Dinner 2/28

 It's going to be homemade french fries, baked hamburgers, steamed veggies (I'm going to have left over chicken, instead of the hamburger). It's going to use a pound of hamburger, bread crumbs, egg, and spices. 

running grocery list

Looking at the pantry, all the fruit I bought on Thursday is gone, I have a running list of groceries (shampoo, tea bags, I have flavored left, fruit, milk, aleve, and peanut butter), makes me want to scream that stuff doesn't last here.

Dinner 2/27

We had yesterday's chicken, squash, carrots, green beans and pasta for dinner. Tomorrow, it's going to be homemade french fries, baked hamburgers, steamed veggies (I'm going to have left over chicken, instead of the hamburger). We are experiencing a lack of patients, and low census at work, requiring people to take time off. This hurts my finances, as we don't get differential or critical care pay when using our vacation time.

Dinner 2/26

Crockery chicken thighs, frozen carrots, can green beans and a "rice and sauce" packet. The items I bought this week are totaled in for February Challenge, but will be consumed in March. I'm hoping to stick to my menu plans and be more accountable for my expenditures. My student loans will be coming in, I'm graduating in five weeks with my BSN.

March grocery challenge

March grocery challenge consist of 250 dollars, and spent 43.00 at Food Lion. We bought two boxes of cereal (shredded wheat, frosted), a 24 pack of coke, 2 packages of mark down pork chops, 2 packages of strip steaks, one small chuck roast for 2.95, two packages of ground beef, one almond joy, and one package of peanut M&M's.....all accounted for March, my menu's will not be changed until our two week period is done...Only 207 left for March to spend.

Our pantry/recycling

Our recycling bucket has been in use. After making the chili, my husband used four cans of kidney beans, and three cans of diced tomatoes, one pound of hamburger, a small onion, and various spices. We have a small  amount of pepper jack cheese that will be used from the freezer. The pantry is better off, our recycling is happier, and my finances are thankful. Life is good!!

tonight's dinner 2/24

We are having chili tonight, using a lb of ground beef, a few cans of diced tomatoes, some left over frozen pepper jack cheese, and a bit of onion, with several kinds of beans. It helps to use what pantry stuff we have, instead of buying take out. It keeps my budget low.

Menu plans Feb 24-Mar 9th

Made our meal and menu plans incorporating what I bought at Sharp Shopper yesterday, using a two week timeline. Hoping that making a two week plan goes much easier than attempting a month at a time. It was a little overwhelming for February, and I kept making changes. Second time around, hopefully will be a bit more consistent.

                                                March Menu Plan- Week One

1.       Egg and cheese omelets, sliced banana

2.       Chili with shredded cheese (use pepper jack in freezer) (freeze any extra chili for another meal)

3.       Homemade French fries, baked hamburgers, steamed veggies

4.       Pulled pork (pork loin in freezer), using BBQ and onion, steamed veggies, and long grain rice

5.       Boneless pork chops, cream of mushroom soup, with steamed veggies, and egg noodles

6.       Chicken in crock pot with frozen carrots, canned green beans, and “rice and sauce packet”

7.       Ground beef taco’s, pepper jack cheese, refried beans, soft taco shells, salsa

                                                March Menu Plan- Week Two

8.       Grilled cheese, tomato, chicken noodle or veggie soup

9.       Pancakes, sausage links or patties

10.   Spaghetti, meat balls, sauce, green beans

11.   Roasted Turkey, stuffing, gravy,  and steamed veggies

12.   Turkey and gravy over egg noodles, steamed veggies (freeze leftover turkey)

13.   Homemade mac and cheese (using left over bits of pasta, cheese)

14.   Buffet style clean out the fridge night!!!!

Grocery Challenge

Total spent for February 270.04!! Including in this is the 107.00 I spent today at Sharp Shopper. I found some amazing deals on clearance items, and marked down dairy items. Hoping that I will be able to attempt a March menu plan, to incorporate some of our new findings!

Updated freezer 2/22

Looking through the freezer, we don't have the ground pork I thought we did. But we do have four pounds of ground beef, instead of two.

Dinner 2/22

Using what we have at home, tonight we will have shepard's pie, using 1 lb of ground beef, two cans of corn, potatoes, onion, and various spices!!

updated freezer 2/21

Looking into the freezer:

1 12 lb turkey
I package of brown and serve rolls
1  1lb Johnson sausages
4  1lb ground beef
1 small container of spag. sauce
1 container of beef stock
8 bags of frozen vegetables

1/8 lb of pepper jack cheese

The fridge:
various opened bottles of condiments
margarine
1/2 gallon of milk
6 eggs
2 lb onions
various spices

Dinner 2/21

Belgain waffles, bacon strips, hot chocolate for the kids.

Updated as of 2/21

Pantry Inventory for Feb:

1 64 oz veggie oil
1 box baking soda, baking powder
1 250 oz olive oil
1 24 oz maple syrup- half used

1 box of stove top cream of wheat- almost gone
1 3 lb bag of long grain rice
1 lb bag of egg noodles
1/2 bag of opened popcorn kernels (we pop our own with a air popping unit)
3 pks "noodles and sauce"

2 packs flavored tea
10 packs unsweetened "aldi koolaide"
2 boxes of various hot chocolates
1 lb brown sugar
1 lb powdered sugar
1 canister of bread crumbs
2 tea canisters, red rose and salada
1 gallon vinegar
2 bottles of marinade (aldi)
1 bottles of ketchup 64 oz
4 lb white sugar
7 lb flour
1 lb tri colored pasta
2 lb cans of green beans
3 cream of something soups
2 28 oz spaghetti sauce
various cans of veggies (given to us)

Dinner 2/20

Dinner is in the crock pot, pork chops with mushroom gravy, long grain rice (for the kids), squash, carrots, and zucininni (spelled wrong) mix from Sharp Shopper, peas, and cous cous with saffarin and chives (for Gary and I). It's going to smell awesome in here!

updated pantry list 2/19

pdate on Pantry Inventory

Pantry Inventory for Feb:

1 64 oz veggie oil
1 box baking soda, baking powder
1 250 oz olive oil
1 24 oz maple syrup
1 box of Bisquick
1 box of stove top cream of wheat
1 3 lb bag of long grain rice
1 lb bag of egg noodles
1/2 bag of opened popcorn kernels (we pop our own with a air popping unit)
3 pks "noodles and sauce"
1 box cake mix
1 tub frosting
2 packs flavored tea
10 packs unsweetened "aldi koolaide"
2 boxes of various hot chocolates
1 lb brown sugar
1 lb powdered sugar
1 canister of bread crumbs
2 tea canisters, red rose and salada
1 gallon vinegar
2 bottles of marinade (aldi)
1 bottles of ketchup 64 oz
4 lb white sugar
7 lb flour
1 lb tri colored pasta
2 lb cans of green beans
3 cream of something soups
2 28 oz spaghetti sauce
various cans of veggies (given to us)

Updated Freezer items 2/19

Looking into the freezer:

1 12 lb turkey
2  1lb ground mild pork sausage
1  1lb Johnson sausages
2  1lb ground beef
1   1lb ground turkey
1 container of beef stock
10 bags of frozen vegetables

1 lb bacon ends
1/8 lb of pepper jack cheese

The fridge:
various opened bottles of condiments
margarine
1 and 1/2 gallons of milk
6 eggs
2 lb onions
various spices

Breakfast this morning was a last loaf of raisin bread toasted. Our lunch will consist of pb&j, using the last little bit of apple and black berry jelly, so I can get those containers into the recycling. Dinner tonight, consist of red beans, rice, and turkey sausage. On the side, we will have what is left of the grapes. I found that we still have a half gallon of milk dated today, in hopes of saving it, I put chocolate syrup in it, and will pass it to the children to drink through out the day, so this doesn't go to waste.

Today's plan

Everyone is up and moving, the girls are getting ready to do dishes, Kevin is cleaning up the living room, Gary is taking Kevin to the landfill to get rid of recycles, and I'm going to help the girls wash dishes....took out some gingerbread cookies (Sharp Shopper find, 50 cents), kids can bake those and frost, and then dinner this evening (red beans, rice, and turkey sausage), and if the kids behave today, wrestling special tonight on pay per view!!!

Dinner 2/17

having found some left over spaghetti sauce with meat in the freezer, I'm using half pound of pasta, the left over sauce and going to make spaghetti. The kids can pick between that and left over refried bean burritos (kids been eating those for two days).

Aldi's

Went to Aldi's, spent 41 dollars on strawberries, bananas, grapes, cat food, a gallon of milk, two take and bake pizzas (cheese for kids, veggie for Gary and I), and my new addition, a cute little bamboo plant on my table.

Dinner tonight 2/16

Unloading the freezer, I found some refried beans, spaghetti sauce with meat, and some beef stock. It looks like burritos for the kids snack, and pasta for dinner!

Update on Savings account

I had to take 124 out for the dentist, but then our tax return came. I gave my husband two hundred dollars, and then put the rest in my account. Gotta love it.

Menu planning

I got rid of my menu plan for February, I was getting tired of looking over it, to plan for meals. I've decided to have meals using what is in the fridge, pantry and freezer, but not be limited by what was on the menu. I found that I was making changes to our meal plans, and not making a complete list of what was in each storage place, because I kept finding things that needed to be used. We will however, maintain our grocery challenge, limit ourselves to the agreed on 250 a month, and continue to consume meals that are within our budget, full of healthy foods and promote feeling full and content.

Dinner 2/14

We made omelets for dinner, using the rest of the deli cheese ends, and there's 1/8 left in the fridge of colby for another night, or snack for the kids when they get home from school.

Dinner 2/13

We had a busy day yesterday, since it was my first day off from work, things were a little chaotic, and we ended up ordering pizza (my fault, things tended to get crazy yesterday). Dinner was salty, fattening, and I'm paying for it this morning, with a throbbing headache.

February Grocery Challenge

We spent a total of 6.50 yesterday at Sharp Shopper, and came home with 4 loaves of Pepperidge farm whole grain bread!! Much better than paying 2.99 a loaf!

Dinner 2/12

Two large potatoes, one pound of carrots, one pound of navy beans, and a large ham bone in the crock pot, along with some onion, garlic, parsley, and two cups of chicken stock I made the other night. It's going to be an awesome soup tonight!!

Dinner 2/10

For dinner tonight, we are having spaghetti, homemade turkey meat balls (use leftover crackers, cereal,egg, 1 pound ground turkey, onion, spices, oatmeal), and green beans.  I know it's the weekend, but I'm working all weekend, night shift, and need easily accomplished meals with little  preparation. The goal is to not buy any take out, and keep my expenses low.

Dinner 2/9

Sarah made a white sauce and added deli cheese, cooked some macaroni and handed it out to her brother and sister, along with some left over chicken from last night. She did an awesome job!

Refinance update

We have chosen to not refinance right now, being that I am trying to build some of my savings account, and get my car paid off quicker. Ten more months, and the bank doesn't own it any more!! Instead, I am choosing to pay more towards my original principle and lower my interest that way. Our bills are paid as of this moment, and I was able to transfer $150.00 to my savings account this morning!

February Grocery Challenge

An update on our meals and grocery outings. We went to Sharp Shopper today, found some good and not so good deals, but we did find frozen yogurt for 99 cents a half gallon, Christmas cookie tubes for 50 cents, and awesome fruit prices. We spent a total of 85.91 at this store. At Food Lion, we bought some marked down ground beef, marked down pork, and a 24 pack of Coke Cola, for a total of 36.53.

Our goal this month was 250.00 for the five of us, including cat and dog food, plus litter, and personal bathing items. Hopefully we can manage our goal, and continue to eat pretty well. I am trying to get our bills paid, and have a few other financial goals that we are working on.

After having our chicken dinner, we took what was left of the meat off the bones (it was a five pound chicken), and added some spices, water and simmered it on the stove to make stock for the freezer. It smells wonderful. I have about two cups of chicken put aside for tomorrow's dinner.

update on Pantry Inventory

Pantry Inventory for Feb:

1 64 oz veggie oil
1 box baking soda, baking powder
1 box of instant oatmeal (for kids)
1 250 oz olive oil
1 24 oz maple syrup
1 box "crisp rice"
1 box "muffin tops" cereal
1 box of Bisquick
1 box of stove top cream of wheat

1 3 lb bag of long grain rice
1 lb bag of egg noodles
1/2 bag of opened popcorn kernels (we pop our own with a air popping unit)
3 pks "noodles and sauce"
1 box cake mix
1 tub frosting
2 packs flavored tea

10 packs unsweetened "aldi koolaide"
1 18 oz bag of small shells
1 pack flavored rice


5 boxes of various hot chocolates
1 lb brown sugar
1 lb powdered sugar
1 canister of bread crumbs
2 tea canisters, red rose and salada

1 gallon vinegar
3 bottles of marinade (aldi)
2 bottles of ketchup 64 oz
1 64 oz BBQ sauce for dipping (kids)
7 lb white sugar
7 lb flour
1 28 oz peanut butter
1 lb tri colored pasta

2 lb cans of green beans
3 cream of something soups
2 28 oz spaghetti sauce
1 grape jelly
5 various cans of veggies (given to us)

Freezer/Fridge Inventory Update

Looking into the freezer:

1 12 lb turkey
2  1lb ground mild pork sausage
2  1lb Johnson sausages
1  4 lb pork ribs
2  1lb ground beef
1   1lb ground turkey
4 containers of "who knows what"???
1 5 lb container of butter
1 single hamburger (will be made into meat sauce)
13 1-2 lb bags of frozen vegetables
1 ham bone (from January)

2 packages of sliced ham, about 1 pound each.
1 lb bacon ends
1/8 lb of pepper jack cheese

The fridge:
various opened bottles of condiments
margarine
one tomato
6 eggs
2 lb onions
various spices

We have been slowly using that is on hand to preserve my budgeting. I did get a bill from the dentist for 418.00....good thing for meal planning!

Dinner 2/8

Dinner tonight will be baked whole chicken with various spices, canned low salt mixed veggies (given to us), peas, sliced tomato (have to get rid of it, it's very soft), brussel sprouts, and a box of julienne potatoes that will be baked in the oven. We have altered from the menu some what and found some hidden things that needed to be used up.

Update on refinance:

Received our paperwork today from Federal Express, to look over, sign, and return. Our interest rate is currently 6 percent, and with the closing, we would have an interest rate of 3.625, on a 15 year loan, our payments would be 845.00 a month, from 640.00 a month, and saving thousands interest, along with 7 years off our loan. This would be a fixed rate with no complications. Right now, I would pay closing costs, which would not put me in the bucket per say, but it would empty my savings account.

Dinner tonight

Just got home from work, dinner tonight will be omelets with chopped tomato, onion and the last strip of bacon (chopped), if my daughter doesn't eat it first.

Freezer/Fridge Inventory

Looking into the freezer:

1 12 lb turkey
2  1lb ground mild pork sausage
2  1lb Johnson sausages
1  4 lb pork ribs
2  1lb ground beef
1  4lb whole chicken
2   1lb ground turkey

4 containers of "who knows what"???
1 5 lb container of butter
1 single hamburger (will be made into meat sauce)
13 1-2 lb bags of frozen vegetables

4 pieces of birthday cake
1 lb bacon ends
1/8 lb of pepper jack cheese

The fridge:

various opened bottles of condiments
margarine
1/4 gallon of milk
18 count eggs
2 strips of bacon (My daughter has been taking care of this)!
2 lb onions
2 lb potatoes
various spices

Shepard's pie tonight, using ground turkey instead of ground beef, corn and mashed potatoes in a casserole type dish, onion and garlic powder, maybe some cheese to top it off, I have a small amount of farmer's cheese in the fridge from Sharp Shopper that is sliced and needs to be used.

Updated Pantry 2/19

Pantry Inventory for Feb:

1 64 oz veggie oil
1 box baking soda, baking powder
1 250 oz olive oil
1 24 oz maple syrup
1 box of Bisquick
1 box of stove top cream of wheat
1 3 lb bag of long grain rice
1 lb bag of egg noodles
1/2 bag of opened popcorn kernels (we pop our own with a air popping unit)
3 pks "noodles and sauce"
1 box cake mix
1 tub frosting
2 packs flavored tea
10 packs unsweetened "aldi koolaide"
2 boxes of various hot chocolates
1 lb brown sugar
1 lb powdered sugar
1 canister of bread crumbs
2 tea canisters, red rose and salada
1 gallon vinegar
2 bottles of marinade (aldi)
1 bottles of ketchup 64 oz
4 lb sugar
7 lb flour
1 28 oz peanut butter
1 lb tri colored pasta
2 lb cans of green beans
3 cream of something soups
2 28 oz spaghetti sauce
8 various cans of veggies (given to us)

Using these items, along with what is in the freezer (soon to be posted), I will feed my family of five with items supplemented from Sharp Shopper and Aldi. We have been doing pretty good at using items in our pantry. We did spend some money last night, took the kids out to a movie and dinner for some fun family time.

The first few days of February:

On 2/1 we had hot dogs, home made french fries (sliced potatoes, veggie oil cooked on top of stove), steamed veggies (Sharp Shopper find, 50 cents for 6 ounce green giant).

We had  taco's and burritos on 2/2 (kits bought at Sharp Shopper 2.99 for burrito, 0.99 for taco), using a very soft tomato that was needing to go, half a head of lettuce, one pound of ground beef, deli ends of pepper jack cheese (about 1/4 pound), and birthday cake (40 here)!

On 2/3, we had waffles (using waffle iron that was very old), bacon deli ends (very salty, not going to buy these again, I do have another package in the freezer that will have to be used), mandarin oranges.

On 2/4, we had hamburgers (angus beef at 2.99 Sharp Shopper), tomato slices, and steamed veggies.

Tonight 2/5, we are having spaghetti and sauce (.69 for the pasta, 1.00 for the sauce), using a half an onion that will be cooked on the stove, a clove of garlic, and steamed mixed veggies.

Overall, a nice variety and kid friendly meals with little hassle and stress on all of us!

February Menu

February Meal Plan:

Seeing that I get paid every two weeks, I shop at those times. Grocery stores in my areas are Aldi, Sharp Shopper, and a few chain stores. I tend to shop at Walmart on occasion, but the two listed are my favorites!
My menu for Feb is listed below. Plans are not in any order, I just needed a month of meals, using what is all ready purchased and in my home. I should hopefully only have to get a few groceries this week, when I get paid.

                                            February 2012 Menu

1.            Ham, fried potatoes, steamed veggies (chop left over HAM for another dinner)

2.            Whole chicken in crockpot, steamed veggies, boxed stuffing, cake (save stock for soup)

3.            Chicken and gravy over rice, steamed veggies, canned green beans

4.            Chicken tacos, steamed veggies, re fried beans (in freezer)

5.            Spaghetti, homemade ground turkey meat balls (use leftover crackers, cereal, oatmeal), salad

6.            Baked Pork Ribs, baked potatoes, steamed veggies (make extra potatoes for tomorrow’s dinner)

7.            Potato latkes, scrambled eggs

8.            Shepard’s pie (ground beef, potatoes, creamed corn)

9.            Roasted Turkey, stuffing, gravy,  and steamed veggie

10.          Turkey and gravy over egg noodles, steamed veggies (freeze left over turkey)

11.          Spaghetti with Italian sausage

12.          Broccoli Rice Casserole (see internet recipe) 

13.          Vegetable soup (use stock in freezer, and any opened bags of frozen veggies)

14.          French toast, bacon slices, mandarin oranges

15.          Scalloped potato and ham casserole

16.          Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies (any leftover meat loaf for sandwiches)

17.          Bean soup with ham bone (use bone in freezer)

18.          Pancakes, bacon slices

19.          Turkey and gravy (from freezer), green beans, julienne potatoes

20.          Left overs

21.          Left overs

22.          Left overs

23.          Left overs

24.         French Toast, bacon slices, mandarin oranges

25.         Waffles, mandarin oranges

26.         Tacos, steamed veggies, re fried beans

27.         Pasta and sauce (no ground beef this time), steamed veggies

28.         Oscar Myer hot dogs, home made french fries, steamed veggies

Introduction

Hi, My name is Debbie, mom to three teens, wife of 23 years to Gary, and I work as a nurse. We live on my income (full time position with benefits), and try to live a frugal life that is satisfying and supportive of our monthly budgeting. We own our home, have pets (two cats and a dog), and attempt to grow veggies and fruits in our town house back yard! My son says that we can be fruit farmers and harvest our crops in the summer! My goals for our family include getting our debt paid (one more year on car), and attempt to refinance our home to a fifteen year loan. We are in our second month of making menu plans to stretch our grocery budget and offer a range of foods, and I keep a tally of what we spend on groceries to feed the five of us. We spent $358 for the month of January, and my goal for February is $250, using what we have in the pantry, fridge, and freezer.