My Favorite Day Trips

Hello everyone! It’s Amber here again, and this week we will discuss day trips on our podcast. What is a day trip anyway? You can take a day trip and be back home in one day. There are many different types of day trips that you can take, and I have favorites in each category.

Grapevine Lake

• Nature Trips: When most think of day trips, they probably think about nature trips such as a trip to the lake which is just one type of nature trip. I love going to the lake, especially if the lake is surrounded by trees. I love trees and water. I don’t necessarily like getting in the water, but being around a placid lake surrounded by trees is soothing to me. Living in the city can be tough when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, but there are plenty of nature trips in or around the city if you take the time to investigate. My perfect time at the lake would consist of sitting by the water, reading a book, and listening to the sounds around me. My favorite urban body of water to visit is Grapevine Lake and Katy’s Woods in Grapevine, Texas.
• Shopping Trips: One might not think of shopping trips as day trips but, for me, shopping usually lasts most of the day depending on where I go, especially if I go antiquing or to estate sales. Every few months, I like to go on a metaphysical day trip and visit as many metaphysical stores or markets as I can in one day. My favorite locations to shop at are in the North Dallas suburbs:
• Denton Community Market
• Every Witch Way Market
• Juliet’s Jewels
• The Storm Witch
• Indigo Dreamz Apothecary
• Sleeping Lizards
• Bewitched Denton
• Patchouli Joe’s
• Miracles of Joy
• Lightworker’s Sanctuary
• The Groovy Coop
• Boho Moonchild

The Samurai Collection

• Recreational and Historical Activities: Activities can also be considered a day trip. One of my favorite activities to do in my area (aside from shopping) is to visit the local museums and art galleries. Recently, my boyfriend and I discovered The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum and historic art walk in downtown Dallas. It is a small museum that focuses on the history of the Samurai. Another museum we recently explored was the Perot Museum of Nature and Science which has “adult only” nights featuring live music, dancing, and food trucks. Recreational activities could also include visiting the local water park or amusement park. 
• Other activities you can do in a day:
• Geocaching: Using your navigational skills to locate hidden containers or “treasure.”
• Urban Exploration: If you like photography as I do, exploring abandoned places and historical landmarks is a fun way to get out of the house.
• Trying new restaurants: As a food blogger, I do this quite frequently.
• The local music scene: In the Dallas area, we have a neighborhood called Deep Ellum where a lot of local and national artists play.

Perot Museum

I want to hear from our readers. What is your favorite day trip? What do you think constitutes a day trip? Let’s continue the conversation in our Facebook Group: MMC Chat!

Why Pay Full Price?

Christmas is over and you guys are probably wondering why we are still talking about shopping. I say that it is never too early to plan ahead! Most people hate shopping, and I used to be one of them. My whole life, I have lived on a budget, and not always because I had to. When you grow up on a limited income, you have to sometimes appreciate the less expensive things in life. This has taught me to never pay full price for anything.

This shirt cost me $8 at Target

Last year, Texas had a huge snowstorm (that I called Snowvid) that brought record-breaking low temperatures and rolling blackouts. At the time, I lived in an old house that already had leaky pipes, which led to my landlord eventually having to replace the pipes in the house. Unbeknownst to me, the leaky piping ran through my closets, and when I discovered the problem, I had lost a good portion of my clothing, shoes, and accessories to mold problems. 

Aside from that, I have also lost a significant amount of weight over the last two years and my school was coming out of quarantine, so I could no longer teach in comfortable clothes. It seemed like everything was happening at once: mold, moving, and the start of the school year. How was I to get a manageable well-fitting wardrobe by the time school started? Impossible…that wasn’t going to happen. The only shoes I didn’t lose were the three pairs I never put in the closet because I wore them consistently throughout the week

How I replaced my decimated wardrobe without paying full price:

Seasonal/Holiday Sales: 

This one is pretty simple. Usually, at the end of the Summer or around every major holiday, stores will have some type of sale. At least twice a year, my favorite clothing stores have annual clearance events where they take extra percentages off clearance items. You just have to be smart and know when the “long weekend” holidays are, such as Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Memorial Day. These are prime examples of holidays that retail stores have extended weekend sales to celebrate. Mark your calendars and check out online fliers to your favorite stores to make a game plan.

Teacher Discounts and Back-to-School Sales: 

If you live in Texas you know about the famous tax-free weekend that happens every year in August so teachers and students can get discounts on back-to-school clothing. Basically, it is a weekend in August that Texans don’t have to pay state and local sales tax on their clothing (or school supplies). As a teacher, I make it my business to know which stores you can get an extra discount for flashing your teacher ID. We Are Teachers has a great blog highlighting some of the clothing stores where teachers can get discounts. Stores also offer senior discounts, credit card discounts, military discounts, first responder discounts, essential worker discounts, and student discounts.

Bargain Stores: 

I’m not talking about Goodwill® or the Salvation Army®. There are stores around where you can sometimes buy quality clothing without buying secondhand. The stores I am listing are stores where I can typically buy articles of clothing in my style for less than $20.

• Ross Dress for Less®: This is my go-to place for work dresses. I can get clothing in my size for less than $20, and the clothing is name-brand quality. You can also buy shoes, accessories, and household items here.

• TJ Maxx®: This is my go-to place for work pants on a budget. I was able to buy some last-minute back-to-school pants (that I didn’t need to hem) quickly and efficiently. I also like their sister store Home Goods® for home/office accessories.

• Old Navy®: Why is this store on this list? I mean, they are a major retailer. Old Navy® is a major affordable retailer. They also have sales pretty much every day of the year. Their clothes might not be the highest quality, but you can create a fashionable ensemble for less at this store.

• Target®: This store is a given. I can buy clothing that I can wear on a daily basis at Target®, plus affordable shoes and accessories. I also like to shop at this store for household items and seasonal supplies.

The Clearance Section: 

This dress cost me $12.95 on clearance at Torrid

For those that like designer shoes and accessories (me), the clearance section of a store always has good finds. I am okay with buying off-season clothing for a lower price, especially if it is a brand that I particularly like, such as Torrid and Betsey Johnson. Listed below are some of my favorite go-to sites and stores for designer purses on clearance.

• Macy's

• Overstock

• Kate Spade Outlet

• Coach Outlet

• Bag Borrow or Steal

Price Comparisons: 

When I talk about price comparisons, I am talking about shopping online versus shopping in-store. For example, the clearance section of Old Navy looks completely different online than it does if you walk into their store. Sometimes if you do a little research, you can find the same thing online for a better deal than you can in the store. A lot of retailers moved to online sales and curbside pick-up during the pandemic. So, stores will offer incentives to buy online and pick up curbside or have items shipped to the store for free. Listed below are stores that I only buy online because it is cheaper than buying in-store.

• Torrid

• DSW

• Shoe Carnival

• Ulta

Playing the Long Game: 

When I say playing the long game with a store, I am talking about finding a store or two that you are committed to shopping at and only shopping at that store for certain things. For example, I buy most of my shoes at Shoe Carnival® and DSW® and I buy most of my clothing at Torrid®. Because of this, I am a VIP member at all of these stores. I signed up for accounts with the store, and over time, I have built up buying credits with these stores so I can get some deep discounts and coupons. These discounts and coupons afford me to get outfits for an extremely low price or free. By signing up with stores I love, I can also get emailed coupons, insider monthly sales, and birthday discounts. The only annoying aspect is that you have to sift through a million promotional emails a day, but it is worth it in the long-run. I save the most money doing this. I was able to replace my molded shoes in a matter of months this way.

Coupon Apps: 

I don’t always use coupon apps, but there are a lot out there. Check out Dave Ramsey’s 16 Best Coupon Apps of 2021 for a full list. I will list below the ones that I personally have used. You can get these apps for IOS and Android.

• Ibotta®

• Shopkick®

• Target®

• RetailMeNot®

• GasBuddy

Paying Over Time: 

This isn’t technically a discount, but stores having layaway options aren’t really a new thing. When I was little, my mom would put Christmas presents on layaway and pay for them over a few months. In recent years, pay over time apps have become popular. This is another way I was able to replenish my wardrobe, accessories, and household items. My absolute favorite is Klarna, and I have also played the long game with this company. Through Klarna®, you not only get to pay off your purchase in four payments but you can also get discounts at many retail stores every month if you buy through their app.  If you make your payments on time every month, you also earn gift cards to shop with. You can also shop in-store with Klarna®. 

Gift cards I have earned from Klarna.

I have also listed below some other apps with pay-over-time options that I have used, and here is an article from Investopedia that lists even more options:

• Zulily

• Afterpay

• PayPal

• Fingerhut

In conclusion, after reading my Grocery Shopping on a Budget blog, I obviously love to shop and I love to find the best deals. I hope that my tips are helpful to you in your future shopping endeavors. I’d love to hear from my readers about where they like to shop. I’d also love to help you get the best discounts on the next shopping trip that you take. Comment below with your favorite store and send me some suggestions if there is a store or app that I haven’t mentioned above that I need to check out. As always, let’s continue the conversation on our Facebook Group.

Meal Planning on a Budget

 

Hi again, Christen here…a long time sufferer of eating cheap. No, for real, eating cheap isn't always healthy and can also be lacking in flavor.  To make matters worse, I used to not plan or meal prep either.  All of that eating on the fly took a big bite out of my budget due to last minute purchases, and there was always some excess of wasted food.

I can’t eat a bowl of cereal for dinner out of convenience anymore now that I am married and have a child. Dinner needs to be prepared in a timely manner, and there are special considerations for our dietary needs. Travis, my husband, has to be extra careful due to the fact that he is diabetic.

A couple of weeks ago when discussing S.M.A.R.T. goals, I mentioned that Travis is now the primary cook in our household. I thought I would delve into the process that we have in place now that allows us to create delicious homemade food from scratch that is simple, filling, healthy and affordable.

Planning

There are several things that Travis and I do to ensure that we are on the same page throughout the week when it comes to dinners and getting the household fed. I am currently working 5 nights a week during the dinner hours. Luckily, I am able to have dinner with my family, but I cannot be in the kitchen preparing the meals; Travis really has to manage the kitchen as much as possible. Since I am an avid planner and he is still learning, we connect weekly to put our ideas together, and to plan and execute the shopping to ensure that there are no hiccups. Each meal that is prepared has an associated recipe. Having specific directions ensures that all the ingredients are purchased and used properly. Planning ahead also keeps us from choosing too many unhealthy options. When you give yourself enough time to consider your meals, you are more likely to make healthy choices. Don’t forget to plan for breakfast, lunch, and snacks as well. Having a plan for these meals will keep you within your budget, but also keep you from going back to the store, or ordering take out.

Timing

We connect on Thursdays, and Travis brings his recipe suggestions with him along with his day planner. We determine what meals we will be making for the following Monday - Sunday. We consider activities on our calendar and make alterations if certain activities require a quick dinner. Once we have the weekly menu planned out, we post it on the fridge and then go through each recipe to get a shopping list started. The key to this is consistency, you will manage this task more effectively over time, whether doing it solo or as a couple.

Shopping

Travis and I do not go to the grocery store to shop for our main weekly purchases. We do however visit the Vietnamese market for specialty items, and we use the flyers to purchase meats at specific stores if the price is worth the special trip, all other groceries are ordered through grocery pick up. This strategy limits impulse shopping. We have lowered our grocery bill considerably by not picking up those one-off snacks that catch our eye while going up and down the isles. Our grocery pick up order consists of just the items we need, and we are able to have more restraint and buying power. I can take my time and really shop by reading the labels and determining which product will give me the best value. I also like the fact that I can quickly click on the past purchases that are in my shopping cart on a weekly basis.

Budget

I can tell you that grocery pickup and online shopping is handy for lowering your grocery cost, however the most important factor in all of this is the budget. Your finances cannot be controlled unless you have the reins on them. If you wander around the grocery store without a clear plan, and without a budget, your cost will surely go up. Random items picked up in the store add to the cost of your cart, but you don’t see the impact until you are at the register. Determine the maximum you want to spend on your grocery trip, this is your budget for that trip. Also knowing the exact dates you are shopping for is essential. I recommend purchasing groceries once a week so that you can buy fresh produce, meats and bread frequently. Many fresh vegetables and fruits do not have a shelf life beyond a few days, so shopping more frequently ensures you are eating the freshest of foods. Sure, you can buy canned vegetables that last longer, but they are not as healthy, and not always as appetizing. So, to recap your budget strategy, ensure you know what days you are needing to purchase food for, how many meals, number of people being fed, and what you can afford to buy for that time frame. Use the meal plan to keep your shopping list within your budget. Know what you can spend, so that you don’t overspend. If your groceries for the week are exceeding your budget, consider either going meatless for a meal, swapping out a recipe, or doubling up on a recipe that can make enough for leftovers.

Storage

If you are  going to be buying in bulk, you will want to have storage that will last. I can’t stand freezer burn or freezer flavor. In the past I would freeze things with good intentions, but oftentimes throw things away after a month or so due to the ice crystals! Travis and I now have a Food Saver,  Here and we love how well our food is preserved. This allows me to purchase the larger pack of chicken, and split the contents up instead of buying two smaller packs of chicken at a higher cost per pound. I also recommend some baskets or storage bins to keep your pantry and refrigerator organized. This helps keep things in order. When food items are stored willy-nilly, they get lost on the shelves and you may end up over purchasing or having items go bad before you get to use them. 

We keep our pantry sorted out into food categories and keep the most relevant items at eye level. 

• Breakfast items - like cereal and oatmeal
• Lunch/snack items - these are the free-for-all items that were purchased for lunches such as ramen noodles and soup
• Dinner items - these are kept separate so that someone doesn’t accidentally eat the can of tuna if it is meant for dinner
• Baking goods
• Excess condiments etc. - we go through certain ingredients more rapidly than others, for example olive oil. I have my opened olive oil out where I can reach it, but my backup is in a specific spot - so I know where to grab it when the other one runs out, or I can quickly identify what I have extras of or might need to stock up. This really helps when making the grocery list. 

When it comes to fridge organization, I can be a real stickler. I am the type of person that puts the condiments in the exact same spot every time, and I expect my family to do the same. This can be a challenge, but getting your household involved in the meal planning, preparation and the goings on in the kitchen is important. Once they are onboard and can see the importance of a neatly organized kitchen, they will be more willing to follow your lead. If you are condiment connoisseurs like my family, you probably have more food on your fridge door than anywhere else in your house. We have a sauce for everything, and it can get out of hand really quick. I limit the number of jellies and salad dressing that we open at any given time, I keep all the mustard, mayos (yes, we have more than one mayo), and ketchup in the same general place so they are all together, and I keep all pickled items in a spot together. It seems trivial, but I can guarantee you, if you go through your condiments, give them a good wipe down and take some inventory, you will find something that is about to expire, or is almost run out. Use that time to plan out ways to use that condiment, and get your money's worth.

Fresh is Best

We all know that junk food is cheap and healthy food is more costly. Here is a quick list of everyday essentials that are dirt cheap and as close to unprocessed as you can get. You can make countless meals with these few items. Another great thing about them is that their shelf life is long enough that you can keep plenty on hand.

• Green onions
• Yellow onions
• Garlic
• Celery
• Carrots
• Green bell peppers
• Cucumbers
• Eggs
• Dried Beans
• Apples
• Acorn and Butternut squash
• Old Fashioned Oatmeal
• Milk
• Butter
• Shredded cheese
• Jalapenos
• Cilantro
• Ginger
• Uncooked Brown Rice
• Potatoes

Left-overs

Let’s talk about the taboo topic of Left-overs. I am sure there are a lot of you that just don’t do leftovers - and there are just as many reasons why you might not like to eat them. I am not going to harp on anyone for not liking leftover or reheated food,  but consider the amount of money saved if you did not throw your food away, and ate what remained at another time. I will give you some suggestions as to how to overcome it if you are interested in giving it a try. 

• Some foods can get gross when reheated like lettuce, guacamole, coleslaw, and breading to name a few. So consider leaving those items out when wrapping up the leftovers.
• Reheated sauces like marinara hold up their consistency in the microwave, whereas sauces like alfredo break down when reheated, changing the flavor and texture.
• Overcooked vegetables get mushy when reheated. If making extra veggies to pack up, consider cooking the veggies on the firmer side knowing that they will get cooked further the second time around.
• Reheat your leftovers in the oven when possible to crisp up and prevent sogginess.
• Leave off dressings, sauces, and fresh garnishes when serving large batches, which can be added after reheating.

I know I have presented a lot of tips all at once. If I had to give just one piece of advice above all, it would be to plan ahead. All of the tips I provided today are actions that require thinking one step ahead and keeping control of what you already have (money and inventory) on hand. I hope that these tips are useful to you and are things that you would consider in order to help you improve your healthy meals on a budget. I know that I focused mostly on the budget versus the healthy, and I did that on purpose – if you can plan ahead, you can make healthy choices.

I would love to hear what you think! Leave me a message in the comments, if there is anything you want  to know more about, please reach out!

Grocery Shopping on a Budget

I just want to start off by saying that I am an English teacher and not a math teacher, but I am a shopper and I get that from my mom and Maw Maw who can bargain shop with the best of them. Both women had different views on grocery shopping. My mom liked to go and get everything during one trip to the store, whereas my Maw Maw liked to go weekly and get just what she needed for the week. These are some things I observed while watching my two mentors growing up. Nowadays, I do a little bit of both. As a bargain shopper, you must be able to budget, and that is where the math comes in…I always tell people that I don’t do math unless it involves percentages or statistics and that’s what bargain shopping is all about: the math and science of shopping.

Here are a few simple rules and steps that I follow when I plan to go grocery shopping:

• Ask Essential Questions

• Make That List

• Research

• Favorites First

Ask Essential Questions:

I only get paid once a month, so I have to be strategic in how I stretch out my money. I like to make one big bulk grocery trip for items that I can either freeze or aren’t going to expire soon. Then, as my meal plan allows it, I will shop weekly for perishable ingredients. How do I plan? I have to consider some essential questions such as:

• How much money do I have for groceries this month? This is probably the most important question.

• What is my schedule for the month? I keep my work and life schedule in my Happy Planner®.

• How many days will I need or want to eat out? My coworkers and I eat out at least a few times a month, I eat out at least twice a month with my Modern Musings crew and Jason and I eat out a few times a month when we do our date nights. We switch out on paying.

• What do I want to eat this week/month? I usually keep it simple during the week because I don’t like to eat heavy at work. I cook a big meal at least once a week. For example, this week I am making Keto Chile Relleno Chicken Soup.

• What do I need that I don’t already have? I try to keep a list of things in my pantry and update it often. This process helps with the budgeting process.

Make That List:

After I consider these questions, I write out a list in my “all-purpose notebook” or APN. For those that don’t know, an APN is something I have been carrying around with me since middle school for random ideas and lists. I make a few different kinds of lists. Now, hear me out. You want to maximize your money.

• Wish List: First I make a list of all the things I want or think I need when I go grocery shopping. For example, I have two bags of coffee and I think I may be running low. I put that on the list. I have a few paper plates, so I will also add that to the list.

• Need List: After I write out everything that I think I might need, I consider what I will actually need for the next month and mark them as a “need.” For example, I have cats so I will need to buy a huge bag of cat food.

• Extra List: Everything else that is an extra buy such as coffee or peanut butter (things that are not specifically part of my meal plans), I mark as extra if I have the money to spend on them. On a side note, it is beneficial to keep a running tally of groceries as you put them in your cart and overestimate the amount to avoid surprises.

Research:

When I grocery shop, I am not a “one and done” person because I like to shop around for the best deals that I can find. Luckily, in the area I live in, I have an abundance of shopping options at my fingertips. I grew up in a small town where my family didn’t have that luxury. Once a month, my family would load into the car and drive an hour (or more) away to get our monthly grocery deals. Now, I don’t have to drive more than twenty minutes to my favorite grocery stores. Why do I research? Because I want the best deals for my money and my unique diet, as mentioned in my last blog. I eat low-carb, gluten-free, and mostly dairy-free. When I say mostly dairy-free, I still incorporate some cheese in my diet. Some of my favorite ways to research are:

• Weekly Ads: You can get these ads in few different ways, but most likely you will get the ads of the closest stores in your mailbox each week. If the stores you like to go to are a little bit farther away, you can sign up for the ads online and they will be delivered to your e-mail. Another money-saving tip when you sign up for ads is that you can also get coupons by mail or e-mail.

• Apps: If you are a phone app person, most stores have their own app that you can get ads and coupons directly. You can search and “cut” digital coupons that you can use at the store. Also, you can use the apps to shop for groceries and budget your money.

• Newspapers: If you don’t like apps or digital coupons but still want to look for savings, you can choose to buy a print newspaper or get one delivered. Every Sunday, the major newspapers carry weekly ads and coupons.

Favorites First:

When I am shopping and budgeting, I have a few favorite stores that I like to shop at first for my products. I don’t ever limit myself to one store. Sometimes you can save the most by shopping around. For example, if I am making chicken soup this coming week, I will look at the ads to see which stores have chicken on sale and what quality of chicken they might be offering. In addition to that, there are certain stores where I go for certain things such as the “healthy junk” I mentioned in my previous blog. Here are my favorite stores and why they are my favorites:

Items from the Manager's Special at Sprouts

• Sprouts Farmer’s Market: This is the store that I always go to first when grocery shopping because it’s a small store and I like the quality of their products. Aside from that, as I mentioned in my previous blog, they cater to individuals with special diets. This store also frequently runs “buy one, get one” free sales and “manager specials” on their meats, so it’s my first choice for “healthy junk” such as grainless granola and keto protein bars. I also buy my favorite low-carb, gluten-free bread here.

• WinCo Foods: I first fell in love with this store when I lived in Utah years ago.  They are relatively new to Texas, but now they are popping up all around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  The premise of WinCo Foods has always been a favorite of mine. It is a discount store that is employee-owned. Another plus is that most WinCo stores are 24 hours. They don’t have as big of a selection of certain items that bigger stores such as Walmart have, but the majority of their store brand dry goods you can buy in bulk. This is the store that I go to for most of my regular baking supplies, herbs, and spices. I also buy bulk candy here for gift baskets. You can also buy bulk vegetable bags at this store for large gatherings. This is also a good store to go to for ready-made meals and breakfasts. One thing I should point out if you have never been to WinCo is that they only take cash or debit cards, and you must bag your groceries yourself.

• Kroger: I used to think that Kroger was expensive but my best friend, sister, and fellow MMC Christen introduced me to Kroger’s clearance section. Every Wednesday, Kroger marks down their products that are almost out-of-date. Kroger is also another store that has great weekly-ad deals on meat and frequently offers certain meats as “buy one, get one free.” They also have alternate diet sections in their store in special sections, and they do carry some of the brands I like to buy for my diet. Aside from that, I really enjoy shopping at Kroger’s deli and cheese section. They make in-house charcuterie boards as well.

• Market Street: This is a great store to go to for their weekly ads as well. This store does not have as many special-diet options as Sprouts, but when you catch certain items on sale, your bill will be even cheaper than going to Sprouts. They frequently offer their meat selections as “buy one, get one free” and they have great deals on their store brand items. I especially like to go when protein shakes are on sale.

• Aldi: This store is still a favorite when it comes to discount shopping, and it is probably the cheapest place you can get certain items such as cheese, produce, and eggs. My only problem with Aldi is the fact that they are inconsistent with their items that are not in-store brands, so you never know what you will find when you shop there. However, you can shop at this store on any budget and still feel like you are winning by saving money. Aldi even carries some alternative diet items so anyone can eat healthy on a budget at this store. I typically only buy “extra” items at Aldi.

Other ways to save:

If all of that didn’t blow your mind, here are some other tips I have to save money when I shop:

• Don’t throw away your receipt: Often, receipts have coupons that you can use on your next visit. For example, Sprouts offers a $10 discount on your next visit if you spend over $75.

• Check your product boxes: If you have non-perishable items in your pantry, oftentimes there are coupons on the box. So, don’t throw away boxes without checking first.

• Go to product websites: My mother was a big fan of this concept. She would often go to product websites and download coupons off their websites. She would also go to couponing websites. It takes a lot of work and you have to sift through a lot of e-mails but saving money is worth it in the long run. Also, a lot of websites will allow you to try their products for free.

• Order grocery delivery: This is pretty simple. If you order groceries from delivery apps, you sometimes get discounts especially if you are a first-time buyer. Sometimes you can even get upgraded items if stores run out of your order.

• In-store coupons: if you look at certain products you are buying in-store, you will find coupons on the products. For example, the manager’s special that Sprouts has on their meats (see above).

• Know when to go: As I mentioned before, the best time to go to Kroger is on Wednesday when they do their markdowns. But, when do other stores do markdowns? In short, most other stores also do their markdowns on Wednesday mornings, typically because grocery stores restock their shelves mid-week and it is a low-traffic shopping day, unlike Friday and Saturday.

• Look for sales and discontinued items while in the store: Not all sales and discounts are listed in weekly ads, so sometimes you actually have to go to the store to check out low prices. Almost all stores also have a clearance section if you know where to look.

In conclusion, there is no right or wrong way to shop for groceries and my process may seem a little obsessive-compulsive at first but it is something that has worked well for me over the years. What do you do to save money while grocery shopping? Please let me know in the comments below or continue the conversation on our Facebook group: MMC Chat, and don’t forget to listen to our blog coming out this Wednesday