Frugal French Cassoulet (ish)

 Recently I decided to make my take on a French Cassoulet, or bean stew.

My inspiration was two grilled chicken legs.

Here is what I came up with.

1 cup dry white beans, covered with water and soaked overnight; canned beans don't absorb the flavor as well

6 slices of bacon fried crisp in a large and heavy pan with a tight lid, save the rendered grease

2 previously cooked chicken legs, meat removed from the bone; the original used duck but that is out of my price range

3 small pork sausage, browned and cut in half; use what you have or like , I had some good breakfast sausage and used them

1/2 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

2 cloves garlic, diced

1/2 stalk celery, diced

Saute the above vegetables in the rendered bacon grease

Add in the drained, soaked beans and the meats

Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp thyme

Add chicken broth to cover; I used homemade but canned works

Stir well.  Cover with a tight fitting lid.  

Simmer for about three hours until the beans are done and the stew thickens.  Add more broth if it thickens too soon.  I had my pot sitting on a heat diffuser so it wouldn't stick.  You could also cook in the oven or in a slow cookr.  Adjust time as necessary.

When done, serve with a crusty bread and fruit.

2020 Buying and Eating: December 1-15

 Allocation for the Month:  $340.69

Cushion:  $1531.16

What We Ate:  beef lo mein, salad; ham and bean soup; spaghetti, garlic bread and salad; salad with garlic chicken; chili and cheese nachos; Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and carrots; cheeseburger pizza and potato skins;  sandwich and chips; curry and rice with salad; ribs, three bean salad, peas, roasted potatoes; spaghetti and meatballs and green beans; pasta with pesto and chicken, acorn squash; huevos rancheros and refried beans; veggie pizza and chips; Welsh rarebit and salad

What We Bought:

Aldi:  jarlsberg cheese (2), baking spray (6)  $16.72

Whole Foods Co-op:  caraway seed  $0.52

Giant Eagle:  ham  (16.5#)  $6.26

Aldi:  semi sweet chips  $1.65

Price Rite:  everything bagel seasoning  (3), cream of mushroom soup (8), lettuce mushrooms (2), sour cream  $14.44

Groceries:  $28.59

Remaining Allocation:  $310.12

Cushion:  $1531.16

2020 Meal Plan: December 1-15

 We are eating up the frozen leftovers.

Vegetarian:  Chili cheese nachos; curry and rice; huevos rancheros; veggie pizza; Welsh rarebit

Low Meat:  beef lo mein; ham and bean soup ; spaghetti with meat sauce; salad with garlic chicken; cheeseburger pizza; Spaghetti and meatballs; pasta with pesto and chicken

Meat:  Salisbury steak;  sandwich; ribs

Vegetarian:  5

Low Meat:  7 

Meat:  3

Where To Buy Groceries

 One store is NEVER the cheapest source to all the groceries you want or need to buy.

To get the best price for what you buy you need to really know your prices.  How else will you be able to recognize a good or great deal when you see one?

Investigate alternative sources of food in your area.  

Places like Sam's and Costco CAN provide bargains but not always.  Do your research first so you don't have buyer's remorse.

Local farmers are often a place to find good deals.  They might sell you a stock up amount of fruit, veg, potatoes, etc.  They are often a great source of seconds which are often just odd shaped and therefore hard to sell.

Local cooperatives can be a fine source of inexpensive herbs and spices that you would spend a fortune for otherwise.  And, you can buy just what you need.  No large amount left over to go stale.

Read your weekly food ads especially the front and back where the best deals are often to be found.  buy the best deals and then leave.  Be careful of BOGO deals.  Often they aren't as good of a deal as they want you to think.  Again, know your prices!

Even places you might never think of can help you find bargains.  Ollie's and Big Lots can lend themselves to bargains.  You never know what they will have but worth a look.  Make SURE you know the difference between Best By and Expiration dates or you could miss out.

2020 Frugal Things in November

 1.  After Halloween I bought a LARGE pumpkin to roast and process for pie, bread, etc.  I processed the equivalent of six cans for $1.

2.  I made two batches of salsa verde with green tomatoes I was given.

3.  I made two batches of tomato sauce with some of the tomatoes that ripened.

4.  I made mincemeat with green tomatoes and apples I was given.

5.  We took advantage of Veteran's Day specials at local restaurants.  Free food!

6.  I am back to making bread, bagels and English muffins as I try to stay out of stores.

2020 Meal Plan: November 16-30

 Vegetarian:  minestrone and cheese and tomato sandwich; vegetarian chili spaghetti; chick pea and peach salad

Low Meat: chicken and rice soup with crackers and cheese; chicken and rice soup; taco salad; pepperoni balls; beef and bean burrito; pesto pasta and smoked turkey casserole

Meat:  meatball subs; Salisbury steak; ham and cheese stromboli; Thanksgiving; ribs

Vegetarian:  3

Low Meat:6

Meat:  5

2020 Buying and Eating : November 16-30

 Remaining Allocation:  $293.70

Cushion:  $1308.20

What We Ate:  minestrone soup and cheese and tomato sandwich; meatball subs; chicken and rice soup with crackers and cheese; chicken and rice soup with cheese and crackers; Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and lima beans; ham and cheese stromboli; taco salad; pepperoni balls and pasta with pesto and artichoke hearts; beef and bean burrito and apple salad; pesto, pasta and smoked turkey casserole with a side salad; chili spaghetti; Thanksgiving; chick pea and peach curry, rice, tomato salad; ribs, race pilaf, salad

What We Bought:

Aldi:  Romaine lettuce, brown sugar (2), confectionery sugar, frozen peas (2), cucumber, pie crust, butter (6)  $19.46

Tops:  beef broth, celery (3), sweet potatoes (4.51 #) $5.06

Aldi:  potatoes (10#), figs (2), whipped cream  $6.36

Aldi:  morell cherries (6), brie  $17.33

Price Rite:  tuna (4),  coffee (4), brownie mix, cake mix  3.74  not a typo!  Good coupons

Tops:  beef roast (2.77#), green peppers (2), bananas (6), Italian bread $12.46

Bread Store:  bagels (3), rye bread (3#), English muffins  $6.33

Total for Two Weeks:  $70.74

Amount to Cushion:  $222.96

New Cushion Amount:  $1531.16

2020 Household and Personal Care: October

 Personal Care:

Body powder for Mike  $1.06   Dollar Tree

2 hair clips for Sandy  2.12  Dollar Tree

Total:  $3.18   Had Mike trim the back of my hair.  He did a great job and we saved money, too.

Household:  

24 canning jars and lids $17  Esh's

60 gallon bags, 80 quart bags, 35 parchment sheets  $8.67

2 dishwasher detergent  $3.98  Discount Grocery

2 taper candles  $1.15   Episcopal thrift store

duvet for the RV   $6.99  Goodwill

Grater for RV  99 cents  Goodwill

6 Corelle bowls for RV  $2.69 thrift store

Flour sifter $5.83. My over 40 year old one died

Total:  $47.30    We are over budget.  But, we stocked up on some things.  Hope it evens out.

2020 Linus Project Blankets and Yarn Cost: July-September

July:

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  8
Linus Project Blankets:  5
Pet Blankets:  6

August:

Linus Project Blankets  7

Operation Gratitude Scarves  6

Crocheted Wash Cloths 7

Yarn:

Goodwill:  $27.00 for 28 skeins

Salvation Army  $7.55 for 32 skeins  Special thanks to the nice lady!

AMVETS:  $3.00 for 4 skeins

St. Vincent de Paul  $7.74 for 8 skeins

Goodwill  $6.04 for 6 skeins

Goodwill  $11 for 17 skeins

September:  

Yarn:

Goodwill   9 skeins for $8.33

Salvation Army 29 skeins for $14.29

Salvation Army 14 skeins for $8.99

Animal Rescue Thrift Store   32 skeins for $16.40

Fort Drum Thrift Store:  19 skeins for $10.18

Fort Drum Exchange:  8 skeins for $9.90 (2 are oversized)

Watertown Thrifty Shopper  20 skeins for $18.85

Watertown Salvation Army  40 skeins for $22.00

Watertown Thrift Store  18 skeins for $14.50

Animal Rescue Thrift Store  4 skeins for $1.35

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  15

Robin's wrap and pouch

Linus Project Blankets:  4

Washcloths:  6

Linus Project Blankets:  16

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  29

Pet Blankets:  6

Wash Cloths:  13

Gift: 1

Yarn Purchase:  288 skeins

Cost:  $187.12

Price/Skein:  $0.65

2020 Meal Plan: November 1-15

 Vegetarian:  pierogie casserole; chili nachos; baked potato bar

Low Meat:  sausage and cheese polenta (2); chicken and rice soup; Philly cheese burger pizza; beef lo mein; assorted appetizers

Meat:  rosemary chicken; smoked pork sandwich; bbq ribs

Vegetarian:  3

Low Meat:  6

Meat:  3

2020 Buying and Eating: November 1-15

 

Allocation:  $329.70

Cushion:  $1308.20

What We Ate:  rosemary chicken, rice pilaf, yogurt and fruit; pierogie casserole, green beans, fruit; sausage and cheese polenta (2); chicken and rice soup with homemade the bread.; smoked pork sandwich and chips; BBQ ribs, veg, gnocchi; Philly cheese burger pizza; beef lo mein and Chinese pancakes; baked potato bar, baked beans, salad; assorted appetizers

What We Bought:

Price Rite:  vegetable oil (gal), mayonnaise (2)  $6.37

Aldi:  mushrooms (3), apple juice, chip dip,   $5.45

Price Rite:  flour (2) spices(4), coffee onions (9#), sweet potato (2.33#)cream cheese (7), butter (4)  $24.18

Groceries:  $36.00

Eating Out:  -0-

Remaining Allocation:  $293.70

2020 Buying and Eating : April-September

 Here are the figures for the past six months.  It's higher than I like in total, but we have a good stockpile and we enjoyed some time with family that was priceless.

Groceries for April -September:  $1006.11

Divided by 183, the number of days, equals $5.49 for Two people/day

Or, $2.75/person/day for groceries.

Eating out April-September:  $242.05

Or, $1.32/ day for two people 

and  $0.66/person/day.

We have a Grand Total of $3.41/person/day.  

That includes the large stockpile we have going into the remainder of the year.  Because of the Covid situation, I hesitate to let it get down too far before restocking.

2020 Frugal Things in October

 1.  Mike and I got our flu shots and received gift cards worth a total of $10 in free groceries.

2.  As has been happening for awhile, I have been saving my bacon grease to use in sauteeing and flavoring other dishes.  It reduces the amount of vegetable oil I have to buy.  Did you know that they sell bacon grease at Wal-Mart for about $22/gallon!

3. As we camp we have been checking thrift stores for yarn and have been quite lucky at finding deals.  I am set now for winter.

4.  We have been  filling in the holes in our stockpile with specials we have found as we travel.  We are now ready to hunker down for winter.

5.  We are working on eating less meat.  It is easier on the budget and Mother Earth.

6.  I received a crate of tomatoes from a friend who was putting her garden to bed.  This will be turned into green tomato mincemeat, salsa verde and tomato puree.  You have to love generous friends.

2020 Meal Plan: October 16-31

 Vegetarian:  minestrone; leftover bean burritos; macaroni and cheese(2); gazpacho and grilled cheese sandwich; butternut squash curry

Low Meat:  scalloped potatoes and ham; creamed salmon and vegetables over mashed potatoes; split pea soup and salad; tuna noodle casserole; pizza; scalloped potatoes and ham

Meat:  sandwiches and gazpacho; sloppy Joe (2)

vegetarian:  6

Low meat:  6

Meat:  3

Another good month.

2020 Buying and Eating: October 16-31

 

Remaining Allocation:  $289.57

Cushion:  $1308.20

What We Ate:  minestrone cheese and crackers; leftovers; macaroni and cheese, tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, peas; gazpacho and grilled cheese sandwich; scalloped potatoes and ham, grapes, peas and carrots; macaroni and cheese; creamed salmon and vegetables over mashed potatoes; split pea soup and salad; pizza; tuna noodle casserole and zucchini; sloppy Joe and potato skins with salad; bean soup and cheese biscuits; scalloped potatoes and ham, tried green tomato, applesauce; butternut squash curry, rice and salad; leftover sloppy Joe

What We Bought:

Down on the Farm Creamery :  ice cream  $3.15

Esh's:  port wine cheddar(1#), havarti (1#), cabbage, butter (8), Lebanon bologna(1#), sweet bologna( 2#), large Italian bread, butternut squash (2), apples (5#), #10 can tart cherries (2), #10 can applesauce, bananas,   $64.45

Discount Grocery:  #10 can beets, #10 butter beans, lima beans (2.5#), artificial crab meat (2.5#), chicken wings (2#), hamburger(10#), pepperoni (2#), Oreos (2), raisins, like juice, evaporated milk (3), parmesan cheese, dried onion soup  $49.98

Grocery Outlet:  gallon balsamic vinegar, coffee, marshmallows, rice krispies, carrots (5#), potatoes (10#), frozen green beans (1#), yoghurt(48 ounces)fresh mozzarella, summer sausage (2)  $24.10

Bread Store:  bagels (3), English muffins(2),sourdough bread  $6.49

Save a Lot:  potatoes  $1.79

Price Rite:  brownie mix (4), chocolate chips (2), onions (9#). $9.95

Tops:  doritos, sweet peppers (3), goldfish, folgers, eggs (4)  $9.48

Salvage Grocery:  coffee (19), tortilla chips (2), vegetable oil (gal), pav bhaji, tikki masala (4), Indian vindaloo, stir fry sauce (3), General Tao's kit, falafel mix (2), jambalaya mix, Pac Thai kit, parmesan garlic rice (2), tabouli mix (2), paella mix, Szechuan chicken and rice kit, chestnuts, macadamia nuts (4), sliced almonds (5, walnuts, pine nuts (2), evaporated milk (4), wheat Chex, Cheerios, pectin (6), kosher salt (3#), crackers (2), raisins (12), smoked salmon (2), pears, pineapple, fruit mix, red cabbage with apple, peas, goldfish (2), Mandarin oranges, chicken a la king, refried beans (2), diced jalapenos (2), tried apples (2), corn (2) cream of chicken soup (2), chick peas (3), tuna, diced rutabago, Italian green beans (2), cocktail shrimp, artichoke hearts, carrots, vegall, Brown rice, sugar (16#), brown sugar (2), combos crackers, salad dressing for marinade (5), tortellini, Chinese noodles,  chocolate chips, dried cherries, solid-state sauce, milk (5), parmesan cheese (3), pudding mix (4), cookies (2), cake mix (3), sliced (5), baking powder, lemon grass  $175.87

Grocery :  $345.26

Eating Out:

Lunch Bird-In-Hand:  $11.00

Lunch Winterizing RV:  $4.24

Lunch Cleveland for Mike  $3.21

Joyce birthday lunch:  $23.50

Eating Out:  $41.92

Grand Total:  $387.18

We are into the cushion by $97.61

The resulting new cushion amount is $1210.59

We deliberately went into the cushion as we restocked our stockpile.  Now we can hunker down again for a few months.

2020 Clothing Expenses: April -September

April:
-0-
May:
-0-
June:
-0-

July:

-0-

August:

Mike jeans (3)  $45.97   Costco

September:  

skirt for lounging at home  $4.11Thrift Store

Long sweater from The Loft  $1.00 Thrift store

Long sweater  $2.00 Fort Drum Thrift Store

Long sweater $3.00 Watertown Salvation Army

Mike:  $45.97

Sandy:  $10.11

Watertown was COLD, hence the need for sweaters.

The virus has kept me both from shopping and from having anyplace to go.
Good for the budget.  Bad for my social life.
And this may be the new normal.

2020 Household and Personal Care: April- September

 Household:  $98.99 or  $16.50/month on average.

The budget is $25/month.  We were over earlier in the year but these numbers should put us back where we need to be.  :)

Personal Care:  $39 or $6.50/month on average. We are well under budget due to the lack of haircuts.  We did look quite scruffy there for awhile.  :)

2020 Meal Plan: October 1-15

 Vegetarian:  curried potatoes; white beans chili; corn chowder; Asian peanut noodles and vegetables (2) ; bean tikka masala; bean burrito; pasta with red sauce

low Meat:  hotdogs and sauerkraut;  cheeseburger pizza; tuna salad; creamed salmon and veg over rice; pepperoni pizza

Meat: submarine sandwiches; bleu cheese hamburgers

Vegetarian:  8

Low Meat:  5

Meat:  2

I like this balance.

2020 Buying and Eating: October 1-15

 Allocation for the Month:   $340.69

Cushion:  $1308.20

What We Ate:

Hotdogs Sauerkraut casserole, peas; cheeseburger pizza and popcorn; tuna salad, cheese and crackers grapes; curried potatoes, winter squash, spinach salad; creamed salmon and veg over rice, pears; white beans chili, cheese and crackers; corn c howder, applesauce, bread; Asian peanut noodles and vegetables, fresh fruit;bean Tikka masala and fruit; pepperoni pizza; peanut noodles; submarine sandwiches and chips with fruit; bean burrito; pasta with red sauce and zucchini; bleu cheese hamburgers, zucchini chips, fresh fruit

What We Bought:

Aldi:  cream cheese (2), grapes (2.26#), bread (2), bagels, apples (3#), onions (3#)   $13.55

Save a Lot:  potatoes (8#), bananas (1.63#)   $3.50

Fort Meade Commissary:  the bread,brownie mix, baking cocoa, pastrami, roast beef, tomatoes (10), lettuce (2), zucchini (10),Apple cider, waterchestnuts (3)  $21.24

Aldi: eggs (2), olives (3), mushrooms, English muffins$12.83

Total Groceries for Two Weeks:  $51.12

 No Eating Out for Two Weeks.

Remaining Allocation:  $289.57 

2020 Household and Personal Care: September

 Personal Care:

Haircuts for both of us  $22  Great Clips

Total:  $22.00  within the budget amount

Household:

Corelle plate for RV      64 cents    Thrift store

Silk flowers, serving spoon for RV, coffee filters  $8.48  Dollar Tree

4 plates for RV  $3.96  thrift store

French press coffee pot  $4.99  thrift store for home

ceramic heater  $14.99  Ollie's for the RV

Fly swatter $2.98  hardware store

Total:  $36.04. Over budget for the month but hopefully not for the year.

Total:  $36.04   over the monthly budget of $25

2020 Frugal Things in September

 1.  Gratefully accepted a large bag of miscellaneous yarn.  I will make good use of it in all in my charity projects.

2.  Found pork ribs on sale for 77 cents/pound and bought ten pounds.  We will enjoy them even if the season is technically over.

3.  Found sirloin steak for $2.99/pound. Bought four pounds or 10-12 meals worth.

I think some will be turned into a British steak pie for Christmas.

4.  As we have traveled in the RV, I have been checking thrift stores and stocking up on yarn.  My average price/skein is about 66 cents.

5.  The car had to go in for maintenance.  Rather than uber, Mike took the bus home.  Being a senior, he rides for free.  $16 vs free!

A slow month, but the little things are up.

2020 Meal Plan: September 16-30

 Vegetarian:  hummus and falafel (2); huevos rancheros, spinach balls

Low Meat:  chicken divan; nachos; hotdogs and sauerkraut; pizza; scalloped potatoes and ham; cassoulet

Meat:  leftover grilled steak; brats; meatloaf ; grilled fish

Vegetarian:  4

Low Meat:  6

Meat:  4

Not great, but acceptable.

2020 Buying and Eating: September 16-30

 Allocation Remaining:  $271.56

Cushion:  $1123.56

What We Ate:  chicken divan, apple sauce, tomatoes; leftover grilled venison, potato skins, edamame; nachos; hotdogs and sauerkraut with carrots/ hummus and falafel; pizza; brats, three bean salad, baked potato rounds; scalloped potatoes and ham, beets; falafel and hummus with peas; huevos rancheros with cheese nachos and Waldorf salad; meatloaf, German potato salad, French style green beans; grilled fish spinach salad, hushpuppies; spinach balls three bean salad, pears; cassoulet and spinach salad

What We Bought:

Price Chopper:  sirloin steak (4#)  $12.56

Fort Drum Commissary:  pork ribs (10#), eggs (2), lumpia wrappers (2), Mac and cheese (4), tuna (4), chopped clams (2), crab meat, tiny shrimp, canned ham, canned chicken (2), olives, chocolate chips (2), came mix (2), black olives pasta (4), beets black beans (number ten can)  $51.90Eating

Aldi:  gala apples (3#)  $1.49

Aldi:  chicken breast (5.25#), butternut squash (3.5#), acorn squash (1.34#), spinach, peas  $10.47

Total:  $76.42. Including some stock up of meat.

Eating Out:

Taco Bell in Oswego:  $4.00

Lunch 1000 Islands tour   $6.50

Total:  $10.50

Grand Total for Two Weeks:  $86.92

Remaining Allocation for the Month:  $184.64

New Cushion Amount:  $1308.20

Cheaper Per Pound Sausage

If you come across a ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground pork bargain you might want to consider making your own breakfast or Italian sausage.  It can be cheaper and healthier than what you can buy at the store.

This week I found chicken breast on sale for 99 cents/ pound. After I grind it myself, I am going to make Italian because we recently found a great deal on breakfast.

Homemade Italian Sausage :

2 pounds ground meat

1/4 c red wine

1 T salt

1 T black pepper

1 T garlic powder

1 T onion powder

1 T basil

1 T fennel

2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp oregano

1-2 tsp cayenne, depending on how hot you like it

Mix WELl.  Can be frozen in patties.

Breakfast Sausage:

2 pound ground meat

2 tsp safe

1 tsp black pepper

1 T brown sugar

2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp thyme

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp rosemary 

1/8 tsp nutmeg

Mix WELL.  Can be frozen in patties.

Homemade Granola

 We love granola for breakfast or a snack, but I don't love the price or the unpronounceable ingredients.  So, for decades I have made my own.

5 cups oatmeal

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup dry milk powder for protein, optional

2/3 cup honey

3/4 tsp. Cinnamon

Nuts, optional  I rarely use them

1 cup raisins stirred in after cooking

Mix together the oil, brown sugar and honey and heat until the sugar dissolves.  Combine this mixture with the dry ingredients in a large pan so the layer is thin.  Mix well.  Bake at 375 for ten minutes.  Stir and bake for another five.  Stir in raisins and let cool.  Store in an airtight container.   Yum!

2020 Buying ane Eating: September 1-15

 Monthly Allocation:  $329.70

Cushion:  $1123.56

What We Ate:  bean burritos;  chicken divan; chili spaghetti; pork stir fry; BLT; smoked turkey sandwich; Southwestern bean, rice and quinoa; bacon wrapped water chestnut, yogurt, fresh fruit; baked potato bar; French cassoulet; meatloaf, pasta with garlic and cheese baked carrots; cheesy lasagna; chili

What We Bought:

Aldi:  sour cream, cream cheese (2), grapes(1.64#), baguette, bagels (2), sourdough bread, English muffins, pretzels  $15.17

Farmers market:  tomatoes (6), green tomatoes(2), cabbage, hot peppers (quart basket)  $5.25

DiCamillo:  Italian bread. $2.99

Local Discount Grocery:  vanilla wafers, apricots, udon noodles, tabouli, peanut butter chips (2), red quinoa, Freekeh  $9.42

Aldi: sugar, blueberry bagels, everything bagels, sourdough bread, eggs  $8.95

Eating Out:

DiCamillo's for anniversary  $11.29

Blizzard  $5.07 ( We shared.  A once a summer necessity.)

Total Groceries:  $41.78

Total Eating Out:  $16.36

Total for Two Weeks:  $58.14

Allocation Remaining:  $271.56

2020 Meal Plan: September 1-15

 Vegetarian:  bean burritos; Southwestern bean, rice and quinoa; baked potato; cheesy lasagna

Low Meat:  chicken divan; BLT; bacon wrapped water chestnut; French cassoulet; chili; pork stir fry; chili spaghetti

Meat: smoked turkey sandwich; meatloaf

Vegetarian: 4

Low Meat:  7

Meat:  2

Some Other Savings Ideas

 1.  Hang at least some of your laundry to dry.  Years ago I calculated that each load I hung saved me about 50cents and was also better for the environment.  A small savings financially but green and easy.  I use plastic hangers to dry tops and a wooden clothes horse for jeans.  Another added benefit, clothes have been shown to last longer when not dried in the dryer.  Your dryer should even last longer.  Mine actually lasted 40 years!

2.  Purchase some clothing from the used market:  consignment shops, thrift stores, online.  I have found a lot o f outfits with tags still on them!  Again you are helping Mother Earth and your pocketbook.  For the past ten years all of my outer clothing has been used.  I now wear labels I couldn't afford before.

3.  When you are hungry for pizza, tacos, steaks, ribs and such try making them at home.  The savings can be considerable.

4.  If you are a soda drinker, try substituting iced tea.  Easy and inexpensive.  Healthier, too.

5.  Try baking bread, making cookies, baking cakes.  You will be amazed at the lower cost and the better taste.

6.  If you smoke, try cutting your daily consumption to help your health and your budget.

7.  Pack lunches for school and work.  If you are traveling, pack snacks and drinks.  Buying food out can really hurt your budget.

8.  Eat your leftovers for lunch or have a leftovers smorgasbord for dinner ocassionally.  

9.  Learn to make soup.  They are good, cheap and easy.

10.  Eat more vegetarian meals.  Substitute beans for meat in recipes.  Buy a good cookbook and experiment.  I suggest More With Less.  It is older but still good for cutting your budget.  I also have older editions of Betty Crocker and the Joy of Cooking that I use a lot.

2020 Household and Personal Care: August

Personal Care Expenses

Toothpaste $1.06  Dollar Tree

Household Expenses

Green scour pads   $1.06   Dollar Tree

2020 Frugal Things In August

1.  I made vegetarian versions of minestrone and chili.

2.  In some ethnic Indian dishes I substituted beans for the meat component.

3.  Saving the ends of bar soap to make laundry soap for the Anna Shelter.

4.  Paid to have my stand mixer repaired rather than replacing it.  We saved hundreds.

5.  We did our due diligence when we needed to replace our car.  It took time and patience but we found a new to us car that we had the knowledge to recognize as a good deal. We literally saved hundreds.

2020 Buying and Eating: August 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $241.09

Cushion:$970.29

What We Ate:  chicken divan and salad; pulled pork, potatoes and salad; General Tao's pork and veg; bleu cheese hamburgers, salad, Alfredo noodles; vegetarian Alfredo  noodles, tomatoes and butter beans; minestrone soup; brats and broccoli salad; Mexican pizza; smoked turkey sandwich and yogurt; fish and hushpuppies with salad; Curried potato; Korean bbq and rice; grilled ham and cheese with lentil soup; grilled venison, zucchini, mashed potatoes

Eating Out:

lunch in Bradford  $4.45

Aunt Cookie's Sub Shop  $10.26

Total:  $14.71

What We Bought:

Aldi:  sourdough bread, cantaloupe, bagels  $5.97

Price Rite:  broccoli, zucchini, salmon (2lb)   $9.37

Cosco:  garlic, kosher salt, salami (2lb)   $19.97

Save a Lot:  onions (3#), onion soup mix bananas (2#)   $3.20

Parkview Supermarket:  green pepper, carrots (4), potatoes (20#), sugar (16#), breakfast sausage (6#)  $21.45

Costco:  Swiss cheese  $13.15

Total Groceries:  $73.11

Two Week Total:  $87.82

Monthly Grand Total:  $187.42

To Cushion:  $153.27

New Cushion Amount:  $1,123.56

2020 Meal Plan: August 16-31

Vegetarian:  vegetarian Alfredo noodles; minestrone soup; Curried potato

Low Meat:  chicken divan; General Tao's pork and vegetables; Mexican salad

Meat:  pulled pork ; bleu cheese hamburgers; brats ; smoked turkey sandwich; fish; Korean bbq; grilled ham and cheese; grilled venison

Vegetarian:  3      Need to cook more.

Low Meat:  4       A few more of these would be good.

Meat:  8     Way too many.  But they tasted good.

Taking Advantage of Local Sales When You Aren't a Local

 We are currently camping in New York.  As we often do,we checked out the local grocery store.  We found some good deals that we will be taking home with us.  Sometimes it pays to shop like a local even when you are not.

Potatoes  were 99 cents for ten pounds.  We Bought twenty pounds.

Grated carrots, which I never buy, were half price.  I bought four bags for stir fry, carrot cake and carrot salad.  They are great in the RV.

Breakfast sausage links were six pounds for $4.99.  We bought six pounds.

Sugar was four pounds for $1.99.  We bought sixteen pounds.  I have jelly to make.

Frozen salmon was $3 /pound in a two pound pack.  We bought one pack.

European Carrot Cake

Carrots are plentiful and frugal.

  Hide some in a yummy dessert.  Since this recipe also contains pineapple and coconut you can almost convince yourself it is healthy.  :)  My husband has.  Lol!

2 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 c sugar
1 c oil
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 can crushed pineapples, drained well
2 c grated carrots
1 c coconut
 1 c chopped nuts

 Bake at 350 for 45 minutes in a 9x12 pan.

 VERY moist.  Freezable.

2020Household and Personal Care Expenses: July

Personal Care:

Toothpaste  $1  Dollar Tree
curling iron  $10.99  Salvage
Razors $0.89  Salvage

Household:

dishwasher detergent  (3)  $5.97  Salvage
Bleach    $2.49Price Rite
Ammonia $1.49 Price Rite
gallon storage bags (4)  $3.56  salvage
Sandwich bags  0.79  Salvage
Aluminum foil  $$0.99  Salvage
quart storagebags (2)  $1.38
Roastin pans (2)  $2.12  Dollar Tree
Fling wrap $1.06  Dollar Tree

Total Personal Care:  $12.88
Total Household:  $19.85

Both are within budget.

The Cost of Convenience

 Convenience foods can save some time (although maybe not as much as you might first think) but they can also cost you a lot of money.  If you're trying to reduce your food costs, take a look at the convenience foods you buy.

Friday or Saturday night pizza is a given for many of us.  I can either make one at home, or I can buy one.  I have a super easy crust recipe.  I use spaghetti sauce for the base.  Vegetables predominate , although pepperoni and sausage do appear.  My large pizza costs only 20% of the one I could purchase.  The time difference isn't all that much either.  Do that three of four times a month and the money saved is noticeable.

Homemade bread, again I use an easy recipe, saves me 33%-66% per loaf.

Soda to go with that pizza, if bought in liter bottles and not six packs, can save you 50%.

Homemade hot cocoa in the winter is only about 33% of the cost of those convenient packets.

Homemade French fries rather than frozen fries:  frozen can cost 4 to 5 times more.  Cutting a potato is fast and easy.  

Potato chips can cost ten times the cost of the raw potatoes used.  Save money and make popcorn.  Stove popped popcorn vs microwaved?  Microwave is twelve times more expensive when you compare equal quantities.

Salad kits vs Romaine lettuce; chopped vegetables vs whole vegetables; prepared fruit salad vs fresh fruit; potatoes ready to bake vs ones you have to wash and wrap yourself; prepare cupcakes and birthday cakes vs purchased.  The list goes on.

Take some time and save some money.  Your budget will thank you.

2020 Buying and Eating: August 1-15

$10.99x31=$340.69 allocation for the month

Cushion $970.29

What We Ate:  Low carb chili with cheese and onions; hamburgers and cottage cheese; white chicken chili; Thai spicy rice and salad; Moroccan barley with beans and vegetables; vegetarian pasta bake (2); baked potato bar;  beef/t vp sloppy Joes; grilled chicken;  tvp chicken noodle soup and mashed potatoes; chicken divan over rice; vegetable pizza

What We Bought:  

Tops:corn on the cob (3), red  lettuce, clementines (2#)  $3.31

J&A Farmer's Market:  quart basket of tomatoes, sweet onions (2) $11.00

Aldi:  English muffins, bagels, sourdough bread, grapes, cucumber, eggs (3), mustard  $11.86

Aldi: bagels$1.49

Eating Out:

Bean burrito  $2.16

Lunch with Cousins:  $23.98

Lunch with Mike's sister  $45.80

Groceries for Two Weeks. $27.66

Meals Out for Two Weeks  $71.94

Grand Total for Two Weeks  $99.60

Remaining Allocation for August  $241.09

2020 Meal Plan: August 1-15

Vegetarian:  Moroccan barley with beans and vegetables; vegetarian pasta bake (2); baked potato bar; tvp chicken noodle soup and mashed potatoes; bean burrito; vegetable pizza

Low Meat:  white chicken chili; Thai spicy rice;  tvp and beef sloppy Joes; chicken divan over rice

Meat:  Low carb chili; hamburgers; grilled chicken

Vegetarian  7

Low Meat  4

Meat  3

Chipping Away at That Number

 Ok.  You still have a gap between the money and the month.  Let's see if we can chip away at that a little.  

1.  Can you lower your car insurance now that you aren't driving as much?

2.  Use your library for books, books on CD, movies, etc.  You may be able to cancel your media package or at least reduce it significantly.

3.  Try shopping at a reduced frills grocery store.  You can save a significant amount of money by doing so.

4.  Read the sales fliers and shop from them.  Plan your meals around what is available inexpensively.  

5.  When menu planning, deliberately plan low meat or no meat meals.  Meat is expensive.

6.  If you need something, look to the used market if you can.  I have purchased many brand new items at a used item price.  The savings is substantial.

7.  See if one of your hobbies can translate into homemade gifts.  If not, try gift shopping at the grocery store.  Gourmet jams, sauces, etc can make wonderful and appreciated gifts.

8.  Can you get by with a less expensive phone and phone plan?  My partner has a smart phone and I don't.  We make it work.  We also shopped around and found a very inexpensive phone plan that provides everything we need.

9.  Before you spend money, try thinking outside the box.  Use your time and creativity instead of your dollars.

2020 Frugal Things In July

1.  2.5 pounds of free fish from a friend.

2.  A series of salvage shops to really up our stockpile.  We spent money now to save it later.

3.  Went to Starbucks and got a free latte for my birthday.

4.  Bought a new dishwasher after 15 years.  It was on sale for $130 off, and we paid with gift cards that will save us $ 28.00 on gas.

5.  I cashed in the change I have been saving for about a year.  I turned it into a Starbucks gift card and got the full $93.47 I cashed in.  If I had asked for cash back I would have lost a percentage to service fees.

A Timely Calculation

It appears that a lot of school age children will be learning from home this fall.  Parents will need to find someone to be there with them to help.  For many parents, one of them will be staying home and either cutting their hours or, at least temporarily, moving out of the work force.

How much do you need to adjust your budget?  Try this calculation.  The number may not be as high as you think.  Still hard, but maybe not impossible.

1.  Take your total salary, not your take home,  and subtract the taxes you have to pay on that amount.  Remember, there are federal, state and local taxes you get to subtract.  Take into consideration your partner's income.  It might put you in a higher tax bracket.  That means you may get to subtract more!

2.  Subtract the day care costs you normally paid.  You are now the daycare provider.

3.  Subtract the transportation costs you had for getting back and forth to work.  You live there now.  :)

4.  If you needed extra clothes for your job, subtract that cost.  You can really dress down now.  So can you kids.

5.  If you were the cook for your family, subtract the extra costs for take out and easy to do food.  You may still have some, leave that in, but it will drop.  Believe me.

6.  Anything else that you can subtract that I haven't thought of.

The resulting end number that you still need to cut from your budget might be a lot smaller than you originally thought.

Good Luck!

Huge Salvage Shop, Part Four

Tortillas (4)       $0.25each
Vegetarian baked beans  16oz  (2)  $0.49each
Roman beans  15.5oz  (4)   $0.49each
Wolf brand chili  15oz.  $0.49
Corn  15.25oz     $0.49
Sauerkraut   27oz.    $0.75
Paella mix      $0.69
Poppy seed dressing     $0.10
Falafel mix   (3)    $0.50each
Cake mix with frosting for RV     $0.50
Coffee 26 oz  (2)     $4.99each
Coffee  10oz. (6)     $0.50each
Lime juice  4oz.      $0.25
Sage leaves   $0.50
Low mein noodles  10oz    $0.65
Hush puppy mix       $0.35
Roasted chestnuts   (4)     $0.25each
Chocolate chip  (4).     $0.50
Vegetable broth   32oz   (2)     $0.25each
Dry pinto beans   4#       $1.29
Velveeta  2#        $4.99
Cream of chicken soup       $0.59
Sopaipilla mix        $0.59
Crackers    (3).      $0.49each

$254.76 was spent in total on this huge salvage grocery shop.

I now feel comfortable to confront whatever is ahead.  We can shelter in place again if necessary.  And for quite a few months. And yes, we went over budget.

2020 Buying and Eating: July 16-31

The monthly allocation is spent.  We are$42.04 into the cushion.
The cushion now stands at $970.29

What We Ate:  Morocan beans and vegetables with barley.; Curried potato, pineapple, corn; Mexican pizza and potato skins; vegetable soup and noodles over mashed potatoes ,yogurt, fruit
We started low-carb on the 20th.
Marinated and oven roasted chicken, cabbage, pepperoni with cheese; Low carb chili with cheese; Low carb hotdog casserole (2); Low carb turkey sandwich with avocado and cheese and salad; smoked turkey, Brussels sprouts and artichoke hearts with Parmesan; smoked turkey sandwich with horseradish sauce and fresh fruit; North Carolina bbq pork with green beans and strawberries; leftover pork and Turkey bbq;  Italian sausage with peppers and onions and salad; chicken stir fry; ham and cheese sandwiches on low-carb bread

What We Bought:

Save a Lot:  salad greens     $1.19

Aldi:  zero net carb bread (2), onion soup mix, cucumber, blueberries, strawberries (2), heavy cream (2), cottage cheese   $17.88

Price Rite:  pork roast. (7.75#)  $5.70

Aldi:  strawberries (2), blueberries, low carb bread (2)  $12.05

Price Rite:  cucumber, lettuce, green pepper, muenster cheese, horseradish cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese $10.23

Total for Groceries:   $47.05

Eating Out:

Khao Thai lunch with Angela  $15.37

Grand Total for two weeks:   $62.42


New Cushion Amount:   $907.87
Amount into the cushion for the Month:   $104.46

This was the first time into the cushion for the year.  If we had not done the huge salvage shopping we would have been under so I am ok with this.  On to August!

2020 Meal Plan: July 16-31

Vegetarian:  Moroccan beans and vegetables with barley; curried potatoes; Mexican pizza; vegetable soup and noodles over mashed potatoes


Meat:  We started low-carb on the 20th
Marinated and oven roasted chicken; Low carb chili with cheese; Low carb hotdog casserole (2); Low carb turkey sandwich with avocado and cheese; smoked turkey sandwich with horseradish sauce ; North Carolina bbq pork; leftover pork and Turkey bbq; Italian sausage with peppers and onions; chicken stir fry; Low carb ham sandwich

Vegetarian:  4
Meat:  11

Our low carb diet is evident in the numbers.  Back to normal in two days.  :)

Huge Salvage Shop, Part Three

Diced tomatoes  28oz  (4)      $0.50each
Canned beans  15oz  (5)        $0.20 each
Salad dressing  (2).     $0.25each
Dry rub       $0.25
Salad dressing.    $0.10
Korean Bbq kit     $0.50
Pop tarts    32 count     $2.50
Dry milk  56.3 oz.   (2)   $3.50 each
Animal crackers.    $0.33
Dry yeast    $3.99
Bulger wheat  18oz.     $0.69
Raisins   10oz.    (3).     $0.89 each
Toastems.          ,$0.89
Quaker oatmeal.   42oz.  (2).    $1.39 each
Shortbread cookies  (3)   $0.39each
Twix fun size  10.83 oz  (2)      $1.19each
Tapioca     .65 pound     $1.76
Cream   (4).    $0.25 each
Assorted canned vegetables  (11)   $0.39each
Lentil crackers.         $0.39 each
Butterfinger fun size.       $0.99
Self rising flour  5#      (3).        $0.79 each
Chinese noodles  10 oz.     (2).  $0.39 each
Chicken stock   32 oz       $0.49
Beef stock  32 oz.  $0.69
Assorted vegetables  21 cans      $0.33 each
Beef stock  32 oz    $0.50
Spaghetti sauce   (4)         $0.75each
Natural peanut butter    (2)   $1.89 each
Lima beans, dry     20 oz    $1.50

A Huge Salvage Shop: Part Two

Beef broth   14.5 oz (3)          $0.59 each
Shelf stable milk  32 oz  (4)     $0.49 each
Beef broth  32 oz  (4).   $ 0.79 each
Cashews  8 oz    $0.99
Almonds  1#      $0.99
Tikka masala sauce    $0.59
Canned peas, beans, artichoke (5)  $0.39 each
Artichoke hearts  14 oz    $0.59
Canned cream soup. (2)  $0.59 each
Flour  5#    (4)     $0.99each
Large box snack items (102 items)   $4.00
Greek yogurt 5.3 oz. (24)    $1.00/12
Cottage cheese (2)     $1.00 each
Single serve vanilla pudding  (4).   Free
Pizza crusts, 2 count   (3)     $1.00each
Flour tortillas (2)     $0.50each
Salsa 3.8oz   (10)   $1.00
Saltines          $0.99
Crackers     $0.75
Water chestnuts (2)  $0.75
Toaster pastries   12 count     $1.35
Boil in the bag rice for RV  4 count   $0.75
Poultry seasoning      $1.00
 Diced tomatoes 14.5 oz  (4)   $0.25 each
Fish stock  15 oz  $0.99
Assorted can fruit  (8)          $0.35each
Ketchup  14 oz.     $0.10
Corn chips  1#     $1.50
Cream style corn  (2)        $0.25 each
German potato salad  (2)    $0.59each
Dried cranberries   (4).     $0.25each
Gulden's mustard  (2)  $0.10 each
Bay leaves       $0.50
Peppercorns    $0.50

2020 Linus Project Blankets and Yarn Costs: April -June

April:

Linus Project Blankets  7
Operation Gratitude Hats:  20
Operation Gratitude NeckWarmers:  4

May:

Operation Gratitude Scarves  17
Animal Blankets   6
Linus Project Blankets  2

June

Linus Project Blanket  8
Animal Blankets  5
Operation Gratitude Scarves:  8


Totals:

Operation Gratitude Scarves.   25
Operation Gratitude Hats     20
Operation Gratitude Neck Warmers.    4
Linus Project Blankets.    17
Pet Blankets.    11

It appears I kept busy while sheltering in place.

2020 Meal Plan: July 1-15

Vegetarian:  eggplant and pasta with sauce (2); baked potato; Asian peanut noodles;  bean tikka masala

Low Meat:  chilli spaghetti; scalloped potatoes and ham (2); bacon and lentil soup

Meat:  ham; hotdogs; tuna cheese sandwiches; leftover venison

Vegetarian:  5
Low Meat:  4
Meat:  4

I like the balance so far this month.

2020 Buying and Eating: July 1-15

July Allocation:  $340.69
Cushion:  $1,012.33

What We Ate:  chilli spaghetti cheese bread, yogurt; ham, green beans, potato; scalloped potatoes and ham, roasted beets, bananas and yogurt (2); hotdogs, baked beans, pasta salad, watermelon; tuna cheese sandwiches; eggplant and pasta with sauce,yogurt and fruit, vegetable (2); baked potato, mixed vegetable, yogurt and fruit; leftover venison, broccoli potato;  Asian peanut butter noodles, lima beans, plums;  bean tikka masala, cottage cheese with onion and sunflower seeds, carrots with dill; bacon and lentil soup with yogurt


What We Bought:

Aldi:  watermelon  $2.89

Tops:  goldfish crackers, French onion dip, eggs (2), Italian bread, eggplant $7.15

Save a Lot:  bananas (1.66#). $0.25

Tops:  ice cream $2.99

Aldi:  hamburger (6#)  $9.75

Tops:  broccoli(1.1#)  $0.98

Sam's Club:  olive s$14.76

Salvage at a total of 7 stories, detailed in a post  $239.19. We should be set for quite a while!  Yes we will be into the cushion this month.

Save a Lot:  pork but roast to smoke (10.5#), pork back ribs (4#), onions (3#)  $24.09

Price Rite:  hamburger (2#), red peppers (4), fish (2#), shrimp (2#)  $30.56

Total for Groceries for the first two weeks:  $322.80

Eating Out:

Greek Festival lunch and dinner  $32.00
Birthday donuts  $2.60
Birthday lunch $6.00
Birthday dinner $19.33

Total for Eating Out for the first two weeks:  $59.93

Grand Total for two weeks:  $382.73

We are into the cushion by $42.04
The cushion now stands at $970.29

We have spent a large sum to stockpile for the future, taking advantage of sale prices.

A HUGE Salvage Shop At Seven Stores : Part One

I have A Lot to post so I will be doing it in sections.  I hope I have purchased enough so that we are basically set until the holidays except for fresh stuff.

Coffee  ( 16.5 #)                       $2.53/pound
Dishwasher detergent (3)     $1.99 each
Cinnamon frosted flakes (2) $0.88 each
2 Meal kits tika masala & Korean  $0.39each
Dry small red beans 16 oz     $0.79
Grape nuts (2)  20.5 oz.           $0.99 each
Cheez  It  12.4oz                        $0.99
Classic crackers  12.3 oz.         $0.49
Crunch n munch (2)                 $0.39 each
Zesta crackers.                           $1.29
Rold good pretzels  20 oz.        $1.00
Gallon storage bags  (4)            $0.89 each
Salad dressing  (2).                    $0.49 each
Sandwich bags                           $0.79
Aluminum foil                           $0.99
Pasta  (8#).                                  $0.69
Quart storage bags (2).            $0.69 each
Vanilla pudding mix (2)          $0.49 each
Potato dumpling mix  (2).       $0.39 each
pie crust mix  (4).                      $0.49 each
Breakfast flats (2).                     $0.45 each
Craisins (2).                                 $0.49 each
Tuna   (7).                                    $0.59 each
Pink salmon   (4).                       $0.49 each
Ramen noodles  (2).                   $0.10 each
Natural peanut butter  (2).       $1.19each
Beef broth 14.5 oz  (3).              $0.49each
Canned chicken  10 oz.             $1.79
Cornmeal 5 lb                             $0.99
Bacon (15 lb).                              $1.77/pound

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses: June

Household:

8 crumpet rings   $9.54 Amazon  I am making our own these days.
Gallon and quart (2) freezer bags  $3.18  Dollar Tree
Broom $7.00  Dollar General

Total:  $19.72


Personal Care:  $0.00

But, I REALLY need a haircut!

2020 Frugal Things In June

This was not an exciting month.  No special deals.  Just normal stuff we do all the time.  But it saves money and it all adds up.

1.  Because it appears our discount bread store has closed for good, I am now baking our bread products such as bagels, English muffins and regular bread.  I'm even going to try my hand at rye.  I can make them for about a third of the price I would pay to buy them.

2.  I am cooking our meals at home.  We try to eat a balance of vegetarian and low meat meals with only a few meals where meat is the star.  ( See below.)

3.  We eat a lot of beans.    ( See below.)The majority are cooked from dry which is much cheaper.  But, I do keep some canned beans or when I am in a hurry.

4. An 8x12 photo of the grandchildren for free.  A $3.99 value from Walgreens

5.  Stocking up on mozzarella and provolone cheese when we found it for $1.99/pound.


Epic Fail:  Two crates of frozen meat were not returned to the freezer when they should have been.  This was discovered two days later.  Even great food bargains become expensive when you have to throw them away.  :(    But, they will only be replaced when things go on sale again.

2020 Meal Plan: June 16-30

Vegetarian:  falafel; white beans and green Chile chili; vegetarian egg rolls and Pad Thai noodles; spaghetti with tvp "meat" sauce; vegetable pizza

Low Meat:  chicken pot pie; moo shu chicken; chicken pot pie

Meat:  grilled chicken; brats; shrimp and grits; grilled venison; hamburgers; grilled venison

Vegetarian:   5
Low Meat:  3
Meat:  6

I would have preferred two more low meat and two less meat.

2020 Buying and Eating: June 16-30

Remaining Allocation:  $260.23

What We Ate:  falafel, salad, peas; white beans and green Chile chili, cheese and crackers, fruit; grilled chicken, asparagus and pasta with garlic and cheese; chicken pot pie ; brats, German potato salad, coleslawe and fruit; vegetarian egg rolls Pad Thai noodles with vegetables; shrimp and grits with mixed vegetables; spaghetti with tvp meat sauce, mixed vegetable, cheese bread; moo shu chicken and Chinese onion pancake; grilled venison, potato kugel, grill carrots, cheese scones; vegetable pizza; hamburgers and leftover sides;  pot pie, kugel, oranges and cottage cheese;  grilled venison, fried cabbage, potato skin

What We Bought:

M&M Grocery:  mozzarella and provolone cheese (18.4 #), whole wheat flour (5#), rye flour(4#) bay leaves, wheat gluten (.75#), almond essence, yeast (1#)  $58.68

Scwebel's:  hot dog buns, sub rolls$1.79

Costco:  shredded cheddar cheese (10#), block cheddar cheese (4#), Swiss cheese (2#), feta cheese(1.5#), bleu cheese (1.5#),  $80.20


Total Groceries for Two Weeks:  $140.62
Grocery for Month:  $200.90
Eating Out for the Month:  $9.24

Total for the Month:  $210.14

New Cushion Amount:  $1,012.33
Amount to Cushion:  $119.56

British Hobnobs

Adapted from a recipe on Mortgage Free in Three.

1 1/2 cups self rising flour
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup sugar
 2 sticks melted butter
3 tablespoons came syrup

Bake for 30 minutes at 300.

Buttery, crunchy cookies.  Makes about three dozen.

2020 Frugal Things In May

1.  Saving the one cup of oil that cream cheese stuffed pepperocini came in to be used for making Spicy Italian Dressing.

2.  Taking advantage of a store special to buy a ten pound ham at 39 cents per pound.

3.  Taking advantage of another store's sale on chicken leg quarters.  At 39 cents per pound I bought twenty  pounds.

4.  Using the brine from yellow pepper rings to season another jar of sweet peppers.

5.  I am listening to a book on my tablet and wanted a speaker for better sound.  Mike came downstairs with a speaker that came with a computer we owned YEARS ago.  It works perfectly. This one walks a fine line between frugal and hoarding!  LOL!

6.  I used a $15 gift card from getting my shingles vaccine to get some sale items at Giant Eagle.  We only went over by 57 cents.

• 7.  I purchased eleven pounds of soy tvp granules for $40.22.  That comes to $3.65 per pound.  Since one pound of dry tvp becomes three when rehydrated, I would need to find ground beef on sale for $1.60/ pound for an equivalent amount.  The tvp is a budget win.

2020 Meal Plan: June 1-15

Vegetarian:  vegetable soup over noodles; Buffalo style cauliflower; black bean burritos; cheese and crackers; cauliflower steaks

Low Meat:  ham and Swiss strata; Pittsburgh steak salad; steak sandwich pizza; chicken pot pie; chicken cordon bleu casserole; Indian chicken and rice,

Meat:  steak; fried chicken; hamburgers

Vegetarian:  5
Low Meat:  6
Meat:  3

I am pleased with these numbers.

2020 June 1-15: Buying and Eating

$10.99/ day times 30 days=$329.70 Allocation
Cushion  $892.77


Aldi:  pretzels (2), raisins, bleu cheese, cheddar cheese (2)  $13.34

Save a Lot:  peaches, zucchini, yogurt  potatoes (10#) $8.71

Tops:  cauliflower, Romaine lettuce, rye bread, eggs (3)  $8.52

Aldi:  flour (10#) corn starch, cucumber, tilapia (2#),mushrooms strawberries, asparagus, grapes (2#)  $15.67

Save a Lot:  fried chicken  $6.

Save a Lot:  pie crust  $1.99

Golden Dawn:  ice cream (2)  $6.00

What We Ate:  ham and Swiss strata, baked Brussel sprouts, apple sauce;  vegetable soup over noodles, cottage cheese and chives with sunflower seeds; Buffalo style cauliflower, refried beans, French fries; steak salad, zucchini; black bean burritos, cottage cheese and strawberries; Pittsburgh steak salad; fried chicken and salad; steak sandwich pizza; chicken cordon bleu casserole, mashed potatoes, salad; chicken pot pie; salad with cheese and crackers; Indian chicken and rice, spinach fritters; burgers, potato salad, zucchini; cauliflower steaks, spinach fritters, potato salad

Eating Out:

Mike lunch  $2.38. Taco Bell
Mike lunch $2.00  Taco BellWhat
Mike lunch  $4.86  Tim Horton

Grocery Total:  $60.23
Eating Out Total:  $9.24
Two Weeks Grand Total:  $69.47
Remaining Allocation:  $260.23

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses: May

Household:

Sandwich bags (2)  $2.12  Dollar Tree
Air freshener for near litter boxes (8)  $4.71  Walgreens

Total:  $6.83


Personal Care

Body Powder  $1.06 Dollar Tree


Another good month for bringing the yearly totals more in line.  But boy do I need a haircut!

Our May Salvage Shop

Time to plug some holes in our stockpile.  There were some items not to be found , as always, but we did find some good bargains.  The important thing is our coffee ☕is restocked!  :)

coffee   10 oz    (16)     $1.50
Duck sauce     40 oz.     75 cents
Plum sauce.    9.3 oz.    35 cents
Szechuan pepper sauce     3.7 oz.     25 cents
Pad Thai sauce.    3.4 oz. (2)     25 cents
General Tao's sauce     3.8 oz.     25 cents
Black bean sauce     8.7 oz.     50 cents
Sesame sauce.    6.28 oz.     99 cents
oyster sauce     7 oz.     75 cents
Fish sauce     7 oz.     75 cents
Hoisin sauce     7 oz.     35 cents
Thai peanut sauce.    7 oz.     35 cents
Chinese bbq sauce.    11 oz.     39 cents
Chinese noodles     10 oz  (2)     75 cents
Stir fry vegetables     15 oz   (4).    49 cents
Mixed vegetables      15 oz     49 cents
Falafel mix      6.3 oz   (2)     50 cents
White kidney beans.   15.5 oz   (2).   49 cents
Small white beans    15.5 oz    (2)    49 cents
chicken broth    14.5 oz   (4)     49 cents
Evaporated milk     12 oz   (4)     49 cents
Shelf stable milk     32 oz    (4)     69 cents
Seafood stock     32 oz     75 cents
Olive oil     3 liters     $8.99
Wesson corn oil.    64 oz     $2.99
Kraft creamy Greek dressing 14 oz  10 cents
Newman's  honey apple cider 16 oz 10 cents
Smucker's Natural pb   12 oz    1.50
Diced tomatoes     14.5 oz     (6)     49 cents
Classico spaghetti sauce  24 oz  (4)  $1.00
Pastry crisps   12 count  (3)     50 cents
butterscotch pudding mix  1 lb     $1.75
Cocoa powder    3/4 pound     $2.00
Nutmeg     1.25 oz.     99 cents
Garlic powder.   3 oz.    99 cents
Chinese 5spice powder  b  1.7 oz.     99 cents
Baking chocolate     9.2 oz     50 cents
Lemon & chocolate pudding mix     50 cents
Crushed tomatoes     28 oz   (4)     25 cents
Crema     7.6 oz.     (4)     25 cents

Total:  $75.93

2020 Buying and Eating The First Quarter of the Year

January:  $37.62 Groceries.    $82.99 Eating Out

February:  $107.92 Groceries     $40.37 Eating Out

March : $170.20 Groceries     $73.47 Eating Out


 Total:  $315.74 Groceries.    $196.53 Eating Out


Grand Total:  $512.27

Per Day:  $5.63
Per Person Per Day:  $2.81

2020 Meal Plan: May 16-31

Vegetarian:  Mexican pizza; garlic and cheese gnocchi; cheesy lasagna;egg salad sandwiches; tvp cheeseburger pizza

Low Meat:  clam chowder; beef stew; nachos supreme; Indian chicken and rice

Meat:bbq chicken; H am steak, grilled salmon; white hots (2); ham; shrimp and grits

Vegetarian     5
Low Meat.    4
Meat     7

Too much meat.  Need to try harder to get that number down.

2020 Buying and Eating: May 16-31

Remaining Allocation:  $243.15  Cushion:  $773.21

What We Bought:

Salvage:  duck sauce, plum sauce, Szechuan pepper sauce, pad Thai sauce (2), General Tao's sauce, black beans sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, Thai peanut sauce, Chinese bbq sauce, Chinese noodles (2), stir fry vegetables (4), mixed vegetable, falafel mix (2), white kidney beans (2), small white beans (2), chicken both (4), evaporated milk (4), shelf stable milk (4), seafood stock, olive oil, corn oil, creamy Greek salad dressing, honey apple cider salad dressing, natural peanut butter (2), diced tomatoes (6), classico spaghetti sauce (4), coffee (16), pastry crisps (3), butterscotch, lemon and chocolate pudding mix, cocoa powder, nutmeg , garlic, Chinese 5spice,  baking chocolate, crushed tomatoes (4), cream (4)  $75.93

Bread Store (We tried a different one since our normal is closed.  More expensive.)  Italian, raisin bagels, cinnamon raisin bread, flat bread (2)$6.87

Giant Eagle:  salmon, green soy beans, carrots, potatoes   57 cents after the $15 gift card recived when I got my shingles vaccine.I

Amazon:  Eleven pounds of soy tvp  $40.22


What We Ate:  ham steak , Thai spicy fried rice, fruit and yogurt; Mexican pizza and chips;  clam chowder and cream biscuits and a salad; beef stew, biscuits, cottage cheese and peaches; garlic and cheese gnocci, egg and cheese Florentine , winter squash; nachos supreme; cheese lasagna, garlic bread, salad; grilled salmon, salad pasta with pesto; bbq chicken, potatoes, 3bean salad; white hots, deviled eggs, coleslaw (2); Indian chicken and rice, like beans, cottage cheese and peaches; egg salad sandwiches, potato skins, cottage cheese and peaches; ham, eggs,potatoes, toast; tvp cheeseburger pizza;  shrimp and grits and green beans almondine


$ 123.59 for Groceries/ last two weeks
$221.13 Total for food in May.  Of that, $181.13 was for groceries and $40 was for Eating Out on Mother's Day.

$119.56 gets added to the cushion this month.  It's total is now $892.77.

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses: April

Household:

Manual can opener  $15.49  Amazon


Personal Care:

Toothpaste (2)  $2.00  Dollar Tree

These Low numbers will help bring totals in line.

2020 Frugal Things In April

1.  Making homemade bagels and English muffins from stockpiled flour and yeast.

2.  After the stand mixer broke finding a no knead artisan bread recipe to make and adapting it to make bagels.

3.  Taking advantage of a one month free trial of Acorn tv 📺.

4.  Taking advantage of a #10can of roasted peppers I bought at Salvage for 99 cents and making roasted red pepper relish.  Mike loved it.

5.  A free 8x10 photo from Walgreens  $3.99v alue

2020 Linus Project Blankets and Yarn Costs: January -March

January:

 Linus Project:  3

Operation Gratitude Scarves  3

Pet Blankets:  2

4 skeins of yarn for $4.23 at Goodwill
$0.99 yarn at Goodwill
 21skeins of free yarn from the Linus Project ladies  :)



February:

Pet Blankets:  1

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  2

Linus Project Blankets:  6

19 Skein yarn for $13.90
4 skeins yarn 3.96
6skeins of yarn $5.94
21  Skeins of yarn for $8 at the thrift store
4 skeins of yarn for 3.96 from Goodwill
$1 skein of cotton yarn
1 large spool of cotton yarn  $1.99
16 skeins of yarn for$18.48  more than I like to spend but yarn is getting harder to find  and I have looked in many stores and come away empty handed
34 skeins of yarn for $22.59
11 skeins of yarn for $11.73
25 skeinsi of yarn from my friend Marge

March:

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  5
Linus Project Blankets:  8
Pet Blankets:  1

3 skein cotton yarn  $5.94
24 skeins yarn $27.22
46 skeins yarn $30.00
21 skeins of yarn $23.00
30 skeins of yarn for $26.00 ( including 8 skeins of cotton and 2 of wool.)
35 skeins for $33.56  (including some cotton)

This yarn was purchased as we RV d around the South just before Covid19.
There was a point where I was discouraged because we weren't finding much but it all worked out well!I

All together we got 327 skeins of yarn and paid $242.49.

I am so glad I have it!  Crocheting has saved my sanity during this.

2020 Meal Plan: May 1-15

Vegetarian:  macaroni and cheese; vegetable soup over noodles; hummus (2) ; Cuban black bean soup and rice

Low Meat:  shrimp Alfredo; tuna macaroni salad; calzones; augratin potatoes and ham; vegetable egg roll, vegetable pad Thai and bacon wrapped waterchestnuts

Meat:  meatloaf;  hamburgers; Mother's Day; leftovers from Mother's Day

Vegetarian  5

Low Meat  5

Meat  4

Not a bad balance.

2020 Buying and Eating: May 1-15

Allocation:  $10.99x 31=$340.69
Cushion:  $778.21

What We Ate:  meatloaf, fried potatoes, lima beans; hamburgers, baked beans macaroni salad; shrimp Alfredo and garlic cheese bread; macaroni and cheese, three bean salad, yogurt with Mandarin oranges;  tuna macaroni salad, cheese and crackers, 3 bean salad; vegetable soup over noodles; calzones; hummus and salad; Mother's Day; leftovers from Mother's Day; augratin potatoes and ham; homemade veggie egg roll, vegetable pad Thai and bacon wrapped waterchestnuts; hummus and homemade soft pretzels; Cuban black bean soup and rice


What We Bought:

Price Rite: ham (9.5#), dried assorted beans (6#), assorted pasta ((5), lettuce, green pepper, cucumber, carrots (2#), cottage cheese, milk (gal. To make ricotta). $30.03

Co-op:  tvp chunks (1#), vital wheat gluten, fennel seed  $11.71

Save a Lot:  bacon (2), chicken leg quarters (20#)  $11.80

Total for Groceries:  $53.54   including 32 pounds of meat


Eating Out:

Mother's Day takeout from the club  $44


Total for Two Weeks:  $97.54

Remaining Allocation for the  nextTwo Weeks:  $243.15

Easy Artisan No Knead Bread

An amalgamation of several recipes , used when my mixer that I knead my bread with broke.  Because of a repaired shoulder kneading for long periods is no longer in my skill set.

This is SUPER easy.

3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbs salt
1 Tbs yeast
1 1/2cups warm water

Mix all the ingredients together.  It will form a very dry and scraggly dough.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place.  I use my oven with the pilot light on.
Walk away and forget about it for 12-18 hours while time does its magic.
Remove dough from oven and set oven to 450.
Place a heavy Dutch oven and cover in oven to heat for 1/2 hour.
Your dough is now magically soft and pliable!  On a piece of parchment paper, form the dough into a round ball.  Score the top with a shallow X.
Place the dough and the parchment paper into the VERY HOT Dutch oven and cover with the lid.
Bake 30 minutes covered and then an additional 15 minutes uncovered.
Remove from oven and cool.
Enjoy its crusty goodness!

2020 Clothing Expenses: January -March

January:

Two dresses for the cruise  $9.98
3 pairs of dress pants for cruise  $2.97
12 tops including camisoles  for the cruise  $28

Total:  $40.95

Due to covid19 we didn't go on the cruise.

February:
-0-

March:

2 pairs of jeans  $9.96

Grand Total:  $50.91

$16.97/month on average

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses for the First Quarter of the Year

Household:

Total:  $157.12
Average/Month:  $52.37 or about double the budget.


Personal Care:

Total:  $75.98
Average/Month:  $25.33  Just about on budget.

2020 Meal Plan: April 16-30

Vegetarian:  shakshuka with egg and feta;  huevos rancheros

Low Meat:  clam chowder;  beef and bean burritos; lentil and ham risotto;  chicken pad Thai;  rice with beef and peppers; steak salad

Meat:  meatloaf; meatloaf sandwiches;  pork chops; grilled marinated beef; deli sandwiches

Vegetarian:  2
Low Meat: 6
Meat:  5

too much meat and comfort food.

2020 Buying and Eating: April 16-30

Remaining Allocation:  $300.69
Cushion:  $487.82


What We Ate:  meatloaf, baked potato, green beans; shakshuka and egg with feta over rice;  meatloaf sandwiches and roasted garlic potato skins; pork chops and pasta with pesto and green soybeans;  clam chowder; beef and bean burritos; lentil and ham risotto, zucchini and cheese pancakes, pears with yogurt; huevos rancheros;  chicken pad Thai; rice with beef and peppers; grilled marinated beef Caesar salad, potato rounds;  homemade deli sandwiches and salad; steak salad

What We Bought:

Save a Lot:  onion (6#)  $2.38

Tops:  eggs (4), rye bread, bananas(7.68#), $7.92

Total Groceries for Two Weeks:  $10.30
Grand Total for Month:  $39.31
Amount to Cushion: $290.39

New Cushion Amount:  $778.21

Artisan No Knead Bagels

My stand mixer broke and kneading is hard on my repaired shoulder.  So, I experimented with the artisan method of raising the dough.  It worked!  I now have a new way of making bagels.

Mix together:
1 Tbs yeast
1 1/2 Tbs sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water; I used the hottest from the tap
3 1/2 c flour;  I used all purpose because I had it
1/2 tsp. Salt

The dough will look dry but it will loosen up as the yeast works on it.

Cover with plastic and let sit in a warm place for 12-18 hours.

Tip dough out onto floured surface and work until no longer sticky.

Divide dough into eight pieces and form into balls.

Make hole in center and shape.

Let rest while you bring a large pan of water to boil.

Carefully place in water a few at a time and boil 3 minutes on each side.  Drain.

Place on greased sheet and bake at 425degrees for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses: March

HouseHold :

Virus Cleaning Supplies:  $7.13  CVS and Whole Foods

Dishwasher detergent (2), hand soap ((3), assorted plastic food storage  bags(4),  aluminum foil sheets(2)  $11.59  Salvage

Total:  $18.73


Personal Care:

Mike haircut  $12.00

2020 Meal Plan: April 1-15

Vegetarian:  Mexican pizza; shakshuka; curried potatoes; broccoli soup and egg salad sandwiches; vegetable pizza

Low Meat:  beef stew with noodles; pasta with meat sauce(2)beef stew with dumplings; scalloped potatoes and ham; hotdogs and beans,

Meat:  chicken picatta;  pork fajitas; ham

Vegetarian  6
Low Meat. 5
Meat  3

2020 Buying and Eating: April 1-15

Monthly Allocation: 10.99x30=$329.70
New Cushion Amount:  $487.82

What We Ate:  Mexican pizza; beef stew over noodles, fresh fruit;  shakshuka and rice with salad; curried potatoes and mater with paneer; chicken picatta, peas, tabouli;  pasta with meat sauce and salad;  broccoli soup, egg salad sandwiches; pork fajita, refried beans, guacamole; Vegetarian pizza;  beef stew with dumplings and salad; Easter ham dinner; scalloped potatoes and ham coleslaw, corn;  hotdogs and beans, roasted Brussel sprouts, pears; pasta with meat sauce and sauted garlic spinach

What We Bought:

Aldi:  romaine, cucumber spinach, bananas sweet peppers  (3) eggs (2 ), cream cheese (2) spiral ham (12#)  $21.83

Save a Lot:  eggs (1 1/2), potatoes (10#)  $ 7.18

Total for Groceries:  $29.01

Remaining Allocation:  $300.69

2020 Frugal Things In February

1.  Making cherry jelly and pumpkin butter from ingredients I had in my freezer for awhile.

2.  Buying the dress pants I needed for a cruise from a thrift store.

3.  Taking advantage of thrift stores as we travel to restock my yarn supply.

4.  Stocking the RV for the trip with made ahead and frozen meals to cut down on grocery shopping.

5.  Restocking my supply of canning jars by shopping for them at the thrift store.

6.  Getting a free 8x10print from Walgreens.  A  $3.99 value.

Oops!  I forgot to post this.  Better late than never.

Frugal Things In March

1.  Doing a final salvage grocery shop to top up my food pantry.

2.  Related to the above, beginning to eat almost exclusively from our food pantry.  I can't stress this enough.  We are an at risk group so this is important for us.  Also, the few things that I have bought are much more expensive than normal for me.  Eating from the stockpile is much more frugal.

3.  Buying cheese from an Amish cheese co-op.  It averaged $2.31/#.  We will eat this as we are hunkering down.

4.  Baking  bread with stockpiled flour and yeast.  The bread store shelves are basically empty.

5.  Buying yarn for my charity crocheting at thrift stores for an average of 73 cents per skein.  

2020 Meal Plan: March 16-31

Vegetarian:  potato pancakes; assorted appetizers; kale and feta quiche; Asian peanut noodles

Low Meat:  chili spaghetti; tuna macaroni salad; shrimp Alfredo with pasta (2);  salad with chicken and cheese

Meat:  corned beef sandwiches;  pork chops; honey mustard grilled chicken; grilled tuna; meatloaf; not meatloaf sandwiches


Vegetarian:  4
Low Meat:  5
Meat:  6

Too much meat but a lot of comfort during this time of stress.

2020 Buying and Eating: March 16-31

Carryover for Next Two Weeks:  $222.95
Cushion:  $390.80

What We Bought:

Bread Store:  mini croissants (2)  $2.02  The shelves were bare except for the croissants.

Aldi:  cinnamon bagels, vanilla yogurt, pretzels, Pane Italian bread, English muffins,, everything bagels, grapes  $12.63

Aldi:  potatoes (10#), onions (6#), lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumber, eggs (2).  $16.94

Save a Lot:  bacon end and pieces (10#)  $19.99

Salvage:  beef broth (4), chicken both (2), mushroom  stock tomato puree (2), tomato paste, refried beans, Chipotle salsa, Indian matar and paneer, like beans while water chestnut (2), sliced water chestnut baby clams, pad thai, took a masala, macaroni and cheese (4), sauerkraut,GErman potato salad (2), cream (3), lemon juice, cocktail sauce, mustard (2), Szechuan stir fry sauce, coconut milk, mandarin oranges, sliced pears, tried apples, baked beans (2), applesauce, evaporated milk (6), shelf stable milk (2), gallon pure maple syrup, sugar (20#) cereal (2), poptarts, granola bars (6 boxes), Brown sugar, dried cranberries, saltines (4), peanut butter (2), cinnamon sticks, chai latte, coffee (18#)   48.71

Middlefield Cheese:  parmesan cheese (4#), marble (1.24#), onion garlic 0.9#), pepper jack (4.87#)  $25.64

Total for Groceries:  $125.93

No Eating Out

Now I'm ready to hunker down for a month or so.

What We Ate:  chili spaghetti with bread and salad; corned beef sandwiches; tuna macaroni salad with peaches and yogurt and crackers; pork chops, ,stuffing, edemame, croissants; shrimp Alfredo with pasta and salad;(2);  potato pancakes, applesauce and salad; assortment of appetizers, grapes and muffins; honey mustard grilled chicken, parmesan risotto, salad; grilled tuna, mashed potatoes and salad;  Asian peanut noodles, peaches and yogurt, homemade bread; meatloaf, mashed potatoes, cabbage; salad with chicken and cheese;  not meatloaf sandwiches, mixed vegetable, applesauce


To Cushion:  $97.02

New Cushion Amount:  $487.82

My Latest Salvage Shop

Beef Broth (4) 14.5oz.  50 cents each
Chicken broth (2)  14.5 oz. 50 cents each
Mushroom stock 32 oz. $1.50
Tomato puree (2) 28 oz. 50 cents each
Tomato paste 8 oz. 50cents
Refried beans 120 oz. 99cents
Chipotle salsa 7 oz.  10cents
Indian matar and paneer 14.5 oz. 33 cents
Lima beans 15 oz.  49cents
Water chestnuts, whole (2) 8 oz. 99cents each
Water chestnuts, sliced  8 oz. 49cents
Baby clams 10 oz. $1.49
Chicken Pad Thai Kit 50cents
Chicken Tikka Masala Kit 39 cents
Macaroni and cheese (4) 39cents each
Sauerkraut 14.4 oz. 25 cents
German potato salad (2) 15 oz.  25cents each
Crema (3) 6oz.  50 cents each
Lemon juice 32 oz.  79cents
Cocktail sauce 10.25 oz.  25 cents
Mustard (2)  11oz.  29cents each
Szechuan stir fry sauce  10 oz.  25cents
Coconut milk 13.5 oz. 89cents
Mandarin oranges 15 oz. 59cents
Sliced pears 14.5 oz.  79cents
Fried apples 15 oz. 59cents
Baked beans (2) 13.7oz. 49 cents
Evaporated milk (6) 12 oz. 29cents
Shelf stable milk (2) 69cents
Pure maple syrup. , one gallon  $39.99, a total treat!
Sugar 20 lbs.  $9.05
Cereal (2)  15.5 oz.  99 cents
Pop tarts, 6 two packs  10cents each
Granola bars, 4 boxes, 45cents each
Brown sugar lb. 49cents
Dried cranberries  6.5 oz.99 cents
Saltines (4) 64cents each
Wheat thins 8.5 oz.  79 cents
Triscuits  8.5 oz.  79cents
Natural peanut butter (2) 28oz. $2.58
Cinnamon sticks $1.09
Chai latte 32 oz  50 cents
Assorted coffee  18 lbs.  $57.86 of $3.22/pound

Grand Total:  $148.71

My pantry is full!  Just in time to eat it down and stay out of the stores.  Be safe everyone.

2020 Buying and Eating: March 1- 15

$10.99/day x  30days  = $340.69
Cushion:  $390.80

What We Ate:  sauerkraut casserole,  yogurt and fruit, carrots; southern bbq, cottage cheese with onion and chives, green beans; cheesy eggs Florentine with Italian sausage, cheese bread, salad; eggplant Parmesan with garlic cheese pasta and salad; spaghetti with sauce and cheese, garlic bread, salad; Asian food at Meg's; turkey avocado sandwich; ham and been soup with cheese and crackers;  tuna noodle casserole, peas, cottage cheese and pineapple; stuffing, potatoes, squash; fish, potato skins, broccoli, salad; pork fried rice, Chinese pancakes, pineapple and cottage cheese; French onion soup and tuna cheese sandwiches


What We Bought:

Aldi:  butter (6), potato chips, sourdough bread  $16.52  RV ing

Commissary at Fort Meade:  coffee  $5.86

Price Rite:  coffee (4), peanut butter, corned beef, (2.7#), broccoli crowns (2), cheese (3)  $18.81

Tops:  potatoes (3.3#), elbow macaroni, cabbage (3.8#)  $3.08

Total for Groceries:  $$44.27


Eating Out:
Lunch in D.C. $21.50
Dinner in D.C.  $34.50
Lunch on the way home  $4.24
Mike lunch $3.07
Lunch with Joyce  $10.16

Total for Eating Out:  $73.47


Grand Total for Two Weeks:  $117.74

Carry Over for Next Two Weeks:  $222.95

2020 Meal Plan: March 1-15

Vegetarian: eggplant Parmesan, garlic cheese pasta; spaghetti with sauce and cheese; stuffing, potatoes, squash;

Low Meat: sauerkraut casserole  ;Asian food at Meg's;  tuna noodle casserole; pork fried rice; French onion soup and tuna cheese sandwiches

Meat:  southern bbq; cheesy eggs Florentine with Italian sausage ;turkey avocado sandwich;  fish

Vegetarian:  4
Low Meat:  5
Meat:  4

Still need more vegetarian.

2020 Household and Personal Care Expenses: February

Household:

7 canning jars from thrift store  $3.43
10 canning jars $5.30
13 canning jars for $7.50 from the Thrift store.
25 canning jars for $9 from Goodwill
20 canning jars   $8.00
12 assorted canning jars $8.00
1 candle  $0.99
Masking tape $1  Dollar Tree
3 jam jars  $1.79
5 jars $4.13Eating

Total:  $49.1 1 Over budget for the month.
But, I stocked up on jars at a reduced cost so  am good for a couple of years.  Maybe even three years.  95 jars for $47.12


Personal Care Expenses:

Haircut for Sandy  $10.99
Hair Products  $28.99
Shampoo $1 from Dollar Tree
Body powder $1  Dollar Tree

Total:  $41.98  Over budget, hope to make it up throughout the year

2020 Meal Plan: February 16-29

Vegetarian:  macaroni and cheese; beans and greens over pasta;  fried fish

Low Meat:  Mexican pizza; pork salad; sausage and pepperoni pizza; Alfredo noodles with ham and peas; Cajun nachos; sausage and lentil loaf;  lemon chicken and barley; nachos

Meat:  kielbasa; grilled brats; grilled Cajun sausage

Vegetarian  3
Low Meat  8
Meat  3

Would like to increase our vegetarian meals, especially since we are in Lent.