Mail & Shopping

I got some happy mail this week.

The rebate for the purple crockpot I bought at Kohl's last November and the more than full price rebate on the Delsym cough syrup I bought at Rite-Aid around the same time.
I was only expecting a $13.49 rebate on the Delsym since I used a $1 off Q and spent $13.49 total, but they sent the full $14.00.

Then I finally got out to do some errands and to buy groceries on yesterday........this is the 1st grocery shopping I've done in February.

I spent $61.77

1 reduced sodium soy sauce
2 cans water chestnuts
1 bag frozen mushrooms
1 head cauliflower
2 red bell peppers
1 pack grape tomatoes
1 box salad greens
1 bag salad greens 50% sticker
1 bag shredded carrots
1 bag collards 50% sticker
1 pack bagels 50% sticker
1 pack onion rolls 50% sticker
1 bag Thomas' bagels
2 containers Philly cream cheese
1 container ground pork 50% sticker
6 packs of bacon

I also got 4 jugs of laundry detergent.....

Everything was on sale or had a discount sticker on it.
Buying the Thomas' bagels and 1 cream cheese(both on sale too)got me an instant $1.50 off.
I bought 2 cream cheeses and used a Philly $1/2 Q and a .55¢/1(doubled to $1) Thomas Q, so $7.50 on those 3 items-$2=$5.50-$3 instant discount=$2.50 for all three.

The OM bacon was BOGO plus it was a "Spend $40/Get $10 Catalina Deal.  $50.94 reg. retail before sale/deal, $25.47 was spent OOP on all 6 and I got the $10 off YNO CatQ so $2.58 a lb. after everything.

The Arm & Hammer detergent was $1.87 and there are $2/2 ManuQs and IPQs(coupons dotcom), so each one cost 87¢.

*On a side note, I am considering keeping what I spend on items for the food bank separate from my monthly food budget for the family.
I want to try to make more of an effort to take products to the local food bank in 2015.  though I plan on spending very little with the deals for the food bank it would still take away some $ from the budget and the things I buy to use.
I'll have to think about this some more.

$121.47 worth of goods for $61.77 + $10 of free food on my next trip.
Savings rate of 49.15%.  8-)

Then it was off to Rite-Aid, of course!
I had $6 in +Up Rewards to use before Saturday.

2 x Tresemme 'Poo on sale=$7.98
1 x Mitchum 'Deo(raincheck)=$2.99
2 x Puracyn Food Wash(raincheck)=FREE
2 x R-A Ibuprofen(raincheck)=$1.34
3 x Diet Coke 12-packs on sale=$12.00
SubTotal........$24.31

Coupons Used
2 x $2/1 Tresemme ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $2/1 Mitchum ManuQ=$2.00
3 x Free Coke 12-packs mailed Qs=$12.00
Coupon Total......$18.00

$24.31-$18.00=$6.31
I used my $5 +Ups and the $1 Catalina(from the DiGiorno pizza deal)and paid .31¢ OOP.

I received back $4 in new +Ups Rewars($1 wyb 3 coke 12-packs, $3 wyb2 Tresemme).
I'm down to $8 in +Ups now.
$63.16 worth of goods brought home for .31¢.
Nice.

Now I'm off to get the federal taxes all printed off, collated, checked so we can sign them tonight and mail them tomorrow.

Sluggy
 

My New Anthem

Because truly, there ain't enough whiskey.......

 

Sluggy

Thank You!

I just wanted to thank everyone who sent good wishes concerning my recent meltdown on the blog.
I am really bad about responding individually to comments, but if you've been reading here long, you already know that, so don't take offense if I don't respond to your note.

I also received a few emailed private messages of support.  Those were totally unexpected but are cherished just the same.

Being a woman of a certain age, I don't much care what anyone thinks of me or what I think or do.
Society in general can "KMFA" in regard to who and what I am and what I do.  Basically, "my religion" is to be a good person who tries hard not to hurt anyone else and if that ain't good enough for some people then too too bad and here's the remote so you can change the channel.

All that superficial stuff that's so important to the majority of those in our culture concerns me not.  I often feel so out of step with the rest of our society and the majority of womankind.  My worth is not dependent on the latest fashion and hairstyle, how small my dress size or what celebrity or sports team I identify with(none of them).
I know who I am and what matters in my life.

But now and again when my psyche is low things said can get to me.  I guess that's true of everyone.  And last week I was having one of those times so things said that don't usually bother me did, and tunneled down into my soul and made a mess of me at my core.

I really didn't want to stop blogging nor did I want to take it private.
This particular blog of mine has been up and running since 20 Jan 2009.
6+ years at this point.
It's been continually changing as I have changed over the years and it has enriched my life in ways I couldn't have imagined back in 2009 it would.

I think I am back on an even keel now, with a sturdy rudder.  My sails may be in tatters but we journey on into the great unknown.
Sea monsters and trolls need not apply.
There are still many adventures to partake in so come along on the voyage.  ;-)




Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Lot of Snow and More of the Same on the Way" Edition ........

 

 

This is a shot of my back deck this morning.   It warmed up and rained last night/late yesterday so we did some shoveling.
And then the rain started freezing and came down as sleet and the temperature dropped so we have a nice layer of ice over everything.  And more snow is coming later today/tonight.
Can I move out of here already??


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

1.  Pizza(frozen that I doctored up), Salad
2.  Leftovers Fiesta lolz

3.  Lobster Ravioli, Salad

4.  Bean and Ham Soup, Brussels Sprouts
5.  Kielbasa on rolls, Green Beans

6.  Leftovers
7.  Leftovers
 

And this is what actually happened--

1.  Pizza(frozen that I doctored up), Salad
2.  Leftovers(I had Chicken & Dumplings)
3.  Leftovers(I had Chicken/Mushroom Risotto, Salad)

4.  Salmon, Potato Salad, Brussels Sprouts
5.  Kielbasa on roll,(I had leftover beans too, hubs had potato  salad)

6.  Lobster Ravioli, Brussels Sprouts
7.  Leftovers(I had a Roast Beef Sandwich, Salad)

Most of the plan happened except for the bean soup.
Poor bean soup. 8-)


Last week I made ZERO trips to grocery stores and spent ZERO OOP.  I did however go to Rite-Aid on Friday and spend .20¢ OOP on $9.58 worth of toothpaste.

My spending for February so far on food/toiletries is $.20 for $9.58 worth of food/toiletries.
I have $249.80 left in my Feb. budget and 19 days to go.

Leftovers going into this week are lasagna, risotto w/chicken and extra alfredo type sauce from when I made the ravioli but that will put into the freezer for later.

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

1.  Spaghetti w/meatballs & homemade sauce, Green Beans
2.  Pork chops, Potato Salad(leftover), Carrots

3.  Garlic Ginger Shrimp w/Stir-fry veggies, (rice for Hubs)

4.  Ham & Bean Soup, Salad
5.  Chicken Marsala, Asparagus, (noodles for Hubs)

6.  Leftovers
7.  Leftovers

 

I can almost do this plan without buying anything this week. I do need some veggies for the stir-fry and the asparagus so spending will happen but it won't be much.

The ads this week are again lackluster. Plus the weather forecast is iffy too.  I have to go out at some point this week but it won't be for long, so another week being housebound.

At the end of this week we will have lots of leftovers since all the new meals except for the pork chop meal will generate extras.  Between what we are going into the week with in leftovers and the new leftovers next week's menu will mean very little actual cooking for me.
I'll take it! ;-)
 

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?

Sluggy

My Crap-tastic Week

Last week was not so great.

The weather here has been sucking big-time!  Not just snow but it's been so COLD!  Trying to balance keeping the house warm enough to not be uncomfortable, but not let the electric company suck up too much of our income paying that bill.

Between the grocery ads being dreadful and the bone-chilling weather I didn't leave the house for 6 days!

Stir crazy for me in 6 days.  That's went I broke down and left the house.

I went to Rite-Aid for a "quickie" Friday afternoon......

I forgot to take a picture of the .22¢ truffle filler item I bought too.

2 tubes of Colgate on sale=$5.98
I have a $1/2 ManuQ so $4.98 +.22¢filler=$5.20.
I used a $5 +Up Reward and paid .20 OOP.
Got back 2 x $2 Colgate +Up Rewards.
I have a $5 +Ups and a $1 Cat I have to spend by Saturday 2/14 and this new $4 in +Ups to spend by 2/20.

Almost spent them all down so I can take a break from Rite-Aid until late Summer I am figuring.

I spent most of last week in TAX HELL......yes, doing state and federal taxes.

I have the state form done and we owe so that one won't go out until April something.
Needed to do/figure the state first so I can plug some of these numbers into the federal form.

Just need to finish figuring the Education Credit Boondoggle(I get it wrong every year...it's totally incomprehensible!).  Then the federal is finished except for the printing, collating, signing and filing.

Then it's onto the dreaded FAFSA. Since College Boy isn't eligible for any scholarship $s or state grants I may just save myself the hassle of that torture this year.
It doesn't get us anything since we are among the super-rich(or so they tell us). ha!

Heck, if hubs gets another awesome bonus this year we wont' even be able to take the Education Credit Deal on the 2015 taxes.
Well on the other hand, not having to do that jolly little exercise in futility for the taxes would be a welcomed change! ;-)  Plus we would probably owe federal taxes next year too so I should get hubs to change his # of exemptions at work, huh?

I have also been working on College Boy's taxes(state and federal) which are a "trip to an amusement park" in comparison to ours.  I am also the "go to" person for our oldest son for help, tips/information on dong his(which I helped him through this past week).

And I don't even do the LOCAL Taxes.  I leave that for Hubs to slog through(though it's really not a big hassle like the other ones).

I go for blood work next week to see how/if my numbers have changed, in anticipation of a 6 mo. checkup/office visit with my primary HP.  Oh joy!

I need to schedule 2 tests as well at the hospital which are both overdue a bit.....because of the iffy weather I haven't done that yet.  I'll schedule those for mid March and hope we satisfy our $4K deductible by then(but am doubtful that will happen by then).
The refill of the expen$ive medication happens late February but between that an other medication refills and the blood work and OV we should be nudged up over the $2K mark at least, possibly $3K.

In blog news---I have changed my settings so that anonymous persons may no longer leave comments.  I am sorry if this impacts any of my known and/or loyal longtime readers/commenters but it had to be done. I had a slew of comments which I didn't publish last week which were harsh, rude, unpleasant, derogatory, nasty and just plain mean.  I am good about publishing people with other viewpoints(or at least I think I am)and am tolerant of other's views.  But I really don't need to see some of the absolute vitriol some folks have tried to leave on the blog.
Here's a tip-if you can't say something nice(or something not-so nice in a pleasant/positive way)shut up!

And here are 2 tips to other bloggers---don't EVER show pictures of what you eat on your blog if  you are not a size 2. ;-)  I got a lot of nasty comments on that post as well on some other ones along with the usual spam stuff I never publish.  If someone doesn't like what I post then they are free to move along to another blog.
And if you leave a comment that is ultimately constructive, don't be condescending in your tone.  The whole "attract more bees with honey than vinegar" concept, ya know?  When some folks hide behind anonymity they reveal a side of themselves that is very unflattering.

Last week's not-published comments hurt me to the quick and has been debating on whether to continue to blog(or take the blog private, or disable comments altogether).

On the good side of things last week...........
I didn't spent any money(besides that .20¢).
I got some bookwork completed.
I finished overhauling our financial/personal files and sent a trash bag of old stuff to the garbage and another smaller bag to the shredder.
I am beginning to see empty space in the freezer from eating down the frozen stockpile.

So that's all I have to report on.


Sluggy