Menu Plan Monday: 07/08/2013

This week begins the 2 week pantry challenge.  It should be interesting, you can see my goals here.  As for the menu, we'll be using up some items from the freezers.  Here's what's going on this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Waffles, Fresh Fruit

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, and/or Salads

Dinners: (all served with Salad, or cooking veggies)

Sunday - Taco Salads

Monday - Spaghetti, with Foccacia Bread, and Sauteed Green Beans

Tuesday - Homemade Pizza

Wednesday - Working at Joe's Grandfather's house, we'll probably go out to dinner with him :)

Thursday - Crock-pot Pork Chops, with Mushroom Gravy, and Rice

Friday -We'll be at Tuckahoe Steam Show on the Eastern Shore all day, so we might end up with a frozen pizza, or some grilled cheese

Saturday - Crock-pot Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy, and Rice

Extras: Homemade White Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 06/30-07/06/2013

  Well, let's just say that by looking below, you can see that we were out of a LOT of things, and it's the beginning of the month.  TP, Crystal Light, snack purchases, yeah, definitely the beginning of the month.  But, we got a LOT of great deals, and are stocked up for now.  Next week begins the pantry challenge, so that should be better on the budget.  Here's how this week went...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $1.41 oop, Earned $1.50 ECB's
• Sunday's Dollar Tree Trip: $6.65 oop

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $51.34 oop
• Monday's Dollar Tree Trip (1 mop, since mine broke mid-cleaning): $1.06 
• Wednesday's Giant Trip (1/2 gal Milk): $4.29 oop
• Wednesday's ALDI Trip (shredded cheese, sour cream, fruit granola bars, lettuce, potatoes, chicken broth, macaroni, and salsa): $19.30 oop
• Friday's BJ's Trip (2 pouches Crystal Light, used $1.75/1 coupon): $10.23 oop
• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $5.18 oop

• Saturday's Wal-mart Trip (2-12 double roll pks TP, and 1 tube Hairball Medicine): $17.82 oop
• Saturday's Rite-Aid Trip (not pictured 3-12 pks Coke Products, used $4 in coupons): $17.59 oop, Earned $2 UP+Rewards

Total OOP: $134.87 - $3.50 Earned Rewards = Net OOP: $131.37

Linked to Couponaholic! 

Frugal Find Friday: Refillable Cooking Spray

I like to spray my pan with cooking spray before I do things like fry an egg or bake french fries.  However, with the new healthier life style my husband and I are trying to live, I was very surprised when I started reading what was in cooking sprays.  A LOT of things that I couldn't pronounce, including propellants which helps with the spraying action.  Eww!  So I was on a quest to find something else that would serve the same purpose, but didn't gross me out with all of it's additives.  I was in Kohl's one day, and then I found this...

(amazon affiliate link above)
...encircled with a glowing halo of light of course :)
I LOVE IT!  I works super well.  I can easily fill it with whatever my oil preference is (I use Olive), and twist on the top, pump, and spray.  Not only is it healthy (no weird ingredients), but green (totally reusable), and uber frugal (no more buying a replacement every month or so).
In my opinion, you should definitely get one as your budget allows, it will save you a ton in the long run!

Linked to Works for Me Wednesday!

What's your frugal find for this week?

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day to everyone!

Sunday's CVS Trip

This week there wasn't really a whole lot that I wanted from CVS, but I stopped in for some vacation snacks to stash away, and to roll my ECB's.  This is what I ended up with...

4 bags Gardetto's Snack Mix $3.49 ea - $2.50 ea Sale - $0.50/2 MC x 2 = $0.74 ea or 4/$2.96

1 Puffs Tissues $1.59 - $0.40 CVS Coupon (25% off) - $1/1 MC (mailer exp 06/30) = $0.19

1 Speed Stick Deodorant $3.69 - $0.70 Sale - $1/1 MC - $1.50 ECB's = FREE!

+ $0.27 Tax

 - $4 ECB's used to Pay

Total OOP: $1.41, Earned $1.50 ECB's for next week!

Linked to Simply CVS!

ALDI Deals, Starting 07/03/2013

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

• Seedless Watermelon $3.99 ea
• Strawberries $1.29/lb
• Cantaloupe $1.49 ea
• Red Grapes $1.98/2 lbs
• Blueberries $1.29/pint
• Sweet Corn $1.59/4 pk
• Specially Selected Feta Cheese Crumbles Assorted Varieties 4 oz $1.99 ea
• Specially Selected Kalamata Olives 6 oz $2.79 ea
• Southern Grove Dried Cranberries 5 oz $1.19 ea
• Tuscan Garden Tortilla Strips Lightly Salted or Santa Fe 3.5 oz $1.19 ea
• Tuscan Garden Large Black Pitted Ripe Olives 6 oz $0.99 ea
• Little Salad Bar Spring Mix or Sweet Butter Lettuce 5-6.5 oz $1.99 ea
• Little Salad Bar Cranberry Almond Chicken Salad 16 oz $3.79 ea
• Season's Choice Whole Onion Rings 16 oz $1.99 ea 
• Fresh Gourmet Croutons Garlic Herb or Parmesan Caesar 5 oz $1.29 ea
• Nature's Nectar 100% Pineapple Juice 46 oz $2.19 ea
• Nature's Nectar Sweet or Lemonade Tea 59 oz $1.79 ea
• Nature's Nectar All Natural Lemonade or Raspberry Lemonade 59 oz $1.69 ea
• Happy Farms Pepper Jack Singles 12 oz $1.79 ea
• Kirkwood Frozen Chicken Tenderloins 40 oz/ Chicken Breasts 48 oz $5.99 ea
• Stonemill Essentials Italian Seasoning or Parsley Flakes 0.5-1.35 oz $0.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Mandoline Slicer $3.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Salad Spinner or Produce Keeper $8.99 ea
• Kitchen Living 4 piece Flexible Cutting Mats (BPA free) $2.99 ea
• Kitchen Living Vegetable Peeler, Citrus Zester, Apple Corer, Ice Cream Scoop, Melon Baller, or Garlic Press Assorted Colors $1.69 ea
• Kitchen Living Extendable Sink Colander $7.99 ea

 For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their homepage!

Flea Market Wicker Trash Can Transformation

This is the before of the bedroom trash can.  It cost me a whole $1 at a flea market earlier this year.  I took a can of white spray paint (which I always have on hand), and two afternoons to turn it into this...

and this...

 and this is where it lives.

Pretty nice, huh?

Much better!  A super cheap, and simple transformation, but so worth the time to get every nook and cranny coated.  It will live in our bed room here until we move, one day far away.

What do you think?  What have you all been transforming lately?

Linked to One Project at a Time, the Inspiration Exchange, and Thrifty Thursday!

Sunday's Giant Trip

This week I got a 500 bonus gas points when you buy $50 coupon, so, since we are going to the eastern shore the beginning of next month, I thought it would be a good time to gas up the suburban for the trip.  We ended up with a total of $0.90 off each gallon up to 35 gallons!  We also got these good deals...

1 Flat Iron Steak $7.98

2 Cascadian Farms Crinkle French Fries $2.99 ea - $0.85/1 MC doubled to $1.70 x 2 = $1.29 ea or 2/$2.58

2 pkgs Laura's Lean Ground Beef $7.20 and $7.13 - $3.08 Sales = 2/$11.25

1 Smart Ones Meal $2.29 - $0.29 Sale = $2

6 Betty Crocker Pasta Salads (Joe's Fav) $2.49 ea - $1.49 ea Sale - $0.50/2 MC doubled to $1 x 3 = 6/$3

3 boxes Special K Bars $2.99 ea - $0.50 ea Sale - $1.47 wyb 3 - $1/3 MC = 3/$5

1 Suave Body Wash $2.50 - $1 Sale - $1/1 MC = $0.50

1 Treseme Dry Shampoo Spray $2.34 on clearance - $1/1 MC = $1.34

2-100 ct Giant Vitamin C $3.49 ea - BOGO Free Sale = 2/$3.49

2 bags Doritos $4.29 ea - BOGO Free Sale = 2/$4.29

2 bags Chex Mix $2.69 ea - BOGO Free Sale - $0.60/1 MC Doubled to $1.20 x 2 = 2/$0.29

2 pkgs Country Choice Organic Oreos $3.79 ea - $1/1 MC x 2 = $2.79 ea or 2/$5.58

2 pkgs Lance Crackers $3.09 ea - $0.59 ea Sale - $1/2 MC = 2/$4

+ $0.24

- $0.20 Reusable Bag Credit

Total OOP: $94.04 - $42.94 Savings and Coupons = $51.34 oop!!!  Savings of 46%!! + Earned 552 Gas Points!!!!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Layered Taco Dip

In honor of 4th of July, and all of the picnics people will be having to celebrate our independence day, I thought I would share a super easy dip recipe with you all.  I've been making this dip for over a decade, and it is always what I am requested to bring to family get-togethers, well, and cookies :)  Here's the low-down...

1. Layer 1 can Refried Beans into your dish.

(You can use a pie plate, a Tupperware, or a baking pan, they all work just fine)

2. Top beans with a layer of Sour Cream.

3. Top Sour Cream with a layer of Salsa.

(I like ALDI's, but I've used homemade as well.)

4. Top salsa with a layer of shredded lettuce.

5. Top Lettuce with shredded cheese (I use the Mexican blend, but cheddar is tasty too.)  I wait and add some diced onions to the top, and only on 1 half, that way people can see where they are if they don't like them.

And, it's that easy!  Serve with some tortilla chips, and you are good to go!

Linked to Make Your Own Monday, and Homemade Mondays!

Menu Plan Monday: 07/01/2013

This week will again be jam-packed, but being busy is good.  Joe and are going to my sister's to pick up a few things she doesn't want before she moves the end of the month.  Tuesday, we are going down to Joe's grandfather's house to work.  Thursday is 4th of July, and I work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this week.  It's gonna be a little crazy, but we'll make it work.  Here's what's on the menu for this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, and/or Salads

Dinners: (all served with veggies or salad)

Sunday - Taco Salads

Monday - Pasta with Meat Sauce, and Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Working at Pap's, probably Applebee's or Chili's with him

Wednesday - Potato Soup, with Homemade Bread

Thursday - Something from the Event at the museum

Friday - Homemade Pizza

Saturday - Grilled Hamburgers, with Baked Potato Wedges

Extras: White Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!