The State of the Freezer & Pantry......End of August Update

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 August on dinners.

I also tried to track what we added to both in August.

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

ADDED to FREEZER in AUGUST

* 16 Corn Dogs
* 6 Boxes Bkfst Hot Pockets
* 1 bag French Fries
* 1 package uncured Hot Dogs
* 10 TV Dinners
* 1 bag Crab Rangoon
* 1 can Crab Meat
* 3 lbs. Steaks
* 11 lbs. Spare Ribs
* 5 lbs. Pork Butt
* 3 lbs. Pork Steaks
* 5 lbs. Mozzarella Cheese
* 5 lbs. Green Beans
* 2 lbs. Shrimp
* 2 lbs. Cauliflower
* 5 lbs. Ground Chuck
* 3 lbs. Flank Steak
* 10 lbs. Tomatoes(but these won't stay there)
* 1 lb. Hot Italian Sausage Patties


ADDED to PANTRY in AUGUST

* 3 Tuna Helper
* 2 bottles Apple Juice
* 3 Rice-a-Roni
* 1 Salad Dressing
* 1 Croutons
* 4 canisters Lemonade
* 2 jars Pimientos
* 4 bottles Veggie Oil
* 7 bottles Pancake Syrup
* 2 boxes Pancake Mix
* 6 cans Rotel
* 4 bottles Ketchup
* 1 package Ranch Seasoning/Dressing
* boxes Medium Shell Pasta


What was Used in August.....

FREEZER

* 12 Corn Dogs
* 4 boxes of Breakfast Hot Pockets
* 1 bag French Fries
* 10 TV Dinners
* 3 lbs. Steaks
* 11 lbs. Pork Ribs
* 5 lbs. Pork Butt
* 3 lbs. Pork Steaks
* 2 lbs. Shrimp
* 2 lbs. Cauliflower
* 5 lbs. Ground Chuck
* 3 lbs. Mozzarella
* 1 package Chicken Thighs
* 1 package Chicken Legs
* 2 London Broils
* 4 Chicken Breasts
* 1 package Salmon Fillets
* 1 bag of CA mix veggies
* 1 lb. Ground Turkey
* 2 lbs. Ground Beef
* 2 lbs. Kielbasa



PANTRY STAPLES

* 2 cans Tomato Soup
* 1 can Mushroom Soup
* 1 can Cream Chicken Soup
* 1 box Penne Pasta
* 1 box Fettucine Noodles
* I bottle Salad Dressing
* 2 bottles Apple Juice
* 2 boxes Rice-a-Roni
* 1 jars Pimientos
* 1.5 bottles Veggie Oil
* 1 box Pancake Mix
* 1 bottle Pancake Syrup
* 1 bottle Ketchup
* 1 package Ranch Seasoning/Dressing
* I boxed Mac and Cheese
* I box Taco Shells
* 1 package Flour Tortillas
* 3 cans Crushed/Puree Tomatoes
* 2 boxes Medium Shell Pasta


The only items put into the freezer in August that didn't ultimately get used in August are--

* 4 Corn Dogs
* 2 Boxes Bkfst Hot Pockets
* 1 package uncured Hot Dogs
* 1 bag Crab Rangoon
* 1 can Crab Meat
* 2 lbs. Mozzarella Cheese
* 5 lbs. Green Beans
* 3 lbs. Flank Steak
* 1 lb. Hot Italian Sausage Patties

The only items put into the pantry in August that didn't ultimately get used in August are--

* 3 Tuna Helper
* 1 Rice-a-Roni
* 1 Croutons
* 4 canisters Lemonade
* 1 jar Pimientos
* 3 bottles Veggie Oil
* 6 bottles Pancake Syrup
* 2 boxes Pancake Mix
* 6 cans Rotel
* 4 bottles Ketchup

Items on my list to look for a "Deal" for stocking up--

* Panko Bread Crumbs
* Flour unbleached

The freezer is quite full and the pantry needs some organizing once the weather cools off a bit more and I can spend an extended amount of time in the garage.

How's your food storage doing?



Sluggy

2016 $38K Savings Challenge......August 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 $38,000 this year, $8K more than my goal for last year.

On to the August report.....

I have posted my August 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 August with a staggeringly low amount.
The extra amount we ended the month of August with?.......$964.60

Income

We had $669.66 left over from our income after our monthly expenses were deducted.

Other monies received in August totaled $294.94.  This included interest made on non-retirement accounts, a small per diem payment and a medical refund for over payment.

This brought us to our gain of $964.60
Since we have no debt, this goes into savings.

Outgo

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

HERE are the GOOD THINGS

*  Phone charges, electric bill, internet and cash withdrawals were approximately the same as last month(Within $1 or so).
*  The gas card spending was down $65.47 from July as Hubs put less gas charges on the gas card.
*  The water bill was $9.69 lower than in July.  Obviously someone was not showering as much. ;-)
*  The direct medical spending was down $247.09 from July's total.  Lots of little co-pays and no big bills from Daughter's LA medical stuff....that is all paid off as of now.

HERE are the BAD THINGS

*  The credit card bill was UP $1550.02 from the previous month's bill. Much of that was vacation spending.
*  The Electric bill was up 5.25.  Not bad considering more a/c was used in August than July.
*  House Insurance was due in August.  This is an annual bill.
* While I though I could get away with ditching car insurance on the third car, per state law we have to keep it insured until the designated dono charityr hauls it off, so I had to pay 3 months worth at $218.76.
We will get a pro rated refund once the car is physically gone.

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

With 8 month accounted for, our Savings Challenge Grand Total for 2016 is $23,253.64.

Final thoughts on August---

If not for the vacation spending on the c/c, a charity cash donation, an annual house insurance payment + a partial car insurance payment we would have hit the monthly goal of putting $3166.33 into the Savings Challenge kitty.
But life happens, doesn't it?

Compared to August 2015 we put $1897.55 LESS into savings this August.
.
We have $23,253.64 saved so far in 2016, and we have only $14,746.36 left to save over the next 4 months at this point to reach our goal of $38K saved.  That averages out to $3686.59 a month for the rest of the year.  This means for the rest of the year I need to average $519.93 MORE per month than our monthly savings target goal of $3,166.66.
bleh.

Only 4 months left in the year to get to my savings goal.  We are quickly running out of time in 2016.


THOUGHTS going forward into September----
September Bill Armageddon month-Property Taxes are due. bleh.
Fortunately our 3rd paycheck month is September this year so that will offset taxes.
Add in that we have finally hit that mark in the year where the government taxes go down so we get a little more in each payment.
We should be on track to have a large amount to dump into the Savings Challenge at the end of September....unless life happens again.  ;-)

So how was your August financially?
  

Did you spend less than the income you had in August?
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 if 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

Stuff Lately

As August winds down(hey! it's the 31st today)here are the things going on lately at Chez Sluggy.....

* We got College Boy back to school this past weekend........

I was more hands-off this year on this one, as CB wanted to handle things himself.
This meant that I only spent $ on a couple of kitchen sponges and printer ink cartridges on the back-to-school shopping. $100 or less for back to school shopping?  I'll take it! 8-)
 The rest of his needs were acquired from my various stockpiles(food/toiletries/office supplies/etc.).

The down side was that he forgot to take a goodly amount of articles that he'll be needing....like his concert shoes, mattress memory foam pad and his printer cables.
sigh.

And he lost his wallet but didn't notice until the morning he was to leave which meant an extra hour delay in leaving and he was trying to find it.(He did and he left it in his bandmates car the night before.)  I have threatened him with a wallet/belt chain for the wallet for Xmas.

The good news is he got to school in time for his Wind Ensemble audition and he aced that so got a chair in the Ensemble for this year.

* The garden--
All this was harvested in the last week..........

7.43 lbs. of tomatoes and another of the acorn squash(22.8 oz.)brings my Garden Harvest to 19.93 lbs. of goodies.

The bulk of those tomatoes are now in the freezer wanting for cooler weather so I can can them then.

I spent a morning here.........

Daughter had a treatment and I had to drive her there and back.

Lunch at a Chinese Buffet may or may not have been involved in this "treatment" afterwards.....

A medical appointment was how I spent my morning on Monday, well most of it was spent waiting.
It took 3 months to get this appointment and now my treatment is in the hands of a specialist and all my meds are being turned on their ears.
It's a whole new ballgame as I begin a new journey down the healthcare system.
yay.......8-(
Perhaps this anointed one will have some answers.

* Anxious to see the end of the month August financials tomorrow on the 1st of September.  It won't be pretty I know but it's better to face it than hide from it, right?  September won't be tons better in the saving category since property taxes(half of them)are due next month.  The grocery budget is still kicking my ass but with College Boy away at school the numbers should look a bit better.

Speaking of CB, I can't wait to go  dig out his bedroom. *insert eye roll here*

So I am off to the grocery store for cheap facial tissues and coffee and then to Rite-Aid for my monthly med pick-up plus all these new ones that were ordered.  I might even pick-up something for free while I am at R-A.
Hey, how could I not?  8-)

So what's going on in your world?

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Back To School" Edition......

We sent College Boy packing back to school on Sunday.
Well, after an hour delay in the morning as he tried to track down his wallet.
Boys........

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Eggplant Parmesan, Ceasar Salad
2. Monday--Chicken Marsala, Noodles, CA medley Veggies
3. Tuesday--Leftovers(Ribs, Ranch Chicken Bake and a Veggie side)
4. Wednesday--Meatloaf, Zucchini Casserole
5. Thursday--Kielbasa on Rolls
6. Friday--Pork BBQ sandwiches, Cole Slaw
7. Saturday--Whatever College Boy wants for dinner-probably Crab Cakes and Mac & Cheese(it's his last night home)

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Eggplant Parmesan, Ceasar Salad
2. Monday--Chicken Marsala, Noodles, CA medley Veggies
3. Tuesday--Tacos and/or Taco Salads
4. Wednesday--Tacos and/or Taco Salads
5. Thursday--Pork BBQ sandwishes, Cole Slaw
6. Friday--Homemade Mac & Cheese(CB's request)and whatever else was here that they wanted to fix
7. Saturday--Leftovers

7 meals cooked at home, 1-2 of them nights of leftovers and 0 nights of Take-Out.

As for the grocery spending.....1 trip to the Shursave Market for $30.88 which brought my weekly spending to $132.21 and my August food spending total to $457.27, well under my $500 goal.

Leftovers going into this week........chicken marsala, pork bbq, eggplant parm, ranch chicken bake, mac and cheese, and cauliflower cheese soup(also a College Boy request).

Here is this week's "food plan".

1. Sunday--Leftovers for kids, Anniversary Dinner out for Hubs and I
2. Monday--Meatloaf, Zucchini Casserole
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Kielbasa on Rolls, Sauted Cabbage
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--maybe Leftovers again?
7. Saturday--not sure yet, maybe Take-Out

This week might see 2 new meals cooked and 1 nights of Take-Out and 4 night of Leftovers and 1 meal out.
The meal out happened but not sure if the take-out will happen, or I might make a pizza instead.

What we need to buy for this menu......not a thing.  I have every thing needed to make those 2(or 3 if I do pizza)new meals.  We have so many leftovers so in order to eat it all it's a light cooking week for me.
Go me. lolz

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

Something Added to the Giveaway Box

I found another pair of white No Nonsense Socks in my goody bags so I have added them to the current Giveaway Box up for grabs.

Now two pairs of these socks are in the box of goodies you can win!

I have also been persuaded to add some chocolate too as there was an outcry for Chocolate and there was teeny bit more room in the mailing box.

Yay for chocolate!

So don't forget to enter daily and also get your bonus entries by going HERE and entering before Sunday, September 4th at 11:59pm.

Sluggy