This Week on the Dining Table.....Feb. 23 to Mar. 1

The "Back to Meal Planning" Edition........I've been bad and not meal planning.

I'm still kicking myself for not buying this stout I saw at Trader Joe's after Xmas of 2023.

It's a play on the winning entry of a contest to name a ship if you never heard of it.....

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36064659

At least I took a photo. 8-)

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Didn't make a plan

2. Monday---Didn't make a plan

3. Tuesday--Didn't make a plan

4. Wednesday--Didn't make a plan

5. Thursday--Didn't make a plan

6. Friday--Didn't make a plan

7. Saturday--Didn't make a plan

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Don't Remember

2. Monday---Breaded Shrimp(Baked), Squash

3. Tuesday--BLTs

4. Wednesday--Steakhouse Wedge Salad(Hubs had Brats)

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers(bun optional), leftover Squash, leftover Cabbage

6. Friday--Catfish, Green Beans, Cole Slaw

7. Saturday--Portabello Mushroom Parmesan, Caesar Salad

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

*  Shrimp

*  Bacon

Last 2 weeks we spent $187.89 on groceries and the savings rate came in at 43.08%. Spending for the month is $287.17 and the savings rate is 41.57% for February before rebate monies are added in.

Rebates earned in February-

$82.22 on Ibotta

$0.00 on Checkout51

$20.73 on Aisle and Misc.

$102.95 Total in $$

Total spent after rebates is $184.22.

8,868 Pts. on Fetch

3 Pts. on SwagBucks

783 Pts. on My Points

30 Pts. on ShopKick

0 Pts. on TaDa

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

Leftovers going into next week...Pot Roast Stew, 1 Brat, partial container of Tuna Salad.

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

1. Sunday--Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries

2. Monday---Chicken w/Stir-Fry Veggies

3. Tuesday--Meatloaf, Green Beans

4. Wednesday--Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry

5. Thursday--Leftovers

6. Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--Leftovers 

Just trying to eat down what is here when I'm not getting great deals.  I chose my meals by cherry picking the deals and building meals around those items, combined with 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  

This Week on the Dining Table....Nov. 10th to Nov. 17th

*Sorry this post is a day late but Monday was our semi-annual "medical safari" to Mississippi(which involved a 7+ hour car ride).  That's where the closest to us Dermatologist who actually practices Medical Dermatology is located.  But unless I go out of remission with my HS, it will be the last as they now have approval to do telehealth appointments. Yay!!!

The "This Is Weird" Edition.........

Remember when I posted a photo from my local Walmart of an employee's photo saying that they "back a product"(it was corn dogs I think).
Well I found another sign.  Evidently Nick backs these little plastic bowls(for sauce or dipping I think).
My guess is they hang one of these signs on products that are not moving(selling).  If you associate something with a person it sells better?  I don't know but I have never seen this sort of marketing strategy before at Walmart.  Now I can hunt for these photos when I go there.  Just another way to keep grocery shopping exciting. lolz

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Tuna Subs

2. Monday--Chicken Strips, Squash and Onions

3. Tuesday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

4. Wednesday--(Look Away Anne!)Liver and Onions, Mashed Potatoes, Beets

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

7. Saturday--Beef w/Stir-fry Veggies

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Tuna Subs(homemade)

2. Monday--Chicken Strips, Squash and Onions

3. Tuesday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

4. Wednesday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday--Take-Out Pizza (I was not up for cooking), Leftover Squash

7. Saturday--Leftover Pizza, Salad

The liver didn't happen. (Keep breathing Anne.)  Maybe this week.

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

*  Chicken Strips

*  Salmon

*  Ground Beef

*  Meatballs

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

* 2 lbs. of Meatballs

*  1 lb. of Beer Brats

* 4 Chicken Biscuits

                    

Last week we spent $135.54 grocery shopping.  $66.26 of that was actually October 31st sending that got left off of last month's tally.  So it ends up in this current month.

Total shopping comes to $135.54 for November.  There are 19 shopping days left in November(counting from yesterday, when this should have posted).

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

I've earned $98.14 on Ibotta in November.

I've earned $15.57 on TaDa in November.

I've earned $22.84 on Checkout51 in November.

I've earned $50.88 on Aisle, etc. in November. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.  At this point I am giving up on this one.  That product went to the food bank long ago.)

I've earned 1,487 points on Fetch from food shopping in November.

I've earned 11,654 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in November.($46.61)

I've earned 19,349.07 points on My Points in November.(not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 1 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in November.($)

That is $171.86 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/Swag Bucks/TaDa/The Insiders were I earn gift cards)on $135.54 of grocery spending so in reality it's negative $36.32 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) so it's a win/win--the food bank gets a large donation of goods and I get a lower grocery bill.

My savings percentage for the last week was 35.24% and the monthly savings total for November comes in at 35.24% spent.

Leftovers going into this week.....au gratin taters, catfish, 2 hamburgers and sweet potato fries.

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

1. Sunday--Leftover burgers, sweet potato fries.

2. Monday--Dinner somewhere on the road

3. Tuesday--Salmon, Spinach Souffle

4. Wednesday--Chicken Parm, Salad

5. Thursday--Liver, Taters, Beets

6. Friday--Sautèd Scallops, Veggie TBD

7. Saturday--Spiral cut Ham, Veggies TBD

Liver moves to this week(sorry Anne)and I am using that damned ham in the freezer this week.

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

To-Do Lists for 2021.....The January Edition

 Here's how my January To-Do came out......

*  Pay Bills  DONE  Everything was paid(plus 1 bill was paid ahead annually for the year)and we had a shade over $300 leftover.  Go me.

*  Read 1 Book  DONE   I read this one..........

"The Seasons of My Mother: A Memoir of Love, Family and Flowers" by Marcia Gay Harden

I've always enjoyed Ms. Harden's theatrical work so her name on the cover drew me in.  It's a heartfelt account of Harden's life growing up, her later years and career and her close connection with her mother especially.  It's told in the present looking at her past and her mother through the lens of Alzheimer's as her mother developed that condition and how it affected Marcia's life.  It was a very interesting read(as Marcia led an extraordinay life, especially as a child)and very sad at the same time.
Marcia's mother was a master of Ikebana and she used that love of traditional Japanese flower arranging to entwine the chapters of her and her mom's stories.

I highly recommend this one and it's going on my book shelf instead into the donate pile. 8-)

*  Take Down Xmas Stuff  DONE   The tree and decor was taken down after the 10th of the month.  There wasn't much to actually do as we used the small tree that was sparsely ornamented and not much decor was put up.

*  Organize and Put Away Xmas  DONE  Well except for the Xmas table runner on the buffet(done now)and the Xmas tablecloth on the dining room table(still on it)everything Xmas is put away.  I just need to move everything off the dining room table(it has become a dumping ground for new R-A purchases and a staging area as I go through and organize stuff)to get that tablecloth folded and put in the buffet drawer.  It will happen soon but I am calling this item done....99.9%. ;-)

*  Organize Pantry  FAIL  I started going through the Pantry but got distracted and never finished that item.  sigh.  This goes forward onto February's list.

*  Clean out Fridge  DONE  I really need to put this on every month's list!  I cleaned/cleared out both fridges(we have one in the garage as well for overflow)in January.  It seems to be a constant cleaning/organizing chore.  I am trying to clear some "old dogs" out of the garage fridge too in my quest to use up stuff and have been relatively successful at moving/eating older things.

*  Hold Giveaway  DONE

*  Mail Giveaway  DONE  Promptly mailed and received.

*  4 Dr. Appointments  DONE  One was a Telemedicine appointment with the Sleep Doc.  Since I got a new BiPAP machine insurance required this appointment(in order for them to pay for it)even though I've been  using a machine for 7+ years now and I sort of know how to use it. lol
But hey, I'll pay the office visit charge for this appointment over paying OOP for a new machine. 

Then I had a routine check-up with my Primary Doc.  Changes some meds and we're all good there.

Also had an exam with the Ophthalmologist(eyes are the same, no changes)and new reading glasses.

Then I finally got my "annual" mammogram which was almost a year later than planned.  I usually go in Jan./Feb. but I decided to wait until Spring(better weather and less hassle)in 2020 and then Covid hit and the hospital here shut down doing mammography until Summer.  Then I had an HS procedure on my breast and couldn't get a boob smashing until that healed up.  After 1 aborted attempt in early October it got rescheduled a couple of times and I went on an antibiotic long term to get the incision finally healed.  End of January we had a successful mammo and Sluggy shows no signs of boob cancer.  Rah!

*  Roll/Spend ECBs  DONE  Last week....or so I thought.  Turns out I still have $4 in ECBs to use.  *Sluggy raises her fist to the sky and exclaims, "Curses on you CVS!!!"  More on that later as well.

*  Roll/Spend Bonus Cash  DONE  I successfully rolled/spent down lots of BC at Rite-Aid(See all the R-A posts for January).  This needs to continue into February as I hope to divest myself of BC altogether on 2 cards.

*  Celebrate my Birthday  DONE  Due to Covid nobody came to help Hubs and I celebrate my "early SS" birthday.  We did do some Birthday celebration eating(free burger out at Red Robin, Chinese take-out on my Birthday),Hubs gave me 2 gift cards and I received some Bday cards.  But other than that it was a lowkey celebration.  The big thing was Hubs made me a birthday cake from scratch(his first from scratch cake ever!).  It was yummy except he forgot to add raisins(carrot cake)but that's ok!  I just sprinkled raising on top as I don't do frosting on my carrot cake recipe as it's so rich and yummy and doesn't need frosting to perk it up. ;-)

*  Stay Warm  DONE  Well we had a good amount of snow and cold in January.  If I had a crystal ball I'd know that February was the month I'd need to put this item on my list! lolz
I've been more conscious about lowering the heat and or closing doors so we aren't heating spaces we aren't using so the electric bill wasn't too bad in January.  I've pretty much switched from iced tea to hot tea as my beverage of choice for now and I'm layering my clothes more to keep the chill off.  Too bad January was just the dress rehearsal for Staying Warm in February!

*  Eat Down the Freezer  DONE  Well we DID eat down lots of foodstuffs in the freezers but, because of some good deals I found we pretty much filled it back up in January so we ended the month a little below what we started with. lol  It's all good though as we used older things that needed using. ;-)

All in all, it was a successful for me month.  Not much going on and not much that was ambitious but I'm good with that.

How did your January turn out?

Sluggy