2024. Buying and Eating Out: April 1-8

 Allocation:  $117     We have scheduled a vacation with meals included for the rest of the month.

Cushion:   $ 663.13

YTD (91 days)    $557.77

              Grocery   $445.20

             Eating Out    $112.57

What we Ate:     Ham salad sandwich and cream of asparagus soup;     Lamb curry with rice (2);     Tuscan chicken with noodles and green beans (2);    Taco Pizza and Pretzel bites;     Creamy chicken and veggies over mashed potatoes, apple salad;     Roast beef sandwich with potato skins 

What we Bought:

Cooperative:  honey.   $10.63

Eating Out:   0

Monthly Totals

Grocery $10.63

Eating Out   0

Total  $10.63     $1.18/day       $0.59/person/day

 

YTD  100 days

Grocery  $455.83       $4.56/day      $2.28/person/day

Eating Out    $112.57      $1.13/day      $0.57/person/day

Total       $568.40     $5.68/day        $2.84/person/day

To Cushion   $106.37            New Cush Amount  $769.50

 

2024. Linus and Such: January- March

 Pet Blankets:  5

Chemo Caps:  4

Linus:  26

Gratitude Scarves:   13

20 skeins of Linus donated 🧶 

50 skeins donated by a friend 

4 skeins donated by a friend 

5 skeins from my buy nothing group 

18 skeins from my buy nothing group 

8 large skeins of very chunky yarn from my buy nothing group.

8 skeins from my buy nothing group 

40 skeins from my buy nothing group 

75 skeins from my buy nothing group 

8 skeins from my buy nothing group 

Total:   244 skeins of donated yarn 🧶     So grateful!

8 skeins.    5.98.     Amvets Thrift Store      $0.75/skein

2024. Frugal Things in March

 1.  I took advantage of St. Patrick’s Day, Lenten and Easter sales to restock the freezer:  ham at 79 cents/pound; corned beef at $1.49/#;  shrimp at $5.00/#;  white fish at $3.50/pound.  Good meals in the future. Money saved.

2.  I made four quarts of ketchup and saved about $16, and the slow cooker did all the work.

3.  I received a 25 book series from my Buy Nothing group that I loved when I read it 25 years ago.  I am looking forward to reading it again and all for free.

4.  A large garbage bag of very chunky yarn from my buy nothing group.  I see some very compfy pet blankets in my future.   I have been very blessed with donations so far this year.

5.  I bought a pair of shoes at the thrift store for $0.98 after using a $4  coupon.

6.  I ordered new glasses and we saved $100 by asking if they have a military discount.  It paid to ask.

7.  I hit the jackpot with my buy nothing group:  75 skeins of free yarn!🧶  A lot of nice charity projects to do!

2024 Household and Personal Care : March

 Personal Care 

Medicated body powder (2).  $2.50.    Dollar Tree 

Toothpaste (2)     $2.50       Dollar Tree 

Pedicure     $30

Total   $35

Household 

Ball jelly jars (24).      $23.98.    Menards

Lighter. (4).      $7.98     Sam’s 

Spic and span.    $1.25.   Dollar Tree 

Total:   $33.21

YTD 

Personal Care:   $11 under budget 

Household:     $22.64 under budget

2024 Buying and Eating: March 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $260.65

Cushion:  $461.47

YTD:     Groceries:  $403.57

              Eating Out:   $95.32

              Total:    $458.78

What We Ate:  ham and bean soup;     Corned beef, glazed carrots, colcannon and Irish brown bread;     Reubens, Irish potato pancakes;     Taco pizza and cheesy potato rounds;     Cranberry pork, potato pancakes, salad;     Appetizer smorgasbord;     Mixed seafood pasta, Irish soda bread, salad;         Ravioli , garlic bread, asparagus ;     Steak and ale casserole with dumplings, green beans with almonds, apple salad;     BBQ pork, rustic Greek salad, baked beans;     Asian smorgasbord from the freezer;     Macaroni and three cheese, Greek salad, baked beans;          Pepperoni calzone, popcorn (2);     Spinach and sausage  polenta, Lima beans, yogurt and fruit;     Rosemary and garlic lamb, baked sweet potatoes, homemade applesauce, asparagus and hollandaise sauce;

What We Bought:

Aldi:  butter (6),  frozen orange juice  $18.83

Aldi:  apples (3#), cream cheese  $4.74

Aldi:  chocolate chips (2), fzn Brussels sprouts, fzn green beans, potatoes (5#), carrots (2#)     $18.07

Total:  $41.64

Eating Out:

Breakfast with Cindy   $10.68

Mike breakfast at Gannon coffee hour    $4.12

Mike lunch in Cleveland   $2.55

Total:  $17.35

Monthly Total:  $201.34           6.49/day         $3.25/person/day

Grocery  $167.78          5.41/day        2.71/person/day

Eating Out   $33.56             $1.08/day          $0.54/person/day

            

YTD:   91 days

            Groceries         $445.21          $4.89/day          $2.45/person/day

            Eating Out           $112.67          $1.24/day         $0.62/person/day

            Total.         $517.77.         $5.69/day.         $2.85/person/day     

2024 Household and Personal Care : February

 Household:

Cupcake Cups.    $1.61.  Giant Eagle 

YTD 

Household. $55.85 under budget

Personal Care. $46.00under budget

2024 Buying and Eating: March 1-15

 Monthly Allocation:  $403

Cushion:   $461.47

YTD:  Grocery    $227.43

            Eating Out     $79.11

            Total     $316.53

What We Ate:     Leftover smorgasbord;     Vegetarian egg rolls, beef lo mein, yogurt and fruit (2);     Ravioli lasagna, mozzarella with tomato and basil salad, garlic cheese bread;     Soup from the freezer and tuna and egg sandwich;     Grilled tuna and cheese;     Twice baked potatoes casserole, ham, mozzarella and tomato salad;     Scotch eggs, green beans, sweet potatoes, yogurt and pineapple;     Chicken risotto, peas and mushrooms, mixed berries and yogurt, bran muffins;     Copycat soupa toscana and homemade bread (2);     Steak and ale casserole with bleu cheese dumplings and fruity yogurt;     Sloppy Joe, fried potatoes, apple salad;     Ham steak, dauphinois potatoes and asparagus;     Taco salad with cornbread muffins;

Eating Out:

Hotdog combo a d pretzel for Mike     $2.38

Lunch with ladies    $13.83

Total:  $16.21

What We Bought:

Sam’s:  fruit blend (12 #)      $32.64

Aldi:   Sugar (16#), jello (2),  baking powder  $15.79

Price Rite:  ham (10#), corned beef  (5.25#), cabbage (2), mushroom (2), asparagus (2), cucumber, green pepper, plum tomatoes (3),  cottage cheese, half and half, horseradish, frozen pizza (2), shrimp (2#), tilapia (2#)     $58.45

Sam’s:  canola oil  (1.5 gal) ,  sugar (10#)    $19.26

Total:  $126.14

Two week subtotal:  $142.35

Remaining Allocation:  $260.65

2024. Frugal Things in February

1.  I went to Ollie’s to get bird and cat food and used a 15%off coupon.  I saved $4.95.

2.  A local thrift store was having a sale on clothing:  50% off.  I went and got 3 sweaters, 1 light weight top, 2 pairs of slacks and 1 pair of pantyhose.  All were good brands.  I spent and saved $32.  Not bad.

3.  I received a 2 pound bag of dried cranberries through my buy nothing group.  Nobody else wanted them because they were past the best by date.  They are dried!  I saved about $14.

4.  I had a baking day and made Italian bread, English muffins and bagels.  Even buying the cheap ones I saved about $15.  And homemade tastes better.

2024 Buying and Eating: February 16-29

 Remaining Allocation:   $261.99

Cushion:  $249.88

Grocery subtotal:  $88.01

Eating Out subtotal:  $14

2 Week Subtotal:  $102.01

What We Ate:   Bang, bang shrimp, potatoes Anna, butternut squash,yogurt ;     Leftover ravioli lasagna, garlic bread, cottage cheese, tomato and onion salad;     Bourbon chicken, mashed potato, Brussels sprout, apple slaw salad ;     Black bean tacos, potato skins, green beans and almonds;     Baked Asian wings, Asian pasta salad, fried apples     ; vegetable and bean curry with homemade flat bread and curry potatoes;         Asian marinated beef, vegetable fried rice, Asian pasta salad;     Hummus, pitas, falafel, quinoa and garbanzo salad, dilly carrots ;    Tomato basil soup and roast beef sandwiches;      tpork and cranberry orange glaze, broccoli with blue cheese sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, homemade apple sauce (2);     Bang bang chicken, spiced peaches, mixed vegetables, garlic bread;     Turkey divan, potato pancakes, cherry jello and cottage cheese;     Mexican casserole, Spanish rice, homemade tortilla chips;

What We Bought:

Sam’s:  Parmesan cheese $18.72

Aldi:  half and half, cream cheese  $4.30

Sanders:  yogurt, pork tenderloin, marble bread, bananas,mushrooms, sweet potatoes , broccoli , egg roll wrappers. $17.93

Subtotal   $40.95

Eating Out:

Lunch with the crafty ladies   $9.45

Two Week subtotal:  $50.40

To Cushion:   $211.59

New Cushion Amount :  $461.47

Monthly Totals

Grocery:   $128.96      $4.45/day        $2.23/person/day

Eating Out:  $ 23.45     $0.81/day      $0.40/person/day

Total   $152.41     $5.26/day      $2.63/person/ day

YTD     60 days

Grocery:  $227.42     $3.79/day      $1.90/person/day

Eating Out:   $79.11      $1.32/day      $0.66/person/day

Grand Total:  $316.53     $5.11/day.    $2.56/person/day 

2024 Household and Personal Care: January

 In 2024 the monthly budget for each category is $30.

Household: 

White kitchen plates  (4). $1.57.    Salvation Army 

Kitchen sink strainer.         $0.97.       Walmart

Spent :  $2.54

Under:$27.46

Personal Care:  

Mike haircut.    $14.   Great Clips

Under:  $16.00

2014. Buying and Eating: February 1-15

 Allocation for Month:   $364

Cushion:   $249.88

What We Ate:     French onion soup and salad;     Chili burritos, Chex mix, salad;      Pressure cooker chicken, rice and asparagus risotto with Waldorf salad and garlic bread;      Garlic seared scallops, twice baked potato casserole, salad;     Homemade Italian bread supreme pizza and popcorn;     Shrimp scampi over pasta with peas, mandarins;     Smoked sausage, fried cabbage, twice baked potato casserole;     Hot chicken salad, green bean casserole, pickled beets (2);     Minestrone soup and grilled cheese sandwiches;     Indian veg and bean curry over rice with salad and homemade flatbread (2);     Bean nachos, corn with salsa, salad;     Ravioli lasagna, salad, bread;     Chicken and vegetables over potato gnocchi ,spinach and citrus salad;     

What We Bought:

Aldi:  cheese (2 #), carrots (2#), apples (3#), mandarins (3#),  half and half   $14.99

Walmart:  eggs (4)  $7.88

Sam’s:  onions (10#), garlic cloves (3#)  $17.52

Sanders:  kimmelweck rolls, grapefruit, beef tip roast (2#)    $11.12

Aldi:  cheese (4#), Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, hamburger (5#), coleslaw mix, spring mix, fresh spinach, Brie, cucumber, tomatoes   $35.90

Grocery 2 week subtotal:  $88.01

Eating Out:

Lunch with crafty ladies.   $14

Eating out 2 week subtotal:$14

Two Week Total:  $102.01

Remaining Allocation:  $261.99

2024 Frugal Things in January

 1.  I purchased boneless, skinless chicken breast to grind.  I will make sausage with some and use the rest instead of ground beef.  At $1.77/ pound the chicken is less expensive than what it is replacing.  Significantly.

2.  I have been using dry textured soy protein to stretch my ground meat.  When I make chili I usually use it exclusively.  Inexpensive protein.

3.  I used up some stale rolls by making a bread pudding dessert.  Yummy and frugal.

4.  I made homemade tortilla chips using some of my salvage purchased corn tortillas, 30 tortillas for 50 cents.  Each tortilla made six chips.

5.  I had enough Starbucks points for a specialty coffee.  About six dollars saved.

6.  Mike used his birthday certificate to almost completely cover the cost of our lunch.  $15 saved.

Frugal Fail:   I lost track of how old a loaf of homemade bread was.  It developed green spots and had to be thrown.  Food is only frugal when you actually eat it.

These are tiny frugal things, but over time they do add up.  They are like tax free extra income.

2024 Buying and Eating: January 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $352.08

Two week grocery subtotal:  $50.92

What We Ate:   Asian peanut noodles, pot stickers, fresh fruit and yogurt;     Scalloped potatoes and ham, dilly carrots, fruit salad, homemade rolls;    Pasta with clam sauce, garlic bread, apple and feta salad;     Supreme calzone, cheesy potato rounds;     Pot roast pot pie, homemade applesauce, tomato pie;     Taco pizza, homemade tortilla chips and salsa;     Meatloaf. Baked potatoes, baked beans;     Creamy Chicken and veggies over mashed potatoes with cottage cheese and clementine salad;     Southwest black bean burgers, potato skins, jello with cottage cheese and fruit;     Welsh rarebit over rye, butter beans, chopped tomatoes and feta salad;     Beef on a weck, potato skins, salad;     Beef and noodles, Lima beans, salad;  black bean sandwich spread on rolls, salads;       Turkey divan with rice, fruit salad with banana dressing;     Rarebit on homemade sourdough bread, peas, salad;     Pepper steak, egg rolls, fruit salad;

What We Bought:

Sanders:  chicken livers (2#), bananas (5#), grapefruit (2), rye bread, hard rolls    $9.43

Giant Eagle:  polish sausage (2), fresh mozzarella (5), cherries (1#)    $13.77

Sam’s:  black peppercorns, Pam, blue cheese     24.34

Two Week total groceries :   $47.54

Eating Out:

Mike breakfast with the guys.     $2.84

Breakfast with Mike.    $23.32

Breakfast with Mike.   $13.37

Lunch with Ginger:     $14. 16

Lunch Mike:   $1.97

Two Week total eating out:  $55.66

Two Weeks grand total:  $154.12

Monthly Total Groceries:  $98.46     $3.18/day       $1.54/person/day

Monthly Total Eating Out:  $55.66       $1.80/day      $0.90/person/day

Monthly Total:  $ 154.12       $5.00/day          $2.59/person/day

To Cushion:  $249.88

22023 Household and Personal Care: December

 Household 

1.  Receptacle plate.  $0.73. Valu home center 

2. Brita filters  (10)     $32.99     Costco

Total:  $33.72

Personal Care:

Zero

Mike used his Veterans’ Day voucher to get his hair cut.

Year end totals 

Household:    $54.58 under

Personal care:   $84.64 under

2024 budget amount   remains at $30/month/ category.  It will be a stretch.

2023. Frugal Things in December

 1.   We spent three nights in DC in a hotel.  The cost was paid for by credit card points.  We saved hundreds!  Remember, we charge everything on our cards BUT you MUST pay the card off in full EVERY month or the points you earn aren’t really saving you money.

2.   We took advantage of seasonal sales to add to our stockpile.  Things like flour and pie crusts are at there lowest yearly price now so I stock up.

3.  We used $15 of our “free” Giant Eagle money to purchase items that were already on sale.  That made the money go even further.

4.  We had cucumber left over after the salad greens were gone.  I cut it into pieces and put it in some pickle juice.  In a few weeks we will have pickles instead of having to throw it away.  Win!

5.  Got 4quarts of beef broth and a garbage bag of yarn for free from my buy nothing group.

6.  My holiday meals were all put together using things from the freezer and my stockpile.  We ate like kings!  And I saved over 50% of what you might expect it to cost.  Just some preplanning can save a fortune!

2023 Clothing

 January

1 pair of black dress pants and 1 top     $3.98   Sandy     Salvation Army

Tennis shoes   $34.98     Mike     Sam's

February

$0.00

March

Boxer shorts  4 pair    $15.00.    Mike    Amazon

2 sweaters   $6      Sandy.    Goodwill

2 pairs khaki pants   $70   Mike    Amazon

April

12 pair underwear    $34.46      Mike.     Amazon

New belt     $15     Mike     Amazon

T shirts  6    $18.99.    Mike.     Amazon

Navy nylons     $0.99     Sandy     Thrifty shopper

Rain jacket      $34.99      Mike.     Target

 dress pants and top     $10.82     Sandy.    Goodwill

May

Top from Irish thrift store   $3.30  Sandy

Sleep pants     $5.79     Mike     goodwill

June

Shorts  $12   Mike     Costco

Nylons   $1    Sandy     Thrift store

July

Top     $1.50     Sandy      Canadian Thrift store

Shorts  $10.98     Mike     Sam's Club

5 tops     $20      Sandy.      Thrifty Shopper

3 pairs jeans     $16.02       Sandy            Goodwill

August

 8  bras     $36        Sandy       Fruit of the Loom

Teva  sandals      $36.90       Sandy

black Pantyhose (2).     $5.      Sandy     Wal-Mart

September

Leather belt.       Mike.        $40

October

Winter boots   $5       Sandy         Salvation Army

3 sweaters   $15      Sandy        Salvation Army 

November

Jeans  (3)      $94.97       Mike      Amazon

December 

Totals:

Sandy     $150.61    $0.61 over budget

Mike       $399.16     The numbers speak for themselves .

2024 Buying and Eating : January 1-15

 Allocation $403     ($13/day for two people, including meals out)

Cushion.  $0.00

What we Ate:  ham, butter beans, Brussels sprouts, ambrosia salad;     Ham and cheese on rye, ambrosia salad;     Italian egg rolls with sauce, pasta with garlic and cheese,  peas and almonds,  homemade French bread;     Green chili enchilada casserole, refried beans, tortilla chips, fruit salad;     Ham sandwich with homemade French fries;     Taco pizza;     Orange chicken, homemade fried rice, potstickers, pears;     Beef fajitas, Mexican rice, cottage cheese and clementine salad;     Stuffed peppers, winter squash, apple sauce, garlic bread;     Pasta with avocado sauce and shrimp, garlic bread, Waldorf salad;     Bean, rice and cheese burritos, popcorn;     Homemade tomato basil soup with homemade pretzel nuggets;          Cheesy meatloaf, sweet potato, green bean salad with mustard dressing;     Chick pea curry with spinach, rice pancakes, fried green beans, pear and blue cheese salad;     Assorted appetizers from the freezer;

What We Bought:

Costco:   Feta (5#), paneer (2#).    $23.47

Tops:  apples, sweet peppers, clementines.  $3.96

Price Rite:  boneless skinless chicken breast (5.25#).  Winter squash(2.5#).  $12.67

Aldi:  cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, sour cream, Bartlett pears (3#). $10.82

As usual for January, not a lot of good specials to be had.

2week subtotal grocery:  $50.92

Remaining Allocation:     $352.08

2023 Linus and Such: October-December

 Linus:  20

Chemo Caps:  21

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  9

Pet Blankets:  2

Dishcloths :   7

A large afgan for Amy

Yarn:   

     $ 8.40       5 skeins.     Goodwill     $1.70/skein

     $5.35     5 skeins        Goodwill   $1.07/skein

A free bag of assorted yarn from a friend containing 25 skeins             

$5.00       5skeins       Thrifty shopper     $1.00/skein

$5     5 skeins      Goodwill     $1/skein

Yarn donated by a friend   9 skeins

Year End Totals:

Linus  88

Chemo Caps     78

Operation Gratitude Scarves    53

Pet Blankets     16

 974 skeins.         $724.16.         On average   $1.35/]skein

2023. Buying and Eating: December 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $127.88

Cushion:  $860.22

What We Ate:  pastrami sandwiches with horseradish cheese, homemade French fries;     Spanakopita and fried Greek cheese with salad;     Homemade French onion soup with garlic and cheese croutons;     Split pea soup with fruit and yogurt;     Pierogie casserole, peas and carrots , salad;     Leftovers;     Bean and rice burittos;     Assortment of appetizers;     Rib roast, cranberry horseradish sauce, peas with mushrooms and almonds, dauphinois potatoes, fig pudding;     Beef sandwiches and leftover apple salad;     Chili with homemade French bread;     Sloppy Joe, cheesy potato, edamame, apple sauce;     Lo mean, brown rice, zucchini ;     Beef, bean and cheese nachos with sweet potato wedges;       Assortment of appetizers 

What We Bought:

Giant Eagle:  townhouse crackers, 3 pkgs cookie mix$2.70

Aldi:  zucchini, celery,French fried onions,cheese , brusselsprouts (3), cream of soups (4),  $23.44

Aldi:  whipped topping, cheddar cheese (3)   $8.16

Save a lot:  half and half   $2.99

Save a lot:  marshmallow fluff    $1.69

Two Week Subtotal:  $38.98

Eating Out:  

Mike’s birthday lunch.   $26.05

Mike’s birthday dinner.    $42.98

Mike lunch in Cleveland.    $1.48

McDonald’s 50th anniversary of first date.   $10.58

Lunch with Mike’s family. $35.09

Two Week Subtotal:  $116.18

Monthly Total Groceries:  $128.96

Monthly Total Eating Out:  $239.32   A social month.

Final Total:  $368.28   Over allocation by $27.28

Into the Cushion:  $27.28

Remaining Cushion:  $832.94     This does not carry over to 2024.

YTD:  306 days

Groceries :  $1707.00     $5.58/day for two people.  $2.79/person/day

Eating Out:  $806.04     $2.63/ day for two people    $1.32/person/day

Final Total:  $2513.06.   $8.21/day for two people.    $4.11/person/day

From last year we were up $1.43/day for two people.

Taking that number into consideration, I am upping the daily allocation from $11 to $13.

The Department of Agriculture, for their lowest food plan, suggests $19.26/day.  We will be under that recommendation by $6.26.  I can live with that.