Frugal Friday.....the February 17th Edition

Welcome to Frugal Friday!   

There are a very few Frugal win this past week......

*  Didn't go anywhere except to wound care this past week and a trip last Friday to Walmart(where I got to run over people with their motorized carts).  I guess staying home all week is frugal(ie-not spending money)but it's boring as hell!

*  The freebies/moneymakers or almost freebies from last week's grocery trips---

  *  1 free Zero Sugar Starry soda(no photo because I drank it already)

  *  2 free Pepsi Zero Sugar sodas(Pic of only one because I drank the other one)

  *  1 free Air Wick Essentials Starter Kit
  *  1 half price Yogurt cup

*  I had Hubs run out on Tuesday to Super 1 Foods for ice cream........

They carry Blue Bell Ice Cream around here(we are only 10 miles from Texas after all).  Super 1 had the half gallon containers for $4.97.  That's $3.01 less than even Walmart so it was a deal.  I highly recommend this "Moo-llennium Crunch" flavor.  It reminds me of Ben and Jerry's with all the textures of toppings mixed in. ;-)

*  Hubs gave me a $200 gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond for Christmas. Not a wise move if you ask me as they've been having financial diffculties.  Of course, this week BBB announced they were closing the local to us store and my leg is in no condition to spend it at the store anyway.  So I went online and spent it on necessities for the house-a cabinet to put my printer on and store supplies in, a runner for the top of the buffet(I only have a Turkey day and Xmas one so need something for Spring/Summer), another set of shelving for the laundry/utility room so I can keep pantry goods on, and a stainless steel set of cookware.  We still can't find the lids to my All-Clad cookware and Hubs thinks that box got tossed in the move.  On sale and with a coupon this set was about $50.  I am hoping these lids fit my regular set, if not, I'll have to use these new pans/pots when I need a lid on it.  sigh  Of course, once the new set arrives we'll find the box of lids, right?  Never fails........
Anyway, I used the gift card up before they go out of business and got some good deals on things we needed.

*  This past week in honor of Super Bowl Subway was running a BOGOFree deal on subs(It ends today, use code FLBOGO).  We did the deal twice this past week using a gift card I bought at Dollar General around Thanksgiving that was discounted by 20% making it better than half price.  Double win there. 8-)

*  I found money!

Nope.  Only went to the Wound Care on Wednesday and home again.  Did make a quick trip last Friday to Walmart though.  No money at Walmart even. 8-(

Total Found in last Week.... .00¢
Total Found this Year....... .36¢

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!

Sluggy   

Hubs is Such a Card!

Hubs is one to always give me cards on Holidays....Christmas, my birthday, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc.

Well with having to run me to the dentist, doctor's offices and the grocery store so much as I can't drive right now plus running the many errands he's having to do, I figured no card today on V-Day.

Well I was wrong.

I got up and found this on top of my laptop this morning.....

Under the sticky note was this.........

Well it's a card....a baseball card!  Hubs has been getting his man cave room in order and I suppose he found some of his old baseball cards among the shit he moved here and the rest is history. lol

Have a Happy Valentine's Day no matter what form it takes. ;-)

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

 The "Better Than Smek" Edition.....

There was an Ibotta rebate on this new product at Walmart last week when we were there so I thought I'd try it.  I got a laugh when I took the lid off and saw the inner lid.......

I'll save you having to look up what smek means in Swedish....it's sex. lol

Mmm the ice cream is not even close to being that good. ;-)

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned.......

1. Sunday--Cheeseburger, leftover Cabbage

2. Monday--Teriyaki Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry, Rice

3. Tuesday--Fend for Yourself

4. Wednesday--Rigatoni w/Mushroom and Meat

5. Thursday--Something frozen

6.  Friday--Pizza, Salad

7. Saturday--BBQ Chicken, Veggies TBD

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

1. Sunday--Cheeseburger, leftover Cabbage

2. Monday--Chicken Teriyaki w/Stir-Fry Veggies

3. Tuesday--Chicken Tenders, Baked Sweet Potato Wedges

4. Wednesday--Rigatoni w/Mushrooms and Meat, Cherries

5. Thursday--FFY(I don't remember what I had)

6.  Friday--Subway subs for Linner(no dinner)

7. Saturday--Leftover Rigatoni

The Pizza got moved to this Sunday and the BBQ Chicken didn't happen.  BBQ chicken is not a fav so may not happen for awhile. 8-)

I can count on Hubs to make short order on the Rigatoni leftovers however. lol

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

*  1 Pizza 

*  1 bag of Chicken Tenders

*  1 bag of Pot Stickers

*  1 bag of Ravioli

*  1 pint of Ice Cream

*  1 almost quart of Ice Cream

*  1 package of Liver

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

*  2 containers of Ground Beef

*  1 bag of Teriyaki Chicken

*  2 bags of Stir-Fry Veggies

*  1/3 of bag of Chicken Tenders

Last week we picked up stuff at Kroger and Walmart and spent a total of $160.11

This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Total to $305.54 for February so far.

There are 15 shopping days left in February.

I've earned $112.60 on Ibotta in February.

I've earned $0 on Checkout51 in February.

I've earned $7.00 on Coupons dotcom in February.

I've earned 3,146 points from shopping on Fetch in February.

I earned 30 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in February.

I've earned 0 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in February.

That's $119.60 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $305.54

 in grocery spending so in reality it's $185.94 in food spending after the 3 rebate apps I count.

My savings percentage for the last week was 25.89% and the monthly savings total for February comes in at 28.55% so far.  

Not a good week for savings but ok for here and what I've got to work with.

Leftovers going into this week.....Rigatoni and Mushroom/Meat Sauce.

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

1. Sunday--Pizza and Salad

2. Monday--Beef Stroganoff over Rice, Green Beans

3. Tuesday--Fend for Yourself

4. Wednesday--Maybe a Linner Zalad at Zaxby's?

5. Thursday--Something frozen

6.  Friday--Tempura Shrimp, Cole Slaw

7. Saturday--Liver and Onions, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu? A head of cabbage to make slaw and maybe some Salad Greens.  Not a very inspiring plan, just easy basic stuff mostly that I can delegate prep to Hubs(except Friday and Saturday)so I can stay off the leg.

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?  

Sluggy 

Frugal Friday....the February 10th Edition

 Welcome to Frugal Friday!   

There are a few Frugal win this past week......

*   I had Hubs pick up these Rind dried fruit snacks...........

There was a BOGO offer on them at Kroger on Ibotta and then an Aisle texting app rebate offer(yes Aisle is back in a way-less rebates).  I submitted for both so Free!  I believe this deal is still available if you haven't done it yet.

*  The freebies/moneymakers or almost freebies from last week's grocery trips other than the Rind products---

  *  2 Core protein bars for only .18¢ each
  *  3 travel size Old Spice body wash bottles for moneynakers
  *  Bic Easy Rinse razor for free

*  I found money!
Yes I did.

On the 3rd at Walmart I found a dime at the pharmacy counter and a penny at the checkout machine.  

At Kroger on the 6th, I saw a penny under a self-checkout machine we were not at and didn't get a break in the action on that machine to scoot over there and get it. 8-(

On the 7th Hubs and I got salads at Zaxby's.  When the employee at the drive-thru handed the receipt out the window to Hubs it blew away.  So Hubs got out of the car to retrieve it and picked up another dime and penny on the ground there.  Since I should have rightfully scooped up that change if I wasn't injured he left the change on my side of the bed for me to find. lolz

We had been looking for our coin roll wrappers since moving and Hubs found them yesterday and threw this on my desk.  He had taken the wrappers and the change out of his change cup from his dresser and put it all into a baggie and threw it into a moving box.  He finally opened that box yesterday as he was squaring up his man cave.  Of course this was a couple of days AFTER he went to the bank and asked for coin wrappers meaning we are now swimming in coin wrappers. lol 

He said I could have the change but I am not including it in my found change total.

Total Found in last Week.... .21¢
Total Found this Year....... .36  ¢

*  On Thursday we got a $40 refund check from Hubs eye doctor in PA as they overcharged us for something.  That puppy is going right into the bank though Hubs thinks he should buy beer with it.  Not on my watch darling as you just bought two bottles of wine. ;-)

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!

Sluggy   

"Gee Toto, I Don't Think We're in Pennsylvania Anymore"

This is just a post about weird to me stuff in Louisiana.  If you've lived here or grown up here these things won't seem odd to you I reckon.

I bet most Walmart frozen food sections don't include these items......

Boudin balls, Shrimp or Crawfish Étouffée or Fettucine and Gumbo.

**The nurse at the wound care place says this is the best place for Bouudin Balls......HERE.

And if you want your own raw ingredients to cook go to Bergeron's for your boudin and Cajun meats....HERE or at their other locations across the river.

Mardi Gras isn't just a day, it's a season......

You can't escape the purple green and gold no matter where you go!   Not that I mind purple and green....

Here's the string of beads I got on my birthday from the hardware store that's Mardi Gras Central in these parts......

For those who asked, a proper King Cake is more pastry than cake.  It's a filled oval pastry or Danish(fillings vary but most have cream cheese and cinnamon at least),topped with icing and colored sugar.  If you like sweets(Kim, you listening?)you will gain 50 pounds eating here during the Mardi Gras Season. lolz

You can get a very good King Cake shipped from where we bought ours.  They are expensive and cost about the same to 2 day air it to you as you pay for the cake.  Their website is HERE.

Did I mention that they have drive-thru Daquiri stores here?  You can get a King Cake Daquiri just in season however so get down here soon!

Another local pizza chain is called Johnny's Pizza House HERE.  I have only ever had their Muffuletta sandwich, which is very good even though it's not served on proper muffuletta bread.   They have a pizza called "Sweep the Kitchen" which has all kinds of toppings(the reference is to what a pizza kitchen looks like with bits and pieces on it at the end of the night...not a very appetizing picture if you ask me).

During Mardi Gras they run a Kajun Krewe "Sweep the Swamp" promotion and they send our flyers and coupons........

Here's what's on a Sweep the Swamp pizza--Shrimp, Crawfish, Taste of Crab, Cajun Spices, Andouille Sausage, Onions, Bell Peppers, Jalapenos and Mozzarella Cheese.

Umm, no thanks.

And the last odd thing(for now)is you can't find frozen ravioli very much down here.  All we've been able to find is the Great Value brand at only ONE Walmart so far.  Up in PA you could find at least 5 brands in any grocery store you walked into....Celentano, Rosina's, Buitoni, etc.  Here?  It's like nobody ever heard of ravioli.  To busy eating étouffée and boudin I suppose.

Sluggy