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!

Menu Plan Monday

I haven't fallen off the earth. I have been super busy with work and home stuff. Nothing fun, unfortunately. We are in the process of re-doing our master bedroom. This includes painting over cranberry walls, re-painting trim and crown molding, replacing the carpet (thanks to Dad for this AWESOME b-day present!) and eventually getting new-to-us furniture.
I am also planning a garage sale before it gets ridiculously cold to help pay for before said home improvements. And in the middle of all that Miss Peyton's birthday is the first week of November, which means Christmas is repeatedly ringing the doorbell like the annoying kid no one wants to play with! Whoa. I"m feeling more overwhelmed just talking about it. At least my meals are planned.
I noticed something the past couple of weeks. The grocery store that doubles coupons is significantly higher priced (in my mind) than my regular grocery store. I was going there for my coupon deals, and then my "regular" store for the rest of my groceries. Well, I have been getting so many good deals at the "expensive" store I have been able to build our menus around what I'm getting for pennies. This, in conjunction with their ".99, expires this week " items, I haven't needed to go to the cheap store. Today I got organic salad mix, organic eggs, and orange juice, all for .99. OK, we ate the salad for dinner tonight, eggs used to not even have an expiration date (or be refrigerated-ask your mother), and the orange juice doesn't expire until the end of the week. I think a couple extra days for OJ won't kill us. Point is- grocery stores that take internet coupons AND double them totally rock. So, the menu plan........ (Thanks for letting me ramble. Hubby is not impressed by my good deals anymore. He wants to know why I paid .99 for anything. "You mean it wasn't free??")
M- Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread
T- Chicken fajitas, refried beans, rice
W- Eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits
T- Chicken strips, mac & cheese, green beans (Church fall festival!)
F- Jack O' Lantern pizza, salad (Trick or Treating!)
S- Sesame chicken w/ broccoli
S- Tacos, black beans, rice (Peyton's b-day party!)

Target deals

I had a cart full- literally! I spent 37.00 but I saved $75! Here's the rundown:

16 bags carrots- FREE
8 loaves Earth Grains bread- FREE
App. 8pds of "steak"- app. $8
2 lbs grapes- $2
4 packages Ortega taco seasoning- 1.27
2 family size boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats- 1.04
9 buddies bars- FREE
2 bags of ruffles- $5 (hubby threw them in)
2 reusable bags- FREE
2 shredded cheese- $4
2 3-pack Horizon singles- 3.78

I think that's all. Plus tax is about $37. I use the quotes on steak b/c I would never eat chuck steak or eye of round steak for "steak" But it's great in the crock pot for beef tips of beef stroganoff. Cheap is good!

PS- Does anyone know if you can freeze baby carrots and bring them back to normal for raw eating? TIA!

CVS this week- 10/5

I did not step foot in a CVS last week. I did drive thru, but that doesn't count. Tomorrow looks like an exciting morning for my house! I love when I get to get some good deals before church starts! Thanks to Crystal for these scenarios and deals! Visit her here: http://www.moneysavingmom.com

Buy 1 Colgate MaxFresh at $2.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 2)
Use $1/1 coupon from 9/28 SmartSource insert
Use $1/1 coupon from CVS Reinventing Beauty booklet
Free plus $1 overage after coupons and ECBs

Buy 1 Breeze2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System at $14.99, Get $10 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use up to $30-off coupon from 3/16 or 6/1 SmartSource inserts
Free plus possible overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Bic Soleil at $5.99, Get $4 ECBs (Limit 5)
Use $2/1 printable coupon
Free after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Always Infinity (14-18 ct) at $4.98, Get $4.98 ECBs (Limit 1) Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Vitamin Water at $2.29, Get $2.29 ECBs (Limit 1) Free after ECBs

Buy 1 Gillette Shampoo or Conditioner at $4.99, Get $1 ECB (Limit 5)
Use $2/1 coupon from 9/28 PG insert
$1.99 after coupons and ECBs

Free or cheap deals- no ecb needed.
Colgate Toothbrushes--on sale for $0.99
Use $1/1 coupon from September All You magazine
Free after coupon

Aquafresh Toothpaste--on sale for $0.99
Use $0.75/1 printable coupon
$0.24 after coupon

Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water (3-liter)--on sale for $1
Use $1/2 coupon from 8/4 Red Plum insert
$0.50 each after coupon

Hope you enjoy your trip!

Walgreens $5/20

Go to Walgreen's tomorrow! Yes it has to be tomorrow. First print this http://www.walgreens.com/hotbuys/default.jsp
Then, do this
1 Oral B toothbrush 4.49
1 Fusion razor 8.99
5 Softsoap 3.49
1 Barbie toothbrush 2.99 (stocking stuffer)
- $5 easy saver q softsoap
- $4 fusion 9/28 P&G
- $3 softsoap ips (I was able to print 3)
- .75 oral b 9/8 P&G
total 20.66
-5/20 Walgreens 2day coupon = 15.66
+tax= 23.?? oop
Get back
$4 register rewards for Fusion
$4.49 rr for Oral B
$10 rr for Softsoap
So if there is anything I need I have $18.49 to spend at Walgreens- woo hoo!

I had to get something to push me over the $20 mark and Peyton was begging for a Barbie toothbrush-loudly. This was a great deal for me because I got my last bottle of body wash out a few weeks ago and was wondering how I was going to score more for free. This is pretty close to free!
Thanks to Mercedes and Hot Coupon World for help in compiling this scenario.
Visit Mercedes each week for great Walgreens deals. http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/

Homeland 10/1- 10/7

Nothing to get too excited about this week. In fact, I think I will sit this one out.

Quilted northern $1 ip/ $1 9/21 RP= 4.49
Crest toothpaste $1 9/28 pg= .50
Oral B toothbrush $1 9/28 pg= .50
All Quaker on sale (-$3 in ad q if you buy 5)
Quaker Instant Oatmeal boxes -(2) $1/2 9/7 ss, -3 in ad= $5 ($1 a box)
" " Oatmeal Squares -.50 9/7 ss= $1
Chewy Granola Bars -$1/3 9/14 ss, -$3 in ad= $1 a box
Oatmeal to go .55 9/7 rp= 1.40
Life Maple Brown Sugar $1 ip= FREE
Yoplait $1/8 ip= $2/8 or .25 each
Land o Frost .55/1 8/10 rp= 1.40
Wright bacon $1 8/17 ss= 3.89
Eckrich smoked sausage .75 ip =1.48
Luzianne .75/2 6/29 ss= 1.25/2
Progresso .50/2 9/7 ss= 1.00
Macaroni Grill $1/1 ip or 9/7 ss= 1.50
Easy Mac $1/2 ip= FREE
Smart Balance $1 ip or 9/7 rp= .69
Jell-o $1/2 8/17 ss= $3/2
Fast Fixin $1 ip= 3.49
Farmland Ham $2/1 = 1.88
Right Guard $1 8/10 ss= FREE
Keebler Chips Deluxe .55/2 9/28 rp= 3.90/2

All the ip (internet printed) coupons can be found here: http//www.afullcup.com/forums/coupon.php

Total prices are after doubling coupons. Make sure the coupon will double. I haven't checked them all!