Four American Pioneers: Daniel Boone ... - Google Book Search

Four American Pioneers: Daniel Boone ... - Google Book Search

Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, David Crockett and Kit Carson

This Week's Menu Plan

We had more leftovers from last week than I had originally posted. Not a whole lot more, but enough to make a big difference!

Breakfasts will be: Cereal w/ milk (I had 1 gallon left from last week) and fruit, Poptarts with fruit and a cup of milk, Waffles with fruit and milk, 2 days eggs, turkey sausage and fruit.

Lunches consist of: Leftovers, chicken noodle soup with veggies and dip (I had a package of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots leftover from last week) turkey or ham sandwiches (I had a loaf of bread from last week in the freezer) with pickles, olives, Goldfish crackers, Mac n cheese with cut up beef hot dog, veggies and dip, or grilled ham and cheese with a cup of soup and pickles.

Dinners will be:

Crockpot chili - I will brown 1 lb of ground beef from the freezer and put it in the crock pot with kidney beans, Rotel tomatoes, black beans, chili powder, cumin, garlic, onions, oregano, peppers (frozen in freezer) some tomato paste and beef stock. Cook all day on low. Will serve over rice or with cornbread.

Sandra's Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta - I'm making a couple of changes due to what I had on hand, but otherwise, going by her recipe! Serving with green salad.

Easy Lentil Tacos - serving with Spanish rice and green salad.

Shrimp and vegetable lo mein. I'm using Ramen noodles (yes, I know I know) and mixing them with shrimp and lots of veggies (everything I've got in the crisper!) that I've sauteed with garlic, onion, ginger, and soy. Serving with Asian salad I got on clearance for 1.99 and 1 dollar off coupon.

Roasted chicken with gravy, stuffing, green beans, and salad.

I will be having one meal over a friend's house. I will be bringing salad, and one side item -- either bread or roasted potatoes.

We will also be having one meal at my Mother's house - as we do every week. She doesn't allow me to bring anything! LOL

Still Shopping........

I had planned on getting all of my shopping done yesterday, but I've been feeling a little bit under the weather!

So far I have stuck to my list ALMOST PERFECTLY, only adding some crackers and cheese (1 dollar) that my daughter asked for and a 2-lb bag of clementines for ONE DOLLAR! Couldn't pass that up.

So far:
Save-A-Lot - Spent about 17 dollars
Target - FREE after gift card
Oakwood (local) - 4.50
Kroger - 2 dollars

I still have CVS and Walgreen to go and only 1.50 left! However, both of those stores should be zero oop because of RR, gift cards, ECBs and rebates!

I will post pictures tonight!

Frugal Apprentice

The Plan: Week One

I'm ready for my first shopping day of my new challenge!

I should mention that this amount does not include medications or vitamins.

I have my list ready, my coupons in hand, and a plan!

I must admit, I am going to six different stores. Yes, SIX! One of them I don't normally go to at all, but when there is FREE stuff to be had...........well.....

Here is my plan:

My local Oakwood market
2.50 for a case of water! Can't be beat!
Whole grain waffles 1.00
Total: 3.50

Target
They have poptarts, 12 count, 4/9 and you get back a 5 dollar gift card. That makes them 4. Then I have two 1/2 coupons. That makes them 2. Then there are .50 cent Target coupons. That makes them FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kroger
I have to go here anyway to get a free Redbox movie, so I decided to see what deals could be found. I have read around the 'net that they have Cottonelle for 99 cents, and I have three .50 cent coupons to be doubled ---- so I will check the price. Same with Silk Soy Milk. I have a 2.25 coupon, and if the price is under 3.00, I will buy that as well. Finally, my daughter and I LOVE salads, especially 'fancy' ones -- and they have Fresh Express Salad Mixes BIGIF and I have a .50 cent off (which will be doubled) - so around 1.00 per bag. Total: Between 2.29-3.00

Save A Lot
I do the bulk of my shopping here.
Taco Shells
Tomato Paste
Diced tomatoes
Salt
Garlic
Honey
Ramen Noodles
Kidney beans
2 single serve corned beef
2 single serve turkey
Penne
2 chicken noodle soup
Carrots
Bananas
Total: About 14 dollars

Walgreens
Excedrin Migraine 2.00 x2, use two 2.00 off coupons, get another 2 dollars on rebate (free +2)
Crest Prohealth Mouthwash 4.50-1.00 q, get 4.50 back in RR (free+1)
Lypsyl Lip Moisturizer 2.00 get 2.00 in rebate (free)
Total: FREE + 3.00

CVS
Arnicare Pain Relief Gel 8.99 - 2.00 Q, get 8.99 in ECB (free +2)
2 Dawn Hand Renewal 1.98 -2q (free)
Spend another 4 dollars (not sure on what yet)
Total: 15 - coupons = 11, minus 2/10 cvs coupon = 9, pay with 9 dollars ECB.
(Total FREE and earn 8.99 in ECB!)

So my total for cash out of pocket for the week is: Right around 25 dollars.

HOWEVER, I've made:

5.00 Target gift card
8.99 in ECB
4.00 in Walgreen's rebates
4.50 in register rewards!!!!!
Total: 23.50!!!!!!

I should also mention that yesterday I sent in my (about) 20 dollar Walgreen August rebate, a 10 dollar Kellogg's rebate, and after this shopping trip I will send in for about a 25 dollar Walgreen's September rebate! (I purchased about 20 dollars' worth of rebate stuff last week when they had a 10 off of 40 dollar purchase)

That's my plan for week one. Can I do it? And what will I be cooking?

I should also remind you that all of these stores are within a 2-mile radius. It wouldn't be worth it if they were not in one small loop.

I will post pictures and my meal plan later on tonight!

The Frugal Apprentice

What is the 25 Buckaroo Challenge?

I'm in over my head. I haven't been taking care of the finances like I should be and now I'm overwhelmed. I have bills that are behind, credit cards that are at their limit, and income that just BARELY stretches across minimum payments.

One area I know I can cut the budget DRASTICALLY is with groceries. Over the summer I spent with a voracious appetite and now I am choking on the consequences.

The 25 Buckaroo Challenge is my personal challenge to spend only 25 dollars per week to feed myself and my 8-year-old daughter (who has a very BIG appetite!). This will include health and beauty items.

I plan to include pictures of just how far 25 dollars can stretch when you are super careful, utilize sales with coupons, and shop for freebies at places like CVS and Walgreen's.

I am starting with a moderately stocked pantry. I have an abundance of cereal, thanks to the recent Kellogg's rebate + coupons + sales (FREE cereal!), but otherwise, we only have about 1 week's worth of supplies.

Here's what I have on hand (my challenge starts THIS Friday, the 5th!) :

2 boxes Mac N Cheese
4 cans of soup
1 box pasta
2 lbs of rice
Beans and lentils
Lots of salad dressing
6 oz shrimp
Lots of powdered drink mix (Crystal Lite, Propel, SF Koolaid)
Tea bags
Flour
Sugar
A couple of cake mixes
Chocolate chips
Baking powder
1 box Ranch n bacon Pasta salad
2 Jars spaghetti sauce
3 frozen dinners
1 whole chicken
2 boxes seasoned rice
3 cans of fruit
6 small bags Goldfish crackers
2 4-packs pudding
16 bottles of water
8 bottles of Fuze flavored water

So as you can see, I dont' have a freezer-full of meat or meals on hand, but I'm not starting from scratch either.

The stores I generally shop at are:

Meijer
Kroger
Aldi
Save-A-Lot
Oakwood Food Center (local)
Walmart
Kmart (once in a blue moon)
CVS
Walgreen

When the sales are not looking so great for the week, I do the bulk of my shopping at Save-A-Lot. All of these stores are within a 2-mile radius and I just do a loop to several stores at once, generally Friday.

This week I don't have any plans set, but I do plan on using my FREE KRAFT PRODUCT coupons I got from Walmart's All You magazine from last month.

When you buy 3 Koolaid packets (on sale for 20 for 2 dollars at Meijer this week) you can get a free Kraft salad dressing, Wheat Thins, Crystal Lite, Beef Hot Dogs, and Kraft Cheese. (3 packets per free item) So for about $1.50, I can get ALL of the above! (Now I just have to find the coupons. Sigh)

I should also mention that I am TERRIBLY unorganized! I try very hard to file coupons, but they always end up all over the place and I miss out on deals, steals, and freebies. (Just last week I let 20 dollars worth of Walgreen's register rewards expire! I also threw away the much-needed UPC label for a rebate!) So you see, I have work to do here if I am really going to do this and succeed!

I found baseball card organizers on clearance for 59 cents per 5-pack. I also found a Day Planner in a red, zip-around leather "like" case on clearance for $1.60! So I am getting organized on the cheap.


So here are my rules:

1. Write down EVERY PENNY I spend on food, health and beauty items.

2. Keep track of how much I save in coupons, rebates, and store savings.

3. Take pictures of what I buy every week for 25 dollars.

4. Make a (mostly) healthy menu plan each week.

5. Share any good deals and steals that I find.

6. Start a household budget and STICK TO IT.

7. NO FAST FOOD - this includes all restaurants.

8. Admit it if I go over.

9. Actually send in rebates on time!

10. Organize and use all of my coupons with sale items.

Well, that is my plan. I pray that I will be able to get my debt paid down!

God bless anyone who reads this!

Sherry