after a week in my experience -- but they are a staple for us year round. Spinach, kale, and other salad greens are also difficult to store for long periods of time.

And no matter how many eggs we buy, we always seem to be running out.


Here's where it gets confusing: Shopping two weeks at a time doesn't necessarily mean we won't go to the grocery store again next weekend. I know that sounds like it's defeating the purpose, but I assure you -- it isn't. It's just our happy compromise.

We go back armed with ONE of those baskets versus a cart and stick to the list. I also write down how much we have "left over" from the budget so I don't feel tempted to buy extras. Sometimes I write it in gigantic numbers colored in with bright markers. Whatever works, right?

Having meals prepped ahead of time is the key here -- because when I go back to the aisles, I have our stores fresh in my mind. I know, for instance, that I have some awesome pizza dough + everything we need to make it great already at home.

So, I keep walking past the temptations.


To make shopping every other week work for you:

• Make your list. Identify which foods you normally buy and which ones would work with this method. Canned foods and dry goods are an obvious choice; produce can take some experimentation.
• Simplify your shopping list in the process. Which foods are nutritional necessities and which are bonus?
• Get creative. Try to find a multitude of ways to use the same foods. If you buy 8 pounds of apples, for example, you need to know how you're going to use them ahead of time. I'll be covering more about this in my next post either tomorrow or early next week.
• Remember your budget. Buying times two can save a lot -- that's for sure. But if you're not careful, you might over-buy or buy the wrong things. The worst is when you just can't use up everything -- but that doesn't typically happen if you have a plan and cook ahead of time.
• Make a 2-week meal plan + consider designating specific cook days. (That terminology makes me think of Breaking Bad.) I'll be writing more about this in my next post, too, but you could even go ahead as far as a whole month if you have the freezer space.
• Shop around. Consider checking out bulk stores, but don't obsess. In my experience, the prices at Sam's club/BJs/etc. aren't dramatically better on the whole -- for some things, yes, but for others certainly not. 
• Keep your eyes open. Instead, keep your eye on the sales at your grocery store. Often they have 2-for-less type deals, which is when we bulk up. Even better, figure out seasonal sales. My MIL recently scored a gazillion beans for us on the super cheap with a can sale.
• And be flexible. Sometimes we go with a list, but end up seeing something else is on sale -- a similar ingredient or one that I could easily swap, like chickpeas for kidney beans.

Buying two weeks at a time has allowed me to spend just $60/week on food. Not only that, we have spent far less time scrambling around every night for dinner. Lunches are grab-and-go -- which is especially helpful with a half-the-time-hungry pre-toddler running around the house.

In my next post on this topic, I'll give you a sample of my two-week meal plan, as well as a specific shopping list, to show you how it all works. I'll even link to some of my favorite recipes. It may seem overwhelming, but meal prepping on the weekend is awesome.

Do you shop every other week?
Or even less frequently? 
How do you make it work?

RESOURCES

Grocery Produce that Lasts the Longest on Forbes
Buying in Bulk on Huffington Post
Two Week Grocery Plan on The Vanilla Tulip
Vegan Shopping Guide on PETA

MORE RELATED POSTS

Ongoing Grocery Saga + YOUR Tips
How Low can we Go?
$60 Sweet Spot
Eating Well Need Not Cost a Fortune
Grocery Bills: Progress
Grocery Bills: Even More Progress
Grocery Bills: What's Up Now?
Slashing Grocery Bills: We're Going Strong
Grocery Bills: Major Fail!
How to Store Bulk Foods
Cooking and Baking on a Budget: How To
How to Bake It Vegan: Common Substitutions

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Blog Love Fest: March 2010

It's that time again: Blog Love Fest! Last month, 63 of you participated. We're blown away! So, if you'd like to check out previous love fests, just look at the December, January, and February posts. Want to participate this month? Here's how . . . (and PS: if you added your blog last month -- feel MORE than free to add it again!)

Just click below to enter your NAME, BLOG NAME, and BLOG ADDRESS (or website, or Flickr account, whatever web-way your express yourself -- note: adult and inappropriate sites will be removed), and it'll be shared on this post for all those other (never home)makers to see. Also: If you're reading this post from your favorite feed reader, you'll need to hop onto www.neverhomemaker.com -- the list won't show up unless you're on the site.

It's that easy! So, don't be shy! Share away . . . and if you've got friends who blog, send 'em this way. My goal is to get together a nice list for everyone to check out. I'll post a button on my sidebar so we can enjoy 'em till April!

Pssst: You have until March 20th, then the list is closed until the next Blog Love Fest in April.


Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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