This Week on the Dining Table.....the Nov. 3rd to Nov. 9th

The "I Wouldn't Spend Money on This" Edition.......

This was a free after rebate tv dinner from "Real Good".  It was more than double the price of a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice one(never seen this brand go on sale)and about as thrilling as the others.  The BBQ sauce was strange tasting too.   I'll pass on this next time.  I wish my store carried their plain bagged chicken.  That I could have dressed up to be edible.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Leftover Brisket, Green Beans, Mac and Cheese(Hubs only)

2. Monday--Catfish, Leftover Green Beans

3. Tuesday--Something from the Freezer

4. Wednesday--Something from the Freezer

5. Thursday--Something from the Freezer

6. Friday--Something from the Freezer

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Leftover Brisket, Green Beans, Mac and Cheese(Hubs only)

2. Monday--Catfish, Leftover Green Beans

3. Tuesday--can't remember

4. Wednesday--I had a free after rebate TV dinner

5. Thursday--Rotisserie Chicken, Carrots, Au Gratin Taters

6. Friday--late lunch(I had a Salad and Strawberries later)

7. Saturday--So memorable I can't recall it lol

If your meal plan is just "something from the freezer" it's hard to go off plan. lol

I probably had a salad and strawberries(had a lot of strawberries)on Saturday and Hubs cut into his massive pot of chili.  Tuesday's dinner is lost to the mist of time. ;-)

We had a rare food waste last week.  I uncovered some collards in the freezer that were freezer burned so those got pitched.  I can't remember the last time we had any food waste beyond that. 8-)

What got taken out of the freezer last week....

*  Beef Brisket

*  Catfish

*  Don't remember

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

*  Ice Cream Cones

*  Chicken Biscuits(there was a deal)

                    

Last week we spent $175.79 grocery shopping(not counting the days in November).

Total shopping comes to $649.97 for October.   There are 0 shopping days left in October.

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $266.37 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $3.00 on Shopmium in October.

I've earned $0.01 on TaDa in October.

I've earned $32.11 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $118.69 on Aisle, etc. in October. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 28,510 points on Fetch from food shopping in October.

I've earned 11,572 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.($46.28)

I've earned 6,679 Points on My Points in October.(not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 2,644 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.($26.44)

That is $420.16 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/Swag Bucks/TaDa/The Insiders were I earn,  gift cards)on $649.97 of grocery spending so in reality it's $229.81 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending(but I do count any rebates on those items) so it's a win/win--the food bank gets a large donation of goods and I get a lower grocery bill.

My savings percentage for the last week was 33.39% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 44.33% spent.

Leftovers going into this week.....leftover carrots, au gratin taters, catfish, chili and the leftover rotisserie chicken got turned into chicken salad.  All of this will be lunch fodder as there isn't enough of any item for meals for 2.

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

1. Sunday--Tuna Subs

2. Monday--Chicken Strips, Squash and Onions

3. Tuesday--Salmon, Sweet Potato Fries

4. Wednesday--(Look Away Anne!)Liver and Onions, Mashed Potatoes, Beets

5. Thursday--Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Fries

6. Friday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

7. Saturday--Beef w/Stir-fry Veggies

I can easily see what's in the freezer now and make a plan.  We have everything for these meals(except provolone cheese for the subs).  Except for the cheese mentioned we need nothing from the store this week.  I may still go and cherry pick some deals since Thanksgiving is near and there will be stock-up deals and pick up some more items for the food bank too.

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? 

Sluggy

Tax Plans of Each Candidate Compared

No matter who wins this election, the outcome will bring tax implications for every taxpayer. 
Here's an informative video from a licensed CPA about the legislation each candidate is proposing  should they win that would impact various taxpayers.

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the Nov. 1st Edition on Saturday

There are a few Frugal wins over the past week.....

*  I got released from Wound Care a week ago Friday so I can get back to PT now.  What a shit show that was.....though I had a great time chatting with the Occupational Therapists who came to change the bandages twice a week.

*  I got a few freebies this past week at the grocery stores.....

First was 5 cans of chili.  Jack Links is now making chili and there is a 
Buy 1, Get 4 cans free offer.  Hubs is the only one who eats chili but I hope he doesn't love this kind because it's pricey. lol

Then I got a container of juice boxes and some gluten-free graham crackers another day and they had full price rebates.  These are headed to the food bank.

Then a container of Taco Bell dip and a bottle of Starry soda yet another day.  Both were free with OTC offers.  The white bag on the left holds 4 lbs. of sweet potatoes.  While those weren't free, they were an incredible .20¢ a lb. at our local Walmart.  I should have gotten more but 4 lbs. is a goodly amount.

We went to a different Walmart on Wednesday, the only one in this area that carries this product.  It had a full price rebate and I plan on keeping this.

Another freebie I picked up at Kroger, a Real Good frozen item.  I would have preferred their bag 'o chicken but all ours carries is a tv dinner deal.  I had it for dinner last week.  The chicken is not breaded(that's ok)but the bbq sauce was weird tasting.  The veggies were a hot mess...at least the broccoli was as it was all shredded up.

We hit Lowe's last Sunday too. There was a deal on My Points on the Method and Meyer's brands of cleaners.  There was also corresponding offers on Checkout 51.  Between the two offers these were free or better than free.

*  My mouse died........

Last Saturday I could no longer revive it by rolling the battery inside.  So I hopped on Amazon and on Monday a new sleek model was delivered......

It changed colors on the under carriage and doesn't need a battery.  And it's purple too!!

*  We bought a car!

Hubs' car was on it's last legs so we've been researching what to replace it with.

We found a great deal at Enterprise locally, went in, test drove it and bought it.  It's a 2023 Malibu with 35K miles on it.  They even gave us $2K for his car as a trade in(so now we don't have to worry about what to do with it).  It was part of the Enterprise Corporate Fleet and was well taken care of.  We put the bulk of the purchase price on Hubs American Airlines card for the miles.  We'll pay it off this coming week.

*  I found money!  

I found a penny by the pharmacy in Walmart on Saturday.

I found 2 pennies in Walmart on Tuesday.

I found  a penny in Kroger last Tuesday.

Total Found last week..... .04¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$8.72 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got and all I can do right now.

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

Sluggy   

 

This Week on the Dining Table......October 27 to November 2nd

 The "Yuck!"Edition.........

Here is one of my least favorite meals they served me at the Rehab Hospital in September.
Frozen crinkle cut carrots(meh), 2 hunks of some sort of Beef smothered in brown gravy(not a fan of gravy) and a puddle of Mashed Cauliflower(yuck!)instead of mashed potatoes.  I like Cauliflower to a point...in soup, roasted....but as a substitute for mashed potatoes?  Just NO!

September's Meal Planning turned into a big fat Cluster "You Know What"  so we are starting fresh in October.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Chicken Strips, Squash & Onions

2. Monday--Risotto, Salad

3. Tuesday--Chilli(Hubs), TV dinner(me)

4. Wednesday--Flounder, Veggie TBD

5. Thursday--Leftovers

6. Friday--Flatbread Pizza, Salad

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Chicken Strips, Squash & Onions

2. Monday--Risotto, Salad

3. Tuesday--Chilli(Hubs), TV dinner(me)

4. Wednesday--Flounder, Corn on the Cob

5. Thursday--Leftover BBQ, Cole Slaw

6. Friday--Flatbread Pizza, Salad

7. Saturday--Leftovers(I had a TV Dinner and Strawberries)

We pretty much kept on plan last week. Go us.  Hubs made chili last week(I don't eat that.)so he's got a ton of it left.

What got taken out of the freezer last week....

*  Chicken Strips

*  2 TV dinner

*  Flounder

*  Pepperoni

*  Mozzarella Cheese

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

*  Nothing

                    

Last week we spent $175.79 grocery shopping.  

Total shopping comes to $649.97 for October.   There are 3 shopping days left in October but I am done.

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $266.37 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $3.00 on Shopmium in October.

I've earned $0.01 on TaDa in October.

I've earned $32.11 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $118.69 on Aisle, etc. in October. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 28,510 points on Fetch from food shopping in October.

I've earned 11,572 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.($46.28)

I've earned 6,679 Points on My Points in October.(not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 2,644 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.($26.44)

That is $420.16 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/Swag Bucks/TaDa/The Insiders were I earn,  gift cards)on $649.97 of grocery spending so in reality it's $229.81 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending(but I do count any rebates on those items) so it's a win/win--the food bank gets a large donation of goods and I get a lower grocery bill.

My savings percentage for the last week was 33.39% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 44.33% spent.

Leftovers going into this week....bbq, cole slaw, spaghetti with sauce, a boatload of chili.

We cleaned out and organized the freezer Sunday so now we can see what's in there and make some meals.

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

1. Sunday--Leftover Brisket, Green Beans, Mac and Cheese(Hubs only)

2. Monday--Catfish, Leftover Green Beans

3. Tuesday--Something from the Freezer

4. Wednesday--Something from the Freezer

5. Thursday--Something from the Freezer

6. Friday--Something from the Freezer

7. Saturday--Leftovers

Other than tonight I haven't gotten around to figuring out what we're having the rest of the week.  Seafood, Chicken, Beef, Pork with either fresh produce or frozen veg.  That's all I can commit to right now. ;-)

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? 

Sluggy

Just some FYI Knowledge About Voting and Voter Rules in the USA

Did you know that you don't need to present ID in 14 states and D.C. to vote?  And one of those states is my old home of PA?  And another 9 states don't require a photo ID?

Go read this article and look at the map........https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-voter-id-laws-state-1950691  All the states there are white/grey require no ID proving you are a citizen be shown in order to cast a ballot.

In PA, where I worked the polls we could ask for ID from a first time voter but that is the only time we could.

In fact, California just passed a law making it illegal to ask for ID from some one attempting to vote.
Where I grew up, Virginia recently attempted to remove 1,600 voters from their rolls who identified themselves as non-citizens and the courts made them put these undocumented aliens back on the voter rolls.

Crazy, right?

I know for a fact that the Powers That Be have moved in thousands of undocumented aliens into a small town in PA outside of Pittsburg and paid for their housing, given then loaded debit cards, etc.  I know for a fact that anyone can walk into a PA DMV office and obtain a photo driver's license with no proof of who they are or were they live.

I bet the Powers That Be on election day send vehicles to transport these aliens to the polls to vote illegally and if they have that PA driver's license they will be allowed to cast a vote in that swing state.

Not only is our country under attack from outside but from within, due to the Democrat elite.  They are the ones who let in 14+million undocumented aliens into this country(including unvetted rapists, murderers, gang members and drug cartels whom they refuse to jail after they cause chaos in our country).

In order to protect the integrity of our elections and not to mention the safety of our citizens we must change the people in charge and how we do things in this country.

Here is a link to Voter Rules......... https://www.usa.gov/who-can-vote

Sluggu