Weekly Spending Report: 02/03-09/2013

I definitely spent a LOT of money this week, but after doing the freezer/pantry challenge last month, everything in the kitchen was looking a little bare.  I did some freezer cooking, so a lot of this food will last through February and into March, including the beef, chipped beef, bacon, butter, sugar, and a few other items I'm sure.  So in the long run, it's definitely worth it, and it was nice to be able and do a little stock-piling shopping this week.  Here's how it went down...

• Tuesday's Giant Trip: $6.42 oop, paid with gift card as well
• Tuesday's Home Depot Trip (4 bags pellets for cat litter): $17.36 oop
• Tuesday's ALDI Trip: $16.42 oop
• Tuesday's CVS Trip: $0.72 oop, Earned $4 ECB's
• Tuesday's Rite-Aid Trip: $7.59 oop, Earned $8 UP+Rewards
• Tuesday's Walgreen's Trip: $2.12 oop, Earned $10 RR and 1,000 Balance Rewards Points (= approx. $1)
• Friday's Amish Market Trip: $40.31 oop
• Friday's BJ's Trip: $38.44 oop
• Friday's Baugher's Trip (just 1/2 gallon Ice Cream): $5.25 oop
• Friday's Safeway Trip (2 Newman's Own Freezer Bag Meals): $8 oop
• Saturday's Shopper's Trip (2 newspaper): $3.99 oop

Total OOP: $146.62 - $19 Rewards Earned = Net OOP: $127.62, That's a lot for us, but most of this will last at least thru February, and into March.  Hopefully next week will be a lot cheaper!

Pantry Challenge Update #5: 01/27-02/02/2013

I am hoping this week ends as well as it started in regards to health in the Rogers' household.  I was finally feeling better Sunday morning, and I was so glad!  Joe and I were able to get a LOT accomplished, I LOVE it when that happens!  We also ate well...

Day #27: Sunday Joe had a meeting to go to so I worked on getting some things caught up around the house, you know, after being sick for-like-ever!  Two loads of laundry, dishes, straightening, tidying, the usual.  Plus we got to chill in the evening with 2 FREE Red-boxes!  We ate pretty good too.

B - None

L - Waffles, Butter and Syrup for Me, PB and J for Joe

D - Fried Potatoes and Onions, Bacon, Eggs, and Toast, with Apple Slices for Dessert

Day #28: Monday brought ice to Westminster, so Joe and I stayed in and cleaned the house today.  I LOVE a clean house!  We also started to put away Christmas.  I know we are a little late in getting everything put away, but I like to make it last as long as possible.  :-)  We also ate pretty well...
B - Waffles
L - Macaroni and Cheese, and Hotdogs
D - Leftover Fried Potatoes, Pancakes, and Creamed Chipped Beef Gravy

Day #29: Tuesday I focused on getting the Christmas decorations put away, which I finished all but getting the tree in the box, which Joe does anyway.  I also decorated for Valentine's day, and thought about a few decoration crafts I'd like to make in February.  Joe and I also mended some jeans that needed iron-on patches.  I ended the day with finishing a load of jeans laundry, and getting my coupon binder all caught up - LOVE it!!  I was definitely feeling better and the day turned out to be a very productive one!  However, the frozen chicken I had gotten down to thaw last night in the fridge was still completely frozen, so we used a gift card for dinner :-)
B - Waffles
L - Leftover Pancakes and Gravy for Me, Leftover Mac and Cheese and Hotdogs for Joe
D - Olive Garden!

Day #30 and #31: I just realized that I never posted the last pantry challenge update, so I have no idea what we ate the last two days of the month, but I'm sure it was good, everything else was!  I can't wait to do this challenge again this summer!

BJ's Trip: 02/08/2013

I've been out of Crystal Light for a while, and just making due, but since a coupon came up, I decided that I didn't want to let it go to waste.  Since we needed butter and bacon anyway after the challenge last month, I decided to go to BJ's and get the best prices on all three items.  Here's what I ended up with...

3 pkgs Nitrate, Nitrite-free Bacon $10.49

3 pkgs Land o Lakes Olive Oil Butter Spread $5.99

4 pkgs Crystal Light Lemon Ice Tea Mix (my secret addition) $5.99 ea - $1/2 MC x 2 = 4/$21.96

 

Total OOP: $38.44

Amish Market Trip 02/08/2013

Today Joe and I had to go to Cockeysville to do some work at his grandfather's house, so while we were there, we did a little more re-stocking of our pantry/freezer.  Things were pretty bare after last month's challenge, so it's been really nice to hit so many good sales this week and get things restocked.  I have spend a good chunk of change this week, but it will be worth it in the long run!  Here's what we ended up with today...

0.80 lb Chipped Beef = $8.76 (I have this packaged for 4 meals worth of Gravy + leftovers)
1.08 lbs Little Cheezers Cracker Pretzels @ $4.69/lb = $5.06
17.78 lbs Raw Sugar @ $1.49/lb = $26.49

Total OOP: $40.31

Frugal Finds Friday: Homemade Astringent

I have used astringent/toner since I turned 13, and that's been quite a few years ago.  I usually bought whatever was on sale, leaning towards Clean and Clear or Sea Breeze Sensitive varieties.  I decided to start making more things from scratch around the house last year, including health and beauty items.  I researched recipes for homemade toner/astringent until I found one that was simple to make, and only took a couple of ingredients.  That's how I roll, simple and cheap is my style, anyway, here's my recipe...

1. I use an old Sea Breeze bottle to start.  Fill the bottle up 1/3 of the way with witch hazel.
2. Fill the bottle just about the rest of the way up with distilled water (2/3).
3. Add a few drops of tea tree oil (mine doesn't have a dropper, so I just eye ball it, but it's probably about 1/2 tsp).
4. Apply your toner with a reusable cloth face pad (I got mine from the Dollar Tree, that way I can wash and reuse them without having to always buy more cotton balls which end up in the trash), or a cotton ball.

 Simple, green, and frugal!

What about you, what was your frugal find this week?

Walgreen's Trip 02/05/2013

Last stop we made on Tuesday was Walgreen's, where I used a $10 gift card from awhile ago to get some free probiotics that we needed.  Here's what I ended up with...

1-30 ct Culturelle $22.99 - $12.99 Sale - $10 RR = FREE!

4 Butterfingers (for Joe, 1 missing, because of Joe) 2/$1 - 1000 Rewards Points wyb 4 (= about $1) = 4/$1

+ $0.12 Tax

- $10 Gift card used to Pay

Total OOP: $2.12, Earned $10 RR and 1000 Rewards Points!

Rite Aid Trip 02/05/2013

I also got to stop into Rite-Aid this week, and I scored some AWESOME deals there...

2 pks Stayfree Maxi Pads $3.99 ea - $0.99 ea Sale - BOGO Free MC ($3) - $2 UP+Rewards x 2 = 2 FREE + $1 Money-maker!

1 CLEAR Shampoo + 1 CLEAR Conditioner $5.99 ea -$1 ea Sale - BOGO Free MC ($4.99) - $1/1 Rite-Aid Values Coupon - $2 UP+Rewards x 2 = 2 FREE!

+ $0.60 Tax

Total OOP: $7.59, Earned $8 UP+Rewards for next week!

CVS Trip 02/05/2013

I was so excited to get back into shopping at the drug stores.  Our stock-pile is growing thin, so I was so happy to get back in the action.  CVS was pretty uneventful.  I had $10 ECB's expiring, and Joe has been asking for some chocolates, so that's what I got, win, win!

4 Variety pks Mars Chocolates $4.49 ea - $1.49 ea Sale - $1/1 CVS Coupon - $1/2 MC x 2 - $4 ECB wyb $12 = 4/$5

1 Wonderful Pistachios $1

+ $0.72 Tax

- $10 ECB 

Total OOP: $0.72, JUST TAX!  Earned $4 ECB for next week!

ALDI Trip 02/05/2013

Joe and I also stopped into ALDI this week to stock up after our freezer/pantry challenge in January.  Here's what we ended up with...

2 containers Sour Cream $1.29 ea = 2/$2.58

1 bunch Organic Bananas $1.38

1 bag Yogurt Raisins $1.79

1 box Onion Soup Mix $0.79

1 bar Mint Chocolate $1.89

1 box Baking Mix $1.99

1-5 lb bag Baking Potatoes $2.39

1-3 lb bag Onions $1.69

1 pk Plain Bagels $1.69

+ $0.23 Tax

Total OOP: $16.42

Giant Trip 02/05/2013

Tuesday Joe and I stopped into Giant to use the rest of our gift card towards a $50 purchase, which would earn us an additional $0.30 off per gallon of gas (up to 35 gallons).  We now have a total of $1.10 off each gallon, I cannot wait to go fill up the suburban, and then let it set until the tool show we are doing next month!  Here's how our grocery shopping went down!

Turkey Hill Naturals Chocolate Ice Cream $4.69 - $1/1 MC - $3.69

1 box Eggo Waffles $2.79 - $0.79 Sale = $2

2 boxes Mrs Paul's Fish Patties $5.99 ea - $3 ea Sale - $1/2 MC = 2/$4.98

1 Qt Organic Half and Half $3.79 - $0.25 Sale = $3.54

1 pt Organic Heavy Cream $3.79 - $0.25 Sale = $3.54

2 lbs Laura's Lean Ground Beef $6.30 and $6.36 = 2/$12.66

1 large JIF PB $5.49

1 Nature's Promise Organic Beef Broth $1.25

4 Newman's Own Pasta Sauces $2.89 ea - $0.89 ea Sale - $1/2 MC x 2 = 4/$6

1 Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup $2.69

2 Bull's Eye BBQ Sauces $1.99 ea - $0.32 ea Sale = 2/$3.34

1-100 ct Giant Tagless Tea Bags $1.25

1 pkg Potato Rolls $3.49 - $0.99 Sale = $2.50

2 bottles Giant Bleach $0.77 ea (50% clearance price) = 2/$1.54

+ $0.10 Tax

- $0.15 for using 3 reusable bags

- $48 Gift card used

Total OOP: $70.81 - $16.49 Sales and Coupons - $48 Gift card = $6.42 oop!