Weekly Grocery Shopping: Today’s Version of Hunting and Gathering for a Family of 8…ummm…9

I used to not really have to think about it. When we needed food, I noticed and drove to the store with my one or two children and perused the aisles non-chalantly, maybe haphazardly even, picking up random items according to their likeability. I remember hoping that somehow the items in my cart would come together on a few plates here and there that next week, and also, that I didn’t cause myself any unnecessary NSF charges, seeing how I hadn’t planned anything out, and certainly hadn’t really budgeted a weekly itemized menu.

Those days are long gone.

Feeding a growing family, of small and ever-growing men, I might add, takes a bit of thinking. Fortunately for them (and me), I LOVE making lists. And menus. And lists of menus.

Once a week, usually on Thursday or Friday night, I sit down with a sheet of paper and make our family’s weekly menu that includes five or six dinners.

I usually ask around and see if my honey and any of the boys are wanting anything specific that next week, and if so, it gets added to the menu. Once the dinner menu is made, I begin making my grocery list and transfer any necessary items for each meal onto the list. That way, I know I will have everything I need for each meal.

Also added to the list would be, of course, breakfast, lunch, snacks, and any other household items that I know we need. We find that going to Sam’s about every second or third week keeps us well-stocked on certain items like paper products, diapers, certain frozen foods, and snacks. We make a family adventure of going to Sam’s on Saturdays, and depending on my mood, I take the boys with me on Saturday afternoon or they stay home with Dad while I shop at any other stores.

Being organized this way not only satisfies my inner need to be orderly, but it also keeps our family prepared, running smooth, I stay more focused ANNNND…..we don’t NEED to eat out during the week at all, thus saving countless dollars.

Not to mention, my sons are learning to cook, making some seven young ladies VERY happy someday when they are fortunate enough to get to marry my babies….ummm…I mean sons.

Love