Frugal Friday...The Last Two Weeks

 

Here are the frugal wins for this past week....

*  We have been hemorrhaging money lately.  Can't be helped.  I really don't want to go through this again.  Parts of it were a nightmare!

*  We got take-out only once at the new place.

*   The journey up here wasn't very frugal(more on that later)but we got to PA in one piece.

*  We finished up the Goodwill donations in LA. Go us!

*  Everything it turns out wouldn't fit on the moving truck(ugh)so some items got left behind and I wasn't there to  decide what got left.(double ugh)  Not frugal.

*  We've been paying deposits for services in PA which hasn't been very frugal but it is what it is and can't be avoided.

*  Entertainment the week before last was watching some tv shows and packing boxes. lol  It's hard to spend money if you are sitting home packing up your stuff. ;-)  Last week the "fun" was setting up the house.  And shopping for necessities and food.

*  We needed some room darkening curtains(the house came with blinds)for the bedroom so we hit Ollie's("Good Stuff Cheap!")and found what we needed at a cheaper price.

*   I got my mojo back and I found money!

I found .37 total at assorted stops along the way to PA.

I found .27¢ at the Aldi on the Sunday before last.

         

Then I found .01¢ at the Doctor's office on the Tuesday before last.

I found two pennies at Dollar General last Saturday.

I found a nickel at Walmart on the 21st.

Then I found another penny in a different Walmart parking lot.

Found Money The Past Two Weeks..... .73¢

Grand Total Found in 2025....$3.90

That's all I got.

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

Sluggy       

This Week on the Dining Table....the May 19th Edition

"Home Sweet Home"

Saw this pillow and it's true.lol

Onward to the meal planning!  Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--?

2. Monday--?

3. Tuesday--?

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday--?

6. Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Take & Bake Pizza from Aldi

2. Monday--Pork Tenderloin, Mixed Veggies

3. Tuesday--Cheeseburgers, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, Brussels Sprouts

5. Thursday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday-- BBQ Chicken Thighs, Roasted Broccoli

7. Saturday--out for BBQ, Cole Slaw

Not a very inspired menu but it got the job done.  We shopped at Aldi that week so everything was bought there.

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

*  Pork Tenderloin

*  Ground Beef

*  Salmon

*  Chicken Thighs

The last 2 weeks  we spent $339.19 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 20.65%. Spending for the month is $339.19 and the savings rate is 20.65% for May before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in May--

$63.85 on Ibotta

$6.00 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$69.85 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $269.34 for May. I need to find someplace other than Walmart to buy groceries here.

2,188 Pts. on Fetch

3,077 Pts. on SwagBucks lol

353 Pts. on My Points

1,770 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

(I don't count these until I cash out for a gift card or cash.)

Before AND after rebates we had a very low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...Meatloaf, Brussels Sprouts.

Here is what was planned for this week.....

1. Sunday--Don't remember

2. Monday--Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Chinese Takeout

4. Wednesday--Pasta w/Meat Sauce, Caesar Salad

5. Thursday--Pork Loin, Brussels Sprouts

6. Friday--Flounder, Veggie TBD

7. Saturday--Cheese Burger, Sweet Potato Fries

We have a much smaller fridge/freezer now so have to be more strategic with food purchases here.  It's goiong to take some getting use to.

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.

Sluggy  

Food Spending.....the April Edition

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for April 2025.

I have posted April's totals on the Total Grocery Savings Page located  and have updated the Totals there. 
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in April.  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).
***************

KROGER

OOP  $48.86

Qs/Gift Cards  $42.64

Value $91.50

Savings  46.60%

WALMART

OOP  $45.74

Qs/Gift Cards $42.71

Value  $88.46

Savings  48.29%

********************
My best Store Savings Total was at Walmart  with a savings of 48.29% with a similar amount of the grocery dollars were spent at Kroger with a savings rate of 46.60%. Not a bad savings rate average overall though and we spent less than $100 for the month.

I shopped at 2 different stores in APRIL.  

TOTAL Spent in April....$95.60

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards....$84.33

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.....$179.93

TOTAL Savings of........46.87%

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

pril

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month....A

The Monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by 2.79% in April  to 46.87% compared to March's 49.66% savings average.  Still over 40% savings so I am good with that.

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 4 months accounted for, I have spent a Total of $1,156.03 on groceries/HBA/paper goods/etc. in 2025.

2025 Yearly Total Value of Items  $2,110.98

2025 Total Saved   $954.95

2025 Yearly Total Spent  $1,156.03

2025 Yearly Savings Total of  45.24%

The average per month amount spent is $289.01 in 2025 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, Sampoll  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.  I don't add in all the cashed out savings until the end of the year,

The other savings apps like Fetch, Shop Kick, Kroger Cash Back that let us get free gift cards(or $ off your grocery total-Kroger Cash Back), those are added back in when I cash those points in along the way.  Alexa app gave 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 and it's defunct now so I won't worry about that bit.

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 $652.30 from various rebating programs and through Paypal to my bank.  If you add in all that my food spending at the 4 month point in 2025 comes in at $503.73 or $125.94 per month.

Besides all I sent to my bank account I have more $ 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 MAY 2025....

As we are moving to a new area it will take me some time to get back into my frugal, money saving groove.  There are multiple grocery store and I need to find the best(lowest priced)one for our needs.

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 April?

*  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

  

I Made It!

 I am alive and finally up in PA, sequestered in the new digs.

My knee is giving me fits as it was abused the past week+ so I  am restricted in what I can do and acting more in a supervisory capacity.

I hope everyone is doing well and I'll be back online when I get set up here.

Sluggy

New Giveaway Winner

 Well the current Giveaway Winner has not come forward in time so I drew a new winner.

The Winner is............

Belinda!

BelindaApril 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM

I’m back to enter again. 😂 Yesterday I filled up the Little Free Pantry at the church near our home with food that was given to us, but we can’t use. So, I’m glad someone else will be able to use it. 💕

Please send me your address Belinda so I can get this mailed out to you.4

Sluggy

Oh Where Oh Where Are You, Ann Georgia??

Still Waiting for the latest Giveaway Winner, Ann Georgia, to contact me.

If I don't hear from you by Tuesday I'm going to have to haul this box to PA in the moving truck, which means it could be awhile until it surfaces for mailing.

So come on and get in touch with me Ann Georgia!

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table.....April 28th Edition

 "Liver for Anne"

This is the photo I emailed to Anne of me enjoying our liver dinner.  She hates lived you know. heheheyuu

Onward to the meal planning!

Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--Chicken Parmesan, Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Tempura Cod, Harvard Beets

3. Tuesday--Liver, Onions, Taters, Veggie TBD

4. Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, Spinach Souffle

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers(roll optional), Salad

6. Friday--Shrimp, Green Beans

7. Saturday--Meatloaf, Stir-Fry Veggies

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Chicken Parmesan, Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Tempura Cod, Harvard Beets

3. Tuesday--Cheeseburgers(roll optional), Salad

4. Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, Spinach Souffle

5. Thursday--Liver, Onions, Bacon, Taters, Veggie TBD

6. Friday--Shrimp, Green Beans

7. Saturday--Chicken Parmesan, Spinach Souffle

Every meal but Saturday happened because I had no stir-fry Veggies in the freezer.  So we had what I found in there--a chicken parm(again!) and a spinach souffle.

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

*  2 Chicken Parmesan

*  6 pces. of Cod

*  Liver

*  Bacon

*  Chicken Breasts

*  2 Spinach Souffles

*  4 Burgers

*  Cheese

*  Shrimp

*  Green Beans

*  Ground Beef

Last week we spent $6.79 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 37.65%. Spending for the month is $95.60 and the savings rate is 46.87% for April before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in April-

$90.06 on Ibotta

$1.00 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$91.06 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $4.54 for April. I used some gift cards to pay so that is why my total is low. ;-)

10,160 Pts. on Fetch

2 Pts. on SwagBucks lol

176 Pts. on My Points

2,188 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

(I don't count these until I cash out for a gift card or cash.)

Before AND after rebates we had a very low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...Chicken Marsala.

Here is what was planned for this week.....

1. Sunday--Pizza

2. Monday--Leftover Chicken Marsala

3. Tuesday--?

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday--?

6. Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

We used up what was in the freezer the best we could.  We are now in "take out" mode as this move goes forward.

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.

Next week I may not be in a position to post a meal plan Monday or anything on the internet as we may not be hooked up yet in PA. ;-)

Sluggy  

And the Winner Is...........

Sorry I am late getting this posted but it's been hectic around here.

I used a random number generator and the winner is...........

 Ann Georgia!

ann georgia -April 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM

What a fascinating assortment; and mmm, chocolate. I've just been communicating with granddaughter # 3 about what she may need as she heads off to college this fall. I hope PA will be as wonderful as you remember it.

Congratulation Ann Georgia!

Please email me at slugmama@yahoo.com with your full name and mailing address asap so I can get your box out to you.

If you don't respond by midday Tuesday there will be a delay mailing this as my printer will be disconnected and packed up and I won't have access to it again until we get set up in PA so hurry please. ;-)

Thanks too everyone who entered and I am hoping I can continue to hold these little giveaways once we get settled back in PA.

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the April 25th Edition

 

Here are the frugal wins for this past week....

*  I love finding marked down foods at Kroger(this really doesn't happen at Walmart).  There was a deal on strawberries, 2 lbs. for $2.99 so I bought 1 package.  Other than that, a bag of salad mix and a tomato were the only purchases.

*  We are getting to the bottom of the freezer but will have some frozen items left.  The guy who maintains our road is going to take whatever is left and the neighbors across the street are taking any canned/bottle/boxes food we are leaving, including our emergency bottled water supply,

*  We used up some more pantry items this past week. 

*  We are working on documenting another Goodwill donation which will go out either this weekend or early next week.

*  We've been paying deposits for services in PA which hasn't been very frugal but it is what it is,

*  Entertainment last week was watching some tv shows and packing boxes. lol  It's to spend money if you are sitting home packing up your stuff. ;-)

*  I found money!

I found .02¢ at Walmart on Sunday.

I found a nickel walking out of the Kroger on Sunday as well.

         

Hubs had to go to Walmart on Thursday and found .37¢ in the coin return of the self-checkout change return at the machine he used.

         

Found Money This Week..... 44.¢

Grand Total Found in 2025....$3.17

That's all I got.

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

Sluggy       

March To-Do List

*  Pay Bills-DONE  Always done first.

*  Work on the Plan to Move-DONE  The plan is moving along.  We have 9 days or so to finish packing.  Eek!

*  Work on Hemming Pants-FAIL  As of now no pants have been hemmed.

*  Work on Emptying Freezer-PASS  We have been emptying the freezer for the past month.  We don't get everything used/eaten before we leave.  The dogs have been eaten high on the hog and we have a neighbor who will happily take what we can't use by the time we get the pots/pans/dishes all packed up.  He's got two empty freezers we can donated our frozen food too. 8-)

*  Buy Stuff to Fix House(Always)-PASS  We had the handyman out here for 2 days last week fixing some small issues.  And in "if something can go wrong style, it will" last night we noticed the gasket on the door of the fridge has started to separate so we order a new one and will get it installed before the end of this week.
Also, my car has been in the shop for 2 weeks now(a long story concerning a fuse box which is fixed now).  Went to pick it up and noticed the a/c is out.  ugh  Just got that fixed and now some moron hit Hubs car and damaged the headlight, which now needs replacing,  It's a "smart" headlight so will cost $1K for a plastic cover over the light.  I think we are just hemorrhaging cash and we still need to pay the movers.  ugh ugh

*  Start Packing-PASS  The packing commenced in March.  Eating the elephant one day at a time here.

*  Take Food to Food Bank-DONE

A modest donation in March.  More food than toiletries.

*  Start New Food Bank Donation-PASS  a new donation was started for April.

*  Edit More Photos-DONE  Lots of photos, lots of editing

*  Post About Old Trips-FAIL  Nope, had lots of other stuff to do

*  Work on Genealogy-PASS  I am always doing genealogy.

*  Take Fabric Listings Down-FAIL  I didn't take them down yet.

*  Ramp up Goodwill Donations-PASS

We've been taking car loads to Goodwill once a week for 3 weeks in March.  We've taken another 3 loads in April and have one more load to take the end of this week.

Not a bad March List and quite a bit of it accomplished. 8-)))

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table....the April 21st Edition

 "Walmart Rollback?  Really??"

Onward to the meal planning!

Here is what was planned for the last week.....

1. Sunday--Frozen Meals, Salad

2. Monday--Pork Loin w/Stir-Fry Veggies

3. Tuesday--Pork Tenderloin, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Tempura Cod, leftover Shrimp, Roasted Broccoli

5. Thursday--Beef Roast, Carrots, Mushrooms

6. Friday--Meatballs and Sausage Sauce w/Pasta, Salad

7. Saturday--Chicken Dish TBD, leftover Veggies

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Frozen Meals, Salad

2. Monday--Pork Loin, Roasted Broccoli

3. Tuesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

4. Wednesday--Beef Roast, Carrots, Green Beans

5. Thursday--Chicken w/Stir-Fry Veggies

6. Friday--Shrimp, Teriyaki Green Beans

7. Saturday--Steak, Scallops, Deviled Eggs, Grilled Pineapple

Everything planned didn't happen(again!).  The cod didn't happen and other meals got moved around.  We had our Easter dinner on Saturday since the weather here on Sunday called for storms all day and 2 items on the menu needed grilling.  I also forgot to do the Brussels Sprouts but we had plenty of food without them. ;-)

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

*  2 Frozen Meals

*  1 Large Pork Loin

*  1 Beef Roast

*  2 Chicken Breasts

*  1 Large bag of Shrimp

*  2 Steaks

*  1 bag of Scallops

Last week we spent $24.15 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 49.84%. Spending for the month is $88.81 and the savings rate is 47.46% for April before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in April-

$72.01 on Ibotta

$0 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$72.01 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $16.80 I used some gift cards to pay so that is why my total is low. ;-)

7,860 Pts. on Fetch

2 Pts. on SwagBucks lol

176 Pts. on My Points

1698 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

(I don't count these until I cash out for a gift card or cash.)

Before AND after rebates we had a very low spend month for groceries at least for us.

Leftovers going into next week...Zuke from Lemon Pepper Chicken, Beef Stew, Saute Mushrooms, Deviled Eggs.

**Anne, don't look at Tuesday's meal plan.**

Here is what was planned for this week.....

1. Sunday--Chicken Parmesan, Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Tempura Cod, Harvard Beets

3. Tuesday--Liver, Onions, Taters, Veggie TBD

4. Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, Spinach Souffle

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers(roll optional), Salad

6. Friday--Shrimp, Green Beans

7. Saturday--Meatloaf, Stir-Fry Veggies

Just trying to eat down what is here when I'm not getting great deals.  Trying to use up what is in my freezer.

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.

Sluggy