Joining in the Pantry Challenge!

 

I have decided to join Jessica as she does a pantry challenge for the month of January.  Money is tight around here this month every year, since my seasonal job ends, and doesn't restart until April, so I think that using up what we have in our freezers and pantry will stretch that money much farther.  My goals are simple for this month...

1. Clean out our freezers/pantry, by using up what we have and not buying more.
2. Only purchasing essentials from the store to make what we have into meals. (ie. milk, eggs)
3. Only eat out 4-5 times this month, basically once a week.

And that's it.  Just keeping it simple, and setting myself up for success, I hope :-)

Who's with me; anyone up for a pantry challenge?

Menu Plan Monday: 11/19/2012

This week is going to be filled with good food to eat, family, and shopping - my three favorite things!!  There's a lot of prep work and cleaning to be done, so I kept the menu simple this week...

Breakfasts: Cold or Hot Cereals, PB Toast

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, Canned Soup with Crackers and Cheese

Dinners:

Sunday - Leftover Taco Salad

Monday - Birthday Dinner at a Friend's house!

Tuesday - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, with Canned Soup and Crackers

Wednesday - Macaroni and Cheese with Hotdogs

Thursday - Thanksgiving Dinner at our house with Family!

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Turkey Salad Sandwiches with Chips

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 11/11-17/2012!

This week involved a LOT of spending, but I am finding that when you don't go every week, and scout the deals, that tends to happen when you finally go shopping.  So, without further ado, the shopping totals...

• Thursday's Shopper's Trip (1 bag lettuce shreds): $1.50 oop
• Friday's ALDI Trip: $34.22 oop

• Friday's Giant Trip: $74.68 - $27.60 Savings and Coupons = $47.59 oop

• Friday's Wal-mart Trip (TP and other essentials): $27.27 oop
• Friday's Kohl's Trip (2 x-mas gifts for my sister): $5.40 oop (used a $10 off coupon, and saved $25.50)
• Friday's Thrift Store Trip (1 x-mas gift necklace for me, and 2 gift pouches): $5.30 oop

Total OOP: $121.28, Not great, but not bad either since I am making the Thanksgiving dinner this year, and this is the first real shopping I've done all month.  After next week, I reel it in the last week.

ALDI Deals, Starting 11/14/2012!

Here are some of the deals this week at ALDI...

• Various Appleton Farms Hams $0.99-$1.49/lb
• Sweet Potatoes 3 lb bag $1.19
• Celery $0.89 ea
• Russet Potatoes 10 lb bag $1.99 ea
• Cranberries 12 oz $0.99 ea
• Onions 3 lb bag $0.79 ea
• Pineapple $1.89 ea
• Countryside Creamery Butter unsalted or regular 16 oz $1.99 ea
• Bakehouse Creations Crescent Rolls 8 oz $0.99 ea
• Happy Farms or Fit and Active Cream Cheese 8 oz $0.99 ea
• Baker's Corner Canned Pumpkin 15 oz $0.99 ea
• Bake House Creations Pie Crusts 15 oz $1.99 ea
• Friendly Farms Whipped Dairy Topping 6.5 oz $1.49 ea
• Baker's Corner Morsels Butterscotch, White, Milk, or Semi Sweet Chocolate 11-12 oz $1.29 ea
• Happy Farms Cheese Blocks 8 oz $1.49 ea
• Baker's Corner Graham Cracker Pie Crust 6 oz $0.99 ea
• Sweet Harvest Cranberry Sauce Whole Berried or Jellied 14 oz $0.89 ea

For more information about ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Menu Plan Monday 11/05/2012

Things have been crazy around here, but with the beginning of November, we are in for a quiet month here at the museum.  I hope that our social calender can quiet down as well.  I have a LOT of projects planned for the month of November, I just have to stay home and get them knocked out before the holidays!  Here's what cookin' at the Rogers' house this week...

Breakfasts: Cold or Hot Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt and Granola, PB Toast

Lunches: Leftovers, Grilled Cheese/Tuna/PBJ Sandwiches with Chips, and Fruit, Canned Soup with Crackers and Cheese

Dinners:

Sunday - 5 Guys Burgers and Fries

Monday - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Canned Soup

Tuesday - Pork Roast with Sauerkraut and Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday - Chicken Tenders on Garden Salads

Thursday - Working @ Joe's Grandfather's house, Chili's with him for dinner :-)

Friday - Homemade Pizza with Carrots and Dip

Saturday - Family Birthday Party!

Extras: Homemade Apple Crisp Pie!

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

ALDI Deals, Starting 10/31/2012!

Here are some of the deals this week at ALDI...
The store in Westminster, MD is NOW Open!!!!!

• Baker's Corner Canned Pumpkin 15 oz $0.99 ea
• Sweet Harvest Whole Berry or Jellied Cranberry Sauce 14 oz $0.89 ea
• Happy Farms Spreadable Cheese Wedges Assorted Varieties 4 oz $1.29 ea
• Happy Farms Shredded Cheeses Mozzarella or Mild Cheddar 32 oz $5.89 ea
• Fit and Active or Chef's Cupboard Assorted Varieties Broth Assorted Varieties 32 oz $0.99 ea
• Happy Farms or Fit and Active Cream Cheese 8 oz $0.99 ea
• Countryside Creamery Butter Quarters Salted or Unsalted 16 oz $1.99 ea
• L'oven Fresh Brown and Serve Rolls 12 oz $0.99 ea
• Little Salad Bar Refrigerated Soups Assorted Varieties 10 oz $1.99 ea
• Carlini Baking Spray 5 oz $1.39 ea
• Fit and Active nonfat Yogurt Raspberry or Blackberry 6 oz $0.39 ea
• Tomatoes on the Vine 24 oz $1.49
• Avocados $0.69 ea
• Red Potatoes 5 lb bag $1.19 ea
• Multicolored Pepper 3-pk  $2.29 ea
• Yellow Onions 3 lb bag $0.99 ea
• Spinach 9 oz bag $0.99 ea

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!

ALDI Deals Starting 10/24/2012

Here are some of the deals this week at ALDI...

• Kitchen Living Metal Bake ware $2.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Silicone Bake ware $2.99 ea
• St, Cloud Kitchen Towel, Oven Mitt, and Pot Holder Set $6.99 ea
• Stonemill Essentials Pure Extracts, Lemon, Peppermint, and Almond 2 oz $1.99 ea
• Stonemill Essentials Holiday Baking Spices 1.1-2 oz $1.69 ea
• Baker's Corner Sweetened Flaked Coconut 14 oz $1.49 ea
• Millville Creamy Wheat Cereal 28 oz $1.99 ea
• Millville Steel Cut Oats 28 oz $2.49 ea
• Lifeway Kefir Peach or Raspberry 32 oz $2.79 ea
• Sea Queen Battered Fish Tenders 18 oz $2.99 ea
• Sweet Potatoes 3 lb bag $1.19 ea
• Pears 4 ct $1.69 ea
• Grapefruit $0.59 ea
• Red Grapes $0.99/lb
• Pineapples $1.89 ea

For more information about ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Weekly Spending Report: 10/21-27/2012!

Here's this week's spending totals...

• Sunday's Shopper's Trip (2 newspapers, 2 bags trick-or-treat candy for an event): $10.35
• Friday's Amish Market Trip (3 LARGE bags Raw Sugar): $29.97
• Saturday's Giant Trip: $60.10 - UGH!  Why do groceries cost so much, duh, probably because I don't go to the store neat as often as I should!  :-)

Total OOP: $100.42, Ouch!  But we are now stocked up on sugar for a little while, and a few other things.  Next week we'll start with November's budget - I LOVE a fresh start!

Saturday's Giant Trip

Saturday Joe and I had a nice date night.  We stopped into the mall and got our rings checked, and picked up our free candles from Bath and Body Works.  Then we stopped across the street at Ledo's for a delicious dinner and went to Giant to do some much needed grocery shopping.  I should probably start going every week again, and then the bill wouldn't be so high, but I just can't seem to drag myself in any more than I have.  Maybe November will be better!  Here's what we ended up with at Giant...

2 Newspapers, not pictured $2 ea = 2/$4

2 boxes Green Giant Cheesy Rice and Broccoli (my favorite!) $2 ea - $0.50/1 MC doubled x 2 = 2/$2

1/2 gal 2 % Organic Milk $3.49

4 pkgs Sargento String/Stick Cheese $4.29 ea - $0.80 ea Sale - $1/2 MC x 2 = 4/$11.96, and I earned $0.20/gal!

1 pkg Unsalted Butter $3.49

4 Organic Bananas $1.28

1-100 ct box Giant Tagless Tea Bags $1.25 

1 Loaf Sara Lee Bread $2.99 - $0.99 Sale - $0.75/1 MC = $1.25

1 loaf Pepperidge Farm Bread $3.99 - $1 Sale = $2.99

2 bags Organic Tortilla Chips $3.49 ea - $0.99 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 = 2/$3

1 box Poptarts $3.35 - $0.35 Sale = $3

2 lb bags Organic Carrots $1.29 ea - $0.30 ea Sale = 2/$1.98

2 pkgs Crystal Light $4.19 ea = 2/$8.38

1 Marie's Blue Cheese Dip/Dressing $3.99 - $1 Sale = $2.99

2 boxes Purevia $2.59 ea - $0.30 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 = 2/$2.58

1 pk Sage $1

3 pkgs Cat Treats $1.65 ea - $0.15 ea Sale - $0.50/1 MC doubled and $0.75/2 MC doubled = 3/$2

1 Squeeze Mayo $4.89 - $1.89 Sale = $3

Total OOP: $83.19 - $23.32 Sales and Coupons = $60.10!

Menu Plan Monday: October 22nd, 2012

This week is already full, and it has just began.  We did our last flea market for the year (I think), so those things need to be taken back to Joe's grandfather's (Pap) basement, I need to clean the chest freezer out, so I can start making cookie dough for my holiday orders I'll have coming in, and Friday we have a memorial service to go to, so needless to say, this week is going to be CRAZY!  Any who, this is what were going to be eating this week...

Breakfasts: Cold or Hot Cereals, Banana Nut Bread

Lunches: Leftovers, Canned Soup with Crackers and Cheese, and/or Frozen Meals

Dinners:

Sunday - Bob Evans Take out

Monday - Bob Evans Take #2

Tuesday - Zuppa Tuscana with Homemade Foccacia Bread

Wednesday - (we'll be at Pap's house, and he usually takes us to) Chili's!

Thursday - Leftover Soup and Bread

Friday - Homemade Pizza

Saturday - Egg and Bacon/Sausage Scrambles with Toast and Canned Fruit

Extras: Homemade Cake Mix Cookies with Chocolate Chips

For more AWESOME Menu plans, visit Org Junkie!