This Week on the Dining Table

The "Eating Out A Lot" Edition..........

 

 

 

We went to Pittsburgh for a few days early last week before Christmas to see our eldest son.  College Boy came with us and got to hang with his brother AND eat his first Primanti's sandwich.  I had to take half of my sandwich back to the hotel! lolz

Onward to the meal planning.....................

What was planned last week--

1.  Dinner Out
2.  Dinner Out

3.  Dinner Out

4.  Chinese Out(Xmas Eve tradition)
5.  Rib Roast with Roasted Veggies, Homemade Rolls, Pumpkin Ravioli w/Sage Butter Sauce

6.  No Clue
7.  Mushroom Risotto, Tossed Salad Greens

 

And this is what actually happened--

1.  Primanti Bros.
2.  Rivertowne Restaurant

3.  Leftovers OR Fend For Yourself

4.  Chinese Out(Xmas Eve tradition)
5.  Rib Roast with Roasted Veggies, Homemade Rolls, Pumpkin Ravioli w/Sage Butter Sauce

6.  Calamari and Leftovers
7.  Spaghetti with Chorizo and Meatballs

We ate out a good bit as we were out of town in Pittsburgh.  Then more Eating Out Christmas Eve.  I cooked Christmas Dinner(I think I cooked 3/4 of the day!). I picked up a chunk of Chorizo sausage and Chicken Thighs for cheap on Xmas eve so we had spaghetti(using the sausage) on Saturday night and the Chicken Thighs will be cooked early this week.
I forgot to make the Calamari for Christmas(!!!)so we had it the night after Xmas.
 

Last week I made 3 trips to 3 different  markets and spent $153.26 on $289.94 worth of groceries.  1 trip to Weis for a Xmas roast and a few things, then a trip to Sam's Club for some stock-up things and then we went to Trader Joe's while in Pittsburgh, mostly to pick up a supply of lobster ravioli(mmmmm)as we can't get that around here.

 

Here is the plan for this week.........

1.  Leftover Roast & Roasted Veggies
2.  Eggplant Parmesan, Salad

3.  Chicken thighs, Veggies and Risotto

4.  Assorted Leftovers
5.  Brats on Rolls, Cabbage, Fried Apples

6.  More Leftovers
7. ?  Don't know yet.....more Leftovers if not already eaten by then

Lots of leftovers to work on but a little bit of new cooking.  The chicken thighs and the eggplant I picked up last week will get prepared.  We already have the brats, cabbage and apples.  I also have half an acorn squash to fit in somewhere and a head of cauliflower to use up.....and fresh mushrooms too.
 

 

What I need to buy for this menu.........nothing.   The plan is not to shop this week, other than milk.


I am up to $440.87 spending for December with 3 days left in the month.
But I do have that Rite-Aid overage in Nov./Dec. and a SavingStar account deposit for 2014 hitting my bank this week.  These will help offset/be applied to my Dec. food/toiletries spending.

 

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 that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week, other than clearance deals on Xmas themed plastic and paper goods?

Sluggy

Rolling/Spending the +Up Rewards This Week....Part 1

Lots of +Ups to spend/roll at Rite-Aid this week.
Let me apologize in advance for all the Rite-Aid posts I need to subject everyone to in the coming days.

Here is what I did today, Sunday--

First on my Wellness card........

4 x Gear Deodorant on sale $3=$12.00
2 x Nexxus 'Poo 20% wellness disc=$10.06
2 x Simplify bottled water on sale but 20% disc. less=$5.48 *Not pictured*
2 x GE light bulbs on sale=$7.98
2 x Dove 20% wellness discount?=$7.58(1 rang up $3.99, 1 rang up $3.59 **I bought the wrong kind**
SubTotal.....$43.20

Coupons Used
4 x $2/1 Gear Deodorant IPQ=$8.00
2 x $3/1 Nexxus item VideoValuesQ(Dec.)=$6.00
1 x $2/1 GE light bulb VideoValuesQ(Dec.)=$2.00
1 x $1/1 GE light bulb ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $2.50/1 GE light bulb IPQ(NLA)=$2.50
2 x $1/1 Dove hair item VideoValuesQ(Dec.)=$2.00
Coupon Total......$21.50

$43.20-$21.50=$21.70

I used $21 in +Up Rewards and paid .35¢ on a free R-A gift card I used up, and .35¢ OOP.
I received back $12 in new +Up Rewards(2 x $2 wyb2 Gear, 2 x $1 Simplify water, 2 x $3 GE bulbs).

I screwed up the Dove Deal (Buy 2/Get $2 +Ups)and didn't get that $2 +Ups I was expecting but I didn't notice it until I got home.  Evidently the Dove 'Poo with the bonus mini bottle on it didn't count toward the Deal so I'll have to go back and return/rebuy the correct types.
So instead of earning $14 in +Ups I got $12.
bleh.

Ya see?
Even folks who have their proverbial Rite-Aid shit together screw things up sometimes.
Can I blame the cashier?  He likes to chat and distract me.
Yeah, that's it! lolz


Then I bought this stuff on my son's card.......

2 x GE light bulbs on sale=$7.98
1 x Simplify water case=$2.79
SubTotal......$10.77

I used--
1 x $1/1 GE light bulbs IPQ=$1.00
1 x $2.50/1 GE light bulbs IPQ(NLA)=$2.50
1 x $2/1 GE light bulbs VideoValuesQ(Dec.)=$2.00
Coupon Total.....$5.50


$10.77-$5.50=$5.27

I used a $5 +Up Reward and paid .27¢ OOP.

I received back $7 in new +Up Rewards(2 x $3 GE, $1 Simplify water).

Once I got return the Dove 'Poo(giving me $7.58), rebuy the correct varieties(spending $7 of that $7.58), I'll get a $2 +Ups and have .58¢ gain Cash having converted that amount from the +Ups that I spent the first time buying the 'Poo.  I'll apply that .58¢ to my OOP for the month at Rite-Aid.

I have $10.06 tracking toward a $10 Nexxus +Ups(just have to spend $9.94 more, which means free hair product).  Unfortunately I don't have any more Nexxus coupons to make buying that $9.94 a partial moneymaker too.

I also have $18.03 earned on my card toward this "Buy & Earn" thing Rite-Aid just started and $7.98 on son's card.

So once I rebuy the Dove I'll have used $26 +Ups and earned $21 +Ups on these 2 transactions.
I'll have paid .62¢ OOP(or rather .04¢ OOP after applying the .58¢ gain on the return) and have $84.95 in products.

I have $1 in +Ups to use Monday and $15 to use on Tuesday so I'll stop back in after getting blood work done on Monday and roll/spend those $16 +Ups.
Then I am good until Thursday when another $4 in +Ups is expiring.

My brain is aching from thinking up what to buy/how to use these +Ups up! ;-)



Sluggy



 

Curse! Foiled Again & Freebies Time

Well my plan this week at Rite-Aid was thwarted.
Since I wasn't home for half the week....the beginning of the week, I couldn't execute the plan I had.

There were some items on the clearance shelves at the back of my store that I planned on buying this sale week, but evidently someone else who shops at my store had the same idea. lolz

This week's ad had a Dove Deal......Buy 2 items(including 2 bar packs of soap), Get $2 +Ups back.

There were 2 packs of Dove soap(cucumber scent)in the clearance area for $2.24.  Even with no coupons to use, 2 packs would have been $4.48 plus $2 in +Ups back so only $1.24 per 2 bars.

Also in this week's ad was a No Nonsense Deal......Buy 2(including socks), Get $3 +Ups back.

There were packs of men's socks marked down to $3 and change in the clearance area.  2 packs would have been $6 and change plus $3 in +Ups back so $3 & change for 2 multipacks of socks.
These would have gone into my Christmas presents box for giving out next year.

But alas, someone bought it all while I was in Pittsburgh.
sigh.
I'm glad someone got the great deals even though I have tons of +Ups to roll/spend before this coming week is over.

So since all my potential deals were gone I cashed in some rain checks from the Black Friday sales instead since I was in the store anyway.......

2 x Bumblebee Tuna=$0
1 x GE Light Bulb=$0
2 x RA Toothbrushes=$0
1 x RA Cough Drops=$0

OOP......$0.00
Value of items.....$14.66

Now I have $51 in +Up Rewards expiring on various dates between tomorrow(Sunday)and next Saturday.  There are few items I want to pick up for cheap or free during next week's sale but I have more +Ups I have to use than I have ideas for.
I'll be searching out more plans for spending them as the week goes on and if all else fails, I'll use them to buy toilet paper....something everyone hates to spend money on but truly needs.

Sluggy

Some Frugal Grocery Finds

In the midst of all the Holiday Hullabaloo I made time to do some food shopping.
I stopped at the Surplus Outlet on the way to get College Boy a couple of weeks back and found these awesome deals......

Here is a salad dressing I never saw on a grocery store shelf around.  No added processed sugar, just sweetness from the fruit in this dressing.

I don't know if this is a regionally released item or is a discontinued item.
All I do know is that these bottles were 5 for $1......20¢ a bottle!
Sure the Sell By date was soon but these will last at least a year beyond that.

I like olive oil and vinaigrette type dressings over "heavy" mayo based dressings so this buy was a no brainer for me.

Having just used up the last of the Bell's seasoning at Thanksgiving I was delighted to find these boxes for .39¢!
Regular price on this item at our local grocery stores?
$2.50 or more.
Bell's in the stuffing is a tradition in my family.

One of the employees was stocking a new shipment of spices when I was in the aisle.
I found these "offbeat" spice types--2 types of curry and crystallized ginger.
The best thing was that they were .79¢ a bottle.

Then the employee dug out these jars of Saffron Threads...... .79¢ each!!!
Do you KNOW how expensive saffron is?!?!

Next time I am ready to make some Indian/Spanish/Moroccan fare, I am all set! 8-)

Then Hubs talked me into going to Sam's Club on Christmas Eve Day.  We didn't get much, just some needed Peroxide, Alcohol(rubbing, not drinking!lol), apples and mixed veggies(both for Christmas dinner), 3 dozen eggs, a bag of salad, a TUB of cashews(my Xmas gift to myself), a case of water, eggplant(for Parm later this week)and a box of croissants(for easy breakfasts for College Boy).
After applying a free $20 Gift Card I got for signing up at Sam's Club we paid $39.67 out the door.


Sluggy



 

Rite-Aid Buy While Traveling

On the way home from a quick trip to Pittsburgh to see our eldest son for Christmas Hubs let me stop at a Rite-Aid......

2 x Raisins on sale=$5.00
2 x Sugar on sale BOGO50%=$6.43
Subtotal.....$11.43

I used a .75¢/2 Domino's IPQ bringing the total to $10.68
I used $10 in +Up Rewards and paid .68¢ OOP.
I received back $6 in new +Ups($1 wyb2 raisins, $5 wyb $15 baking items).

Then I bought the same stuff again at another store in another town......

Everything the same except the sugar came to $6.73, making my OOP .98¢ for that transaction.
Same $6 in new +Up Rewards received.

Now I am off to plan out how to spend all these +Ups I have that are expiring between this Sunday and Jan. 6th.

Sluggy