Frugal Friday...the August 30th Edition

 There are very few Frugal wins over the past few weeks.

*  I did some rebate shopping after getting home....

No photos this week as I have been in severe pain as a result of a side effect of the  surgery(along with trouble typing)and can't lie down in bed to sleep.  I've been sleeping for the last two night sitting down at the dining room table with my head on a stack of pillows so until I am not sleep deprived and things get better, you get what you get.

Deals I got where Greek yogurt, sweet potatoes, onions and a bag of salad at Aldi.  Some Jimmy Deal Chicken biscuits, Gatorade, some marked down salad kits, 2 Milk Bone dog treats, and a better than free bottle of salad dressing at Walmart.  The local Walmart wouldn't take the manufacturer's coupon they mailed to me saying it was corporate policy not to take a free item coupon.  But I tried a different Walmart and they took it.  Corporate policy my ass!  And the dressing at a $1.00 rebate too. 8-)

*  I used $50 in free Walmart gift cards to pay for most of one of my Walmart trips, which that cost basically covered my state tax on everything.

*  I got a free bottle of Electrolit Electrolyte drink using an OTC offer.  Go HERE to find the offer,=.

*  Frugal Fails...

*  I found money!

Went to the Orthopedist on and checked the vending machines on the way out, finding 4 quarters in the drink machine's coin return.

Was at Walmart on Tuesday, running people over with a motorized card and I found .11¢ in the self-checkout area.

Total Found last week.....$1.11

Grand Total Found this Year.......$8.07 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got and all I can do right now.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy     

 

Struggling to Type

All I can manage right now is to share some interesting videos.

 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

Still struggling physically here.  I am back on the walker and can't write.  But at least my hand doesn't shake. 8-(

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

1. Sunday--Mushroom Risotto, Yellow Squash

2. Monday--Out to Eat

3. Tuesday--Shrimp, leftover Broccoli Slaw, Mac and Cheese(for Hubs)

4. Wednesday--Chicken Parm, Salad

5. Thursday--No Clue maybe Salmon

6. Friday--No Clue  maybe Beef something

7. Saturday--No Clue  maybe leftovers

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Mushroom Risotto, Yellow Squash

2. Monday--Out to Eat(Chinese)

3. Tuesday--Power Went Out Again so Zaxby's Zalad

4. Wednesday--Shrimp, leftover Broccoli Slaw, Mac and Cheese(for Hubs)

5. Thursday--Salad and Pizza(I had salad and 1 slice of pizza)

6. Friday--Leftovers(I had green beans and Hummus with pita chips)

7. Saturday--Catfish, Broccoli Slaw, leftover Squash

What got taken out of the freezer last week....

* Shrimp

* Pizza

* Catfish

What got put into the freezer last week....

* 1 Pizza

* 1 Pork Shoulder

                    

Last week we spent $96.86 grocery shopping.  

Total shopping comes to $358.48 for August.   There are 5 shopping days left in August.  

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $248.79 on Ibotta in August

I've earned 12.50 n Shopmium in August.

I've earned $6.00 on Kroger Cash Back in August(which still hasn't come through).

I've earned 0 on TaDa in August.

I've earned $19.89 on Checkout51 in August.

I've earned $29.24 on Aisle, etc. in August. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 30,358 points on Fetch from food shopping in August.

I've earned 20,667 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in August.($82.66)

I've earned 2,805 Points on My Points in August.($28.05? not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 5,700 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in August.($57.00)

That is $310.42 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/KCB/Alexa/Swag Bucks/The Insiders)on $358.48 of grocery spending so in reality it's $48.06 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending(but I do count any rebates on those items).

My savings percentage for the last week was 54.98% and the monthly savings total for August comes in at 58.84% spent.

Leftovers going into this week...Catfish.

Here is this week's food plan.....

1. Sunday--Portobello Mushroom Parm,(Hubs also had Tuna Noodle Casserole)

2. Monday--Pork BBQ, Coleslaw, Rolls, Corn on Cob

3. Tuesday--Pasta in Meat and Mushroom Sauce, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Anniversary Lunch out

5. Thursday--Chicken Strips, Veggie TBA

6. Friday--Meatloaf, Veggie TBA

7. Saturday--Leftovers

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy 

Don't Buy a Walmart Gift Card!

Here's a Warning for you if you buy Gift Cards.
If it happened to her it can happen to you!

=

Sluggy

Frugal Friday...the August 23rd Edition on Saturday

There are very few Frugal wins over the past few weeks.

*  Getting my surgery was a big win!  I just hope all these side effects subside and don't hang around.

*  I brought gift cards to VA with me so I could treat my brother and sister in-law to some stuff.  We got Domino's pizza(my brother's fav)and Panera bagels another day.  That's all they were interested in.

*  I did some rebate shopping after getting home....

The Skinny Dipped PB cups were on clearance and I had Ibotta rebates making them .75¢ each  The Truvia and Arm & Hammer detergent where all BOGO.  The Cheese Factory Rolls were on clearance plus I had a $1 off digital coupon.  The 4 yogurts in the back where on clearance for .59¢ each and the 8 in front were on sale and I had Ibotta rebates.

This is what I got at CVS.  We kept the Mini-Wheat(Hubs like)and the Chex Mix bars(I like).  I used my ECBucks and earned more ECBs back.

This bunch we kept the mouthwash, the tuna packets, the 2 liter soda, the 2 Lay's Stax, the pack of razors, the garbage bags(on clearance), the Truvia liquids, the Knorr cups and the Scott paper towels.  The Arm & Hammer laundry packs and the Goodles went back to the store.

The 3 packs of feminine care items, the 2 cereals, the 5 boxes of mac & cheese, the bag of tortilla chips all go to the food bank.  The Axe body spray and the Neutrogena cleanser will be sold(to help pay for the food bank items).

*  I found money!  It was a great few weeks for found coins.  Here is all the change I found in Virginia....

Then last week I found 3 pennies. 

One in the parking lot near the Chinese Restaurant.....

Then another in the parking lot of the new Dollar Tree nearby that we went to check out(I didn't buy anything  but I found a penny there and forgot to take a picture of it).

                                       

Then this penny I found in the parking lot of either the Walmart on Wednesday or the Kroger on Thursday.  I don't remember which it was at.

Total Found 7-14-8/8....$1.78(but I already counted .76¢ of that in my July 19th Post)

Total Found last week.....03¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$6.96 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got and all I can do right now.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy     

 

Happy 1st Birthday

Today is my only Grandchild's first birthday,

Unfortunately I have no contact with her because her parents are lying backstabbers who won't let me even have photos of her.
I was only in the same room with her on Dec. 23, when she was 4 months old.  I was not allowed to hold her or touch her then.  We found out later that her parents took her to see Santa Claus earlier that day and plopped her down in a complete strangers lap.  But somehow her own grandparents aren't good enough to hold her?

Here is a photo of me with my great nephew up in Virginia.  He was 5 months old when I was up there.  I got to hold him and play with him. etc.   

Funny how I am good enough to be around and interact with him but not with my own granddaughter.

I love you granddaughter.  Your parents can keep me physically from you but they can't keep you out of my thoughts and my heart.

Sluggy

Go Enter A Giveaway!

Laura over at "The Occasional Nomads" blog is having a Giveaway of items she picked up on her trip to Japan.

Go HERE to enter.

Sluggy

This Week On The Dining Table

This Week On The Dining Table...Aug. 12th

There was no way in hell I was going to buy/eat those chips! lol

Still struggling here.  I am off the walker and on the cane now and staggering around like a drunk sailor which is making my hip ache.  ;-)

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

1. Sunday--Salmon, Teriyaki Green Beans

2. Monday--Cheeseburgers, Corn on Cob

3. Tuesday--Fried Zucchini, Chicken

4. Wednesday--Catfish, Broccoli Slaw, Yellow Squash

5. Thursday--Leftovers

6. Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Salmon, Teriyaki Green Beans

2. Monday--Cheeseburgers, Corn on Cob

3. Tuesday--Fried Zucchini, Pork Loin

4. Wednesday--Cheeseburger

5. Thursday--Strawberries and Yogurt

6. Friday--Catfish, Broccoli Slaw, leftover Green Beans

7. Saturday--Leftovers

What got taken out of the freezer last week....

* Salmon

* Burgers

* Pork Loin

* Catfish

What got put into the freezer last week....

* Klondike Ice Cream Sandwiches

* Chicken Strips

                    

Last week we spent $203.86 grocery shopping.  It was my first full week back from Virginia so we needed lots of foodstuff.

Total shopping comes to $261.62 for August.   There are 12 shopping days left in August.  

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $208.79 on Ibotta in August

I've earned $9.50 on Shopmium in August.

I've earned $0 on Alexa app in August.

I've earned $6.00 on Kroger Cash Back in August(which still hasn't come through).

I've earned $0 on TaDa in August.

I've earned $12.39 on Checkout51 in August.

I've earned $19.50 on Aisle, etc. in August. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 23,152 points on Fetch from food shopping in August.

I've earned 13,536 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in August.($54.14)

I've earned 2,465 Points on My Points in August.($)

I've earned 5,189 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in August.($51.89)

That is $250.18 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/KCB/Alexa/Swag Bucks/The Insiders)on $261.62 of grocery spending so in reality it's $11.44 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending(but I do count any rebates on those items).

My savings percentage for the last week was 51.17% and the monthly savings total for August comes in at 59.34% spent.

Leftovers going into this week...green beans, a small piece of pork loin, broccoli slaw.

Here is this week's food plan.....

1. Sunday--Mushroom Risotto, Yellow Squash

2. Monday--Out to Eat

3. Tuesday--Shrimp, leftover Broccoli Slaw, Mac and Cheese(for Hubs)

4. Wednesday--Chicken Parm, Salad

5. Thursday--No Clue maybe Salmon

6. Friday--No Clue  maybe Beef something

7. Saturday--No Clue  maybe leftovers

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy

Food Spending....the July 2024 Edition

Onward to July's Food Spending Report.....

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for July 2024.

I have posted July's totals on the Total Grocery Savings Page located HERE and have updated the Totals there. 
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in July.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Sum.  My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods, Pet Food. We are a family of 2(and 2 dogs).
****************

ALDI  

OOP  $44.02

Sales  $15.44

Value  $59.46

Savings  25.97%

CVS

OOP  $15.17

Sales/Free CVS Script  $19.87

Value  $35.04

Savings  56.71%

DOLLAR GENERAL

OOP  $21.60

Sales/Coupons  $43.83

Value  $65.43

Savings  67.00%

KROGER

OOP  $159.33

Qs/Gift Cards  $116.12

Value $275.45

Savings  42.11%

TRADER JOE'S

OOP  $27.70

Qs/Sales  $8.22

Value  $35.92

Savings  22.88%

WALMART

OOP  $143.95

Qs/Gift Cards $91.87

Value  $235.82

Savings  38.96%

********************
My best Store Savings Total was at Dollar General with a savings of 67.00%.  My worse rate was at Trader Joe's with 22.88%.  Not a bad savings rate average overall though.

I shopped at 6 different stores in JULY.

TOTAL Spent in July......$411.77

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards....$292.85

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.....$704.62

TOTAL Savings of........41.56%

I spent $219.71 in Virginia, $152.22 in Louisiana and Hubs spent $39.84 here while I was gone in July.  I was basically providing all my meals in VA and they had to be  easy/premade/etc.

This closes out the July food/toiletries/etc. spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month....

On the surface our spending was high but that doesn't figure in all the rebating cash I got back.  Even so, we had a goodly savings percentage over regular retail anyway.

The Monthly food spending savings percentage went Down by 10.32% in July to 41.56% compared to June's 51.88% savings average.  A lower savings rate but still over 40% which is what I like to see. 8-)

Since we have an adequate income and food should be a pleasure in life(no way am I going to eat unseasoned rice and beans for my remaining days like some people-because I don't have to). I will buy quality food and pay the price at the register.  I may not like the price but I will deal with it.

With 7 months accounted for, I have spent a Total of $4,381.76 on groceries/HBA/paper goods/etc. in 2024.  Food prices have gotten to the ridiculous level, haven't they?

2024 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$4,381.76

2024 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$7,270.74

2024 Grand Total Saved...............................$2,888.98

2024 Yearly Savings Total..............................39.74%

The average per month amount spent is $625.97 in 2024 so far but that's before all the rebate monies are added in.

Remember that I withdraw all my cash rebate monies(Ibotta, Shopmium, TaDa, Checkout 51, Swag Bucks, My Points and other miscellaneous rebates-Aisle, Tremendous, etc. and have it sent to my Paypal)at the end of the year and add it back into my food budget, so at the end of the year my food spending will go down.  

The other savings apps like Fetch, Shop Kick, Kroger Cash Back that let us get free gift cards(or $ off your grocery total-Kroger), those are added back in when I cash those points in along the way.  Alexa app gives me Amazon credit onto my account but I don't buy food on Amazon(sometimes I buy dog food there)so I really don't know how to count that.

Because I don't like to let money sit in these rebate accounts and Paypal, I send $$ to my bank account throughout the year.  So far I have sent $2,182.71 from various rebating programs and through Paypal to my bank.  If you add in all that my food spending at the 7 month point in 2024 comes in at $2,199.05 or $314.15 per month.

Besides all I sent to my bank account I have another $677.78 sitting in these various rebating programs as well as in Paypal.  This is not counting Alexa, ShopKick or Fetch, which all comes out in gift cards or Amazon credit.

LOOKING AHEAD TO AUGUST 2024.....

I am back home and trying to get back into the groove again.  August may be a heavy food spending month as I restock the freezer and take advantage of the deals of Summer.

If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share your thoughts with us all.

*  How much did you spend on food/toiletries in July?

*  Do you track your yearly food spending?  It's really not that hard or time consuming; just keep your receipts and either track it in a notebook or on a spreadsheet.

*  What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons versus buying at regular retail price last month, if you track that sort of thing?

*  What are your methods for keeping your food spending in check?

*  Is anyone out there up for tracking expenditures and trying to spend less but still eat well?

Sluggy

Have a Great Weekend!

Thanks for all the well wishes and the glad you're back comments.

I am still wiped out and struggling in some physical areas here.  That goes to say I am not up to posting much.

So I'll leave you with a Youtube of a show I mostly enjoy.  Yes, it's a Fox Network show but it's a semi-comedy show and gives me a giggle at times.

If you are a dyed in the wool Leftist you might not want to watch this but really, our whole political system seems to be a shit show no matter what side you are on.

Have a great weekend if I don't get back on here before Monday.

Sluggy

This Week On The Dining Table...Aug. 12th

I'm home and life is one big struggle right now.  This post will be short.

                                

Saw this "Welcome Home" banner(it's a military town)along with a skeleton in fatigues and a ginormous other skeleton standing over the other one in front of someone's house.

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

 1. Sunday--No Plan

2. Monday--"   "

3. Tuesday--"   "

4. Wednesday--"    "

5. Thursday--"    "

6. Friday--"    "

7. Saturday--"    "

And here's what actually happened....

 1. Sunday--probably a bagged salad

2. Monday--probably a bagged salad or hummus and pita chips

3. Tuesday--Turkey, Squash, Green Beans, Sweet Potato

4. Wednesday--Catfish, sides I don't remember

5. Thursday--Catfish, Cole Slaw, an Onion Ring the size of my head lol

6. Friday--Steak, Green Beans, Corn on Cob

7. Saturday--Spaghetti and Meatballs in Mushroom Sauce

Eating in VA was strange as sister in-law had a gastric bypass some time ago and hardly eats anything and doesn't cook except for herself(mostly soup), brother doesn't cook either beyond heating up chicken strips to put on a salad so mostly I was left to my own devices for meals.  So I ate an inordinate amount of salads, hummus and pita chips or prepared chicken salad with crackers for most of 3+ weeks.

What got taken out of the freezer last week....

nothing by me but Hubs was eating down the freezer and pantry at home.

What got put into the freezer last week....

* 3 lb. Ground Beef

                    

Last week we spent $57.76 on grocery shopping.

Total shopping comes to $57.76 for August.   There are 19 shopping days left in August.  

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $79.18 on Ibotta in August

I've earned $6.00 on Shopmium in August.

I've earned $0 on Alexa app in August.

I've earned $6.00 on Kroger Cash Back in August(which still hasn't come through).

I've earned $0 on TaDa in August.

I've earned $8.07 on Checkout51 in August.

I've earned $13.55 on Aisle, etc. in August. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 21,481 points on Fetch from food shopping in August.

I've earned 13,688 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in August.($13.68)

I've earned 0 Points on My Points in August.($)

I've earned 3,581 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in August.($35.81)

That is $106.80 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/KCB/Alexa/Swag Bucks/The Insiders)on $57.76 of grocery spending so in reality it's -$49.04 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending.

My savings percentage for the last week was 75.76% and the monthly savings total for August comes in at 75.76% spent.

Leftovers going into this week...lots of spaghetti, green beans.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Salmon, Teriyaki Green Beans

2. Monday--Cheeseburgers, Corn on Cob

3. Tuesday--Fried Zucchini, Chicken

4. Wednesday--Catfish, Broccoli Slaw, Yellow Squash

5. Thursday--Leftovers

6. Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

Trying to get back into a routine here and lacking inspiration. 8-)

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy   

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