The Motherload Blog

I thought I would take the plunge and do a big day of grocery shopping for our entire month. This took a couple days of planning and picking our menus for the month. I really thought it would be a great idea until I actually got to the store and realized that loading and unloading my groceries was a little like a complicated game of Tetris. Nothing fit in the cart and nothing fit in my car. The only thing motivating me was the knowledge that I would not have to do this again for another twenty-nine days. I used to only shop once a month, but had gotten into the habit of shopping every two weeks with my husband’s past pay schedule. The new payment schedule motivated me to just go ahead and get it done all in one trip. Am I crazy? Maybe a little bit!

Inspired by my dear friend Monica, I decided to pretty up my menu plan this month. I found a cute pumpkin to add to my planner and now my menu plan looks organized and cute too!

As we have been going through the meals, I have just been highlighting them to remind me what meals we have left to eat and I can see what we have already eaten. I incorporated lots of new dishes and several of our old favorites this month. I am hoping I will have lots more recipes to share and that I can keep us on budget with our dining out category.

Sound Off: How often do you grocery shop? Why did you choose this schedule for shopping?

9 Comments

Comments

  1. 1

    I do my shopping once each week at several stores. Right now, I don’t have very much in my pantry. As time goes on and I’m able to stockpile good deals, I hope to go only every two weeks.

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  3. 3

    I’ve been trying to do two main trips a month. I have a hard time pushing the cart (with a child in it) containing 2 weeks worth of groceries. I think I’d need a second adult w/ me for a month’s worth. Good for you in being able to do it!

    Love the menus – very cute. What do you use to plan your menus for the month?

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  4. 4

    Your list looks so cute! I shop once every two weeks. I tried once a month, but it just wasn’t working. Then I tried once a week and thought I was there all the time. Now, the every other week time is working out great. Two trips is really enough including fresh produce!

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  5. 5

    Avlor- I just use my cookbooks to plan everything out. I usually try to do one breakfast dish, one pork or beef dish, one pasta dish, one fish dish, one chicken dish, one soup/comfort food night, and then just a leftover night. It is easier for me to break it down by category.

    Thanks for the great question!!

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  6. 6

    I used to shop once a month, and loved it. Now I’m back to shopping once a week, bummer. Great job on getting the big shopping trip finished.

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  7. 7

    I used to do my shopping once a month. I liked getting it out of the way, but it was a huge chore and I dreaded it!(Not a shopper, here!)I would often not have enough money leftover to buy extra produce and sale items because of poor planning.

    These days I shop once a week. It’s easier for me to watch for sales and use coupons this way. We also have a better variety this way, I think! And it only takes me 1-2 hours to do all the shopping-depending on how many places I stop. Right now I do full-time childcare in my home so I appreciate a quick trip out of the house one evening a week.:-)

    My grocery shopping habits change with the different seasons of my life.:-)

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  8. 8

    I shop once a week, unless I’ve forgotten something. I do a menu plan and then make my grocery list off of that. I shop at Aldi’s mainly and then Price Chopper. That’s just the easiest way for me to shop.

    Hugs,
    Melinda

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  9. 9

    We shop once a month too and love it! I actually gives me an opportunity to clean the cupboards and fridge too! Love the October menu – we eat very similar things!

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