I was so amazed when I was young and my Mom and I would go to the grocery store. What amazed me is that my Mom would stock our cart full, and get out of the store only spending $25 or less with the use of coupons, ads & a MENU!

Watching my Mom do this taught me the importance of a menu! If you do this right you will save some BIG money! I have went from feeding our family of 3 on $150 a week to $75 per week just by sticking to a menu, and I can sometimes even get under $50! This has become a fun game for me, to see how LOW I can GO!

Once a month I inventory the pantry, cupboards, big freezer, little freezer and fridge. I keep this list in a notebook, As I make my menu and use things from my inventory list I cross it off. I keep a list of my favorite recipes and the books they come out of in this notebook along with a list of our favorite meals that don't require a recipe. I then go through the ads to see what is on a super duper sale, especially ingredients that I need for my favorite recipes, and also produce. Sometimes I find things like whole chickens that are a really good deal, any thing like that or meat that I find as a good deal, I will get as much as I can of with any extra budgeted grocery funds. I also get out my coupons and match them up with what's on sale.

Once I have done my HOMEWORK, I make up my menu for a week to two weeks. I really try to make my menu up by using what I have in my inventory, and am usually successful at doing this. I then make up my grocery list, and I NEVER go to the store without it. Usually what's on my list is things like eggs, milk, bread, and any ingredients I need for the things I am going to make for the week, and also any REALLY good deals on meat and side dishes that I use a lot. Make sure that you include lunches and even breakfasts when you produce your menu, and make sure that you add a Leftovers night or even too on your weekly menu! If it doesn't work for you to set certain days of the week write down your menu in a list form where you can pick something for that day in the morning or the night before.

So try the menu game, it is so much fun, and will save you TONS of money!!! And remember, when you go to the store armed with your list, STICK TO IT! Don't let the retailers entice you with things cleverly placed on end caps and in the middle of the main isles.