Before we begin: Tips on being a grocery neat freak

I'm not the most organized person in all aspects of my life, nor am i a "neat freak" per se. For instance, my laundry is done but i'm in no rush to fold it and put it away; and right now my water is shut off for maintenance, which is preventing me from doing the dishes (How terrible, right? ;] ) . However, i am a grocery store organization freak. i'm a nutcase when it comes to grocery shopping. Let me explain.

We have a very limited budget. We go grocery shopping once every two weeks (to line up with when i get paid) and on occasion we will pick up things when we need them (my boyfriend drinks milk like there's no tomorrow sometimes). Because of this, we need a plan. 

I typically create a document with two columns. In the right column, i make a menu for two weeks. I hyperlink the recipes to each meal, designate certain days for leftovers or "date night", and typically throw in one or two desserts every two weeks depending on how much time i have and how large the dessert is. In the left column i create my list. I divide my list into 5 categories, based on how our local store is laid out- Produce, Dairy, Dry goods (meaning anything that is on the shelves), Meat, and Frozen. I start by pulling all the ingredients i need for the recipes, then add what we need for the next two weeks (Milk, cereal, coffee creamer (which i would die without), bagels, and so on). Once i have my awesomely neurotic list and menu done, i go absolutely nuts looking for coupons. Some of my favorite resources are (and i am not a paid endorser, by the way, just an enthusiast):

Coupons 

Red Plum

Smart Source

Savings Star

Common Kindness

and of course, 

Coupon Mom

This lovely etsy site by sahlink has an adorable array of cheap printables to make everything organized and cute at the same time. Honestly, i just might download them later, play with them, and let you know what i think. They're soo cute.

Anyway, that insane planning and clipping and printing lets us average $200 a month in groceries for 2 people. Yes, $100 a month each total. It definitely helps that every Wednesday and Saturday our local store doubles coupons up to a dollar and allows us to stack coupons, but i'd like to think my obsessive planning has something to do with it too :]

I've got some good stuff planned for this week and some possible DIYing, so stay tuned for some pictures that will make you want to lick your screen.

And of course, have a fabulous and delicious monday!

A little introduction

The first thing you should probably know about me: I’m five feet tall. that’s it. No five foot one inch, or even five foot and a half inch. I come up to most people’s armpits, which is not the most glamorous place to be. I have a stepstool in my kitchen and constantly have to ask my very tall, very patient boyfriend to get things for me. 

My nickname is Lil’ Bit- it was originally given to me by one of my patients at my previous job, then kind of came along for the ride when i switched over. It’s fitting, i think- better than being called “the cute little girl” or “the dainty one” all the time. (by the way, i hate that word. I’m not “dainty”… i’m fierce.)

I’m obsessed with baking. I taught myself how to cook and bake and i’d like to think i’m pretty good at it. Cakes, cookies, cupcakes, biscuits, pastries- i do it all from scratch. Boxed mixes are not welcome in my home, period. They’re icky.

I also cook quite a bit, and try to make as much from scratch as i can to avoid the chemicals and MSG in most pre-packaged foods. No, i don’t make my own flour or pasta because i am a full time student and work almost full time, but i do what i can.

My boyfriend and I are also huge DIYers- we love to repurpose things we find to match our style and be functional in our home. If we can find it for cheap (or even better, free) we’ll probably adopt it and give it some love.

So yeah, i’m basically the mini martha stewart over here. I’m hoping this blog can serve as a place for food, clever ideas, frugality, and humor. Good things are coming, people. good things.

Holla.