FEEDING MY FAMILY ON $2500.00 THIS YEAR...

I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE A BLOG OF MY CHALLENGE/JOURNEY THROUGHOUT THIS NEXT YEAR BECAUSE I HAVE LOTS OF DOUBTERS OUT THERE (I LOVE PROVING PEOPLE WRONG) AND LOTS OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE ASK ME HOW I DO IT, SO HERE I AM. A FEW THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THAT I DO NOT SHOP LIKE MOST FAMILIES, I STOCK UP ON ITEMS WE USE WHEN THEY ARE AT THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PRICE. THIS ALLOWS ME TO NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR MOST ITEMS. I GET MOST OF MY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM BOUNTIFUL BASKETS, IT IS THE BEST CO-OP GROUP EVER! I ALWAYS CHECK OUT THE .99 CENT STORE (GASP, YES I REALLY DO), THEY HAVE LOTS OF ORGANIC, GROWN HERE IN THE GOOD OL' U.S.A., ITEMS THAT I USE! I HAVE A LARGE STOCK PILE OF STAPLES (RICE, BEANS, PASTA, GRAINS, ETC.) IN MY FOOD STORAGE THAT I AM CONSTANTLY ROTATING. I BUY THESE ITEMS AT COSTCO OR AT OUR LOCAL LDS CANNERY (YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO BUY FROM THEIR WAREHOUSE). I ALSO HAVE LEARNED TO WATCH THE GROCERY STORE CYCLES (THEY CYCLE ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS), USE LOTS OF COUPONS, AND VISIT MANY OTHER BLOGS TO FIND OUT ABOUT DEALS. I PLAN OUR MEALS ACCORDING TO WHAT IS IN SEASON AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE USED UP BEFORE IT GOES TO WASTE. I WILL POST PICTURES FROM MY WEEKLY SHOPPING TRIPS, LET YOU KNOW WHAT COUPONS I HAVE USED AND WHERE I HAVE PURCHASED MY GOODIES AND WHAT OUR WEEKLY MENU WILL BE. SO THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP, SO LETS SEE HOW I DO....