Weekly Spending Report: 11/22-28/2015

This week I kept things super simple.  I didn't really need anything for Thanksgiving dinner, and I had almost nothing left in the budget anyway, so I just kept to the deals at CVS.  I went on Sunday for the pre-black Friday deals, and then again Thanksgiving morning for the black Friday specials.  I also stopped into the Dollar Tree on Saturday, mostly for my newspapers.  Here's how my spending went this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $9.35 oop, Earned $23.18 ECB's

• Thursday's CVS Trip: $1.87 oop, Earned $11.27 ECB's

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $7.30 oop

Total OOP: $18.52
Total Earned: $34.45
Total Remaining from November: $6.89

Weekly Spending Report: 11/15-21/2015

This week I was able to get some AWESOME deals on things that were running low in my stockpile, including dry shampoo, Benefiber, diapers, wipes, and chili-seasoned diced tomatoes, which I use in my chili recipe.  I don't have much left in the budget for next week, but I have everything I need for Thanksgiving already.  So, here's how my spending went this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $27.73 oop, Earned $27 ECB's (includes $5 Pharmacy Rewards, and $5 from Rain check)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $22.19 oop (included but not pictured, are 7-2lts of Diet Rite Cola -- I have to stock up on this when it's on sale and I can find it, because it is getting harder and harder to find in stores)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $36.35 oop

Total OOP: $86.27
Total Earned: $27
Total Remaining: $25.41

Weekly Spending Report: 11/08-14/2015

This week I really tried to stick with the basics, but there were a LOT of great deals on things that we didn't necessarily need now, but are things that are needs when you need them, if that makes sense.  So when vitamins, and hand soap, and side dishes are a great price, I stock up.  Even with my stocking, I still managed to keep to a reasonable budget amount.  So, without further ado, my spending report for the week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $1.89 oop, Earned $1 ECB

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $37.05 oop, Earned $1 Checkout 51 Rebate (for bread)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $34 oop, Earned $2.20 Ibotta Rebate ($2 Bonus and $0.20 for Bananas)

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $4.18 oop (no picture -- 2 newspapers, 1 bottle Gatorade, 1 ream cookies), Earned $0.40 Rebate from Ibotta ($0.20 ea for the cookies and Gatorade)

Total OOP: $77.12
Total Earned: $4.60
Total Remaining for November: $111.68

Linked to I heart Publix!

Menu Plan Monday: November 16th 2016

This week is SUPER crazy at work!  We have the volunteer preview on Friday, so I have to work that night, and then we have 3 tea seatings over the weekend, and then next week is Thanksgiving.  Things are a little nutty around here, but I'm trying to keep a super simple menu, so I actually stick with it, and yes there is some takeout on it, because I know it's going to happen so I might as well plan for it.  Anyway, here's what's cooking this week at the Rogers' house...

• Breakfasts: Waffles, Muffins

• Lunches: Leftovers, PBJ or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Frozen Diet TV Dinners, Soup

• Dinners: 
• Sunday - Leftover Chili
• Monday - Tacos
• Tuesday - Homemade 'Hamburger Helper'
• Wednesday - Crock-pot Pork Loin with Sauerkraut and Mashed Potatoes
• Thursday - Crock-pot Chicken Fajitas
• Friday - Frozen Pizza
• Saturday - Leftovers or Take-out

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 11/01-07/2015

This week I stocked up on TP again.  I'm really trying to get stocked up on things so I don't have to do much shopping during the 3 months I don't work this winter.  I was also able to stock up on some baking supplies for the upcoming holidays.  I see a LOT of peanut butter muffins and cookies in our future - yum!  So, without further ado, here's how my spending went this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $26.67 oop, Earned $23 ECB's (includes $5 from a Rain Check)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $32.16 oop (includes 8 gallons of H2O, and a tub of whipped cream cheese, not pictured)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $41.75 oop (plus I earned $0.50/gallon for up to 35 gallons - I'm up to $0.90 off!) (included but not pictured is 3 - 2 liters of Diet Rite Cola)

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $14.42 (includes some stocking stuffers!), Earned $0.20 from ibotta

Total OOP: $115
Total Earned: $23.20
Total Remaining: $ 188.80

Linked to Couponaholic and I heart Publix! 

October's Goals Update

October was a very full month - we sat up at a steam show, took a day-long yardsaling trip, I served 2 teas at work, and started Christmas preparations as well.  This month I have really been pushing myself to cross things off my weekly to-do list, and I've managed to make a lot of progress at work and home.  My biggest challenge is leaving work at work, which when you live where you work, is hard.  There are some goals that I have come to realize are not going to get done until I am off from work in the winter, they are marked in blue, and will be carried over to next year's goals list.  Here's how the goal area has played out so far this year...

Household:

1. De-clutter the whole house in January, February, and March -- Done!
2. Do a Deep-Spring, and Deep-Fall Clean in March and November  As well as keep up with my weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly cleaning chores. -- I managed to stay caught up on all of my cleaning tasks, as well as the laundry!
3. Paint the Windows/Sills/Trim in the Kitchen and Nursery. 

Family:

1. Write a 'love letter' to Joe each month - This month I wrote Joe an email letter, he really seemed to like it.  I think it helps him to realize that I do appreciate him even if I don't say it often enough.
2. Take a trip to Maine in June with the hubby, and Howard.
3. Take a Trip to Ocean City in August
4. Get together with family at least once a month -- My sister, and her husband, and my niece and niece-in-law came down and spent the day with us at the Fall Harvest Festival we have here at the museum.  It was a lovely day spent together with family.  We also got to spend some time with Joe's family one evening when we were visiting his grandfather.  I love it when this gets crossed off each month, because it means that we have spent time with the ones we love, and yet have to work to see.  :-)
5. Plan and Execute Howard's 1st Birthday Party 

Blogging:

1. Have 2 Freezer/Pantry Challenges (January and July), post updates on the blog, and defrost the chest freezer 
2. Post my Menu Plan, and Weekly Spending Report every week, along with at least 1 other post per week.  This may be an update, a reveal, a recipe, a shopping trip, some Aldi Deals, or a frugal find. -- In October I did manage to post several meal plans, as well as my Weekly Spending Reports.  With the 31 days posts, I really didn't post much else, and I am fine with that.  I did post a frugal finds post here.  I have a few things up my sleeve for November, so hopefully time will continue to be on my side, and I can share them with all of you!
3. Plan and execute a 31 days post for October. -- Done!  I posted for 31 days straight!  My 31 days posts were about the things that I am thankful for.  I did a summary here, if you'd like to see an overview.

Health:

1. Lose at least 20 lbs -- I have not gain any of the 20 lbs I re-lost back, so I am happy with this, and I will keep on keepin' on so to speak.  
2. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy, and do exercise of some kind everyday. -- This is something that I have been able to check off each month.  I have also been doing more walking with Howard, so that is definitely exercise in my book!

Budget/Income:

1. Do at least 5 Flea Markets throughout the year, and list at least bi-monthly on Amazon/Facebook Yard Sale. -- We sat up at out last flea market for the year in October.  We also took a HUGE load of stuff to an Auction.  Basically we cleaned out a bunch of crap that has been out several times and hasn't sold, as well as some things I've been wanting to get rid of from the house.  That brings us to 5 total for the year!   I also finally managed to get some books listed on Amazon!  I have a couple more boxes to do this coming month, as well as a few things to post on a Facebook selling page. 
2. Earn Swagbucks everyday by completing the daily poll, toolbar log-in, and NOSO offers daily.  (Try to earn $10 a month) -- I 've earned enough this month for a $5 gift card, but I am going to hold onto it and save up for another $25 card I think.  I am hoping it doesn't take me forever like the last one did.  
3. Set a monthly budget, and coupon and deal shop as needed to stay within our budget. -- I was able to stay under budget again for October; I posted my budget update here.  We stocked up on quite a few items including toilet paper and body wash.  We also did a little yard sale shopping, which I shared here.
4. Put at least an extra $100 a month on Joe's Credit Card starting in May -- We put a little over $100 towards the credit card this month.  I am happy that we are plugging away on this and I really would like for it to be gone next year, but I know that realistically it will probably take two years to finish paying it off.  Every little bit extra helps though!

Hobby-Related:

1. Scan the huge-a** box of photos we have had since my mom died two and a half years ago, and get them sorted to give to people, as well as put the ones I decide to keep in albums.
2. Continue to work on Howard's baby book 
3. Try something new at least once a month and blog about it.  I have a LOT of new recipes and crafts I want to try -- With the 31 days posts this month, and the fact that I worked a lot of extra hours as well, I just didn't have time to try anything new.  I have been tinkering with a few recipes that I am going to try to blog about over the next month, as they will become part of my new 14-day menu plan. 

How have your goals gone so far this year?

31 Days of Thankfulness Round-Up

I thought that it might be nice to do a round-up of sorts for the 31 days of Thankfulness posts I have done over the past month.  That way if you want to read or share them, they are all in one spot.  Posting daily has been so nice this past month, it has also helped me to focus in on having a thankful heart instead of being annoyed when things aren't going my way.  When I start to feel frustrated or worried, I instead think of all of the good in my life that I am thankful to have.  So, anyway, here are the things that I felt thankful for in October...

Days #1-5: Joe (my husband), Howard (my son), my Home, Full Pantries and Freezers, and my Extended Family

Day #6: Ramen Noodles
Day #7: My Ability to Serve Others
Day #8: Time Spent Alone with my Son
Day #9: Yard Sales
Day #10: Free Standing Dollar Tree
Day #11: Time Spent together as a Family of 3
Day #12: Job that I Love
Day #13: My Ability to Craft
Day #14-17: Coupons, Joe's Grandfather, Cleaning, and Humidifiers
Day #18: Sisters
Day #19: Thrift Stores
Day #20: My Ability to Listen
Day #21: Washers and Dryers
Day #22: Auctions
Day #23: Good Doctors
Day #24: Tiny Closets
Day #25: Local ALDI
Day #26: Crock-pots
Day #27: Indoor Plumbing
Day #28: Days off from Work
Day #29: Water Pitchers with Filters
Day #30: Pistachios
Day #31: Blogs

October Budget Update

October was a FULL month - full of work, family fun, and shopping!  We stocked up on a LOT of great things that we use often, like soup, diapers, body wash, contact solution, and toilet paper.  Plus we even came in under budget; I LOVE it when that happens.  I hope that I can do as well in November even with hosting our families for Thanksgiving.  Here's how October played out...

• Week #1: $78.94 oop, Earned $11 ECB's
• Week #2: $81.13 oop, Earned $5 ECB's and $0.50 Saving Star Rebate
• Week #3: $89.86 oop, Earned $18 ECB's
• Week #4: $48.61 oop, Earned $2 ECB's

Total OOP: $298.54
Total Earned: $36.50
Total Remaining from October: $1.46!!!!

Weekly Spending Report: 10/25-31/2015

This week was hard, but I managed to make it with $3.80 to spare!  I LOVE it when we come in under budget!  I picked up some needed snack and breakfast items, as well as stocked up on some great deals, including soup for less than $1 a can, and cake mixes for around 60 cents each, which will make a nice treat sometime.  Overall it was a good week; here's how it turned out budget-wise...

• Monday's CVS Trip (no picture, just a 2 liter of Pepsi, and 4-12 pks of Coke Products): $0.60 oop, Earned $2 ECB's
• Monday's ALDI Trip: $18.58 oop

• Monday's Giant Trip: $24.13 oop

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $5.30 oop (no picture, just 2 newspapers, 2 books for Howard for Christmas, and 1 journal for me)

Total OOP: $48.61 
Total Earned: $2
Total Remaining from October: $3.80!

Linked to Couponaholic and I heart Publix!