Cracker Deal at Weis

There is a good deal this week at Weis(PMITA)Markets on Nabisco crackers thanks to a coupon and a Checkout 51 rebate.

Weis has various Nabisco crackers and cookies on sale for 3 for $6(Must buy in multiples of 3).

Pair that sale price with a Buy Two/Get One Free coupon for some of these varieties of Nabisco products at SmartSource dotcom.  Print 2 coupons and buy 6 boxes.
*Pay attention because some of the varieties on sale for $2 aren't valid for the B2G1Free coupon though.

And then apply for a Checkout 51 Rebate of $2.50 off when you buy 2 Nabisco products(no size specified).  Apply for 3 of these rebates(there is a limit of 5 rebates)to earn $7.50 back.

Here's what the deal looks like.....

Buy 6 boxes of crackers and/or cookies=$12.00
Use 2 B2G1Free Coupons $12-$4=$8.00
Upload your receipt and claim 3 Checkout 51 Rebates for $7.50

6 boxes of crackers/cookies after sale/coupon/rebates will cost you .50¢ OOP.

And that's what I did........

Only the cashier put the regular price of the crackers on the coupons, so she took $3.69 off for each coupon instead of the sale price of $2.00.
This meant after all is said and done Weis(PMITA)Markets actually paid me $2.88 to bring 6 boxes of crackers home.
Go me. 8-)))

This sale at Weis ends on Wednesday so you have 1+ day to get there and do it.

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Happy Fourth" Edition.............

We had a low key July 4th cookout here.  Just burgers, dogs and 3 sides(grilled corn, pasta salad and homemade baked beans)plus dessert(an apple pie on sale from the store with an ice cream topped option and homemade strawberry shortcake).

I smoked those 3 small pork shoulder roasts on Sunday and will finish them off in the crock pot later this week for a barbecue pulled pork dinner one night.

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Leftovers or FFY
2. Monday--Spaghetti with Meatballs and Sausage(using leftover sauce and sausage too)
3. Tuesday--Italian Chicken Thighs and Potatoes, Collards
4. Wednesday--Cheese or Pork Enchiladas, Spanich Rice
5. Thursday--Salmon(breaded fish for BF), Mac & Cheese, Veggie TBD
6. Friday--Pizza, Salad
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Hubs & I had Subway(2 others working, 1 fended for themselves)
2. Monday--Spaghetti with Meatballs and Sausage(using leftover sauce and sausage too)
3. Tuesday--Italian Chicken Thighs and Potatoes, Collards
4. Wednesday--Cheese & Pork Enchiladas, Spanich Rice
5. Thursday--Pizza take-out(special 1 day deal)and nobody wanted a salad lolz
6. Friday--Salmon(breaded fish for BF & CB), homemad Mac & Cheese, Roasted Brussels Sprouts
7. Saturday--Leftovers(I had a Pimiento Cheese Sandwich and Salad)

5 meals cooked at home, 1 of them nights of leftovers and 2 nights of take-out.

As for my grocery spending..... I spent a total of $160.21 on 2 trips to the stores. $52.75 of that went onto June's budget and $107.46 went onto July's budget, meaning I have $342.54 left of my $450 food budget with 26 days to go in the month.


Leftovers going into this week.......Risotto, Stuffing, Sausage/Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce, Spaghetti, Spanish Rice.  The leftover enchilada sauce and chicken stock went into the freezer for another time.

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

1. Sunday--Leftovers or FFY
2. Monday--Cook-Out Foods
3. Tuesday--Chicken Parmesan, leftover Risotto(for those who want it), Salad
4. Wednesday--Pork BBQ, Cole Slaw, Buns, leftover Cook-Out sides
5. Thursday--Meatloaf, Sugar Snap Peas, leftover stuffing(for those who want it)
6. Friday--Shrimp Dish(Shrimp and Grits or Garlic Ginger Shrimp Stir-Fry or Shrimp Scampi)
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 5 new meals cooked and 2 nights of Leftovers.
I plan to use up the leftover Risotto, Stuffing in dinners.  The Rest will be lunch fodder or eaten on leftover nights(hopefully).


What I need to buy for this menu.....cabbage, corn, hot dogs(we are out!), hamburger buns, maybe fresh stir-fry veggies.

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

Happy Fourth!

 Vote Yes, Vote Yes, Vote for Independency..........


Enjoy this live production of "1776".
This musical should be mandatory viewing every July 4th.

This show speaks to me as a few of my ancestors are depicted in it. ;-)

I especially like the number which was cut from the movie version(due to objection by then sitting President Richard Nixon)called "Cool Cool Considerate Men".

Sluggy

2016 $38K Savings Challenge.....June Update

Every year I keep a close eye on our monthly expenses and our monthly income.

Our income is mainly the salary my Hubs draws from his job.  We have money taken off each paycheck from the top to put into savings, before we even get our hands on it.  This money that's taken goes into various pots....life insurance, health insurance premiums, long term care insurance premiums, investments and retirement savings.  It's automatic so we are never tempted to NOT put it into savings or these other categories.

Once the automatic savings amounts, plus taxes and medical/dental/vision premiums are taken out, it leaves what we get to "live on".  From this amount we budget for bills, both monthly and irregular bills(semi-annual, annual etc.) and our variable bills(like food, eating out, clothing  etc.)  Anything left over once our monthly expenses are paid, I put aside into an interest bearing Savings Challenge account.

For 2016 I am continuing my Yearly Savings Challenge.  I am raising the Goal amount to $40,000 this year, $10K more than my goal for last year.

I have reconsidered and changed my Goal from $40K to $38K for 2016.  With some things coming down the pike this year I thought it prudent to back up my Goal a couple of thousand.  8-)

On to the June report.....

I have posted my June End of Month $38K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.
Check out the Savings Challenge page tab at the top of the blog for the specific numbers HERE.

I have 2 goals each month.....
The 1st is to actually finish each month in the black and not the red.
The 2nd is to hit the targeted savings amount of $3,166.66.

I have to report that we finished up June with a less than stellar amount.
The extra amount we ended the month of June with?.......$1962.66

Income

We had $1734.33 left over from our income after our monthly expenses were deducted.

Other monies received in June totaled $228.33.  This included interest made on non-retirement accounts, a per diem and stock dividends.

This brought us to our gain of $1,962.66
Since we have no debt, this goes into savings.

Outgo

As for the expenses this June, here are the good and the bad side of things....

HERE are the GOOD THINGS

*  Phone charges, electric bill and internet were approximately the same as last month(With $1 or so).
*  The cash withdrawals were down $100 from last month.  Considering we took $500 in cash on our LA trip and we didn't go anywhere this month but had more food spending, that sounds about right.

HERE are the BAD THINGS

*  Water use was up $21.35 from last month.  More people's laundry and showers so it was expected.
*  The gas card spending was up $111.89, mostly due to charging gas on the May trip to that card.
*  The credit card bill was up $1948.10 from last month.  Most of that was trip spending in May.
*  The direct medical spending was up $110.65 from May's total.
*  We "recycled" 2 tvs in June and had to pay $60 OOP in fees.

The Food Budget costs for June are in another post, which is located HERE.

With 6 month accounted for, our Savings Challenge Grand Total for 2016 is $19,399.50.

Final thoughts on June---

June was a fairly expensive month for us, given all that credit card/trip spending.  Some regular expenses went up too and will be up for a couple years into the future.
No irregular bills due this month, that happens next month.

But compared to June 2015 we put $593.29 more into savings this June. 8-)
.
We have $19399.50 saved so far in 2016, and we have only $18,600.50 left to save over the next 6 months at this point to reach our goal of $38K saved.  That averages out to $3100.08 a month for the rest of the year.  We are just a little over saving half of what I want in 2016 so we are right on target at this point in the year.

We are at the halfway mark for the year folks!  I can't believe the year is half over.

In 2015 we put $18,797.36 into savings at the halfway mark so we are averaging slightly more saved per month in 2016 so far.

THOUGHTS going forward into July----
The only irregular bill I have to pay in July is a quarterly Garbage bill and that's not much.
August and September will be my Bill Armageddon however.(House and car insurance AND property taxes.)
There may be a short trip in July which will mean some c/c spending to pay in August. Our c/c balance due in July is hovering at $1K($550 of which is a car repair...ugh) so that bill will be a bit less this month that what it was in June(over $2500).

So how was your June financially?
  

Did you spend less than the income you had in June?
Did you stay within your budget or not?
What did you do with any money leftover at the end of the month?
Did you pay off any debts or put extra toward your mortgage principle or into savings, in an emergency fund or a retirement account?
Or did you blow it on a want?

If you posted your financial progress on your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can go check out your progress too and celebrate or commiserate with you!

As we go forward into the last half of 2016 why not make this year the one were you clean up your finances and pay off your debts.
Plan to set something aside if you don't already now or increase what you bank now for your future self.
Or pay extra on the principle of your mortgage is your house isn't already paid off.

Live below your means and keep some change for a rainy day....because no matter how sunny it is in your life now, dark clouds come along and you'll be glad you have that umbrella to keep you dry.

Sluggy

State of the Freezer & Pantry

Taking a page out of Anne in the Kitchen's book, I decided to track what we used up from the freezer and pantry in June on dinners.
I also tried to track what we added to both in June.

FREEZER

* 3 packages of chuck steaks
* 2 packages of cubed steak
* 2 whole chickens
* 2 London Broils
* 2 lbs. of Flounder
* 2 packages of Kilebasa
* 3 packages of Pork Chops
* 1 large Ziploc of homemade Meatballs
* 2 packages of Italian Sausage
* 2 packages of Chicken Thighs
* 2 packages of Salmon
* 1/3 bag of potato crusted Fish
* 3 bags of Ravioli
* 2 bags of Brussels Sprouts
* 1 bag of Cauliflower
* 1 bag of Broccoli
* 1 bag of Yellow Squash
* 1 bag Mushrooms
* 2 bags of Assorted Veggie(can't remember which kinds)
* 2 large Ziplocs of Home grown Collards
* 1 package Stuffed Clams
* 2 packages chicken Breakfast Sausages
* 1 bag Gnocchi
* 1/2 bag of Corn Dogs
* 1lb Ground Beef roll
* 2 packages of Bacon

PANTRY STAPLES

* 1 can corn
* 1 can of creamed corn
* 1 box of spaghetti
* 1 bottle Italian dressing
* 2 cans crushed tomatoes
* 1 can puree tomatoes
* 1 jar spaghetti sauce
* 1 bag Spanish rice mix
* 1 box pasta shells
* 2 cans baked Beans
* 3 cups Risotto Rice
* 2 boxes Stuffing mix
* 1 bag Alfredo noodles
* 1 box instant mac & cheese
* 1/2 jar roasted Red Peppers
* 3 cans green Chiles
* 1 can Refried Beans
* 1 bag Hush Puppy mix
* 1/2 box White Rice
* 3 boxes Cornbread mix
* 1 box of Chicken Stock
* 1 can Tomato Soup
* 1 quart Vegetable Oil
* 1 package Flour Tortillas
* 2/3 package Corn Tortillas
* 1 jar of Pimientoes

And here is what went into the Freezer and Pantry in June.....

ADDED to FREEZER in JUNE

* 1 bag of Shrimp
* 1 package Stuffed Clams
* 2 packages London Broil
* 2 lbs Ground Beef
* 1 roll Breakfast Sausage
* 2 packages R/S Bacon
* 2 bags Gnocchi
* 1 box of Corn Dogs
* 4 lbs of Ground Beef rolls
* 2 bags of Broccoli
* 1 bag of Chicken Strips
* 3 Pork Shoulders(small ones)
* 3 packages of Chicken Thighs
* 1 small Sirloin Steak
* 1 package Cubed Steaks
* 2 boxes Breaded Shrimp
* 6 packages of Bacon
* 2 packages of Turkey Breakfast Sausage

ADDED to PANTRY in JUNE

* 1 can tomato Soup
* 1 half gallon Vegetable Oil
* 1 package Fettuccine Noodles
* 1 package Flour Tortillas
* 1 package Corn Tortillas
* 2 boxes instant au gratin Potatoes
* 7 bags assorted noodle side dishes
* 2 bags of Instant Taters
* 1 bag Brown Sugar
* 3 cans Beefaroni
* 14 bottles of Salad Dressing
* 4 canisters of Lemonade
* 2 jars of Pimientoes
* 2 jars of Pickles
* 3 boxes of Taco Shells

If I hadn't added more to the Freezer in June it would be half empty by now.  With Daughter and BF's freezer purchases in June it's just about at the same levels of fullness......ice cream cartons and boxes breakfast sandwiches seem to take up more room comparatively than most items. ;-)
We did add less than we used up on both fronts in June.


Sluggy