This week started out with finishing up the leftovers from the holidays, and the month of December. We splurged a little on New Year's Eve and had some steamed shrimp, and potato skins for dinner, followed by taking inventory of the freezers and pantry cupboards (do we live on the wild side or what?). Now that I know what I have to work with, meal planning is a lot easier. I'll probably still have to pick up things like diary and produce, but I do have a LOT to work with already. Here's how we started January and the challenge out...
Weds. Jan. 1st:
Breakfast: Pop-Tarts (I'm trying to finish out the last box of these before moving on)
Lunch: I ate leftover Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy over Eggos, and Joe had 3 pieces of leftover pizza from dinner the other night.
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, Leftover Christmas Cookies, Pudding Cups, and/or Leftover Cheesecake
Thurs. Jan. 2nd:
Breakfast: Pop-Tarts (I'm trying to finish out the last box of these before moving on)
Lunch: Luncheon with the rest of the Museum staff (we had turkey club sandwiches, and they were delicious!)
Dinner: Leftover Potato Soup and Bread - yum-o!
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, Leftover Christmas Cookies, Pudding Cups, White Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Fri. Jan. 3rd:
Breakfast: Pop-Tarts (I'm trying to finish out the last box of these before moving on)
Lunch: Pregnancy Splurge of McDonald's - So Yummy!!
Dinner: Joe had to run to his grandfather's house for a cell phone 'emergency,' so Pap treated us to pizza! Yeah for free take-out!
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, White Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Pudding Cups
Sat. Jan. 4th:
Breakfast: Bagel for Me, Pop-Tarts for Joe
Lunch: Leftovers - got the fridge cleaned out!
Dinner: Cheesy Baked Pork Chops with Jasmine Rice and Steamed Broccoli
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, Tortilla Chips and Salsa, Pudding Cups
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, Leftover Christmas Cookies, Pudding Cups, White Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Fri. Jan. 3rd:
Breakfast: Pop-Tarts (I'm trying to finish out the last box of these before moving on)
Lunch: Pregnancy Splurge of McDonald's - So Yummy!!
Dinner: Joe had to run to his grandfather's house for a cell phone 'emergency,' so Pap treated us to pizza! Yeah for free take-out!
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, White Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Pudding Cups
Sat. Jan. 4th:
Breakfast: Bagel for Me, Pop-Tarts for Joe
Lunch: Leftovers - got the fridge cleaned out!
Dinner: Cheesy Baked Pork Chops with Jasmine Rice and Steamed Broccoli
Snacks: String Cheese Sticks, Tortilla Chips and Salsa, Pudding Cups
Linked to Good Cheap Eats
How is everyone else doing on the challenge?
We are doing well here. I usually do my shopping on Saturday mornings very early. Yesterday I stayed home and didn't go! Today, after church, I stopped at the store for a newspaper, cheese (we had NONE) and a head of cabbage (on sale for $.38 lb). I have about 3 meals planned out for this week so hopefully we will be able to do this with no problems! Good luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the challenge, last January I was able to really "eat down" my freezer but its filled up so much I'm having trouble putting anything else in, or when I open the door, hard frozen HEAVY items fall out - LOL. I live alone but have set my grocery budget at $135 a month. I chose that amount because that is what the SNAP level was for a single person and I wanted the challenge to see if I could do it in a healthy way - and I have to say, I think I've been successful. Its just time consuming - almost like a part-time job - I have to check ads, make menus, cull the available foods in the kitchen, track down coupons for items already on my list and cat food and cleaning supplies - as I said its a part-time job - but heck, I'm retired and its fun and a challenge to do it. I just watch what I buy, try to use it up, shop mostly sales and don't go shopping in between monthly deliveries. I go online to my supermarket and use the sale brochure to plan my monthly shopping - I figure that the $7 delivery fee is offset by not being in the market and being tempted by sales/specials/things I don't want and will never use. I always have two or three staple items that I need to restock on - like Wednesday's delivery will include fresh baking power, baking soda, yeast, flour and cornmeal. With what I have on my three long pantry shelves and in my "packed to the top" freezer I'm set except for milk and fresh fruits and veggies through the month. Its great to find someone else who is doing this challenge! Good luck with yours - and good luck with your baby countdown - your buying ahead of diapers and wipes using coupons is a great idea.
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