How I got Free diapers today

Can I just say I love Walgreens!  The are the Bees knees I swear.  And I super love the cashier at the one in South Auburn on Auburn Way.  I am going to get her name next time and sing her praises.  She always makes triple sure all my coupons come off and if she notices that the ad had a coupon I have forgotten, she gives me one from her stash.  Good customer service seems to hard to come by, and great service is a rare gem.  I could go on, but I am sure you want me to tell you about the free diapers already. 

I did 3 transactions
#1
Colgate Total Advanced or Total Gum Defense toothpaste (4 oz) $2.99, get $3 RR
- $.75/1  (2/27 SS)
= $2.24 out of pocket
Get $3 RR
($.76 profit after coupon & RR)

Colgate tooth brushes (buy one get one free) on sale for $2.49
- $.75/1  (2/27 SS)
= 2 for  $1.74 out of pocket

Aquaphor Lip Repair (.35 oz) $4.99, get $4 RR
- $1/1 printable
= $3.99 out of pocket
Get $4 RR
( Free after coupon & RR )

Motrin PM pain relief (20 ct) $3, get $3 RR
- $6/2 MQ (1/9 SS) OR
= $0 out of pocket
Get $3 RR
(= up to $3 profit after coupon & RR)

tax was $1.57

Total Paid out of Pocket = $9.64
got $10 in RR


#2 
Huggies Jumbo pack diapers $8.99, get $2 RR
- $2/1  (2/27 SS)
= $6.99 out of pocket
Get $2 RR
(= $4.99 after coupon & RR)

tax =  $.66
Paid with $8 in RR
got back $2RR

#3
Listerine mouthwash (500 ml, select varieties) $2.99, get $1 RR
- $1/1 (2/27 SS)
= $1.99 OOP
Get $1 RR
(= $.99 after coupon & RR)


Paid with $1 RR 

Still have $4 in RR to use later

(RR= register rewards, they print out after you pay for your items, and are good on your next transaction)

Do you play the Drug Store game?  what have you got for free or better lately?

Kimberly

Snow Stock up - Spending Freeze Days 23-24

Burr...  it is really cold outside.  Now don't laugh, but here in the pacific Northwest, tiny snow flurries cause major havoc.  If we get any number of inches, we are pretty much stuck at home.  We live on a hill, and during the last snow storm, it took us over 3 hours to go 4 miles.  No joke.  So needless to say, this Mama wasn't messing around this time.  As the snow clouds rolled in, I rolled out to Albertsons to stock up on essentials we had run out of.  You know, like eggs, bread, milk, produce...  it was not my thriftiest trip to the store.  I spent $48.24, and saved $30.35.  Sometimes, even the craziest of us coupon gals, just have to skip the money saving prep work and get our butts in gear.  Now we are all set, let it snow all it wants, I can cook for days.


 Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)
Day 10 = $16.45 (gas for hubs to get to 2nd interview!)
Day 11 = $0
Day 12 = $0
Day 13 = $15 for gas, $37.12 on groceries (see why this is still awesome in my next post)
Day 14 = $0 (we all made handmade valentines for each other, enjoyed heart shaped rolls with dinner and  chocolate cake for desert)
Day 15 = $0
Day 16 = $0
Day 17 = $11 (gas)
Day 18 = $0
Day 19 = $1.19 (eggs)
Day 20 = $65.00 (gas, to go see my beautiful new niece, she is still at the Army Hospital 1 hour away, and dinner out)
Day 21 = $0.00
Day 22 = $0.00
Day 23 = $48.24 (groceries)
Day 24 = $0


So we have spent $242.66 this month

Kimberly 

Spending Freeze days 19-22 - OUCH!

Well, this week we slipped.  We went out to dinner.  I actually felt guilty about it, and was considering omitting it from our spending freeze tally.  But I want to be honest, and share what we learned.  Before the spending freeze, and before the job loss, we would routinely go out to eat as a family.  Even when we cut back, we still went out 2 times a month.  At the time, $45-60 didn't seem too bad.  When the bill came on this last dinner out though, Hubs and I were both a little stunned.  After really counting every penny, $45 for dinner stung.  Sure it was nice to go out, it had been a long day, taking the family down to see my new niece (who was still in NICU an hour away) and we wanted to celebrate Hubs getting a new job.  I think next time we want to celebrate something as a family, I may just splurge on some steaks or make a fancy desert at home, that way we can have a special treat, and not feel the sting afterward. 

 Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)
Day 10 = $16.45 (gas for hubs to get to 2nd interview!)
Day 11 = $0
Day 12 = $0
Day 13 = $15 for gas, $37.12 on groceries (see why this is still awesome in my next post)
Day 14 = $0 (we all made handmade valentines for each other, enjoyed heart shaped rolls with dinner and  chocolate cake for desert)
Day 15 = $0
Day 16 = $0
Day 17 = $11 (gas)
Day 18 = $0
Day 19 = $1.19 (eggs)
Day 20 = $65.00 (gas, to go see my beautiful new niece, she is still at the Army Hospital 1 hour away, and dinner out)
Day 21 = $0.00
Day 22 = $0.00

So we have spent $194.42 this month

Kimberly

Oh no! We ran out of napkins!

We ran out of paper napkins!  Now that we are counting every penny, what are we to do?  (ok, we ran out about 2 weeks ago, but I wanted to make sure we were successful before I told you about it.) 

Let me emphasize how big of a deal this is by reminding you that I have 3 sons, and my youngest is one of the messiest eaters I have ever seen.  Now when we used the last paper napkin, Hubs suggested we just use the paper towels.. "WHAT?  OMG, do you know what paper towels cost?" may have been my reaction, I will neither confirm nor deny that fact.  Once I stopped hyper ventilating, I calmly suggested we take this opportunity to try using cloth napkins.  However, dinner was on the table, and we don't actually own any cloth napkins.  (I am all for saving the environment and all, but my experience with cloth napkins has been less than stellar, they tend to not be absorbent, and generally not the most effective at cleaning up a toddler).  So what is a gal to do?  Enter in the light bulb moment...  cloth wipes!  About 3 years ago, I bought a huge stack of cloth diaper wipes because I thought I was going to rock at cloth diapering my kid- that was a major FAIL, so I have had the large stack of flannel squares that we have never used.  Perfect!  Absorbent? Check, Soft? check, gets food off our face and hands? check. and as an added bonus- they fit in our napkin holder. 

So our house full of boys has been paper napkin free for 2 weeks.  We use the rule, if your napkin is still clean, leave it folded at your spot at the table, if it is dirty, put it in the basket in the laundry room.  So far so good.

Kimberly

Gas! Spending Freeze days 16-18

With Hubby being unemployed, and feeling like we have been staying home more, I am amazed at how much money we pour into our gas tanks.  I think we would have made our goal had it not been for adding gas into the budget.  Next time we do a spending freeze, I think I will keep it to being for food and shopping. 

We have been staying home more.  Not going to Target, just for something to do has helped.  And when when just one of us is running an errand, we have been taking Hubs' little car that gets about 40mpg.

So with that being said, I bet you can guess what we have has to spend more money on since my last post.  Gas.  On Thursday Hubs has another job interview, hence more gas needed.  But it was worth every penny for 2 reasons, 1- HE got the JOB!  we are so thrilled.  and 2 (and just as awesome) I used some of that gas today to go see my brand new niece!  She is needing a few prayers (having some breathing trouble) but she is a doll! So sweet, it was so hard not to scoop her up and cover her in kisses. 

If you are inclined, please send up a good thought or prayers for her.

Kimberly

Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)
Day 10 = $16.45 (gas for hubs to get to 2nd interview!)
Day 11 = $0
Day 12 = $0
Day 13 = $15 for gas, $37.12 on groceries (see why this is still awesome in my next post)
Day 14 = $0 (we all made handmade valentines for each other, enjoyed heart shaped rolls with dinner and  chocolate cake for desert)
Day 15 = $0
Day 16 = $0
Day 17 = $11 (gas)
Day 18 = $0

So we have spent $128.23 this month

Crazy great shopping at Albertsons

So this past weekend, Albertsons was having a sale on certain ConAgra products.  The deal was, spend $25 of participating products and get $10 off your next transaction.  Now the ad said that the $25 total was based on your total after manufacture coupons, however at a few stores (like the one in Woodinville) the $25 gets calculated from the shelf price rather than the sale price.  Well, normally this is how it works, I went thru the store and was able to do my deals as planned the 1st time, but the second time a different cashier woul'd give me the $10 catalina that printed.  So I spent more than I planned but I still came out with GREAT deals.

All in all, I did 5 transactions, used 7 coupons and paid just $37.12 out of pocket for $127.55 worth of groceries. Some of items we got, 18 boxes of sausage (my middle son's favorite), 8 boxes of hot chocolate (for my poor man mochas) 14 cans of diced tomatoes, fuji apples, cheese, 8 jars of peanut butter, honey...etc.  Not bad, if I do say so myself.

So I am not really beating myself up for going over our $100 grocery/ gas/ shopping budget for the month- especially when I know most of it has gone to gas for some great job interviews.

Now to go make dinenr- I wonder if anyone wants peanut butter sausage for dinner?  (kidding, I swear)

Kimberly

Spending Freeze days 11-15, over budget but still going strong.

It appears I took a long weekend away from blogging.  A girl has to just tend to life sometimes. 

This weekend we went over our budget.  I was sad, and my tight fist on our cash was pried open.  But it had to be done.  The reason?  We had to go pick up our oldest son  (who was visiting bio dad for the weekend, an hour away).  I like the pretty partial to my little man, so I think it was worth it :).  Also, since we were making the drive aways, and we have some holes in the pantry stockpile, we used the opportunity to take advantage of a sale at Albertsons that only works in select stores (more on that in my next post).  


Hubs and I talked about it, and we are still going to try and stay as close to our $100 goal as we can.  We are learning quite a bit about where our money goes (we haven't been the spending type for years), and finding even more wasy to cut back (because compared to the Jones', we have already cut, or didn't spend in the 1st place the many areas financial gurus tell you to cut back on).  I will share more about those little cut backs as the month goes on. 

So here is where we are now on our spending for the month of February (our goal was only $100 for gas, groceries and shopping).

Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)
Day 10 = $16.45 (gas for hubs to get to 2nd interview!)
Day 11 = $0
Day 12 = $0
Day 13 = $15 for gas, $37.12 on groceries (see why this is still awesome in my next post)
Day 14 = $0 (we all made handmade valentines for each other, enjoyed heart shaped rolls with dinner and  chocolate cake for desert)
Day 15 = $0


So we have spent $117.23 this month

Kimberly

Pantry Surprise Snack Bars + Spending Freeze day 10

I was going to call these, Leftover Crap in the Pantry Bars, but Pantry Surprise sounded friendlier.  I made up this little recipe myself today, and as you can see from the picture, they have been taste tested (actually there is more missing from the pan already).  Everyone ages 3- 40 that has tasted them loves them.  So here it is-

My Motivation- 3 constantly hungry boys that need a snack between every meal
My inspiration - use only what I had in the pantry
 

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 cups miniature marshmallows or 20 regular marshmallows
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup total of what ever else you have on hand (I used cheerios) ideas, raisins, chocolate chips, dried berries, nuts...

Directions

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until peanut butter melts.

2. Add Rice Krispies cereal , oats, and the other cup of whatnots. Stir until well coated.

3. Firmly press cereal mixture down into 8x8 pan. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until firm.Cut and enjoy!

---------------------------
As for our Spending Freeze for February- Hubs and I challenged ourselves to only spend $100 for out of pocket expenses like gas, groceries and shopping.  I will admit that I am getting a bit nervous about whether or not we are going to make it.  It's the gas that is killing it. But thankfully it is with good reason, as Hubby has had 2 interviews with the same place this week, and it is about 1 hour away- so it has been nessasary to fill up the car.  that said- here are the numbers:


Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)
Day 10 = $16.45 (gas for hubs to get to 2nd interview!)

So we have  $34.89 left for the month   Yikes!

Kimberly 
 

Where's the (cheap) Beef? + Day 8 and 9 of the Spending Freeze.

Do you have the Joy of Football coupon book from Safeway?  If you do, you'll find a coupon in it good for $2.00 off any Rancher's Reserve meat.  The only fine print on this coupon is that you must purchase 1 item per coupon.  This means you can do like I did and take that little coupon and buy some meat priced for $2.04 and pay only 4 cents!  Now, I did attempt to purchase a package that was priced at $1.97, thinking they would just price adjust the coupon, but that was a no go.  Also, for some reason only 1 coupon went thru at checkout so I had to go tot customer service to get it corrected.  (normally the clerk would have fixed it, but my gal was in a hurry and not willing to fix it).  I ended up using 3 coupons and got 3 packages of beef cube steak. 

 Also on my shopping list was cat food.  Not that exciting I know, but I took a chance and bought a different, non- pet store only- mega expensive food.  You see, my 3.5 year old cat is silly, and thinks she can only have kitten food, when we tried to switch when she was 1 and 2, she yaked, and yaked.  So we have continued to pay upwards of $17 for a small bag of food you can only get at a pet store.  I was dreading buying it this month, because it was going to take a huge chunk out of our tiny budget, and if we aren't eating expensive food, the cat shouldn't be either- I love you kitty, but it's only fair.  So I took the leap and bought a bag of kitten food at Safeway- on sale for $4.49.  So far so good, Miss Gabby has not yaked! PTL.

Tonight I will be making meatballs to have with dinner.  We have had a few more meatless nights that normal lately, so we are all craving some good ol' red meat.  I like making meatballs, because you can stretch the meat by adding filler like bread crumbs or crackers.   Speaking of dinner- I better go get crackn'.

And in other news- Hubs had an interview today!  And they called to come back tomorrow to meet with more of the team.  We are crossing our fingers.

Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)

So we have  $51.34 left for the month 


Question of the day-
What is your favorite way to make a little meat go further?


Kimberly

For the Love of... Kim!

I found this blog awhile back, not sure which blog hole I fell into that lead me there, but it was love at 1st sight.  You see, she is funny, clever and crafty, and her name is Kim, in fact, she goes by Kimbo, a nickname I have had since 6th grade when our youth pastor dubed me Kimbo, Rambo's assistant.  To this day my little sister calls me Bo.  And I LOVE it :).  So thanks Kim, for this cool little award- and I raise my Glue gun to you!

Kimberly
aka Kimmie, Kimbo and Bo

Great Chewy Granola Bar Recipe + Day 6 and 7 of the Spending Freeze

How is everyone today?  Recovering well from Superbowl parties I hope.  We had a nice time at my sister's house.  She has 3, almost 4 kiddos- so when our families get together it is a bit like a preschool with the addition of 1 junior helper (my 10 yr old).  Hubs and I are not big sports fans, but we do like to watch the Superbowl, and have fun with family and eat snacks.  Ah snacks, junk food, greasy bits of yuminess...   our taste buds love you, but alas, our bodies reject you.  This was not always the case, a day of chips and whatnots didn't use to torture us so, but as I have scaled back the cooking from a box, and buying less pre-fab food, we are no longer used to processing all the yuck.  So while Hubs felt terrible all day today, I felt bad for him, but I am also happy, because it means I have been feeding my family better.

One of my inspirations in feeding my family better is Blogger Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers. 
Like me, she used to be a coupon maven, but if you are not careful, that can mean feeding your family lots of processed foods (as they go on sale alot).  in recent years she has really focused on feeding her family whole, quality foods and she makes nearly everything from scratch.  While that amazes me, I have a more middle of the road approach for my family.  So I will learn from her, and so many others, and tweak things to fit my family.  Which brings me to today's recipe.  We were out of granola bars, and they are a staple snack in our house, so instead of running to the store, I tried one of Laura's recipes.
 Homemade Chewy Granola Bars (without corn syrup!)
1/2 cup peanut butter or sunbutter
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil (or another oil of your choice) I used vegetable oil
1 cup oats
1 cup total of any combination of:  sesame seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, mini chocolate chips  - I used 1/2 chocolate chips, 1/2 rice krispies in the 1st batch and 1/2 Special K granola cereal and 1/2 Rice Krispies in the other


melt the 1st 3 ingredients together, remove from heat and stir in the rest, spread out in a baking dish and chill until firm.


Very tasty!  and I estimate, these cost me about 1/2 of what it would cost to buy a box at the store.


-----------
As for the spending freeze, yesterday we put $10 of gas in the van to get to my sister's house, and picked up a gallon of milk on the way home for $2.29.  We stayed home and spent nothing today.


Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0


So we have  $67.24 left for the month 

Have any great snack recipes you feed your kids?  I would love to read them, we always are in need of good snacks around here.

Kimberly

Day 4 and 5 of the spending Freeze, and some cheap groceries

Friday I spent a lot of the day out of the house so I didn't make it to posting, but I did score some deals and have some free fun.  I started the morning by going out to coffee with my MIL, her treat, and she drove- thanks Mom!  In the afternoon, I went to the post office to mail some international orders for my little business, and stopped by the store on my way home.  (more on that in a sec).  I took Hubby's little car since it had gas.  Then in the evening my friend picked me up for a fun ladies craft night.  It was a fun day, and I got to miss my Hubs for the 1st time in awhile.  I love having him around, but absence does make the heart grow fonder.

As for the trip to the store. I went to Albertsons to use some more 'twice the value' coupons, since they are good all week.   I had planned out 2 deals, but they didn't have want I wanted for 1, so thankfully, I brought my trusty coupon binder and was able to come up with a back-up deal on the fly.

I did this in 2 transactions.
Transaction #1
Buy 1 Orville popcorn, get 1 free + 2 7-up, A&w or Sunkist 2 liters - $2.50
used $1/2 Orville popcorn coupon from Safeway's Joy of Football coupon book and 1 doubler
Final Price:  $1.50 for all

Ronzoni Garden pasta $2.19
use $1.00/1 Ronzoni Garden Delight, any one from 1/23 SS insert and 1 doubler
Final Price: $0.19

Tyson Chicken Nuggets $4.99
use $1/1 coupon from 1/23 SS insert and 1 doubler
Final Price: $3.99


Total Out of pocked = $4.52
Saved = $13.97

Transaction #2

Buy 1 Orville popcorn, get 1 free + 2 7-up, A&w or Sunkist 2 liters - $2.50
used $1/2 Orville popcorn coupon from Safeway's Joy of Football coupon book and 1 doubler
Final Price:  $1.50 for all

Ronzoni Garden pasta $2.19
use $1.00/1 Ronzoni Garden Delight, any one from 1/23 SS insert and 1 doubler
Final Price: $0.19

special K cereal $2.99
use $1/2 coupon (not sure from where) and 1 doubler
+ there was a sign in front of the Special K that said "buy 3 boxes and get free produce up to $3.00
so I bought 3

1.99 lbs of golden delicious Apples @.99 per lbs = free (would have been $1.97)

Total Out of pocked = $5.50
Saved = $24.04


total spent for Day 4 = $10.02
(and saved $38.01)

__________
 
Today we have stayed home, worked on potty training (no accidents so far!) and spent $0


Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0


So we have  $79.53 left for the month 


Kimberly

Day 3 of the Spending Freeze - noticing the little things

A few weeks ago when I first declared that Hubs and I were going to attempt a spending freeze for the month of February, my dear friend Erika teased me that she couldn't wait for my riveting post on day 3 "still nothing".  Well my dear, this is for you...  it's day 3, and today we spent nothing.  We stayed home, listed items to sell on ebay, job searched and sewed.

I have noticed something though, I have become more aware of things we waste.  It's little things like the heels of a loaf of  bread.  I used to always throw them out, because I don't like them.  Today I used one on my son's sandwich, and he didn't even notice.  Yesterday it was laundry soap, normally, I pour it into my pretty glass pitcher and toss the bottle.  This time, after I poured it into the pitcher, I left it upside down (lid on of course), and when I came back to flip the laundry, there was enough soap in the lid for another load.  Sure it is just 2 more pieces of bread, and 1 more load of laundry, but it adds up.

I would really love to hear about other common wastes, that if penny pinching, would start to add up?

Kimberly

Free run at Albertsons today! and Day 2 of the Spending Freeze

I am really excited and a tiny bit jealous about today's run to the store.  Excited because the total out of pocket was $0.00!!!  Jealous because since Hubs was running errands today, I had him stop at the store, so he got to walk out without paying a single penny, something I have yet to do.  He did 2 transactions, both the same, I sent him to the store with the coupons and instructions.  Bonus points for Hubs, because he also brought home 2 copies of the new coupon book from Albertsons (and I didn't even ask him to).  So here is what he got:

Transaction #1

Chex Mix 2/$4 (thru 2/4)

use $1/1 coupon from Safeways Joy of Football Coupon Book

Double

Final Price: Free 

Athenos Hummus $1.99 
use $1/1 Athenos hummus-coupons.com
Double
Final Price: Free

Transaction #2  repeat transaction #1

Thanks to Coupon Connections NW for putting together these deals, be sure to check out her post for more great FREE and cheap deals for this week.

Total saved today= $19.94 

Update on Spending Freeze, Day 2

Hubs had to run some errands today, which required gas in his car, so he spent $10.45.  The trip to Albertsons was FREE.  So we have $89.55 left for the month.   (read here to learn more)

What will you be picking up at Albertsons this week?

Kimberly

Spending Freeze Day 1: State of our stockpile

I mentioned before that people have asked if we stocked up in preparation for this spending freeze, in short no, we didn't, but we do have a stock pile of sorts.  It was only 2 weeks ago that Hubs and I decided to challenge ourselves for the month of February to spend $100 or less on anything that is not a monthly bill.  We did not run out and buy everything we thought we might need for the month, or go on a shopping spree to hold us over, in our minds, that would defeat the purpose. 

I have began couponing 5 months ago, and in that time I have learned that when a price is really low on something your family uses regularly, you should buy enough to last you until the next sale. So with that in mind, we do have a modest stock in our pantry.  What to see? 

We have a bunch of hot cereal, pasta, peanut butter, tomato soup, and certainly enough brownie and cake mix to last us awhile.  We have about 10 boxes of cold cereal (1/2 which are the ones the kids pass over) so we will be seeing how to make those more appealing to the this month.  We are also pretty set on oatmeal, flour, sugar and bisquick, so I am sure i will be baking a bit as well. 


Now the fridge and freezer are looking a bit light these days, we have eggs, jelly, butter, mayo....  but we will need to pick up some more produce for sure.  As for meat, we are all but out, so I will hunting for good deals on chicken and  beef.  (This just might be the month that I finally try cooking a whole chicken).  What to see inside my fridge?  It's a bit of a mess, but here goes...

Hum, we do have some frozen veggies, a pizza and a couple of burritos in there too I see, besides the pizza, these are mostly items my kids groan at, so we will have to get creative and sneaky to get these past my picky eaters. 

Other than food, gas is the other large part of our day to day expenses.  We have 2 cars, the family mini van and Hub's little car, both of which have about 1/8 tank of gas.  We will really be needing to plan our trips out carefully.  I mentioned before that Hub's is currently looking for work, so we don't have his commute to worry about, but trips to the post office and the store can still add up quick and it costs a bit over $50 to fill our van.  I will be wanting to take advantage of sales this month to stretch our budget, but I will have to weigh the sale against the cost of gas, something I have not really done in the past.

So there you have it.  This is what we are starting with, a modest stockpile, very little gas and creativity.

Today we spent $0, we drove nowhere, but instead got out on our bikes and enjoyed the very cold sunshine.

Kimberly