Kmart 12/31

Stopped by Kmart today and checked out the Christmas clearance.  Here's what I got:

6 pk Party poppers $1.00

Gift tags $0.99 (Originally $1.99)

16 ct holiday cards $2.99 (Originally $5.99)

Spongebob pajamas $14.39 (Originally $35.99) (This is a Xmas gift for 2012)

Frosty Nerds $0.50 (Originally $1.00)

Total - $21.21

I needed cards for Christmas next year and I was just about out of tags also.  Husby just had to have the nerds and party poppers (to torment the furbabies).

Also, a picture of the cake I made today.  Rainbow chip with rainbow chip icing.  Its one of my favorites.  I thought you'd like to see it.



My stockpile

My stockpile seemed a lot bigger to me until I took pictures of it.  Some areas I need to focus more on: laundry products, cleaning products, and paper products.  I don't really stockpile food as its just me and husby, and i'm afraid we wont be able to eat it before it goes bad, but I think I am going to start stockpiling a little bit....maybe some canned goods and boxed items. 

(Cleaning products, I know, sad, but at least the house will smell good!)

(Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, soap)

(Toothpaste, razors, shave cream, etc.)

(Laundry products)

Frugal Tip of the Day

When you go to the drive thru and they chuck 57 ketchup packets into your bag, don't throw the ones you don't use away or put them in the misc drawer in your kitchen never to be seen again!  Squeeze them into your existing ketchup bottle.  Why waste perfectly good ketchup!?

Food Lion 12/30

Hot dog buns $1.50
Ragu $1.67
Sausage links $3.49
Hot dogs $3.00
1 onion $0.50
2 baked potatoes $1.98
Mozzarella cheese $2.49
Cheddar cheese $2.49
Parkhouse rolls $2.00
1 qt milk $1.49
1 qt chocolate milk $1.49
Cottage cheese $1.39
Sour cream $0.99
Crescent rolls $2.29
Biscuits $2.00
Cat litter $8.99
Fancy Feast $7.49
Cat chow $4.50
Friskees $7.39

Total - $59.63 and I have to go back today because I forgot the box of lasagna noodles I needed.  So, tack on another $2 or $3 to this total for that.

Menu Plan 12/31 - 1/6

Saturday: grilled steak
baked potatoes

Sunday: breakfast - tiny cinnamon rolls, sausage links, scrambled eggs
dinner - Nana's lasagna, garlic bread

Monday: leftovers

Tuesday: hot dogs
mac and cheese

Wednesday: beef and noodles
veggie

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: out

Goals for 2012

So, its almost a new year, and I have a new set of goals!

1. Save $5,000.  This is going to be tough.  But I'm hoping by focusing more on being frugal and using coupons, I will be able to do this.

2.  Read 12 books.  I think this will be an easy goal to achieve.  I love to read.  I have my first book all picked out already that I got for Christmas.  I'll take a picture of it for you next year.

3. Lose 5 pounds.  Yes, just 5.  Do I need to lose more?  Yes, like 100x that much.  But, 5 pounds is a small, attainable goal.  I thought I could do small.

4. Menu plan/chore plan.  Need I say more?

5. Donate $500 worth of money or items to charity.  I like to donate to our local wildlife shelter (OWLS http://owlsonline.squarespace.com/ ), to the local homeless shelter/food pantry (http://rcsnewbern.com/), and to a local organization called PAWS that has a thrift store that they use to try and raise money for a no kill shelter.

I'll try and keep you all updated on how attaining my goals is coming throughout the next year.  What are your goals for the new year?

Frugal Tip of the Day

Buy produce in season.  It is cheaper and tastes better! 

Produce that is in season right now in NC is: Apples, Peanuts, and Sweet Potatoes. 

Wal Mart 12/30

I stopped by Wal Mart to see if they had any good Christmas clearance.  They were pretty well picked over but I did get a good deal on Cranberry Frost Febreeze.  All of their Christmas merchandise is 50% right now.

Fruit Tray $5.88
Amish potato salad $1.98
Baby powder $3.54 (this stuff is expensive!)
General Tso's chicken $3.27
Magazine $4.99
Febreeze $2.48 (Used $1/1 coup) = $1.48

Total - $22.26

Rite Aid 12/30

I stopped by Rite Aid on my way home from work because they had Xtra laundry detergent on sale for $2 (typically $3.49).  We were down to one bottle of detergent, so I thought i'd get a couple to replenish the stock. 

2 Xtra laundry detergent = $4.00 (Used $1/2 coup) = $3.00

Total - $3.27

Food Lion 12/26

We only needed a few things this week since we have so many leftovers from Christmas Eve.

SF jelly $3.09
Bread $2.49
1/2 gal skim milk $2.93
Wheat eggos $3.39
Eggos $2.50
Egg whites $2.69 (Used $1/1 coup) = $1.69
Shredded cheddar $2.49
Sugar free jello cubes $2.00

Total - $21.01

I also bought $5 in trash stickers.

Total - $26.01

Red Hots warm apple cider

I know apple cider is really not a frugal choice if purchased from a store.  I bought a gallon jug of it from Wal Mart for around $6 or $7.  Yikes!  But, for one time a year, a gal can splurge.  I like warm apple cider and husby likes cold apple cider. Lukily this recipe only take 2 liters so we both were able to use the same gallon of cider for our needs.  Now, on to the recipe.

2 quarts apple cider
1/2 cup Red Hots candies

1. Set crockpot setting to warm.
2. On the stove top, heat the apple cider and the red hots, mixing often, until the red hots have dissolved.
3. Once red hots have dissolved into the cider, transfer the cider to a warm crockpot to keep hot while serving.  Your cider will be a lovely brilliant red color.
*I made my apple cider Christmas Eve morning and had it in the crockpot until 8pm Christmas Eve night.  I just stirred it once in awhile.  It made the house smell great!

Fallen off the Bandwagon

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas.  Mine was very nice.  I made a good meal, which I will share pictures of at the bottom of this post, and perhaps a couple of recipes, and spent lots of time with family and friends.

I know my posting has been sporadic at best and I apologize.  I've fallen off of the frugal bandwagon.  Since Christmas is behind us now and a new year is approaching, I'm going to try to hop back on the frugal horse.  The plan as of now is to start posting menu plans again, grocery shopping trips, frugal tips and recipes.  My husband and I are really planning on buckling down in 2012 because we're sick of our living arrangement now and are in a hurry to buy a house.  With a 20% downpayment.  And i'm hoping we can save some extra money for some new furniture as well.

First we'll need to save for our emergency fund and pay off/down our debts.  Not including my car, I have roughly $5000 in debt (credit cards and medical bills).  I've not thought of the exact plan of attack for saving/paying down the debt other than just being as frugal as possible.  My husby and I are going to sit down and budget in the next few days and I think that will help immensely.

On to the Chrismtas Eve Dinner.  I made: spiral ham, mashed potatoes, rolls, copycat Cracker Barrel green beans, yams, deviled eggs, Red Hot hot apple cider, and Dutch apple pie.

 

Food Lion 12/11

Donut Stix $1.79
5 Cake Mixes $6.25
3 Frostings $5.07 (Used two $0.75 coups when you buy a cake mix and a frosting) = $3.57
Salsa $2.50
Marshmallows $1.09
Vodka Sauce $2.00 (Used $1/1 coup) = $1.00
Walnuts $1.89
2 cans sweetened condensed milk $4.18
Rice $1.29 (Used $0.50/1 coup) = $0.79
2 bags Hershey chocolate chips $5.00 (Used $1/2 coup) = $4
Bread $2.49
Ground beef $3.90
Beef bites $2.75
Ground beef $3.85
Chicken wings $1.98
1/2 gal whole milk $2.93
1/2 gal skim milk $2.93
Biscuits $2.00
Frozen mixed veg $1.99
Cornbread $2.99
Cat litter $8.99
Fancy feast $7.49
Purina $4.50 (Used $1/1 coup) = $3.50
Gallon freezer bags $3.99
Quart freezer bags $3.99

Total - $86.25 plus I have a rebate for $10 wyb $10 in beef or chicken!

I'm a little irritated because the cake mixes were supposed to be buy 4 get the 5th free, but they didn't ring up like that and i'm already home.  Oh well.

CVS 12/11

Combos $2.00

Total - $2.04 (used g/c to pay) + received $2 in ECB to use next time!

YTD savings: $728.62

Food Lion 12/3

I can't believe it is December alread!  I still have a ton of Christmas shopping to do!!
Here are our groceries for the week.  The beer and doritos are for my secret santa at work.

Chicken broth $2.00
Swiss rolls $1.79
Ranch dressing $2.39
2 6pk Doritos $4.98
Mandarin orange cups $2.00
6 Bisquick pouches $3.18
Peache slice cups $2.00
Kisses $3.50
M&Ms $4.29
Pretzels $2.50
Carrots $1.29
Diet tea $1.99
Orange cream soda $1.50 (This is for one 12oz glass bottle. I know its expensive but I like to splurge on it once in awhile)
Salami $2.79
White American cheese $4.99 (I have a $3 rebate for this)
6pk Miller Lite $5.99
Cat litter $8.99
Cat chow $4.50
Friskees $7.39

Total - $71.23