Routines and Planning
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is
a time for every event under Heaven-" Ecclesiastes 3:1
Daily Routines
Morning Routine:
~ wake, rise,make bed-if possible, shower, dress-make up-shoes
~wipe counters and toilet(flylady calls this "swish and swipe")
~start coffee to perk, start a load of laundry
~ spend quiet time with the Lord in prayer, devotional, bibe study
~make breakfast and kids lunches for school/hubbys for work
~wake kids, feed breakfast while unloading dishwasher(the dishwasher was started the night before)
~while unloading the dishwasher, I talk to the kids about the events/activities of the day, bible verse of the week, and devotion
~help kids with morning chores(Please check the "Kids and Chores" section for more details)
~clean kitchen and sink
~the rest of the day is devoted to family time, work, errands,etc
After-school Routine:
~ empty backpack, clean lunch boxes(we have laptop lunchboxes to cut down on waste)
~make snack for kids
~help with homework then put backpack by door or on hook
~finish a few chores
~playtime
~a few kids help prepare dinner, depends on what we have. sometime they don't help at all. (I do this so they can learn independence and responsibility)
~kids help do after dinner chores. each has a specific chore, sometimes rotating.
~playtime-family time
Evening(before bed) Routine:
~clean kitchen(shiny sink like flylady) and start dishwasher
~kids help put toys away
~ help kids lay out clothes for tomorrow- shirt, pants,socks, shoes, underwear)
~read to kids and say prayers
~check calendar for appointments, activites, etc
~lay out clothes for tomorrow for self
~brush teeth, clean face, bath?, jammies.
~ journal, read, music,tv
~MOST IMPORTANTLY is to snuggle,pray and talk to your spouse! Make sure you snuggle and look at each other like you are still newlyweds!
Weekly Routines
Monday:
~ Home Blessings Hour(flylady quote)- dust, clean glass and mirrors,empty trash cans,change sheets,mop kitchen and baths, vacuum(not detailed with moving things around! ) this should only take and hour or so! don't stress about details. This is just the basic cleaning.
Tuesday:
~ Errand Day: library,post office,specialty stores,pay bills,dry cleaning
~spend 15 minutes clean the "Area" for he week.
Wednesday:
~15 Minutes "Area" cleaning
~clean fridge
~work on menus for next week, clip coupons(see Coupon section)
~balance checkbook
~write thank you notes, cards
Thursday:
~Bible Study
~Groceries
Friday:
~file papers
~write cards
~ clean out purse
~mend clothes
~clean out van/car
~Be romantic with Spouse!
Saturday:
~ Family Fun day!!! whatever day you choose, try not to clean on this day! Devote all you time to family!
Sunday:
~ Worship and Rest
I started a chore list for the kids when they were very young. The official, printed list begins at age 5, school-age. I am not the kind of mom that makes the kids do all the household chores as she watches. I wanted them to do chore for life experience and resposibility. When I moved out of my parents house and on my own, I soon realized I had no idea how to run a household. I couldn't manage the household chores, the groceries and meal planning and the bills. I didn't want my kids to leave home not having learned any life skills. As soon as they were school aged I had them clean the toilet. This wasn't expected to be perfect, but to teach them to clean up after themsleves. We had a one bath house with 5 males! I made the chore list according to age and most important. Here is an example of my
mon-morning- toilet Mon-morning-wipe sink
evening-rinse dishes, put in dish washer evening- sweep kitchen
Tues-morning- laundry Tues-morning-clean boys toilet
evening-feed animals/mop kitchen evening- sweep kitchen
Weds- morning-clean bathroom sink and counter Weds-morning-empty boys bath trash
evening-rinse dishes,put in dishwasher evening-sweep kitchen
Thurs-morning-clean toilet Thurs-morning-clean boys sink and counter
evening-feed animals/mop kitchen evening-sweep
Fri-Morning- mop boys bath/check laundry Fri-morning-clean boys toilet
evening- feed animals/mop kitchen evening- sweep
Sat- morning-help with yard work, if needed Sat and Sun- sweep
evening-rinse dishes
**the little guys have small hand brooms and dust pans. They feel so big doing this,too.
*The other children have other age appropriate chores and switch back and forth on days. Please note that none of the chores done are perfect! As long as they are done, it still helps the family!
Area 2- Kitchen/Dining Room
7. Clean walls and baseboards.
"Mess causes Stress"
I love big Sunday dinners. So, I plan big Sunday dinners, then use the leftovers to make a meal or two for that week. Also, every week I like to make a pasta, chicken, fish, meat, veggie, and quick,simple meal. I write down on a calendar 4 different big Sunday dinners for that month(sometimes 5). Then I fill in the rest of the days according to leftovers and variety.
Sunday: Roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, salad, cornbread, chocolate cake
Monday: BBQ chicken, baked beans, corn, biscuits
Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday: (leave for church early-so it's a quick and easy meal)- Shepherds Pie , made from left over roast, mixed veggies, beef gravy, leftover mashed potatoes.
Thursday: Pecan crusted Salmon, rice, carrots, crescents drizzled with honey, salad
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: Leftovers, Gramma's house, or out to eat/sandwiches
**left over roast was also used for lunch- roast beef sandwiches.
I also had to learn how to plan breakfast. I quickly learned that I was running out of milk for the babies before the week was over. Or I was out of eggs or oatmeal before the next grocery shopping day. I planned breakfast to save money, time, stress, and to lessen arguements.
Tuesday: Cereal, toast
Wednesday:Oatmeal, their favorite varieties, fruit
Thursday: bagel with cream cheese or PB, or english muffin ,or chunky monkey
Friday: waffles, french toast, pancakes (save left overs for Sunday)
Saturday: Cereal and cartoons!!!
Sunday: quick and simple!!- muffins, cinnamon rolls, leftovers from Friday.
I am not a big grocery/pantry list keeper. I have to be very frugal with our money. Grocery is an easy area to go overboard. Many things can get wasted or even spoil just because we want to "stock" the pantry, fridge and freezer. My suggestion, if you are trying to save money, is to not overstock.
baking,seasonings Canned foods,etc: Freezer: condiments,fridge
_baking powder _tomato sauce _chicken _ketchup
_baking soda _diced tomatoes _ grnd beef/turkey _mustards
_salt/pepper _stewed tomatoes _frozen veggies _jellies
_cocoa _evaporated milk _waffles _PB
_vinegars _tuna/salmon _ice cream _honey
_flour _assorted dry beans _popsicles _mayo
_sugar _salsa _ _worch.sauce
_oats _pickles
_cornmeal _assorted vegtables
_vanilla _cereals
_potatoes _crackers _butters
_onions Fruits: _cheeses
_garlic _apples _milks
_pastas _grapes _bell peppers
_spices, assorted _strawberries
_cakes _ bananas
_brownies _seasonal,etc...
_chocolate chips
_nuts
Coupons and More....
When I first started grocery shopping I used coupons like my Mom did. Then it seemed like only the too expensive items had coupons and it never evened out. So I would buy store brand. But now I figured out a system that works with coupons, store brand, and specialty stores. I used to cut out coupons from that Sundays paper of what I needed for the next week or two. Then I noticed that those items in the coupon ad from 2 weeks ago was on sale now, but if I had only kept the coupons! First, I bought a binder with clear sheet protectors. Every Sunday, I would save the whole coupon circular. There is Red Plum and Smart Source, occasionally Proctor and Gamble. When the store ads came out I would compare and plan meals. Also, Wal-mart will honor the competitors prices if you show them the product and the ad. As a note, I only shop at Wal-mart during early morning hours. When kids get on the bus, I leave. Its less crowded and less stressful! My regular shopping stores are Wal-mart and Aldi. Aldi was not my favorite at first, but I kept going back because many items and prices are just too good to pass up. Aldi doesn't sack their groceries. But, for me, thats okay. I used "green" reusable grocery bags anyway and love it. My first and favorite kind are from Walgreens for only $.99. And they are the sturdiest. I pack mine full! Then Aldi sells very large bags that I put my boxed, lighter weight items in. They are easy to carry in the house, because I put a few over my shoulder like a purse. An it takes less trips back and forth from the van. A useful tip: at Wal-mart, organize items in your cart as if thinking about where you will put them on the checkout belt. Don't just throw things in the cart. At checkout, put the items on the belt thinking about the best way to sack them together. I keep the little things for last because I can put those on the top of the not-so-full-to-the-top bags.
Here is a more detailed explanation from my blog:
If you have a large family like me, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars on car insurance. But we aren't talking about that today. Today I'm talking about the hundreds of dollars you could spend on groceries a week! I have all boys and that means HUGE appetites. I could go on and on about ways to save. I will try to break it down and not ramble on.
Coupons:
I know most people hate to take the time to clip coupons. I was once that way,too! Until I didn't have food in the house and the boys started attacking me! Here are ways to make it easier:
1. Use TheCouponClippers.com to do the clipping for you. For only pennies, Christian ladies will clip the coupons and send them to you! When the store ad comes out or when you see it online, go to their site, select the coupons you want, and they will send them to you within days!
2. Get a binder,clear trading card inserts, and tab dividers. Organize inserts and dividers into grocery categories. Once you get the coupons in the mail or the Sunday paper, clip and organize in each section. This takes little time and eliminates wasted time searching back and forth through the coupon flyers.
5. Go through every store ad. Write down products that you want or that you just simply want a coupon for. Google search, for example, "Nestle coupons". And it will take you to a link for a coupon!
Plan, Plan, Plan!!
1. Make a list of meals for the next week using only what you have in your pantry. You may be surprised at how many meals you can find to make! If you do it this way then when you go shopping , you only have to worry about buying sale items and good deals.
2. Only buy what you need for the next week. Just because you are out of something doesn't mean you have to buy it that week! Write it down on a running list to know that you are out of that item and buy when it is needed for a recipe.
3. Plan a large meal and use the leftovers to make one or two other meals. I have examples on my Routines and Planning page, under meal planning made easy.
Other:
If money is very tight then please consider organizations like Angel Food Ministries or your local food bank.
Freezer cooking:
1.Plan and prepare two meals every once and awhile. Freeze one for later. Or you can plan ahead and have a Big Baking day like I am doing soon. I am slowly adding a few items to my grocery list to prepare for that day. See my Plan in earlier blog posts.
3. Go to a butcher to buy meat in bulk. We have a town nearby that will sell a meat package for a $100.00 and it will last for a long time, I promise!! Well, unless your teenage son has friends over and decides to grill 20 steaks! (And yes, they would eat them all!)
Using Coupons to gets items for pennies or even FREE!
Thecouponclippers.com~ This is a Christian site by Christian ladies. They sell coupons for pennies. This is how to use this site effectively. Look at your store ads the day it comes out. When a product is on sale, look at their site for a coupon. You may purchase as many coupons as you'd like. It only takes a few days to come in the mail. When you go to the store to use the coupon, it is best to use it on the double or triple coupon days. Check your local grocer for those details.
examples of the best use of coupons:
*Honey Nut Cheerio's ~Buy one/get one free store sale (ad). Use the coupon buy one get one free = 2 FREE products!
*Suave shampoo 10 for $10.00 or $1.00 each. Coupon for $.50, double coupon day = FREE!
*Domino's sugar sale $1.50. Coupon $.60, double coupon day = $.30!
The deal is to watch for things you know that you need and you need to stock up on.
List making: when you are used to you favorite grocery stores layout, write your grocery list according to aisles and departments. I put all my coupons in an envelope. Then I write my list on an index card. One side is non-grocery items in order of aisle. The other side is grocery items(written very small) by aisle. I tape this to the envelope. I started this because by the time I was at the check out after shopping with five boys, I forgot about the coupons and I was ready for my donut and Starbucks.(I sometimes treated myself to an eclair and a Decaf Venti Nonfat Mocha from Starbucks! After shopping with five boys, I thought I deserved it! )
Kids and Shopping: *If you are able to send your children to a mothers day out or a sitter while you shop, I highly suggest this so you will not have distractions. I take my kids everywhere with me. But I don't send my children to Mother's Day Out programs. People can't believe I want to take them everywhere with me! But I LOVE my boys. This is just my personal opinion about how I am raising my children, but I feel like if I wanted to have many children then I should want to take care of them and take them everywhere. And teach them life lessons as we go. The Bible says to teach them wherever you go. My boys are not perfect at all at the grocery store and they have melt downs. But, hey, us adults do too sometimes! This is where the Lord really tests my patience. Sadly, patience is very hard for me,though. I started a few things to keep the kids occupied. If I go to Wal-mart I use a Sams Club shopping cart(it's next door). The two little guys sit in the cart and the others help. For the Little Guys I made their own shopping lists. I bought small(hand size) spiral index cards in a holder, cut or printed out my usual grocery items, pasted them on a card, wrote the word and highlighted the first letter. If you paste in order of aisle, then they can find the item faster. Or you could paste alphabetically. I have both. They have sonething to use to follow along and color in. For the older kids, have them copy the grocery list on a card for themsleves. They can follow along to help find the item. Or you could make up a game to find the next item. To be quite honest, I go through the store so fast so I can get out of there quickly, that the older ones don't play many games. They just see who can find the item before Mom! Another ideas: give each child 50 cents, in dimes and nickels. If they disobey in the store, have them give you a nickel or a dime. Whatever money they have leftover they are able to use in the gum or trinket machines before leaving the store.
Or if all else fails, call a babysitter!
"She is like merchant ships:she brings her food from afar....and gives food to her household....she looks well to the ways of her household."
