This Week on the Dining Table

The "It's Sluggy's Birthday" Edition.....

 

 

Tomorrow actually.
But I give Hubs all week to celebrate me.  ;-)

 

 

On to the Meal Planning.

Here is what was planned last week--

Sunday--Pork Chops(have), Red Apple Kraut(have, Stuffing(have)
Monday--Meatloaf(have), Garlic Mashed Taters(have), Collard Greens(have)
Tuesday--Leftover Pork, Enchiladas, Beef Stew(diner's choice)
Wednesday--local Italian food meal out *
Thursday--Clam/Corn Chowder(have), Cod(have), Roasted Cauliflower(have)
Friday--Leftovers Night
Saturday--?  More Leftovers if we have them

 And here is what actually happened--

 

Sunday--Pork Chops(have), Red Apple Kraut(have, Stuffing(have)
Monday--Meatloaf(have), Garlic Mashed Taters(have), Collard Greens(have)
Tuesday--Leftover Pork, Enchiladas, Beef Stew(diner's choice)
Wednesday--Leftovers again
Thursday--local Italian food meal out-Free Birthday meal
Friday--Leftovers Night
Saturday--Cod(have), Roasted Potatoes & Onions(have), Apple Kraut(have)

Some meals moved around and the chowder got bumped to next week, when I went out into the stockpile and found I had NO cans of clams left....I thought I had 4 left. sigh.  But luckily, they are on sale here this week. 8-)
We spent a lot of nights eating up the leftovers.
  

As for the food spending last week....
There was 1 trip to the grocery store and I spent a grand total of $25.57 on $53.70 worth of groceries at 1 store.  I'll take a 50% savings rate anyday! lol 
I am trying to achieve another $300 or less grocery month for January and I have $102.32 left in the food budget for this month.  Things look promising.....

Leftovers going into this week--Collards(2 helpings), Kraut(4 helpings), Meatloaf(3 helpings).  I have a head of cauliflower and 2 sweet potatoes that need using.

Here is this week's meal plan---

Sunday--Meatloaf(leftover), Collards and/or Kraut(leftover)
Monday--Roasted Turkey(have), Stuffing(have), Roasted Sweet Potatoes(have), Cranberry glop(have)
Tuesday--Clam/Corn Chowder, Roasted Cauliflower(have), Potato crusted Fish(have)
Wednesday--Meal out-free birthday meal for me, Hubs meal comes out of Entertaining Budget
Thursday--Leftover turkey slices, assorted Leftover veggies(or frozen veggies if not enough)
Friday--Quiche(in freezer), Asparagus
Saturday--Turkey Casserole(leftover turkey), Green Beans(have in freezer)

That makes 2 new meals, 4 leftover or planned over meals and 1 meal out.

What I need to purchase for this menu?.......Asparagus, Clams.  I have the cornbread stuffing cubes and soups to make the Turkey Casserole dish and quiche in the freezer, as well as many bags of frozen veggies.

Other items on sale that I want to pick up this week?......tomato paste(almost out), cantaloupe, yogurt, white grape juice(for #2 Son), canned chili, milk, green leaf lettuce(for my sandwiches) and BOGO Kielbasa.
Since I have no room in the 2 tiny "over the fridge" freezers for extra buys this week, I think I can come in at around $40 on my food spending.  If I can keep it this low, I might be able to squeak out a $250 spending on food for the month of January!
Now THAT would be amazing to me..... 8-))

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

Sluggy

Why I Bought The Groceries I Did Last Week

I know this post will seem very tedious to some so feel free to move on along to a more thrilling blog.
I want to talk about my meal planning and grocery spending today if you don't mind.

I spent $98.58 on groceries last week. 
When I grocery shop I always go with a list.  The list will include----

1--items needed this week to prepare the meals I have planned.
2--any loss leaders or specials I want from the store's flyer to use this week or to put back for later.
3--special requests from family member for certain items.

What I also pick up during my trips, besides what I am planning on....

1--Unadvertised deals and specials that we like/will eat and I can put back for later use.
2--Instant markdown goods-either products that are going out of "sell by date" soon or items they just have too many of on the shelves, so the store reduces them.
3--Whim items.  You know.....those things you didn't know you wanted until you saw them. lol  I very rarely do this, but it happens.

Most of my groceries are a mix of  what we need this week, loss leaders/specials, unadvertised deals, instant markdowns and family requests.
I will often buy loss leaders/specials this week and then incorporate them into my meal plan for the following week(if I don't use them the week I bought them and change up my menu plan instead).

I try to have things we use frequently in stock at the house.  I buy those at rock bottom prices in the sales cycle so some weeks I buy 2 loaves of bread when we don't need it, because it's on BOGO sale that week and since the bread keeps, it helps me not to buy it the week I actually need it for full price.

Here is the long boring list of the specifics I bought last week....

Local Grocer
2 loaves Bread(bogo-$4.29)
2 pkg. pot pie noodles(bogo-$2.23)
2 bottles dressing(bogo-$2.39)
2.09 lb. ground beef(2.49 lb)
1 pt. grape tomatoes($2)
1 head iceberg lettuce($1.29)
1 1/2 gal. milk($1.96)
4 1lb. bags shredded cheese(bogo-$5.69)

Weis Markets
1/2 gal. wh. grape juice($2.19)-Hubs request
1 case H20($2.50)-son's request
2 pkg. 1 lb. deli meat($6)
2 pkg. 1lb. ground chicken($6)
1 pkg. breaded chicken cutlets($3)
1 pkg. turkey breast lunchmeat($2.99)
1 pkg. 1.5 lbs. hot Italian sausage($2.71)
3.03 lbs. ground beef($2.99 lb)
1 lb. Jack Cheese block($4.99)`
2 pkg. tortillas($3)
6 onion rolls(50%off bakery $1.69)
4 bakery buns($1.49 50%off)
1 lb. fruitcake($2.99)
2 pkg. collard greens(50%off $2.69)
1 head cauliflower($2.50)
1 pkg. portabella mushrooms($5.99)
1 head red cabbage($2.22)
1 pkg. spinach/arugula salad mix(50%off $1.74)
1 premade salad w/chicken(50%off $1.99)

Rite-Aid
2 Finish dishwasher tabs
1 12 rolls pkg. toilet tissue
2 pkg. choc. covered cherries
2 pkg. gum tins w/gum(presents for next year)
$1.02 spent OOP

What was used last week for meals/snacks......

About 1.5 lbs. of the 5+lbs. of ground beef
1/2 pkg. of grape tomatoes
1/4 of head of iceberg lettuce
1/2 1 pkg. of shred mozzarella cheese*
1/2 1 pkg. of shred cheddar cheese*
1 bottle white grape juice
1 pkg. turkey breast lunchmeat
1/2 lb. Jack cheese block*
1 pkg. tortillas(5 of the 8 in pkg.)*
3 of 6 onion rolls
4 bakery buns
1/2 of the fruitcake
1 pkg. portabella mushrooms*
3/4 pkg. spinach/arugula salad mix
1 premade salad w/chicken

*Though these items were used, we have leftover of those entrees to eat this week.  Some of these "leftovers" were planned so purposefully made to use next week.


And here is what I bought at good/sale price last week, but to use this coming week......

3 lbs. of ground beef and ground chicken(1/2 of each)
1/2 pkg. grape tomatoes
1/2 head iceberg lettuce
1 qt. of the milk
1 pkg. deli meat
2 pkg. collard greens
1 head cauliflower
1 head red cabbage

And here is what was bought to use in the coming weeks(plus I will base the following week's meal plan on these items and leftovers from this week's meal plan, and what is on special THIS week that I can get for a reduced price).....

2 loaves Bread
2 pkg. pot pie noodles
2 bottles dressing
the rest of the ground beef(it's been made into a meatloaf + 3 burger patties and frozen)
1 pkg. ground chicken(chicken was mixed with ground beef to make meatloaf/patties)
1 qt. milk
3 pkg. shredded cheese
1 pkg. 1lb. deli meat
1 pkg. breaded chicken cutlets
1.5 lbs. hot Italian sausage
1/2 block Jack cheese
1 pkg. tortillas
3 onion rolls
2 Finish dishwasher tabs
1 12 rolls pkg. toilet tissue
2 pkg. choc. covered cherries
2 pkg. gum tins w/gum(presents for next year)

So you see, though I spent $98+ last week, which might seem high for just 1 week's worth of food, I am always planning/buying for 3 time frames; this week, the next week and a future week.
If I were to only buy items to consume the week I am buying them in, we wouldn't have as many choices for meals(if I was strictly only shopping the loss leaders/sale items), or I'd have to be buying foods that were not on sale/rock bottom price, so I'd be spending a lot more to pay for these same items.

Shopping the sales, combined with what you have on hand(from previous week's deal shopping)plus being flexible with your menu can save you money at the store.

As for how couponing works into winning this grocery store game you play each week.....

You will notice that I used very few coupons these trips.
5 coupons(and 3 of those were at Rite-Aid)....tortillas, juice, TP, 2 x dishwasher tabs
I did avail myself of 9 Instant Savings and/or 50% Markdown Discount coupons stuck to products at Weis Markets however.....2 x bakery items, 4 x fresh produce, 1 x deli meat, 1 x sausage, 1 x fruitcake.

Since I have stopped buying many processed foods over the last few years, I find I use very few coupons as a result.  Practically the only items I use coupons on anymore are toiletries/HBA/paper goods/cleaning products.  Though I will use a coupon on food if it is something I need and there is a coupon out for it.  I don't buy foods just because a coupon makes it free or almost free.

Buying in bulk at restaurant supply stores, buying at discount or grocery surplus stores or buying markdown/instant savings sticker items and/or buying at rock bottom price at the grocery stores, as well as eating locally and seasonally(when that means paying less for items)are the ways I save in the food category anymore without having to give up flavor and variety and buy cheaper "not as nutritious" foods.

Sure I could spend less and buy a cheaper mix of foods(or a healthier mix for that matter too)but we don't need to scrimp more than we do on food and we want to enjoy eating so I tweek and make the versions a bit better in the health category and everybody is happy.....the Hubs and son and my wallet.  ;-)

So what is your food shopping strategy?

Sluggy






 

Food Spending OCTOBER Week 4+, Meal Planning NOVEMBER Week 1

Another wartime food waste poster.  From everything I've heard about Army food during the 1940's, the word "style" doesn't pop up too often. if. ever.  But yes, leftovers can taste AWESOME!

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

If you read last week, you know I planned out being able to stick to my Meal Plan even if we lost power for a few days as a result of Sandy.  Luckily for us, we didn't lose power for very long.  This mostly meant that we didn't have to eat 3 cartons of ice cream in a very short time.lol

And here is what actually got served last week....

 

Sunday--Pot Roast, Carrots, Potatoes, Mushrooms, Onions

Monday--Sloppy Joe on Onion Rolls, Corn

Tuesday--Chinese take-out

Wednesday--Salmon, Kraft Mac&Cheese, Green Beans

Thursday--Beef Stew(used leftover Pot Roast), Bread

Friday-- more Stew or leftover Sloppy Joe or Chinese take-out

Saturday--Cheese Burgers(used up leftover onion rolls), leftover Green Beans

 

The food spending last week was $106.24 for $188.44 reg. retail worth of goods.  I also earned a $5 Cat Q last week.  Most of the spending was buying ahead so I could qualify for the Thanksgiving gift certificate at the local Shursave market.  Only about $15 of what was spent was for immediate needs.

***********************
Going into this week, I have leftover Sloppy Joe(1 serving), so nothing really to incorporate into my new meals.  If I don't eat this for lunch this week, I could mix it into the spaghetti sauce on Friday.  Viola-no waste!

This week's menu....

 

Sunday--Steak on grill, Salad, Roasted Potatoes & Onions

Monday--Rueben Sandwiches

Tuesday--Grilled Pork Chops, Halushki(a cabbage & noodle dish), cinnamon apples

Wednesday--Honey Mustard Chicken, Rice, Broccoli

Thursday--Kielbasi on Rolls, Onions and leftover Sauerkraut, Corn

Friday-- Ravioli with Sauce, Spinach Salad

Saturday--Leftovers

Last week I hit upon a deal on sliced corned beef at Weis.  They had 8oz packs of Freidriech pastrami, roast beef and corned beef, regularly $5.99 pack on sale for $3.99.  Some packs had $2 instant discount Qs on them as they were nearing sell by dates, which made those $3.98 lb. for high end deli meats.  I scarfed up some roast beef to tuck into the freezer and enough corned beef to make Ruebens for dinner.  I already had Swiss cheese, 1000 Island Dressing and Sauerkraut, so I bought a loaf of Jewish rye bread on Sat.  Had I planned on this for a meal?  No, but as soon as I saw that deal the end of last week, I changed things up.   We'll be knoshing in style tonight for dinner! ;-)

 

What do I need to buy to serve this menu?  I bought the bag of salad on Saturday as it was on sale last week....ditto the deli meat for Ruebens.  Left to buy is a head of cabbage, kielbasi rolls, fresh spinach.

Also needed milk, and maybe fruit, though we still have many apples left from last week.

I will be buying a frozen turkey this week, as well as some good buys this week, along with getting items ahead that I'll need for Thanksgiving dinner.  This is the last week for purchases to qualify for the gift certificate at the local Shursave market so besides the $15 I need to spend for this week's meals, I'll be shelling out around $80 more dollars of food items.  Luckily the end of this week the Shursave market is having their semi-annual Meat Sale, so I can stock up on some meats....the ones they don't jack the price up on right before the sale and then lower them. lol  Spending this targeted amount means I get $20 in free food vouchers to spend the following 2 weeks.

 

So what are you cooking at your house this week?


Sluggy

OCTOBER 2012 Budget Results....Food & Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2012.

I have posted October's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2012 and updated the Yearly Totals.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in October.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Summary.

My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 16.
******************

BREAD OUTLET
OOP   $6.89

Value   $22.44

Savings  69.30%

BIG LOTS
OOP   $67.12

Value   $127.54

Savings   47.37%

DOLLAR STORE
OOP   $7.00

Value  $16.00

Savings  56.25% 

DRUG STORE In MD

OOP   $7.47

Qs/Ads $7.92

Value   $15.66

Savings   50.57%

FOOD LION

OOP   $24.94

Qs/Ads  $12.00

Value   $36.94

Savings   32.49%

KMART

OOP   $1.50

Qs/Ads   $.39

Value   $1.89

Savings   20.63%

PRICE CHOPPER

OOP   $32.66

Qs/Ads  $19.95

Value   $52.61

Savings   37.92%

RITE-AID

OOP  $0.00

Qs/Ads/+Ups/Gift Card  $322.35

Value  $322.35

Savings   100.00%

SAV-A-LOT

OOP   $22.56

Qs/Ads   $9.88

Value   $32.44

Savings   30.46%

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $157.47

Qs/Ads  $82.11

Value  $239.58

Savings  34.27%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $134.08

Qs/Ads  $115.39

Value  $249.47

Savings  46.25%

I don't track Rite-Aid's +Ups here, nor CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons".   I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly.  Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.

REBATE CHECKS RECEIVED IN October

P&G Prepaid Visa Card Rebate.....$5.00

Rite-Aid Single Check Rebate.......$8.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$13.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Nothing....well not really, but I have a separate post about that, so until then it's a secret. ;-)

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were the Rite-Aid at 100%,  the Bread Outlet at 69.30%, and The Dollar Store at 56.25%.  l shopped at 11 different stores this past month, 4 of them only because we were on vacation far from home.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$472.36

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$658.23

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,130.59

TOTAL Savings of...................................58.22%

TOTAL Out of Pocket after Rebates received this Month......$459.36
TOTAL Savings after Rebates of..........................59.37%

This closes out the October spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into October with $400 budgeted for food/toiletries for the month.  I blew through the $400 mark again this month, by $59.36, even after rebates received were applied to the food budget.

My grocery savings hovered at below 60% for October after rebates.  If you take the Rite-Aid purchases out of the equation, my savings percentage falls to below 44%.

I continued to shop the loss leaders and sales and stocked up when things were at rock bottom price in the sales cycles.  I also continued to not use many coupons at all at the food shops.  I only counted 26 coupons and 4 store coupons on my receipts.

Of course, the small pile of coupons used at the grocery stores does NOT include the vast amounts I utilize at Rite-Aid.  Yes, Rite-Aid is all about the coupons for me! lol

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER......

I will be keeping my food budget at $400 for November.  I am set for most of what I need for the Turkey Day meal this month so I don't need extra cash in the food budget for that.

I do plan on stocking up on some non-perishables/shelf stable items this month so I can earn a turkey gift certificate, as well as a $10 certificate for buying baking products at the Shursave independent grocer.  Between that, the little I need for the Thanksgiving meal and some weekly fresh purchases(milk, fruit, produce)and some things for Daughter's work meals I should be able to stay below $400 this month.

The wild card is we don't know how many are coming for Thanksgiving dinner and what price turkey will be here when the time comes for me to buy the poultry.  If more come, we'll just all have to eat less. ;-)

How did you do in October with your Food Budget?
Did you stick to your budget?
Did you find any good rock bottom prices to stock up on groceries?

Please leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear about your progress!  By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.

Sluggy