Frugal Friday....the September 15th Edition

Welcome to Frugal Friday!   What a week it's been.....

There are very few Frugal wins this past week but here goes....

*  My insurance processed the payment for my dermatology appointment on Aug. 28th.  The folks in charge at the front desk charged me a $50 co-pay even after I told them I had satisfied all my deductibles and co-pays for the year.  So I get the processed EOB this week and lo and behold insurance paid the bill and I didn't owe any co-pay or co-insurance.  Imagine that!  So I get to hound this pseudo -dermatology office for a $50 refund.  $50 isn't nothing so I'll be expecting that fee back...then I will cancel my appt. in Jan. with her as they have no clue about treating HS so going there is a waste of my time and resources.

*  Grocery shopping this week(yesterday)was quite low(so far), $45.33.  Take off the $11.25 back from Alexa, Ibotta and Kroger Cash Back and it's $34.08 spent(and $9+/- of that was for dog food).

*  I left feedback online Monday(which they requested)for that restaurant we had our Anniversary dinner at, back in late August. Obviously the feedback was not good(like the meal).  I didn't attack anyone personally but listed what was not up to my standards(a lot).  About an hour after posting feedback to their form, Hubs phone rings and it's the wife of the owner of the restaurant(well, co-owner, it's a family run business she owns with her hubby).  She was personally offended that I called their restaurant out and kept saying they have NEVER gotten a bad review.  Well maybe, since most people don't bother to give feedback and they've only been in business for 3 years, but they didn't know whom they were dealing with. lol  If for no other reason, I hoped to warn unsuspecting diners about this place.  She got semi-hysterical, then said they'd give us our money back but I am seriously doubtful that will happen(because I am a pessimist mostly).  I worked in the food industry and this woman really needs to grow aa thicker skin if they are going to survive in that cut throat business.  She kept saying they were a family run business and insinuated how dare! I give them a bad review.  Well, I am all for people starting businesses but I am not going to lie about my experience and if it's bad.

Anyway, about an hour later, Hubs gets an email from this woman's husband, Chef whatshisname.  He called us names(yes, I am a hillbilly rube who has never been  anywhere or eaten at a "fine dining" establishment before)and told us never to darken their door again.....believe me, we won't!  He told us to take our refund and spend it at Golden Corral. lol  I'll believe that refund when it's in my hands.  If it comes I'll take that $200 and spend it on groceries rather.

*  I had the bloodwork and EKG done Thursday for my upcoming surgery in Ohio next month.  These tests won't cost me anything out of pocket.

*  I found money! 

Nope.  Skunked again.  I only went to Walmart last Friday briefly and to Kroger yesterday, Thursday.  Maybe it's the horrible condition of the economy(inflation and jobs not paying a living wage)but nobody seems to be ditching pennies anymore at registers or in parking lots.  Drive-thrus might be an exception but I haven't been to one of those in ages. 8-)  

Total Found in last Week.... .00¢
Total Found this Year.......$3.05

That's all I got.  At least it's not triple digit temperatures here now(look for the positives in life).

 Just sitting home is frugal, right?

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them since I don't seem to be able to find much!

Sluggy   

This Week on the Dining Table

** Edited to include a link to the post in 2009 when I made this dish HERE.
And the recipe I use is HERE.


It's the "Sometimes a Work Intense Meal is Worth It" Edition......

I made my version of Beef Bourguignon last Thursday.  I don't fix this dish hardly ever since it is so labor intense, even with the shortcuts I take.
But when I do make it I forget about all the work once I take a bite of it....sigh!

And yes it is pretty sad that dinner on Thursday was the highlight of my week. 8-)

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week.......

1. Sunday--Corned Beef, Cabbage/Halushki, Carrots
2. Monday--Tuna Casserole, Caesar Salad
3. Tuesday--Beef Bourguignon
4. Wednesday--BLT Sandwiches Tacos using leftover taco meat
5. Thursday---Salmon or Cod, Brussels Sprouts
6. Friday--Kielbasa on Rolls w/Onions, Corn
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Corned Beef, Cabbage, Carrots
2. Monday--Tuna Casserole, Caesar Salad
3. Tuesday--Tacos using leftover taco beef
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, leftover Hash Browns
5. Thursday---Beef Bourguignon
6. Friday--Leftovers(Hubs had lasagna/I had tuna casserole)
7. Saturday--Leftovers(I had Beef Bourguignon/Hubs had Chicken Stew-I think)

7 meals cooked at home.
4 new meals and 3 nights of leftovers in some form or another.

I did indeed use the assorted leftover veggies and roasted chicken meat in a soup/stew and have been eating on that for some lunches.  Corn was planned w/the Kielbasa but there were leftover hash browns(from CB)that needed using up instead.  The consumption of veggies did not happen much last week unfortunately.  We shall try to rectify that this coming week.

As for my grocery spending......Hubs went to the store for me early in the week and spent $9.25.
I have spent $190.66 in all for March so far.
Between $59.34 and $109.34 of the potential $250-$300 March food budget left to spend with 10 days left in the month.

Leftovers going into this week......2 helpings of Chicken Stew, 1 helping of Halushki, a small hunk of Corned Beef, Cabbage, Carrots, 1 helping of Beef Bourguignon, and Mashed Potatoes, Taco Beef, and I helping of Kielbasa

Here is this week's "food plan"--

1. Sunday--Leftovers
2. Monday--Subway Sandwiches
3. Tuesday--Leftover Corned Beef meal
4. Wednesday--Salmon, Asparagus, Noodles
5. Thursday---Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread
6. Friday--Steak, Salad, leftover Asparagus
7. Saturday--Take-out?  Will be cooking for Sunday.

This week will see 3 new meals cooked and 2 meal of leftovers(re-purposed into new dishes or not) and 2 meals Out/Take-out.

What I need to buy for this menu?  Asparagus and Salad Greens.  I have everything else for the fish meal and everything for the pasta dinner already.  I'll probably pick up eggs and milk as well.
Unless there are some smoking hot grocery store deals I won't be buying much this week either.

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?

Sluggy