Under $25.

That is my goal for weekly grocery shopping! I want to feed my family of 5 (includes 1 cat and 1 dog) for $100 or less a month...and I have been doing pretty darn well at it this year!

I did spend more this week than I should have, but it's almost all protein. 3# bonelss, skinless chicken (which went into the crockpot as soon as I took this picture, 4 # of ground turkey and 10 packages of yogurt all took up the bulk of the space. Get this: the store had ground turkey 10 for $10 - limit of 2. The signs should have said 2 for $2, LOL!
(yes, I had more than one transaction to get 4 for $4)...

Coupons for Free Oreo Cakesters (hubby's lunch), flavored coffee creamer (my guilty pleasure)and a buy 1 get 1 for the Purex rounded out the deals like Gogurt. It was buy 1 get 1 - so 2 for $2.99. I used $1 coupons that they doubled so I got paid $5.05 to take them all home!! We freeze them and the kiddo eats them like a popsicle.

The chicken breasts were shredded as soon as they were done ( 6 hours on low ) and turned into 4 different meals. 1 package of tortillas was used and we had chicken enciladas for dinner. Today I have chicken chili simmering onthe stove to go with the corned bread muffins in the oven. In the freezer are chicken ala king (to go over a package of those biscuits and chicken fajitas (with out the green pepper) to go with that last pack of tortillas next week.

The potatos will become swiss potato soup next week (stop back for the recipe!) and I need to make some scalloped potatoes to go with the diced ham livin' in my freezer. Add a baked potato night and that should kill off the bag, LOL!

The ground turkey is living in the fezzer for the momment - except for one pound. I plan to make Chef Stuart's Tupperware Turkey Burgers this weekend. I had these at Director Summit last year and have never gotten around to making them - I'll let you know the verdict!

Until next time -- keep living the thrifty lifestyle so you can put your money where it really matters! I have to grab a bowl of that chicken chili!

Silly, fun things.

Part of the joy of being a Mom, is the job or research. There are really a lot of neat things to do put there with a toddler, if you simply dig thru the pile of websites, read the local papers and look at the newsletters of the different organizations you belong to.

This past week was Fat Tuesday, the Mardi Gras celebration before Lent starts. Our church had a celebration for families; dinner, crafts and more. We went.

The dinner had traditional items like red beans and rice, pancakes and more -- all quiet tasty! The kiddos got Mardi Gras inspired beads without having to "earn" them in the traditional way, could have their face painted and then, got to make a huge variety of crafts when they were done eating.

Sarah chose to make a mask, cropn and shaker -- you can see 2 out of the 3 here.

It was a frugal, fun night - often one of the best ways to create the kind of memories that you want your kiddos to look back on someday.

I challenge YOU to find something fun that you can do, as a family, this coming week. It's one of the best investments you can really make!

:)

Snow Train

First of all, I want to give a big "shout out" to my dear hubby! I had worked out the details of the grocery game and couldn't do the shopping...so he did it. YES, he hates shopping and it drives him nuts working the system, but he did it! He got everything on the list, did it correctly and save us beaucoup bucks! Way to go Andy!!

Now - for the Snow Train...

That same fantastic man got us tickets to ride the Snow Train. The MidContinent Railway Museum has restored vintage trains and has special events...this being one of them. We present our tickets, ride out and back on their private line, and learn all about thier history while onthe route. Pretty darn cool and the money you pay helps to restore more equipment from this time gone by.

To round out our Valentine's Day - we ended up at the Log Cabin restaurant in Baraboo for a yummy lunch and $.99 pie! (can't beat that!!) I highly suggest the open face hot turkey sandwich - it comes on homemade bread, yummy mashed potatoes and gravy. I was really too full for the pie -- but had to make it happen anyways, LOL!

Enjoy the pictures!

Workin' the Grocery Game

I love late nights, when everyone is asleep. I can do things that need my undivided attention, which rarely happens during the day. Tonight, I figured out my Wednesday grocery run for Double Coupon day...it will take 4 separate transactions, but is worth it. Just check out how I will save over 70% next week:

Transaction #1
4 Bertolli $5.99 (-four $1 coupons that will be doubled) ***Get $7 coupon back for next trip
1 Oscar Mayer Bologna @$1 (-$1 coupon that will be doubled)
1 32OZ Kemps Choloate Milk @$1
result: $25.96….less $10 in coupons…get a $7 coupon. $15.96 out of pocket

Transaction #2
3 Bertolli $5.99 (- three $1 coupons that will be doubled) ***Get $7 coupon back for next trip
No Yolks Egg Noodles @$1 (-$.75 coupon that will be doubled)
4 Philadelphia Cream Cheese@$1ea (-$1 coupon off four that will be doubled)
2 Skippy for $3
result: $25.97…less $9.50 in coupons…get a $7 coupon. $16.47 out of pocket

Transaction #3
5 Campbells Soup at Hand Tomato soup @$1 (- five $.50 coupons that will be doubled)
2 T-Bone Steaks on sale $4/# off (4 steaks if $5 or less each)
***Filler items (to hit $25): Fresh broccoli, Fresh cauliflower, 32 os Kemps Chocolate milk @ $1
Result: $25 ...less $5 in campbells coupons and a $7 coupon $13ish out of pocket

Transaction #4
8 for $20 deal…6 boxes Raisin Bran (with DVD offer), 2 Keebler Cookie packages - $20 (-two $1.50 coupons that won't be doubled, 2 $1 coupons that will be doubled)
5 Campbells Soup at Hand Tomato soup @ $1 (- four $.50 coupons, only 3 will double)
3 boxes Creamette Pasta (Bow Tie, Penne, etc) @ $1
Result: $28...less $10.50 in coupons, store $7 coupon, $10 instantly comes off......$.50 ish out of pocket

********************$162.60 (without filler items) for $45ish, 72% off!

It is SOOOOO worth taking a little time to do the match up game! Just think of all the money I have just saved that I can now use on scrappy stuff!!

Valentine's Day

It's right around the corner -- just next weekend! Since I am out of town next week at Tupperware Director Summit...Sarah and I made the Valentine's for her preschool class this week.

We used the Stamp/punch combo from Stampin' UP, the plastic domed inserts came from them too. I used the new Love Struck cart from my Cricut to make the scalloped red hearts to back it with. Add a prima flower and a little bling...don't forget the m&ms and you have a cute pass out for her friends!

She did sign the back of them all - and is SO PROUD of them, LOL. The cutest thing, she thought that all leftoer m&ms were meant for HER consumption. We are rationing them out in lots of 10 per day, LOL!

We have more Valentine's to make this week - for all the grandparents. Until next time - be creative in YOUR way!