Now that we're home from vacation and getting back into the swing of things I need to get going with our menu planning again.
Dinners:
Tuesday - Pizza Pasta (GF pasta)
Wednesday - Packed dinner - meat patties/sausages, carrot sticks, GF crackers
Thursday - Pork Chops & red potatoes
Friday - Chicken Curry & rice
Saturday - Corn dogs for kids, Mom & Dad out
Sunday - Superbowl Party/Smoothies if still hungry
Lunch:
Tuesday - quesadilla or nachos
Wednesday - GF waffles
Thursday - Packed lunch - turkey
Friday - pizza (GF crust)
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Chili
Katie
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
2015 Groceries Week 4 - $92.91
I am finally home from our road trip! I didn't do any shopping the first half of the week as we were super busy and exhausted from taking our kids into Disneyland for 3 days in a row.
I'm still having some trouble getting pictures to load . . .
On the drive home we stopped at Trader Joe's and I picked up organic oranges & cheese sticks for the kids' car snacks. I got myself some organic baby carrots & organic hummus which are allowed on the detox. I'm halfway finished! I spent $14.14.
And today I went to Costco as we are out of many things (on purpose because we were leaving town for 12 days) and had guests coming for dinner. I spent $78.77 all on food: Organic tortilla chips, cheeses, lettuce, organic pears, bananas, organic carrots, sour cream, cottage cheese, and organic maple syrup.
So this week I spent $92.91 on groceries.
My weekly average so far in 2015 is $68.23.
Katie
I'm still having some trouble getting pictures to load . . .
On the drive home we stopped at Trader Joe's and I picked up organic oranges & cheese sticks for the kids' car snacks. I got myself some organic baby carrots & organic hummus which are allowed on the detox. I'm halfway finished! I spent $14.14.
And today I went to Costco as we are out of many things (on purpose because we were leaving town for 12 days) and had guests coming for dinner. I spent $78.77 all on food: Organic tortilla chips, cheeses, lettuce, organic pears, bananas, organic carrots, sour cream, cottage cheese, and organic maple syrup.
So this week I spent $92.91 on groceries.
My weekly average so far in 2015 is $68.23.
Katie
Monday, January 19, 2015
2015 Groceries Week 3 - $41.45
I made several small trips this week, mostly to pick up stuff I can eat while detoxing. I didn't take many photos as we were out of town.
Wednesday I dashed into Fred Meyer for deli turkey and hummus. I spent $6.49.
Thursday it was Von's (Southern CA equivalent of Safeway) for a bell peppers, 2 avocadoes and 2 more tubs of hummus. Love it! And feel like it's OK to splurge during the detox. I also had to pick up shredded cheese for a dinner I had planned on the trip. It's always disappointing to have to pay full price for cheese. It was $8.99 for a 2# bag. Ack! I paid $17.47 altogether.
Friday DH dashed to the store for a gallon of milk. He bought NOT organic for $2.99.
I went again Saturday for rice and cream cheese. I also found some clearance deli turkey and picked up a box of organic granola for the kids to have with their yogurt. I spent $14.50.
There was no milk delivery this week as we were out of town and no eggs.
Altogether, spending was $41.45 for Week 3.
Weekly Average so far in 2015 is $60.01. I'm really hoping to make that number shrink during the pantry challenge in February.
Katie
Wednesday I dashed into Fred Meyer for deli turkey and hummus. I spent $6.49.
Thursday it was Von's (Southern CA equivalent of Safeway) for a bell peppers, 2 avocadoes and 2 more tubs of hummus. Love it! And feel like it's OK to splurge during the detox. I also had to pick up shredded cheese for a dinner I had planned on the trip. It's always disappointing to have to pay full price for cheese. It was $8.99 for a 2# bag. Ack! I paid $17.47 altogether.
Friday DH dashed to the store for a gallon of milk. He bought NOT organic for $2.99.
I went again Saturday for rice and cream cheese. I also found some clearance deli turkey and picked up a box of organic granola for the kids to have with their yogurt. I spent $14.50.
There was no milk delivery this week as we were out of town and no eggs.
Altogether, spending was $41.45 for Week 3.
Weekly Average so far in 2015 is $60.01. I'm really hoping to make that number shrink during the pantry challenge in February.
Katie
Sunday, January 11, 2015
2015 Groceries Week 2 - $88.24
Another week has flown by - here's the grocery shopping that happened this week.
Wednesday I went to Safeway for tomatoes I needed for a chili recipe. I also picked up a few bananas, and some GF pasta. I spent $16.58.
Friday I went to Albertsons to pick up tortillas for the fajitas I STILL hadn’t made. I also picked up canned beans since I hadn’t managed to soak & cook dry beans for the chili I needed that evening. There were also some pork chops on clearance. Altogether it was almost 4 pounds for about $5.50 which works out to about $1.40/lb. I also bought some shredded cheese. I spent $19.19.
I went to
Fred Meyer Monday night and found a couple things. The bell peppers were on clearance – each bag
of 3 was just $0.99. I also got a few
organic apples and some sour cream to complement the fajitas I figured I’d make
with the bell peppers. I spent $5.05.
Then I
looked for basil at Fred Meyer. No
luck. Then I went to Trader Joe’s. Again, there was no basil so I ended up just
buying a fresh basil plant for $3.49. I
also picked up some organic oranges since DD#4 has been loving them. I spent $12.82.
Friday I went to Albertsons to pick up tortillas for the fajitas I STILL hadn’t made. I also picked up canned beans since I hadn’t managed to soak & cook dry beans for the chili I needed that evening. There were also some pork chops on clearance. Altogether it was almost 4 pounds for about $5.50 which works out to about $1.40/lb. I also bought some shredded cheese. I spent $19.19.
And I thought I was done for the week, but realized I needed a couple ingredients for Caprese salad for my book club tonight. So I headed to Whole Foods where I was sure I could get fresh basil this time of year and really delicious tomatoes, but wouldn’t you know it: No Basil. I bought a few things though and did some price comparison. I needed organic green apples for the detox starting tomorrow and paid a whopping $2.69/lb. I spent $17.37 at Whole Foods. EEP!
Then I looked for basil at Fred Meyer. No luck. Then I went to Trader Joe’s. Again, there was no basil so I ended up just buying a fresh basil plant for $3.49. I also picked up some organic oranges since DD#4 has been loving them. I spent $12.82.
Milk was $12.87
Eggs were $10.00
Week 2 spending: $88.24
Katie
Saturday, January 10, 2015
January Update
I wanted to post a quick update on our emergency fund progress. We were able to save a bit in December and are at 47% of our goal, up from 45% last month. We'll keep on chipping away at it in January. We participated in my husband's Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the first time in the Oct/Nov/Dec buy, so we'll have some stock we can sell this month and that should be a big boost.
My big goal for December was to get all my kids' clothing bins put away and I did it! Hooray! In the midst of Christmas I was really happy to get this project completed.
My January goals are food related. I'm participating in a detox for the first time starting just a couple of days. It pretty much a "clean-eating" thing and not a "you can only eat cauliflower for a month" thing. I'm sure it will be manageable, but it means a few difference in dinners and a lot of discipline on my part to not snack on all the junk I usually snack on. Also, no caffeine is going to be hard even though I've been weaning myself off of it all week. My other food goal for January is get the pantry organized and ready for the pantry challenge starting Feb 1.
Love, Katie
My big goal for December was to get all my kids' clothing bins put away and I did it! Hooray! In the midst of Christmas I was really happy to get this project completed.
My January goals are food related. I'm participating in a detox for the first time starting just a couple of days. It pretty much a "clean-eating" thing and not a "you can only eat cauliflower for a month" thing. I'm sure it will be manageable, but it means a few difference in dinners and a lot of discipline on my part to not snack on all the junk I usually snack on. Also, no caffeine is going to be hard even though I've been weaning myself off of it all week. My other food goal for January is get the pantry organized and ready for the pantry challenge starting Feb 1.
Love, Katie
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
2015 Groceries Week 1: $50.33
Here we go with the grocery recording again. I'll keep it up in 2015 since I do really like comparing to the prior year.
I went to QFC on Monday night to inquire about the bag of groceries left behind on Saturday. They kindly let me pick out those items that had been left, but I insisted on only taking the shelf stable things. Really, I wasn't OK taking packages of ground chicken that were no longer on clearance for $0.99! But I was really thankful to get replacements for my summer sausage roll, pasta sauce, and cottage cheese that was still on clearance! There's something to be said for great customer service. I'm certain I wouldn't have been given such grace at a Wal-Mart.
Anyway, while at QFC I spotted these Smokies, and because we all love them I got two packages. I spent $2.98.
I went to Albertson's on Wednesday night. I had planned to visit Value Village with my 30% of total purchase coupon, but they closed early for New Year's Eve! Bummed that I didn't get to use my coupon. Instead I picked up $1.00 whipped cream at the Dollar Store and headed to Albertsons. I spent $20.45 on yogurt cups at $0.38/each, cottage cheese on clearance for $1.00 each, some GF popcorn to try on our road trip for $2.50 each (splurge!), oranges for $3.99, a cucumber, tea on clearance for $0.79, and lunchmeat for $0.99. Overall a good shopping trip.
I shopped once more at QFC on Friday and while I laid everything out for a photo, I didn't take it before I put all the groceries away! It's just so busy around here, I guess. =) Anway, I bought clearance cornflakes for $0.99, a pound of fresh mozzarella for $4.99, a nitrate-free sausage rope for $2.99, 3 cucumbers for $0.69 each, clearance croissants for $2.99. Altogether I spent $14.03 on food.
Milk delivery was $12.87 and no eggs.
2015 Groceries Week 1: $50.33
I've decided to delay my pantry challenge for a few weeks. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to plan meals for the detox and just need to wait on the pantry challenge. I'll likely start in February and run into March.
Love, Katie
I went to QFC on Monday night to inquire about the bag of groceries left behind on Saturday. They kindly let me pick out those items that had been left, but I insisted on only taking the shelf stable things. Really, I wasn't OK taking packages of ground chicken that were no longer on clearance for $0.99! But I was really thankful to get replacements for my summer sausage roll, pasta sauce, and cottage cheese that was still on clearance! There's something to be said for great customer service. I'm certain I wouldn't have been given such grace at a Wal-Mart.
Anyway, while at QFC I spotted these Smokies, and because we all love them I got two packages. I spent $2.98.
I went to Albertson's on Wednesday night. I had planned to visit Value Village with my 30% of total purchase coupon, but they closed early for New Year's Eve! Bummed that I didn't get to use my coupon. Instead I picked up $1.00 whipped cream at the Dollar Store and headed to Albertsons. I spent $20.45 on yogurt cups at $0.38/each, cottage cheese on clearance for $1.00 each, some GF popcorn to try on our road trip for $2.50 each (splurge!), oranges for $3.99, a cucumber, tea on clearance for $0.79, and lunchmeat for $0.99. Overall a good shopping trip.
I shopped once more at QFC on Friday and while I laid everything out for a photo, I didn't take it before I put all the groceries away! It's just so busy around here, I guess. =) Anway, I bought clearance cornflakes for $0.99, a pound of fresh mozzarella for $4.99, a nitrate-free sausage rope for $2.99, 3 cucumbers for $0.69 each, clearance croissants for $2.99. Altogether I spent $14.03 on food.
Milk delivery was $12.87 and no eggs.
2015 Groceries Week 1: $50.33
I've decided to delay my pantry challenge for a few weeks. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to plan meals for the detox and just need to wait on the pantry challenge. I'll likely start in February and run into March.
Love, Katie
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday GF Menu Plan
Meals for this week, a day late
Lunches:
Monday - French toast (old loaf of bread in freezer) and leftover GF pizza for DD#2
Tuesday - Little Smokies and green salad
Wednesday - Macaroni & Cheese Pie (GF)
Thursday - Finger Food lunch
Friday - Nachos
Saturday - Family Party! Crackers & Cheese platter
Sunday - Hamburgers
Dinners:
Monday - Macaronada
Tuesday - Chicken Curry
Wednesday - Beef Stew
Thursday - with friends - taking a meat/cheese platter
Friday - Baked Potato Soup
Saturday - Family Party! Mexican Dip & Chips
Sunday - Popcorn & Smoothies (unless tent. company, then Mexican)
Katie
Lunches:
Monday - French toast (old loaf of bread in freezer) and leftover GF pizza for DD#2
Tuesday - Little Smokies and green salad
Wednesday - Macaroni & Cheese Pie (GF)
Thursday - Finger Food lunch
Friday - Nachos
Saturday - Family Party! Crackers & Cheese platter
Sunday - Hamburgers
Dinners:
Monday - Macaronada
Tuesday - Chicken Curry
Wednesday - Beef Stew
Thursday - with friends - taking a meat/cheese platter
Friday - Baked Potato Soup
Saturday - Family Party! Mexican Dip & Chips
Sunday - Popcorn & Smoothies (unless tent. company, then Mexican)
Katie
Monday, December 29, 2014
2014 Groceries Week 52 - $113.93
Is it really Week 52?
That means I should be starting my pantry/freezer challenge this week and I'm not sure I'm ready to start spending next to nothing. I mean my pantry and my freezer are loaded from the ridiculous shopping I've been doing the last couple of months, but I usually have a lot of fun thinking and planning out how I'll manage my NEW pantry challenge each year. I've just been busy with my family responsibilities, I guess, but I'll put some thought into it in the next couple of days. Of course in the next couple of days I also have to:
Anyway - Back to Groceries!
I went to Fred Meyer Monday night because we needed some fruit and I needed some almond flour for a baking projected. There was Almond Coconut milk on clearance for $1.59 so I bought 6 half-gallons. It has a long shelf life and I'm doing my first ever detox starting January 12 that will allow almond coconut milk, but not any dairy. So I'll use this for cooking, in my oatmeal, etc. Butter was on sale for $2.50/lb and I found some Glutino cookies on clearance. I spent $31.99. That almond flour was a whopping $9.99!
I was at Albertson's Monday, too, during a last-minute fill-in therapy session for a kiddo. I picked up cottage cheese that was on clearance for $1.00, clearance yogurt and more coconut for baking. I spent $9.19.
Friday morning I went to Fred Meyer for their 75% off Christmas stuff, an annual tradition. I picked up a gallon of milk for $5.39 and then headed to Safeway for the $5 Friday deals. I bought chips & GF corndogs and found some cheapie frozen meal things that DH likes for $0.50 each. I spent $14.01 at Safeway.
I went to QFC because I was sure they had spaghetti sauce on sale, but I was wrong. I did find some excellent clearance deals though. I bought 15 packages of ground chicken for $0.99 each. They were 13.3 oz so it works out to $1.19/lb which is pretty awesome. And I can eat it during the detox, too. Yay! Generic multi-grain cheerios were only $0.99 and I got some spaghetti & a package of GF spaghetti for DD#2. Marshmallows were also on clearance for $0.79. I am just now realizing I left a bag at the grocery store! DH tells me I should just go in with my receipt and explain. Yeesh. I left behind a summer sausage roll, 2 of the chicken packages, some cottage cheese, and one can of spaghetti sauce. Super mad at myself. It's worth about $7.50 so I'll at least ask. I spent $36.89 including the stuff I left behind.
I picked up one big bag of chips at Costco yesterday for $3.59. I need it for a party this coming weekend.
Milk was $12.89
Week 52 groceries: $113.93
Total Groceries for the year 2014: $5,075.03
Weekly average for 2014: $97.60
I can't believe I came in under $100 per week! I guess it made a huge difference NOT to buy a 1/4 cow this summer and to get so many leftovers from our church kitchen early in 2014 when I was helping out so much.
More analysis to come!
Love, Katie
That means I should be starting my pantry/freezer challenge this week and I'm not sure I'm ready to start spending next to nothing. I mean my pantry and my freezer are loaded from the ridiculous shopping I've been doing the last couple of months, but I usually have a lot of fun thinking and planning out how I'll manage my NEW pantry challenge each year. I've just been busy with my family responsibilities, I guess, but I'll put some thought into it in the next couple of days. Of course in the next couple of days I also have to:
- Finish tax planning for 2014 to make sure we aren't in the next tax bracket
- Prepare the books for our business for 2014 so I can decide what to do for 2014 payroll
- Maximize the 'stay fit' benefit from my husband's employer
- Maximize our glasses/contacts benefit from my husband's health insurance
Anyway - Back to Groceries!
I went to Fred Meyer Monday night because we needed some fruit and I needed some almond flour for a baking projected. There was Almond Coconut milk on clearance for $1.59 so I bought 6 half-gallons. It has a long shelf life and I'm doing my first ever detox starting January 12 that will allow almond coconut milk, but not any dairy. So I'll use this for cooking, in my oatmeal, etc. Butter was on sale for $2.50/lb and I found some Glutino cookies on clearance. I spent $31.99. That almond flour was a whopping $9.99!
I was at Albertson's Monday, too, during a last-minute fill-in therapy session for a kiddo. I picked up cottage cheese that was on clearance for $1.00, clearance yogurt and more coconut for baking. I spent $9.19.
Friday morning I went to Fred Meyer for their 75% off Christmas stuff, an annual tradition. I picked up a gallon of milk for $5.39 and then headed to Safeway for the $5 Friday deals. I bought chips & GF corndogs and found some cheapie frozen meal things that DH likes for $0.50 each. I spent $14.01 at Safeway.
I went to QFC because I was sure they had spaghetti sauce on sale, but I was wrong. I did find some excellent clearance deals though. I bought 15 packages of ground chicken for $0.99 each. They were 13.3 oz so it works out to $1.19/lb which is pretty awesome. And I can eat it during the detox, too. Yay! Generic multi-grain cheerios were only $0.99 and I got some spaghetti & a package of GF spaghetti for DD#2. Marshmallows were also on clearance for $0.79. I am just now realizing I left a bag at the grocery store! DH tells me I should just go in with my receipt and explain. Yeesh. I left behind a summer sausage roll, 2 of the chicken packages, some cottage cheese, and one can of spaghetti sauce. Super mad at myself. It's worth about $7.50 so I'll at least ask. I spent $36.89 including the stuff I left behind.
I picked up one big bag of chips at Costco yesterday for $3.59. I need it for a party this coming weekend.
Milk was $12.89
Week 52 groceries: $113.93
Total Groceries for the year 2014: $5,075.03
Weekly average for 2014: $97.60
I can't believe I came in under $100 per week! I guess it made a huge difference NOT to buy a 1/4 cow this summer and to get so many leftovers from our church kitchen early in 2014 when I was helping out so much.
More analysis to come!
Love, Katie
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