One error with this grocery list is a miscalculation with the bread. On the shopping list it has one loaf of bread, yet when I add up all of the bread needed for lunches and breakfasts for a family of three it comes out to 36 slices of bread for the week (5 sandwiches = 10 slices times 3 people = 30 slices just for lunch, plus 1 slice of toast 2 mornings times 3 people = 6 slices, 30 slices for lunch + 6 for breakfast = 36 slices per week)...and then 12 left to freeze? I have never bought one loaf of bread that contains 36-48 slices. According to this meal plan for a family of 3 you'd need at least 2 loaves containing 24 slices of bread to last one week (36 to eat and 12 to freeze)....and this list of groceries is supposed to last 2 weeks? For 2 weeks you'd need 72 slices of bread to eat. I'm assuming the bread you buy has 24 slices, if you can freeze half (12 slices) like you say. For 2 weeks then you'd need 3 loaves. So the total for bread would be $3.57
I pay $1.99 for a loaf with 12 slices of bread. (almost the cheapest loaf that I can find) So for my family to eat this much bread we would spend $6 per week on bread which is more than 1/4 of this $20 weekly budget spent just on bread! (and we're a family of 4 so I'd need more than 3 loaves a week to follow this plan)
Be thankful for inexpensive groceries. I too pay 2-3X more for some of these items at our cheapest grocery store. I've never even heard of a discount grocery store....
We don't have anyone in school in our household, but I love picking up cheap office supplies for us and craft supplies for gifts during the back to school sales. I will also participate in the back-to-school thrifting sales in our area shops, but probably won't buy any full price clothing for the fall.
My kids have summer birthdays, and they were fortunate to get new clothing as gifts. I already stocked up on socks and underwear at a store closing sale. We're re-using last year's backpacks, pencil boxes, lunch boxes, scissors, etc., because they're still in great shape. So really, the only thing we've had to shop for are the consumables - notebooks, pencils, erasers, etc. I shop for those on sale with coupons. The key to saving is to make lists, shop around, and shop with a plan!
This is an excellent suggestion, Sarah. I certainly agree that chucking pillows every 18 months sounds wasteful. I will definitely look into this washing method, though my machine doesn't have a sanitary cycle.
I am planning on it! I have been on a tight budget for a few years while I establish my own freelance business, and I have been putting off buying some new clothes. Recently saw that next week is Tax Free Week and I plan on taking advantage of that. If there are back to school deals that coincide with office supplies I need, why not stock up now and save?
Goodness, YES! I have 5 kids in school ages 6-13. The school supply list here is immense so I get the best buys by scanning all the sale flyers and writing down the lowest prices on items at each store.
"a pillow's average lifespan is only around 18 months"?! You used to be able to buy pillows with a 5 year warranty. I realize many things aren't made as well as they used to be but most pillows can be washed in the washing machine. Many machines in the last decade have offered a "sanitary" cycle which heats the water high enough to kill dust mites & deal with the other problems listed. Drying them in the dryer will fluff them up again too. Read your labels - some can't take the heat. If you research living with asthma & allergies, Dr's usually recommend washing the pillows on the sanitary setting about once a season. Much less wasteful and much more frugal than replacing them every 18 months.
nope. don't shop the back to school sales per se. i do my own thing, focus on what i need, which is anything at the kitchen supply store in chelsea market, in NYC...because i go to culinary school
Yes, always. I scan the ads to see what is super cheap or free each week and then add those items to my errands for the week. I'm always looking for markers, watercolors, and glue sticks. My kids love them for their art projects at home. Also, tape! My daughter could easily use a roll a week. :)
My 7th grader has fallen out of love with pink, so a new backpack is in order. My 20-year-old microwave should be retired, so I have my out for a new one. We have more pens and pencils than we need, however.
I always shop the back-to-school sales! I'm no longer a student, and I don't yet have any children of my own, but back-to-school sales are a great opportunity to get office supplies for a big discount. I tend to buy two-pocket folders, composition notebooks (great to use as journals), file folders, pens, push pins, and paper clips.
Absolutely yes! My kids are grown and gone, but if I can get items to donate for a quarter, of course! and I still need paper, journals, writing instruments, craft scissors, glue, post-its, erasers, binders and folders.
One error with this grocery list is a miscalculation with the bread. On the shopping list it has one loaf of bread, yet when I add up all of the bread needed for lunches and breakfasts for a family of three it comes out to 36 slices of bread for the week (5 sandwiches = 10 slices times 3 people = 30 slices just for lunch, plus 1 slice of toast 2 mornings times 3 people = 6 slices, 30 slices for lunch + 6 for breakfast = 36 slices per week)...and then 12 left to freeze? I have never bought one loaf of bread that contains 36-48 slices. According to this meal plan for a family of 3 you'd need at least 2 loaves containing 24 slices of bread to last one week (36 to eat and 12 to freeze)....and this list of groceries is supposed to last 2 weeks? For 2 weeks you'd need 72 slices of bread to eat. I'm assuming the bread you buy has 24 slices, if you can freeze half (12 slices) like you say. For 2 weeks then you'd need 3 loaves. So the total for bread would be $3.57
I pay $1.99 for a loaf with 12 slices of bread. (almost the cheapest loaf that I can find) So for my family to eat this much bread we would spend $6 per week on bread which is more than 1/4 of this $20 weekly budget spent just on bread! (and we're a family of 4 so I'd need more than 3 loaves a week to follow this plan)
Be thankful for inexpensive groceries. I too pay 2-3X more for some of these items at our cheapest grocery store. I've never even heard of a discount grocery store....
I don't have kids. But I use composition books and buy them up for 50 cents to last me the year.
I always look forward to shopping back-to-school sales! I just love school supplies, for some reason. And we use them the rest of the year. =)
Yes! I like to compare all the ads to get the best deal.
HikerCoupon.com is a great site for people looking specifically for outdoor gear.
We don't have anyone in school in our household, but I love picking up cheap office supplies for us and craft supplies for gifts during the back to school sales. I will also participate in the back-to-school thrifting sales in our area shops, but probably won't buy any full price clothing for the fall.
My kids have summer birthdays, and they were fortunate to get new clothing as gifts. I already stocked up on socks and underwear at a store closing sale. We're re-using last year's backpacks, pencil boxes, lunch boxes, scissors, etc., because they're still in great shape. So really, the only thing we've had to shop for are the consumables - notebooks, pencils, erasers, etc. I shop for those on sale with coupons. The key to saving is to make lists, shop around, and shop with a plan!
This is an excellent suggestion, Sarah. I certainly agree that chucking pillows every 18 months sounds wasteful. I will definitely look into this washing method, though my machine doesn't have a sanitary cycle.
Oh! I totally agree -- shower curtains can get quite nasty.
I am planning on it! I have been on a tight budget for a few years while I establish my own freelance business, and I have been putting off buying some new clothes. Recently saw that next week is Tax Free Week and I plan on taking advantage of that. If there are back to school deals that coincide with office supplies I need, why not stock up now and save?
I always try to find great items on sale - I am focusing on school supplies and shoes/clothes.
Goodness, YES! I have 5 kids in school ages 6-13. The school supply list here is immense so I get the best buys by scanning all the sale flyers and writing down the lowest prices on items at each store.
"a pillow's average lifespan is only around 18 months"?! You used to be able to buy pillows with a 5 year warranty. I realize many things aren't made as well as they used to be but most pillows can be washed in the washing machine. Many machines in the last decade have offered a "sanitary" cycle which heats the water high enough to kill dust mites & deal with the other problems listed. Drying them in the dryer will fluff them up again too. Read your labels - some can't take the heat. If you research living with asthma & allergies, Dr's usually recommend washing the pillows on the sanitary setting about once a season. Much less wasteful and much more frugal than replacing them every 18 months.
nope. don't shop the back to school sales per se. i do my own thing, focus on what i need, which is anything at the kitchen supply store in chelsea market, in NYC...because i go to culinary school
Yes, always. I scan the ads to see what is super cheap or free each week and then add those items to my errands for the week. I'm always looking for markers, watercolors, and glue sticks. My kids love them for their art projects at home. Also, tape! My daughter could easily use a roll a week. :)
Yes, shopping for a junior high student. We now have a locker in the equation, so we'll be buying a lot of locker organization items!
Yes, I am shopping back to school sales. I will buy backpack and shoes for my son
My 7th grader has fallen out of love with pink, so a new backpack is in order. My 20-year-old microwave should be retired, so I have my out for a new one. We have more pens and pencils than we need, however.
I always shop the back-to-school sales! I'm no longer a student, and I don't yet have any children of my own, but back-to-school sales are a great opportunity to get office supplies for a big discount. I tend to buy two-pocket folders, composition notebooks (great to use as journals), file folders, pens, push pins, and paper clips.
Absolutely! There's no better time to get free paper, pencils, pens, and markers!
Only for a few clothing items that I need.
Yes I always try to to find the best deals for back to school!
Absolutely yes! My kids are grown and gone, but if I can get items to donate for a quarter, of course! and I still need paper, journals, writing instruments, craft scissors, glue, post-its, erasers, binders and folders.
Yes, I'm shopping back to school sales. I'll be buying lunchbags and bookbags.
My kids and I screamed out loud. How can we get to Tunisia?!! #StarWarsFanatics