Frugal Friday.....the August 29th Edition

  Not much frugal going on here.

*  Shoprite had lobster on sale for $9.99(again!)this past week to we treated ourselves and had lobster on one night.  yum!

*  We also cherry picked loss leaders at Shoprite and Walmart.

*  Something I get for my brother at Christmas had a rebate and they had the items at Dollar Tree so I got 5 bags for $1.25 each and earned .50 back for each one.  Kaching!

*  I did not buy a carrying case for my nonexistent otamatone.  Money saved! hehe

*  I found money!  Well no. lol

Found Money The Past Week....00¢

Grand Total Found in 2025....$5.62 

That's all I got.

What frugal things did you do this past week?

Sluggy

43 Years Ago Today......

 

We got hitched.

Still weathering the storms of life together.

No big plans today.  I start another round of PT and OT tomorrow for the neurological issues.  *sigh*

Sluggy                                                                                                                  

Meal Plan Monday......the August 25th Edition

WTF???

Amazon sent me a suggestion on what  I want to buy from them.  WTF is this thing??? lol

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

1. Sunday--Chicken Marsala, Yellow Zucchini 

2. Monday--me-Salad

3. Tuesday--Chicken Fajitas w/Peppers

4. Wednesday--Whole Roast Chicken, Carrots

5. Thursday--Haddock, Cabbage

6. Friday--Leftover Roast Chicken

7. Saturday--Pork Stir-fry

And here's what happened......

1. Sunday--Chicken Marsala, Yellow Zucchini 

2. Monday--Lobster

3. Tuesday--Chicken Fajitas w/Peppers(I had a bowl so no tortilla)

4. Wednesday--Whole Roast Chicken, Carrots

5. Thursday--Beef and Broccoli

6. Friday--Salmon, Green Beans

7. Saturday--Lobster

We shopped at Walmart and Shoprite

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

*  Chicken

*  More Chicken

*  Even More Chicken

*  Steak

*  Salmon

The last week we spent a whopping $169.15 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 41.94%. Spending for the month is $478.23 and the savings rate is 44.50% for August before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in August--

$134.87 on Ibotta

$27.90 on Checkout51

$5.96 on Aisle and Misc.

$168.73 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $309.50

for August. It's crazy how much more food cost here than in LA.  We cherry pick at ShopRite but it's not as good as it was when we lived in NJ back in the 80's obviously. At least the sales tax is lower here.  I still miss Kroger but NOT Louisiana. 8-((

10,502 Pts. 

4,555 Pts. on Swag Bucks

0 Pts. on My Points

350 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...squash, green beans, roast chicken, fajita filling, leftover chicken breast(that didn't go into fajita), carrots beef and broccoli.

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

1. Sunday--Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries

2. Monday--Chicken Stir-Fry

3. Tuesday--Leftover Roast Chicken, Cabbage

4. Wednesday--Meat Loaf, leftover  Veg

5. Thursday--Tenderloin Pork, Veg TBD

6. Friday--Lobster

7. Saturday--Eat out with family who still like us

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   

Frugal Friday on Saturday.....the August 22nd Edition

  Not much frugal going on here.

*  Shoprite had lobster on sale for $9.99 this past week to we treated ourselves and had lobster on two different nights.  yum!

*  We also cherry picked loss leaders at Shoprite and Walmart.

*  Something I get for my brother at Christmas had a rebate and they had the items at Dollar Tree so I got 5 bags for $1.25 each and earned .50 back for each one.  Kaching!

*  Hubs needed gas so he went to Sunoco since we have their card so he got .10¢ off the price per gallon.

*  I found money!  

Found .36¢ total at 2 different Walmarts

Found Money The Past Week....36¢

Grand Total Found in 2025....$5.62 

That's all I got.

What frugal things did you do this past week?

Sluggy

Videos I Like to Watch

 When I worked in Maine doing theatre, one of the actors was also a lobsterman.  He invited us to go lobstering once and we had a lobster bake afterwards.

I've been watching this lobsterman a lot lately.  He's entertaining.

Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday....the August 18th Edition

  

Today would have been my mother's 91st birthday.  That's her on the right side in the photo.  She and my aunt, my father's sister were born the same year and month but 9 days apart.  My aunt is still with us and celebrated her birthday 9 days ago.  I can't think of any family members who have lived as long.  My mother died at 65 so I have outlived her and my father died at 70.  My maternal grandfather's sister made it to 96 and her husband died at 101 so we've got some good genes somewhere. lol

Anyway, Happy Birthday to you mom.  I wish I could give you a hug.

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

1. Sunday--Chicken Parm, Green Beans

2. Monday--me-Salad

3. Tuesday--

4. Wednesday--

5. Thursday--

6. Friday--

7. Saturday--

I don't plan right now.

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Chicken Parm, Green Beans

2. Monday--me-Salad

3. Tuesday--Steak, leftover Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Ginger Stir-Fry w/Chicken

5. Thursday--Leftover Chicken Parm, Caesar Salad

6. Friday--me-Salad

7. Saturday--Chinese Takeout(General Tso)

We shopped at Walmart, Shoprite, OSJL and Aldi.

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

*  Frozen Chinese stir-fry

*  Chicken

*  Steak

The last week we spent a whopping $230.32 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 50.70%. Spending for the month is $309.08 and the savings rate is 45.82% for August before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in August--

$93.67 on Ibotta

$22.90 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$116.57 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $192.51

for August. I need to find someplace other than Walmart to buy groceries here.  It's crazy how much more food cost here than in LA. At least the sales tax is lower.  I miss Kroger. 8-((

4,978 Pts. on Fetch

2,901 Pts. on Swag Bucks

0 Pts. on My Points

0 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...nothing.

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

1. Sunday--Chicken Marsala, Yellow Zucchini 

2. Monday--me-Salad

3. Tuesday--Chicken Fajitas w/Peppers

4. Wednesday--Whole Roast Chicken, Carrots

5. Thursday--Haddock, Cabbage

6. Friday--Leftover Roast Chicken

7. Saturday--Pork Stir-fry

I don't plan right now as I am on a very restricted eating plan.  Some days I have a protein shake or bar for dinner and Hubs has whatever he wants.  I eat a good amount of sugar-free Jello and take in a lot of water to keep my stomach full midday.  Breakfast is usually strawberries and yogurt, Greek yogurt if I can find it.

I am trying to drop the last 15 lbs. to qualify for a Jiffy Knee replacement.

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   

Still Looking for Barbie!

 Barbie you need to contact me to claim your prize.  You have until Noon on Tuesday EST to get inj touch with me.  Otherwise, I'll have to draw another winner.

Sluggy

Giveaway Winner!

I drew the winner of the Giveaway and that person is......

 BARBIE!!

BarbieAugust 1, 2025 at 6:47 AM

Glad to see you are feeling good enough to be posting!! I have been trying to take a few bags of items(from my stockpile and also grocery/drugstore deals) to a local blessing box in my town every Sunday.

Congratulations Barbie!  Please email me your full name and mailing address and I'll get this box mailed out to you.

Thanks to everyone for playing along.  Come back soon for another Giveaway.

Sluggy

Frugal Friday...the August 15th Edition

 Not much frugal going on here.

*  We went to Aldi and I found these Lo Mein meals marked down to $2.00 each..........

I should have filled the freezer at that price!

*  We hit up Ocean State Job Lot after my orthopedic appt.  

Some of this was from their "Eat for free" table.  I got the cost of those items back in a gift card and I used a gift card to pay for the items that weren't on the "Eat for free" table. 8-)

*  I found money!   2 Pennies at Dollar General.

                        

 At the beer Store Hubs told the owner/cashier I collect Change I find so he dumped the change jar into Hubs hand.

Let folks know and they hand over the change. lol

That's 36¢.

I found .27¢ at the self-checkouts at Walmart.

Then I found 2 quarters at Aldi.

Found Money The Past Week.... $1.25

Grand Total Found in 2025....$5.26 

That's all I got.

What frugal things did you do this past week?

Sluggy

 I found this interesting(because I love salmon).  8-))

Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday....the Aug. 11th Edition

Look Kim!  A doughnut puzzle.........lol

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

1. Sunday--Nothing was planned

2. Monday--

3. Tuesday-

5. Thursday--

6. Friday--

7. Saturday

4. Wednesday--

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Salad w/Balsamic Dressing

2. Monday--Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zuke

3. Tuesday--Fried Zucchini 

4. Wednesday--leftover Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zuke

5. Thursday--Don't Remember

6. Friday--leftover Fried Zucchini

7. Saturday--Salmon, Roasted Broccoli

We shopped at Walmart and Shoprite this past week so everything was bought there.

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

* Salmon

* Chicken Thighs

The last week we spent $78.76 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 31.34%. Spending for the month is $78.76 and the savings rate is 31.34% for August before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in August--

$53.92 on Ibotta

$11.90 on Checkout51

$0 on Aisle and Misc.

$65.82 total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $12.94

for August. I need to find someplace other than Walmart to buy groceries here. We picked up loss leaders at Shoprite but it's crazy how much more food cost here than in LA.  I miss Kroger. 8-((

1,150 Pts. on Fetch

1,600 Pts. on Swag Bucks

0 Pts. on My Points

0 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...Lemon Pepper Chicken w/Zuke.

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

1. Sunday--Chicken Parm, Green Beans

2. Monday--me-Salad

3. Tuesday--

4. Wednesday--

5. Thursday--

6. Friday--

7. Saturday--

I don't plan right now as I am on a very restricted eating plan.  Some days I have a protein shake or bar for dinner and Hubs has whatever he wants.  I eat a good amount of sugar-free Jello and take in a lot of water to keep my stomach full midday.  Breakfast is usually strawberries and yogurt, Greek yogurt if I can find it.

I am trying to drop the last 15 lbs. to qualify for a Jiffy Knee replacement.

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......May Edition

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for May 2025.

I have posted May'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 May.  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).
***************

SHOPRITE

OOP  $48.86

Qs/Gift Cards  $42.64

Value $91.50

Savings  46.60%

WALMART

OOP  $308.35

Qs/Gift Cards $

Value  $

Savings  %

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