Food Spending OCTOBER Week 2, Meal Planning Week 3 & A Bit More

 Need I say more?

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And here is what passed for meals around here last week....

Sunday--Salmon, Asparagus, Coconut Milk Rice

Monday--Hot Dogs, Corn, Beans

Tuesday--Tuna Helper, Brussel Sprouts

Wednesday--Chicken Parmesan, Caesar Salad

Thursday--Chinese Take-Out

Friday--Subway Sammies

Saturday--Leftovers

Can you tell I ran out of steam at the end of the week? lol

Last week I was good.  One trip to the grocery was it for me.  I spent $45.57.  Reg. retail would have been $72.57.  I used no coupons but just bought loss leaders and sale items.  I did an Instant $5 Discount Deal(on Betty C/Gold Medal/Green Giant/etc. items) which made my spending total higher, but it was all things I would need in the weeks coming.....pie crust mix(cheaper and easier to store than the frozen crusts), bags of flour(holiday baking and we were almost out), OJ for $1.88(!), a couple of Healthy Choice TV dinners for $1.88(for when #2 son doesn't want what I cook), 100% Juice for $1.66(!), some sugared-up yogurt, apples, grapefruit, milk and chicken(thighs on sale) and ground beef(was all out of this/needed it for Sunday's dinner/good sale price).

I've spent $247.63 of my $400 monthly food budget so far this month.  That leaves me $152.37 for the second half of October....or to break it down, approx. $75 for each of the next 2 weeks.
It's very do-able I think....considering the sales ads here SUCK this week! ;-)

I am going into the new week with these leftovers......NOTHING!   I am cooking a tad less  in quantities overall, so we are having fewer leftovers.  What little leftovers we had this past week got used.  1 helping of Tuna Casserole, 1 helping of Salmon and Asparagus and 1 helping of Chicken Parm each gotten for lunches or on leftover night.  Hubs used some of the leftover rice with his leftover Chinese food for lunch yesterday and he's used more of it up for lunch today by throwing some chili over it. Mmmmmm

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This week's menu.....moving 2 meals we didn't serve last week to here.

Sunday--Tacos(that we didn't have last week)

Monday--Crockpot Garlic Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Collards(from garden)

Tuesday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice(using leftover rice), Sugar Snap Beans

Wednesday--Rigatoni with Sauce, Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad

Thursday--Barbecue Chicken Thighs, Veggie I dig out of the freezer, Cornbread
Friday--Pizza

Saturday--Leftovers

 

What I need to buy this week to serve this menu?.....lettuce, mushrooms, sour cream and frozen pizzas.  I figure I'll be out of steam by Friday and there is a good deal on Freschetta pies this week(plus a $1.50 Q)so I'll just break the bank here and buy some pizzas.  I can dress them up once I get them home if I want them to taste almost homemade.  I want to pick up some fruit this week as well.  Add in the milk and we can do this for about $30.

So what are you cooking at your house this week?

Let me tack on a quick run to Rite-Aid this morning too because that's not enough for a post unto its self.  My store runs out of 12 packs quickly when they go on sale, especially the Dr. Pepper.  If I wanted any I had to jump on this or have to go all the way downtown to do the deal later in the week.  And why spend the gas going downtown if I don't have to, right?

3 x Coke Product(Dr. Pepper) on sale Have to buy 3=$12.00

1 x Coke Product(Dr. Pepper) w/Wellness Discount=$4.71

SubTotal.....$16.71

Coupons used were....

2 x $1/2 12 packs Dr. Pepper IPQ=$2.00

2 x $1/2 12 packs Dr. Pepper VV AdPerks Q=$2.00

$16.71-$4.00=$12.71 + .04¢tax(on the .71 I didn't use +Ups to pay)=$12.75

I used $12 in +Ups to pay and put the .75¢ on the trusty gift card.

I received $3 +Ups for buying 3 coke product 12 packs, so I spent down my +Ups by $9.

I had to get that extra pack so I could use the 2nd of the AdPerks and the IPQs.

After everything this deal worked out to $2.25 per 12 pack which is a good price for here.

I'll hide 2 of these away for the kids until Christmas time, because I figure now that I'm done buying soda for this year, they'll be out by then.

Having this unexpected surprise will help keep them in a good mood when they are home trapped all day with me.  It's my "eye rolling" insurance.  lol\

And can you believe what Rite-Aid is charging for 12 packs of soda now, their regular price which I NEVER buy it for?

$5.89.....$5.89!!

For colored sugar water. 

Are WE insane or are THEY for thinking anybody would buy this product for that price?

Grand Totals for October so far......

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$202.46
Savings Rate of  100%
Single Check Rebate due....$0.00
Other Rebates due......$0.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $0.00
Savings Rate  100%

+Ups at beginning of month...$25.98+
+Ups used....$58.98+
+Ups received...$53.00+
+Ups currently...$20.00+

Sluggy