This and that

Today I made two transactions at United. Each time I bought 5 cans of Bumblebee tuna at 59 cents each. I had a coupon for 1.00 off five cans and it doubled. I ended up paying $1.14 for 5 cans of tuna. I did that twice so I ended up with 10 cans of tuna for $2.28.
I figure if I can add just a bit each time I shop, for really good prices, I can stock my pantry.

Next topic.
This spot on my neck.
When I went to get the stitches out the doctor said he was so surprised that it was cancer because it sure didn't look like any cancer he had ever seen.
He said he was sure glad he sent it in to be tested. He showed me the report that said he got it all. He had originally said he was going to do a needle biopsy and he was glad he just decided to take it all off and saved me having to have it done later.

Ok, all that to say, get any spots checked out. Even if they don't look like what they say cancer looks like. If I had not been persistent and if the doctor had snuffed me off like my last doctor did, who knows what might have happened.

I know this kind of cancer isn't the killer kind, but it sure can cause pain and itching. Doc said he has a patient who he tried to persuade to let him remove this same type of thing from her nose 10 years ago and she refused. He said its really big now and she wears a band aid over it all the time. He said it looks like a big scar. He sure wished she had let him take care of it years ago.

Fill your pantry-an insurance policy

I am a believer in keeping my pantry as filled as I can afford. It really is an insurance policy. If you can learn to buy in bulk when things are on sale you can be able to buy only sale items.

For example: Last year we bought and canned chicken breast when it was at the lowest price we had seen it, in this case it was 1.79lb. I canned enough to last at least until the next sale. In our case the best price came a whole year later. This time I was able to purchase boneless, skinless chicken breasts for 1.48 a pound. Of course I canned at least another years worth.

I buy flour in 25 or 50 lb. sacks and store in icing buckets I get for free at bakeries. I make bread often enough that I don't worry about bugs because I go thru it fast. Flour seems to go on sale about every 3 to 4 months. At least the price I call a good one. This time I purchased 25lbs for 4.99. This is about the best price I can find.

For my whole wheat flour, I bought a few bushels from a neighbor who grows organic wheat for Bob's red mill. I paid what they got from Bob's. It was much cheaper than buying from the store of course. I then froze and refroze the wheat. It now sits in the basement in 5 gallon buckets. I usually grind 5 to 10 lbs. at a time and store in the extra fridge we have in our garage.

My favorite price is free or close to free so I use coupons.

A couple of days ago I went to United in Guymon for some salad. We like spinach in our salad so I picked up 2 packages of Dole spinach and one package of Cesar salad mix. I noticed they had a recipe booklet in a little rack, I looked at it and sure enough there was a 1.00 coupon in it. United doubles coupons up to 1.00 so that meant I could get 2.00 off per bag. United will only double one like coupon per transaction so I just made 3 separate transactions. I saved 6.00 and paid 2.00 total including tax for 3 bags of salad. Not quite free but pretty good.

I realized I sure could have saved even the 2.00 if I were to grow my own salad mixes. That is why on my side bar I have it listed to plant that. After my initial cost of potting soil and seeds, all of my salad will be free. My favorite price.

This year we all need to plant as much of our food as we can. It may mean a couple of tomato plants, some lettuce and a pepper or two but anything you can grow is more than you had before.

In times past nearly everyone had a garden and I think we need to get back to that. Food doesn't magically appear in the grocers.

Anyway back to my original post.

I buy only things my family likes and we will use. If we never eat sardines even free sardines are not a bargain. Unless you have a friend who loves sardines. Why be a waster?

Another good thing to keep on hand are several kinds of dry beans and rice. Both store well and are good dishes for yummy meals.

I tried canning dry beans but the process was so long, soak, cook and then can it was more time then I wanted to spend. What I do now is soak, cook package into meal sized freezer bags and freeze. When I canned the beans we ate them so fast it wasn't worth the time and bother. So I just cook about 3 to 4 meals worth and freeze. I try to have navy, black and pinto beans frozen for a variety of dishes.

On my birthday a couple of years ago I received a very nice rice cooker. At the time it seemed silly. I started using it and now I love it. Don't buy the cheapo kind get a good one. I have used my rice cooker on mission trips to cook many things. I even took it to a craft day recently filled with canned stew items and it was a hit. I used canned beef, potatoes, carrots and then added beef stock and some barley. We gobbled it up.

Do you have pantry stocking ideas to share?

Long trip tomorrow

We leave early tomorrow to take Joy back to college. Its a 7 hour drive each way so it will be a long day. If you think of us pray for safe passage.

Jeff and I went to Perryton tonight for groceries and we found some good deals.
boneless skinless chicken breast 1.48#
avocados 5-1.00
leaf lettuce 1.00 each
limes 20-1.00
green peppers 3-1.00
queso cheese 2.58 #
I bought all the chicken breast they had. About 8 small packages. The cashier said I could call and order more. I want a case to can. I did that last year and it is so good.

Shopping at United-Guymon

2 Viva big rolls 2.69 each
6- 24 ct. family size Lipton tea bags @ 1.49 each
2- Pilsbury buttermilk 17 ct. frozen biscuits @ 3.14 each
2- pkg oreo @ 2.99 each
8-pkgs Ronzoni pasta @ 1.25 each
2- Betty Crocker brownie mix @ 1.39 each
total before coupons and tax $118.56
I paid 86.60 of which 67.68 was for a years supply of butter
tax not included

groceries

I bought milk at Walgreens last night. I bought 2 gallons on sale for 2.49 each. saved 80 off reg. price. Paid for it with a 3.50 rr and 1.88 cash
At wal mart I bought a few other groceries.
1 pillsbury white cake mix .88
1 GV american sliced cheese 15.47
1 mango .97
1 avacado .68
3 jalapeno peppers .33
2 sweet potatoes .76
1 red onion .56
1 cucumber .78
1 bunch cilantro .33
1 can black beans .78
2 wheat bread 1.38 ea.
1 pkg thin cut steak pieces for carne asada 6.83
total spent at walmart 31.13
total spent for groceries 36.11
total saved 4.30

total spent this year 444.72
total saved this year 140.56

Groceries

3 -2#jars of honey @ 5.99 = 17.97

total spent this year:412.11
total saved this year: 136.26

Freebies today
16 packages of chocolate pop tarts
1 can ravioli
4 pkgs. coffee
2 bags charcoal
2 progresso soup
2 cans chicken
I could have had a huge box of salad and green peppers but this lady came out of the store and told me I couldn't dumpster dive. I am going to call the store manager and see what he says. It is a waste to just let it go to the dump.
I am not ashamed to dumpster dive. In fact I cant wait to move to Tulsa to dive there. I guess it might be better to go at night though. In these tough times I am sure we will be seeing more and more of this. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, less waste in the landfill.
Edited to add: I just emailed cooperate to ask their policy on dumpster diving. I will let you know what they say.

groceries

1 box cheerios 3.19 on sale for 1.67 mq .50 doubled = .67
2 cottonelle toilet paper @ .99 = 1.98 2 .50 mq doubled = free
total spent .67
2nd store
2 gal milk @ 2.99= 5.98
4 progresso soup @ 4 for 5.00- 3.20 mq=1.80
total spent 7.78

total saved today 6.20
total spent today 8.45

total spent this year 394.14
total saved this year136.26

Groceries

I bought most of the groceries I need for this week. The milk was so high at Wal-Mart I only bought one gallon. I will get another two gallons Monday at Walgreen's when I get Hannah.
Spinach 1.88
1-gal milk 2% 3.18
2-bags tortilla mix 2.78 each (it wasn't any cheaper to buy the 25# so I just bought 2 5# bags)
2# Monterrey Jack cheese 7.38
2-cream cheese 1.27 each
total spent 20.54
I didn't get any jar lids because they were clear across the store and I didn't want to walk all the way over there. LAZY.
total spent this year 385.69
total saved this year 130.06 (I need to remember this is not accurate because I did not start this til part way through January.)

Grocery list

This is my grocery list for this week.
2-cream cheese
1- fresh spinach
2-gal milk
25# tortilla mix
white cheese
canning jar lids (I am trying to remember to get a couple of these each time I shop so when I need them I have them)
I will record what I actually bought and how much I spent when I buy the groceries.

weekend shopping

2 # jalapeno peppers 1.58
2 2#cheezy loafs @ 4.29 =8.58
2 tortilla chips free saved 1.66ea.=3.32
2 1# sausage free saved2.39 ea =4.78
2 cans tomatoes with green chilies free saved .89 ea=1.78
2 bottles B-B-Q sauce sale .99 ea =1.98 saved 1.00 total
1 3 muskateer bar .69
There was a promotion where you bought the cheezy loaf and you got a bag of tortilla chips, a roll of sausage and a can of tomatoes free, I bought two of them, thats how I got the free stuff.

total spent 12.63
total saved 10.88

total spent this year 365.15
total saved this year 130.06

groceries

I went to Liberal to pick up Hannah and I decided to use my rain check while it was still good.
10 fast fixen chicken 2.19 got em for 10.00 saved 12.90
3 # organic apples 3.00
total spent 13.00
total saved 12.90


total spent this year 352.52
total saved this year 119.18

I know I wasn't going to shop any more this month but then I remembered the rain check. Also Joy reminded me we are in charge of snacks at church this evening. I will be bringing the organic apples, some bananas, some cheese and pretzel packets and making some air popped pop corn. We will also have Kool-aid, tea, or water to drink.

groceries

3.35 # bananas 1.94
kashi granola bar 2.94 -2.00 mq=.94 each
2 # ham 8.12
2 # turkey 7.58
4 Johnson bath buddies soap @ .97 each - 4.00 mq=free
total spent 19.52
total saved 8.00

total spent this year 339.52
total saved this year106.28

This should do us for the rest of this month, at least that is what I am hoping.

Menu Plan

I am only planning one meal a day because I think that one decent meal along with one of soup, sandwiches or salad will work for us.


Saturday
left overs

Sunday
veggie burgers
salad

Monday
salmon patties
broccoli or salad

Tuesday
chicken & noodles over mashed potatoes
veggie

Wednesday
Baked potatoes with toppings

Thursday
lazy lazagna
salad

Friday
tacos

Saturday (hopefully Jeff will be here)
steak
baked potatoes
veggie

Breakfasts:
yogurt
cereal
oatmeal
eggs
carrot juice


Lunches:
sandwiches-lunch meat or pb&j
soup
salad
frozen burritos
frozen corn dogs
fruit

I thought about what I have on hand and planned the menu's from there. The only thing I need to buy is lunch meat and bananas. I think we have everything else we need.

How much should we spend on groceries?

Since I have begun keeping track of what I am spending on groceries, I have been looking around at other blogs to see what other ladies spend.

The government says that for a family of 4 a low cost meal plan would cost 167.00 per week. The welfare folks get 21.00 per week per person or about 3.00 per day. The low cost plan would allow 668.00 per month for 4 people. The welfare allotment would allow 336.00 for 4 people for a month. The low cost plan seems plenty high to me and the low cost welfare plan seems just a bit tight. I will continue to keep track of what I am spending so I can see what for our family of 5 would be the right amount. Right now its kind of like a family of 4 because Jeff is in Tulsa and I am not keeping track of what he is spending for food.

Many of the ladies spend 400.00 per month for a family of 4, but their kids seem to be very young. So I guess the trade off in more food is balanced out with the purchase of diapers and wipes.
Some ladies spend 400.00 to 500.00 per week. That seems excessive. I am wondering what they are buying? Maybe its all processed and pre-packaged meals.

I am trying very hard to cook almost all from scratch. That seems to be a huge money saver. So does making a menu plan and following it. I have had fits and starts doing that. I want to really bad. But it seems like when I do, then when its time to fix a meal I am hungry for something else. Maybe that is a sign of no self control. Always giving in to what I want. I will think of it as a discipline and try again. I will post a menu plan later and we will see how it goes.

One lady said that she starts planning her menu's by thinking of what she already has on hand and then goes from there. I think I will try it that way. Wish me luck.

grocery shopping

2 64oz. cranberry/ pomagranite & white cranberry strawberry juice 5.50 .99 each with store coupon 1.98
2 fritos 5.00 .99 each with store coupon 1.98
2 sandwich cream cookies 5.00 .99 each with store coupon 1.98
red leaf lettuce sale .99 regular 1.49
9 oz spicach sale 1.99 regular 2.99
total spent 8.92
total saved 11.06

2nd store
2 pkg ice cream 3 day sale 2/4.00 reg. 2/6.00
4 loaves wheat bread 3 day sale 2/1.00 =2.00 reg. 1.29 each =5.16
apples 3.00 reg. 6.00
4 pkg. carrots 2.00 reg. 4.00
2 gallons milk 5.00 reg.. 3.29 ea. 6.58
total spent 16.00
total saved 11.74

total spent this year 320.00
total saved this year 98.28

Shopping

Wal Mart
4 Totes @ 5.00 =20.00
bananas 1.66
2 chickpeas @ 1.22 = 2.44
shoe laces for Hannah 1.50
2 frozen chimi's @ 2.98 = 5.96
2 gallons 2 % milk @ 2.99= 5.98
total 37.54

Dillons
10 for 10.00 sale
3 brown sugar
2 fast fixen chicken
3 toaster pastry
2 loaves bread
10 frozen orange juice
10 frozen vegetables
4 Cottenelle tp @ .99 Mq for .50 doubles so free
2 suave conditioner @ .77 = 1.54 -.50 Mq doubled = .54
1 movie Amazing Grace 7.99
total 38.53 saved 23.29

Walgreens
5 vitamins @ 2.00 =10.00
4 18oz. Quaker oats @ 3.19 =12.76 7 day q 2/2.79 - 2.00 mq = 3.58
1 Halls cough drops 1.99-1.00 7 day q - .50 mq = .49
1 pkg. sipper cups @ 2.99
3 pkg. Planters snack mix @ 2.69- 1.70 7 day q= 2.98
2 hormel corned beef @ 1.99 = 3.98
1 colgate toothpaste @ 2.69 7 day q -1.40 = 1.29 -1.00 mq = .29
2 scott tp @ 3.99 = 7.98 -7 day q 2.98 = 5.00
5 12pk pepsi @ 3.00 = 15.00 - 5.00 RR =10.00
total spent 39.31- 13.00 on gift card = 26.31
saved 52.19

total spent this year 295.44
saved this week 75.48
I may start keeping track of how much I save as well as how much I spend. I would have to start from here but the year is young.

United Shopping

I stopped at United and bought a 10# box of corn dogs for 17.90
6 Peter Pan peanut butter @ 1.69 each.
total spent 28.04

total spent this year 167.18

Wal Mart Shopping

4 boxes 22 shells @ 14.47 each
2 GV vegetable oil 1 gal. each @ 7.58 ea.
2 gal 2 % milk 3.42 ea.
4 pkgs. noodles @ 1.08 ea.
2 4 # bags tortilla mix @ 2.78 ea.
2 frozen burritos @ 2.98 ea.
5 # sliced cheese @ 15.47
12 cans spaghetti sauce @ .98 ea.
2 pkgs plain bagels @ 1.28 ea.
1 sour cream @ 1.67
2.31 lb. bananas 1.34
4 pkgs. vermacelli @ .28 ea.
2 loaves bread @ 1.34 ea.
1 air freshner @ .97
total spent 133.29
I am not going to count the shells for groceries so I will subtract 57.88 from the total leaving 75.41
total spent this year 139.14

Groceries

I am going to attempt to keep a running total of the money I spend on groceries this year, along with a list of what I buy.
2 cases green beans @ 6.99
2 cases corn @ 6.99
1 case peas @ 6.99
1 case tomato sauce @ 8.99
2 -10# pkgs of legs and thighs @ 2.99
2 -25# sacks of flour @ 5.99
dish soap 1.83
total 63.73

Flour

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine told me that an area store had 25# of flour ON SALE for 6.99. I thought that was kind of high so I didn't get any. Well now I need some and when I checked I about fell over. I ended up buying a 25# sack for 8.99. Other than that the cheapest price was 11.99. I was very surprised. I think the last time I bought flour it was 4.99 or 5.99 for 25#. I guess I'd better keep better watch on prices from now on. I have started a price book a few times but cant seem to get the hang of it. Maybe I can come up with something that works for me.
I always tell the ladies who I teach about using coupons,, is the goal is, to buy enough to last until the next sale.