Why plan a menu?
1. Wasted food is wasted money.Would you toss $10 bills into your kitchen trash can? I wouldn't. By planning a menu, you use the food you have purchased before it spoils.
2. "What's for dinner?" is always answered.You can help make your week less chaotic by having a plan. You can also prep for the night's dinner the morning of, the day before, or even on a weekend day as needed.
3. You can plan for food variety throughout the day.My kids won't normally eat a fruit AND a vegetable at every meal but they will eat one or the other. If we've planned our fruit for breakfast and/or lunch, then we can enjoy a veggie with dinner. Same thing with protein v. carbs. Well, at least the adults will get this balance. The kids ... well, it depends on the day!
4. You can rotate in new recipes with old standards.Maybe you are planning on grilling sausages on Sunday, so why not grill the whole package and make a pasta sauce with the leftovers? Having baked potatoes? Find a new potato recipe to try that week. Making spinach salad with dried cranberries and blue cheese? Throw the cranberries in some couscous or add the blue cheese on some hamburgers, perhaps made with meat you've had in the freezer. You have the ingredient on hand that week so you aren't spending any extra cash finding new things to eat. It's a win-win.
5. You'll be amazed at how much your grocery bill shrinks when you don't add "extras" to your cart. Sticking to the list created by your weekly menu is key. Believe me, you can impulse shop/have retail therapy at the grocery store. If you ignore the "on sale" spices you'll never use, resist the massive bag of Oreos, and pass up the case of juice boxes, you're already on your way to more cash in your wallet. And you can use that cash for a nice Starbucks at the drive-thru location on the way home from the store. After all, saving money doesn't have to be boring.
If you're a California resident, you can take advantage of two tax free days at Kohl's. Pay no sales tax today and tomorrow, plus this event is paired with their biggest sale of the season with up to 55% percent off clothes for kids. Also, for those early birds out there, you can save even more during Saturday morning power hours. Whether you are scooping up some back to school deals or stocking up on household goods, this sale is certainly worth a look.
If you have a Smith and Hawken location near you, it looks like there are still some deals to be discovered. So if you are looking for outdoor furniture, potting supplies or gardening gadgets, it might be worth a drive to the mall. Their online store is no longer up and running but the online merchandise has been distributed to the brick and mortar stores so new things are arriving and the stores will remain open until everything is gone.
Every item is just $10 at the Olive Juice Outlet sale. Olive Juice offers classic clothes for kids in soft, cozy fabrics. It is a small, family run company and I adore their no-fuss designs. There are lots of t-shirts, polo shirts, shorts and skirts on sale. Do check the size charts as they are a bit different than other stores. $7.95 flat shipping fee on your order. The sale ends at Midnight EST on August 8th.
Two Free Tacos at Jack in the Box. No purchase required. All day Tuesday, August 4th. Click on the image for a printable coupon. Who says nothing in life is free? Mmmmmmmmm, tacos.
Myself Belts are so adorable! My son has had several different styles in various sizes and they hold up well to toddler boy abuse. At $14.95, they are a fun gift for any stylish kiddo. Created by two moms, the company is growing and the belts can also be found at some Stride Rite and Nordstrom locations. If you buy two belts, you get free shipping. Now, if you could only pick just two!
