This Week on the Dining Table

The "Well That Was Weird" Edition................
Remember all that baby food I bought at Weis(PMITA)Markets last week?

The Gerber stuff(6 blue packages on the right and 4 glass jars w/green lids in the middle)was bought on Feb. 26th.
On Friday, Feb. 28th, when I went to get the Weis freebie item(a can of OJ concentrate)this printed out on the Catalina machine.........

$1 Cat for buying Gerber products.  A TWO DAY lag between purchase and getting a Catalina for that purchase? lol  I've never had that happen before(Catalinas are suppose to print out with the purchase!).  Has anyone else had this happen to them?
Not that I'm complaining....I'll gladly take $1 in free stuff but it was just strange.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning-

This is what was planned for last week.......

1. Sunday--Stuffed Jumbo Shells, Salad
2. Monday--Ex-CB birthday meal out
3. Tuesday--Chinese dinners(from freezer)

4. Wednesday--Leftovers

5. Thursday--Chicken Parm, Salad

6. Friday--Pork Teriyaki Stir Fry(and rice for some)
7. Saturday--Leftovers of FFY

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Stuffed Jumbo Shells, Salad
2. Monday--Ex-CB birthday meal out
3. Tuesday--Leftovers(I had soup)

4. Wednesday--Chinese dinners(from freezer)

5. Thursday--Leftovers(I had leftover Chinese and soup)

6. Friday--Leftovers again(I had Tuna Salad w/Crackers for Lunch, Jello for Dinner)
7. Saturday--Cheese Steak Sammies, Salad

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 3 nights of leftovers/FFY or TV dinners, and 1 night of Eating Out/Take-Out.
The Chicken Parm and Pork Teriyaki didn't happen, leaving the only planned meal that did happen being the Stuffed Shells and the frozen Chinese dinners.  Both of those meals move to this week.  I got a package of thin cut steaks on instant discount last week so we had Cheese Steak sammies as a meal instead for one of those that didn't happen.  We also had lots of leftovers for Hubs on those nights I didn't feel like eating/cooking so it's all good.

What got put into the freezer last week....
* 2 dozen meatballs
* a whole roaster chicken

What got taken out of the freezer and used.....
* 2 boxes of Chinese meals
* 1 box of Fried Rice

1 trip to Weis(PMITA)Markets this past week in the amount of $38.31 brings my February Grand Total spending on food to $406.39.
I've earned $93.54 in Ibotta rebates too in February.

My savings percentage last week was 50.69%(without Rite-Aid trips)and February's monthly savings total comes in at 49.43%(w/out R-A).  

I have 29 more food shopping/spending days in March.

Leftovers going into this week.....2 Pork Chops and some Stuffed Shells.  Not much left from last week but then again I only cooked 3 nights.

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

1. Sunday--Take-Out Pizza, Salad
2. Monday--Chicken Parmesan, Garlic Bread, Veg
3. Tuesday--Pork Teriyaki, Stir-Fry Veggies

4. Wednesday--Clam Chowder, Biscuits or Cornbread

5. Thursday--Breakfast for Dinner

6. Friday--Salmon, Roasted Carrots, Mac and Cheese
7. Saturday--Leftovers of Fend For Yourself

What needs buying for this menu?
Nothing that I can see.  The Pork Loin, Salmon, Chicken Cutlets and frozen veggies are in the freezer already and the other items needed are in the pantry/fridge.

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

The Food Spending Report......February Edition

Onward to February's food spending report.......

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2020..

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 4(3 at home this month). No "kids" under 24.
*****************

ALDI'S
OOP  $24.94
Value  $45.44
Savings  45.11%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $4.00
Value  $12.47
Savings  67.92%

DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP  $25.08
Value  $49.58
Savings  49.42%

MALACARI'S

OOP  $25.18

Value  $39.57

Savings 36.37%

OLLIE'S

OOP  $16.18

Value  $32.42

Savings 50.09%

PRICE CHOPPER

OOP  $24.15

Value  $51.12

Savings 52.76%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.25
Qs/Ads/BC/GCard  $477.11
Value  $477.36
Savings  99.95%

WALMART
OOP  $48.92
Value  $77.99
Savings  37.27%

WEIS
OOP  $237.94
Qs/Ads  $257.10
Value  $495.04
Savings  51.94%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 99.95%, the Bread Outlet at 67.92% and Price Chopper at 52.76%.   My worst savings rate was at Malacari's with 36.37%.
I shopped at 9 different stores in February.  About half of my food spending in February was done at Weis(PMITA)Markets.

TOTAL Spent........................................$406.39

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales................$397.24

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased........$803.63

TOTAL Savings of ................................49.43%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for February w/R-A........$406.64
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales w/R-A....................$874.35
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$1280.99
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items.....................68.26%

This closes out the February food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went over my usual $400 monthly food budget in February by $6.64.  Not too bad considering I also earned $96.35 in cash rebates for February.
I wanted to spend in the $200 range but lots of Ibotta rebates and good deals were found in February.  No worries however as the total was still near my usual $400 budgeted for food.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went down by 10.72% in February 2020 to 68.26% compared to the January 2019 rate of 78.98% savings average.  I'm not worried though as a 78.98% rate is WAY high!  Anything above 40% is great in my book. ;-)

With 2 months accounted for, I have spent a Year-To-Date Total of $556.12 on food/toiletries in 2019.


2019 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$556.12

2019 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items....$1280.99

2019 Grand Total Saved...............................$874.35

2019 Yearly Savings Total............68.26%

The average per month amount spent is $278.18 in 2020.

LOOKING AHEAD To March 2020.............
Will try to keep food spending under $400, hoping to do a lot better than that though(depends on deals that happen or not in March).  No special things going on in March involving food-special meals to cook/holidays.  I am feeling up to eating things again other than soup and Jello so back to regular cooking/eating.

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

My Rite-Aid Haul Friday/Saturday

Here's what I bought on Friday at Rite-Aid............

2 x Irish Spring body wash
2 x Lady Speed Stick deodorant
2 x Crest toothpaste($3 on sale ones)
1 x Crest toothpaste expensive one
1 x Enrich Gillette beard/face wash
1 x Oral-B 2 pack toothbrushes
1 x Biscoff cookies/biscuits
Subtotal was $33.00 with my 30% off Q.

I  used $25.50 in assorted Qs so paid $7.50 in BC for all this.
But for some reason the $3 L2CQ for the expensive Crest toothpaste got booted off(I always have them print out a subtotal receipt to see if the L2CQS come off before I hand over my paper Qs)so I returned that and rebought it.
Total without that item was $27.41-$25.50 in Qs=$1.91.
I rebought that toothpaste after on it's own and the $3/1 L2CQ came off so it was $2.59.
$1.91+$2.59=$4.50 paid with Bonus Cash.

The Enrich Gillette face/beard wash was on the clearance table for $2.99 and I used a $2/1 ManuQ and it counts toward one of the Bonus Cash Challenges I picked.  One more item of Venus/Gillette before the end of March and I'll earn $5.25 in BC on that(I am up to $3.50 on that challenge for now.).
This transaction also put me at three transactions over $15(subtotaled)so I got another $5.00 in BC on that BC Challenge deal.
I've also got $3.49 in Oral-B cred toward that BC Challenge but not enough to hit one of the 3 levels to earn BC on that Challenge item yet.

I also earned $4 in new BC(2 x Crest $1, 2 x Irish Spring $1)so I "spent" down .50¢ in BC.

And here is what I bought on Saturday..........

3 x Pantene 30% off $3.49=$10.47
1 x Tide liquid on sale=$5.94
1 x Tide pods 30% off=$5.45
1 x Lady Speed Stick deodorant 30% off=$2.44
SubTotal......$24.30

Coupons Used
1 x $5/3 Pantene ManuQ=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Tide L2CQ=$4.00
1 x $2/1 Speed Stick In-AdQ=$2.00
1 x .50¢/1 Speed Stick IPQ=.50¢
Coupon Total.......$11.50

$24.30-$11.50=$12.80+.77¢=$13.57 paid for with Bonus Cash.
I earned back $10 in new BC(Spend $30 on select items/Get $10 BC).  In the end I "spent down" $3.57 today and .50¢ yesterday so $4.07 spent down in all this week at R-A.
Each of the three deodorants I bought were a .06¢ moneymaker so that was .18¢ in overage that applied to other non-moneymaker items in my transactions.  Hey, every little bit helps! ;-)

I also have a Tide Bonus Cash Challenge offer so I have earned $2.75 in BC buying these 2 Tide products as I spent over $11(before Qs/BC applied)on them.
I am up to $11.25 total earned on all my Bonus Cash Challenges to this point.($5 for 3 trips over $15, $3.50 for Gillette/Venus, $2.75 for Tide).

Not a bad week for Rite-Aid shopping.  I've got a little over $25 in BC on my card, spent enough that nothing is expiring in the next two weeks and I'll probably take next week off from R-A.

What did you buy during the 30% Friends and Family Weekend at Rite-Aid?


Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the February 28th Edition

Checking in on the frugal stuff from last week and here we go!


* I got the Weis freebie last Friday.........

A box of pasta.
Always a popular item with my Hubs! lolz


*  I made $5.07 in Ibotta rebates since last Friday. See a previous post on that.  8-)))

* The best deals found at Weis(PMITA)Markets this past week...........

$46.07 paid OOP for all, $5.07 earned on Ibotta(3 x .97¢ cup o noodles, 2 x $1 Cottonelle, .10¢ any item).

* I've earned $91.44 in Ibotta rebates in February and only spent $406.39 OOP.  Not bad, huh?

* I found money!

This penny by the self-checkout in Weis last Friday.

This shiny fellow at Rite-Aid on Saturday near the register.

This dime tried to avoid capture also at Rite-Aid on Saturday back in the Pharmacy area.  It was on the floor behind the holder thing with the handheld shopping baskets in it.  But I spied Frankie there and took him home with me!

This penny was found in the foyer, near the gumball machines, of the Hibachi restaurant where we took Ex-College Boy for his birthday meal out on Monday.

And these two pennies were found in the self-checkout area(one in front of the machine next to the one I used and the other tucked beside my machine between the small waste basket next to that register and behind a display rack at the entrance to that area.

Total Found Money this week...... .15¢
Total Found Money this year.......$42.91


* Speaking of eating out, here's a tip.  Go out to lunch instead of dinner to save money.  We wanted to do an early dinner for Ex-College Boy's birthday meal out.  We didn't realize it but they have the hibachi thing on their lunch meal for about HALF of what they charge during dinner hours.  I figured you'd get about half the amount of food(which would have been fine with me)so I told Hubs to ask about getting the dinner size portion for him and EX-CB when the waitress came to take our order.
But of course he didn't ask so we all got the lunch hibachi.
Turns out it's basically the same amount of food(just a few less pieces of whatever protein/meat you choose).

You can see the full plate Ex-CB had.  He was wondering why I was taking his picture while he tried to eat. lolz
The meal also came with the regular salad and miso soup too so other than the price being lower nothing different from dinner time so it was a DEAL!
We'll be going there for lunch now instead of dinner(and it's not crazy crowded either midday like at night).
I saved about $40 on this one meal going during lunch service.

That's about it for me this past week as I stayed home besides going to Weis and Rite-Aid.  I'll be going to R-A today and/or Saturday to do my weekly deals there as it's 30% discount off reg. retail there this Fri./Sat. so those deals will go on next Friday's post.

Any frugal wins in your world this past week?

Sluggy

Weis Deals This Week

Here are some deals I picked up at Weis last Friday.........

The regular Eggland's Best eggs were on sale for $1.87 this past week.  I used a .50¢/1 ManuQ that doubled to $1 and paid .87¢ for that dozen.
The cage-free EB eggs were a Friday only deal for BOGOFree.  At Weis(PMITA)Markets if you buy just one on a BOGO you pay half price.
I used another .50¢/1 ManuQ that doubled to $1 and paid .99¢ for those eggs.

I also got 6 cans of soup for .49¢ per can(a Friday only special), 4 large cans of tomatoes on sale that week for $1 per can and used a .80¢/4 ManuQ that doubled to $1.60 off making each can .60¢.
I bought 3 more cup o' noodles(new flavor)and paid $3($1 per cup)then made $3.07 back on Ibotta(3 x .97¢ cup o noodles + .10¢ for buying anything.
The weekend warrior and midweek bonuses in my gallery at Ibotta this past weekend/week were only for $1 wybought 12 offers so I didn't even try this week. lolz

I spent a total of $12.88 last Friday at Weis(and earned $3.07 in rebates).

I went back to Weis on Wednesday looking for discount meat stickers(it's the best day at my store to find them)and found all this.........

2 x Weis 12 pack of "gourmet" meatballs on sale for $5 wyb2=$10.00
1 x thin sliced top round steak for braciole on sale=$7.31
1 x Perdue whole roaster chicken in cooking bag=$11.00(ouch!)

The meatballs were $6 off(1 x $2 off sticker on one pack and 2 x $2 off sticker on the other pack)so $2 per pack after discounts/sale.
The top steak had a $3 off sticker on it so $4.31 for 1.22 lbs. or $3.53 per lb.(that's less than they charge usually for ground beef here at Weis).
The Perdue roaster had a $3 off sticker on it PLUS I had a $2/1 IPQ for that so I paid $6 for the oven ready chicken.
The chicken and meatballs went directly into the freezer and I'll marinated the steak today and serve it as cheese steak sammies tonight with a salad for dinner. ;-)

I also had tp and paper towel Qs expiring so I used those..........

2 x Scott towels on sale $6=$12.00
2 x Cottonelle tp reg. price=$16.78

I used 2 x .75¢/1 Scott pt IPQs which doubled to $1.50 each making the towels $4.50.
I also had a $2/2 Scott digital Q on my card and that came off too! making the final price on the towels $3.50 per pack.  8-)

I used 2 x .55¢/1 Cottonelle IPQs which doubled to $1.10 each making the tp $7.29
I also had a $2/1 Cottonelle digital Q on my card too that came off making the tp $6.29 per pack.
And I had a $1 Cottonelle Ibotta rebate so I got another $2 back in rebates so in the end the tp was $5.29 each.
I totally was not expecting those digital Qs to come off but I'm glad they did. ;-)

And with this talk about COVID-19 heading toward a pandemic situation it's no time to let the paper products stock get low.  Just sayin'.

I also lucked into this deal in the produce department.........

2 x 10 lb. sacks of potatoes for .99¢ per bag.  Reg. price around here for 10 lb. bags of regular white taters is anywhere from $3.99-$4.99.
An employee was just putting them out while I was walking by so I snagged 2.  Now I just have to come up with ideas on how to use them as we aren't big tater fans usually. ;-)
I'll make chowder, bake some, make potatoes au gratin from scratch and maybe make Ex-CB some hash browns and do a Breakfast for Dinner one night.

I also found all this in the baby department on clearance...........

I was able to use $2.75 in IPQs as well on the Gerber items besides the 50% off price.  I am not counting this in my February food budget though and it will be going to the local food bank sometime in March but I wanted to mention it in case anyone out there shops at Weis and wants to look out for these deals in the baby food section.

I am now over my $400 monthly food budget for February by $6.39 so I guess I'll stop going to the store this month now except for this Friday's freebie at Weis(PMITA)Markets. lolz

Sluggy