This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Garden is in Full Bloom" Edition.............

I love Morning Glories. I haven't needed to actually plant them for years now though.  I let the vines die off and the seed pods open into the garden bed every Fall before clearing them out.  I am rewarded every Spring with new vines of lovely purple flowers.
I took this shot this morning after a friendly bumblebee had a sip or two from this flower.  You can see the than-you pollen grains he left behind if you look closely.  8-)

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Leftover Pizza(We weren't home yet.)
2. Monday--Glazed Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Caesar Salad(Daughter cooked.)
3. Tuesday--TV Dinners(I'm sick, I need easy.)
4. Wednesday--Beef Pie
5. Thursday--BBQ Ribs, Sliced Tomatoes, Baked Beans
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Tempura Shrimp and Zucchini

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Leftover Pizza(We weren't home yet.)
2. Monday--Glazed Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Caesar Salad(Daughter cooked.)
3. Tuesday--TV Dinners(I'm sick, I need easy.)
4. Wednesday--Beef Pie
5. Thursday--Leftovers(I had a Greek Salad.)
6. Friday--Homemade Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY(I had a Greek Salad with REAL maters! lolz)

7 meals cooked at home(well TV dinners aren't really home cooked), 2 of them nights of leftovers and 0 nights of Take-Out.

The rib and tempura shrimp dinners didn't happen and they move to this week.  I made a pizza instead and we had an extra night of Leftovers or Fend For Yourself.

As for the grocery spending..... 2 trips to Weis and 1 trip to the Farm Stand totaling $91.91. Added to what was spent earlier this month and I am at $180.41 spent of my $500 budget for August, leaving me $319.59 in the food kitty.

Leftovers going into this week........Burrito fixings, Beef Pie, Chicken Parm, Mashed Potatoes. I used the leftover Spanish rice and Chicken mix for Burritos that Daughter made for dinner the week we were gone to Maine and made up 3 Burritos to put into the freezer for quick meals if someone needs one.  The Beef Pie and Chicken Parm will be lunches meaning all I need to use up in a dinner is the leftover taters.

Here is this week's "food plan".

1. Sunday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Spinach Salad
2. Monday--Tempura Shrimp and Zucchini
3. Tuesday--BBQ Ribs, Sliced Tomato, Leftover Mashed Potatoes
4. Wednesday--Chicken Ranch Bacon Pasta Bake, Sliced Tomato and Cukes
5. Thursday--Steak, Grilled Veggies, Noodles
6. Friday--Fish, Cole Slaw, Leftover sides or Caesar Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 6 new meals cooked and 0 nights of Take-Out and 1 night of Leftovers.

What we need to buy for this menu.....ribs, powdered Ranch dressing, cukes and veggie oil.  I went to Maine Source on Sunday so we have the ribs but the rest needs to be bought today.

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?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?
I'll be getting some Breakfast Hot Pockets for CB and the BF this week at Weis, along with doing the Spend $20 on cleaners and get $5 off instantly.  I could use a new stockpile of Spray N' Wash and it's included in this Cleaner Deal.

Sluggy

Grocery Shopping This Week & I am Finished

Well since Hubs went out on Sunday for a new computer mouse and was going right by the store,  I had him go back into Big Lots while that 20% off sale was going on to get 3 more jars of minced garlic, 4 more cans of tuna and 4 more cans of Spaghettio's for College Boy.

Another $8.76 spent on the food budget.

On Monday I made my grocery store rounds after PT where I picked up the items I had planned plus a few other items....

I bought 3 boxes of pasta at .67¢ each, used $1.25 in Qs and paid .76¢ for all.
I bought 4 cans of evaporated milk at $1.50 each, used $2 in Qs and paid $4 for all.
I bought 3 jars of Prego spaghetti sauce at $3/$5, used $1 in Qs and paid $4 for all.
I bought 6 large cans of Hunt's tomato products at B1 for $2.19/Get 2 more Free so they came to .73¢ per can.(They were the good 'no salt added' varieties too!)
I bought 7 cans of Homestyle soups at $1.66 each, used $3 in Qs and paid $8.65 for all.

I also found a 2lb. bag of flounder fillets 25% off($8.24)so I had to purchase that.  $4.12 a lb. for flounder?  Yes, please!
I also bought a 1lb. bag of baby carrots for $1(sale price and not pictured).
All this cost me $31.05 after sales/Qs for a savings of 28.40 or 47% off of reg. retail price.

I also submitted my receipt to Checkout 51 and have already received a .75¢ rebate into my account-.25¢ for buying the carrots and .50¢ for buying 2 cans of evaporated milk.
All those Homestlye soup cans qualify toward a $5 SavingStar rebate as well once I have spent $15 on select Campbell's items.  Only $3.31 left to spend to earn that $5 back.

Then I ran into the local Shurfine Market and bought this.......

I bought 2 cans of Furmano tomato puree(Weis was out of the Hunt's puree).  These were .88¢ per can so not as good as the Weis cans but still a good value.
I found 2 cans of Beefaroni in the clearance bin for .75¢ each.
I bought 2 containers of cottage cheese for the crockpot lasagna I made Monday night(so not pictured)on sale for $2 each.
I bought a head of romaine lettuce(again used on Monday so not pictured)on sale for $1.49lb.
A bunch of celery for $1.49(reg. price)and 3 bags of salty snacks(those were half price)rounded out this shop and brought my total OOP here to $16.09.
42.41% savings over reg. retail price and no coupons used.

I am now up to $77.90 spent on my October food budget and I am finished grocery procurement for the week.
I am still loving the price on that flounder I got..... ;-)

Sluggy


 

2015 Food & Toiletries Spending.....March Update

*I am posting this a day early since I am done shopping for the month.*

 Onward to March's food spending report.......

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MARCH 2015.

I have posted March's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2015 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.  I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in March.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals SumMy spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3(2-3 at home this month). No kids under 19.

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

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP  $8.50
Value  $40.72
Savings  79.13%

RITE-AID *(see below)
OOP  $6.33
Qs/Ads/+UPs  $421.39
Value  $427.72
Savings  98.52%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $33.74

Qs/Ads  $18.86

Value  $52.60

Savings  35.85%

SURPLUS OUTLET
OOP  $39.48
Value  $63.45
Savings  37.18%
 

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $180.83

Qs/Ads  $124.01

Value  $304.84

Savings  40.68%
 

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 98.52%, the Bakery Outlet at 79.13% and Weis Markets at 40.68%.  My WORST savings rate was the Shursave affiliate at 35.85%.

My Bakery Outlet savings rate increased over last month's trip because they lowered their prices so my $8.50 went a whole lot further.  The had increased their prices awhile back but I guess that was the tipping point for bread products in this area, as they sold too few.  Last month my same $8.50 outlay only bought $17.66 worth of products.  I, as a consumer, am glad to see the prices lowered for a change.

I shopped at 5 different stores this past month. 

TOTAL Out of Pocket........ $268.88

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$620.45

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$889.33

TOTAL Savings of...................................69.76%
TOTAL Savings WITHOUT Rite-Aid.............43.12%

This closes out the March food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into March wanting to do a $300 monthly spending and actually accomplished that goal for a change.
Yay me! 8-)

The monthly savings percentage went up by 9.46% in March to 69.76% compared to February's 60.30% average.
Next month, without all that low OOP at Rite-Aid shopping, will most probably affect my average and it will plummet like a rock into the 30-40 percentile.
sigh

The savings rate for the year so far now stands at 68.70%.  That's a .46% increase in savings over February's YTD total.   It's quite high all things considered but I fear it will be the highest savings percentage I see in 2015 now that the "Salad Days" of Rite-Aid are over.

LOOKING AHEAD To APRIL.........

I want to continue to eat down some of our stockpiles of food and empty out the freezer a bit more. It's just 2 adults for April but we are going to host Easter dinner and invite 2 from the family here to eat.  I have two large shops coming up this week(totaling about $100) so April will start off with a shopping bang!
The rest of the month will mostly be eating all the stocks up and reigning in the spending on food.  I don't forsee any toiletries spending(once my +Ups are used up by 4/11).
 

If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share yours with us all.

 

*  How much did you spend on food/toiletries in March?
*  Do you track your yearly food spending?
*  What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons vs. buying at regular retail price last month, if you track that sort of thing?
 

Sluggy

Food & Toiletries Spending.....April Update

 Onward to April's food spending report.......

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for APRIL 2014.

I have posted April's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2014 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in April.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Summary.

My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 4(3 at home this month)& 1 dog. No kids under 18.
******************

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP  $13.98
Value  $44.56
Savings   68.63%

BROOKSHIRE'S
OOP  $23.94
Qs/Ads  $11.35
Value  $35.29
Savings  32.16%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $62.34
Qs/Ads  $44.02
Value  $106.36
Savings  41.58%

PRICE CHOPPER
OOP  $91.77
QsAds  $60.89
Value  $152.66
Savings    39.88%
 

RITE-AID
OOP  $3.46
Qs/Ads/+Ups  $98.73
Value  $102.42
Savings  96.40%

SAM'S CLUB
OOP  $42.77
Value  $68.37
Savings  37.44%
 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $75.47

Qs/Ads  $65.41

Value  $140.88

Savings  29.44%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $156.84

Qs/Ads  $56.80

Value  $213.64

Savings  26.59%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 96.40%,  the Bread Outlet at 68.63% and the local Grocer at 46.43%.  My WORST savings rate was Weis(PMITA)Markets at 26.59%.
I shopped at 8 different stores this past month. (2 of them new ones while on vacation.)

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$470.57

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$393.61

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$864.18

TOTAL Savings of...................................45.52%

Without counting the Rite-Aid shopping, my savings rate was 38.39%.

This closes out the April food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into April with no expectations, which was a good thing since we spent well over $400 this month.  We did a bit of stocking up on loss leaders and took some food/toiletries to my daughter in Louisiana. I shoot for a monthly savings rate over regular retail of 40% and we surpassed that with the Rite-Aid spending included.
While I get good value for what I spend(my OOP vs. the regular retail price)I am finding it difficult to keep the actual spending low.
I sucked at being frugal on food/toiletries in April.
bleh.



LOOKING AHEAD TO MAY......

After a runaway food spending month in April plus the road trip expenses I'll be trying to reign in the outgoing cash in May.  I want to try to keep food spending to $300 or so.
We don't have any celebrations with food related costs for May so let's see if I can keep the spending down.

Of course after saying all this, I went out and spent $89.54 at the grocer store this week.
I suck.

 

If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share yours with us all.

Total spend on food/toiletries so far this year.....$1,511.46

The average monthly food/toiletries spending this year so far is $377.87.

 

How much did you spend on food/toiletries in April?
Do you track your yearly food spending?
 

Sluggy

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for AUGUST 2013.

I have posted August'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 August.  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.
******************

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $4.00
Value  $11.67
Savings  65.72%

BERGER'S FARM MARKET
OOP  $9.00
Value  $15.00
Savings  40%

DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP  $32.86
Qs/Ads  $7.70
Value  $40.56
Savings  19%

MAINE SOURCE(restaurant supply)

OOP  $28.57

Value  $44.81

Savings  36.24 %

OLLIE'S
OOP  $24.47
Value  $36.60
Savings  33.15%
 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $27.48

Qs/Ads  $33.07

Value  $5.59

Savings  16.90%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $225.48

Qs/Ads  $147.36

Value  $372.84

Savings  39.52%

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 August.....$0.00 (Last month's $35 rebate received was given to #2 Son to use for groceries while we were away.)

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 the Bread Outlet at  65.72%, Berger's Farmstand at 40%, Weis PMITA Markets at 39.52%.  I food/toiletries shopped at 7 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$391.86

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$202.69

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$594.55

TOTAL Savings of...................................34.10%

This closes out the August food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into August with $300 budgeted for food/toiletries for the month and was going to shift the last $100 into the Vacation budget for extra spending money.  Well that would have worked out fine, except I spend $108.48 on the 29th, after we got home, at the grocery store.  Ugh.  I could have waited 3 days and spent that $ on the September food budget but no, I had to go and screw that all up.

So instead of taking $100 less out of savings to cover the miscellaneous spending on vacation, the whole thing comes out of savings.  I am not too concerned by this, since we have the extra money in savings to cover whatever we spent.  It would have been nice though to finish out August with $100 less in food spending. 8-(

So going back to my $400 food budget, I ended the month with $8.14 leftover.  And that includes $40 in cash given to #2 Son to use for food while we were on vacation(plus the $35 from the rebate check we received last month).
 

I did NO Rite-Aid shopping last month again.  In fact, I gave away about 3 bags of toiletries while on vacation plus another box of toiletries/HBA in July for a blog giveaway.

While spending $400 in August on food/toiletries is good, considering we ate out for 11 days of the 31, that puts our daily food spending a bit higher than I like to see.  30 days for $400 comes to about $13.33 a day, while 20 days for $400 comes to $20 a day for food.
 

Looking ahead to September---We don't have any parties or special meals going on this month except for a Family Reunion at the end of the month and we aren't bringing/making any food for that.  We will need to eat-out a few meals.  The Labor day cook-out/sort of,  I already have the food bought and paid for that.   We are going to try to stay out of restaurants/fast food/take-out meals in September and eat home cooked only.  I need to drop these 3 pounds I picked up last month by eating restaurant food on vacation.  Meals this month will be back to reduced sodium and fresh seasonal veggies and cheap.

 

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

2013 Total Saved $2,032.80

2013 Yearly Total Value of Items  $4,990.08

2013 Yearly Total Spent $2,957.28

2013 Yearly Savings Total of  40.74%

 

In August, total savings percentage for the year has gone DOWN .89% over July's total of 41.63% to 40.74%.  So we saw a 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 August?
 

Sluggy