First Time at Frugal Shopping!

I decided (out of neccessity due to budget) to eat mainly from the pantry for the next two weeks. For the first time I went to 2 seperate stores to do my shopping based on the prices/deals. I had to pick up a prescription for DH but that's a seperate budget so that isn't calculated into my food budget. I orginally had 10 items on my list but I added a few because of deals and coupons. Here's a break down of my shopping: (c)= coupon Prices are before coupons.

Wal-Mart
Apple Juice- $2.50
Envelopes- $0.94
Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage- $2.14
Pizza dough (c)- $1.24
Bread dough (c)- $1.24
Formula- $25.56
Total: $32.62
Coupon- -$0.50
Grand Total: $32.20

Vons
Gerber puffs (c)- $2.20
Gerber mini fruits (c)- $2.75
Gerber meal (c)- $2.25
Kraft Mac&cheese 5pk (c)- $3.99
Storebrand soda x2 (c)- $1.00
Kraft singles- $3.50
Dz Eggs (c)- $2.39
2 gal Milk- $5.39
Sandwich kit (c)- $2.50
Lunchables x3 (c)- $1.66 each
Bananas- $1.11
Mandarin oranges- $2.50
Total: $52.89
Coupons- -$10.38
Club card savings- $12.04
Grand Total: $30.46

Vons was doing Double Coupons (do they always?) so I got some great deals. The sandwich kit ended up only costing me $0.50!

So my total spent for the week was $62.66! I normally spend about $150. And I took out the cost of the formula because I have no control over having to buy that one (LoL) and my "grocery" bill was only $38.10.

Hopefully I can keep this up!

MPM Week of May 26th!

I've been doing menu planning for a long tme but last week was the first time I posted with Laura's Menu Plan Monday. I'm happy to stay week stuck COMPLETELY to the plan! We don't usually do that.

I just sat down and planned the next two weeks of dinners using my own "Pantry Challenge". I'm trying to keep the grocery shopping to a bare minimum and I'm actually excited about this week's list! Only 10 items and one is hubby's prescription med! I'll post my shopping list below. Thanks for hosting MPM, Laura!

Jason is out of town Mon-Wed this week so it's just me and the babies for Monday and Tuesday dinners.


Monday 5/26: Sandwiches, baked chips, apple slices

Tuesday 5/27: Grilled Cheese and Soup

Wednesday 5/28: Pancakes, Ham/Cheese Eggs, Hashbrowns

Thursday 5/29: Take Out (Dr. Appts)

Friday 5/30: Spaghetti sauce (from freezer), bow tie pasta, garlic bread, salad

Saturday 5/31: Ground Turkey & Black bean burritos, Spanish rice

Sunday 6/1: Homemade pizza (turkey pepperoni, sausage, olives)


Breakfasts: Eggs, waffles, turkey sausage, oatmeal, cereal, fruit

Lunches: Sandwiches, Leftovers, Soup, Freezer meals (pizzas, burrito, KidsCuisine)

Snacks: Popcorn, cereal, fruit, baked chips, pretzels, granola bars, crackers/cheese
_________________________________________________
Shopping List:

Eggs
Milk (2)
Kraft 2% Singles
Turkey Sausage
Melon
Apple Slices
Pizza crust
Diet Soda (store brand)
Formula
DH's prescription

Hopefully I can keep from picking up any random things at the store!

Have a great week!

My Own Pantry Challenge

While looking at Laura's Menu Plan Monday post, I've noticed a lot of mom's doing a "Pantry Challenge". It looks like most of them are trying to cut grocery costs and whittle down their pantry stock. Money's pretty tight for us for at least two weeks so I decided to do a little "Pantry Challenge" of my own!

I just took an inventory of what I have in the freezer/pantry/spice cabinet and am going to try and figure out 2 weeks of meals using mainly those ingredients. I'm hoping to keep my grocery bill under $50 each week for the next 2 weeks. (Not including formula since I have no choice on that one!)

I'm also using coupons again, but there were no coupons at all in today's paper! Grr! I'm going to go get the LA Times later and hopefully there will be some in that one.

Wish me luck!

Exciting Stuff (At Least IMO!)

I've been looking for someone to come watch my kids in my home while I work for a while now. Right now family watches them which is great but both hubby and I work pretty far from home which means we have to get the girls up ridiculously early to get them to my family's houses and to work in time. Today I met with a young mom who wants to be a Nanny for my girls. She is amazing! She has a adorable little girl who is 14 months old and has watched kids in her own home before she moved here. She got along great with the girls and she's going to start watching them here on Monday! Now DH and I won't be so rushed in the AM!

On another note, we bought a Wii Fit yesterday! It was a tad expensive but it's really important for DH to start exercising to help control his diabetes/cholesterol. Neither of us are very into exercising but we are major gamers and it looked fun. I was concerned that it wasn't going to truelly be a workout. Let me just tell you, DH and I both played for 45 min each and had a blast! Not to mention, we were both sore and sweating afterwards. Definately a great investment for us! I wonder if it could be a tax deducation as a medical expense? LoL!
Everyone with a Wii should check it out!

Back On Plan!

I've been doing Weight Watchers on and off since my oldest was 3 months old. I've lost almost 40 lbs since I had Avery (almost 8 months). I haven't been staying on plan lately but I finally decided I want to lose the rest of the baby weight before she's a year old! That's really only 13lbs so hopefully it'll be well before September! So I started fresh yesterday (my weigh in day) and am really trying to stay on track. I'm also really working on making healthier, low-carb dinners since Jason found out he has Type 2 diabetes. I'm already working on next Monday's Menu plan and it's only Wednesday! :) Wish me luck that I can stay on track!

Menu Plan Monday!

I've been planning out our dinners in a weekly menu for a while now. It makes things so much easier especially when it comes to shopping! I actually really enjoy planning our menus and it's going to get even more involved now that I have to balance hubby's diabetic diet. I'm also on Weight Watchers so I try and make somewhat healthy meals! Not very good at it though...

So every week I'll be posting with Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday's! I usually plan Wednesday to the following Tuesday but I plan pretty far in advance! Here's our week, starting tomorrow!

Monday 5/19: Turkey burgers with turkey bacon and cheese, corn on the cob, fruit

Tuesday 5/20: Turkey roast, stuffing, broccoli

Wednesday 5/21: BLTs (with turkey bacon), fruit, baked chips

Thursday 5/22: Cheddar Mac and Ham Casserole, corn on the cob

Friday 5/23: Shake N Bake chicken, broccoli, rice

Saturday 5/24: Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Sunday 5/25: Take out

Now Blogging!

A friend of mine has been blogging for a while and I finally got around to start my own! I'm hoping this will help me find balance in my life!