Menu Plan Monday 1/26

Iwas not going to post my plan this week but I seriously want the cutie patootie envelopes on www.orgjunkie.com so without furthur ado.

Monday- Lasagna, garlic bread
Tuesday- Chicken and broccoli casserole, rolls
Wednesday- Lemon garlic chicken, rice, green beans, rolls
Thursday- Jambalaya, cornbread
Friday- Potato soup
Saturday- Sandwiches, mac and cheese
Sunday- Pot Roast

We were hit with an icy storm this morning and I tried to venture out but I only got as far as the CVS drive-thru. Since I slid out of there I thought it better to come straight home. Hopefully I will be able to get my groceries before the Homeland 1.69/lb ground beef goes off sale!

Menu Plan Monday 1/19

We didn't eat out last week but I did make some things that weren't on the menu plan. Therefore there are some things that are repeats this week. I'm including approximate prices for the meals. One of my favorite blog reads is www.5dollardinners.com My new goal is to spend as close to $5 as possible on dinner. This is also a good way to show how much stockpiling and buying things when they are on sale helps the budget.

Monday- Whole chicken in the crockpot 2.74
salad .50
baby carrots .50
chicken flavored rice .40
rolls .20
total- 4.34

Tuesday- Beef tips 2.68
mashed potatoes 1.50
green beans .25
rolls .20
total- 4.63

Wednesday- Lemon garlic chicken
chicken 3.00
lemon .25
rice .40
corn .25
rolls .20
total- 4.10

Thursday- BBQ Chicken
chicken 1.50
sauce .75
au gratin potatoes .35
green beans .25
rolls .20
total- 3.05

Friday- chicken nuggets .50
mac & cheese .67
total- 1.17

Saturday- breakfast
eggs .75
bacon .99
cinnamon rolls 1.88
total- 3.62

Sunday- chicken cheese steak
bread 1.00
chicken 1.50
spaghetti sauce .50
bell pepper .99
1/2 onion .35
total 4.34

Sunday Shopping

I clipped my coupons, made my lists, & made sure I had all the neccesary elements for a successful shopping afternoon. Unfortunately, when I went to Walgreens to collect my gift card I was told my doctor had not sent in the refill. Urg. This messed up my zero-out-of-pocket plan, seriously. I was going to wait and go back tomorrow until I remembered that I had $10 in RR that expired today. So I spent $7 oop to save $10. Urg, again. I'm going to post my Walgreens and grocery store list for the week and then explain how it goes with my menu plan for the week tomorrow. I am also going to * the items that were impulse purchases in order to show you, and myself, how much those things add up.

Walgreens
Transaction 1
4 Skippy p.b.= 7.98
4 Ragu= 7.98
dz. eggs= 1.59
- 1.20 in Skippy q's
- 1.00 in Ragu q's
- 10 rr (Frito Lay rr)
total 6.67, savings 20.28, get 10 rr from Unilever

I had to have an extra item in order to use the rr because I had a coupon for each of the p.b. and Ragu. I could have bought something cheaper, like a pencil or candy, but I needed eggs anyway. And when I made my plan I was using a gift card. The rr is considered a manufacturer coupon and you have to have as many items as coupons.

Transaction 2
8 bags Doritos= $20
- 10 rr (Unilever deal)
total 10, get 10 rr from Frito Lay

This is important. You can't use a rr from one deal to do the same deal again. It will not print. Since I used a Frito Lay rr in trans 1, I got another one from Unilever. Now, I used the Unilever rr on another Frito Lay deal, so I will receive another 10 rr from Frito Lay.

Transaction 3
Deerfield Farms cheese x2= $4
Kraft Mac n' cheese x3= $2
Tuf trashbags= 3.99
Extra gum x3= .99
- 10 rr
total .98
Since I already did transaction 1 I will have $14 left on my gift card.

Grocery store

BC cookie mix x3= 4.50*
Mini Pretzels x2= 2.50*
SCO Lays 2.00
Gallon Milk 2.74
Cheetos 1.67
Italian bread 1.99
Cinnamon rolls 1.88
Lays Stax x2 1.98
bread 1.97
ketchup .98
ritz 2.50*
BBQ sauce 1.50
bell pepper .99
cucumber x2 1.00
shrimp 4.47*
grapes 3.02
olives 1.09*
olives 1.29*
carrots 1.50
ground beef 3.01
popcorn chicken 1.69*
- $1 off milk when you buy Sara Lee bread
total 47.77

Most of these "impulse" buys were snacks hubby wanted to take to work. This will cut down on his lunch or snack machine spending so it all works out. The shrimp has been on my list the last couple of weeks but I always seem to go when the meat counter is closed. I will be making a meal with it but 7.99/pd. for protein is RIDICULOUS! This will have to be a special treat meal. It better be good! Come back tomorrow for my meal plan for the week.

Weekly Round-up- Food Envelope

Since my much more than usual grocery spending last week, I am glad to say I spent $10 this week on food. Unfortunately, it was also money I could have not spent. The goal for this coming week will be to buy a few things to complete this weeks menu plan, including breakfasts and lunches, AND NOTHING MORE! I plan on hitting Walgreens this week to stock up on peanut butter and spaghetti sauce but I will be using a gift card that I got for transferring a prescription, and $10 in register rewards. I will post my trip, with money spent, and savings. Wish me luck!

Menu Plan Monday 1/12

I'm actually on time this week! I'm feeling more organized already. I spent the weekend cleaning my house and getting it some what back in order. I have to finish up tomorrow and take Peyton to the doctor so without further ado....

Monday- Paella
Tuesday- Crockpot Chicken
Wednesday- Chicken Fajitas
Thursday- Spaghetti Pie
Friday- Quesadillas (made with leftover fajita chicken)
Saturday- Homemade Pizza
Sunday- Beef Stroganoff (We didn't have this last week. Madison wanted breakfast instead.)

Have a good week!!

Groceries......

I have noticed since I have been serious about couponing that I have a lot of random groceries. While I get them either free or close to free, they take up space. And it looks like I have LOTS of stuff. Which I do, just nothing I can make a meal out of. So tonight I went to three different stores. Instead of holding myself to a tight budget, I bought things we needed and some things we wanted. It does me no good to save money on things that no one really wants, like Bagelfuls. I got 2 boxes for free a few months back, and still they sit. Taking up space in my freezer. Valuable space. The point is, if we have a house full of groceries that no one will eat, I am not accomplishing anything. I have given myself such a mental block that it made me sick to pay full price for peanut butter. But we love peanut butter. I got so much for soooooooo cheap last summer that I didn't want to BUY it. I think what I am trying to say is, from this point forward, I will only buy things that we will use. Or that I can get for free. But I must have a place to store it, in order to sell it at my next garage sale.
I spent $110 on groceries today. I couldn't tell you the last time I spent more than $50 in one week. I feel like I'm confessing!! I'm okay with it because it will save us in the long run. Everyone has some of their favorite things so no one will be whining about wanting to go out to dinner. Sometimes it's better to spend a little more and keep the peace.

Menu Plan

I know it's Wednesday. I'm still behind so I included Monday of next week, and what we have had so far this week.

Sunday 1/11- Chicken Picatta, green beans, penne pasta
Monday 1/12- Chili and cornbread
Tuesday 1/13- Church/ out to dinner with gift cards
Wednesday 1/14- Breakfast for dinner
Thursday 1/15- National Championship- Go OU! (We got tickets to go to a buffet and to see the game at a local movie theater. Should be fun!)
Friday 1/16- Homemade Pizza
Saturday 1/17- Chicken strips and mac n' cheese (Hubby works late and we usually have neighbor kids joining us for dinner.)
Sunday 1/18- Beef Stroganoff, green beans, rice
Monday 1/19- Paella (I got a new cookbook for Christmas so this will be a first run for us.)

Happy 2009!

As you can tell from last post, over 2 months ago, the last couple of months have been long, busy and stressful. This was the first holiday season without my mom. That makes me sad every time I think about it. I also have a 4 year old and an 11 year old, which is stressful any time of year! Those of you who have lots of kids, hats off. I don't think I could do it, unless I had a bigger house, more money, and no job! On top of all that, my "job" is catering. Obviously from Thanksgiving to Christmas is my busiest time of year with work. I forget every year how busy the year before was and don't prepare very well. I'm thinking of writing my Christmas cards in August this year. Seriously. So, I haven't been blogging. Or really checking my e-mail (I have 7,550, at last pop up). I only jump online to check a couple of good deal sites and rush out the door.

My resolution for 2009, to be more organized and more calm. Those 2 things will help me to stay focused on our budget, which will in turn help us to get out of debt, buy a new-to-us car, and start working on our savings.

I won't make any "I promise to blog everyday" promises but I do hope to use this blog as a platform to keep me accountable to our goals as a family. HAPPY 2009!