Shout out to Sunflower market

For the longest time I purchased my produce at Costco. Pound for pound it was a better deal than the adverage grocier store and a little better quality. The problem was that there was soooo much of one thing, half usually went bad.

Then the grocery fairy granted me my own special wish... Ta Da!

A market was built not 2 block from my house!!!!

My produce bill has dropped 75%. No kidding. I told my sister that I could buy a weeks worth of produce and fresh meat for $20.00. She didn't believe me. She gave me $20.00. Guess what I spent $21.54. $1 of it was for a reusable bag, because I like to be environmentally kind :) I had a total of 3 bags FULL of produce and a family pack of chicken breast. I have repeated this 3 weeks straight, just mixing up the type of meat.

Here's how:

My market of choice is the Sunflower Market. www.sfmarkets.com There are stores all over the SW. Locally for me is Murray and Orem. They try to sell items that are locally grown or as close to it as possible.

Their ads overlap on Wedensday. What that means is week 1's add ends Wed night, week 2 starts Wed morning. That equals twice the sales.

Buy only what you'll eat in 7 days. I try to underestimate. I'd rather wish I had more, than throw rotten apples away. If you are throwing rotten food away it's like throwing $$ in the garbage.

Mix it up. You may not know that your child loves aisan pears until you buy some. Start with 2. If they're on sale it will cost you about $.30. Better for them than fruit snacks and if they don't like it you're only out less than a dollar.

Sock up on meat when it's on sale. When hamburger is $1.50/lb buy a months worth. Take it home divided into your families portions, stick in a freezer bag, label it with the date, and freeze it. And the DON"T FORGET about it. This store always has at least one meat item for a killer price. I got pork ribs for $.97/lb one time, they're usually $4.00/lb.

Don't forget about it. I leave my produce on the counter in a bowl. If it's tucked away in a crisper it doesn't get eaten. When the kids see it on the counter, they ask for it. And because you've only purchased a few things they're not going to go bad if it's not refridgerated. Cut up things that take awhile right when you get home from the store, ie, watermelon, cantaloupe, even throw your salad together and put it in a ziploc bag. You're more likely to eat it if is ready to go.

Taming the Beasts

I have to do my shopping with up to 3 kids under the age of 6 sometimes. How do I accomplish such a task you ask. I'm not to proud to admit, BRIBERY. Works almost everytime. Also, play them off of each other. Here's what I do, and this will take a few trips, some tears, and even some on the floor screaming before it's perfected.

Let the kids know BEFORE you start shopping that they may have a treat at the checkout stand IF they are good in the store. They can only get it at the end. We're a baseball family so they get 3 strikes then they're out. If they've kept up their bargain they get to pick out a treat, if not they don't. And it's an individual thing.

So, a child starts to take off down the aisle. I say, get back here, and I count down from 5. If by 1, they're not standing next to me. Strike 1. And so on and so forth.

Here's the important part. If they get to strike 3 NO TREAT. You simply say, I would have loved to buy you that candy/gum/sucker but you chose to be naughty so now I can't. Maybe next time you'll behave.

For the older children you can let them pick it out first and when they misbahve, PUT it BACK.

The most important part. Don't threaten, follow through. It maybe rough the first couple of times, but they will get it. Trust me.

Also, let them help pick things off the shelf. Alot of sales you have to buy so many items. Let them help count them. I like to keep my cart organized by 10 for 10's and what's free, etc. Let them be apart of that. My little guy loves to hold the list. He pretends he's reading it off to me.

Good luck mom's. Let me know how it goes.

Mom’s Tip Jar

Mom's Tip Jar

 

 

 

For the 12 loads of laundry done each week,

For the all the lost socks that you help seek.

For the dishes that won't do themselves,

For stacking the games back on the shelves.

For making the beds and scrubbing the floor,

For driving to practices and running to the store.

For every meal planned and prepared,

For all the wiped noses with nary a care.

For the coupons you cut and the pennies you pinch,

For the chart that measure each child's every inch.

For the kisses and band aid's on every skinned knee,

For chasing away ghost that only a child can see.

 

Here is a jar to keep the coins that you find,

Under cushions, in washers, even under the blinds.

For dollars crumpled and laundered,

Forgotten and never again pondered.

 

Here you can keep all these little treasures,

When you think your deeds go without measure.

By the end of the week you'll have enough for a treat,

By the end of the month you can pamper your feet.

We've kept it simple, even discreet,

So little hands will not be tempted to peek.

Mom's tip jar will keep all dues that are owed her,

From the people whom forget to say "thank you, mother."