Grocery Shopping My Way Out of Debt

Hello! :)  I am so, so, so excited to share this new blogger and personal friend with you.  Michelle is here today to share her story how she saved on the grocery bill!  She is a very passionate and loving wife and Mama!  She is a hard worker with lots of talent and wants to share all of it with you on her blog.

Grocery Shopping My Way Out of Debt

Want to know a good way to start getting your family out of debt? Stop buying groceries you don't need and throwing away spoiled food-that is literally money going out your garbage can!  I was this person once, and still to some extent am.  However, thanks to War on Debt, I am learning how to grocery shop my way out of debt.

While it's advised families should only shop one time a week, I'm not there yet.  But the $20/person/week budget I think we can adhere to.  Yes, that is $20/person/week.  Keep in mind, we are a family of four.  One family member is on formula (soon to be off), one family member can't have gluten, and two family members are trying to lose weight and eat healthier.  With that set up, it seems as though it could be impossible to do! But it's not.  Follow these easy steps along with me, and soon you'll find your way grocery shopping your way out of debt too!

What's in your pantry/cupboards? I'm an organizing freak, my husband is NOT.  So I've learned to live with the fact that my cupboards will end up looking like this most of the time until I organize again.  At first glance in my cupboards, this is what you see:

Compared to most people's pantries/cupboards, mine is actually bare! I do keep cereal in a different cupboard and snacks in another one.  I have a teeeny house and have to keep only what I need (ha!...TRY to keep what I need).

Claire is helping me out...nothing in here Mom!

STEP ONE is to go through your pantry and see what you have.  Start thinking of what meals you already have that you could make this week, or could make with just a few groceries. Here's some of what I found in my cupboards:

Before my husband, this is how my cupboard would look...

I even have dessert!

Then I looked through my fridge and freezer to see what I have, here is some of what is in my fridge:

STEP TWO, make a meal list for the week from what you already have.  We always do protein shakes or Kendall has her gluten free cereal for breakfast in the mornings, so that is easy (check out my dinner for breakfast blog-I have changed things up but for simplicity for you to follow, I'll keep this as is).  Do you have five different cereals? Do you have boxes of pancake mix, sausage, bacon, eggs?  What can you use up this week for meals? Think of lunch and dinner.  And make a list you will stick to! When you are prepared, this is much easier to do, and to stick to.  But most importantly, USE WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE!

One of the things I found in my cupboard is that I almost have the makings for spaghetti, all I need is seasoning mix.  

STEP THREE, (as you do step two) start a grocery list.  I added Italian seasoning (I did check my seasonings cupboard and am out).  I also had makings for pizza, so I added sauce and mozzarella cheese and another topping to my list.  I had makings for tacos, so I just added taco seasoning and romaine lettuce to my list.  I still have gluten free chicken coating, so I added chicken to my list.  Do you see where I'm going with this?  Find what you ALREADY have, get only what you need, and make meals with that!  Sometimes we think we need to do big grocery shopping and we don't.    

Kendall is starting school, so I was actually going to add snacks to my list! Besides her needing fruit and bread, I found these (in addition to the canned fruit I found above) in a cupboard, and they will last the few days she's in school for her lunch next week (those are pistachios in the bag):

Rather than letting what I have go stale while I buy more food, I'm saving money by eating what we already have.  This is where you can use that money you are saving by sticking to a budget and not overspending on food to pay off your debt!

STEP FOUR is to check and see what's on sale, and find coupons.  I'm not very good at this, I lost this week's ad and just didn't have the time to pull it online.  But I did have some coupons, and I got carrots and salsa for eighty-eight cents each! Score-carrots are great snacks and spaghetti add-ins, and salsa will be great for taco night.  Once my cupboards, fridge, and freezer are to the point of only having enough food for the week (plus a couple extras to plan for sicknesses, etc), then I'll start determining what to make for meals for the week based on what is on sale, and what I have coupons for.  

Additionally, some of the food above that I have in my pantry is not we normally eat in the recent month, we really stay away from a lot of carbs/boxed foods.  However, it's there and I don't want to waste them.  Plus, we can make healthier versions using what we have, ie. the tacos will be made with black beans, not hamburger.

STEP FIVE - STICK TO YOUR LIST.  I was in and out of the grocery store in record speed.  Well, I did buy a big thing of vanilla greek yogurt that was not on my list, but I didn't get bag of chips that WAS on my list so it works out.

Here are my bags of groceries.  One habit I NEED to get into is to bring reusable bags with me! I have tons of them.  I need to go put them in the trunk of my car ASAP!

And, here is a copy of my receipt. I'm proud to say that is $53.01, leaving us us just shy of $30.00 for the rest of the week's groceries.  Normally, I would have spent over $100.00.  I saved us almost $50.00!

A couple more tips that I want to add that I would incorporate, but for the sake of time didn't...I have rice and quinoa in my cupboard as you can see above.  I also have chicken broth and frozen veggies in my freezer.  Google these ingredients and find a recipe for them!  Do this with random things you have in your pantry, who knows the next dish out there that you'll love, and it will be FREE because you already have it!

When you get to the point of weekly shopping because you are using up all your food, be sure to stay to the outside of the grocery store-this is where all the healthiest food is!

And be creative and have fun! Do baby steps.  As you can see, this is new for me too.  But together we can make differences in our finances that will keep us in the plus!

Toodles~

Michelle

Don't forget to comment with ideas of your own! And don't forget to follow me on Facebook - go there NOW and click like so you don't miss any of my posts! You can also follow me on via email-look to the right and add your email address.  Easy peasy!!

Thanks so much for sharing Michelle!!  Isn't she great?  What did you like about this?

Have a great day!

Bonnie :)

Favorite Fall Treats

Hello! :)  I hope that you are enjoying some fall weather!

Today, I just wanted to stop in and share some of my top fall treats with you.

HOMEMADE APPLE CRISP

(get recipe here)

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

(get recipe here)

HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY & RHUBARB CRISP

(get recipe here)

What are your favorite fall treats?

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Have a great day,

Bonnie

Strawberry Protein Oatmeal

I know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I also know that eating protein is essential for our brain, especially for kids that will be in school learning all day.

So I like it make strawberry oatmeal with protein.

I just make oatmeal and add strawberry Cinch Protein at the end!

That's it!!

I love it and it tastes great although sometimes I add a little stevia because I like my oatmeal really sweet.

Do you try to eat protein with every meal?

How do you make your oatmeal?

Have a great day!

Bonnie ;)

You can get your own protein here!

SHOP HERE!

Home Tour: Master Bath

Hello, hello, hello!! :)  How are you doing?  How was your weekend?  Today, I am continuing my House of Grace Home Tour.  

Today is our Master Bathroom.

There is nothing too exciting about this room except that it is really clean and simple.  I LOVE that about it. :)

We have nice soaking tub which we LOVE!! :)  We actually use it all the time and the kids love it too!

I wanted to keep is simple because I need the space to spread my make-up all over the counter, lol!

I really enjoy having 2 windows in here because the lighting is amazing and when they are open, it gets a breeze.

I bought this cute little mirror for $5 at a garage sale.

Our house didn't come with a medicine cabinet so we just added a mirror. 

I added some flowers for a spa like feel.

We don't really use these, lol!

We love having a private room here. ;)

So, there you go!  

Our simple master bathroom!!

What do you like about your master bathroom?

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Have a great day,

Bonnie

INFINITY POOLS OR OVERFLOWING SWIMMING POOLS

The INFINITY POOLS or OVERFLOWING SWIMMING POOLS are swimming pools that overlook, mostly, the sea horizon and look like if the water is falling from the pool when actually  the water overflows but also recirculates. The infinity pools run by the overflow system, and the water level in the swimming pool is the same as the top of the terrace, i.e. no difference in height levels between the perimeter of the pool and water, right at the perimeter or on one specific side is designed a channel or groove where the overflowed water will drain. The water along with the pool looks like a big mirror lying on the floor.

The infinity swimming pools system stands out since overflowing trash is removed from the water surface without contaminating the volume nor reaching the bottom of the pool, the water is channeled into the filtering system (channel), once there is filtered and then sent back to the pool, starting the cycle again, filtered water is injected through the floor and produces overflow of the upper surface.
To facilitate the operation, the underlying surface has a slight slope towards the interior of the channel. These systems require a special investigation, since it takes some hydraulic calculations, such as: size of the surge tank, pipe diameters, channel gratings and other specifications.

The Finnish system swimming pools does not need cleaning dirty water, since due to the flooding is achieved filtering.
An infinity pool has the advantage of substantially improving the hydraulics of pool water by reverse circulation, this makes the water is cleaner and when we bathe, the water supply takes less time to cross the pool, which is results in a faster removal of contaminants from water.

The infinity pools, require large filtration equipment (sometimes up to twice as the one of a similarly sized pool with Skimmer). But have the advantage that the system for cleaning the bottom is low, and the quality of water obtained is much higher.
A swimming pool with overflow system, not only known for the quality and sparkle of the water, but also because the architectural point of view can play with many options.
The pool water continuously overflows a perimeter channel and flows to another collection vessel, called "compensation tank." Where is then sucked by the filtration and, after being treated chemically, forwarded to the pool.

The infinity swimming pool has two significant advantages:
- Aesthetics: Gives the pool a "mirror" effect of high visual impact, which appears to increase the size.
- Functional: Water quality is clearly superior. In fact, 90% of the dirt in a pool remains in the surface layer and therefore it is essential that this be continually renewed: There is no better system than continuously push this layer of water into the overflow channel.

The overflowing pool requires a more complex system than the skimmer pool, but the final water hygienic quality is worth it. I liked the infinity pool of the first picture (Cavo Tagoo Infinity Pool at night)... And you, would you like to have an infinity pool at home?

Via: Swimming Pools Design and Pictures

Decorating Rules: How to Hang your Pictures the Proper Height

Hello! :) How are you doing today? I hope that you are in the swing of things this school year so far. We are loving it and it has been a smooth transition so far for us.

Today, I am honored to bring you a guest post from one of my best friends from High School. We grew up and figured skated together. She is a wife, mother, a licensed cosmetologist was crowned Miss Crystal Lake. Please welcome Sarah!

Hi, Creating a House of Grace, readers! I’m Sarah Solomon and I’m soexcited to be guest posting for Bonnie! Today, I’ll be sharing decorating rulesthat is focused on how to hang your pictures the proper height.

I love decorating and how a room can make you feel. Although, I have walked into many homes where the pictures were just not hung properly and it's made a room feel off. You'll be surprised how different your room can feel when you follow these simple rules.

So, on with the rules!!

Rule #1 – Eye Level

The rule of thumb is to hang your pictures at eye level.Well, who’s eye level?! I have the answer for you!

57 inches on center

“On center” means the center of the picture should be 57inches from the ground. This rule is great for a picture that isn’t above asofa or table.

Rule #2 – Picture above a sofa, chair, or table

The rule is to hang the picture 6-12 inches above the sofa,chair, or table. So, the bottom of the frame is 6-12 inches from the top of thesofa, chair, or table.






(These pictures are hung to follow the curve of the headboard.)

Rule #3 – Groupings

• To find the proper height for a grouping:

1. Lay out your pictures on the floor first to getthe grouping you like.

2. Find the center of your grouping.

3. Measure 57 inches from the floor or 6-12 inchesfrom the sofa, chair, or table.

4. The center of your grouping should be 57 inchesfrom the floor or 6-12 inches from thesofa, chair, or table.

• Keep at least one edge of the grouping in a straight line. Example: vertical, horizontal, or center.
• 
  
• If you’re hanging a grouping of pictures, space them a frames width apart.

(This grouping is 57 inches from the center of the grouping; hung vertically because the wall is tall and narrow.)

Extra Tips:

• Use the proper size picture for the size of the wall. If you have a large wall, don’t put a small picture on it. Instead, use a larger picture or have a large grouping that fills the wall.

• Use vertical pictures on narrow walls and vise-versa.
• 
  
• Don’t be afraid to over-lap a lamp in-front of your pictures.

• Don’t be afraid to adjust the rules to work around obstacles.

(Example: Tall narrow wall with vertical pictures to fill space; adjusted to fit above light switches; lamp over-laps pictures)

(These pictures were adjusted because of the light switch and they are an appropriate size.)

These pictures were taken at my parents house. Everything I have learned about decorating I have learned from my mom. She is certified in re-design but she has also always had an "eye" for good design. I have been able to accompany her on her re-designs.

Thanks so much for reading, next visit my blog over at Pampered Daughter Thrifty Wife and follow on facebook!

Thank you Bonnie!

Thank you so much Sarah for sharing those awesome tips!! I wasn't sure on the hanging rules so this was a huge help to me.

Bonnie :)

You can read Sarah's other popular posts here:

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Protein Shake

How to create the perfect eyebrow

Boys nursery/toddler room!

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How to Organize Necklaces

I have really been into organizing lately! 

Today,  I am showing you my organized necklaces.

  

I wanted to organize my them so I can see them but use stuff that I already had that wouldn't take up a lot of time to craft up.I put a lot of my long necklaces on a hanger so I can see them.

I found a hanger and hung them from it.

I love how I can see them!

I kept them separated with twist ties.

Now, they won't get tangled. 

This is simple, easy, and free!  

I can live with that, lol!

How do you organize your necklaces?

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Have a great day,

Bonnie