Garden Update!

I am so happy that my husband and I have finally gotten our garden in this year! We are changing the area we are planting in and that is part of the reason why it has taken us a little while to get started. Hopefully we will be harvesting veggies VERY SOON!
This is the Squash Area.

Close up of a Squash plant. We have 2 yellow squash, 2 zucchinis & 2 cucumber plants in this area, as well as a blueberry bush.

More squash plants...

These are my sweet little bell pepper plants!

Hopefully next week we can get the other blueberry bushes in as well as the tomato plants.
For More Gardening Updates Visit Savings Makes Cents

Menu Plan Monday 06/07/2010!

It's that time again, time to plan the menu for the week! This is definitely my most favorite weekly post! This week will be full of gardening, so meals are going to be quick and simple :-)

Here's what's cookin' in Mrs. Rogers' Frugal Neighborhood...

Breakfasts: French toast casserole*; Bagels with Cream Cheese and Fruit Salad; Cold Cereal

Lunches: Leftovers; Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Chips

Dinners:
Sunday - Out to Dinner with Nan & Pap
Monday - Pizza!
Tuesday - Fettuccine with Garlic Bread and Salad
Wednesday - Crock-pot Ribs and Baked Potatoes* with Broccoli
Thursday - Grilled Salsa Chicken* with Mexican Rice and Salad
Friday - Leftover Buffet
Saturday - Taco Salad

What's Baking: Zucchini Bread* :-)
*Recipe to Come

Yard Sale Finds!

My Mommy and I went to some yard sales on Saturday morning, and I found this beautiful picture frame. And at the awesome frugal price of just $2!!! It is going to look wonderful in the living room with our wedding photos in it!

Saturday's Coupon & MIR Trip to Target!

Joe and I stopped into Target Saturday night so that I could do a little coupon shopping and pick up some things for some MIR's! All in all, it was a VERY productive trip!

2 Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayers $8.69 ea - $3/1 Target Coupon (TC) x 2 - $5/1 MC x 2 = 2/$1.38
1 Shout Stain Remover $1.97 - $1/1 TC - $0.55/1 MC = $0.42
- $5 MIR for buying 3 SC Johnson Items in one Transaction = All FREE + $3.20 MM!
1 Armour All Wipes $4.87 - $2/1 MC = $2.87 + 1 Armour All Wheel Protectant $6 - $2/1 MC - $3/2 TC - $6 MIR for Protectant = both FREE + $2.13 MM!
4-10 ct boxes Crystal Light $1.97 ea - $3/3 MC & $1/1 MC = 4/$3.88
5-6 ct tubs Crystal Light $2.98 ea - $3/3 MC & $1/1 MC x 2 = 5/$9.90
1- ct pkg Full Size Cookies and Cream Hershey Bars (a Vacation Splurge) on Clearance $2.71
+ Tax $1.39
Total OOP: $25.55 - $11 expected MIR's = Net OOP: $14.55 -- Savings of 77%!

Quick Rite-Aid Stop!

This week's Rite-Aid trip was full of GREAT deals including some SCR items! Here's how it went...

Transaction #1:
1 Sea-breeze Astringent (60% Bonus Size!) $5.29 - $1.06 Sale - $3 SCR - $1/1 MC = $0.23
1 Reach Toothbrush twin-pk $4.79 - $0.96 Sale - $3 SCR - $1/1 MC = FREE + $0.17 MM!
3 Pamper's Wipes 60 ct $3.49 ea - $1 ea Sale - $2/1 MC x 3 = 3/$1.47
1 Blink Tears $10.49 - $2.50 Sale - $7.99 SCR - $2/1 = FREE + $2 MM!
+ Tax $0.94
- $5/25 RA Coupon
Total OOP: $9.46, paid with FREE gift card - $13.99 expected SCR = All FREE + $4.53 Money Maker!!

Transaction #2:
1 Sea-breeze Astringent (60% Bonus Size!) $5.29 - $1.06 Sale - $3 SCR - $1/1 MC = $0.23
1-50 ct Rite Aid Cranberry Pills $7.49 - $1.50 Card Discount = $5.99
2 Old Spice Body Washes $4.79 ea - $1.29 ea Sale - $4 Up+Rewards - BOGO Free MC ($3.50) = 2 FREE + $0.50 MM!
2 Reese's King Size Bars $1.49 ea - $0.30 ea Card Discount = 2/$2.38
1-12 ct Dramamine $5.99 - $1.20 Card Discount - $2/1 in-ad C - $1/1 MC = $1.79
+ Tax $0.82
- $5/25 RA Coupon
Total OOP: $12.71, paid with FREE gift card - $4 Up+Rewards - $3 SCR = $5.71

Net Cost for both Transactions: $1.18!!

CVS Trip for this Week

CVS was a nice small week this week! I like those every once in awhile! It was nice to be in and out in just a few minutes, and that including picking up a prescription and a FREE $25 gift card!

Here's what I ended up with...

2 boxes Frosted Flakes + 1 box Special K Cereal 2 @ $4.99 & 1 @ $4.49 - $4.47 in Sales - $1.50/3 MC - $5 ECB = 3/$3.50
2 bags Doritos (small size) $0.99 ea - $1 ECB wyb 2 = 2/$0.98
1 Fusion Pro-Glide Razor $12.99 - $3.02 Sale - $4/1 MC - $5 ECB = $0.97
3 - 24 pks CVS bottled H2O (Not pictured) $3.99 ea - $1.11 ea Sale = 3/$8.64
+ $0.87 Tax
- $5/15 CVS Coupon
- $16 ECB's used to Pay
Total OOP: $4.96, paid with FREE gift card + Earned $11 ECB's back for next time!

Weekly Spending Totals 05/30-06/05

This week's spending did not go as planned. We definitely spent more than I wanted to, however, the spending DID include a number of things that we needed for our vacation, like rope and steaks! So that does make me feel a little better. However, I still vow to do better this week!
Here's how it looks:

Food - $18.38
Health & Beauty - $10.24
Household - $26.71
Total: $55.33

I think that if I can stay out of Target, the Dollar Store and Big Lots, I think that this week should look a LOT better, or at least I hope so :-)

Big Lots Stop!

Joe and I stopped into Big Lots yesterday while we were waiting for a prescription to be filled at CVS, and because we were in need of some bins, which aren't pictured...

1 bottle Pure Vanilla Extract $3
2 pkgs Jimmy Dean Peppered Gravy Mix @ 0.50 ea = 2/$1
1 box Sleep Aid $1
1 pkg Rope $7
2 Bins 1 @ $9 + 1 @ $4.25 = 2/$13.25
+ $1.22
Total OOP: $26.47 + I got to scan my Big Lots Rewards Card :-)

Martin's Trip - Very Small :-)

This week's Martin's Trip was a little pathetic, but I was able to pick up the steaks for our vacation the end of this month, and not only were they on sale, but I also had a meat coupon to use - YAY!

2 bottles Hormel Bacon Pieces $1.64 ea - $0.14 ea Sale - $1/2 MC = 2/$2
2 pkgs Sargento Reduced Sodium Cheese $3.39 ea - $1.39 ea Sale - $0.75/1 MC doubled to $1.50 & $1/1 MC = 2/$1.50 or $0.75 ea!
1 pkg NY Strip Steaks $13.79 - $2.91 Sale - $1/10 Meat Purchase Martin's C = $9.88
Total OOP: $23.85 - $10.47 Sales & Coupons = $13.38, savings of 44%! Not a great percentage, but but when you figure $10 of my total was steak, it makes me feel a lot better :-)

Walgreen's Trip -- Gotta Roll those RR's!

Walgreen's is just filled with good deals this week! I was able to grow my RR's as well, in other words it was a GREAT trip!

Transaction #1:
2 Extension Cords on Clearance @ $0.49 ea = 2/$0.98
1 bag Scrunci Elastics on Clearance $0.75!
1 pkg U by Kotex Pads $3.49 on Sale - $2.50 RR - $1/1 MC = FREE + $0.01 MM!
1 box Ecotrin Aspirin $2 on Sale - $2/1 MC - $2 RR = FREE + $2 MM!
2 cans Lindsay Olives $2/$4 - $2.02 in-ad C - $1/2 MC = 2/$0.98
+ Tax $0.11
- $4.50 RR used to Pay
Total OOP: $0.81 + Earned $2 & $2.50 RR's + A Catalina for a FREE pkg of Always Pads!

Transaction #2:
1 bag Renuzit Crystals $6.99 - $2 online C - $3/1 MC = $1.99
1 pkg Butterfinger Bites $0.50
1 box Ecotrin Aspirin $2 on Sale - $2/1 MC - $2 RR = FREE + $2 MM!
1 pkg U by Kotex Pads $3.49 on Sale - $2.50 RR - $1/1 MC = FREE + $0.01 MM!
+ Tax $0.33
- $3 RR used to Pay
Total OOP: $2.31 + Earned $2 & $2.50 RR's + A Catalina for a FREE pkg of Always Pads!