Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

Mission NOT accomplished! I went into today's shop hoping to spend less than $28, what was I thinking? I didn't need a whole lot but the things we did need were not the cheapest of things either. Oh well it happens, and when all is said and done I am only $36.24 over for the month. My budget each month is $280 and this month I spent $316.24 That's still probably less than half of what the average family of four spends. Remember this price includes things like diapers, paper products, personal hygiene etc. Next week starts a new month and another chance to come in under budget!

So this week we are eating for dinner

M - Chicken and cheese enchiladas
T - Freezer fun (a mix and match of frozen leftovers)
W - Crock pot potato chowder
TH - Spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread
F - Tuna noodle casserole
S - Turkey sloppy Joe's and fries
S - Turkey soup (from freezer) and Homemade rolls


The enchiladas are a pull from last weeks menu as somehow me, the planners of all planners, but it on the menu but neglected to add the one ingrediant needed to the shopping list last week. OOPS!

Winco

Apple juice - 2.98
nonfat milk - 1.53
creamer - 2.48
sour cream - 1.48
eggbeaters - 4.54
shredded cheese - 1.58
italian sausage - 2.88
cream cheese - 1.25
salad dressing - 2.86 (.50 coupon)
sphaghetti sauce - .78
chicken broth - .55
2 cream of chicken - 1.40
peas - .68
black olives - 1.52
maple syrup - 1.89
shave gel - 1.96
panish rice mix - .98
celery - 1.17
banana - 1.03
green pepper - .58
splenda - 1.20
romas - .42
muffins - 2.99

$38.23

Costco

mickey nuggets - 11.99
cheese - 5.69
salad - 3.99
milk - 4.36

$26.03

grand total = $64.26

Anyone else notice the prices of milk and dairy products going up?




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Menu plan Monday and shopping trip

Damn you toilet paper!~

We go through so much it seems and the best deal I have ever found is at Costco, but its a chunk of change all at once. It might last a while but it sure bites into the budget. I was hoping to stay around $50 this week BUT obviously that didn't happen! Oh well.

Dinner

M - Homemade clam chowder and rolls
T - Dinner at mom's
W - Harvest chicken and potato soup and salad
TH - Black beans and pork salad
F - Homemade pizzas
S - slow cooker french dips with french fries
S - Dinner out


Because I am tired and not feeling well tonight I am skipping the listing but at Winco I spent $47.33 and Costco cost me $33.28(damn toilet paper!)

grand total $80.61





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Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

So today I did my first shop of the year. Had a few stores to hit to get some "stock pile" stuff and freebies, I love freebies! Did well, went over budget but not badly. For new readers, and yes I know my blog is not overly entertaining, I should fill you in on my "plan".

Due to circumstances in our lives we were without a steady source of income for a year and half. After some major life changes and overhauls, selling possessions and what not, we had to buckle down and get a grip on our budget. I knew one place we could really make changes was in our grocery totals. I started doing some Internet surfing and came across a blog that challenged me. Grocery Cart Challenge changed my way of thinking when it came to shopping, eating, and saving money. Her idea was to spend no more than $60 a week to feed her family. I thought "hey I can do that" only to learn that its easier said than done. After some not so good first few weeks I started to get the hang of it and now consider myself to be a mighty fine bargain hunter. I did change the spending amount however, since we still have one in diapers I needed to account for them. So $70 a week is our budget. Its gives me wiggle room to add in the cost of the diapers if I have some weeks that come in under budget.

so now for this week.

Breakfast - cereal, banana bread, french toast and eggs.

lunch - sandwich's, chicken nuggets and fruit, mac and cheese, leftovers

Dinner

M - Three cheese chicken penne and garlic bread
T - Sticky lemon chicken with broccoli and rice
W - mushroom pork steaks green beans and salad
TH - New England clam chowder and rolls
F - Chicken and cheese enchiladas chips and salsa
S - Chicken chow mein
S - Turkey meatloaf, green beans and potatoes

*Note chicken penne bake was not made last week, since we took a night out os it carried over to this week.

Winco

2 30ct gal ziplock - 7.92 (1.00 coupon)
certo - 3.66
2 go gurt - 5.00
creamer - 2.98
beef sausage - 2.73 (.35 coupon)
2 cans pumpkin - 1.96
salsa - 1.78
italian dressing - 1.98
ketchup - .85
minced clams - .98
2 can green beans - 1.16
cream of chicken - .70
fruit cocktail - 1.92
lemon juice - .54
broccoli - .71
crackers - .98
knorr soup mix - 1.38
naruchan noodles - .74 (.50 coupon)
chow mein noodles - 1.20
green onion - .68
tomaotes - .47
onion - .42
lemon - .28
2 50oz bag frosted flakes cereal - 4.96 (2.00 coupon)
apple juice - 2.48
3 set storage containers - 4.98

Total = $49.59

Fred Meyer

10 yogurt - 3.00
2 orange juice - 4.00
2 non fat milk - 2.50

total = $9.50

Costco
salad - 3.99
2 gal milk - 3.98
bananas - 1.32
2 doz eggs - 3.29

total = $12.58

Rite Aid

2 WetOnes - free
2 tums - 4.00

total = $4.00

Grand total $75.67

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

Well this is my last menu plan of the year. Come next Monday it will be 2011 and a whole norther year to look forward to of saving money on groceries. I only started this menu planning and grocery budget of $70 a week back in August and although I ha vent tallied my 5 month total (I really should do that!) I know I have saved a ton over my old habits of shopping without a real plan. Now I pay attention to what I have on hand and what I can do with that. We have tried lots of new recipes and keep finding new things we like. So here is my plan for this week.

Breakfast - Leftover cinnamon rolls cereal, eggs and sausage, pancakes

lunch - salads, sandwich's, spaghettio's (those are so yummy!) and leftovers

Dinner
M - Turkey soup (from freezer) and rolls
T - Garlic chicken pasta and broccoli
W - Crock pot taco soup
TH - Cheesy chicken and rice casserole
F - Three cheese chicken penne
S - Pork chop bake baked potatoes and applesauce
S - garlic mashed potato and beef bake


Winco

Butter spread - 1.98
milk - 1.99
diced tomatoes - 1.51
spaghettio's - .58
cream of mushroom - 1.44
hidden valley ranch - 1.32
corn - .50
chicken broth - .50
fruit cocktail - 1.92
rotel - 1.08
baked beans - 1.18
cream of chicken - .70
frozen mixed veggies - 1.76
cheddar cheese - 1.68
frozen broccoli medley - 1.18
mozzarella - 1.68
lean ground beef 7% - 6.98
ground turkey - 6.78
1# rotini pasta - .91
1# penne pasta - .88
green onions - .58
yellow onion - .36
spinach - 1.78
broccoli crowns - .84
chips - 1.98


Total - $42.09




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Okay so I did the math (well Excel did) and I had a weekly grocery total of $88.43 not to bad if I do say so myself. This included diapers (expensive!) and any and all entertianing (Kai's birthday) and all personal products for Brian and I. In the last 21 weeks, when I started budgeting, we spent a total of $1857.03 for groceries, party supplies, paper products and diapers and all personal hygene. that seems like a high number but really I know otherwise!

Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

Christmas week is here! That means days of feasts and lots of treats! It also means extra money going to the grocery budget. I am the baking queen in my family, so if its sweet I make it. That means lots of extra ingredients to buy, but hey, its Christmas and its all worth it!

On the Christmas baking list I have sugar cookies, Hershey kiss peanut butter cookies, two white chocolate raspberry cheesecakes, key lime fudge, Chinese noodle cookies and an artichoke dip. The raspberry cheesecakes (one each for 2 different celebrations) are featuring raspberries grown from my mothers garden, YUM!

Breakfast - Cereal and milk, oatmeal, and Overnight Cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning

Lunch - Sandwich's and fruit, leftovers and whatever else we can scrounge up

Dinner
M - Turkey soup and grilled cheese (soup form freezer)
T - Tacos
W - Homemade pizza
TH - Tuscan beef stew (from freezer)
F - Baked Salmon with cream sauce, mashed potatoes with green beans
S - Christmas at Grandma Betty's house
S - Christmas at Grandma Stephanie's house

Winco

Gogurt - 2.50
8 cream cheese - 7.04
2 milk - 3.98
whip cream - 2.86
sour cream - 1.48
half and half - .78
2 garlic toast - 3.76 (1.00 coupon)
3 doz eggs - 3.84
1.5# cornstarch - 1.00
7.5# sugar - 3.34
7.5# powdered sugar - 4.92
6.5# flour - 1.90
1.25# frosted flakes - 1.89
mozzarella cheese - 1.68
1# fruit loops - 1.48
4.25# white chocolate chips - 10.07
.75# baking powder - .69
pizza dough - 2.12
3 butter - 5.94
taco shells - 1.18
chocolate wafers - 3.78
2 Hershey kiss - 7.56 (1.00 coupon)
maple syrup - 1.92
yeast - .89
black olives - 1.52
artichoke hearts - 1.68
condensed milk - 1.70
almond bark - 1.78
Parmesan cheese - 1.98
dark choc chips - 1.98
apple cider mix - 1.53
fruit cocktail - 1.55
parsley - .58
green onions - .58
tomato paste - .40
tomatoes - .70
lime - .25
apple juice - 1.98

total $92.81

I also got 2 toothbrushes and toothpaste for stocking stuffers so add a extra $7.23 if you want but I took them from a different budget

Costco

Salad - 3.99
grilled chicken - 14.45
sausage - 13.99
bananas - 1.32
cheese -5.69

total $39.42

NOT pictures is 8 loaves bread and 3 pounds apples and oranges purchased yesterday total $10.00

Grand total = $142.23

I didn't think I did to bad especially considering last week was only $23. What really shocked me is how expensive holiday baking can be. Out of all this about $60 of it was just the sweets and apps I am making! Insert jaw drop here!



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Menu plan Monday and shopping trip roundup

Sometimes I surprise myself! Today I did just that at the grocery store. How, you ask? Well I got this weeks worth of groceries for $23. You read that right, $23 to feed me and the boys all this week and leftovers! So how did I do it and what are we eating?

Breakfast
Cereal, banana bread, eggs and toast

Lunches
PB&J, chicken nuggets, fruit and whatever else we can make on hand

Dinner
M - Creamy garlic pasta with carrots and corn (left over from Sunday)
T - Eating dinner at mom's
W - Crock pot potato chowder
TH - Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Pasta Bake
F - Left over buffet
S - BRIAN'S HOME! We are eating out to celebrate
S - Chicken chow mien

Winco

apple juice - 1.98
2 can cream of celery - 1.62
cream of chicken - .70
spaghettio's - .58
2 can chicken broth - .96
spaghetti sauce - .78
cream cheese - .98
mozarella - 1.80
chow mien mix - .88
bacon - 1.98
2# carrots - .88
milk - 1.99
4# apples - 1.48
spinach - 1.78
3.25# rice - 1.33
2# banana - 1.04
onion -.34
green onions - .58
1.2# pasta - .90
green pepper - .48

Total = $23.06



So even with eating out this weekend when Brian gets home as long as we stay under $40 we will still be on budget for the week!

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Menu plan Monday and shopping trip totals

Okay so here I am a day late. Sorry, but with Kai's birthday things just got a bit busy and well here it is almost 10:00pm on Tuesday night and I am just getting to it. Went shopping today, the kids were out of hand so it did make me a bit rushed so maybe I wasn't as thoughtful as I could have been but still came in at a good number.

This week for breakfast we are relying on the old standby of cereal and milk, banana bread and melon and dad will make his usual big breakfast for us on Saturday. In fact that's what I went over budget on this week. Costco sells these amazing breakfast sausages (of course in a huge pack) and we were out. but with only 2 more Saturdays left with dad before he leaves till Thanksgiving I wanted to make sure we have all the necessary things. Lunch will be mostly sandwiches, chicken nuggets, salad for me and fruit.

Dinner

M - Turkey meatloaf never ate last week
T - Chicken chow mein (my recipe)from the freezer stash!
W -Crock pot potato chowder
TH - Crock pot lasagna
F - Big apple french toast casserole
S - Pizza
S - Tuscan beef stew

Shopping Trip
Winco

S&W chili beans - FREE
cream of chicken soup - .72
beef broth - .58
2 cans white beans - 1.36
4 cans chicken broth - 2.32 (.75 coupon)
2 cans tuna - 1.00
Tomato soup - .50
crushed tomatoes - 1.86
salad dressing - 2.78 (.75 coupon)
diced tomatoes - .98
applesauce - 1.43
tomato sauce - .48
ricotta cheese - 2.09
egg beaters - 2.27
bacon - 2.48
Parmesan wedge - 2.57
shredded mozzarella - 1.48
butter - 1.98
creamer - 2.50 (1.50 coupon)
apple cinnamon Cheerios - 2.48 (.75 coupon)
Cheerios - 1.78 (1.00 coupon)
Texas toast - 3.76 (1.00 coupon)
4.2 pounds sugar - 1.94
3.75 pounds flour - .98
3.8 pounds powdered sugar - 2.64
.50 pounds walnuts - 1.54
.25 pounds lasagna noodles - .32
4 pounds Fuji apples - .98
cantaloupe - 1.39
green onions - .38

total = $41.82

Costco

2 gallons milk - 3.96
salad - 3.99
Disney nuggets - 11.99
2 doz eggs - 2.29
sausage - 13.99
bananas - 1.32

total = $37.54

weekly total = $79.36

over by $9.36

Menu plan and shopping trip round up

Brian is back at work! WooWho! This is a great thing for lots of different reasons but one benefit is it gives me a little leniency with breakfast planning. The boys are more than happy with cereal and fruit, and I could eat my Dawn McMuffins everyday and never get bored. Same with lunch, I could just be happy with left overs and the boys well PB&J are the best in their opinion. I suppose I will need to plan his lunches now but that shouldn't be to hard. Just need to wait to hear word if his new job will have access to a microwave (think leftovers) or if he is the sandwich king. So congratulations to my wonderful husband on your new job! Now for the good stuff :)

Breakfast

M - Cereal and bananas
T - Oatmeal with fixins (nuts, berries, brown sugar)
W - Eggs and toast
TH - Cereal and fruit
F - Banana muffins and fruit
S - Brian's big breakfast
S - Mom and dad out ALONE!

Lunch

Lunch will be sandwich's, nuggets, wraps and salads

Dinner

M - Chicken chow mien
T - Zucchini boats
W - Turkey Joes and fries
TH - Tuna casserole
F - Crock pot taco soup
S - Mom and dad ANNIVERSARY, kids eat at grandma's
S- Pizza


The shopping trip roundup

Winco

2 kix - 4.72 (1.00off coupon)
2 fruit loops - 4.94 (1.50 off coupon)
diced tomatoes - 1.00
2 cream of celery soup - 1.62
rotel - 1.08
kidney beans - .68
2 tuna - 1.00
salad dressing - 2.78 (.50 coupon)
creamer - 2.50
6 yoplait - 3.00 (.40 off coupon)
egg beaters - 2.27 (.75 off coupon)
toaster struddles - 3.56 (.50 off coupon)
baby shampoo - 2.93 (1.00 off coupon)
chips - 1.98
hidden vally ranch - 1.32
chow mien noodles - 1.20
3 pounds flour - .77
red pepper - .68
.65 pound pasta - .51
2 onions - .65
2 green pepper - 1.16
.74 pounds mushroom - 2.21
2.3 pounds apples - 2.25

$44.81 minues the $5.90 in coupons
Total = 38.91

Costco

Grape tomatoes - 5.49
salad - 3.99
bananas - 1.32
celery - 2.89
milk - 3.96

total = 17.65

Grand total = $56.56!






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