Food Spending July Week 4 & Meal Planning August Week 1

*****************************
And here is the "meal plan" that actually happened last week.....

Sunday--Dinner out at Ruby Tuesdays

Monday--Grilled  Squash, Hot Dogs

Tuesday--Green Beans, Chinese take-out

Wednesday--Leftover Chinese

Thursday--Corned Beef and Cabbage

Friday--Fend for Yourself(Hubs had Beanie Weenies, I had a Grilled Cheese sandwich & a salad)

Saturday--Leftovers(I was the only one home for dinner.)

I only really "cooked" 2 full meals(green beans don't count on Tues.lol).  We stretched out the take-out to 2 dinners and we just scrounged in the pantry/fridge since it was too hot to cook.  I bought some salad greens and melons had a few salads and ate fruit. 

The weekly food spending was $94.05 done in a trip each to Weis, Walmsrt and the local Shursave Market.  I had a $5 off $50 Q for Weis so I spent enough to use that.  I stocked up on cream cheese andMtn. Dew(#2 Son is home!lol).  I also got dog food, single serve fruit cups for Hubs lunch, bagels, juice, produce, yogurt and lunchmeat.  I picked up a box of those BelVita Breakfast biscuits for $1.50 after Q/sale to try them.  Maybe I can convince #2 Son to eat them before Band Camp if I say they are cookies.lol  I used $11 in Qs(including the $5 off $50 one)at Weis and got 10 gas points.  I also received a $5 OYNO Catalina Q which I'll use on one of the Catalina Deals this week.

The regular retail value for all food bought was $144.01 so I had a 34.70% savings rate. 

As I reset my July Food Budget to $300, I now have $64.92 left to spend on food/toiletries this month.  1 shopping day left in July.  If I stay out of the stores tomorrow,(except Rite-Aid) I'll make this no problem.

Going into the new week I have the following leftovers to use up......small chunk of corned beef, 1 helping of cabbage, a 1/4 of a head of raw cabbage and 1 yellow squash.

***********************

This week's menu.....back to the grind.....lol

Sunday--BBQ Chicken, Collard Greens

Monday--Hamburger Helper type casserole, Pickles

Tuesday--Fried Fish, Yellow Squash, Coleslaw

Wednesday--Chicken Parmesan, Mixed Veggies

Thursday--BLT Sandwiches

Friday--Chinese take-out, Teriyaki Green Beans

Saturday--Tacos or Taco Salad

I have collards, squash and green beans to use from the garden this week.   The leftover raw cabbage will be made into coleslaw.  The leftover corned beef will make a sandwich or two for lunches.

I am trying very hard to NOT turn on the oven this week.  Everything will be cooked on the stovetop or in the microwave.  When it's this hot out I really don't want to eat hot food much, and really not wanting meat much either.  I'd live on cold sammies(ok, maybe a grilled cheese thrown into the mix now and again), fruit and salads if I had my druthers.....and once Hubs retires and the kids are gone, I'll get a chance to do just that. ;-)

What I need to buy this week to serve this menu?.....breaded chicken(it's on sale and I have Qs), a tomato, bread, lettuce.  Also more lunchmeat, fruit and milk. 

I'll wait until Wed. to shop since that's the first of August and my food budget resets to $300.  With #2 Son home again, I am considering adding back another $50 to the food kitty.   $50 should be enough to shop for this meal plan, unless Daughter runs out of something.

Stock-up opportunities are not known yet for this week.  Weis is running a bunch of Catalina Deals this week, including one for dog food(which we need).

So what's on deck for your menu this week?

Sluggy