Stocking the Pantry

The secret to saving on your grocery bill is a well stocked pantry. Essential, spices, rice, potatos, couscous, pasta can be bought in bulk and on sale. If one remains stocked there is always a meal on hand. I buy at specialty stores like Sprouts, Sun Harvest and New Flower becaue they are all close to my home and are having price wars. Their marketing gives me great deals. I look at sales fliers, which are online too, and see which one has the most of what I want on sale. That being said I don't make all my purchses there. HEB is my main stay for houshold items and they have the best prices overall. We shopped at bulk stores for a while but decide that the items there were mostly processed and lead to too much waste.

The biggest mistake I make is to shop without a list. My list consist of meals, necesary items and household items.

My Way or ?

Is there some kind of secret to get kids to listen and do what they need to do? I know my parents hit us every now and then and that worked kinda. But I don't want to rule by fear. I love my parents but the my way or the high way is out for me.

My major problem is two boys who look vacantly into my eyes when i for example ask, "Have you brushed your teeth, tie your shoes..." And later, I find them in various states of not having done what needed to be done doing something totally irrelevant. I remember running around like crazy in the morning getting it done. Is it a boy thing or is it a Generation...what would a ten year old be "Q". I don't know.

I'm trying massive praise and raising my expectation. We'll see how that works. If you have any clues let me know.