Remember how I was saying that I want to cut down on our spending money?
Well I've started looking into ways of doing just that and the first big change we're making is on our grocery shopping. That's not to say that we'll go without, it just means that I've found a way to cut down on our food budget dramatically while still getting everything we need.
Far too many times we get stuck in our ways and don't realize that if we just look around or even ask those who have lived in the area longer, we may just find that there are cheaper places to shop.
That is exactly what happened with us.
A few of my friends had mentioned the Food Value Club, so last payday I decided to give it a try and see just how well it would work.
This is what the FVC say:
Open to the general public, the Food Value Club helps families and individuals stretch their grocery dollars. Food Boxes include a menu of purchased canned and boxed food and frozen meat items in a variety of packages. You will also receive a Bonus Box of donated items with each purchase!
Now I know I've said this many times before but I still come across people daily who think that military people get paid really well. We DON'T, unless you're an officer. Times are tough for everyone and prices are constantly on the rise, it makes it very hard to get by if you don't count every penny and watch every move you make.
But back to the Food Value Club, here are the packages available.
$13.00 Pantry Box - one *Bonus Box given with this purchase
Approximately 14-16 non-perishable pantry items i.e. canned soup, vegetables, fruit, pasta or rice, etc.
$16.00 Meat Pack - one *Bonus Box given with this purchase (pork free and vacuum sealed meats)
1 lb packed Beef Tips
1 lb 80/20 Ground Beef
6 - 4oz Individually packed Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 lb Chicken Fajita
$ 18.00 Entree Boxes - one *Bonus Box given with this purchase
7 individual 14 oz entrees rotated for a variety
All microwavable or oven heated.
One Bonus Box included.
Great for kids, teens, and elderly.
$20.00 Griller Box - one *Bonus Box given with this purchase (vacuum sealed meats)
4 - 4oz Individually Packed Sirloin Ball Tip Steaks
1 lb 80/20 Ground Beef
4 - 4oz Pork, Italian Sausage
4oz Individually packed Chicken Breast
4 - 5oz Individually packed Pork Chops
$30.00 Variety Box - two *Bonus Box given with this purchase (vacuum sealed meats)
1 Pantry Box (see above for contents)
1 lb packed Beef Tips
1 lb 80/20 Ground Beef
6 - 4oz Individually packed Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 lb Chicken Fajita
$35.00 Meat Lovers - two *Bonus Box given with this purchase (vacuum sealed meats)
1 lb packed Beef Tips
2 lb 80/20 Ground Beef
6 - 4oz Individually packed Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 lb Chicken Fajita
4 - 4oz Individually Packed Sirloin Ball Tip Steaks
4 - 4oz Pork, Italian Sausage
4 - 5oz Individually packed Pork Chops
*Bonus Boxes
Our Bonus boxes contain donated items such as produce, fruit, bread, pastries and other food/non-food items. Contents of the boxes varies daily and at each location based on current inventories.
As you can see they are very affordable.
I got the Meat Lovers and a Pantry box and I'm not kidding when I tell you that 6 big boxes later, I have most of my two week groceries done for $48.
There are a few things that I will have to get at the commissary, like the toiletries and cleaning supplies but that is IT, so I'm counting on spending another $20 which would bring my total to $68 for two weeks of groceries.
Compared to the usual $250, I would say that is a HUGE difference, wouldn't you?
Let me show you what we go, you'll be shocked at how much food you get.
That's only two of the boxes unpacked. We have an assortment of canned goods, pastries, tons of bread and salad and fruit.
2 Gallons of milk
4 Gallons of orange juice (gave two gallons to my friend)
6 dozen eggs (gave two dozen to my friend)
There are two meat boxes which include:
1 lb packed Beef Tips2 lb 80/20 Ground Beef6 - 4oz Individually packed Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast1 lb Chicken Fajita4 - 4oz Individually Packed Sirloin Ball Tip Steaks4 - 4oz Pork, Italian Sausage4 - 5oz Individually packed Pork Chops 
I've had to start freezing bread, I have so much of it.
As you can see, my refrigerator is full and I gave two boxes of food to my friend and in turn she will also pass them on to the church.
I have bananas coming out the wazoo, so this weekend I'm making a couple loaves of banana bread to freeze.
I'm not sure if there is a Food Value Club near you guys, but I would certainly look into it if you're wanting to cut your grocery budget down.
So every payday, my first stop is the FVC then I make my menus according to what we got.
Here's the menu for the next two weeks:
Saturday 2ndSunday 3rd- Split Pea Soup using the leftover Ham bone from Christmas
Monday 4th- Meat Lover's Lasagna
- Salad
Tuesday 5th- Chicken Fried Chops in the Slow Cooker
- Rice
- Veggies
Wednesday 6th- Beef Kebabs
- Garlic potatoes
Thursday 7th- Chicken a la King
- Mashed potatoes
Friday 8thSaturday 9th- Breakfast for dinner
- Bacon, Eggs, Pancakes
Sunday 10thMonday 11thTuesday 12th- Quick Hamburger Stroganoff
- Egg Noodles
Wednesday 13th - Italian Sausage Hoagies
- Corn
- Salad
Thursday 14th- Baked Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Are you trying to cut down on your Grocery budget too? I would love it if you could share some tips on how you're doing it.
![[2009_11040007.JPG]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtYztjMcYC3OVanDHGuMMOjChRjXhQNPfR7CUgolXrh1cb5gSSC8O9KnWgf4PG1nBAw7TBgX0wU_CEW6FoQHwIumwEG3DfxEjOHQfvA44OgL1pf5nWAtWlFhDEggjiOqrZ9Otiw/s1600/2009_11040007.JPG)
