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Sluggy
Go HERE to put your name into the hat.
Who knows? You might just win! 8-)))
Sluggy
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
2017 Food & Toiletries Spending....February Update
* Posting my grocery totals a day early as I am done food spending for February. If for some reason I shop again today, this amount will go onto March's spending.*
Onward to February's food spending report.......
Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2017.
I have posted February's totals on the Total Grocery Savings Page located HERE and have updated the Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in February. If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Sum. My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3-4(3 at home this month). No kids under 20.
******************
BREAD OUTLET
OOP $4.75
Value $17.26
Savings 72.48%
MAINE SOURCE
OOP $31.28
Value $49.30
Savings 36.55%
RITE-AID
OOP $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs $331.67
Value $331.67
Savings 100%
*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 72.48% and the Shursave Market at 61.38%. My WORST savings rate was Maine Source at 36.55%.
The bulk of my money was spent at Weis Markets in February and I had a 51.50% savings rate there.
I shopped at 5 different stores this past month.
TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$293.95
Onward to February's food spending report.......
Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2017.
I have posted February's totals on the Total Grocery Savings Page located HERE and have updated the Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in February. If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Sum. My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3-4(3 at home this month). No kids under 20.
******************
BREAD OUTLET
OOP $4.75
Value $17.26
Savings 72.48%
MAINE SOURCE
OOP $31.28
Value $49.30
Savings 36.55%
RITE-AID
OOP $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs $331.67
Value $331.67
Savings 100%
SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP $21.52
Qs/Ads $34.20
Value $55.72
Savings 61.38%
OOP $21.52
Qs/Ads $34.20
Value $55.72
Savings 61.38%
WEIS MARKETS
OOP $236.40
Qs/Ads $251.02
Value $487.42
Savings 51.50%
*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 72.48% and the Shursave Market at 61.38%. My WORST savings rate was Maine Source at 36.55%.
The bulk of my money was spent at Weis Markets in February and I had a 51.50% savings rate there.
I shopped at 5 different stores this past month.
TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$293.95
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$647.42
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$941.37
TOTAL Savings of ..................................68.77%
TOTAL Savings w/o Rite-Aid of ..............51.79%
This closes out the February food/toiletries spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into February wanting to spend $300 on food and toiletries.
I came in $6.05 under even with stocking up on a few things this month.
The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 4.48% in February to 68.77% compared to January's 73.25% savings average.
With 2 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $845.22 on food/toiletries in 2017 which averages out to $422.61 per month spent in 2017. 8-)
LOOKING AHEAD To March........
College Boy will be home for 1 of the 4 weeks in March. I want to try for another $300 grocery spending month anyway. We've got lots in the pantry/freezer/stockpile heading into March.
If I can't keep under $300 I should be able to stay close.
TOTAL Savings w/o Rite-Aid of ..............51.79%
This closes out the February food/toiletries spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into February wanting to spend $300 on food and toiletries.
I came in $6.05 under even with stocking up on a few things this month.
With 2 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $845.22 on food/toiletries in 2017 which averages out to $422.61 per month spent in 2017. 8-)
LOOKING AHEAD To March........
College Boy will be home for 1 of the 4 weeks in March. I want to try for another $300 grocery spending month anyway. We've got lots in the pantry/freezer/stockpile heading into March.
If I can't keep under $300 I should be able to stay close.
If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share yours with us all.
* How much did you spend on food/toiletries in February?
* Do you track your yearly food spending?
* What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons vs. buying at regular retail price last month, if you track that sort of thing?
* What are your methods for keeping your food spending in check?
Is anyone out there up for tracking expenditures and trying to spend less but still eat well?
Sluggy
* Do you track your yearly food spending?
* What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons vs. buying at regular retail price last month, if you track that sort of thing?
* What are your methods for keeping your food spending in check?
Is anyone out there up for tracking expenditures and trying to spend less but still eat well?
Sluggy
Monday, February 27, 2017
This Week on the Dining Table
The "Crazy Weather Changes" Edition--
On Sunday the temperature dropped to 27F.
The UP side of this is I loved having the heat off for 5 days basically last week and my electric bill will be much lower for February that it usually is(Feb. bill is sent to us and paid in March). This bill with the coldest temps of the year here is our highest bill annually but it won't be so bad this year thanks to Mother Nature.
Moving on......
Onward to the meal planning!
Here's what was planned last week--
1. Sunday--Pork Tenderloin Roast, Mixed Veggies, Corn Casserole
2. Monday--Shrimp Scampi w/Linquine, Salad *
3. Tuesday--Burgers or Sloppy Joes on Rolls, Macaroni Salad, Broccoli
4. Wednesday--Salmon, Cole Slaw, Squash
5. Thursday--Cheese Lasagna, Caesar Salad
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Leftovers or Cheese Ravioli w/Salad if no leftovers
And this is what actually happened--
1. Sunday--Pork Tenderloin Roast, Mixed Veggies, Corn Casserole
2. Monday--Shrimp Scampi w/Linquine, Salad *
3. Tuesday--Patty Melts on Black Bread, Mixed Veggies
4. Wednesday--TV Dinners
5. Thursday--Cheese Lasagna
6. Friday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, Macaroni Salad w/Veggies
7. Saturday--Leftovers
7 meals cooked at home(though technically I didn't make the tv dinners), 1 of them a night of leftovers or Fend For Yourself, and 0 night of eating-out.
The Daughter made Patty Melts instead of Burgers and I didn't do the Salmon or Ravioli last week. Instead, I got a killer deal on tv dinners($1.87 each for the good kind and I got a cooking break)and I cut up and pounded that pork tenderloin I got for $3 last week into pieces for sandwiches another night.
The Daughter made Patty Melts instead of Burgers and I didn't do the Salmon or Ravioli last week. Instead, I got a killer deal on tv dinners($1.87 each for the good kind and I got a cooking break)and I cut up and pounded that pork tenderloin I got for $3 last week into pieces for sandwiches another night.
As for the grocery spending.....1 trip to Weis and 1 trip to the Bread Outlet brought the food spending last week to $72.64 and brought my February food spending total to $293.95 for the month. There is 1 day left in the month but I am finished food shopping until March.
I actually stayed under $300 for February. 8-)
My savings percentages last week was 48%.
Leftovers going into this week.......Lasagna, 2 small Baked Potatoes, Corn Casserole and Macaroni Salad. I'll cut up/mash up the leftover taters with onions and make Hubs hash browns for breakfast one morning.
I actually stayed under $300 for February. 8-)
My savings percentages last week was 48%.
Leftovers going into this week.......Lasagna, 2 small Baked Potatoes, Corn Casserole and Macaroni Salad. I'll cut up/mash up the leftover taters with onions and make Hubs hash browns for breakfast one morning.
Here is this week's "food plan"....
* Denotes "complicated" meals
This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating-Out and 2 nights of Leftovers.
What I need to buy for this menu?
Brussell Sprouts, Yellow Squash, Ground Beef, Asparagus. I plan on hitting Maine Source today for veggies and meat.
* Denotes "complicated" meals
1. Sunday--Leftover Lasagna or Fend for Yourself
2. Monday--Salmon, Leftover Mac Salad, Asparagus
3. Tuesday--Baked Chicken Thighs, Brussell Sprouts
4. Wednesday--Baked Potatoes, Roasted Veggies
5. Thursday--Meatloaf, Sauted Yellow Squash, Leftover Corn Casserole
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Leftovers
This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating-Out and 2 nights of Leftovers.
What I need to buy for this menu?
Brussell Sprouts, Yellow Squash, Ground Beef, Asparagus. I plan on hitting Maine Source today for veggies and meat.
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
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
Saturday, February 25, 2017
Wacky Weather Time
So it hit a record busting 74 degrees F yesterday in NE PA. We've shattered record highs for February most of the last two weeks here.
Last night was a "LOW" of 61 degrees.
In late February people!
A high in the mid 30's in February is talked about as a HEAT WAVE most years here. lolz
Here is the granddog when I put her out early this afternoon.
Then we heard thunder in the distance....
Clouds were rolling in and then we got some sprinkles of rain. It's still in the 60's at this point.
About 15 minutes after I brought the dog inside a racket broke out outside.
I ran to the front porch in time to see moderately sized hail stones coming down.....
The rain starting pouring down in sheets after another few seconds.
Can you make out the gutter pipe to the right on the edge of the porch is so inundated with water that it's gushing out through a seam and soaking the porch.
That little water spout is where the buried gutter spout pipe, that leads rain away from the foundation of the house comes up to the surface. The water is rushing so fast that it's bubbling up from the pipe.
The rain picked up and the hail picked up and their was a stream rushing down our street....
Look at all that hail!
Here are two short videos I took of the storm.....
And later on......
It's 55F now and suppose to go down to 27F tonight.
Fun times.......
Sluggy
Last night was a "LOW" of 61 degrees.
In late February people!
A high in the mid 30's in February is talked about as a HEAT WAVE most years here. lolz
Here is the granddog when I put her out early this afternoon.
Then we heard thunder in the distance....
Clouds were rolling in and then we got some sprinkles of rain. It's still in the 60's at this point.
About 15 minutes after I brought the dog inside a racket broke out outside.
I ran to the front porch in time to see moderately sized hail stones coming down.....
The rain starting pouring down in sheets after another few seconds.
Can you make out the gutter pipe to the right on the edge of the porch is so inundated with water that it's gushing out through a seam and soaking the porch.
That little water spout is where the buried gutter spout pipe, that leads rain away from the foundation of the house comes up to the surface. The water is rushing so fast that it's bubbling up from the pipe.
The rain picked up and the hail picked up and their was a stream rushing down our street....
Look at all that hail!
Here are two short videos I took of the storm.....
And later on......
It's 55F now and suppose to go down to 27F tonight.
Fun times.......
Sluggy
Friday, February 24, 2017
A Little Bit of Friday Frugal
Not much to report this week really in the frugal arena.
* I was out running errands on Wednesday and I used a Subway gift card to get myself a sub for lunch, so no $ spent.
* Getting back in my car I spied this on the ground.....
A quarter somebody dropped in the parking lot.
Yay for found money, no matter the amount! 8-)
* I shared my free and cheap foods I got in yesterday's post.
* I sent College Boy a box of stuff since it was his birthday. I didn't go out and buy anything for it, but used items I had already-a card, 2 boxes of facial tissue(he's been sick and had used all I'd given him to bring back after break), some mail for him that came here and lots of snacks(things I've gotten for free or cheap recently at the stores). He loved it all. The only cost was for shipping. 8-)
* I stopped myself while at Weis yesterday from buying pre-made macaroni salad. I LOVE their mac salad but it was $6 a container! When did potato and mac salads from the grocery stores get soooo expensive?!!
Anyway, I couldn't bring myself to spend the money for it so I bought an orange bell pepper on sale for $1 instead and using ingredients I already have at home I'll make my own and try to get the sauce to taste like the store's dish.
* I received a stack of catalogs in the mail this week(touting all the Spring styles). I didn't even open them and dumped them into the trash can. I don't need new/more clothes. If I feel I do, I have stacks of fabric already here and I can make my own outfits.
* I added more dumplings to my homemade chicken and dumplings leftovers and Hubs and I had that for lunch instead of going out for a sandwich. I've still got two bowls of it left so 1 lunch this weekend is covered.
* Even though today is Fantastic Friday at the grocery store there is nothing I need that is on awseom discount so I am staying home and not grocery shopping today.
Otherwise there is not much frugal to talk about this week.
What did you do this week to keep money in your own pocket?
Sluggy
* I was out running errands on Wednesday and I used a Subway gift card to get myself a sub for lunch, so no $ spent.
* Getting back in my car I spied this on the ground.....
A quarter somebody dropped in the parking lot.
Yay for found money, no matter the amount! 8-)
* I shared my free and cheap foods I got in yesterday's post.
* I sent College Boy a box of stuff since it was his birthday. I didn't go out and buy anything for it, but used items I had already-a card, 2 boxes of facial tissue(he's been sick and had used all I'd given him to bring back after break), some mail for him that came here and lots of snacks(things I've gotten for free or cheap recently at the stores). He loved it all. The only cost was for shipping. 8-)
* I stopped myself while at Weis yesterday from buying pre-made macaroni salad. I LOVE their mac salad but it was $6 a container! When did potato and mac salads from the grocery stores get soooo expensive?!!
Anyway, I couldn't bring myself to spend the money for it so I bought an orange bell pepper on sale for $1 instead and using ingredients I already have at home I'll make my own and try to get the sauce to taste like the store's dish.
* I received a stack of catalogs in the mail this week(touting all the Spring styles). I didn't even open them and dumped them into the trash can. I don't need new/more clothes. If I feel I do, I have stacks of fabric already here and I can make my own outfits.
* I added more dumplings to my homemade chicken and dumplings leftovers and Hubs and I had that for lunch instead of going out for a sandwich. I've still got two bowls of it left so 1 lunch this weekend is covered.
* Even though today is Fantastic Friday at the grocery store there is nothing I need that is on awseom discount so I am staying home and not grocery shopping today.
Otherwise there is not much frugal to talk about this week.
What did you do this week to keep money in your own pocket?
Sluggy
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