This week's menu - 09:29, Wednesday, June 10, 2009

                     This Week's Menu

Monday: Tuna casserole, glazed carrots

Tuesday: Black beans & brown rice, tortillas

Wednesday: Chili , corn bread

Thursday: Chicken spaghetti, tossed salad & garlic bread

Friday: Sloppy Joes, veggies

Saturday: Lasagna, salad & garlic bread

Sunday: Spare ribs, potatoe salad, spinach salad & pie

_______________________

Amount spent: $130

Total budget: $150

Savings: $30!!!

Weekly Menu - 01:40, Tuesday, May 12, 2009

                                        This week's Menu

Monday:  Egg & Cheese burritos, and veggies

Tuesday:  Beef stew & whole wheat cornbread

Wednesday: Lasagna, tossed green salad & garlic bread

Thursday: Sloppy Joe's & fresh veggies

Friday: Italian breaded chicken, homemade macaroni & grean beans

Saturday:  Hamburger steaks, saucy style, mashed potatoes, green beans

Sunday: Roasted Turkey,  mashed potatoes & gravy, &  spinach salad,  homemade orange rolls & homemade ice cream

 ____________________

Budget:  $150

Total spent: $130

Total savings:  $30!

This week's menu - 02:49, Thursday, April 23, 2009

  I have been remiss on posting my "weekly menu" on our blog.  Life has been so "full" lately, the last few weeks I have not put together a menu. I sure don't like that, as it leaves me with days that I am wondering what I'll be cooking for dinner and of course those weeks I don't do a menu, we are always "off" budget! Ughh!  So, here I am again, posting my weekly menu ( accountability for me!) and budget. It feels good to be on "target" again! :)

                        This week's menu

Wednesday: Barb-b-que chicken quesadillas and fresh fruit

Thursday: Ham Cauliflower Chowder & homemade bread, tossed salad

Friday: Breaded chicken, macaroni & cheese & glazed carrots

Saturday: Stuffed pasta shells, tossed salad

Sunday: Beef stew, brown rice, rolls & pie

Monday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans

Tuesday: Baked potatoes, tossed salad , corn bread

  ________________________

Budget: $150.00

Total spent: $140.00

savings: $10!!!!

This week's menu - 04:31, Wednesday, March 11, 2009

                     This week's menu

Monday: Barb-b-que chicken, mashed potatoes & beans

Tuesday:  Creamy Chicken Broccoli bake & brown rice

Wednesday: Chicken Parmesana, tossed salad & garlic bread

Thursday: My Bday! Eating out!

Friday: Sloppy Joe's , cut up fresh veggies

Saturday: Spinach manicotti, salad & garlic bread

Sunday: Beef stew, brown rice, rolls & blackberry cobbler

Monday: Breaded Chicken, macaroni & cheese & veggies

  _______________________

Total budget: $150

Total spent: $150

savings: none, but at least I wasn't over!!! :)

This week's Menu! - 09:56, Wednesday, March 4, 2009

                                           This week's menu

Monday: Egg & Cheese tortillas & veggies

Tuesday: Black Bean Burrittos & tortilla chips

Wednesday: Turkey Meatball & Tortelline Stew, french bread & tossedd green salad

Thursday:  Chili & Cornbread

Friday: Crockpot Chicken with Black beans & salsa over brown rice

Saturyday:  "Arroz con picadillo y huevos fritos y platanos fritos " : Rice, beef and fried eggs, fried sweet plantain bananas a la "cuban style" ( a recipe from my youth)

Sunday: Chicken Noodle Soup, swedish braided bread & tossed green salad

              ________________________

Total budget for the week: $150

Total spent: $171

Total savings :  - $19.00

don't ask me what went wrong!! I am usually pretty good about staying in my budget but blew it this week!

This week's menu - 09:42, Wednesday, February 25, 2009

                                       Menu Plan for the week

Monday: Tuna Noodle casserole & buttered green beans

Tuesday: Beef & black bean enchiladas with the "works" ( sour cream, black olives, chives, salsa, etc.)

Wednesday: Chicken Spaghetti, tossed green salad

Thursday: Hamburger & Veggie soup & homemade bread

Friday: Sloppy Joe's and fresh cut up veggies

Saturday: Swedish Meatballs, brown rice & glazed carrots

Sunday: Baked whole chickens, cornbread stuffing, scalloped potatoes, corn & boston cream pie

       _____________________________________

Total budget for the week:  $150

Total spent:  $151

Savings: -$1

This week's menu - 10:09, Tuesday, February 17, 2009

                                         This week's menu

Monday:  Swiss Chicken & gravy over brown rice & tossed green salad

Tuesday: Taco Salad

Wednesday:  Split Pea & ham soup & homemade bread

Thursday: Black Beans and baked potatoes, tossed green salad

Friday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, salad & garlic bread

Saturday:  Breaded italian chicken, mashed potatoes & green beans

Sunday:  Crockpot beef stew over brown rice, homemade rolls & pie

_____________________________________________________

Total budget for week:  $150

total amount spent: $148.00

Savings:  $2

This week's menu - 01:06, Wednesday, February 11, 2009

                                Menu

Monday: Turkey roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, banana cake & ice cream

Tuesday:  Pizza!

Wednesday:  Turkey  vegggie rice soup & homemade bread

Thursday:    Spaghetti & meatballs, tossed green salad

Friday: Nachos

Saturday: Hamburger steaks, saucy style, mashed potatoes & steamed veggies

Sunday: Garlic Shrimp Fettucine, tossed green salad, garlic bread & cheesecake

_____________________________________

Total budget for the week: $150

Total spent:  $183

Savings:  - $33

** This week is my son's bday, so there was a lot of extra grocery expenses. He wanted a special meal with shrimp and cheesecake - so out goes the budget! I also planned for a special Valentine's breakfast, and needed some more $$ ingredients. ***  It's ok because I am saving on groceries other weeks, so it all works out. At least I hope it does! :)

This Week's Menu - 01:10, Wednesday, February 4, 2009

                                   Menu Plan

Monday: Stroganoff & noodles, tossed green salad

Tuesday: leftovers

Wednesday: Chili & cornbread

Thursday: Sloppy Joe's, potatoe chips & cut up veggies

Friday: Creamy italian chicken over egg noodles & tossed salad

Saturday: Italian Sausage & Lentil soup, homemade whole wheat bread

Sunday: Crockpot turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy & green bean casserole

           ___________________________________

Budget for the week: $150

Total bill for this week: $143

Savings:  $7!!

This week's menu plan - 07:59, Tuesday, January 27, 2009

                                      Menu

Monday: Chicken Paella & beans

Tuesday:  Chicken & brown rice & veggie soup & homemade bread

Wednesday: Tuna Casserole & green beans

Thursday: Baked potatoes, black beans & tossed green salad

Friday: Beef & Veggie soup & homemade bread

Saturday: Enchiladas, rice , beans and tortillas

Sunday:  Meatloaf, mashed potatoes & glazed honey carrots

              ______________________

Budget:  $150

Total cost:  $152

Savings:  -$2

 *This included some large industrial size of salad dressing & mayo & peanut butter*. I always spend a few more $$ when I purchase the big bulk items, but it ends up as savings down the road.

This week's menu - 06:21, Tuesday, January 20, 2009

                  I was delighted with the results of this week menu!! I saved more than I expected, and that is always a welcome suprise!!!   I really encourage those of you who don't use a weekly meal plan to begin! You will save SO much $$!!!  The gal who checked me out also has a $150 weekly food budget -- but she only has 2 kids -- so she was impressed when I told her how large our family was!!  As you can read below, we are not going hungry either. :)

                                Weekly Menu

Monday: Split pea soup with ham and homemade bread

Tuesday: Black bean and brown rice burritos, &  tortilla chips

Wednesday:  Chicken Spaghetti & tossed green salad

Thursday:  Italian sausage & lentils soup & homemade bread

Friday:  Crockpot chicken over brown rice & grean beans

Saturday:  Lasagna, tossed green salad & french bread

Sunday: Roasted whole chicken, cornbread stuffing & garlic mashed potatoes

________________________________

Budget : $150

Total bill:  $125!!

Savings:  $25!!!

This week's menu - 11:51, Wednesday, December 3, 2008

                                           Menu Plan

Monday:  Steamed Veggies with bacon

Tuesday: Tuna Casserole & green beans & pecan pie

Wednesday:  Chicken Paremesana , pasta, tossed salad & french bread

Thursday:  Split Pea & Ham Soup, cornbread

Friday: Swedish Meatballs, brown rice, tossed salad

Saturday: Stuffed pasta shells, tossed salad & garlic bread

Sunday: Beef Stew & cornbread

Budget: $150

Total cost: $143

Savings:  $7

This week's frugal finds! - 03:15, Saturday, November 22, 2008

Last weekend I posted about my latest project -- refinishing our old pedestal table....... I sanded the top off and applied new stain and it turned out like a brand new table!!  I have also been on the lookout for pressed back vintage chairs.  I have been checking www.craigslist.org for good deals and this past week I was able to pick up some more chairs! I actually picked up the following chairs, 4 of them in this style for $75 and the owner also gave me the pedestal table that came with it! Not sure what I am going to do with the table for now... but I cleaned the chairs, and applied new stain/finish.

The chairs were fairly worn, especially in the seat area. I prepared the chairs by clearning with mineral spirits and then adding some stain & finish.  You do not have to completely strip the wood of it's original varnish to give it a "fresh" new look..... just clean well and then apply a stain / finish wood sheen product. I used Minwax finish -- it's a stain & finish in one, and I applied a colonial walnut color. Really easy to do. Just rub on with a soft clean cloth. Make sure to wipe off any residue of the stain after applying a coat. It dries within a few hours. I have applied this stuff to old antiques to freshen them up. It works wonders!

 I also picked up these antique chairs....... aren't they beautiful? I love the "cut" out at the top....I need to get them cleaned up with a coat of the finish/stain too.

So far, I have 10 used chairs I have  been able to pick up for great prices and I need to find 2 more!

It's a little work to find a bargain -- but well worth the money saved! These chairs are over $100 a piece brand new, so the savings is big!

~ gloria ~

My weekend "finds"... - 04:09, Sunday, November 16, 2008

I have been busy this weekend sanding down the top of our old oak pedestal table..... it is in desperate need of refinishing! After 15 yrs of much use, it is due for a new coat of finish!  It "had" a light colored honey oak finish on it, and the chairs were very light wood and an arrowback design. I have decided to stain the table a colonial walnut color, and I have been looking for pressed back victorian styled chairs to go with it. I kind of want a "mish mash " of various chairs to go around the table... it may take me a while to find 12 chairs, but I did get a start this weekend when I stopped at a local anitque store and found 2 chairs for a good price! ( $25 each!)  I have a love for old things....

This one even has a cane seat and it's in good condition considering how old it is!

This one needs a a few dowels replaced in the back of the chair..... otherwise it's in good condition...

 I also was able to find an old globe that will come in handy for our schoolroom and a lovely old victorian frame that I hope to display a photo of my parent's wedding in.

I love to find good bargains!

~ gloria ~

This week's menu - 08:31, Tuesday, November 11, 2008

                                                  This week's menu

Monday: Sloppy Joes, fresh cut up veggies and chips

Tuesday: Creamy chicken and broccoli with brown rice

Wednesday:  Fettucine Alfredo, tossed green salad and french bread

Thursday: Tuna Casserole & green beans

Friday: Clam Chowder & cornbread

Saturday: Beef Stew & Whole wheat homemade bread

Sunday:  Cranberry Orange turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, sauteed green beans & rolls

Budget for the week:  $150

Total Cost of groceries: $139

Savings:  $11!!

** This week's savings tip:  Make your own sauces! Instead of purchasing canned sauces for spaghetti and such, make your own!  You can purchase no name brand tomato sauce to create a yummy homemade spaghetti sauce  for pennies.  We also make our own pancake sauce. This saves $$ too. Homemade usually equates savings, not too mention it's healthier for you too! **

This week's menu - 02:15, Wednesday, November 5, 2008

                                                         This week's menu   

Monday ~  Veggie Soup & rolls

Tuesday ~  Pizza & tossed salad

Wednesday ~ Beef enchiladas, rice & beans

Thursday: Black bean and brown rice burritos, and tortilla chips

Friday ~  Spinach manicotti, tossed green salad and garlic bread

Saturday ~Chicken Spaghetti & salad

Sunday ~ Crockpot turkey mashed potatoes and green beans

Total cost of groceries: $149

Budget :  $150

Savings:  $1

Staying Within the Budget -- Our weekly Menu - 02:31, Monday, October 20, 2008

I want to begin sharing my weekly menu plan. Many friends have asked me how I am able to feed my family  of 12 on roughly $150 a week. I want to share with you my menu so you can see how it is possible to eat well and stay within a budget! I give myself $150 a week ~~ and many times I am able to come in under that!! Last week I spent $143 and the week previous $136 !!  My food budget does not include paper & cleaning products. This budget is strictly for food items. I can not tell you how much I have saved since I began to stick to a weekly menu!! Not only on money, but  I enjoy less stress trying to "figure out" what's for dinner!

Monday ~~ Nachos( tortilla chips, lettuce, meat, refried beans, salsa, sour cream)

Tuesday ~~ Baked Potatoes, Black Beans,  corn & cornbread

Wednesday ~~ Meatloaf, Mashed potatoes & tossed salad

Thursday ~~ Tuna Casserole, green beans

Friday ~~ Stuffed pasta shells, tossed green salad & garlic bread

Saturday ~~ Homemade Split Pea Soup & Homemade wheat bread

Sunday ~~ Crock pot Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole & pie!

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

My Budget for this week's groceries: $150

Actual cost: $  136

Savings: $ 14

I hope you are encouraged by this. If my family of 12 can eat on this budget -- you can too!  Start today by getting a menu planned.  It does help to choose a couple meatless dishes each week, and I try not to return to the grocery story during the week. 

Breakfast consists of hot cereal Mon - Friday ( hot oats or cream of wheat) .  We will serve applesauce we have canned, or some canned fruit and toast or homemade muffins.  I will make something special on the weekends like pancakes or waffles, etc.  Lunches are made by the kids and consist of either P & J, grilled cheese, or egg salad. ( rotating) Some fresh fruit is served with lunch. Right now we are using up our apples we received for free. I will generally make something for a snack in the afternoons. Either cookies, some kind of sweet bread, etc.  We are not going hungry and there is variety!

I am thrilled by the savings and I am thrilled that we are eating just as well as we would enjoy if I was not planning and budgeting.

May you be blessed!

~ gloria ~

Cutting the grocery bill down by half! 10 tips for saving BIG TIME! - 05:12, Monday, September 1, 2008

Large families, like mine really have felt the rising costs of food lately. We have 10 children ages 15 down to 4 yrs old and they all are blessed with a hearty apetite, including dad!

I thought I would share with you all some things we have done around here that has literally cut my grocery bill down by half.  These are simple things that have made a huge difference , and my husband and I are thrilled and we are also a bit frustrated that we had not done this before! It took a recession to hit our home before we had to take a hard look at how we spent the money on food.

For some of you , this may not be anything new to you. Kuddos to you for your frugality!

Our family has gone from spending approximately $1,400 to $800 for food items!!

Here are 10 easy "tips" for cutting back on the food bill without really sacrificing the quality of meals or your health and nutrition.

1. PLAN YOUR MENU!!!    I can not emphasize how this has helped!!!  I plan my menu for the week and print it down and then keep a copy in the kitchen.  This has been a help not only for saving so much on  $$ but it helps with being more organized with meal time prep. I don't feel as stressed around the dinner making hour anymore. My menu is planned and my ingredients are purchased and ready to go!

2. MAKE A MASTER GROCERY LIST FOR THE WEEK. Some of you may do a master list for the week or 2 weeks or even month or more. I place all my needed ingredients on the list and take that with me to the grocery store.

3. CUT BACK ON MEAT AND MAKE MEATLESS MAIN DISHES!!  Not only is this good for your body's health but great on your pocket book too!! There are so many meatless dishes out there that are delicious and healthy too! One of my families favorite is black bean burritos,  or baked potatoes. Healthy & yummy! Now with cooler weather coming around the corner, legumes, soups & chilis will also be on the menu.

4. GO TO THE GROCERY ONCE AND DO NOT RETURN!!  Even if I forget an item I do not return to the grocery store -- reason being is I will usually end up purchasing more than the "one item" I went for!! Going to the grocery just once a week has also helped cut back on the gas bill for my big van.

5. GIVE UP EATING OUT !!  Nothing destroys the budget faster than eating out!! That includes fast foods and drive thrus.  Send your husband a packed lunch from home -- or prepare him a plate of leftovers from dinner to send with him.  It will be better for his health overall and save you so much $$!! If you do eat out -- PLAN IT - into your budget. We purposely choose to eat out on nights where kids can eat free out our favorite restraunt or we don't take the kids, and really we don't eat out hardly at all. It is a SPLURGE to eat out - so we really do it sparignly.

6. Consider GIVING  UP shopping at Sam's Club or Costco -- I for years shopped costco and Sam's club. I would average spending about $300-400 a month there and then I would need to go to the local grocery store as well!  I have successfully given up shopping at Sam's club! I didn't think I could do it -- but we are doing it and saving hundreds of $$ each month!  It is hard to shop Sam's and not spend a bundle. It is tempting to purchase things that are not needed.

7. GO NO NAME BRAND on cleaning products and canned goods:   I Purchase all my cleaning products and paper products from the dollar store and save $$ each month.  I do not calculate cleaning products into the monthly grocery/food bill. It is seperate.   When I purchase canned goods like peanut butter,  honey or canned veggies I look for no name brands or what is on sale.

8. CHECK YOUR PAPER AND SEE WHAT YOUR GROCERY HAS ON SALE AND BUILD YOUR MENU AROUND SALE ITEMS : You will save so much $$ by doing this!! If hamburger is on sale -- purchase hamburger or if chicken is on sale go for that! Sticking to sale items and building your weekly menu around that will save you $$!!

9. USE WHOLE GRAINS VS. REFINED GRAINS:  Reason being if your family consumes whole grains, like brown rice, or whole wheat breads vs. white they will be satisfied and not go hungry away from the table!   Consider making your own breads and baked goods , if you are not doing so already.

10. AVOID PACKAGED FOODS LIKE COLD CEREALS, FROZEN FOODS, ETC. :  Not only are they not healthy for you or your family, they do not fill your kid's tummy up like a pot of hot oats or creamy wheat cereal! Consider making your own granola and save  $$$ .  We eat oats and wheat cereals. It is rare to see cold cereals around here. Frozen foods are not only hazerdous for your health, they are $$ and usually do not include large portions or servings.

I hope this is helpful to some of you struggling with getting a grip on your grocery bill!

We got to the point in our family where we were "forced" to take a good hard look at what we were doing and make some major changes and adjustments.  We are so pleased with the results, we only wish we would have done this sooner!

Like I shared earlier, many of you may already be doing this , but it's new to me because we have not had to do this before, financially speaking.

We are down to feeding a family of 12 for $800 a month and I am thrilled!

I hope this helps someone else who is struggling with keeping a lid on the food budget!

~ gloria ~