Wow it has been a while !!!

Life has been crazy and blogging took a back seat.  I have been working more hours and started a side business.

However, this is the year to concentrate on debt reduction so back to pinching those pennies.  I did a large shop on December 31 but dh and I decided to count that as last year and to start fresh with the grocery numbers so this first partial week of the year I have spent the following:

Kroger:

1 tub ice cream
1 bottle cough syrup
Spent:  $5.96

Dh is sick and that is what he wanted.


Jr's Foodland:

2.27 pounds of cabbage
1 pkg chicken tenders
2 pkgs  pork chops
1 small roast
1.10 pound ground meat
1 candy bar
1 half dozen eggs
1 bag shredded pizza cheese
2 boxes Andres mints
Spent: $28.62

Jr has the best meat in town.  5 meals of meat for $20.

So far this month I have spent $34.58.  More than I wanted too but we have enough meat for the month now.  ~smile~

I am working on my menu for the next two weeks.  I will post when they are done.

Latest Grocery Shop

I went grocery shopping on Saturday.  Hit Kroger then ended up going on Sunday when I got items the previous shop.

Kroger #1

2 loaf bread
1 pkg hot dog buns
1 container slaw
1 gallon milk
1 bottle V8 juice
1 pkg string cheese
2 pkgs sliced cheese
1 pkg shredded cheese
2 bananas
1 bag raw almonds
1 pkg bacon bits
1 small container sour cream
5 lbs red potatoes
3 baking potatoes
1 small zucchini
1 can tuna
2 cans green beans

Total - $44.50


Kroger #2

1 pkg cookies (for potluck)
1 pkg medicated wipes
1 newspaper (for coupons)

Total - $8.75

So far:  $ 53.25

I know .......

I know I have not blogged much of anything recently.  Our pennies got pinched for our daughter's wedding in September and we have been trying to stay afloat every since.  So new goals !!!

I am tired of living paycheck to paycheck.  I am tired of worrying about paying bills.  I am just plain tired of worrying about money.  Dh is not entirely on board with me but I am going to give it everything I've got !!!!

I am going to follow Dave Ramsey as much as dh will let me.  We were gifted a class set and I intend to use it.  It will take longer because of dh not being completely on board but I have got to for me if nothing else.

I started a Christmas Club account last week and I am going to put $25 a paycheck in so that the holidays don't kill us this year.  I am also going to start putting $25 a week into savings.  It will take a while to get to $1000 put every little bit helps.  This week I am going to list all my bills smallest to largest and start attacking with my paychecks.

That is the plan for now.  I am working on the food budget right now to see if I can free up anything.  We need to eat out less, way less and that is where dh and I are disagreeing.  He also wants to buy a new dining room table and chairs to the tune of $950.  Still talking about that.

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.