Food Storage Update

(This post refers to an earlier food storage post)

I love couponing! I didn't realize just how much I would enjoy trying to find bargains. I'm such a penny-pincher that I should have known it would be right up my alley.

My concerns in the start included (1) buying things that I normally wouldn't buy just because I had a coupon and (2) having to make several trips to different grocery stores in order to catch the sales. After a few weeks' experience, I think these concerns are still valid, but I'm able to justify them a bit more. I am buying things I normally wouldn't buy, but if I could get them for the deals I'm getting, then I would buy them on a regular basis. For example, Matt loves sugar cereals. I didn't grow up on sugar cereals so I don't care about eating them now. I will buy them from time to time for Matt, but typically don't buy them on a regular basis because they're expensive. However, there have been some really good cereal coupons that match up with sales, so I've stocked up so Matt can enjoy his Trix and Frosted Mini Wheats. :o) I went to 3 grocery stores last week, but I made sure that I went when I was already running errands in that general direction. I have my coupons organized before I go in and know exactly what I want to buy, so generally my grocery shopping trips are pretty quick.

I just find such a thrill in being able to get the most for my money. There is lots I still have to learn (I haven't gotten on the Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy kick that other couponers seem to enjoy due to great bargains), but I'm enjoying the learning process. Some of my better deals include: Breyers ice cream (an expensive brand) for 99 cents, Kraft Mac n' Cheese for 38 cents each (stocking up on food storage), 10 Kool Aid packets for free, BBQ sauce for free (even though I prefer my family's homemade recipe I couldn't pass it up b/c it was free), and floss for free. Couponing can be time-consuming (although I usually do couponing when I'm watching TV), but I have the time right now, so I don't mind.

I haven't made any progress on canning, however. I thought my canned chicken that I made in an Enrichment class tasted slightly better than the canned chicken you buy in the store, so I can't decide if it's worth all the time and effort of canning yet.

We're making good progress with our food storage. After creating my list of meals for 3 months, tabulating all the ingredients etc., and taking inventory of what I have in my home, I learned that I still have a long way to go on having my 3 month supply of food that is recommended by our church leaders. I am fixating on 1 or 2 items a week and stocking up until I have a 3 month supply of those items. Hopefully we'll have it all ready by the end of the year. We did finish our 72 hour kits, which was another thing we had procrastinated.

We're really proud of our progress in general, and I'm just so glad we're finally doing it. I feel like a huge weight is being lifted off my shoulders!