Thursday, June 11, 2009

Eat from the freezer/pantry! Week Four

Week three we got kind of off on this because we'd been out of town and our first night back into town (driving in) we picked up pizza (3/$15) and ate those for three meals that week. Anyway, we're getting back on track to eat from the freezer/pantry this week!

Sunday: Brisket, Squash, Cheese Muffins and Butterscotch Bars (I also took dinner to a friend and made the same menu for her!) This was easy and all things we already had!

Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs (finished up a few meatballs from freezer); salad (from friend's organic farm), rolls (from freezer)

Tuesday: Pancakes and strawberries (left from a friends bridal shower on Saturday)

Wednesday: Poppy Seed Chicken, roasted potatoes and homemade bread

Thursday: BLT and turkey sandwiches/wraps; chips and grapes

Friday: We went out for Family Night!

Saturday: Chicken Salad sandwiches, sliced strawberries, chips and brownies


What I bought:

Publix:
1 pkg. ground beef: $3.47 - $1.00 coupon = $2.47
Graham Crackers: $2.00 - mystery item for one penny with $10 purchase = 0.01
Kidney beans: 0.83
Pepper: $1.50 sale - 0.75 coupon = 0.75
Garlic: 0.30
Plum Tomatoes (2): 0.50
Great Northern beans: 0.89
Taco Bell Dinner Kit: $1.35 sale - $1.00 coupon = 0.35
Windex Antibacterial Spray: $3.07 - 0.40 coupon - mail in rebate = FREE
Hunt's Ketchup: $1.75 - free coupon = FREE
Raisins: $1.25
Total: $7.35

My very own CSA friend:
1 lb. squash: $1
bunch sunflowers: $3
bunch peppermint: $1
1 cucumber: 0.50
Total: $5.50

Donuts for Saturday morning: $3.50
1 container sour cream: 0.79

After doing this for a month, I hope I've established good routines of buying what is on sale for the future and using what we already have for the present! It has been a good exercise for me in purchasing less of what is on sale based on what we will use or not. And, has stretched my creative muscle in meal planning from what we have rather than what sounds good.

10 comments:

Ginger said...

Monica, (or David) can you explain the mystery item for .01 at Publix with a $10 purchase? I've heard of it, but how does it work. I spend a lot of money there, but no one there has ever said anything to me about it.

Ruth said...

This is a great idea. We have tried to do the same here.
Ruth

Anonymous said...

Monica,

I npticed you shopped at Publix and wanted to let you know about a blog called Fiddledeedeemom. Evervy week she pairs the buy one get one free items with coupons. My mom and I have saved tons!

Cheryl said...

Monica,I think you have done a wonderful job sharing your info on this subject. It's obvious you have learned through it as well. In our house, the whole grocery issue is ever evolving. I am always trying to figure out a better to shop, save, etc.
We need to get our garden going so we can save some money in that area.

Debra said...

We are doing more of this too (if I already mentioned this I apologize for the redundancy)- I am amazed what I can come up with - we're not eating the same old things week in and week out. And I only buy what's on sale, stock up on that. I think the pizza was kind of eating out of the pantry too since you had it for 3 meals! :)

Dana M said...

Hi! I just wanted to tell you how much I am loving these types of posts! My husband and I are definitely spending too much on groceries and eating out, so these posts have really inspired me to try making the best with what we have instead of going by what we feel like eating! Anyway - I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hope you'll do more posts like this one in the future! :)

Love your blog (even if I don't comment often...or ever.)

Dana

Anonymous said...

Young lady you are making your mark in the blog world with your economic planning. All of your menus sound great and how pleased your whole family must feel to know they are all doing their by appreciating your organizing and planning. Blessing young Mom.
QMM

AmyG said...

Love it! I did that for the entire month of January, and boy oh boy, did we save money, not to mention clean up a bunch of back-stocked food-stuffs.

Blissful & Domestic said...

This is such a good idea. I haven't done this strictly but trying to be better at using what is in our freezer first

Mrs. Darling said...

Do you know that on the west coast we do not have a Publix? Everyone talks about it but I dont think I've ever been to one. :(