Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

Its been awhile since I have posted a meal plan. Doesn't mean that I haven't been planning. I just have been so busy that I ha vent been taking the time to post. I went over a bit the last few weeks but still am coming in close to budget for the month. i still have to input receipts into the excel spreadsheet but will get back to you for my February total. So here is whats on deck for this week.

M - Three cheese chicken penne
T - Big Apple french toast casserole
W - Chili (from the freezer) and homemade cornbread
TH - Chicken and cheese enchiladas
F - Creamy garlic chicken pasta with mixed vegetable
S - Homemade pizza
S - Crockpot taco soup

I am also trying out a new lunch recipe this week Potato and leek soup

Shopping so much to list so little time. I did some stocking up this week so you see lots of eggbeaters, sausage and bread. Eggbeaters are great to freeze. I had a bunch of $1.00 off coupons on them and Winco sells them really cheap to begin with so I made sure to get enough to last us since its an almost everyday staple in our house. I have something like 25 containers of it frozen in the deep freeze.

I also did my bread shopping for the next couple of months. there is enough to last us probably till the end of may in sandwich bread and for just over a month on English muffins and rolls. Remember I like to make my own homemade rolls too, But you cant beat free! At the bread outlet you get to pick free items depending on the dollar amount spent this week I was able to get 4 free items, 2 free packages of cookies, and some doughnut holes for the boys.

Bread outlets are a great place to get bread really cheap. instead of paying a over $3 a loaf price at the store I average about $1.25 each instead. And dont forget the free stuff!







So my total for this week including things I "stocked" up on was $121.22 definatly over but I will save money over time since I wont have to ourchase some items for a long while!

Menu plan Monday and shooping trip roundup.

No real strategy this week and no real deal busters. Just simple food and a easy week, I hope!

Dinner
M - Leftovers (time to clean out that fridge!)
T - Turkey sloppy Joe's and french fries
W - Breakfast for dinner
TH - Chicken nuggets and mac and cheese (Eli's Christmas Recital!)
F - Turkey soup and grilled cheese
S - Tacos
S - Creamy garlic pasta and broccoli


Winco

2 pie crusts - 4.36 (.50 coupon)
3 creamers - 7.50 (2.10 coupon)
milk - 1.89
cream cheese - .98
go gurt - 2.50
egg beaters - 2.27
Parmesan cheese - 1.86
taco sauce - .98
2 apple juice - 2.96
2 can chicken broth - 1.00
ketchup - .85
crisco spray - 1.98 (.75 coupon)
taco shells - 1.18
5.5# powdered sugar - 3.64
7.4# flour - 2.22
onion - .33
tomatoes - .50
lemon - .58
green pepper - .48
hamburger buns - 1.38
pasta - .96
2 doz eggs - 1.96
laundry soap - 4.98 (1.00 coupon)

total = $42.99

Costco

Chicken nuggets - 19.98
peanut butter - 7.99

total = $19.98

weekly total $62.97




check out how others did in their quest for $60 or less at Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

This week we are going to try to cut the fat so to speak. One I have a few leftovers to use up and I really don't want to spend more than $30 this week on food. I would like to make up for some over spending I have done shopping earlier this month. Time to make that budget balance! So here is whats on order for the week.

Breakfast - lots of cereal and milk.

Lunch - a mix of sandwich's, chicken nuggets and soups

Dinner
M - Sweet potato and black bean burritos
T - Moms house for dinner
W - movie with friends (I will eat a appetizer out, boys with my mom)
TH - Crock pot potato chowder Yes we see this a lot but its a favorite!
F - Breakfast for dinner (eggs, sausage and toast)
S - home made pizza
S - Chicken chow mien ( I need to post this recipe someday )

Winco

sour cream - 1.48
Shredded cheddar - 1.73
Cream cheese - .98
shredded mozarella - 1.80
pizza crust - 2.08
bacon - 1.98
tomato sauce - .48
black olives - 1.52
3 can chicken broth - 1.50
fruit cocktail - 1.55
salad dressing - 2.78 (.50 coupon)
2 can cream of celery - 1.62
celery - 1.26
2# apples - 1.86
green pepper - .48
green onions - .58
mushrooms - 1.19

total - $24.37

Costco

Bananas - 1.32
salad - 3.99
milk - 3.78

total - $9.09

total for week $33.46



Check out how everyone else did this week at Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip

ACK! so what happens when you don't really plan and you don't shop with a list? you spend to much! I have a rough idea of what we are eating this week potato soup, homemade pizza, chicken chow mien the rest of the days will be left overs or at my moms. So I didn't need much for food this week but did need to get a few things. well a few things added up when I shopped without the list. I still did good. got things we really use and things we were out of but this week it just doesn't seem like much.

Winco
2 cans cream of chicken - 1.44
2 cans cream of celery - 2.50
can of pineapple - .88
crisco - 3.98
salad dressing - 2.78
soy sauce - 2.48
bacon - 1.98
butter - 2.48
tomato paste - .78
black olives - 1.52
2 pizza crusts - 4.16
2 shredded moz cheese - 3.60
shredded cheddar - 1.80
6# sugar - 2.82
mushrooms - .77
celrey - 1.01
green pepper - .58
green onion - .38
2 doz eggs - 2.32
2.5# apples - 2.22
apple juice - 5.94

coupons used - 4.55

total = $41.87

Costco

grilled chicken strips - 14.45
2 gal milk - 3.78
clorox wipes - 9.99
canadian bacon - 9.89
salad - 3.99

total = $42.10

grand total = $83.97 over budget! and I for sure thought this week I would be way under. Oh well, just a good reminder to plan ahead and bring the plan!




check out how others did at Grocery Cart Challenge and to learn how you can do it to!

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip

So we are still winging it for most of our dinners and I am noticing that I usually ave left overs since Brian is not here eating too. So Menu's have been thrown out the window and we are eating mostly what we have on hand and using the weekly budget to stock up and some treats for ourselves. I also picked some great deals on bananas so am doing some holiday baking for way cheap!


Winco

2 12 pk diet coke - 3.96
apple juice - .98
2 coffee creamer - 5.00 (1.50 coupon)
3# chicken breasts - 3.98
egg beaters - 2.27
onion dip - 1.28
2 pk gogurt - 3.96 (.75 coupon)
2 honey nut cheerios - 1.96 (1.00 coupon)2 boxes for .96 !
6# pork chops - 12.04
5 cans chicken broth - 2.50 (.75 coupon)
2 cans corn - .56
2 cans green beans - .56
6# sugar - 2.75
3 mac and cheese - 1.14
5# fugi apples - 3.74
7.5# bananas - 1.35
2 sweet potatoes - 2.28
2 bags mini marshmallows - 1.56
tortillas - 1.88
baby shampoo - 3.47 (1.00 coupon)
2 bags chips - 1.96
10# potatoes - .68

Total = $54.86

Rite Aid

2 cans hair mousse - 6.00
Gingerbread house - 8.88
3 box hair color - 17.97
Razor - 13.49
band aids - 1.99
2 crest toothpaste - 5.98
2 Colgate toothpaste - 5.00
6 boxes cereal BOGO - 13.77

coupons used - 27.00
Rite Aids up rewards (remember these are dollars to be used later at Rite Aid)- 11.98

total = 46.08!

Grand total = $100.94


while that may be over my budget I only need to get some perishables next week so the budget will be next to nothing (oh wait I need diapers!) so it will even out.



Check out grocery cart challenge to see how others did this week.

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

Since Brian left yesterday and this is the first week of my and the boys flying solo I thought I would keep the menu simple and use up some freezer stash stuff. I also plan to make a few simple meals that both myself and the boys love.

Dinners

M - Home made pizza (left over supplies from last weeks pizza)
T & W - eating over at my parents house
TH - Sloppy Joes and fri's (from freezer)
F - Crock pot potato soup
S - Tuna casserole
S - Chili and cornbread (from freezer)


Winco


3 cans chicken broth - 1.65
cream of chicken - .72
black olives - 1.52
roast beef hash - 1.72
half gal nonfat milk - 1.53
chocolate cherrios - 2.48 (.75 coupon)
Cinn apple cherrios - 2.38 (.75 coupon)
bacon - 2.48
1 pound pasta - .78
cantalope - 1.14
cream cheese - .98
green onion - .38
5 pound potatos - 1.28
body wash - 1.05
spot shot - 3.54 (1.00 coupon)

Total = 21.13

Costco

Milk - 4.65
grape tomoatos - 6.29
salad - 3.99
guda cheese wedge - 8.53

total = 23.46

Rite Aid

3 12pk diet coke - 10.98 (3.00 up rewards)
drian opener - 2.00
Tide - 5.88 (1.00 coupon + 1.00 up rewards)

Total = 17.86

Grand total = $62.45


For those that dont understand what up rewards means. Up rewards are redeemable for cash at Rite Aid on a future non prescription product, so they can be used on anything. I usually use them on my makeup along with coupons so that its practically
free when on sale. Love up rewards!

Take the coke for example. I paid 10.98 for 3 and got $3 in up rewards back so in reality the 3 packs of soda cost me $7.98 or $2.66 each!Thats less than $ .25 a can!Lots of good deals to be had a Rite Aid and if you time them right woith coupons and sales you can walk out with bags full of stuff and still have all your money.




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Grocery Cart Challeng

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip

This week I kinda threw things together and came up with a plan, oh about a hour before I left to shop!We were busy all weekend and with Brian leaving in a week I just wasn't into planning. But cant go to the store without a list cause well I wouldn't know what to buy! So a quick check of what I had on hand and Viola!

This week for breakfast we will have cereal and milk, banana muffins and fruit, and today we had pumpkin cheesecake french toast bites from the Hungry Girl 123 book. They were yummy!

Lunch will be a mix of sandwichs, nuggets, and peanut chicken wraps.

Dinner

M - Left over buffet (have a few things from last week to eat up)
T - Chicken and cheese enchiladas
W - Chili and Cornbread
TH - Sloppy Joes and Mac & Cheese
F - Roast Chicken and mashed potatoes
S - Chicken Pot Pie
S - To be determined (Brian leaves that morning and it's halloween)

Shopping trip

Winco

Toaster struddles - 3.56 (1.00 coupon)
3 pints buttermilk - 1.14
egg beaters - 2.27 (.50 coupon)
montery jack cheese - 3.25
3 pounds ground turkey - 6.78
coffemate - 2.50 (1.50 coupon)
pizza dough - 4.16 (1.00 coupon)
butter - 2.00
v/8 juice - 4.08 (1.00 coupon)
2 red kidney beans - 1.36
white kidney beans - FREE
2 cans mixed veggies - 2.58
1 can corn - .58
2 cans stewed tomatoes - 1.16
mayo - 1.96
mustard - .91
cream of chicken soup - .72
tomato sauce - .48
2 cake mixes - 1.56
vanilla - 8.39 (1.00 coupon)
onion - .37
tomatos - .83
green pepper - .58
red pepper - .68
celery - 1.09
bean sprouts - 1.28
cucumber - .48
1.2 pounds cornmeal - .65
tortillas - 1.88

Total - $51.28



Check out how to keep your grocery bill down and see how others do it too at Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

breakfast - This week it will be more of the usual With quick easy on the go breakfasts for the week, Brian making his big breakfast for us on Saturday and my favorite Big Apple French Toast Casserole on Sunday for Kai's birthday.

Lunch - mostly just sandwich's but we have a few days where I still haven't figured out where we will be so there may be a few on the road meals (aka Mickey D's dollar menu)

Dinner

M - Left overs
T - Crock pot Ginger Chicken and stir fry veggies
W - Zucchini boats
TH - Kielbasa slow cooker soup
F - Turkey meat loaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli
S - Dinner out with friends
S - Kai's 2nd birthday party!

So this week I got excited about some sales, and even knowing better I stocked up and spent to much money! The Fred Meyer trip busted my budget. I saw a good price on progresso soup and went wild. I also made a couple stupid moves while at FM. I had 2 coupons for $1.50 off 1qt size coffee mate creamer. FM had 2 for $4 creamer. I saw creamer for $.50 in my mind. except the small print on their sale price was 1pt size! Thankfully they had the QT size on sale but I still could have saved a buck over all if I had purchased them at my normal store Winco. Also for some reason I had it stuck in my head the sale price on yogurt was cheaper than what it would have cost me at Winco. Again, it worked out to costing me $1.20 more at FM than at Winco even after the coupons! So lesson learned.

STOP SHOPPING AT FRED MEYER!

Winco

5.6lbs powdered sugar - 3.86
frozen veggies - 1.58
kielbasa sausage - 2.28
1.25lbs broccoli - .98
butter - 1.98
2 qogurts - 3.96 (.75 off coupon)
onions - .78
3 buttermilk - 1.14
1 red bell - 1.16 (overcharged $.58)
.26lb mushroom - .77
green pepper - .58
Knorr veggi soup - 1.47
Crisco spray - 1.98 (.75 coupon)
4 swanson broth - 2.32
Crisco sticks - 2.82 (.50 coupon)
2 diced tomatoes - 1.16
pinto beans - .58
3 cake mix - 2.64
salad dressing - 1.88
eggbeaters - 2.27(.75 coupon)
2lb carrots - .98

total = $34.42

Costco

peanut butter - 7.99
salad - 3.99
croutons - 5.35
bananas - 1.32
coffee - 9.99
milk - 3.98

total = $32.62

Fred Meyer

2 doz eggs - 1.98
2 creamers - 5.98(3.00 coupons)
10 soups - 10.50 (overcharged .50)
12 yogurts - 7.20 (.80 coupon)
toothpaste - 1.99 (.75 coupon)

total = $23.10 so ashamed :(


Grand total = $90.14 Oye, vey!



few lessons learned. Check your receipts, I hate overcharges. and I will say it again

STOP SHOPPING AT FRED MEYERS!


See how others did (has to be better than me) at Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu plan and weekly shopping trip roundup

Okay so I feel like I have a free pass this week. I don't have to plan! Brian needs his nights to study so the kids are packing up and going to grandma and grandpa's every night this week. That means mommy is off the hook. We have plenty of breakfast and lunch stuff already in the house and I also have leftovers in the freezer so that Brian can thaw, heat and eat. I as usual will take my yummy salad with me for dinners at work.

I thought all this would also mean spending way less this week but alas I used up my money stocking up and getting a treat for myself.

Costco

2 gallons milk - 3.96
3 chai tea mixes - 7.65
salad - 3.99
juice boxes - 8.99
grilled chicken strips - 14.45
24 eggs - 2.99
grape tomato - 6.49
14 dove soap - 12.99 tax

total = 62.63

Fred Meyer

8 pk bounty - 6.99 tax
half gallon nonfat milk - 1.25
3 pk tillamook shredded cheese - 3.00
3 pound apples - 2.30

total = 14.14

Grand Total = 76.77

I somehow feel like I failed, I didn't get a table full of food, nor did I need one. But I did get stuff we will eventually use. I know that I could have done better on the soap but didn't have any coupons anywhere nor did I want to run to another store today. I guess I can chalk today up to a learning experience that no matter how thrifty we get we all can get lazy, and in the end that costs us!



Next week will be better, I promise!

Menu plan and weekly shopping trip

So first off let me say that last week went not according to plan and even though we didnt get to eat what I had planned for Thursday or Friday we did still manage to not eat out. We pawned the kids on Grandma and Grandpa one day and the other we ate leftovers. So this week will have those two meals on the plan, we are not just eating the same stuck in a rut food.

Breakfast this week will be mostly quick on the go (cereal, fruit, muffins) withthe exception of Saturday which I intend to make my favorite Big Apple French Toast Casserole YUM!

Lunch will be the usual, withthe exception of I am packing lunches for Brian again! YAY for jobs!

Dinner
M - Tuna Noodle Casserole
T - Scalloped Potatoes & Ham
W - Crock Pot Taco Soup with Chips and sour cream
TH - Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta and Broccoli
F - Left Over buffet!
S - Roast Chicken and Veggies
S - Chicken Potpie (using left over roast chicken)

The Shoppng Trip Roundup!

Winco

3LB ground turkey - 6.78 (2.26 a pound!)
2 5LB Whole fryer chickens - 9.74
2 pie crusts - 5.28 (1.00 coupon)
5 cream cheese - 7.40 (5.00 coupon = .48 each!)
silk soy milk - 3.00 (.75 coupon)
creamer - 2.50
2% milk gallon - 1.98
half gallon nonfat milk - 1.51
buttermilk - .38
10LB potatoes - 1.98
cantalope - 1.05
2.4LB apples - 2.35
1.44LB broccoli - 1.41
4LB oranges - 2.98
1LB pasta - .74
fabric softner - 1.95
2 canned veggies - 1.72
Parmesan - 1.98
Goldfish - 6.48

Coupons minus 6.75

Total = 55.89

Costco

Black forest ham - 7.26
eggs - 2.99
bananas - 1.32
salad - 3.99

Total = 15.56

Grand Total = 71.45





Okay so really I could have done with out the big box of goldfish but hey the kids need a treat now and then and whats better with PB&J than fish crackers! I also stocked up on ground turkey and fryer chickens since it was a good buy. I strive to be under $60 per week but somethings just cant be helped.

Check out how others did this week. Grocery Cart Challenge

Menu plans and shopping round up

Since breakfast and lunch are kinda predictable (sandwiches, eggs, cereal, etc) I wont go into details and highlight just our dinners.

M - Lemon Pepper chicken
T - Crock pot potato soup
W - Crock pot BBQ chicken burgers
TH - Crock pot Mac and Cheese
F - Crock pot Lasagna
S - Mom and Dad date night at Chopstix!
S - Pizza

Notice the theme this week? without much thought my crock pot will be getting a workout.

Shopping Trip

Winco
2% Milk gallon - FREE
Nonfat milk Half gallon - 1.51
CoffeMate creamer - 2.50
Eggbeaters - 2.27 ($.50 off coupon)
Bacon - 2.18
hash browns - 1.50
ricotta cheese - 2.33
28oz crushed tomatoes - 1.86
BBQ sauce - 1.28
peroxide - 1.04
butter - 2.00
3.5 pounds sugar - 1.66
bread - FREE
onions - 1.13
english muffins - 1.77
lasagna noodles - .51
mozzarella - 1.69
2 cheddar cheese - 3.38
elbow macaroni - .70
2 broccoli crowns - 1.01
green onions - .38
2 pound baking soda - .86
4 pound naval oranges - 2.98
cream cheese - .98
cheerios - FREE
grape tomatoes - 5.49
apple juice - FREE

total $40.50

Costco

Bananas - 1.32
tillamoos - 8.99
grilled chicken strips - 14.45
crinkle fries - 5.99
salad - 3.99

total $34.74

weekly total - $75.24

over budget by $15.24
(had I left the husband at home some of those overages wouldn't be there :))

menu plan and shopping trip round up

For a few months now I have been following this blog Grocery Cart Challenge and striving to spend only $60 a week on food. This feeds all four of us 3 times a day plus snacks 7 days a week, although I do allow us one meal out! So far I have done great coming out at a average of $59 and some change. Its been challenging but fun, and we actually are getting to eat a lot of new meals since I have had to get creative a few times. Its basically done by menu planning around what you already have at home. Here is this weeks menu and shopping trip totals.

Breakfast
M - egg scrambles
T - Cereal
W - Dawn Mcmuffins (like a healthy verzion of a egg mcmuffin)
TH - Chocolate chip muffins and melon
F - Eggs and toast
S - Big apple french toast casserole
S - out to eat

Lunch
we mix it up between sandwich's, chicken nuggets, burritos etc

Dinner
M - We had a coupon and went out for mexican!
T- Tuna noodle casserole
W - Shrimp scampi
TH - Lemon garlic chicken
F - Guy night (means the boys eat what they want, usually mac and cheese!)
S - Italian style turkey burgers
S - Crockpot roast chicken and veggies

the roundup

Winco
frozen chicken breast (6 lbs)- 11.96
Shrimp (1 lb)- $3.50
Milk - FREE
White vinegar - 1.98
Corn Syrup - 2.12
Hersheys - 1.68
apple juice - FREE
provalone - 3.48
Dill relish - 1.65
Egg beaters (2) - 4.54
Cream cheese - .98
tomato sauce (4) - 1.12
salad dressing - 1.88
rotini pasta (.84 lb)- .66
penne pasta (.90 lb)- .67
Powdered sugar (3.25 lbs) - 2.24
broccoli (1 lb) - 1.17
tomatoes - .78
bread - FREE
Cereal - FREE

total $40.41

Costco
Milk - 3.96
cheese - 5.69
salad - 3.99
croutons - 5.35

Total 18.99

Fred Meyer
36ct Eggs - $3.00

Total $3.00

weekly total = $62.40



To see how this is done and how others do it check out this blog Grocery Cart Challenge