This Week on the Dining Table

The "Y'all Better!" Edition....

I stole this off a school friend on Facebook.  I always hated that my mom made us eat at least one black eyed pea every Jan. 1st.  That was her/our Southern New Years Day thing.  What were your NYD traditions growing up?  Around here where I live it is Pork and Sauerkraut.  Mmm...don't know which is worse to my taste buds!Qlol

Onward to the meal planning!

Moving On....

This is what was planned.....

1. Sunday--Fend for Yourself

2. Monday--Fried Chicken, leftover Mac and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts

3. Tuesday--leftovers

4. Wednesday--leftovers
5. Thursday--?

6.  Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

And this is what really happened.......

1. Sunday--Fend for Yourself

2. Monday--Leftover Lasagna

3. Tuesday--Fried Chicken, leftover Mac and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts

4. Wednesday--something leftover?  I didn't cook so it had to be a leftover
5. Thursday--Fend for Yourself

6.  Friday--leftover Ham, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans

7. Saturday-Pork Tenderloin Sammies, leftover baked Sweet Potato Fries

Last week saw 2 nights of home cooked dinners, 5 nights of leftovers/planned overs, FFY, and 0 night of Take-Out.   

It was a week where I took a well deserved break from  planning/making elaborate meals(or simple meals really lol)and we concentrated on eating up leftovers.

I had 3 sweet potatoes that needed using up so we made baked fries with those and ate them over 3 of the meals last week.

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

*  nothing

What got taken out of the freezer and used...

*  bag of Green Beans

*  bag of Brussels Sprouts

*  2 pork tenderloin slices

This month is going to be all about taking more OUT of the freezer than putting IN the freezer.  I'll also be going through canned/boxed goods to see what we should be using now versus later.

We spent $13.99 on food/toiletries/HBA/paper goods last week.  $4.74 of that was my OOP at CVS, $9.25 was Hubs Weis(PMITA)Markets trip and the $8.99 spent on food at Ocean State Job Lots was Zero OOP as I used free Crazy Deals gift cards. This bring our food/toiletries/HBA/paper goods Total to $13.99 for January.

I sent Hubs out for milk(to use that $2 CatalinaQ and he also bought powder coffee creamer for himself and Herring in cream sauce. bleck)so the almost free milk turned into a $9.25 spending trip. lolz

There are 27 shopping days left in January(as of Monday when this was suppose to post).

I've earned $20.93 on Ibotta in January.

I've earned $00 on Checkout51 in January.

I've earned $00 on Coupons dotcom/Paypal in January.

I've earned 0 points from shopping on Fetch in January.

I've earned 0 point from food shopping on Shop Kick in January.

I've earned 0 points from food shopping on Swagbucks in January.

My savings percentage for last week was 83.38%(without "regular" Rite-Aid trips)for January and the monthly savings total for January comes in at 83.38%.(w/out R-A). Such a high rate is rare for me but it's because of the CVS trip using ECBs and the OSJL using fee gift cards.  I assure you the rate will go waaaay down as the month wears on. ;-)

Leftovers going into this week--1serving of Lasagna, 2 slices of Garlic bread, 1 slice of the meatloaf, some Fried Chicken(don't know how many pieces)and 1/8 of the pan of mac and cheese.

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

1. Sunday--Chinese Take-out

2. Monday--Petite Steaks, Baked Potato, Sugar Snap Peas

3. Tuesday--Fend for Yourself

4. Wednesday--Chicken Marsala, Mashed Taters, Brussels Sprouts
5. Thursday--Beef Teriyaki Stir-Fry w/Ramen

6.  Friday--Take-out Pizza, Caesar Salad

7. Saturday--Sloppy Joes, Carrots(or Tacos/Taco Salad)

What needs buying for this menu?  I'll be buying fresh mushrooms for Marsala(and half will be saved for Stroganoff next week)and a head of lettuce.  I'm trying to use up a bag of potatoes this week that are getting old.

The Weis ad doesn't change until Friday of this week so I've gotten everything they've had on sale for the past month that I want already.  I don't care for a month long sales ad but you have to work with what you get, right?  I figure my Ibotta rebates will be much lower until the Winter is over since I don't like having to go down the mountain in bad weather unless I "have" to.

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

My Rite-Aid Buys Last Week

 **Until I get a new computer, I'll be posting when this old one let's me, so you may be seeing a deluge or trickle of posts for the next week or so, depending on how cranky my machine is.  I am trying to catch up on posts as I am soooo behind. 8-(

Last week Rite-Aid had an earn $15 in Bonus Cash when you spent $50 coupon.  This stacked on any other BC offers you also earned so a good week to find stuff to get free or cheap.

Let's take a look at the three Rite-Aid transactions I did last week....

2 x Colgate toothpaste on sale=$7.98
3 x Pantene shampoo on sale=$11.49
4 x Carol's Daughter conditioner w/20% Wellness disc.=$12.12
1 x Crest Gum and Enamel toothpaste on sale=$6.63
2 x Tampax on sale=$8.00
2 x Always on sale=$8.00
SubTotal........$54.22

Coupons Used

1 x $15 BC when you spend $50
2 x $2/1 In-Ad RA Colgate Q=$4.00
2 x $1.50/1 Colgate IPQ=$3.00
1 x $3/3 Pantene shampoo ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $3/2 Tampax ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $3/2 Always ManuQ=$3.00
Coupon Total......$18.00

$54.22-$18.00=$36.22+$1.24 tax=$37.46 paid with Bonus Cash

I earned back $37 in new BC(2 x $1 Colgate, 2 x $5 Carol's Daughter, $15 wyspend $50, $10 wybuy $30 P and G).  Not bad.

Then I bought this.....

1 x Tide pods on sale=$5.94
1 x gift deodorant on clearance=$3.99
4 x Carol's Daughter conditioner w/20% Wellness disc.=$11.48
1 x Crest 3D Brilliance toothpaste on sale=$6.39
1 x Crest Gum and Enamel toothpaste on sale=$6.39
3 x Pantene shampoo on sale=$11.49
1 x Xmas gift clearance=$2.50
1 x Men's Xmas gift set clearance=$7.49
1 x Women's Xmas gift set clearance=$4.99
SubTotal.....$60.66

Coupons Used........
1 x $2/1 Tide Pods L2CQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Crest Brilliance toothpaste L2CQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Crest Gum and Enamel toothpaste L2CQ=$2.00
1 x $3/3 Pantene L2CQ=$3.00
Coupon Total.......$9.00

$60.66-$9.00=$51.66+$2.57 tax=$54.23 paid for with Bonus Cash.

I earned back $35 in new BC(1 x $15 wys $50, 2 x $5 Carol's Daughter, 1 x $10 wyb $30 P and G).
I spent down the BCs on this transaction by $19.23 but I got $18.97 in Xmas/birthday gift items for half price which aren't pictured obviously so I can't complain. 8-)

I also placed an online order early last week and it arrived Saturday on the high end Andalou products R-A carries.  The Spend $50, Get $15 BC offer was also valid online and here is what I got........

2 x Andalou shower gel w/20% Wellness discount($6.99)=$13.98
1 x Andalou argon stem cell conditioner 20% disc.=$7.99
2 x Andalou lavender shampoo 20% disc.=$15.98
1 x Andalou lavender conditioner 20% disc.=$7.99
1 x Andalou mandarin vanilla body lotion 20% disc.=$6.99
Subtotal......$52.93

I used no coupons(shocking! lol), paid with Bonus Cash and earned back $49 in new BC($15 wyspend $50, 2 x $10 wys $25 Andalou, 2 x $7 wys $25 Andalou).

I spent down that card's BC a bit(I probably could have gotten my total closer to $50 if I had taken more time to figure out a deal-now I see 5 x $6.99 items w/disc. and 2 x $7.99 items w/disc. would have been $50.93 and that would have only "cost" me $1.93 in BC)but I am happy with how this turned out anyway.

Also I saw online that there was another $15 wys $50 coupon online with a different code than the one in the online flyer you could print.  Proof of the 2 different barcodes on the coupons........

This meant you could buy $100 worth last week and earn $30 just on those 2 coupons(not counting sale prices/discounts, coupons and other BC deals that stacked).  Sweet.

I was going to place another online order for the Andalou and work another deal in the store with this second coupon but then I saw that certain gift cards were working with the $15 BC wys $50 coupons. (Gift cards NEVER work with BC coupons at R-A!)
Our refrigerator started acting up recently so I knew I'd be spending big money at a big box appliance store soon so I got these using the second barcode coupon as the Home Depot $50 fixed price was one of the 3 specific gift cards that worked.....

I didn't relish spending $200 on gift cards right now but since I'd be spending money soon at HD why not get the extra $60 in R-A Bonus Cash to spend too? ;-)

Sluggy

Computer Issues & A Funny

 Well my 7 year old computer is gasping toward it's end so I might not be able to post for awhile.  I'll be back once I get issues resolved or a new machine.  

Until then enjoy this funny....or not so funny?

Sluggy

2020 4th Quarter Small Economies Grand Total

 

2020 4th Quarter Review..........Small Finances Year End Totals

The fourth quarter of 2020 is in the books now.
Let's see where some of my small pots of savings look like for the Year End.
These stats are all effective as of December 31st, 2020.

*  Rolled coins--$3.50.  1 roll of nickels and 3 rolls of pennies.  This is my personal change from my WAM after cleaning out my change from my wallet.

* Found Change--$54.55  Finding money is the best!

This photo is only the coins I found, not the bills.  I did something different with that, which you'll see. ;-)

*  Refunds & "Post Coupons"--$126.98 Mostly Weis(PMITA)Markets and Rite-Aid.

*  Cash Rebates--
   * Ibotta--$1,255.49
   * SavingStar--$52.75 

   * Coupons app--$23.50        

   * Shop at Home--$23.27

Grand Total......$1,540.04 in small economies monies.

(I also had about $11 in the Checkout51 app but not enough to cash out so I am rolling that amount over into 2021.)

But this year I am not using it ALL to put toward the food/toiletries spending.

I am only putting the found change($14.55 of the $54.55 found)toward the food spending.  (I used the $40 in bills I found to buy food to give to the food bank.)

I am still putting the Refund/Post Coupon cash, and all online rebates except the Shop at Home one toward food spending.(Not using the Shop at Home monies as I didn't buy any food/HBA/Toiletries/paper goods for that rebate.)

My OOP spending on groceries came to $4,714.40 for 2020.
Add in the $1,473.27(what is left without the rolled coins, $40 of found $ and Shop at Home rebate)toward the grocery spending and the food/toiletries spending drops to a Grand Total Spent of $3,241.13 for 2020.

Do you stash non-income money aside to put toward a goal?
Tell us about it and what strategies work for you in savings money!


Sluggy

Frugal Friday 2021.....the January 1st Edition

 Though this Frugal Friday is posted in 2021, my week for frugal wins ends on Thursday so this is technically my last Frugal Friday post of 2020.

Here are our wins from this past week with minimal photos.......

*  It was just Hubs and I on Christmas Eve this year(Ex-CB had to work)but we still got Chinese take-out for dinner as is our tradition.  Food for 2 was cheaper than food for 3 and we each got a meal and no appetizers or soup which made it even less expensive than usual.

*  I bought 1 item for personal use as far as Christmas decor goes..........

A Christmas ornament that says "I heart my Chihuahua" for our tree.  $1.99+tax from Ocean State Job Lot.

*  Christmas came and went and we fed 6 for dinner.  I made cookies 2 days before(as well as 2 pies-one of which was a gift to take to Eldest son), made the lasagna and mac and cheese 1 day before(after the electric rates went down for the day).  I didn't make from scratch rolls this year as my hands weren't up for it(plus we didn't really need them).  Since I served both ham and lasagna(some didn't care for one of the main dishes so I made two)I got a reduced loaf of French bread at Walmart when I was there earlier in the week and made "good" garlic bread--EVOO, real butter, fresh minced garlic and baked it off right before serving the meal.  Beat the pants off that frozen premade stuff and a lot cheaper. 

*  Drove to NJ on Saturday and made no stops along the way.  Let Eldest and his GF spoil us for dinner that night and we exchanged gifts and had a nice time at their apartment.  I hadn't see Eldest since June(I had stopped at his VA apt. on my way to my Brother's house to take care of some business that had to be attended to)and Hubs hadn't seen Eldest since last Xmas due to Covid and travel restrictions.  Spent the night on the sofa sleeper, they fixed us breakfast the next morning and we headed home.  We did make a stop once we were back in PA at a different Ocean State Job Lot we passed.  Bought a few things and I used a bunch of my free Crazy Deals gift cards I had earned in the past 2 years.  Winning!

*  I stopped into Weis(PMITA)Markets after we got home from NJ that evening for a few items.  I found a Perdue whole fryer marked down to $6.22 so I bought it.  Checking my receipt as I left I noticed the inattentive cashier rang the chicken up twice....

So I turned my cart back to the Customer Service to get a refund.  CS person tried to return me $3.22....um, no!  That was what I was suppose to pay with the $3 instant discount sticker on said chicken.  They owed me $6.22 for the phantom chicken......

Instead of a credit back on my c/c she gave me cash.  Fine.  It went into my Refund/Post Coupon envelope to add back into the Food Spending/Budget for 2020.

*  Then in the parking lot as I was leaving I saw this laying on the asphalt, either dropped or abandoned by another shopper.......

A $2 Catalina good on anything(w/exemptions)in the store.  I'll be sure to use this before it expires on 1/03/2021.

*  I found money!

This penny at Rite-Aid near the register on Monday.

When I finally got a chance to drop off stuff at the local food bank(a combination of no one being there and my schedule)after taking all the bags in on the way back to my car I spied this handsome fella in the parking lot, obviously he'd been there awhile waiting for me to show up. ;-)

And this nickel was found on the floor in front of the R-A pharmacy counter when I went after the food bank drop-off to refill the last of my Rxs before the new year and our deductible reset.

Total Found This Week...... .31¢
Total Found This Year...$53.81

*  I hit Walmart, Target and a different Rite-Aid on the 30th.  I found a few things at either 50% or 70% off.  Finished an Ibotta Bonus at Walmart as well as got some Shop Kick deals.  A deal post on recent deals coming on Saturday perhaps.

I went to CVS on the 31st since I had ECBs expiring in early January and we have a crappy weather coming later this week/next week.  No CVSs on the mountain so I'd have to go down the valley and I don't like to do that in the Winter here.

I burned some ECBs but not all(got MORE ECBs on 2 items).  I can't show you what I got(gifts for next year)but I had to spend $4.74 out of my WAM.  Since I'd already finished off my spending log for 2020 this trip will go onto January 2021's tally.

*  No special meals or take-out for NYE here.  We still have mucho leftovers from earlier in the week and from Christmas so we ate leftovers.  Besides, in PA the governor still has all indoor dining on lockdown so we couldn't party outside of home even if we wanted to!

No more spending in 2020.

Bring on 2021!!!

What frugal wins did y'all have this last week of 2020?

Tell us all about it!

Sluggy