This Week on the Dining Table

The "Well This Christmas was Different!" Edition--

Sorry to be MIA the last few days.  It's been stressful around here what with nothing going as planned.
I haven't had time to do much online nor any inclination to.
I am just so tired.  Gee, like I haven't said that before? lolz

I haven't even tallied my grocery receipts for this past week until now.....throwing them in my receipt book is all I could manage.
Let's just say that I thought my December Grocery Challenge was bust due to not being able to cook like I usually do because of demands on me and Hubs accident causing me to buy stuff I usually don't just to get through the day.  I had no clue what I had spent especially this last week.

Wednesday evening I had a mini meltdown here.  The kids kept coming downstairs asking about when dinner was going to be served while I was trying to deal with doing things for Hubs(who's been a bit demanding)and trying to prepare a home cooked meal that was a bit complicated.(Not a good combination for future reference.)
Not once did they offer to help me make dinner or help out in some other way and I just went off on them.

Right now I am taking everything one day at a time.  If we can get through the day with everyone being warm, fed and clothed, I call it a win.  The budget is just an afterthought for me at the moment.  This is why I have been avoiding sitting down and calculating receipts.

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Flounder, Cauliflower, au gratin Taters

2. Monday--Soup Night or Fend for Yourself

3. Tuesday--Hot Dogs or Kielbasa, Potato Salad, Beans

4. Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli

5. Thursday--Tacos

6. Friday--Leftovers or ?

7. Saturday--Xmas Eve Chinese Meal Out(Take-Out this year as Hubs can't go)

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Flounder, Cauliflower, au gratin Taters

2. Monday--Soup Night or Fend for Yourself

3. Tuesday--Homemade Pizza

4. Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, Mixed Veggie, Alfredo Noodles

5. Thursday--Hot Dogs, Beans, Potato Salad

6. Friday--Fend for Yourself(I had a salad, Hubs had soup)

7. Saturday--Xmas Eve Chinese Meal(Take-out)

6 meals cooked at home, 2 of them nights of leftovers, and 1 night of Take-Out/Eating-Out.

The Dec. Buddget update--

$10 more in rolled coins, $10.75 in Ibotta and $6 in SavingStar, making my totals as follows-- 
Gift Cards.....$64.36

Cash Rebates--

 Savingstar...$148.03

 Checkout51..$42.25

 Ibotta..........$44.25

Rolled Coins...$97.50

Other Cash(post coupons)...$42.00

Total.....$435.39

As for the grocery spending.....3 trips to Weis, 1 trip to the Bread Outlet since I was out taking Hubs to a dr. appt., and 1 trip to the Shursave Market for mushrooms only brought the week's spending to $137.89 and brings my December food spending Total to $404.69 so far this month. 4 Days left to spend in December and $30.70 left in my December budget.

I am amazingly still under budget(I am shocked really!)and I may squeak by on this food challenge.  8-)

My savings percentages this week was 55.04%.

Leftovers going into this week.......potato salad, ravioli in sauce, some Chinese take-out.

Here is this week's "food plan".
Due to circumstances out of my control(no oven-details coming later), meals will be a bit different if not easier and quicker.

1. Sunday--Beef Eye Round Roast, Yeast Rolls, Green Bean Casserole, Mac & Cheese
2. Monday--Leftovers
3. Tuesday--Chicken Enchiladas(premade Stouffer's)
4. Wednesday--Tacos
5. Thursday--Xmas Dinner 2.0
6. Friday--Clam Chowder and Biscuits
7. Saturday--NYE tapas(aka appetizers)

This week will see 5 new meals cooked, 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating-Out and 2 night of Leftovers.

What I need to buy for this menu? Lettuce, milk.

And for the record I'll NOT have to buy anything dessert related or needed to make dessert type foods for at least 3 weeks.(6 pies, 7 types of cookies plus candy and cookies gifted to us & nephew made whipped cream on Sunday here.  It's a sugar wonderland!)

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