February 2016 Budget Update

This month I managed to stock-up on SO many great deals, AND I came in under budget again!  This year is going so well budget-wise; I am glad I made the decision to up my budget by $50 a month, it is making a huge difference.  Howard seems to eat all the time, but still stays skinny, one of the many joys of toddlerhood I guess.  I am also trying to eat better - more water and salads.  Little by little I'm getting there.  Any way, here's the budget break-down for February... 

• Week #1: $64.44 oop, Earned $9.75 ECB's, $3 Saving Star Rebate, $1.50 Checkout 51 Rebate, and $0.25 Ibotta Rebate 

• Week #2: $108.49 oop, Earned $16 ECB's, $2.50 Checkout 51 Rebate, and $0.40 Find and Save Rebate

• Week #3: $98.66 oop, Earned $5 ECB's

• Week #4: $70.00 oop, Earned $10.99 ECB's

Total OOP: $341.59
Total Earned: $49.39
Total Remaining: $44.05!

Menu Plan Monday: 02/29/2016

As of right now this week is sizing up to be a fairly easy one!  I have been dealing with the flu for the past few days; I seem to be on the mend, but I am going to continue to take it easy for a few more days just to be sure.  I am hoping to be well enough on Wednesday to spend the day in Hanover, but we'll see.  I also have two work days planned, but other than that, nothing but some cleaning and decluttering!  I planned some family favorites and plenty of crock-pot meals this week...

• Breakfasts: Waffles, Bagels with Cream Cheese or Butter, Bacon/Eggs/Toast, Muffins, Fruit and Grain Bars (from Aldi), or Pop-Tarts (for Joe)
• Lunches: Leftovers, Salads, Frozen TV Meals, Canned Soup, Hot dogs, or French Bread Pizzas
• Dinner: 
• Sunday - Leftover Buffet
• Monday - Leftovers, again
• Tuesday - Crock-pot Meatloaf, Baked Tater Tots, Vegetable
• Wednesday - Crock-pot BBQ Pork Loin and Baked Potatoes, Vegetable
• Thursday - Take-out
• Friday - Pizza Night
• Saturday - Canned Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 02/21-27/2016

Yeah for meat sales!!!  If you have been following along, you know that I have been waiting for a meat sale for weeks -- this was finally the week!  Instead of paying $8.99 for each bag of organic boneless skinless chicken breasts, I only paid $5.44 after sale and coupon!!!  Needless to say, I bought 4.  Since we are still eating through the freezers and pantries, I mostly just purchased our needed breakfast, lunch, and snack items along with a few deals.  I was able to stock up on chicken, diapers, and frozen meals.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I got for so little money this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $11.27 oop, Earned $10.99 ECB's ($0.99 Reese's Egg, $10 Huggies) (Included, but not pictured is a Reese's Egg)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $19.12 oop (included, but not pictured are 4 gallons H2O)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $39.61 oop

Total OOP: $70.00
Total Earned: $10.99
Total Remaining from February: $44.05!!!

Linked to Couponaholic, I heart Publix, and many more!

Menu Plan Monday: 02/22/2016

This week I decided to keep things fairly simple.  We are getting together with family on Saturday to celebrate our 2 February birthdays (my sister and my dad).  Other than that it's just a nice normal week.  I ran errands Sunday, I'll clean Wednesday, work Thursday and Friday, and if I'm lucky get to spend some time perusing the Dollar Tree ALONE on Saturday morning.  Dinner will be in the crock-pot after all, and I'll only have to make two cakes, so I'll have time.  I am also hoping to tackle the taxes and some decluttering.  Here's what's on the menu this week...

• Breakfasts: Pop-Tarts, Granola Bars, Mini Muffins, Waffles
• Lunches: Leftovers, Frozen Meals, Sandwiches (PB and J or Ham and Cheese), French Bread Pizza, Canned Soups
• Dinners:
• Sunday - Leftovers
• Monday - Leftovers
• Tuesday - Pasta, Red Sauce, Meatballs, Texas Toast, Salad
• Wednesday - Pork Loin, Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes
• Thursday - Take out
• Friday - Pizza
• Saturday - Family Dinner: Chicken Pot-pie, Green Beans, Cake!

 For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 02/14-20/2016

I ended up spending more than I wanted to this week, but I am very pleased with my purchases.  I was in desperate need of some laundry detergent, so I decided to cash in a rain check at CVS to make that happen.  Between the rain check ECB's, coupons, and sales I only paid $1.44 each.  My target price for detergent is between a $1 and $1.50, so that worked out perfect!  I have another rain check I plan to cash in next week, before my coupons expire, on Arm and Hammer detergent.  I was also out of cranberry supplements, and biotin; I was glad that the CVS brand was buy one get one free and I had a $4 off $25 vitamin purchase coupon on my card.  I am on my last bottle of multivitamins, so I decided to get those as well to be able to use the coupon.  Other than those deals, I mostly just picked up our usual snack, lunch, and breakfast foods.  We are still eating down our freezers in hopes to defrost the chest freezer before the end of the month.  However, I really need a meat deal in my future!  We are mostly down to pork chops and loins, and a couple packs of ground beef = not much variety in the menu.  Oh, and the best purchase of the week -- I FINALLY found baskets to fit in Howard's one drawer in his room!  I have been looking for two baskets to corral his hats, mittens, sunglasses, and extra changing pads in one drawer of his antique dresser, and I was having a horrible time trying to find ones that would fit.  Who would have thought that the baskets I needed would be at the Dollar Tree!  Anyway, here's how my spending went this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $9.01 oop, Earned $5 ECB's

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $40.55 oop (included, but not pictured are 12 gallons of H2O)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $41.60 oop

• Sunday's Dollar Tree Trip: $7.50 oop

Total OOP: $98.66
Total Earned: $5
Total Remaining for February: $114.05

Linked to Couponaholic, I heart Publix, and many more!

Frugal Finds: February 2016 Edition

Joe, Howard, and I took a day trip to Hanover one day this month, so of course a trip to the thrift store was at the top of my to-do list!  I had just gone through the bin of 3T clothes that we have accumulated from hand-me-downs and yard sale/thrift store shopping to see what I still needed to purchase to fill out his wardrobe.  It turns out he doesn't need much just a few things here and there.  I was able to get all the shirts we needed, long and short sleeve, in one shot, and at half-price too!  I also picked up some frames for our bedroom art makeover, and a gorgeous bowl.  I don't know what I want to do with it yet, but I love it, so I WILL find a place for it.  We went on Family Day, so everything I bought was half-price.  Here's the break-down...

Oshkosh Navy Sweatshirt 3T $3.99 - 50% off = $1.99
Navy Short Sleeve Swim Shirt 3T $2.99 - 50% off = $$1.49
Blue Camo Long Sleeve Thermal Tee 3T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Gray Long Sleeve Thermal Tee 3T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Long Sleeve Baseball-style Tee with Faces 3T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Pirate Short Sleeve Tee 3T $2.99 - 50% off = $1.49
Red and Gray Long Sleeve Thermal Tee 3T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Gray Monster Truck Short Sleeve Tee 3T $2.99 - 50% off = $1.49
Gray Captain Short Sleeve Tee 3T $2.99 - 50% off = $1.49
Green TMNT Short Sleeve Tee 3T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Blue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) Short Sleeve Tee 4T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Striped Thomas Short Sleeve Tee 4T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Green Monster Eyes Long Sleeve Tee 4T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
Gray Wolf/Forest Short Sleeve Tee 4T $2.99 - 50% off = $1.49
Navy Fire Engine Short Sleeve Tee 4T $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99

 5T Jeans $2.99 - 50% off = $1.49
1 Yellow Rain Poncho Kids XS $4.99 - 50% off = $2.49
Package of Frames $3.99 - 50% off = $1.99
Beautiful Metal Bowl $1.99 - 50% off = $0.99
1 Kids Book (not pictured, and no longer included in the half off sales, sad face)
$0.24 Tax (Frames and Bowl)
Total OOP: $26.54!!!

(Before the 50% off sale, I would have paid $51.23!)

Has anyone else done some thrifting lately?
Any good finds?

Menu Plan Monday: 02/15/2016

This week we are expecting more snow, and have a flea market to set up at this weekend.  I also work, so it's going to be a fairly full week.  I kept my menu plan fairly simple, and realistic.  After selling at the flea market for 6 hours and spending another 2 tearing everything down and packing it up, I know beyond any shadow of doubt that I will not be cooking, reheating maybe, but take-out is more likely.  Any way, here's what's cookin' this week...

• Breakfasts: Bagels, Granola Bars, Mini Muffins, Pop-Tarts, Waffles
• Lunches: Leftovers, Canned Soup, Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas, PB and J/Tuna Sandwiches
• Dinners:
• Sunday - Sandwiches, Salad
• Monday - Crock-pot Mushroom Gravy and Pork Chops, Jasmine Rice, Green Beans
• Tuesday - Leftovers (aka clean out the fridge)
• Wednesday - Pasta of some kind, Garlic Bread, Broccoli
• Thursday - Take-out
• Friday - Pizza
• Saturday - Leftovers, or Take-out (flea market day)

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 02/07-13/2016

This week was a little heavy on the spending, but, last week was light, so it all balances out in the end.  I was able to stock up on a lot of great deals, including Benefiber, diapers, and a razor.  You will also notice some convenience foods from Giant that I don't normally purchase, like chicken tenders and potato skins.  Sunday was the Superbowl, and our first year in a dozen that we actually got to watch it, so convenience foods and calories it is.  Anyway, I am hoping to keep our spending more sedate next week, but here is how it all broke down this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $40.81 oop, Earned $16 ECB's ($5 Huggies, $2 Venus, $1 Halls, and $4 x 2 Benefiber), $0.40 Shop and Save Rebate, and $2.50 Checkout 51 Rebates ($1.50 Venus, $1 Halls)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $39.20 oop (included, but not pictured are 8 gallons of H2O)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $28.48 oop

Total OOP: $108.49
Total Earned: $18.90
Total Remaining for February: $212.71

Linked to Couponaholic, I heart Publix, and many more! 

Household Project List 2016 -- January Update

 

It doesn't look like I crossed much off for January, but everyday I worked on something that's on this list, whether it got crossed off or not.  I feel like January has set a determined and consistant tone for the rest of the year, which I am very pleased about!  I also feel like all I did was go through paper - last year's files, mementos, misc keepsakes I thought I needed to keep and I don't, receipts, cards, and the list goes on from there.  I filled 4 boxes of paper for recycling and 1 box to be burnt/shredded.  It's funny, but I just feel so much lighter knowing that it's all gone!  I also found some great baskets at the Dollar Tree to use in my organizing, and I LOVE them.  They are the perfect sizes and cheerfully colored, plus they only cost $1 each!  So, below is my progress report for January.  I am hoping that I can keep trucking for at least another 2 months...

• Bedroom: 
• Declutter 2 Dressers, 1 Chest of Drawers, 2 Nightstands, 1 Closet, and Under the Bed
• Steam off the crappy boarder
• Re-glue the wallpaper seams
• Change the wall art

• Hall: 
• Declutter Hall Closet, Desk, and Coat Closet
• Sell desk, and move in a bench
• Build another shelf in the hall closet

• Bathroom:
• Declutter the Bathroom Cabinets and Drawers
• Touch up the paint (Joe and I might actually repaint the entire bathroom, as the color scheme is not great, so this will happen last, if at all - we might just wait and repaint in 2017)

• Living Room:
• Declutter 8 Cube Baskets, 1 End Table, and 3 Dresser Drawers
• Finish adding pictures to our 'mural' wall
• Paint the letter 'R' on our 'mural' wall

• Find new art for behind the futon

• Kitchen:
• Declutter 35 Cabinets, 1 Pantry, 1 China Cabinet, and 11 Drawers
• Get a new trashcan
• Steam the wallpaper off our microwave table, and repaint it
• Paint the windows/sills/trim
• Clean out the chest freezer and defrost it

• Nursery/Office:
• Declutter the Closet, Dresser, Desk, Chest of Drawers, Bookcase, Sewing Table, and Cedar Chest

• Go through the CD 3-drawer organizer and combine into a large CD case 
• Install new curtain rods and tie backs; Hang new curtains
• Make a new curtain for the closet; Hang
• Buy new Lamp/Shade for the Dresser
• Re-glue wallpaper
• Bring in new chest of drawers (#2)
• Build new shelf (or two) above the desk; Add books to shelves
• Paint the windows/sills and the closet door frame 

• Laundry Room:
•  Declutter Desk, 3 Drawer Stand, Bookcase, and Closet (including stored Christmas decorations)
• Touch up paint from renovation
• Hang art -- still deciding on if this is necessary
• Wash box of new-to-us toys 

Household Project List for 2016

I have decided to make 2016 the year I get my household is order, finally.  After a crazy work schedule in 2015, and just general neglect over the years, the house needs some major work.  Every winter I do some serious decluttering through the entire house - I really don't know where it all comes from.  I feel like I get rid of boxes and bags full of stuff every year, and yet there is just as much to get rid of the next time.  So, decluttering is definitely on the docket, but so are some fun projects, and some general home maintenance, like painting.  I decided to make a list of the household projects I want to complete this year, and keep it separate from my goals list.  I will still keep you all updated monthly, and will share pictures when I can, but I feel like adding all these things to my goals for the year would have really bogged me down.  Because this list is seriously long, as you can see.  I basically just broke my list down by room; I felt like that was the most straightforward way to organize my thoughts.  Please keep in mind that our home is a 'rental' of sorts, so there is only so much I can do to make it look pretty.  So, without further ado, everything I want to accomplish in the house in 2016...

• Bedroom: 
• Declutter 2 Dressers, 1 Chest of Drawers, 2 Nightstands, 1 Closet, and Under the Bed
• Steam off the crappy boarder
• Re-glue the wallpaper seams
• Change the wall art

• Hall: 
• Declutter Hall Closet, Desk, and Coat Closet
• Sell desk, and move in a bench
• Build another shelf in the hall closet

• Bathroom:
• Declutter the Bathroom Cabinets and Drawers
• Touch up the paint (Joe and I might actually repaint the entire bathroom, as the color scheme is not great, so this will happen last, if at all - we might just wait and repaint in 2017)

• Living Room:
• Declutter 8 Cube Baskets, 1 End Table, and 3 Dresser Drawers
• Finish adding pictures to our 'mural' wall
• Paint the letter 'R' on our 'mural' wall
• Find new art for behind the futon

• Kitchen:
• Declutter 35 Cabinets, 1 Pantry, 1 China Cabinet, and 11 Drawers
• Get a new trashcan
• Steam the wallpaper off our microwave table, and repaint it
•  Paint the windows/sills/trim
• Clean out the chest freezer and defrost it

• Nursery/Office:
• Declutter the Closet, Dresser, Desk, Chest of Drawers, Bookcase, Sewing Table, and Cedar Chest
• Go through the CD 3-drawer organizer and combine into a large CD case 
• Install new curtain rods and tie backs; Hang new curtains
• Make a new curtain for the closet; Hang
• Buy new Lamp/Shade for the Dresser
• Re-glue wallpaper
• Bring in new chest of drawers (#2)
• Build new shelf (or two) above the desk; Add books to shelves
• Paint the windows/sills and the closet door frame 

• Laundry Room:
•  Declutter Desk, 3 Drawer Stand, Bookcase, and Closet (including stored Christmas decorations)
• Touch up paint from renovation
• Hang art -- still deciding on if this is necessary
• Wash box of new-to-us toys 

Does anyone else have some goals planned for their house this year?

Decorating?  Declutering?

Share what you are planning in the comments below...

Weekly Spending Report: 01/31-02/06/2016

I LOVE the first week in the month -- a fresh start with a full grocery envelope!  There were lots of great deals this week, plus we are still clearing out the freezers, so there wasn't much that I had to buy.  This meant that I could stock-up on cheap soup, and frozen vegetables as well we money-making cards, and dry shampoos.  However, I really NEED a meat deal soon.  I hate to pay full price, but our beef and chicken freezer stash is getting a little low.  We have plenty of pork, but I do like a little variety in our meats each day.  Hopefully something will pop up next week, even if it is just a marked-down package or two.  Any way, here's how the shopping went the first week of February...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $1.68 oop, Earned $9.75 ECB's ($5 Dove, $2 Cards, $2 Venus, and $0.75 M and M's), $3 Saving Star Rebate (Dove), and $1.50 Checkout 51 Rebate (Venus)

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $30.50 oop (included, but not pictured are 8 gallons of H2O)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $32.26 oop, Earned $0.25 Ibotta Rebate (Red Pasta Sauce)

Total OOP: $64.44
Total Earned: $14.50
Total Remaining for February: $321.20

Linked to Couponaholic, I heart Publix, and many more! 

Menu Plan Monday: 02/01/2016

This week we start a new month and a fresh grocery budget.  After a month of eating down the pantry and freezers, the cupboards are not bare, but there isn't a whole lot left either.  I am hoping for some meat deals soon.  We will be able to defrost and reorganize our chest freezer this coming weekend though, which I am super excited about!  I am planning to sort everything into reusable bags, and redo my inventory sheet while I'm at it.  That will give me a better idea of what I have to work with; this week I'm flying by the seat of my pants a little, as I didn't keep very good track of what was used during January - whoops!  Any way, we have a lot of running around to do this week -- a day spent at Pap's, a morning thrifting, and two days of work, one with a super bowl party!  Which means I kept things simple and planned my meals based on what was on top in the chest freezer.  Here's what's cookin' this week...

• Breakfasts: Pop-Tarts, Aldi's 'Nutrigrain' Granola Bars, Mini Muffins, Bagels, Eggs, Toast
• Lunches: Leftovers, Grilled cheese/PB and J/Tuna Sandwiches, Frozen TV Meals, Canned Soups
• Dinners:
• Sunday - Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• Monday - Crock-pot Meatballs, Sauce, Noodles, Garlic Bread, and Green Beans
• Tuesday - Leftovers
• Wednesday - Crock-pot Pork Loin and Baked Potatoes, Broccoli and Cheese Sauce
• Thursday -  Take-out (I'm thinking Friendly's with Sundaes!)
• Friday - Pizza
• Saturday - Crock-pot BBQ Chicken Legs, Misc. Roasted Potatoes and Veg from the Freezer

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!