This Week on the Dining Table

The "Last Monday's Dinner" Edition................

A couple of weeks back I found some tv dinners 50% off on clearance-2 different Stouffer's family meals and 2 individual dinners(1 a Healthy Choice/1 Lean Cusine). I prepared the Chicken Alfredo family meal last Monday plus added some sauteed Porcini mushrooms to it.  I served it with a Asian Slaw(from a bag).  It was tasty, cheap and filling.  I think we ate off that Stouffer's meal for 1 dinner and 2 lunches during the week.  Not bad for the $4.12 it cost me. ;-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Chicken Alfredo w/Mushrooms, Asian Slaw

2. Monday--Beer Brats(w/chili if wanted), Cauliflower

3. Tuesday--Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

4. Wednesday--TV Dinners, Salad

5. Thursday--Steak, Squash, Cuke/Tomato Salad

6. Friday--no clue yet
7. Saturday--no clue yet

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Chicken Alfredo w/Mushrooms, Asian Slaw

2. Monday--Beer Brats, Roasted Cauliflower

3. Tuesday--Leftovers

4. Wednesday--Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

5. Thursday--Fend for Yourself(I had a bagel)

6. Friday--Pork Chop, Teriyaki Green Beans
7. Saturday--Steak, Tossed Salad

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 2 nights of leftovers/ffy, and 0 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out.   We did go out to lunch at Chili's on Thursday so dinner was FFY that night.

What got put into the freezer last week.....

* a bag of broccoli
* 2 lbs. sauteed chicken breast
* 7 lbs. green beans
* 2 lbs. shrimp
* 1.5 lbs. salmon

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 5 beer brats
* 1 Stouffer's dinner entree
* 2 large pork chops
* 1 quart of green beans
* 2 t-bone steaks

A small trip to the Bread Outlet($7.89), a trip to Malacari Produce($27.14), P&R Discounters($33.98), 2 trips to Weis($78.01)and a trip to the Restaurant Supply on Sunday($48.84 brought the weekly spending to $195.86 and my July total to $469.99.
That's quite a bit over my $400 food budget *whomp whomp* but better to scoop up the deals when they are low and go over(if you can afford it each month)then have less to buy in other months.

My savings percentage last week was 53.31%(without Rite-Aid trips)and July's monthly savings total comes in at 51.79%(w/out R-A).   Finding good deals and cherry picking the loss leaders last week has my rate back up into the 50's.

I have 2 more food shopping/spending days in July but I am finished spending this month(and thank goodness I am! lol).

Leftovers going into this week......small helping of chicken rice casserole, half a pork chop, teriyaki green beans.

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

1. Sunday--Veggie Lasagna

2. Monday--Italian Sausage Sandwiches, Squash Casserole

3. Tuesday--Chicken Con Queso Casserole, Tossed Salad

4. Wednesday--Fish, Cole Slaw, Fried Zucchini 

5. Thursday--BBQ on rolls, Cole Slaw

6. Friday--Korean Bulgogi Beef, Stir-Fry Veggies
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 6 new meals cooked, 1 night of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.

What needs buying for this menu? Well I have everything I need since a bought a lot of it the past few days.

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  

How to While Away a Sunday

Here at Chez Sluggy is the way we spend a Sunday in July..............

First we make a plan to head to the Restaurant Supply store because A-they released a $5 off $50 purchase Q this weekend and B-they have local green beans finally! for cheap this weekend.

Then we stop at Rite-Aid to pick up a Sunday paper(and the Q inserts)and Hubs gets a phone call from Ex-College Boy while sitting in the car waiting on me to get out of Rite-Aid.
Ex-CB's car blew a tire going down the mountain road to get to work, so we stop by him and Hubs helps him put the donut tire on his car.  We then change cars letting him take Hubs' car to work and we limp home in his car w/said donut on it.

At home we throw the cooler into my car and head back out to the Restaurant Supply store and actually get there this time. lolz

I got lots of produce and use my $5 off Q(and also go over my food budget for July by about $36...sigh)then we head home.

Hubs is now outside working on the monstrous brush pile..........

And I am prepping about 8 lbs. of green beans for blanching.......

I've got more sorting of fabric in my sewing room and then reorganizing the toiletry stash tubs too in there to work on.
Then I'll think about dinner plans around 5 pm(maybe tv dinners to get something else out of the chest freezer so I can shove green beans in).

If anyone needs be I'll be up to my hiney in beans for the next couple hours because these beans aren't going to clean themselves.........


Sluggy

July Giveaway is Open.....FINALLY!

Various events have got me behind the 8 ball this month on getting this month's giveaway up and running.  I met to get this up mid-month but Sluggy plans evidently and the gods laugh. ;-)
So here it is finally...rah!

Here goes the July Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway--


Here's what you can win if you are selected this month.........

1 x Speed Stick men's anti/deo
1 x Pantene Repair and Condition
1 x Pantene shampoo
1 x Suave Body Wash
1 x Neutrogena Acne Wash
1 x Emergen-C Vitamin C packets
1 x Colgate toothpaste
1 x Yes2Tomatoes charcoal mask
1 x Cover Girl eye crayon/pencil
1 x Cover Girl eye shadow palette
1 x Trident gum(mint)
1 x Hydralyte berry flavor hydration tablets
1 x MandM's caramel type
2 x Mentos(1 mint, 1 cinnamon)
1 x Fig Newtons 2 pack
1 x Belvita blueberry breakfast cookie pack


Close up shots of the goodies..........

Around $60 worth of regular retail goodies(depending on where you shop for this sort of thing).
Lots of July necessities here--things to get you ready for Summer(razors, hair, deodorant, make-up, dental needs), vitamin C and hydration tablets for all that outdoor activity coming up and gum, candy and cookies to feed your soul.

* This July Giveaway Box of goodies is open to any and all readers, non-winners yet and previous winners.

There is a limit of ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER DAY for this Giveaway.  Come back every day and enter though!

I want to hear all about any Summer Projects, Summer Foods you enjoy. Or any Summer Hacks you use.  Or what is the thing in this goody box you most want to have and why?  Things like that.

I'll leave this giveaway open until Monday, August 5th at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time. On August 6th, Tuesday,  I'll mark all valid entries on slips of paper and have Ex-College Boy draw the winner.

*Please note these rules*
I'll post the name/ID of the winner on this blog on June 25th and that person has 48 hours from the time stamp on that post to contact me privately via email(my email addy is listed on my "About Me" page, as well as on my side bar).

If I am not contacted via email, I'll attempt to contact the winner via the email they supplied with their entry(or gave me to add to the Giveaway Data Base)and if that email is not responded to within another 48 hours I'll pick another winner.

Disclaimer--This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses within the US only.  As the cost of postage to foreign countries has gotten too high I am sorry to say I can no longer afford to mail boxes outside the US.  These giveaways are not sponsored by any companies.  I pay for it all(the cost of items given away and the postage to mail it all)out of my own pocket.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you in your comment.

If you're not a registered Blogger User with your contact information on your User page, please put your email addy in your comment or email me your email addy privately when you leave a comment so I can get a hold of you. If your Blogger associated user profile is a GOOGLE one make sure your email info is linked to your profile.

If I can't contact you then you can't win.  I am still having to disqualify entries due to this issue and I sure don't like doing that.  Thanks!

So let's get the JULY Giveaway started.  Good Luck to everyone!!!

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the July 26th Edition

Well not much frugal went on this past week.

* No freebie from Weis(PMITA)Markets(it was ice pops), no money found(I saw a penny by the vending machines at the HS clinic appointment in Hershey but I didn't get a chance to pick it up)and I showed all the shopping at Rite-Aid this week already plus all the discount outlet food shopping I did.

 I got the $2 rebate from SavingStar on the cookies already so I am down $7.96 in BC for all the above.

* I received $4.80 and am still waiting on another $1 in Ibotta rebates the last 2 weeks.


* I froze 2 quart bags of hot dog chili from the cookout to use another time so avoided waste there. No photo of that.

* I received this in the mail........

Evidently our medical provider did an audit of their books from 2016 and they found I had overpaid on a co-pay during THIS allergic reaction episode from October back in 2016.  So they sent me the amount on a Debit card.
I can request a check for the amount instead and deposit that into our bank account but since it's for $100 I'll just put it away with all my other "found" monies (rebates/postQ$/refunds)and put it toward the grocery/toiletry spending at the end of the year.
That was a nice little surprise that brightened my day, huh? ;-)

* This is what got picked from the garden this past week..........

1 Head of Cauliflower and 3 more heads of Broccoli.  The Cauliflower got roasted and served with Beer Brats this week and some of the Broccoli got put into a Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole(the rest got tucked into the freezer).
We need to pick the last Broccoli and a couple more Cauliflower heads this weekend.

* Hubs and I had lunch at Chili's after my Dr. appt. Thursday in Hershey.  I used an old gift card to pay and we both got the $8 lunch combo deals so there is tons left on that gift card.

That's all I got this week.  Not much.
Just a whole lot of staying home, trying to work on projects around the house.

How has your frugal week been?

Sluggy

Hitting the Discount Stores This Week + Rite-Aid

First off here is what I spent my $5 in ECBs at CVS on the day they expired, July 12th.........

I didn't want to generate more ECBs with my purchase so I bought something I could use for the puppies.  2 packs of dog bone treats to keep them busy.  I paid $1.06 OOP for these after using the ECBs.
Now I am off the CVS merry-go-round, thankfully.  It's just too much work trying to stay on top of ECBs and BC as well.  I'll stick to Rite-Aid for now. ;-)

So here's where I went this week to cherry pick some deals.......

Went to P and R Discounters(a salvage/discontinued item store)and got--

* 2 x BC pie crust mix boxes for .99¢ ea.
* 2 x Smash Mallow gourmet marshmallow bags for .59¢ ea.
* 1 x Ocean's Halo Stir-Fry sauce for .79¢
* 1 x Ocean's Halo Soy-Free Soy Sauce for .79¢
* 1 x Seeds of Change Sesame Ginger Asian sauce for .99¢
* 2 x Mi-Del Ginger Snap Pie Crust for .79¢ ea.
* 2 x Bell's Stuffing Mix for .89¢ ea.
* 2 x Essential Everyday Spaghetti for .59¢ ea.
* 1 x Boudin Sourdough Pita Crisps for .99¢
* 1 x Velveeta log for $3.49(for Ex-CB)
* 2 x Folger's Coffee Singles(19 in box)for .99¢ ea.(for Hubs)
* 2 x Goya 28 oz Tomato Paste for $1.29 ea.(HUGH CANS!)

* 4 x Stop and Shop Mozzrella 1 lb. for $1.99 ea.
* 3.66 lbs. of BSCB for $1.29 lb.!
*1 case(12 boxes)of Hamburger Helper Lasagna flavor for $1.99 total.

Total out the door was $33.98.

Now I know I'll catch shit for buying a CASE of Hamburger Helper but.....
1-It's a flavor we like now and again and everyone here will eat it.
2-It's something Hubs can prepare if I am not well.
3-With 1 and 2 above, it was also .0825¢ a box!
Bonus-each box has Box Tops for Education I can sell on eBay.
sweet. 8-)

Then I hit the produce market(Hubs calls it Macarena because he can't remember the name!lol It's Malacari's)......

* 5 lb. Russett Potatoes for $2.49
* 1 x cuke for .50¢
* 2.22 lb.s cherries for $1.99 lb.
* 1 x Red Pepper Cream Cheese spread for $2.99
* 1 lb. pack of Snow Peas for $1.84
* 1 pack of Hatfield hot dogs for .99¢
* 3 x lemons for .99¢
* 1.06 lb. chicken deli meat($6.99 lb.)
* .58 lb. roast beef deli meat($4.99 lb.)
* 1 gallon of Whole Milk *not pictured*
If I can't get to the farm stand or over to the Restaurant Supply this is the best priced produce and deli meat in town.

Total out that door was $27.14.

Lastly I hit the Bread Outlet........

* 2 x Arnold's Oatmeal Bread  $1.33 ea.
* 1 x Thomas' English Muffins  $1.33 ea.
* 1 x 16 pack of hot dog rolls .89¢
* 2 x Entenmann's cinnamon doughnuts $1.50 ea.

Total out the bread store door was $7.89.

I hit Weis on Tuesday.........

I did the Mix and Match/Buy 6 Items, Get $3 Off--
4 x Birdseye veggies
2 x Tums antacid
Total was $18-$3=$15-.25¢ WeisQ for 1 Birdseye pack and 2 x $1.50 Tums Qs doubled=$11.75 for all 6 items.
The can of tomato soup was .75¢ after another WeisQ.
I found these Shrimp Cup O' Noodles on clearance for .50¢ ea. and picked them up for Ex-CB.
The trash bags and bleach were part of a "Spend $20(based on shelf price)/Get $7 off Instantly.  I also have 2 x $2.50/1 Glad trash bag IPQs so OOP for those 3 items after sale prices/Qs/$7 instant off was $6.98 total.

The soup mixes were also 50% on clearance($1.32 each)so I got Hubs the Sicilian Lentil one and 2 x Mushroom mix for myself.
I got a $3 meat stickered pack of ground beef(1.33 lbs.)plus used a .50¢ WeisQ along with 2 heads of lettuce and used another .25¢ WeisQ.
A lemon meringue pie($1 off so $6), a $2 pack of cherry turnovers(50% off)and a $1 pack of muffins(50% off + used a $1 WeisQ)brought the grand total at Weis(PMITA)Markets to $41.04.
Total spent this week was $110.04 so I am still under budget for July with $15.92 to spare.

Not bad considering I got some awesome deals, bought a LOT of bread products and some deli meats and last week was an overspending disaster since I had to send Hubs to the grocery store for me on more than one occasion.  And we hosted a cook-out for 7 people last week.

Then I hit Rite-Aid also on Tuesday........

I did this on my card--
2 x Gillette shave cream BOGO50%=$5.43
3 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $3.50=$10.50
1 x Biore face product 20% Wellness Disc=$6.63
1 x Jergens lotion 20% Wellness Disc.=$6.63
SubTotal..........$29.19

Coupons Used
1 x $5/2 Gillette shave cream L2CQ=$5.00
1 x $5/3 Colgate products L2CQ=$5.00
3 x $3/1 Colgate In-AdQ=$9.00
1 x $2.50/1 Biore ManuQ=$2.50
1 x $2.50/1 Jergens ManuQ=$2.50
Coupon Total.........$24.00

$29.19-$24.00=$5.19+.53¢ tax=$5.72 paid for with BC.
I earned $4 in new BC(wyb2 Biore/Jergens/Curel)so I spent down my Bonus Cash by $1.72.

I needed to buy stuff to cover the $3.50 overage on the 3 tubes of toothpaste.  The shave cream "cost" .43 for 2 after the Q and I had high value Biore and Jergens Qs and those gave back $4 in Bonus Cash so I went with that scenario.

Then I also had the $5/2 Gillette L2CQ on my daughter's card so I bought those again..........

Used .46¢ in BC(w/.03¢ tax)to pay.

Then on my son's card I had both a $5/3 Colgate L2CQ and a $4/2 Colgate L2CQ(which would give me $6.50 in overage)so I did this deal...........

2 x Gillette shave cream BOGO50%=$5.43
3 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $3.50=$10.50
2 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $3.50=$7.00
6 x Nabisco cookies on sale 2/$6=$18.00
SubTotal........$40.93

Coupons Used
1 x $5/2 Gillette shave cream L2CQ=$5.00
1 x $5/3 Colgate toothpaste L2CQ=$5.00
1 x $4/2 Colgate toothpaste L2CQ=$4.00
5 x $3/1 Colgate In-AdQ=$15.00
2 x $1/3 Nabisco items ManuQ=$2.00
Coupon Total......$31.00

$40.93-$31.00=$9.93+.02¢tax=$9.95 using BC.
I earned back $1 in new BC(wyb2 Oreos).  I would have bought 6 x Oreos and gotten $3 in new BC but my store was cleaned out of Oreos except for the 3 I got so I had to sub Chips Ahoy!(which Ex-CB will readily eat-if they aren't gone yet....I haven't looked. lolz).
While I was too late to act on the Nabisco Checkout51 rebates I did get 2 x $1 SavingStar Nabisco rebates already so after rebates/BC earned I "spent down" $6.95 in BC for that transaction.

A tip on the Gillette shave cream--buying the $2.99 price point ones wasn't triggering the $5/2 L2CQ to come off so you need to make sure your 2 cans total at LEAST $5.00.  That is why I bought the slightly higher priced cans.  BUT online the $5/2 L2CQ is showing as valid on the $2.99 price point cans so if you want to get the cheaper ones and then call Customer Service and argue with them, be my guest.....otherwise just get the higher priced cans to begin with.
Also the $5/3 Colgate and the $4/2 Colgate L2CQs work on DIFFERENT types of toothpaste.  What I have pictured are the kinds that work...Totalsf Deep Clean and Totalsf Advanced + Whitening  gel work w/the $5/3L2CQ and Totalsf Advanced Whitening paste works w/the $4/2 L2CQ.

I am pooped with all the shopping this week.
Did any of y'all find some deals this week?

Sluggy