Menu Plan

Here it is Tuesday afternoon . . .

Lunches:
Monday - Nachos
Tuesday - Burgers Out
Wednesday - Grilled Cheese
Thursday - Macaroni & Cheese
Friday - Tortellini
Saturday - Lunch out with Dad
Sunday - Lunch out with Dad

Dinners:
Monday - BBQ Chicken
Tuesday - Ham
Wednesday - Bagels
Thursday - Turkey Pot Pie
Friday - Pork Chops & Rice
Saturday - Chicken Taco Soup
Sunday - Pulled Pork

Katie

Monthly Update

This month we were able to save ALMOST the 3% I set as our goal.  We put away another 2.9% so we're at 25.9% of the goal.  Again, it seems like progress is SO slow but it does feel good to cross the 25% mark. 

I did OK on the laundry.  I fell behind last week and had to do a major fold-eight-loads afternoon but otherwise it's working well to wash at least one load a day and fold first thing in the morning before the kids wake up.  Then the kids put their clothes away before breakfast, right after they make beds.  It doesn't seem like a huge chore to them when they're only putting away a short stack.

I've totally dropped ProjectTwentySix the last couple of weeks.  I expected this to happen over the holidays but was hoping to still do a few posts at least.  Oh well.

I'm not completely finished with the office project.  Darn!  But I have only 2 boxes left and I aim to get through them soon!

I did keep a thankful list, but it's not as long as usual so I may have missed a lot!  A huge thanks to Sarah for passing along a free 50# bag of oatmeal that she couldn't use.  I'm sharing with my aunt who like to bulk-buy like me.  Thanks to the wonderful folks at church who work in the gleaning ministry.  We have enjoyed bagels, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, baguette rounds, lettuce, bread, coffeecake, and yummy berry pastries this month which saved a pile on groceries.  Thanks to Micha for sharing produce when she was headed out of town including carrots, potatoes, fennel, lettuce, and tomatoes.  Thanks to Summer for sharing scrapbooking materials with our small group.  To Kracinda for her awesome deal searching and finding both of us a free $25 for milk delivery through Smith Bros. Refer-a-Friend program.  To Sarah and Amelia for sharing Hallmark coupons with me so I could get a much better deal on Christmas ornaments.  To Rachel for the leftover turkey.  And finally, to Sarah for a fun little Christmas gift I already get to enjoy.

Goals for December:
1. Spend only $50/week on groceries
2. Save 1% toward savings goal
3. Pay for 2 airline tickets
4. Finish office organization
5. Keep thankful list in December

Katie

Turkey Leftovers

My sweet friend, Rachel, sent me home with the leftover turkey on Thanksgiving.  She honestly explained that they wouldn't eat it or use the leftovers and she'd rather give it to me and know it would get used.  

We had turkey pot pie and quesadilla with turkey  that weekend.  Early the next week we had turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  Then I put the rest in the freezer with all the turkey stock from boiling the bones.  The turkey made a lot of stock!  I was really pleased to put so much in the freezer, especially as I love soup this time of year.  

Almost 2 gallons of stock and 4 cups of turkey.

I ran out of masking tape and then the painter's tape I had been using in it's place.  So I dug this out of my desk.  I found it during the big office clean-up and knew I probably wouldn't be using it to "cover 5 lines of type" so I put it to use labeling the freezer containers.  Yay for a new use of this obsolete product!

Katie

Monday Menu Plan

I'm actually writing this on Thursday (3 days late) because my leftovers/thawed food have run out and now I need a plan. 

Lunches:
Nachos
Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup
Hot Dogs & Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Quesadilla
French Toast
Nuggets or Waffles (depends on time)
pbj


Dinners:
Stuffed Shells - defrosted freezer meal
Sour Cream Chicken & Rice Pilaf
Asian Chicken & White Rice
Pasta
Mac'n'Cheese (sitter)
Sausage/Veggie Soup
Crockpot Chicken - freezer meal

Weekend Shopping $56.82

I had a panic moment this week when an indicator turned on inside my car "Check Engine Oil NOW."  Ahhh!  I was out running errands so I just went to the closest store that would have motor oil.  It was Wal-Mart.  I picked up a few needed produce items for $3.37 while I was there.

Next I spent $20.28 at Albertsons.  I had that $20/$20 coupon from my gift card purchase to use. 

 

Cereal - $1.88 each with ($1.50/3 MC) and ($1.00/2 MC) made each $1.38. 

Green Olives with Pimento - $1.19 on clearance

Apples - $.78/lb ($1.00 SC) = $4.53

Ham - $2.39 on clearance

Creamer - $2.99 ($1.00 MC) = $1.99

Gum - $1.00 on sale.  I had to throw it in to be over $20.

Next was a big trip to Fred Meyer spending $41.17.   

Cereal - $1.67 on sale ($2.00/4 MC) = $1.17 each.  I didn't realize the sale price was limited to 3 boxes so I went to the customer service desk for a price adjustment.  I was so surprised and appreciative when it turned out my 4th box was supposed to be $3.79 but the gal gave me the sale price.  Hooray!

Creamer - $2.69 on sale ($1.00/2 MC qty. 3) = $2.19 each

Organic Milk - $5.28 (EEP!  Price has gone up)

Sour Cream - $2.00 each with ($.80/2 MC) = $1.60 each

Organic Bread - $1.69 on clearance

Sausage - $6.99 (to use at 3 different Christmas parties)

2# carrots - $.99

Lettuce - $.98 each

Oranges - $.68/lb

Bag lettuce - $.99

Finally I took my daughter out for a date at Starbucks.  The nearest one is attached to a QFC so we browsed while she sipped her cocoa and I drove one of those huge car carts around.  I ended up spending $12.00 total.

Baguette rounds - $.69 each on clearance
Pears - $.99/lb
Bananas - $.69/lb
Bread crumbs - $1.39 on clearance
Parmesan rinds - $1.49 on clearance (We've been enjoying these already with freshly grated on our pasta last night and in our lunch soup today!)
Babybel cheese - $.99 on clearance
Gouda - $2.59 on clearance

Katie