Buying Groceries on Vacation....Am I Weird?

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I am a simple woman who enjoys simple things in life.
When on vacation I have been known to buy groceries.
Yes, if I see a store I don't have around here(even some we do have here)I like to go browse and see if I can find some deals.
You just never know what you'll find because life is an adventure.  ;-)

So on the way down to Virginia last week we stopped at an Ollie's in Delaware that was along the way.
There is no sales tax in Delaware so right there is a savings!

I found peanut butter and honey flavored oatmeal packets for $1.49 per box.  Something different to try.
I also found a big squeeze bottle of blue cheese dressing for $1.69.
Cornbread stuffing is hard to find around here in Pennsyltucky(and that is at Thanksgiving-the rest of the year, fat chance!)so I picked this Stove Top brand bag of cornbread stuffing up for .79¢.

The Panko bread crumbs I found at the Grand Opening of a Dollar Tree in North Carolina for, you guessed it?, $1 per canister(plus tax).

I also found all this on clearance.........

The ranch dressing was 50% off so .64¢ per bottle.
The M&M's were 50% off(Valentine's colors)so $1.14 per bag.
The crackers were 75% off(and not stale either!)so .24¢ per box.
The MegaRed was 75% off(!!!)so $2.50 per bottle.

Altogether everything pictured in the 2 photos cost me $22.87(including the sales tax on the Panko).

Add to that that I found a dime on the floor in Ollie's and a nickel on the floor at Dollar Tree so I am OOP $22.72 overall.  ;-)

Not to be totally a nerd I did buy a couple of souvenir t-shirts on vacation too.

Do you like looking in grocery stores to see what sort of different things they have that your stores at home don't have?

Sluggy

A Few Deals I Did Other Than Rite-Aid This Week

Not a lot of big grocery shopping trips this week.
Here are two items/deals I did well on.........

Lindy's Italian Ice(aka Water Ice) were BOGO at Weis(PMITA)Markets this past ad week.
While I had no coupons to use I did send for a .50¢ Checkout51 cash rebate which made both of these $2.99 total.
(They're empty because I take the cups out of the box before stowing in the freezer.)

I did this Mix & Match 6 Items Deal at Weis as well.....

4 x Chi-Chis Salsa on sale $1.99=$7.96
1 x Borden cheese slices on sale=$2.49
1 x TopCare bandaids on sale=$2.29
SubTotal......$12.74

Coupons Used
4 x .55¢/1 Chi-Chi's items IPQ(doubled to $1)=$4.00
1 x .50¢/1 Borden item ManuQ(doubled to $1)=$1.00
1 x $3 off wyb 6 select items=$3.00
Coupon Total.....$8.00

$12.74-$8.00=$4.74 OOP for all 6 items.

I also bought a 4 pack of store made burgers(Swiss and Mushroom)marked down and it had a $3 off Instant Sticker on it AND I had a Weis mailed .50¢ off Ground Beef of at least 1 lb. in weight.  My 1.64 lb. burgers cost me after all discounts $2.74 lb.
I also snagged a 1.31 lb. packaged of ground veal, marked down and with a $3 off Instant Sticker so it cost me $2.39 lb.
I picked up 2 small London Broil to marinated, grill and slice.  These were BOGO.
A gallon of milk, an 8 pack of hot dog buns and a bag of 50% Romaine hearts salad rounded out this shop.

$30.48 OOP with a savings over reg. retail of 52%.

Deals lately on items we use have been "meh" but I keep plodding along and do the best I can.
Any great deals at your stores lately?


Sluggy

A Little Bit of Shopping Last Week

My time in Southern Virginia is coming to a close.  I found some time last week to do a bit of shopping when I wasn't in Cat Hell.

While at the grocery store picking up some provisions I found these.....

These mixers were on clearance for $1.19 and make a gallon each so $3.78 w/tax for all.

Then I found these at Big Lots.........

Bags of Hickory and Mesquite wood chips for my smoker.  I was nearly out after last Summer so now at $2.50 a bag+.45 tax=$795 total(cheaper than the last lot I bought 2 years ago)we are all set for Summertime smoking.  8-)

And you know I had to go to Rite-Aid too, didn't you?

1 x Colgate toothpaste=$2.99
1 x Nivea lip balm 20% Wellness discount=$2.55
SubTotal....$5.54

I used--
1 x $2/1 Colgate ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Nivea product R-A FlyerQ=$2.00
Q Total....$4.00

$5.54-$4.00=$1.54+.18¢ tax=$1.72 paid with Plenti Points.
I earned $1 back in new PPs for buying the Colgate so I "spent down" my Plenti points by .72¢.

Go me....

I still have a $5 OYNO Catalina from Rite-Aid from before I came down here to expires soon so I'll probably go to R-A and buy some beer with it...because down here in the Commonwealth of VA the liquor laws are bit more lax so drugstores can sell beer/wine, not like home in the Draconian Commonwealth of PA.

What have you found a deal on lately at the stores?

Sluggy

December Grocery Budget Update & Grocery Deals This Week

After receiving another $7.50 in my SavingStar account, $1 in my Checkout51 account and $2 more in my Ibotta account, here is the updated December Grocery Budget.....

Gift Cards.....$64.36
Cash Rebates--
 Savingstar...$142.03
 Checkout51..$42.25
 Ibotta..........$33.50
Rolled Coins...$87.50
Other Cash(post coupons)...$42.00

Total.....$411.64

After spending $149.14 the last 2 weeks on groceries I have $262.50 left to spend on food in December, coming into this week.

Here are some of the good Deals I got this past week......

Snapple and Ortega were part of the Mix & Match 6/Get $3 off Deal.
4 x Ortega shells=$5.96($1.49 ea.)
2 x Snapple 64 oz.=$3.98
$9.94
I used 2 x $1/2 Ortega items IPQ($2 off)and 1 x $1/2 Snapple 64 oz. Weis QBookQ($1 off)...$9.94-$3=$6.94-$3 for buying 6 qualifying items for the Deal=$4.94 for all 6 items.

I also bought Marcal napkins.....

2 x $2 on sale=$4.00- 2 x .50¢/1 IPQs that doubled to $1 each($2 off)=$2.00.
I also earned .50¢ in my SavingStar account for buying 1 pack of napkins so $1.50 OOP for both packs.

Weis also had Fiora towels and toilet paper half price last Friday ($3.49 each).
I printed off 4 more .50¢/1 FB Qs that doubled to $1 off each to use.
$13.96-$4.00=$9.96
I also earned $2 in Ibotta cash rebates($1 for buying 1 paper towel pack and $1 for buying 1 toilet paper pack) so $7.96 OOP for all 4 packs or $1.99 per pack.
A great price for paper goods.

All the above was bought in the same shopping trip on Friday and I earned a 61% savings rate over regular retail before the $2.50 in cash rebates also earned from buying these products.
The savings rate goes up to 67.30% once you figure in the rebates too.  8-)))

The only notable Deal this week so far has been this one.......

4 x Finlandia butter at Weis(PMITA)Markets bought over the course of 2 weeks(3 packs this week, 1 pack last week).

These are regularly $3 per 7 oz. package but are on sale for $2.50.
There are $1/1 Finlandia products Qs on coupons dotcom making each package $1.50.
4 x $2.50=$10.00-$4 Qs=$6.00 OOP

By buying 4, I spent $10 before Qs, thus fulfilling a Spend $10/Get $3 Cash Rebate in my SavingStar account.

$6-$3 rebate=$3 OOP

There is a $1 cash rebate on Checkout51 too for the butter.  I bought one of these the week before(on sale and using a $1 off coupon)so I could apply for the rebate last week and also again this week.  
$3-$2 rebates=$1.00 OOP

In the end, I "spent" $1 on 4 packs of butter totaling 28 ounces.
Not bad, huh?

I never would have spent $3 or even $2.50 and probably not even $1.50 on a 7 oz. pack of butter.
But throw in the $5 in rebates and I am all over this deal. lolz

I'll be back tomorrow with what I got at Rite-Aid this week.

Sluggy

Frugal Shopping Lately.....Kohl's & Rite-Aid

I had a $10 in Birthday Rewards from Kohl's that was expiring Jan. 31st plus a 20% off Q, so Hubs and I went up to Kohl's on Saturday to look around.
Here's what we got.........

1 x Bob Marley T for College Boy
2 x Vans shorts for College Boy
1 x Men's Dress Shirt for Hubs

After clearance pricing and additional 20% off all 4 came to $16.59.
After using my $10 reward I paid $6.59 for all!

$50 Vans shorts for $1.44 each?  Yes!!
Hubs shirt came out to $1.40 and the t-shirt was $2.31.
I used a tiny portion of a $25 Kohl's gift card I got at Rite-Aid last year(which gave me free Plenti points).

Savings of $161.41.
Yah, like I'd ever pay full retail for this stuff........*snort*

Speaking of Rite-Aid.....and when am I NOT speaking of Rite-Aid....lolz.....

This week starts the Rite-Aid February "Big Point Event"(BPE).  You get Plenti Points at various points along the way to spending $200.  The first threshold is spend $100, Get $20 in Plenti Points.

Here is what I bought so far that count toward the BPE.

4 x Suave Gold 'Poo and Conditioners on sale 2/$6=$12.00
2 x Suave Green bottle 'Poo on sale=$6.00
2 x Tresemme 'Poo/Conditioners on sale=$8.00
2 x GE light bulbs on sale=$7.98
1 x Chloraseptic drops on sale(20% wellness disc. better)=$4.23
2 x CeraVe cream(20% wellness disc.=$6.63)=$13.26
1 x Axe Deo on sale=$4.49
*I also used a rain check for Bic mechanical pencils..$1.00
SubTotal............$56.96

Coupons Used
2 x Suave Gold BOGOFree ManuQ(up to $2.88 ea.)=$5.76
1 x $3/2 Suave Gold ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2/2 Suave green bottles ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $3/2 Tresemme ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $1.50/1 Chloraseptic item R-A FBQ=$1.50
1 x $1/1 Chloraseptic item IPQ=$1.00
1 x $4/1 CeraVe item ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $3/1 CeraVe item ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Axe Deo ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $2 OYNO CatalinaQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Bic writing items ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$28.26

$56.96-$28.26=$28.70+$1.12 tax=$29.82

I used $29.82 in Plenti Points and earned $26.00 in new Plenti Points(2 x $4 Dove/Tresemme, 2 x $3 GE light bulbs, $4 Chloraseptic, $8 CeraVe) so I am "down" $3.82 in Points and have $55.96 tracking toward $100 in spending for the first $20 in BPE Plenti points reward.

I also activated Saving Star account rebates for $4.00(.50¢ Axe Deo, $1.50/2 Suave green bottles, $2/2 Suave gold)so my transaction is now a .18¢ moneymaker.  8-)

I went back this morning and got another Chloraspetic drops and 2 Colgate toothpastes.
After sale prices, coupons and tax that order came to $8.21 and I received $8 in Plenti Points back(1 x $4 Chloraspetic, 2 x $2 Colgate).
I now have $66.17 tracking toward the $100 spending.

Then I used my son's card to buy all this.........

All the same deals(though I bought different products for the Unilever/Dove/Tresemme Deal)plus I also bought 2 x Colgate toothbrushes and stacked 2 x $2/1 in-ad Qs with the $1/2 Colgate toothbrush ManuQ from Sunday's paper.
Plenti points used with $1.75 tax......$39.64
Plenti points earned......$26.00

I also will get $6 in rebates from SavingStar($3/2 Dove hair care, $3/2 Noxzema cleaner)so earned the equivalent of $32, spent $39.64 so all this "cost" me $7.64.
I now have $57.89 tracking toward the $100 spending on this card to get the $20 BPE Reward.
I figure as long as I don't "spend" over $12.36 to get $42.11 more toward tracking products all this will be free.  8-)

And here is a little video about what I bought at Weis(PMITA)Markets today as well.
Lots of deals on soup, mac and cheese, chili, gum and condiments using sale prices/deals this week at Weis plus using coupons.
64% savings rate and 10 more gas points?
I'll take it.  ;-)




 What have you gotten for a good price lately?

Sluggy

Wednesday & Thursday Shopping

I had received a Plenti card for Eldest Son's account at Rite-Aid back in the Spring when they went to the new system there, but hadn't activated it yet or linked it to the Wellness account.
That all changed on Wednesday when I took that card up to Rite-Aid to buy this stuff here..........

2 x Starbucks drinks on sale=$3.00
2 x Jergens natural glow lotion 20% wellness discount($2.23 ea.)=$4.46
2 x Chapstick lip balms BOGO50%=$2.98
SubTotal....$10.44

Coupons Used
2 x $1/1 Starbucks drinks IPQ=$2.00
2 x $2/1 Jergens natural glow In-Ad Q(this Q can be used on the trial size 2 oz. bottles )=$4.00
Coupon Total......$6.00

$10.44-$6=$4.44 +.21¢tax=$4.65

I obviously don't have any Plenti points attached to this card so I used my freebie Rite-Aid gift card to pay, so Zero OOP.
I earned 800($8) in Plenti points(100 wyb2 Starbucks, 300 wyb2 Chapstick, 400 wyb2 Natural Glow).

I may go back today and do this transaction again today on this card(limit of 2 per card), spend 400($4) of my 800 pts., pay the .65¢ on the R-A gift card and earn 800 more pts., and that gives me a balance of 1200($12)in pts. on this card.

On Thursday I did this same transaction again using my Plenti card since I was at Rite-Aid anyway picking up an rx.

Just insert the photo above here since it's the same stuff. ;-)

I spent $4 of my $16 in pts., put .65¢ on the R-A gift card and earned 800 more pts.  My card now has 2000 pts.($20)on it.

I could do this transaction 1 more time on my card too, spending down the gift card by .65¢ more and earning another 800 pts., giving me a point balance of 2400($24).

But back to Wednesday........

Next it was up to Weis again for my regular Wednesday grocery shopping trip where everything I bought was on sale...........

All this came to $32.29.
The Kraft Deal--2 Kool-aid, 1 bbq sauce, 1 sour cream, 2 cheese singles and 1 Swiss cheese block was $2.50 for all after the deal.

The Pickles/Mustard Deal--5 jars of pickles and 1 bottle of mustard was $8 for all after that deal.

The bananas were .94¢ and I'll get an .18¢ rebate from Saving Star.

There are 2 bags of salad that were BOGO, a 2lb. bag of fresh mixed veggies 50% for $2.99, 2 bags of Collard Greens 50% for $2.98 total, a clamshell of spinach and arugula for 50% off($2), 3 day-old bakery items all 50% each($1.99, $1.99, $1.69), a marinated chicken breast $1.45 after instant $1 off sticker and a cooked whole lobster for $3.39 after instant $2 off sticker.

$77.42 worth of reg. retail groceries for $32.29....plus another .18¢ back(Saving Star)makes it $32.11 OOP.
Savings rate of 58%.

Then since I was out and I can't seem to pass up a "deal", I went back to Weis(PMITA)Markets on Thursday........

All I did was the Kraft items deal(on the left)and the Pickles/Condiments deal(on the right).
I spent $8.18(.18¢ was tax)on all of this.
Savings rate of 77%.
Why yes, I'll take that! lolz

If you want to see the video and how this all broke down just go HERE for the film.

And that's all I got for now.
Is there another run to Weis today for more cheap shit?
Maybe.....
Stay tuned to find out. ;-)


Sluggy



 

I'm Skeptical

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon this blog......HERE.

This Mavis Butterfield person seems like a kindred spirit....even if she seems to be an Uber gardener.
She use to coupon heavily and went into that extreme couponing mode when it was hot a few years back just like me, and her food spending was under $100 a month for 2 years.   We both stopped doing the heavy couponing for free stuff thing as we saw that most of the things you got for free using coupons were NOT good for you.  Mavis' food spending shot up a little bit but still stayed under $185 a month overall in 2013 and 2014.

Now she has challenged herself in 2015 to only spend $100 a month on food for her family of 4.
Oh, and she is only grocery shopping at Costco for the year.
Yeah.

Ok, so before everyone gets all depressed and disheartened that they can't feed a family of 4 for a year on $1,200, let's talk about this.
I applaud her for doing this but really, she isn't only spending $100 a month for food.
She is going into this challenge with a whole kitchen/pantry full of things bought before the challenge started.
Condiments, spices, staples like sugar, flour, etc.
Plus she seems to have a lot of preserved food starting off too(she's mentioned a ton of frozen blueberries about 5 times in what I've read so far...lol).
Plus she is using gift cards gifted to her and getting free Zaycon credit for meats when people sign up through her referral link.
And she is doing bartering with neighbors to get a bit of variety into her rotation so no money changing hands.

She is not even 4 months into the year and almost up to $500 in spending but feels her monthly totals will be going down once she can start harvesting from her garden so yah, that should give her lower totals OOP.
But is she adding in all the costs associated with growing that food?  Seeds, tools, added water use for her home, the costs to preserve the foods she grows......they all add up, don't they?

As for Costco.......we don't have one here and I've only been in one once(this past January).  It seems to me similar to those other warehouse places like Sam's Club and BJ's.
Isn't the running joke you can't get out of a warehouse store without spending at Least $100 a trip? lolz

I don't know.
The large packages of stuff is fine for things you eat often but what about dishes you only need a small amount of something for?
She batch cooks and freezes dishes too which is fine if you have ample freezer space.

Back in 2010 I grew just shy of 94 lbs. of food that year.  It will be interesting to see if she meets her goal of growing TWO THOUSAND POUNDS of food this year. 

I'm going to continue to follow along with this scheme and see how it pans out.
Hey, I am game for anything that brings down my food bill without making us eat a less healthy and/or less varied diet.....aren't you?  ;-)


And now I am off into an online suckhole looking at articles/blogs on feeding your family on $100 a month......


Sluggy




 

My Low Spend Shopping Week

So I had $4 in +Up Rewards to spend/roll before Thursday at Rite-Aid and a $10 Catalina to use at Weis by today.
So I went out this morning before the next snowstorm hits here.

First to Rite-Aid......

4 x Garnier hair products on sale $3.33=$13.32
Then I used a bunch of rain checks I always forget about--
1 x cotton balls(rain check)=$0.00
2 x tuna fish(rain check)=$0.00
1 x ear buds(rain check)=$0.00
1 x Vaseline lotion(rain check)=$.99
1 x Reach toothbrushes(rain check)=$.99
1 x ice cube choccie 20% wellness discount=$.31
SubTotal......$15.61

Coupons Used
2 x $2/1 Garnier IPA(NLA-they were out by Sunday night!)=$4.00
1 x $2/1 Garnier ManuQ 'Poo=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Garnier ManuQ styler=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Garnier items Video ValuesQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Vaseline lotion CatalinaQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$11.00

$15.61-$11.00=$4.61

But my receipt after using $4 in +Up Rewards said I owed .21¢ NOT .61¢.
I didn't buy the ice cube choice at first and tried to use my $4 in +Ups but the last $2 one wouldn't go through.
So I added that and the register said I owed .21¢.
I've double checked the receipt and no extra discounts or Load2Card Qs came off so I am at a loss for the discrepancy.
Unless some extra tax attached because of the ear buds(which are taxed in PA)but then disappeared when she used the rain check.
As the King of Siam in the "King and I" would say, "Is a puzzlement!"  ;-)

Anyway I used my $4 in +Ups and paid .21¢ OOP.
$41.19 in regular retail of products brought home.
I received a $3 +Up Rewards for spending $12 on Garnier, which means I spent down the +Ups by $1.
I am good to go until next Tuesday with my +Up Rewards so I'll go back before the middle of next week, when it's a much better week for deals at Rite-Aid.


Then I went up to Weis(PMITA)Markets to spend my $10 oyno Catalina Q......

2 x bags of fresh Collards $2.99 with 50% stickers=$2.98
1 x Fresh Express bagged salad with 50% sticker=$1.99
1 x Perdue bagged chicken strips 40% off=$5.99
1 x PowerAde drink on sale=$1.00
SubTotal......$11.96 + .06¢tax=$12.02

Coupons Used
1 x .75¢/1 Fresh Express salad WeisQ=$.75
1 x $1/1 Pderdue frozen chicken ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $10 oyno CatalinaQ=$10.00
Coupon Total.....$11.75

$12.02-$11.75=.27¢ OOP

Notice the Savings percentage......99%!!!

OOP  .21¢
Regular retail  $21.45(not counting tax)

And I am done shopping for the week.  8-)))

I then went to McDonald's and got a free small hamburger(won freebie coupons at the Church auction last Fall)to take home to dress up for lunch and came home.

Total OOP today--.48¢
Total of products brought home--$62.64(plus $3 in new +Ups)

Now I am off to dig into some more genealogy.

Sluggy

This Week on The Dining Table

The "Back Home Now & It's Cold as Heck Here!" Edition.......

 

 

This is a Caprese Salad I made a couple of weeks before we went to Ocean City, when we still had fresh tomatoes from our garden.
I can honestly say now.....I am not a fan.  Don't know what all the fuss over it is about.
Do you like this dish?

Here are the meals that were planned last week--sort of--
 

Sunday--pizza out
Monday--steak, fries out
Tuesday--1/2 fish sandwich, 1/2 sweet potato fries, cup of crab soup out
Wednesday--other half of Tuesday's dinner ate in the room
Thursday--turkey sandwich at home
Friday--bratwurst on roll, strawberries at home
Saturday--whatever I can find at the house if Judy doesn't come over, otherwise a roast chicken or eating out

Everything was eaten as planned except Friday I had leftover Broccoli Soup and Strawberries and Saturday was Roast Chicken, Carrots and Potatoes.

As for food spending last week.....there was one trip to the store on Saturday, I spent $48.41 on $65.39 worth of groceries at 1 store.
I had $36.74 left in the food budget so I went over by a bit this month.

I didn't include the little out of pocket spent this month at Rite-Aid yet for October and that will add another $7.97 spent out of the food/toiletries budget.

No food waste while we were gone.

Leftovers going into this week--1 bratwurst, leftover roast chicken with carrots and potatoes.

Here's this week's meal plan---

Sunday--Clam Chowder
Monday--Tacos(I'll probably have a chicken sandwich and a part of a bag of frozen veggies.)
Tuesday--leftovers
Wednesday--Lasagna, Salad
Thursday--leftovers
Friday--London Broil, Asparagus
Saturday--leftovers or something scrounged around the house


I'll be posting my final October food spending post in the next day or two since I won't be going grocery shopping again this month.

What got fixed and served at your house this week?

Sluggy

September 2013 Budget Results.....Food & Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2013.

I have posted September's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2013 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in September.  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(3 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 17.
******************

FARM STAND

OOP  $22.40

Value  $64.45

Savings  65.24%

FOOD LION
OOP  $22.54
Value  $30.31
Savings  25.63%
 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $90.31

Qs/Ads  $111.71

Value  $202.02

Savings  55.30%

WALMART
OOP  $79.77
Qs/Ads  $37.03
Value  $116.80
Savings  31.70%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $71.55

Qs/Ads  $47.44

Value  $118.99

Savings  39.87%

I am no longer adding my rebates received into my food budget directly. I will use them on food on occasion and will note that when used.  I will keep track of rebates/gift cards/certs received here as before however.

REBATE CHECKS RECEIVED IN September.....$0.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES....$0

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$0.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Zero

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were  at  the Farm Stand 65.24%,  at  the Shursave Market at 55.30% and at the Weis Markets  at 39.87%.  I food/toiletries shopped at 5 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$316.01

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$216.56

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$532.57

TOTAL Savings of...................................40.66%

This closes out the September food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into September with my usual $400 budgeted for food/toiletries purchases.
I stayed under budget by about $80.  It might have been by a wider margin had I not had a problem with my foot.  Having to send Hubs out for groceries was both good and bad.....good in that, I was more apt to use stuff we already had at home and bad in that, when something was needed he didn't care to shop around for the best price or buy it when it was on sale. sigh.....
We did end up taking food to the Reunion and we spend more on eating out while on the trip, but the eating out $ comes out of Entertainment not the grocery kitty.
 

I did NO Rite-Aid shopping last month again.  As we approach the holidays I will be going back to Rite-Aid a bit for their awesome Holiday specials, if they appear this season.  Though I don't need any toothpaste, soap or shampoo for at least another year, I'll take some home if it's free or drastically discounted when I am there.  8-)

 

Looking ahead to October---We have our annual Ocean City October Get-Away coming up.  #2 Son and whoever stays here with him will have to be fed so while a few days most of us won't be here to eat groceries will still need to be provided.  I also have a couple of restaurant discount/freebie coupons that expire this month so Hubs and I will be going out to eat at least twice in October besides the OC trip.  I really want to keep the OC trip food purchases low but that's a post for another day. ;-)

There are no birthdays or other activities going on in October that should make our food purchases rise above our $400 allotment.
I am going to work on using up some freezer goods this month to get ready to restock it with fresh meats.
 

And here is the run down of my Food & Toiletries Spending for 2013 so far this year--
 

2013 Total Saved $2,249.36

2013 Yearly Total Value of Items  $5,522.65

2013 Yearly Total Spent $3,273.29

2013 Yearly Savings Total of  40.73%

 

In September, total savings percentage for the year has gone DOWN .01% over August's year-to-date total of 40.74%, to 40.73%.  So we saw a VERY slight decrease in our savings rate on food/toiletries spending for the year.
We are holding steady in the 40%s.
Works for me! 8-)

 

How much did you spend on food in September?
 

Sluggy

It's Day 3 of 2013, Time for Rite-Aid!

Well you just KNOW it wouldn't be long before I broke out the Rite-Aid posts for 2013.  ;-)

Especially since I have +Up Rewards expiring here and there in the coming weeks.

First I returned and re-bought some L'Oreal shampoo & Suave Lotion from last week since my Load2Card $2/1 and $1/1 Qs didn't come off last week when I bought it.  It worked for the $2 Q....yay!  So I ended up with $2.74 on a Merchandise Return Card.
As a Bonus, the R-A catalina machine spit out a Free Item Breathe Right strips Q!
I might just return the Suave lotion since the Load2Card Q still didn't come off and put that $3.03 on a MRCard too.

Doing the drugstore deals is all about getting things you NEED and getting them when the drugstore will give you something back(either rebate or some kind of "reward" you can spend like money)for buying these products you need.
Notice how what I bought were things I need, things I had Qs for, things that I got a reward back for buying(except that 1 free item).

Here is how I used some expiring +Ups last evening....

2 x Ziploc bags on sale $2=$4.00
2 x Pantene shampoo on sale $3.50=$7.00
1 x Breathe Right strips w/Gold discount=$5.35
SubTotal....$16.35

Coupons Used
1 x $1/2 Ziploc bags ManuQ(12/2SS)=$1.00
1 x $3/2 Pantene items ManuQ(12/30PG)=$3.00
1 x FREE item CatalinaQ just received=$5.35
Coupon Total.....$9.35

$16.35-$9.35=$7.00 + .06¢tax=$7.06
I used $7 +Ups expiring 1/2/13 and put the .06¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I received back $3 in +Up Rewards($1 wyb2 Ziploc, $2 wyb2 Pantene).

And my tracking for the January Promotion is at $19(Ziploc and Pantene are qualifying items=$11).
Only $81 more to spend to get the first $20 +Up Reward.
Rite-Aid evidently turned on the tracking before Sunday, the first day of this Promotion since I went into Sunday with $4 tracking, for something I bought the end of last week that is a qualifying product.
Not that I'm complaining about that or anything...... ;-)

Now I could have bought Herbal Essence shampoo this week on sale for $2.49.  There is a $1/1 Q in the P&G insert from Sunday, so it would be $1.49 after Q.
But....there is no "reward" from Rite-Aid for buying this item, THIS WEEK.
Whereas I got TWO "rewards" for buying the Pantene and Ziploc--the +Ups back AND they qualify for the bonus $20 +Ups of the Jan. Promotion.  These products were worth buying this week.

Though Herbal Essence IS a Jan. Promotion qualifying item, I get no +Ups.   It is a good price this week for the Herbal Essence, but I don't buy it and hold my Q for a sale that gives me +Ups back too.

****************************
If you want to do the Jan. Promotions and have 2 copies of the Pantene and the Ziploc Q, you can do these deals 2 times per Wellness card and get +Ups back.

Spend $22.00 on 4 shampoo & 4 bags, use $8 in Qs, pay $14(or use +Up Rewards), and get $6 in +Up Rewards back.
You are now $22 closer to "spending" $100 and have actually spent $14 plus any tax(or less if you are using +Ups from previous weeks to pay)and have $6 in +Ups to use in the next 2 weeks to buy more items you need and that are qualifying products for the Jan. Promotion too.
The Promotion runs through Jan. 26th, so you have 3+ more weeks to get to $100 of "spending".

Go check out iheartriteaid dotcom and/or slickdeals dotnet(the drugstore forum/rite-aid post for 1/6-1/12 to see the ad for next week's sale.  You can find what will be on sale and locate where coupons you can use on the items are(which insert or where online), cut and/or print those Qs and plan out what to buy/how to spend those $6 +Ups.
****************************

This trip to Rite-Aid--
OOP....$0.00
Value of items.....$24.85
+Ups coming into this trip....$32.50
+Ups used....$7.00
+Ups earned......$3.00
+Ups at the end.....$28.50

 
**GRAND TOTALS FOR JANUARY-so far**

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$24.85
Savings Rate of  100%
Rebates due......$0.00
Savings Rate after Rebates.....100 %

+Ups at beginning of month...$32.50+
+Ups used....$7.00+
+Ups received...$3.00+
+Ups currently...$28.50+  


Sluggy

Getting Ready To Celebrate

I went back to Dollar General yesterday since I had another $2/1 Axe Gift Set Dollar General Q and a $3.75/1 Axe set ManuQ.  I also took along a couple of $2/1 Dana fragrances Qs and $2/1 Playboy fragrances Qs since the DG ad noted that they carried the small bottles of Dana brands for $2 and Playboy body sprays were on sale for $3.50 this week.

I ended up finding the last one of each of these products at this particular store!

1 x Axe Gift Set=$10.00
1 x Dana fragrance=$2.00
1 x Playboy spray=$3.50
SubTotal....$15.50

Coupons Used
1 x $2/1 DG Axe gift set Q(don't remember where..coupons dotcom?)=$2.00
1 x $3.75/1 Axe gift set ManuQ=$3.75
1 x $2/1 Dana brands IPQ(dana website)=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Playboy brands IPQ(redplum dotcom)=$2.00
Coupon Total....$9.75

$15.50-$9.75=$5.75+.34¢ tax=$6.09 for all

After Qs, the Tabu was free, the Playboy was $1.50 and the Axe set was $4.25....plus tax.

Then Daughter and I did some Holiday baking yesterday as well.
We did 3 batches of fudge.
Then we had a take-out lunch.
Then we lost the motivation to do anymore baking and napped.

But here is what we got done before lunch....

Chocolate Nut Fudge
Butterscotch Nut Fudge
Salted Butterscotch Fudge

Then I went and used our hotel points to make a donation of $40 to Rebuilding Together.  The membership company doubled the donation to $80.
Awesome!

A large box of gifties arrived today from my brother and sis-in-law.  The tree is looking quite grand and bountiful now.....

That old Christmas rug by the way has been in my family since before I was born.  It is a bit of tradition that makes the Holidays feel like home to me. ;-)

I also hung a few more ornies on the tree.....

Celebrate in Maxine style!.....

And everyone's tree needs other kinds of crabbiness as well.....

And really, if you have kids that grew up in the 1990's, it's not Christmas without cartoon characters like this one.....

And mom get's equal time on the tree for her childhood.....

Sluggy

A Close Shave

I printed off 3 $10/1 Norelco shaver IPQs at the end of November(before they changed the wording to only specific models).

There is a monthly +Ups Deal at Rite-Aid for December....Spend $30 on Norelco products, Get a $10 +Up Rewards.  There is a limit of 2 Offers per Wellness account/card.

I bought this on Tuesday...

2 x Norelco Groomer/Razor Sets reg. $20.99 w/Gold discount $16.79=$33.58

I used 2 x $10/1 Norelco Razor IPQs=$20.00

$33.58-$20.00=$13.58+.81¢tax=$14.39
I paid with $13 in +Up Rewards and put the $1.39 on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I received back $10 +Up Reward for spending $30 on Norelco products.(With $3.58 in tracking toward my next $30 spent.)

Then I used two Rainchecks I got on Black Friday weekend and bought all this last night......

1 x Norelco Shaver reg. $50.99 raincheck=$29.99
1 x Nivea Shave gel reg. $3.99 raincheck=$1.99
2 x Waggin' Tails dog treats on sale $2.99=$5.98
1 x Bayer Aspirin low dose 32 ct. w/Gold discount=$2.79
3 x 3 Musketeers candy bars B2G1Free sale=$1.98
SubTotal....$42.73

Coupons Used
1 x $10/1 Norelco Razor IPQ=$10.00
1 x $1/1 Nivea Shave gel In-Ad Q from Black Friday weekend(stapled to raincheck)=$1.00*
1 x BOGO Waggin' Tails ManuQ=$2.99 (automatically deducted $2.99)
1 x $2/1 Bayer/Aleve product under 36 ct. R-A Q HERE=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Bayer product IPQ HERE=$1.00
1 x B2G1FREE 3Musketeers IPQ (was available on coupons dotcom)=$.99
Coupon Total....$17.98

$42.73-$17.98=$24.75+.17¢tax=$24.92
I paid with $24 in +Up Rewards and put the $.92 on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I received back $10 +Up Reward for spending $30 on Norelco products.(The $29.99 spent this transaction added to the $3.58 tracking from my last transaction put me over $30 spent again, and triggered the Reward.)

* If you get a raincheck at Rite-Aid for an item that has an In-ad Q that week that makes it a good deal, be sure to cut that Q out of the sales ad and have the cashier staple it to your raincheck, so you get the sale price AND you get to use the Q you would have used IF they had had the item available the week of the sale.  Many stores will also let you staple a ManuQ or IPQ that is valid when you get the raincheck but may expire before the rainchecked item comes in again to the store.  Like on Sunday, I had a ManuQ for $1 off 2 Post cereals that was expiring that day! and the cereal was on sale 2 for $5.  If the store had been out of Post cereal, I would have gotten a raincheck for the cereal AND had them staple the then valid ManuQ to the raincheck so that when they got more cereal the following week and went to use my raincheck, they know I had the ManuQ ready to use during the dates it was valid, so they would accept it.

When in doubt, staple that Q to the raincheck!  If you find a better deal elsewhere before the Q expires, you can always remove it from the raincheck and use it somewhere else too.

$92.97 in Razors and $20.93 in other goodies, I am out $2.31 on my gift card and I am "down" $17 in +Ups or out $19.31 total.
Take out the cost of non-razor goodies and divide my total spent(with tax comes to $15.30) and each razor cost me $5.10.
$5.10 each for 3 nice Christmas gifts for the men in my life.

And I've used/rolled ALL my +Up Rewards that are expiring before Dec. 26th.


This trip to Rite-Aid--
OOP....$0.00
Value of items.....$113.90
+Ups coming into this trip....$80.00
+Ups used....$37.00
+Ups earned.....20.00
+Ups at the end.....$63.00

*And here are my MONTHLY TOTALS*
 
GRAND TOTALS FOR DECEMBER so far.......

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$638.29
Savings Rate of  100%
Single Check Rebate due....$8.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $0.00
Savings Rate.....102.28 %

+Ups at beginning of month...$47.00+
+Ups used....$215.00+
+Ups received...$231.00+
+Ups currently...$63.00+    

Sluggy

Entertaining Myself at Rite-Aid

While SonyaAnn has casinos and gambling to entertain her, I have Rite-Aid shopping.
Each works for each of us.....SonyaAnn only uses cash she would blow anyway on some other entertainment(like movies, eating out, etc.) and I don't use money shopping at Rite-Aid.  Ok....in a great while I use actual money....but it doesn't happen very often! ;-)

Used the last of that Right Guard raincheck and got 2 more packs of soap=$3.98
Got 2 more packs of socks(1 was $3.99 after Wellness disc., the other was $4.55=$8.54
2 more bottles of Robitussin($5.59 with Wellness disc.)=$11.18
1 more Blistex lip balm=$2.39
3 packs of Trident gum on sale 3/$3 this week=$3.00
SubTotal....$29.09

Coupons used....
1 x $2/2 Right Guard IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Right Guard PeelieQ=$1.00
2 x $3 Robitussin In-Ad Q=$6.00
2 x $3/1 Robitussin ManuQ=$6.00
2 x .25¢/1 Trident VV/AdPerks Q=$.50
Coupon Total.....$15.50

$29.09-$15.50=$13.59 + $.03tax=$13.62

I used $13 in +Up Rewards to pay and put the .62¢ on my gift card.

I received $11.50 back in +Up Rewards(2 x $4 socks, $2.50 Blistex, $1 WYB3 Trident).
This lot of goodies "cost" me $1.50 in +Up Rewards.

Grand Totals for October so far......

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$277.29
Savings Rate of  100%
Single Check Rebate due....$0.00
Other Rebates due......$0.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $0.00
Savings Rate  100%

+Ups at beginning of month...$25.98+
+Ups used....$85.98+
+Ups received...$76.00+
+Ups currently...$16.00+

Sluggy

More Rite-Aid This Week...Oh Goody I Hear You Say!

And here is a quickie.......stop smirking Judy.......

2 x Brach's Candy Corn Mix..Gawd! Enough with the candy corn already!!! on sale=$2.00
2 x No Nonsense Sock Packs w/Wellness 20% off($3.99)=$7.98
1 x Blistex moisture lip balm on sale but cheaper w/20% Wellness disc.=$2.39
1 x Conair 2 pack combs w/20% Wellness disc.=$3.51  that's STILL alot to pay for 2 combs!
1 x Robitussin Cough/Cold syrup w/20% Wellness disc.=$5.59  I opted for sugar-free diabetic variety
3 x Rite-Aid brand Spice w/20% Wellness disc.=$2.40 (.80¢ ea.-cheaper than dollar stores)
SubTotal....$23.87

Coupons Used
1 x $1.50/2 Brach's IPQ=$1.50  (I had to use this one as it expires next week.)
1 x $2/1 Conair item In-Ad Q from sales flyer=$2.00
1 x $3/1 Robitussin item In-Ad Q from sales flyer=$3.00
1 x $3/1 Robitussin item ManuQ(9/30 RP)=$3.00
Coupon Total....$9.50

$23.87-$9.50=$14.37
I used $14 in +Up Rewards and put the .37¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.(The balance is now under $10.)
I received back $11.50 in +Up Rewards (2 x $4 NN Socks, $2.50 Blistex, $1 wyb3 Spices)
This means all this stuff cost me $2.50 in +Up Rewards.

Now the analysis.....

* The candy corn cost .50¢ a bag after the Q.  I will be so glad when candy corn season is over!lol

*The No Nonsense socks 2-3 packs give a $4 +Up this week per pack, Limit 2(The sign may say Limit 3 but it's a lie!)  They had a single pr. of socks pack that would have been a moneymaker after +Ups BUT, it was NOT a 2-3 pack and the sign said +Ups only on 2-3 packs so I didn't chance it.  After 20% Wellness disc, the $4.99 socks were $3.99 each and I got a $4 +Ups back for each, so a 2 cents moneymaker!lol
Free socks so I won't complain, right?

*  The Blistex is a no-brainer.  It's the Moisture Melt variety, on sale for $2.50 and gives a $2.50 +Up.
If you have 20% discount level you pay $2.39 and still get a $2.50 +Up back.  11 cent moneymaker but who's counting?  My store had signage and lots on the peg and it's already Tuesday.....this is puzzling why it's not sold out!

* Conair hairbrushes, combs, mirrors, rollers.  This $2/1 In-Ad Q is NOT good on a single comb however(which still would have made it cost .71¢ after Q and discount).  I got the cheapest items I could find that qualified-a 2 pack of combs.  #2 Son eats combs....he must, at the rate at which they disappear around here. Ingesting combs is not good for one's health...I need to stop feeding his addiction.  The comb pack after 20% discount and $2Q still cost me $1.51.  I might just return this and go buy a pack of combs at the Dollar Tree and save myself .45¢ after tax.  Not my brightest purchase, eh?

* Robitussin.....bought the cheaper type.  Prices were $6.99 or $7.29 reg. shelf.  Either price point after 20% Wellness disc. would have netted me FREE cold meds.  I stacked a $3 Robitussin ManuQ with the $3 Robitussin In-Ad Q, giving me a $6 reduction in the price of the item.  The item was slightly under $6 after disc. but I had other items(like those overpriced combs)to eat up that overage.  Give the ManuQ first and then the In-Ad Q to avoid making the register gods angry and causing the dreaded BEEPAGE!

* The Spices....a little gen I just happened to spot wandering down the food aisle.
Rite-Aid spices are $1 this week.....I think they are $1 EVERY week!lol  With your 20% discount they will cost you .80, which is still cheaper than the Dollar Stores.
Even better this week, buy 3 Spices and get a $1 +Up Reward back.....meaning after counting the +Up, you pay $1.40 for 3 bottles of spice, or .4666666¢ each.  HALF the price of the Dollar store!  I picked up Garlic powder, Chili powder and Oregano.  We go through a LOT of garlic and oregano here.  I believe the limit on this +Up deal was 3....or was it 4?  Next time I'll pay more attention to that.

Another trip is in order later this week......more Robitussin, more Socks and Blistex(on BIL's card), more Spices and cheap Trident which I didn't pick up yet.

So what, if anything, are YOU getting at Rite-Aid this week?

Grand Totals for October so far......

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$232.99
Savings Rate of  100%
Single Check Rebate due....$0.00
Other Rebates due......$0.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $0.00
Savings Rate  100%

+Ups at beginning of month...$25.98+
+Ups used....$72.98+
+Ups received...$64.50+
+Ups currently...$17.50+

Sluggy

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2012.

I have posted September'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 September.  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(3-4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 16.
******************

BREAD OUTLET
OOP   $20.89

Value   $73.21

Savings  71.46%

BIG LOTS
OOP   $15.12
Value   $21.79
Savings   30.61%

GERRITY'S
OOP   $7.00
Qs/Ads  $2.45
Value  $9.45
Savings  25.92%

RITE-AID

OOP  $38.65

Qs/Ads/+Ups/Gift Card  $523.23

Value  $561.88

Savings   93.12%

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $138.18

Qs/Ads  $93.06

Value  $231.24

Savings  40.25%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $204.76

Qs/Ads  $158.14

Value  $362.90

Savings  43.58%

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 September
Rite-Aid Single Check Rebate for July

Total...$6.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$0.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Nothing.

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were the Rite-Aid at 93.12%,  the Bread Outlet at 71.46%, and Weis at 43.58%.  l shopped at 6 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$424.60

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$808.95

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,233.55

TOTAL Savings of...................................65.58%

TOTAL Out of Pocket after Rebates received this Month......$418.60
TOTAL Savings after Rebates of..........................66.07%

This closes out the September spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into September with $400 budgeted for food/toiletries for the month.  I obviously blew through that mark plus another $18.60.   I know I did a bit too much stocking up on a few things and I bought a few too many snack foods for #2 son.  It's nothing I can't live with though.
My grocery savings hovered at below 45% for September.  I used very few Qs this month.  This lack of coupon usage seems to be a theme with me lately.  I do still buy on rock bottom price(or at least very good sale price) but don't find Qs much here for food items I want/need to buy.

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER......

I will be keeping my food budget at $400 for October.  We don't have any special dinners or holiday food spending this month.  I've already bought the Halloween candy to give out, but that came out of another pile of money that isn't the Food Budget anyway.
I'm going to try to cut back on spending a little this month but I'll leave the $400 budget in place since I now give Daughter a portion of the food Budget each month for her to buy convenience foods to take to work for her meal there.  The portion she spends is unpredictable so far.  I'll try to keep track the next few months to see if I can pin down how much it needs to be monthly and adjust my spending accordingly.
Hopefully I'll have a little leftover from my budget when the month is over but it is not guaranteed.

How did you do in September with your Food Budget?
Did you stick to it?
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

Food Spending Sept. Week 2, Meal Planning Sept. Week 3

       US Govt. Poster From WWII
***************************************

And here is the "meal plan" that actually happened last week.....

Sunday--Chicken Enchiladas, Caesar Salad

Monday--Steak Tips in Gravy over Brown Rice, Green Beans

Tuesday--Tacos

Wednesday--Pizza

Thursday--Leftovers

Friday--Salmon, Asparagus on the Grill

Saturday--Chinese take-out

The weekly food spending was  $170.02.  $130.37 in reg. grocery spending and $39.65 at Rite-Aid.

Ugh.

While I got some really good deals and accomplished a savings rate of between 45.55% and 56% at the grocery store, it's still a big chunk of money spent.

I spent the $50 on needs as planned and then I did some stock-ups/rock bottom prices on yogurt, spaghetti sauce, chicken, steak, salmon, taco shells, whack biscuits, dehydrated potatoes, pizza rolls for the teen and I bought 4 boxes of cereal.  

I had to laugh at myself buying cereal again.  Besides the casual box or two of cereal I got for free or almost free in my Rite-aid scenarios over the last few years, I haven't 'on purpose' bought cold cereal since the Fall of 2009.

That Summer and Fall I took advantage of a couple of amazing Sales Promotion by Acme markets.  Here's a couple of photos of some of what I got back then....

Let me also mention it was the last time I bought a nasty Pop-Tart....lol

One of those hauls included 19 boxes of cereal, the other one included 45 boxes.  Of course 27 of those boxes ended up going HERE, but I digress.

The point is, I haven't gone out of my way to buy cereal for us until last week, when I bought 4 boxes.  When it was here in such large quantities the kids ignored it and had to be threatened with bodily harm to get them to eat it.  Bring 4 boxes into a "cereal barren landscape" and they are fighting over who gets it first!  I guess it's basic economic theory--the scarcity of a product imbues it with magical powers and the marketplace will set it's value.

Go figure......

I've spent $249.92 of my $400 monthly food budget so far this month. 

I am going into the new week with these leftovers......a tiny bit of taco meat, which I will add to the new filling for the Enchiladas.

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

This week's menu.....

Sunday--Burgers on Rolls, Corn

Monday--Stuffed Shells, Green Beans

Tuesday--Beef Enchiladas, leftover Corn

Wednesday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

Thursday--Pork Chops, Potatoes, Beets

Friday--Leftovers-only 2 home

Saturday--Leftovers

 

What I need to buy this week to serve this menu?.....Ground Beef, Salad Greens.  

Milk, Fruit and some stock-ups('Crack' noodles aka Kraft boxed dinners)will also happen this week.  I'm hoping to "get by" spending $65 this week.

No wait!  There is a Catalina Deal and Hubs needs coffee.

Oh crap.....looks like I'll be going over $400 this month too.

Come back to see how badly I stray from my budget next week! ;-)

So what are you cooking at your house this week?

Sluggy