craziness .....

This time of year is nothing but crazy.  We are not buying as many gifts this year but they seem to be costing us more.  We only really "buy" for our children and their spouses and our little nieces and new nephew.  Each year I try to tell my husband not to buy me anything but he does anyway.  We got ourselves a joint gift this year - a Keurig 2.0 series 300.  I have wanted a Keurig for a while so I am excited.

Our plan is January 1 to start hard and heavy with the Dave Ramsey material and get our finances in order.  I would love to be able to quit work by the end of 2015.

Last Day of Farmer's Market till Spring .....

Went to the farmer's market this morning to say good bye for the winter to some vendors I have grown used to seeing every week.  I also purchased a few things:

1 quart of local honey - $17
4 small zucchini for the iguana - $1
2 very large onions - $2 (from my favorite lady :) )

Total spent $20

Total spent so far:  $44.67

This week ......

I am trying to see how little I can spend on groceries.  Here is what I have done so far:

Kroger #1

case of water
golden oreos

$5.92


Kroger #2

1 can of pringles
1 lb turkey lunch meat

$6.10


Rite Aid

2 jars of peanuts
2 boxes of flavored water packets

$8.78


Kroger #3

1 zucchini
1 lb carrots
1 loaf of bread

$3.87

Grand Total so far:  $24.67

The pringles and peanuts are for my dh who is a snack fiend.  There HAS to be snacks in the house or he is very grumpy.  Lunch meat is for his work lunches as is the water bottles and flavor packets.
The zucchini is for his iguana in his classroom.  This morning I am going to the last farmer's market of the season.  I will report what I buy a little later.

Kroger Run

I stopped by Kroger for some groceries for next week.  Hopefully, other than some fried chicken I am picking up in the morning for a fellowship meal,  I won't need any other groceries.

Here is what I picked up:

bananas
1/2 gallon of milk
5 boxes frozen veggies
1 pot pie (free)
1 loaf of bread
1 magazine
1 bag of string cheese
1 pkg luncheon meat
1 pkg instant potatoes
1 bag salad mix
1 bag of pistachios
1 bag of raw almonds
1 pkg sliced cheese
1 pkg of whole mushrooms
2 candy bars
2 pkg ham cubes
1 pkg peanut butter crackers
1 bottle red wine vinegar
2 cans beef broth
1 large bag of dog biscuits

Total spent:  $59.35
minus magazine and dog biscuits:  $50.27

The red wine vinegar is for a new recipe that I want to try this week.  I will let you know what we think.

Farmer's Market

I went to the farmer's market this morning to buy zucchini.  I came home with zucchini, romaine lettuce and a little over a pound of stewing beef.  The beef is organic locally raised and looks amazing.  We are having beef stew for dinner tonight.

Here is the damage:

zucchini - $2
romaine lettuce - $3
stewing beef - $8.72

Total:  $13.72

I normally will not spend that much on meat but I have been wanting to try them and we are trying to eat healthier.  I am hoping my system likes this beef.  "Normal" beef, from the grocery store, upsets my stomach so we are going to try this.  My sweet man has been missing beef so this is a treat for him.

Kroger Run

Well l decided to do my Kroger run today as I work tomorrow night and I have things that I need to do before hand.  Here is what I bought:

2 bags Kroger wavy chips

1 loaf of bread

1 pkg peanut butter crackers

1 bottle vitamins

1 candy bar

1 zone bar (free)

1 bottle of mouthwash (free)

1 container of greek yogurt (free)

1 Jimmy Dean frozen meal (free)

1 bag of almonds

1 frozen pizza

1 16 oz bag of mozz. cheese

1 half gallon milk

1 pound ground round

4 boxes of kleenex

For a grand total of $34.27.  But wait,  I had a $5 gift card that I used so out of pocket was $29.27 !!!  

Previous Total:  $18.77

Grand Total:  $48.04

Left for week:  $1.96

New Name and shopping .....

I decided to change the name to a more realistic one as I was really struggling to keep my budget to $40 a week.  I am still going to try to keep it as close to that as possible.

I did some shopping today:

Farmer's Market:  $5
green beans
new potatoes

Sam's Club:  $47.15
bath tissue
green grapes
gala apples
cooking spray
angel hair pasta
white vinegar

The bath tissue will last at least 6 weeks, so $2.81 a week; the cooking spray will last most likely 12 weeks, so 50 cents a week; the angel hair pasta is for stock up as I already have one box of 6 but it was on sale, so 96 cents a package and the vinegar is stock up also.  Really for this week I spent $13.77.  The rest being for stock up.  I don't get by Sam's Club very often so that is why I stocked up.

Spent so far for this week: $18.77
Goal for week:  $50
Left for week:  $31.23

Farmer's Market .......

This morning I went to the farmer's market and purchased the following:

lettuce
3 cucumbers
new potatoes

$8.00


Krogers:

1 pkg chicken fajita meat (free)
1 pkg pork carnitas (free)
2 limes
1 pkg hamburger buns
bunch of bananas
4 nectarines

$6.85


Total spent:  $14.85
Left for the week:  over $5.84

However, the pork carnitas are for next week.

Meal Plan for June 8 - 14

Here is what I plan to fix for meals.  Subject to life happening.

Breakfasts will be a choice of eggs and bacon, peanut butter toast, cold cereal or hard boiled eggs

Lunches will be a choice of leftovers, sandwiches or mac and cheese

Dinners:

Sunday - BLT's
Monday - my birthday so dinner out
Tuesday - chicken leg quarters, mashed potatoes and veggie
Wednesday - fried fish, corn on the cob and veggie
Thursday - ham, mashed potatoes and veggie
Friday - shake n bake chicken, stuffing, veggie
Saturday - pizza for dh, work for me

I only work two days this week so I have a lot more time to cook.  In the garden I am picking peas, cabbage and kohlrabi.  I have zucchini almost ready and blooms on my tomato and cucumber plants.

Grocery Shop June 7, 2014

Continuing with this weeks groceries here is what I purchased today:

Kroger:

1 pkg chicken thighs (I divided it up into 3 meals)
1 bunch celery
nectarines
mushrooms
1 bag frozen mixed veggies
1 block of colby cheese
1 frozen pizza (I only close 1 night next week)
2 bottles of diet soda

Total:  $23.68
Grand total for week: $29.31
left for week:  $10.69


The chicken thighs will not be used on this week's menu but it was a great price.  Dh asked for soda so I purchased bottles instead of cans.  The cans were very expensive even on sale.

Grocery Shop June 6, 2014

This is my first shop since going back to the $40 a week format.  I have not completed my shopping by any stretch of the imagination but I have started so I thought I would post so I didn't forget.

Farmer's Market:

1 bag lettuce
3 small cucumbers

$3.00

Wal-Mart:

mustard
ranch dressing

$2.63

Spent so far:  $5.63
Left:  $34.37

Dh and I talked and we liked the lettuce so much more from the farmer's market.  We have a market Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  It costs more than the grocery store but it tastes so much better.  My cucumbers are not in yet so I bought a couple for the salad.

Wal-Mart is somewhere that I rarely, if ever, go but I had purchased some work shirts that did not fit right when I got home.  Back they went and while I was there picked up the two items I knew I needed right now.  Dd was complaining that I didn't have any ranch.  I thought I did but it turned out to be caesar dressing.

I will post next week's menus when I get them finished.

Menu for June 2 -7

After going through my inventory here is the menu for the week:

Sunday - breakfast - cold cereal
               lunch - at work for me, hot dogs for dh
               dinner - kielbasa, mixed veggies and salad

Monday - dinner - out for our anniversary

Tuesday - dinner - tacos

Wednesday - fried fish, corn on the cob, carrots

Thursday - chicken leg quarters, mashed potatoes and veggie

Friday - pizza for dh, at work for me

Saturday - hot dogs for dh, at work for me

Breakfast is choice of cold cereal, eggs and bacon or oatmeal
Lunches will be a choice of sandwiches, mac and cheese or leftovers

Inventory .... Pantry and Fridge

Here is part 2 of my inventory.

Pantry:
8 lbs angel hair pasta
4 boxes mac and cheese
assorted other pastas
brown rice
assorted instant potatoes
pasta salad mix
barley
1 box Ritz crackers
pancake syrup
4 jars spaghetti sauce plus many jars of home canned
instant oatmeal
10 boxes tea bags
pasta sides
muffin mixes
Ramen noodles
assorted salad dressings
2 bottles of chili sauce
chipotle mayo
soy sauce
rye flour
oatmeal
taco shells
stuffing mix
assorted cereals
popcorn
white sugar
brown sugar
ketchup
almonds
shake n bake for chicken and pork
coating mix for fish
honey
3 cans of pumpkin
4 cans of fruit
13 cans of soup
16 cans of tuna
5 boxes of chicken stock
8 cans of veggies
lots of dried pinto beans
white dried beans
macaroni noodles
white rice
6 cans of beans
11 cans diced tomatoes
3 cans of Rotel
6 cans of tomato paste
2 cans tomato sauce
3 cans of cranberry sauce
1 box of velevetta cheese
1 can of chicken


Fridge:
leftover ham
lots of fresh veggies
assorted condiments
yeast
hot dogs
precooked bacon
assorted shredded cheeses
walnuts
pecans
string cheese
tortillas
pie crust
kielbasa (for tonights dinner)

This is my list.  I am sure I have missed some items.  I do have quite a few spices, baking supplies.  I will post my menu when I have it completed.

Inventory ..... Frozen Foods

Yesterday I started my inventory in order to better assess what I have and what I need, not want.  I am going to start with the frozen foods.  We have an upright freezer, a chest freezer and the freezer par tot the fridge.


Proteins:
2 pkgs turkey bacon
3 pounds ground turkey
1 pound ground beef
4 pkgs chicken leg quarters
1 pkg skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 single serve white fish
1.5 big bags of chunked white fish
1 pkg turkey breakfast sausage
1 portion country ham
1 bag of cooked chicken
1 whole ham
1 pork roast
29 hamburger patties
1 pkg chicken breakfast sausage
1 roll of breakfast sausage
1 pkgs cubed ham
2 pkgs hot dogs

2 pkgs sliced cheese
1 pkg pizza cheese
1 pkg cheddar cheese, shredded


Starches:
2 bags french fries
2 bags sweet potato fries
1 pkg hot dog buns
1 loaf white bread
1.5 pkgs Mediterranean cheese bread
white rice

Veggies:
lots of frozen peppers, peas, corn from our garden
shredded and sliced zucchini and summer squash
about a dozen bags of frozen veggies from grocery store

Other:
bread flour
yeast
butter
strawberries
blueberries
pecans
cranberries

This is the end of the frozen section.  I will list the pantry and fridge items in another post.  I have more frozen then I thought I did.  I definitely have more protein than I thought.

It's been a while ......

Life is finally returning back to "normal" a little bit.  My houseguests have moved out this week and my daughter is talking about moving this summer.  With just 3 adults living in the house now and the 3rd not eating with us very often, I can resume my goal of just $40 a week in groceries starting next week.

My dh will be home for the summer starting on Tuesday so he will be eating 3 meals a day at home until the end of July.  Dd normally just eats breakfast and sometimes lunch at home (even though she works from home she tends to buy her own food to keep in a little fridge in her room) and my crazy work schedule (some weeks 23 hours some weeks 36) it will still be a challenge.  The big challenge will be to keep dh out of McDonald's drive thru while I am at work. :)

I will inventory this coming weekend to see where I stand before I plan.  I just had a toss a kitchen size garbage bag of food out that a mouse got into.  grrrrrr

Stay tuned .....

Menu for March 16 - 22

I brought food back from our ladies retreat this past weekend, where I cooked for 17 ladies, so this will be worked into our menus.

Breakfast:  choice of oatmeal, eggs and sausage, cold cereal or muffins
Lunch:  choice of sandwiches or leftovers
Dinner:
     Sunday - baked potatoes, chicken and rice soup
     Monday - pulled pork sandwiches, broccoli
     Tuesday - taco soup and salad
     Wednesday - baked pasta and salad
     Thursday - homemade pizza
     Friday - fried fish, boiled potatoes
     Saturday - chicken leg quarters, corn and veggies

Dh starts his spring break on Wednesday so this menu is hopeful.  He has been known to change things up on me at the last minute.
   

Menus for March 9 - 15

Here is what we are planning to eat this week:

Breakfast:  choice of eggs and bacon, muffins, toast and peanut butter or protein shakes

Lunch:  choice of leftovers, sandwiches or mac and cheese

Dinners:
     Sunday - turkey, sweet potatoes and green beans
     Monday - turkey stir-fry
     Tuesday -  baked chicken, new potatoes and veggie
     Wednesday - spaghetti
     Thursday - turkey casserole
     Friday - fish, corn on the cob and veggie
     Saturday - hot dogs and coleslaw

I am going out of town Friday thru Sunday lunch so I am listing what I plan to leave for them.  :)  I have everything I need for this week.

Saturday .....

I was blessed with a Kroger gift card so off I went this morning after talking with dh.

First trip:

1 bundle of asparagus
10 cans of tuna
1 box of meal replacement bars (free with coupon)
1 protein bar (free with coupon)
18 ct of eggs
1 loaf of whole wheat bread
4 yogurt containers (small)
1 pkg of mushrooms
1 pkg of shallots
1 bottle of mustard

Total:  $21.47


Second trip:

2 loaves of white bread
1 paper towel
1 pkg hot dogs
3 boxes 6 ct popcorn
2 bags of swai nuggets (total weight almost 6 pounds)
10 cans of tuna

Total:  $26.94

Grand Total:  $48.41


The tuna was half price - Bumblebee brand for 59 cents a can.  I have been looking for a good sale for months.  The popcorn was marked down to $2.29 normally $4.29.  I had two coupons - one for $1 off of 1 and one for $1 off of 2.  The fish was 99 cents a pound and they taste amazing lightly breaded  and oven fried.  My dh will be excited about so much name brand popcorn.

Quick shop.....

After assessing what we would need to finish the month I did a quick shop at Kroger ...

2 4pks of double rolls toilet paper
1 roll paper towels
2 bundles of asparagus
2 pkgs hot dog buns
5 lb new potatoes
18 ct string cheese
1 pkg colby cheese
1 bottle hydrogen peroxide
1 bottle vapor rub
1 container coffee
2 bags french fries
1 bag of candy (for dd)
1 pkg luncheon meat
2 jars of spaghetti sauce
1 box of 6 count microwave popcorn

Total:  $49.23

I will be repaid for the vapor rub - $5 and the candy - $1.50.  So I really spent $42.73.

This should last us most of the month ~ I hope.  I still needs canned tuna (on sale at Kroger for .59 a can this week) but other than milk later on it should be it.

For the month of March ........

For the rest of March we need to eat down the deep freezers and the pantry.  We have had some unexpected expenses (tires of the car) and the money has to come from somewhere.  The only area to cut is groceries and gas for the cars.  Dh has more of a fixed gas amount as he drives over 100 miles a day round trip for work.  My gas on the other hand is not fixed so I am going to try to stay home more and make more efficient trips when I do go out.

I have only spent $3.73 on groceries so far this month and do not anticipate more than milk and fresh stuff the rest of the month.  I will also try to keep the fresh stuff down too.

In the two deep freezers I have:

1 whole turkey
1 big bag of fish nuggets (Swai)
1 pkg seasoned chicken leg quarters
2 boxes of breakfast sausage
1 tube of breakfast sausage
2 lbs of ground turkey
1 pkg turkey bacon
2 bags of chicken leg quarters
2 pkgs of skinless boneless chicken breasts
1 bag of turkey meatballs
1 pkg of skinless boneless chicken thighs
2 pkg hot dogs
1 bag of cooked chicken

Protein in the pantry:

2 cans tuna
2 cans chicken
lots of home canned pinto and black beans
lots of dried beans

I also have assorted sliced and shredded cheeses.  There are a couple of boxes of pasta but not a lot of sauce.

I am sure I am missing something but it is what I saw when I looked yesterday.  Tonight we are having the seasoned chicken leg quarters with mashed potatoes and broccoli.  Trying to use up fresh items before they go bad.

My temptation will be asparagus as it is on sale for $1.99/lb this week at Kroger.  We love asparagus !!! I will try to keep track of how we are doing on here better this month.

Meal Plan for Feb 16 - 22

I am actually on the ball this week.  It helps that I am starting to feel better.  Here is what we plan to eat this coming week:

Breakfasts:  choice of oatmeal, eggs and bacon, cold cereal or toast with peanut butter or jam

Lunches:  choice of sandwich or leftovers, maybe mac and cheese one day

Dinners:  Sunday - leftovers
               Monday - chicken lo mein
               Tuesday - meatloaf, mashed potatoes and veggie
               Wednesday - fried fish, corn on the cob and veggie
               Thursday - chili
               Friday - crockpot chicken leg quarters, potatoes and veggie
               Saturday - spaghetti with meatballs

Snacks:  pretzels, popcorn or chocolate chip bars

I do believe I have everything I need for this week so I don't anticipate any grocery shopping.

Meal Plan for Feb 9 - 15

Having been sick for over a week has put me behind in a lot of things.  Meal planning included.  Here is next weeks plan:

Sunday - b  eggs and bacon
               l   spaghetti and meatballs
              d   leftovers


Monday - b   oatmeal
                 l   sandwiches/ leftovers
                d   chicken and rice soup


Tuesday - b   eggs and bacon
                 l   sandwiches/ leftovers
                d   crockpot leg quarters, potatoes and veggie


Wednesday - b   oatmeal
                      l   mac and cheese
                     d   fried fish, corn on the cob, veggie


Thursday-  b   eggs and bacon
                   l   sandwiches/ leftovers
                  d   chicken lo mein


Friday- b   oatmeal
             l   sandwiches/ leftovers
            d   date night


Saturday- b   eggs and bacon
                 l   grilled cheese and soup
                d   meatloaf, mashed potatoes and veggie

Snacks will be choice of popcorn, pretzels

Meal Plan for Jan 26 - Feb 1

I know that it has been a few weeks since I have been on here.  Boy have I been busy....  They have given me more days at work so I am having to plan meals even more carefully.

Here is what we plan to have for dinners next week:

Sunday - spaghetti and meatballs
Monday - chicken thighs, potatoes and veggie
Tuesday - taco soup with bread
Wednesday - turkey sausage, potato salad and veggie
Thursday - chicken leg quarters, potatoes and veggie
Friday - chicken lo mein
Saturday - fried fish nuggets, mac salad and corn on the cob

Breakfast will be a choice of:  eggs and toast, muffins, protein shake or cereal
Lunches will be a choice of:  sandwiches or leftovers

No groceries purchased this week.

Boy Have Things Changed .......

this week our lives were changed for the immediate future.  We had two women move in with us who would have been out on the street.  There was no way did I want that on my conscience.  We do not know how long they will be with us but my $40 a week is shot out of the water for now.  I have spent $200 just this week on groceries and supplies.  Dd is eating more at home this week also so we went from 2 adults to 5 adults to feed overnight.  One of the ladies son will be over on the weekend and if he eats as much as his mom I will be in big trouble.  They have said they will help with $ money for food but I have not seen any yet.

I will keep this going as a way to see if I can keep things in checked from this point on.  As soon as it is just dh and I again I will go back to $40 a week.

This disappoints me but what can you do.  Sometimes I am to nice I have been told.

First Shop of the New Year

Dh and I went to Sam's Club this afternoon to look at food ideas for dd wedding in July.  While we were there we picked up:

1 can of ketchup
1 large jar of kosher pickles
1 pkg foil pans
1 box chicken egg rolls
1 box of 6 lbs of angel hair pasta

Total:  $21.51

The foil pans will last me for at least six months so if I remove them my total is approx:  $ 12.00.

Left for the month:  $148.00