Meal Plan Monday.....September 28th Edition....Throwing it Together

Last Week's Menu Post Mortum...

The last 3 meals of the week never happened.  After School activities & work commitments trumped cooking, so it was leftovers or grilled cheese sammies 2 nights instead of newly cooked meals. Sunday night we actually went out to eat for the first time in a long while for some Chinese food.  I won't be putting the dinners from last week we didn't have on this week's menu.  I have different plans for the Steak(see Wednesday below) and the other meals will go back into the Menu Pool.
I have had a hard time throwing this together(it's after 4pm on Monday already while I'm scrambling to whip this post & menu into shape).

Here's what I will be serving our family of 4 this Week....

MONDAY--Beef & Chicken Tacos(freezer/stockpile), Corn(freezer)
TUESDAY--Homemade Macaroni & Cheese(stockpile/freezer), Sauteed Swiss Chard(garden)
WEDNESDAY--Beef Bourguignon (freezer)Yes, I will be cooking all day!lol
THURSDAY--Salmon in Ginger Teriyaki Sauce(freezer), Crabcakes(freezer), Rice(stockpile), Squash Casserole(garden)
FRIDAY--Rigatoni w/Pasta Sauce(stockpile), Tossed Salad w/Vinaigrette Dressing & Gorgonzola Cheese
SATURDAY--Leftovers
SUNDAY--Breakfast For Dinner-Corned Beef Hash(stockpile), Eggs(fridge), Biscuits(fridge)

Last week I spent a Whopping $123.35 in 3 trips to the grocery store! A lot of that was stock-ups on beef, sausage/kielbasa, chicken, olive oil & pasta noodles, not actual needs for the weekly menu.
This week's shopping list is a bit more than last week's actual list(without the stocking-up).  The main items are mushrooms, carrots, bread, eggs & gorgonzola cheese. $16 should cover the menu needs for the week.

Food Waste Report....a few cucumbers went bad and went directly into the compost pile.  Next year I need to plant less cukes or find a pickle recipe my family will eat.lol

I'll be posting the recipe for the Beef Bourguignon sometime after I make it on Wednesday.  Check back to see how well I stuck to the recipe, what changes I made and how it turned out.

Check out ORGANIZING JUNKIE to see what other Home Cooks are serving this week!

Sluggy

Sunday at Rite-Aid Shakin' my Moneymaker!

This is a first!
It's Sunday & I have completed my shopping at Rite-Aid for the week already.

Lots of great Freebie Deals(the ones with full price Single Check Rebates)& also some are Moneymakers if you have coupons to use too!

I printed 2 $5 off $25 purchase IP coupons and headed to the store....things didn't go exactly as planned but I had back-up options too.

Here are the SCR Deals I am working this week....

Gillette Razor 86# $5.00 rebate.
Crest w/Scope Toothpaste #127 $2.69 rebate.
Oral B Advantage Artica Toothbrush #120 $2.69 rebate.
Aveeno Products #5  Buy 4, Get $7.00 rebate.
ProFoot assorted products  #6  Buy 3, Get $10.00 rebate.
Nivea Lip product #85  $2.00 rebate.
Single Check Rebates of $29.38.

Now the shopping....

Transaction #1

1 x Gillette Fusion Gamer Razor $9.99 on sale $9.00
1 x Crest with Scope Toothpaste $3.79 on sale $2.69
1 x Oral B Advantage "Artica" $3.69 Toothbrush on sale $2.69
1 x Synovium Pain Relief Gel(Profoot) $7.99 on sale $5.00
2 x Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion(small tube) $3.49 on sale $2.79=$5.58
1 x Crest PM Night Rinse $4.29 on clearance 75%off $1.07
SubTotal  $26.03

Coupons Used
1 x $5/25 Rite-Aid Q=$5.00
1 x Gillette Fusion Gamer Razor $4/1 from 9/27 paper=$4.00
1 x Crest with Scope Toothpaste $1/1 from Aug. paper=$1.00
1 x Oral B Advantage "Artica" $1/1 from 9/27 paper=$1.00
1 x Synovium Pain Relief Gel $2/1 IP Q=$2.00
2 x Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion $2/1 IP Q=$4.00
1 x Crest Pro-Health Rinse $1/1 from Aug. paper=$1.00
1 x Aveeno $3/1 Facial Rite-Aid AdPerks Q=$3.00
SubTotal  $21.00

$26.03-$21.00=$5.03+.22tax=$5.25OOP

**I had a second Aveeno $3 AdPerks Q but evidently I didn't give it to the cashier, so my total would have been $3 lower.  And I was sure the Q would beep because the items were less than $3 and I used a $2/1 Q AND that $3 AdPerks one, but no beeps!

Then I stopped back on my way home from Kmart and did....

Transaction #2

1 x Nivea Lip Creme $3.99 on sale $2.99
1 x Heel Cream Rescue Lotion(Profoot) $7.99 on sale $5.00
1 x Synovium Pain Relief Gel(Profoot) $7.99 on sale $5.00
2 x Aveeno Men's Shaving Gel $4.99  on sale $3.99=$7.98
1 x Rite-Aid Shopping Bag $.99
1 x Water Bottle $.99
1 x Lavoris Cinnamon Mouth Rinse $3.99 on clearance 75%off=$.99
4 x Mighty Dog canned Food $.99 on clearnace 50%off .49¢=$1.96
1 x Newspaper  $1.50 *Not Pictured*
SubTotal  $27.40


Coupons Used
1 x $5/25 Rite-Aid IP Q=$5.00
1 x Nivea Lip Creme $1/1 from Aug. paper=$1.00
1 x Heel Cream Rescue Lotion $1/1 Hangtag Q on item=$1.00
1 x Synovium Pain Relief Gel $2/1 IP Q=$2.00
2 x Aveeno Men's Shaving Gel $1/1 9/27 insert Q=$2.00
2 x Aveeno  $3/1 Rite-Aid AdPerks Q=$6.00
1 x Rite-Aid Shopping Bag FREE ITEM Q=$.99(from Oral Care Booklet Offer)
1 x Water Bottle FREE ITEM Q=$.99(from Oral Care Booklet Offer)
SubTotal  $18.98

$27.40-$18.98= $8.42+.54¢tax=$8.96OOP



$5.25+$8.96=$14.21OOP
Minus Rebates of $29.38=$15.17 Moneymaker!
I get all this stuff(over $69 of regular retail) AND Rite-Aid is going to PAY ME $15.17 to take it.
That's crazy!

I like crazy.....


I had planned to get 2 Tylenol 8 Hr.(24 ct. on sale BOGO-$4.99 this week)in the second transaction to get me to the $25 threshold.  With 2 $2/1 Qs, 2 bottles would have cost me .99¢ OOP.  Instead I had to substitute a newspaper(would have bought that anyway), and the clearance mouth rinse & dog food.  I could have done $2 less but I forgot my calculator and didn't want to chance being under $25 total.

The key to such a large MM this week was finding the smaller/less expensive Aveeno products and using the $3/1 AdPerks AND the Manu. Qs on each product.  If I hadn't forgotten the 1 Q on the first transaction, I would have over a $18 MM instead.  Oh well....nobody is perfect.lol

My trip to KMart on Sunday will have to wait until next time. ;-)

Sluggy

Rite-Aid 9/20-9/26 Finishing the Week's Transactions

I decided to do the Single Check Rebate Deal for the Nexxus products, so headed to Rite-Aid to do 2 Transactions.

Transaction #1
1 x Nexxus Dualiste Shampoo  $12.99
1 x Nexxus Shampoo  $5.99
2 x Rite-Aid Centra-Vite Vitamins $7.99 on sale BOGO=$7.99
Subtotal  $26.97

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Rite-Aid purchase=$5.00
1 x $4/1 Rite-Aid AdPerks Nexxus Dualiste Product=$4.00
1 x $3/1 Rite-Aid AdPerks Nexxus Product =$3.00
1 x Rite-Aid Centr-Vite Vitamins FREE ITEM coupon=$7.99(from Oral Care Booklet Deal)
Coupons Total   $19.99

$26.97-$19.99=$6.98+.72¢tax=$7.70OOP

Then I did....

Transaction #2
1 x Nexxus Dualiste Shampoo  $12.99
1 x Nexxus Shampoo  $9.99
1 x Sugar-free Trident Gum pack  $1.29
1 x Rite-Aid Shopping Bag  $.99
Subtotal  $25.26

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Rite-Aid purchase=$5.00
1 x $4/1 Rite-Aid AdPerks Nexxus Dualiste Product=$4.00
1 x $3/1 Rite-Aid AdPerks Nexxus Product =$3.00
1 x Rite-Aid Shopping Bag FREE ITEM coupon=$.99(from Oral Care Booklet Deal)
1 x Trident Gum FREE ITEM coupon=$1.49(from Oral Care Booklet Deal) Rang up .30 over retail when scanned
Coupons Total   $14.48

$25.26-$14.48=$10.78+.96¢tax=$11.74OOP

OOP total....$19.44(including tax)
#8 SCRebate qualified for....4 x $5WYB $10 Nexxus=$20 Check

Making all these items FREE plus a $.56 Moneymaker

Plus the $52.23 spent before coupons qualifies for the Gift of Savings Certificate.  I'll put these 2 receipts through under BIL's name and that will bring his total over the $100 mark, so that's a $20 Certificate too.

I'll update on Sunday my September monthly Rite-Aid spending/rebates total.

Sluggy

Shop-Rite Shopping 9/25/09....Free Shampoo & Facial Tissue + MORE

Shop-Rite had a great price on Ground Beef and Boneless Pork Chops this week so it was worth it for me to take the drive there.  They also had DeCecco Orricchette Pasta on sale for 3/$5.00.  Orricchette is very hard to find locally and it's quite pricey if you can find it or if you buy it online.  And there is NOTHING that goes with a Rustic Pork Ragu better than Orricchette. ;-)

Add in that they also had a Catalina Deal....Buy 2 Herbal Essence Shampoo &/or Conditioner for $2.49 ea. in one transaction and get a $3 OYNO Catalina Coupon.  Pair this with $1/1 Herbal Essence Coupons from the Sunday inserts a few weeks ago and after the first $3.00 spent, you roll the Catalina & 2 Coupons each transaction into a pile of FREE SHAMPOO!

Because of the Catalina Promo, I had to do lots of little transactions(I did 4 to get 6 free bottles of 'poo) but I've grouped it all into one for this post.  Except for the Cantaloupes, my refrigerated items aren't pictured.

8 x Herbal Essences Shampoo $2.99 on sale @$2.49=$19.92
2 x Barilla Tortellini $3.49 on sale @ $2.50=$5.00
4 x Barilla Whole Grain Pasta $1.49 on sale @.88=$3.52
3 x DeCecco Orrichette Pasta $1.99 on sale 3/$5=$5.00
2 x Pompeian Olive Oil $11.98 on sale @$5.99=$11.98
2 x Cantaloupe on sale @$.99=$1.98
1 x Chef Michael dog food @.99=$.99
2 x Skintimate Shave Cream @$1.49=$2.98
1 x Quattro Razor Cartridges $10.99 on sale @$5.49=$5.49
4 x Small Steps Facial Tissue $1.49 on sale @$.99=$3.97
1 x Shredded Wheat Cereal $1.79 on sale @.99=$.99
8 x Grands Biscuit Rolls $1.79 on sale @$1.24=$9.92  NOT PICTURED
4 x SR Cream Cheese $1.29 on sale @$.97=$3.88  NOT PICTURED
10.1 lbs. Ground Beef $1.99 on sale @$1.69=$17.07  NOT PICTURED
10 Boneless Pork Chops $7.35 on sale=$5.17  NOT PICTURED
1 x Smithfield Bacon $3.49 on sale=$2.50  NOT PICTURED
Regular Prices SubTotal     $141.88
After Sale Prices SubTotal   $100.36

Coupons Used
8 x $1/1 Essences Shampoo=$8.00
3 x $3.00 OYNO Qs=$9.00
2 x $1/1 Barilla Tortellini=$2.00
2 x $1/2 Barilla Whole Grain Pasta=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Pompeian Olive Oil IP=$2.00
1 x FREE Chef Michael =$.99
2 x $1/1 Skintimate Shave Cream=$2.00
1 x $4/1 Quattro Razor Cartridges=$4.00
4 x $1/1 Small Steps Item=$4.00
1 x .75¢/1 Shoprite Cat Q-Any Cereal=$.75
4 x $1/2 Grands Biscuit Rolls=$4.00

1 x $3/1 Smithfield Bacon IP=$2.50 (Adjusted down to $2.50)
Coupons Total   $41.24

$100.36+$2.01tax=$102.37-$41.24=$61.13OOP

$141.88 worth of food/toiletries for $61.13 is a Savings of 57%!
Plus I have a $3 OYNO Cat Coupon to spend next time.

I hadn't planned on buying any cereal but when the .75/1 Catalina Q popped out on the 1st transaction, I had to get a box of one of the cereals on sale for .99¢.  After the coupon the cereal cost me .24¢.
Free dog food, tissues, bacon, 6 free shampoo. 38¢ a box pasta and 1/2 price olive oil make me smile.
How about you?

Check out Money Saving Mom Super Saturday Savings to see what Great Deals other folks got this week too!

Sluggy

Happy Fall!

Well I'm a little late wishing everyone a Happy Autumn.  Sorry about that.

Here are some photos I took last Fall of some trees in my yard.  I took them to use for studies for some paintings I wanted  to create.  Yes, my friends, I am an artist, a painter among other things....or use to be one.   Let me say that I am a much better painter than photographer!LOL

I just love the colors of Fall.  They invigorate me!  I can't wait until the trees are in their glory again this year.

Enjoy the photos!

Sluggy