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My last day of work is June 11. We will officially be a one income family. Knowing that this day is coming, I've been trying to get a handle on our expenses, finding places to cut where possible. The one thing I noticed when I started paying attention -- we were spending WAY too much at Super Target for groceries and other necessities. I needed to find a way to reduce these costs. I started with the obvious and just bought less. This didn't work very well. Then I discovered what has been the key to saving for me -- Combining great sales advertised in store circulars with coupons. I like to refer to this as "couponing", though it is a little bit more than that. Lately I've been able to buy just as much as I was before I started paying attention for just over half the price.

Some have inquired about what I do. I thought this blog might be a good place to share some of the things I have learned and hopefully learn some things from others. For me, the starting place is menu planning (thanks Jill!). The key, however, is putting together a weeks worth of dinners based on what is already in the cupboard and what is on sale at the grocery stores. For example, this week:

Monday -- Salmon and asparagus. Salmon is cheapest when bought in bulk at Costco. We have a chest freezer in the basement, which is a lifesaver. Asparagus is in season locally and there are some great advertised sales prices.

Tuesday -- (John's Birthday) Steaks, baked potatoes and grilled onions. We bought a part of a cow awhile back with some friends. GREAT purchase. It is good meat at a good price. Russet potatoes and vidalla onions were on sale last week.

Wednesday -- Soup and grilled turkey sandwiches. We have noodle soup in the pantry and deli turkey was on sale last week. Bread is one of those what I refer to as "clean up items" that I still buy at Super Target. I have a bread that I like that never seems to go on sale. I've found that Super Target has the best prices for things like that.

Thursday -- Tilapia, rice and broccoli. Costco also has great Tilapia in bulk. I bread it with Panko bread crumbs that were "buy one get one free" last month combined with a coupon. Rice was also "buy one get one free" and I had a coupon sometime last month so we have a lot of that in the pantry. I've found that store brand frozen veggies are the best for the price.

Friday -- Tuna Noodle Casserole. Everything I need for this is almost always in my pantry. I stock up on egg noodles, tuna and Campbell's soup whenever there is a good sale that I can combine with a coupon. (I know this sounds disgusting to you Catherine : ))

Saturday -- Grilled Chicken Teriyaki with pineapple and rice pilaf. I also get chicken breasts in bulk at Costco. I've priced it out when the stores have chicken on sale and Costco is still the cheapest. Pineapple is on sale this week at the grocery store and rice pilaf was on sale last week.

John just told me that any blog with the word "teriyaki" in it is too boring to post. Maybe he is right. In any event, I can't believe how much I used to spend on groceries when I can get just as much for a lot less money by planning. DiGiorno pizzas are on sale this week. That will make a great dinner sometime next week!