Supplemental Savings

We're doing a little mini push to stock up on some canned items and other longer storage items in the stockpile.  Publix had their store brand canned vegetables on sale for only .60 cents.  I stopped by today after work to take advantage of the sale before it ends tonight.  I picked up 22 cans of vegetables including, green beans, corn, beets, potatoes, peas and carrots.

While I was at the store, I was also able to use some of my coupons from the weekend.  When I visited Publix Sunday, they did not have much of a selection of Whole Fruit bars.  Today I was able to pick up three boxes for only .80 per box.  Regular price is $3.59.


I also put three jars of pickle in the buggy for only .39 a jar compared to the regular price of $2.79.  A loaf of bread and a box of Publix garlic toast finished my order. 

My OOP was $21.21 (includes tax) with a savings of $20.32.  That's a 50% savings today!  Woohoo!

Just the Facts....

I took a moment to total up my grocery expenditures and savings so far this year compared to last.

2010  Full Year Expenditures (Groceries Only)   $4,147  with a savings of 28%
2010 YTD Expenditures (Groceries Only)  $2100 with a savings of 27.13%

That's pretty close to last year.  While I'm glad to see that the savings rate is about the same, I would like to see the expenditure side go down just a little for the year as a whole. 

Menu Monday

Sunday - Tacos and Empanadas, Spanish Rice
Monday - Potato Soup and BLTs
Tuesday - Taco Salad
Wednesday - Stuffed Peppers with Sausage
Thursday - Spaghetti with Italian Sausage

Pre-planning for the following week:
Chipolte Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork (Pioneer Woman)
Hamburgers/Hot Dogs
Sesame Chicken (grilled)

Grocery Deals.....

Today was the first time I've taken advantage of some couponing deals in quite a while.  I spent just over $79 and saved $39.  That's about a net savings of 25%. 

The best deal was on Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes.  These are usually $3.79 each.  (Unfortunately, we usually buy these at full price because we like to have these as our go to meal on Saturday night with some Publix chicken tenders.)  Because the potatoes were on sale this week and I had some sweet $1/1 and .50/1 coupons, I picked up five at a net price of $1.50 each.  I also purchased two one-pound bags of Mahatma rice for about .20 per bag.  Crystal light was on sale for $1.50 per box.  Using a $1 coupon, I was able to get two boxes at .50 each.  I was unable to take advantage of the Whole Fruit Frozen bars as they only had Mango or Coconut flavor. 

Publix also had their store brand vegetables on sale for .60 per can.  (I picked up 10 cans of green beans.)  Otherwise, some good deals this week. 

Enough already.....

Warning:  I'm stepping up on my soap box. 

The entertainment program last night reported that George Clooney and his girlfriend have split.  Really?  Who couldn't have seen that coming?  Hugh Hefner and his pretty young thing have decided to call off their wedding.  Oh no!  Jennifer Anniston is dating yet another man.  Another one.

Enough.  Will it really make a difference in what you do today?  Why do we get so invested in these public relationships when they obviously don't give their private relationships near as much attention.  I've come to the realization, that it's all a farce, a publicity machine. 

I'm stepping down now, what do you think?

Menu Monday

This week's menu is a rough guideline.  I purchased only meat for Sunday's dinner and some fresh produce.

Sunday - Hamburger Steaks, Sliced Potatoes and Onions, Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Monday - Spaghetti with Meatsauce, Salad
Tuesday - Stuffed Potatoes
Wednesday - Chef Salad
Thursday - Italian Chicken with Buttered Red Potatoes, Broccoli
Friday - TDB

DEAL OF THE WEEK

I really couldn't believe it when we scanned this at Walmart.  This unit retails for $199 at most stores, including the ones I saw at Lowe's last weekend.  I only found one in an obscure location.  The box was very worn.

The scanned came up at $59.  Fifty-nine dollars!

Needless to say, we stuffed this baby in the cart and took it directly to the checkout.  We were concerned that it may have been returned or non working but as we opened up the box, the inside packaging was undisturbed.

We plugged it in and it worked beautifully.  Margaritas all around.  I can imagine the possibilities:  frozen lemonade, snow cones, daiquiris, etc.  It's going to be a gooooood summer.

Menu Monday

Saturday -  Salad with Fruit and Fried Chicken
Sunday - Grill Night, Salmon and Chicken
Monday - Sweet and Sour Chicken, Rice and Sugar Snap Peas
Tuesday - Hot Dogs, Chili Cheese Fries or Manwich
Wednesday - Chef Salad
Thursday - Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Garlic Bread

As always, this menu is subject to change - and usually does.  Only the Salmon and Chicken for Saturday and Sunday's Dinners were new purchase meats.  All other items were already on the premises.  Next week will be a freezer week with exceptions for two salad meals.  We are trying to incorporate two meals each week that are substantially salad and fresh/raw vegetables and fruits.

Another one bites the dust.....

...and this time, it's a good thing.

I just made the final payment to another installment loan.  Those dedicated funds will be "snowballed" into another debt beginning next month.  During the last year, we've paid off at least three debts and made good progress towards the others.  Additionally, we have not taken on any new debt in over two years. 
Cash is King.  (Where have I heard that from before?)

Menu Monday

My menu planning took a detour when I happened across a fine looking roast at BJs Sunday afternoon.  It was very lean and nearly $1.50 less per pound than Publix.

Saturday - Taco Salad (made with leftovers from Thursday night's Taco dinner)
Sunday - Hamburger Steak, Red Potatoes and Green Beans
Monday - Crockpot Roast with potatoes, carrots and onions, picked beets
Tuesday - Homemade Pizza and pizza
Wednesday - Leftover Roast
Thursday - Smoked Sausage, Savannah Red Rice, green veggie
Friday - Stuffed Bell Peppers (if rice leftover) otherwise, TBD

Next week will be Freezer Week again in an effort to consume some of the freezer items.

Thursday Tip of the Week

This morning I noticed that a colony of ants had made their way into my kitchen and were strolling along the boardwalk (counter top).  Not having but a few minutes to deal with the situation, I remembered something I read just yesterday on a blog, Heavenly Homemakers.  It suggested that sprinkling cornmeal would eliminate the ants.  The theory behind this is that the ants ingest the cornmeal and it swells in their bellies - presumably killing them. 

I gave it a try, sprinkling some cornmeal on the counter top and on the floor near the back door.  When I returned home from work, I could not find the first ant on the counter.  I did find some later near the back door but at least they weren't crawling all over the counter top.

I still need to apply an insecticide around the outside of the house to prevent further invasion but this worked - at least temporarily.