As many of you should know by now, I buy my beef bulk and when I say bulk I mean as in a half a beefer.  It comes packaged in your preferred sizes and portions.  But because we do not eat pork and chicken nearly as often I buy pork & chicken bulk from the grocery store.  This week Econo had great prices on many of our families favorite pork cuts–Farmland if my favorite.  Many stores offer cheaper meat when bought in a family sized package.  The problem with buying bulk meat is that it isn't portioned to your families needs.  This is how I portion it and freeze it, making it easy to make more for extra guests or less when a member will not be joining you for the meal.

1. First cut roasts into your family portion size or cut them into pork chops. (Roasts are often cheaper by the pound than the same thing sliced.  Save yourself $.10/lb this week by buying the pork sirloin roast for $1.89/lb and cutting it into pork chops instead of buying the pre-cut pork chops for $1.99/lb!)
2. Place the cuts onto cookie sheets leaving space between each cut of meat, making them individually frozen.

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I get questioned about my $200-$250 a month grocery budget often.  Most people are skeptical.  Can you really feed a family of five on an average of $7-$8.50 a day? Sure can.  Some days are $10 but some are $6…it all averages out.  Our Supper tonight is a perfect example.   We are having grilled Smoked Sausage, Italian Pasta Salad, and for dessert–Blue Bunny Ice Cream.  Doesn’t sound like we are skimping to you does it? 

Here is the break down:

1 Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage-$1.25
3/4 box Barilla Whole Wheat Noodles- Free
1/3 bottle Kraft Italian Dressing- Free
Sliced Black Olives and Green Olives- probably about $.40 worth
Package of Athenos Feta Cheese- $.50
½ container of Blue Bunny Ice Cream-$.50
2 qt Grape Sugar Free Kool-Aid-Free

Oh yeh…the baby will be having Beech Nut Garden Vegetables–yes they were free as well.

So the whole meal is costing us $2.65!  Well below our budget for supper meals. That means we can have a bit of a splurge another night!  Plus there is enough pasta salad for lunch for me tomorrow.

If you don’t think these prices can be done check this week’s Copps Coupon Match Ups–the Barilla Pasta is Free again this week and the Blue Bunny Ice Cream is $.99 –making ½ only $.50!… (click here to keep reading)

This is my shopping trip from Saturday.  Includes 2 transactions from Pick n Save and 1 from Kmart.  I spent just under $21 at Pick n Save and $0 at Kmart!!! 

It includes from Pick n Save:

10 Jars of Ragu

1 Van de Kamps

3 Del monte Fruit Cups

Bananas

8 Packs of Mexican Seasonings

3 Packages of Frozen Vegetables

2 Packs of Chicken Breasts

1 Gallon Milk

1 Doz Eggs

6 Boxes of Cereal

3 Cans of Tomatoes

 

It includes from Kmart:

A Mr. Webster Cleaning tool--way to the right. Cut off in the picture

2 Pretzel M&Ms

1 Doritos

3 Tasters Choice Coffee Sticks Packages, use it in chocolate desserts to add great flavor.

1 Nilla Wafer, will join the bananas to make banana pudding.

2 Wonka Fundips for my daughters school Valentine's Party.

1 Fun Pack of Reese Cups (free with a $25 purchase, that was before coupons of course!)

Total: $12.78 after double coupons but I paid zero!  How you ask...join Swagbucks.  I used my giftcards from the past week to pay for them!  Join here.

 

Now that obviously doesn't feed my family for the month but last Saturday I went shopping and spent $120 with a savings of 67%.  Yes I paid $.33 on a dollar.  That included fresh asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, cantaloupe, cilantro,25 boxes of pasta, 6 jars of Barilla Sauce, chicken breast, multiple pack of yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, 6 bottles of Tide, 5 pizzas, tortilla chips, brats, bakery buns and bread from day old rack, and much, much more.  I don't feed my family a bunch of processed foods, altough we do love our pizzas and other convience foods at times.  I cook from scratch probably about 70% of all meals.  We also buy our beef by the 1/2 of beefer...so it ends up at around $2.20/lb.  You too can cut your groceries bills in half, at least.  Be sure to follow me on facebook so you never miss a deal or coupon.… (click here to keep reading)