This Week on the Dining Table

The "Old People Party Too" Edition....

Still editing photos from our trip out West and came across this one from a gas station/convenience store we stopped at before leaving Idaho.  It spoke to me. lolz

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned.....

1. Sunday--Beef Stroganoff, Green Beans

2. Monday--Lasagna, Salad

3. Tuesday--Leftovers

4. Wednesday--whatever I pull out of the freezer

5. Thursday--ditto

6.  Friday--ditto

7. Saturday--ditto

And here's what actually happened........

1. Sunday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Green Beans

2. Monday--Sausages, Pierogi

3. Tuesday--Leftovers

4. Wednesday--Fend for Yourself

5. Thursday--Subway sandwiches

6.  Friday--Leftover Stroganoff, Rice, Green Beans

7. Saturday--Chinese Take-Out

Hubs had his stiches out so can eat freely again. oh goody. lol  I didn't make the lasagna as it has been so hot here lately.  2 nights of take-out since....heat.

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

*  Not a danged thing yet again

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

*  1/2 of a London Broil

*  Bag of Green Beans

*  Pack of Sausages

*  Bag of Pierogi

                                                   

I spent $38.83 on food/toiletries/HBA this last week at Walmart and the Produce market.

This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Total to $162.06 for July.  

There are 6 shopping days left in July.

I've earned $95.14 on Ibotta in July.

I've earned $4.49 on Checkout51 in July.

I've earned $4.00 on Coupons dotcom in July.

I've earned 4,626 points from shopping on Fetch in July.

I earned 1230 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in July. 

I've earned $16.89 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in July.

That's $103.63 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $162.06 in grocery spending so in reality it's $58.43 spent after the 3 rebate apps I count.

My savings percentage for the last week was 56.01% (without "regular" Rite-Aid trips)and the monthly savings total for July comes in at 46.34% so far(w/out R-A).  

Leftovers going into this week....some sausages and pierogi and a hamburger.

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

1. Sunday--Leftover Chinese Food or FFY

2. Monday--Chicken Parm, Squash Casserole

3. Tuesday--Breakfast for Dinner

4. Wednesday--Lasagna, almost new Pickles

5. Thursday--Applebee's for Lunch(no dinner)

6.  Friday--Leftovers

7. Saturday--?

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu?  I dug into the freezer and found some breaded chicken patties and thawed that smoked turkey breast for Hubs to slice and make sandwiches for lunch.  I bought cukes and yellow squash at the Produce Market on Sunday and will use them this week.  Whatever Saturday's meal turns out to be I'll pull something from the freezer and/or hit the store for fresh produce. If I spend anything on groceries it should be a minimal amount and my spend for the month should stay under $200.

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 deals on food at your stores this week?  The deals have been nonexistent around here for all of 2022 so this is a LOL question. ;-)

Sluggy

My Only Rite-Aid Buys for Week of July 17-23

 I only bought this on Saturday.  This is the entirety of my Rite-Aid shopping for last week.

1 x Colgate toothbrush on sale=$4.99
1 x Acidil stomach pills 25% off=$6.74
SubTotal......$11.73

Coupons Used
1 x $2/WYSpend $10 Receipt Q=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Colgate toothbrush in-adQ=$2.00
1 x $3//1Acidil peelieQ=$3.00
Coupon Total......$7.00

$11.73-$7.00=$4.73 paid for with Bonus Cash

I earned back $3 in new BC(Acidil)and I submitted to Ibotta for $2.10 in rebates so spent $4.73 and earned back $5.10 in BC/Ibotta.

I also have a Colgate Bonus Challenge and this toothbrush put me over the lowest threshold to earn BC for that challenge.

Not very exciting but it's something. 8-P

Sluggy

Prices Never Go Down So Get Use To It

Having lived 63 years on this Earth and in this country, I've seen a lot.  As an adult I've lived through a handful of inflationary times.  The only certainty I know is that prices will continue to rise as we age.  No prices have NOT increased or gone down since the 1980's when I became aware.  That's when I got out of school and was supporting myself so when I became aware of prices and increases as it impacted my wallet. 

I am too young to have mostly been financially impacted by the recession and stagflation of the 1970's(except for the gas crisis as I was responsible for buying gas for my car that got me to school and my part time job)but the early 1980's recession hit right as Hubs and I got married and were starting out.  Low paying jobs and rising prices for housing, gas and food were evident and we struggled.

The 1987 Black Monday stock market crash had little effect on us(though the inflation rate wasn't affected by that)as we had so little money.  if any of it was even in the stock market.  1990 saw another recession which was short lived.  The Feds lowered interest rates and have held them at an artificially low rate until the last couple of years.  This was bad timing for Hubs' and mine life as the 1990's were the years we saved heavily and saw little if any return on that behavior.  Credit usage was high and easily found which hurt anyone who was all about saving money instead of spending money.

The 2007-2008 banking crisis and housing crash affected most people in one way or another and was considered the "Great Recession", the worst financial scenario since the Great Depression.  But then again, the Federal Inflation Rate doesn't include the cost of gas or food, the main 2 items that affect every consumers' bottom line.  Did you know that the Feds have a target of a 2% inflation rate per year?  Anytime the rate goes above that they monkey around with the economy to bring it back down artificially.

Overall, costs are continually going up as a general rule.  Some years they don't rise as much or may overall go down slightly but they will rise again as inflation is cyclical and manipulated by the Federal Government.  Maybe not at the current exorbitant rate we are experiences now but life just gets more and more expensive as time goes on and the years roll by.

So how do we adjust to inflating costs of goods?  Here's what I see....

1-Not buying certain items if the price is too dear.  You can always switch out your protein and veg choices to keep your food budget in check.  No more steak and asparagus every night.  Instead it's Swiss steak and green beans.  Expensive foods are now an occasional treat not an every day occurrence. 

2-growing foods yourself if you have the space and talent for it.  Gardening isn't without cost but certain crops(veggies you pay dearly for at the grocery store)are worth giving it a go if you want to bring the cost of these veggies down. (Or find a nearby farmer you can buy directly from if you are located in the appropriate area near farming communities.)

3-utilizing price books skills or couponing.  Keep a price book so you know when what you want to buy gets to it's lowest point in the sales cycle and the best time to buy it.  Use coupons if it's for something you use and get on any rebating apps that give you cash back for buying those items you want/need.

4-switching up where you shop.  Price compare and if you find what you buy overall is less at store B then switch your loyalties from store A.  Stores bet on us consumers not wanting to change were we shop.  But be careful with this one....store B may be lower for your needs than store A but if you are having to travel too far to store B, the costs in gas and wear and tear on your car may negate any savings you see on your grocery bill.

 5-wait on stock up prices on items to purchase them.  Generally you can use your price book to predict when items will drop in price.  But there are other situations that will occur when a store will have surplus of X or Y.  Find a deal on chicken in your store's meat case and you have room to freeze or you are able to can it(and you have money to spare in your budget to buy it)then pick as much of it up as you need.  Brands relabel goods and stores clearance the old packaging of goods out.  Nothing is wrong with the items so snatch up as much as you can store in your house.  

 As I see it there is not much more we can do(unless you rob a bank or win the lottery-even those solutions will only get you so far. ;-)

Sluggy

What's Going On at Chez Sluggy This Week? Frugal Friday....the July 22nd Edition

Lots of cleaning and clearing out this past week at Chez Sluggy.  Not much as far as frugality other than not going anywhere and/or spending money.

*  I made no food shopping trips or even a Rite-Aid trip since last Friday.  Hubs bought a watermelon and some rice side dish packets but that was it.  Not leaving the house is frugal, right?

*  I had Hubs take 2 boxes of books and 21 bags of fabric to Salvation Army this past week.  4 more bags of fabric are waiting to go and I'll continue to dig through my fabric stash to fill more bags to donate.

*  We used a gift card to buy Subway subs for dinner on Thursday as Hubs didn't want to deal with cooking.

* I met up with the lady who runs the auction at a local church on Monday to hands off 7 bags of new items for them to sell this coming Fall.

*  Ex-College boy came over last weekend to help me move tubs of items I am keeping into the garage, along with a coffee table Hubs refuses to get rid of(that we have never used).  I also loaded Ex-CB up with toiletries and some food items.  He's coming back next weekend to help power wash the outside of the house and I'll give him more stuff.

*  I got in touch with a local ceramic studio and they are interested in taking all my ceramic molds.  Giving them away is better than having to pay for a construction container and throwing them away.

*  I've filled two large bags for the Food Bank but they won't leave until next Friday.  That will give me more time to fill another bag too! ;-)

*  I got the closet doors by the front door painted.

Hubs just needs to realign them now.  I've got to sand down and repaint the posts on the front porch but that's my last painting assignment to go.

*  I've been using frozen foods for meals and trying my best to eat down the freezer.

*  I found NO money this past week!  Well, if you don't go anywhere you don't get a chance to find money. 8-((

Total Found in last Week.... .00¢
Total Found This Year.....$13.65

That's about all I've got for this past week.  

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

And have a good weekend!  

Sluggy  

Another July Giveaway!

Who's ready for the Another Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway for 2022?!?

July is here so let's have another July Giveaway!  This box is full of sample sized toiletries good for traveling.

Let's take a look at what is in this Giveaway Box this month........

2 x Old Spice Swagger Body Wash

1 x Dove men's spray deodorant

1 x Dove men's Body Wash

1 x John Frieda Frizz Ease

1 x Tresemme Hairspray

1 x Suave Shampoo

1 x Suave Conditioner

2 x Tresemme Shampoo

2 x Tiger Relief Balm

1 x Dove men's Deodorant

1 x Dove Deodorant

1 x Almay make-up pads

1 x Nivea lip balm

1 x Almay Mascara(30 black brown)

1 x Rimmel Lip Gloss(140 flower power)

1 x Cover Girl eye palette(105 cafe au lait)

1 x Scunci hair ties

4 x L'Oreal day cream samples

4 x L'Oreal Face 5 minute mask sample

2 x Band-Aid Hydro Seal samples

1 x Gold Bond Aloe lotion sample

5 x Nexcare bandage samples

1 x DuraGel callus cushion

1 x Vaseline lip balm

1 x Anacin sample

3 x Hydralyte electrolyte powder samples

2 x L'Oreal revitalift cream samples

2 x Olay regenerist whip lotion

1 x Olay for eyes gel 

1 x Shoe Polisher

1 x Vanity Kit(q-tips, emery board, cotton balls)

2 x Nasal Strips(for snoring

2 x BioFreeze pain relief samples

1 x Max Freeze pain relief sample

1 x Synodrin Relief Gel sample

2 x Flexitol Heel Balm samples

1 x Gold Bond radiance renewal lotion sample

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

Plus as a BONUS I am enclosing this rare diet fortune cookie......

Yes, we received this sealed empty fortune cookie the last time we went to the Chinese restaurant. lolz

Depending on where you shop, the winnings have a reg. retail value of approximately $50

Here's how this is going to work.....

* The giveaway is open to ALL readers, previous winners or not.

* There is a limit of ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PER DAY.  Come back each day to enter again.

* Only VALID entries will be posted.  A Valid entry is a limit of one per day and I MUST HAVE VALID CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOU(either you are on the Giveaway Contact List which I maintain, your comment is connected to a Google/Blogger profile which links to your email address or you email me directly(my email is in the side bar on the Blog)your email address.

IF YOU ENTER THE GIVEAWAY AND DON'T SEE YOUR COMMENT within a few days it's because I don't have your contact/email info.

From all the VALID entries I receive I'll pick a winner at random and the winner has 48 hours from when the post goes live to contact me with their full mailing address.

In your entries I'd like to hear about what's been going on in your world...or what is not going on that you wish WAS going on. ;-)

If you are on my Giveaway emails list just leave a comment and your name(with last name initial please)to enter. If you aren't on the Giveaway emails list make sure you leave your email in your comment OR email me your email privately after you leave a comment(my email is in the side bar area under "About Me").
I'll leave this giveaway open until July 26th, Tuesday at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time(EDST).  I'll  pick and post the winner on July 27th Wednesday.

*Please note these rules*
I'll post the name/ID of the winners on this blog on  and those persons have 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).

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.

So let's get this Giveaway started. Good luck to everyone!!!

Sluggy