Frugal Tip of the Day

Think you've used up the last of that toothpaste, lotion, etc?  Cut open the tube of toothpaste or the container of lotion.  Many times there are still a few uses left of the product stuck at the very bottom or on the sides of the container.

Menu Plan 6/25 - 7/1

Saturday: spaghetti
garlic bread

Sunday: chicken lemon soup w/ rice and vegetables

Monday: steak
baked potato/sweet potato

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: mini burgers on wheat hawaiian rolls
salad

Thursday: bbq chicken
buttered noodles
green beans

Friday: out

Menu Plan 6/18-6/24

So I pretty much haven't cooked anything (other than microwaving takeout leftovers) in like two weeks.  My husband is getting angry, I'm getting angry, my stove is getting angry.  Folks, I think its about time for me to get back to cooking!

Saturday: roast
potatoes
corn on the cob

Sunday: Minestrone soup
grilled cheese sandwiches

Monday: cheddar bacon bbq chicken
buttered egg noodles
green beans

Tuesday: spaghetti
garlic bread

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: steak
baked potato/sweet potato

Friday: out

Grocery Spending 6/12

Here is my combined grocery spending for this week:

Food Lion 6/10

sugar free werther's original candy $1.50
creamy chicken soup $1.89
dasani water $1.59
raspberries $2.99
honey ham $0.54
Hawaiian rolls $1.29

Total - $10.09

Wal Mart 6/11

1.5 lbs honey ham $11.15
fruit mix $4.25
3 snack dips $3.00
Donuts $2.50

Total - $21.46

Misc. at Farmer's Market $5.00

Total this week - $36.55

Total left for groceries this month: $124.02.

CVS 6/12

That is Persie you see in the background hamming it up!  Hehe

Transaction #1

1 Prescription $10.00

1 Renuzit Adjustable $0.88

1 20 ct Motrin PM $4.00
1 5 ct Zyrtec $5.99
$25 giftcard

I used $10.50 in ECBs and a coupon for a $25 giftcard on a new prescription.

Total - $11.21 plus I got $8.99 in ECBs to use on next transaction.

Transaction #2

2 Purex 3n1 Sheets $8.79 (Used $1/1 coup) = $7.79
1 Milk Duds $1.67
1 Goobers $1.67
1 Raisinets $0.01

I used $8.99 in ECBs.

Total - $3.09

I don't think $4.30 is too bad for all of that household and food product.  Plus i'll be sending in a $2 rebate on that gift card that I got for free.  Woohoo!  So, deduct $3.30 out of my grocery budget (one of the candies is going in a gift box to dad so I dont count that in groceries, I took $1 off total for the candy) and I have $160.57 left for the month!

Menu Plan 6/11 - 6/17

Saturday: fried pork chops
buttered egg noodles
green beans
rice krispy treats

Sunday: roast beef
potatoes
carrots
rolls

Monday: leftovers

Tuesday: spaghetti
garlic bread

Wednesday: teriyaki sticky chicken
rice
peas

Thursday: pancakes and bacon

Friday: out

CVS 6/5

Garnier Fructis Shampoo and Conditioner $5.00 (used two $1/1 coups) = $3.00
Always $2.99 (used $1/1 coup) = $1.99
2 Oral-B Pulsar toothbrushes $12.00 (used two $3/1 coups) = $6.00
1 Crest prohealth mouthwash $4.50 (used $2/1 coup) = $2.50
1 Colgate max toothpaste $2.79 (used $1/1 coup) = $1.79
1 Dawn Hand Renewal $0.99 (used $1/1 coup) = $0.00

I also used a CVS coupon for $4/$20.

Total - $12.14 plus I got $10.50 in ECBs.

I'm only counting the difference between the OOP and the ECBs towards my spending budget.  So, I have $163.87 left for the month.

Menu Plan 6/4-6/10

I haven't been doing a very good job with sticking to my menus at all! Something I need to work on!

Saturday: spaghetti
salad
garlic bread

Sunday: pot roast
buttered noodles
mixed vegetables

Monday: cheddar bbq chicken breast
macaroni and cheese
mixed vegetables

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: beef patties in gravy
rice
green beans

Thursday: teriyaki sticky chicken
tater tots
veggie

Friday: out

June grocery spending

A new month, another shot at sticking with my grocery budget!  After consulting with a like minded frugal friend of mine, she suggested that if I could afford it, to up my grocery budget to $60/week since that includes food for me and husby, food and litter for the babies, HBA and home care products. I decided that she was probably right so my grocery budget per month is now $240. So far this week i'm over for my budget. But I did get Friskees on a really good deal and should have enough for the babies for the entire month (1 can everyday).  I also got a couple of cheap/free things to donate to the homeless shelter/food pantry.  Here's what I bought this week:

Food Lion 6/1

30 cans Friskees cat food

Total - $6.65

Food Lion 6/4

Bread $1.99
Bagel thins $3.69
McCormick roast bag $1.89
2 boxes popcorn $2.98
Mandarin oranges $2.69
Mandarin oranges $2.69
Perrier sparkling water $2.29 (used a coup making this free) = $0.00
2 cans tuna $1.78 (used two $0.50/1 coups) = $0.78
2 boxes Capn Crunch $6.00 (used $1/2 coup) = $5.00
Roast $4.86
Ground beef $3.02
Ground beef $2.84
salad $2.69
2 bananas $0.34
2 oranges $1.50
sugar free fudgesicles $3.50
Country crock $3.29 (used $1/1 coup) = $2.29
2 jugs diet tea $4.00
1/2 gal milk $2.79
5 yogurts $3.00
cream cheese $2.39
fancy feast $6.00
Cottonelle moist wipes $2.79 (used a coup to get this free) = $0.00
ziploc freezer bags $3.99

Total - $67.34

So far this month i'm over budget $13.99.  So I have $166.01 left for the month or roughtly $55.33/week.  I think that is pretty doable.