2021 Clothing Expenses: January-December

 January

-0-

February

-0-

March

-0-

April

2 pairs s of jeans  $7.00  For Sandy Thrifty shopper

1 fleece vest. $3.59  For Sandy Thrifty Shopper

3 spring tops $6.00 for Sandy  Salvation Army

Slippers $58.50 for Mike  LLBean

Golf shoes for Mike  $2.50  Church Thrift Store

5 spring tops For Sandy $  9.00 Thrift store

May

-0-

June

-0-

July

Four sweaters for Sandy   $4.25  Salvation Army

Two skirts and three blouses for Sandy  $11.22  Good Will

10 pairs socks for Mike  $6.38  Sam's Club

August

Utility gloves  for Mike $4.00 Salvage

Two pairs of shorts for Mike  $2.12  Goodwill

Two pairs of shorts for Mike  $2.12 Goodwill

Two pairs of shorts for mike $7.98  Goodwill

Three tops for Sandy  $11.97  Goodwill

September:

One pair of jeans and two sweater for Sandy  $9.98  Goodwill

Jeans for Sandy  $2.64  Goodwill

Gilmour alum shirt  $12

New tennis shoes for Mike  $29.99  Costco

October:

Watch for Sandy  $9.99  Fort Meade Exchange

Belt for Mike  $1.99  Goodwill

Shoes for Sandy  $9.09  Goodwill

Dress for cruise  $4.50  Goodwill

New small purse for cruise  $3.99  Goodwill

Two white tops, blazer, white sweater  $11.50  Salvation Army

November

-0-

December

New tennis shoes for walking  $29.99  Easy Spirit

New hats for Mike  $22  Exchange

Total for Sandy:  $101.13 or $18.87 under budget amount.

Total for Mike:  $108.59 or $11.41 under budget amount.

2021 Buying and Eating: December 6-15

 Allocation:  $260 (back from cruise)

Cushion:  $901.23

YTD:  (287 days)  $1800.14 or $6.27/day

What We Ate:  fried rice and bacon wrapped water chestnuts; homemade pot pie, fruit and yogurt; beef and bean nachos, fruit salad; vegetable beef soup; leftover bbq ribs, corn, baked beans; homemade pot pie, fruit salad, baked potato

What We Bought:

Aldi:  frozen veggies (3), mandarins 3#, bananas (2.5#), flour (2)coconut, seasoned salt, stuffed olives (2), brie  $21.28

Price Rite:  sugar (4), brownie mix (4), cabbage (3.25#), sour cream, yogurt (3), butter (2) $14.65

Lidl:  Swiss Cheese, muenster cheese, potato chips, mixed vegetables, peas, broccoli (2), carrots (2#), mustard, eggs (2) , sliced ham and turkey (20 oz), oatmeal cookies (4), sub rolls (6)   $21.85

Price Rite:  coffee (4), Jello (2), cream of mushroom soup (4), romaine lettuce (2), mushrooms (2), cucumber, red peppers (6), tomatoes (4), sour cream (2), butter (2)  $30.45

Total:  $88.23

Eating Out:

Lunch going to DC   $4.24  Sam's

Dinner with the grands  in DC   $36.50

Lunch on way home from DC  $4.24  Sam's

Total:  $44.98

Grand Total for Two Weeks:  $133.21

Remaining Allocation:  $126.79

Trying to take advantage of seasonal sales to help blunt the rising cost of food and eating out.

2021 Frugal Things in November

 1.  A free8x10 at Walgreens.

2.  We saved $50 by taking advantage of a laundry special during the cruise.

3.  During this cruise, we have received four, count them four, $99 bottles of champagne! 

4.  We saved another $54 with another laundry special.  I wish I got paid their rates for doing laundry!

5.  We saved $45 using another laundry special.  We couldn't cram as much in the bag this time.  Must have been the jeans.

6.  We saved another $55 doing another laundry special.  This will be the last.

2021 Household and Personal Care: November

 Household:

AA and AAA batteries  $19.98 Costco

Nothing for personal care in November.

2021 Household and Personal Care: October

 Household:

Denture tablets (for cleaning vases, coffee pots, etc.  $2.12  Dollar Tree

Laundry detergent (4)  $3.08   Price Rite

Small mouth canning lids (36)  $7.25  Wal-Mart

Coffee filters  $1.06  Dollar Tree

2021 calendar/ planner  $1.06   Dollar Tree

New suitcase for Mike  $106  Boscov's

Total:  $120.52    Over budget due to the suitcase.

Personal Care:

Mike haircut  $11.00  Great Clips

Frugal Things in October

 1.  We took a non-toll road home from DC and saved $22.

2.  I ordered a new phone from Consumer Cellular via phone rather than online and saved $20.  ( My old phone is no longer being supported.)

3.  Although we don't use them often, we still needed to order some checks.  We ordered from a company instead of the bank and saved $31.

4.  We went to the bread store and stocked up on bagels and English muffins.  At a normal grocery store they would have cost $23.55.  We paid $5.49.  That is a savings of $18.06!

5.  We were gifted some concord grapes that I turned into grape pie filling.

6.  Mike and I got our flu shot and earned $10.00 in free groceries from Giant Eagle.

7. I had a prescription filled at Giant Eagle and we received another $15 credit towards free groceries.

8.  I found a brand new sweater, original retail price of $79.99, that I purchased for $5!

A much better month than September!

2021 Linus Project: July-September

 Operation Gratitude Scarves.  21

Linus Project Blankets: 17

Animal blankets: 5

21 skeins for $18.26  Thrifty Shopper

104 skeins donated by a friend and her sister!!!  Lots of afgans there.

5 skeins of yarn  $2.00 Goodwill

7 skeins of yarn $5.99  Goodwill

34 skeins of yarn (5 cotton)   $25.11  Goodwill

Total:  $41.36 for 171 skeins or $0.24 each on average

YTD Total:

444 skeins for  $193.04 or $ 0.43 each

Pet Blankets:  11

Linus Project Blankets:  50

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  41

2021 Buying and eating: November 1-8

 Allocation: $80

Cushion:  $901.23

YTD:  (287 days)   $1800.14 or $6.27/day

We are going on vacation  (anniversary celebration) so I have only budgeted 8 days for food.  Our meals are included in the vacation package.

What We Ate:  homemade augratin potatoes with ham, applesauce, homemade rolls; taco salad; Joyce's chicken salad; pork chops with sauteed cabbage and baked beans; Philly cheese steak sandwiches and popcorn; fried rice, baked squash, applesauce and yogurt

What We Bought:

Aldi:  cherries (12)   $35.88

Price Rite:  Wesson oil  (1.5 gal.) , romaine lettuce  $9.51

Costco:  grinder salt, better than bouillon  $10.98

Total Groceries: $56.37

Eating Out :

Lunch in Cleveland:  $3.24  Costco

Dinner in Cleveland:  $6.86  Subway

Total Eating Out:  $10.10

Grand Total:  $66.47

Amount to Cushion:  $13.53

New Cushion Amount:  $914.76

Average $8.31/day or $4.14/person/day

YTD Total (295):  $1866.59 or $6.33/day

21 Household and Personal Care: September

 Household:

5 cases of canning jars   $42.90  Wal-Mart

Can opener for RV  $5.97  Wal-Mart

Total:  $48.87. Over budget because of the jars.

Personal Care:

Mike hair cut  $14   Great Clips

Toothpaste  $1  Dollar Tree

Total:  $15

2021 Buying and Eating : October 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $218.17

Cushion:  $773.88

YTD (256 days):  $1617.58   $6.32/day

What We Ate:  chilli spaghetti and garlic bread;  Tuna chowder over baked potatoes and Waldorf salad;  pumpkin curry over rice, cheese bread, fruit; homemade fried rice and egg rolls with fruit; Cuban black bean soup and egg salad sandwich; savory bread pudding, diced tomatoes with onion and feta, green beans; homemade supreme pizza and popcorn; homemade beef vegetable soup; Greek style white fish with baked sweet potato and butter beans; bang bang catfish, baked potatoes, salad; leftover Greek fish with pasta, fruit, cheese bread; Greek spinach pie, stuffed grape leaves, seasoned and grilled pitas; Italian calzone; hummus and leftover spinach pie; homemade turkey pot pie ;Pasta with salmon and capers, homemade rolls, fruit

What We Bought:

Sam's Club:  olives, maple syrup, bleu cheese  $25.54

Save a Lot:  potatoes (10#), butternut squash (1.6#)  $3.77

Co-op:  wheat gluten  $6.99

Tops:  Italian bread  $0.99

Price Rite:  pasta (2), grapes (.6#), cream cheese (4), yogurt (3), frozen pizza (3)  $18.33

Bakery:  donuts$5.20

Total Groceries:  $60.82

Eating Out:

Lunch After closing:  $30.00

Total:  $90.82

Remaining Allocation to Cushion:  $127.35

New Cushion Amount:  $901.23

Monthly Spend:  $182.65

Cost/Day:  $5.56

Cost/Person/Day:  $2.28

YTD (287 days)  $1800.14 or $6.27/day

2021 August Salvage Shop #3

 Black beans  39 cents

Red kidney beans (3)  39 cents each

Chili beans 49 cents

Small white beans (2)  49 cents each

Garbanzo beans (3)  49 cents each

Garbanzo beans (29 oz)  59 cents

Pinto beans (29 oz)  (3)   59 cents each

White chicken (10 oz) 99 cents

Coconut milk (2) 69 cents each

Fried apples (2)  49 cents each

Tomato sauce  49 cents

White clam sauce  69 cents

Jasmine boil in bag rice for RV   69 cents

Dry milk (1#)   (3)   89 cents each

Korma simmer sauce (2)  39 cents each

Gyro breads  99 cents

Pam  89  cents

Montreal steak seasoning  49 cents

Total  $19.49

2021 Frugal Things in September

 1.  We vacationed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, known for its smoked white fish.  We found smoked salmon at one fish store.  It was on sale for $5/#.  We bought two pounds.  Lots of yummy bagels in my future!

2.  Regular white fish is delicious but expensive up here.  To cut the cost we went at lunchtime, ordered one take out dinner and split it.  Perfect!

Not a very frugally centered month.  Hope October is better.

2021 Buying and Eating: October 1-15

 Monthly Allocation:  $310

Cushion:  $773.38

YTD Amount (256 days):  $6.32/day

What We Ate: pasta with ham and peas in a white sauce with cheese, salad; pumpkin curry and quinoa; Salisbury steak and noodles with lima beans and salad; potato and cheese quiche, sauteed green beans, toast; ham and sauteed cabbage and apples with salad; pumpkin curry with quinoa, salad and fruit; beef and noodles, roasted Brussels sprouts, plums, Swiss Cheese bread; tortellini with cheese and chicken and ham, three bean salad, pears; Swedish meatballs, baked potatoes and green beans; sloppy Joe, fried potatoes, applesauce; savory sausage bread pudding;  pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, homemade rolls; chicken, beans and rice,, veg, fruit; Grilled ham and cheese with potato skins

What We Bought:

Homestead Farm:  apples and apple cider $17.34

Union Market:  croissants and baguette  $12.25

Bread Store:  bagels (3), English muffins (3)   $5.49

Tops:  eggs (2), potatoes (5#)  $3.75

Total for Groceries:  $38.83

Eating Out:

Lunch with girls and grands  $16

Birthday brunch with girls and grands :  $38.00

Total for Eating Out:  $54.00

Two Week Total:  $92.83

Remaining Allocation:  $218.17

2021 August Salvage Shop #2

 Canned pinto beans ( 29 oz )  69 cents

Canned Roman beans  (15 1/2 oz)  39 cents

Black beans 39 cents

Red kidney beans  39 cents

Sliced beets 39 cents

Whole water chestnuts (4) 49 cents each

Artichoke hearts 39 cents

Beef stew starter  (2) 2/ 59 cents

Bean sprouts 39 cents

Bamboo shoots 49 cents

Grape leaves (16 oz) 99 cents

Vegetable karma (2) 59 cents each

Beefy onion soup mix (3) 79 cents each

Fine egg noodles 69 cents

Brown sugar, 2#  (3)  99 cents each

Wheatabix cereal  $1.50

Total:  $22.79

2021 August Salvage Shop #1

 Frozen spinach (3) @50 cents each

Ham steak (2) @ $.99 each

Nann  33 cents

Fire roasted eggplant (100 oz)  $1.99

Cider vinegar $1.40

Bleu cheese dressing 50 cents

Sliced water chestnuts (5) 10 cents each

Yeast (1#)  $3.29

Tiny shrimp (4 oz) 2@ 75 cents each

Smoked salmon (2) @ $1.99

Cottage cheese $1.00

Potatoes (10#) $2.00

Onions (10#) $3.00

Total:  $20.99

Buying and Eating: September 16-30

 Remaining Allocation:  $167.91

Cushion:  $712.55

YTD (226 days):  $1378.41

What We Ate:  leftover pizza and French fries; bbq pork sandwiches, garlic. Couscous, green beans; Swedish meatballs with potato dumplings and sliced beets; zucchini- crab cakes, potato rounds with cheese, roasted beets, carrots raisin salad; grilled chicken, coleslaw, stuffing, green beans; sloppy Joe and potato skins; Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn; garlic shrimp and cheese tortellini, homemade bread; mock chicken fried steak, corn, baked potato; tuna chowder and grilled cheese; Greek salad with grilled chicken, cheesy onion bread; pasta with sauce, salad, garlic bread; ham steak on the grill, winter squash, pasta with cheese

What We Bought:

Price Rite:  tomatoes (1.5#), cucumber (2), red sweet peppers (3)  $3.34

Costco:  feta, paneer, parmigiano, Dubliner, Swiss   $ 53.87

The Creamery:  feta, cheddar with stout  $  12.88

Fort Meade Commissary:  eggs (3 doz), butter, potato mixes (2), olives (4), potato flakes (for baking), beef bouillon, chicken bouillon, dry split peas, pasta sauce (3)  $29.57

Grocery Total:  $99.66

Eating Out:

Lunch heading to reunion  $7.42

Two Week Total:  $107.08

Amount to Cushion:  $60.83

New Cushion Amount:  $773.38

Monthly Cost/Day:  $7.97

Monthly Cost/Person/Day:  $3 .98

YTD Total:  $ 161,7.58

YTD Cost / Day (256 days):  $6.32

YTD Cost/Person/Day:  $ 3.16

A high cost month due to eating out.  Hopefully things will settle down in October.

2021 Household and Personal Care: August

 Household:

Brita filters (3),vinegar for killing weeds  $10.00  Salvage

Quart bags, sandwich bags $1.58 Salvage

 17 canning jars  $ 15.84  Goodwill

Ice cube tray  $0.49  Goodwill

Set of white sheets to make Christmas wreath  $4.99 GOODWILL

Total:  $32.90  We are over this month but it will all even out eventually.

Personal Care

3 bottles silver shampoo  $15.87

Frugal Things in August

 1.  I was gifted some zucchini and decided to make relish with it, the first I have made in many years.  I shredded some for the freezer and made sweet pickles with the rest.

2.  Gifted some cucumbers.  Made dill and candied dill pickles with them.

3.  Gifted 104 skeins of yarn by a friend and her sister to use for my charity crocheting.

4. Three Huge zucchini were given to us.  I made candy dilled chunks with some, planks for lasagna with some, and shredded the rest.

5.  A friend was gifted a lot of corn.  She shared with us.  We have been enjoying it for several days.

2021 Buying and Eating: September 1-15

 Allocation:  $300.00

Cushion:  $712.55

Year to Date (226 days) :  $1378.41

What We Ate:  garlic lemon shrimp over couscous with carrot raisin salad; sausage and potato quiche, three bean salad, yogurt and pears; leftover Chinese; bridges I, saffron potatoes, honey basted carrots; meatless chicken fried steak, baked potato, green beans;pepperoni balls, potato rounds, three bean salad; like lasagna, green beans, garlic bread; Italian sausage on grill with peppers and onions, butter beans, pears, soup and sandwiches, like lasagna, carrot salad, garlic cheese bread; pork pad Thai and Chinese pancakes; homemade supreme pizza; pork, sauerkraut and applesauce with baked potato

What We Bought:

Family Fare (Michigan):  cabbage (3#), bananas (3#),  puff pastry( for spinach pie), pizza dough (for RV)  $10.60

Smoked fish in Michigan  $15

Mozzarella $3.29

Total Groceries:  $28.89

Eating Out:

Dinner while camping  $17.87

Anniversary breakfast  $7.97

Anniversary lunch $10.74

Lunch while cleaning out Dad's  $10.79

Anniversary dinner  $27.28

Lunch heading to Michigan  $4.29

Lunch on Mackinac Island  $24.26 (and it wasn't even good!)

Fish dinner on Michigan Upper Peninsula   $22.55

Total Eating Out:  $103.20

We ate out A LOT!  That's what an anniversary and vacation will do to you.  :)

Remaining Allocation:  $167.91

2021 Salvage 8July

 Self rising flour  10# $1.25

Pasta 59 cents

Tahini (3) 15 oz 99cents each

Heinz beans (2)  35 cents each

Beets (3)  89 cents each

Vinegar, gallon  $2.19

Black beans, dry  59 cents

Great northern beans, dry  59 cents

Heath pieces (2)  50 cents each

Spicy curry sauce 79 cents

Butter beans 35 cents

Oregano, dill weed, ginger $1.00 each

Curry powder 7 oz  $1.99

Bold tacos kit  99 cents

Total:  $20.54

2021 Salvage 7 July

 Butter beans (3)  35 cents each

Corn 35 cents

Chives $1.00

Hormel chili (2)  50 cents each

Albacore tuna (3)  69 cents each 

Canned chicken (7)  69 cents each

Self rising flour (2)  5 lb at 75 cents each

Pad Thai noodles b75 cents 

wheat crackers  50 cents

 pop tarts (32)  $3.99

Total:  $16.54

2021 Buying and Eating: August 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $227.95

Cushion:  $587.63

YTD Cost (195 days):  $1193.33

What We Ate:  beef and broccoli stir fry with mushrooms and water chestnuts over rice; grilled ham steak with honey mustard, tomato and black b salad, butternut squash and baked potatoes; scalloped potatoes and ham, carrots, applesauce; bean and vegetables curry, curried potatoes, yogurt; meatless chicken fried steak, potatoes, salad, carrots; grilled hamburger, smashed potatoes, salad; deli sandwiches and potato rounds with salad; zucchini "crab" cakes, quinoa pilaf and salad (2); meatless chicken fried steak, corn on the cob, lemon yogurt; BBQ pork sandwiches, fried potatoes, corn on the cob; ham steak on the grill, corn, salad; chef salad and toasted bagel; onion and pepper sausage, potato wedges, salad; grilled pork loin, pasta with capers, green beans

What We Bought:

Wal-Mart:  shredded wheat, old bay seasoning  $6.41

Aldi:  romaine, grapes, chopped walnuts, Roma tomatoes, cucumber  $9.28

Food co-op:  caraway seed  $0.46

Aldi:  vinegar, sugar    $4.62

August Salvage Shop #1 :  frozen spinach (3), ham steaks (2), nann, fire roasted eggplant, cider vinegar, bleu cheese dressing, sliced water chestnuts (5), yeast (#),  tiny shrimp (2), smoked salmon (2), cottage cheese, potatoes (10#), onions (10#)  $20.99

August Salvage Shop #2:  pinto beans, Roman beans (2), black beans, kidney beans, sliced beets(2), whole water chestnuts (4), artichoke hearts,cheer stew starter (2), bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, grape leaves vegetable karma (2), beef onion soup mix (3), fine egg noodles, brown sugar (3), weetabits,   $24.78

August Salvage Shop #3:  black beans, kidney beans (3), chili beans, white beans (2), garbanzo beans (4), pinto beans (3), white chicken, coconut milk (2), fried apples (2),'tomato sauce, white clam sauce, jasmine boil in bag rice, dry milk (3#), korma simmer sauce (2), gyro breads, Pam, Montreal steak seasoning  $19.49

Two Week Total  for Groceries:  $86.03  Including salvage stock up

Eating Out:

Erie Yacht Club:  $17 for dinner using my birthday gift card

Two week total:  $103.03

To Cushion:  $124.92

New Cushion:  $712.55

Monthly Total:  $185.08

Monthly Cost/Day:  $5.97

Monthly Cost/Person/Day:  $2.99

Year to Date Total:  $1378.41

Year to Date Cost/Day  (226 days):  $6.10

Year to Date Cost/Person/Day:  $3.05

My stockpile is in good shape so I'm happy

2021 Salvage 6 July

 Bacon 5# $17.99

Sausage (9) 7oz 29 cents each

Veg all 29 oz 69 cents

Crushed tomatoes 28 oz (3) 29 cents each

Pineapple chunks 20 oz (3)  79 cents each

Apple peach sauce 23 oz 79 cents

Apple apricot sauce 23 oz 79 cents

Mayo (2) 59 cents each

Fried apples (2) 59 cents each

Chili (2) 69 cents each

Assorted veggies (6) 39 cents each

Assorted veggies (4) 25 cents each

Total:  $34.75

2021 Salvage 5 July

 Toilet paper 12 rolls  $2.99

Starbucks coffee 2.5 oz.  (18) $4.99

Snyder pretzels (48) 2.5 oz $2.00

Bleach 2.53 are $1.29

Cookies (2) 49 cents each

Peanut brittle mix (2) 2/69 cents

Cheddar rice cakes (2) 39 cents each

Wheat crackers (2) 2/79 cents

Ten candy bars $1

Salad dressing (3) 29 cents each

Italian green beans (2) 39 cents each

Seasoned lima 39 cents

Garbanzo beans 39 cents each

Corn 39 cents

Fried apples (2) 79 cents each

Jellies cranberries  10 cents

Mixed vegetables 39 cents

Total:  $17.20

2021 Household and Personal Care: July

 Household:

Coffee filters  $1.06  Dollar Tree

Toilet paper (12 rolls) $2.99  salvage

Bleach 2.53 qt.  $1.29 salvage

Bowl covers (3) 79cents salvage salvage

30 parchment sheets (2) $2.59 each salvage

Total:  $14.67

Personal Care:

Toothpaste (2)  $2.12  Dollar Tree

Dial soap (6)   $1.98 Salvage

Liquid Hand soap 99cents Salvage

Total:  $5.09

2021 Buying and Eating: August 1-15

 Allocation:  $310 

Cushion:  $587.63

YTD Cost (195 Days):  $1193.33

What We Ate:  beef and bean Mexican; grilled Italiano sandwich with salad and potatoes;

Guacamole and chips, corn on the cob; potato and sausage quiche , yogurt, salad; egg rolls, bacon wrapped water chestnuts; leftover quiche and salad; kielbasa on the grill, sour cream potato salad, corn on the cob; creamy chicken and vegetables over biscuits, strawberry shortcake; chicken paprikash and stir fried broccoli; chicken parmesan and pasta with salad and garlic bread; cheeseburger soup and deli sandwiches; Mexican beans and meat burrito; beef stroganoff over noodles, zucchini, apple sauce

What We Bought:

Save a Lot:  onions (6#)   $3.78

Aldi:  strawberries (3#),  mushrooms (1#)  $4.95

Price Rite:  tomatoes (1#), split chicken breasts (5#), romaine lettuce, corn on the cob (2), cilantro, green pepper (2), broccoli crowns (2) avocado (2), limes (2), donuts (doz) $17.13

Total Groceries:  $25.86

Eating Out:

Lunch with girls  $10.25

Donuts morning of funeral. $5.70

Dinner after calling hours  $8.35

Lunch after arrangement $ 7.63

Pizza and pesto bread to support Erie Animal Network  $24.26

Total Eating Out:  $56.19

Two Week Grand Total:  $82.05

Remaining Allocation:  $227.95

2021 Frugal Things in July

 1.  We bought 24 bags of coffee at salvage for $1.50 A bag!  Keeps my addiction affordable!

2.  Stretching ground beef with TVP reconstituted in beef broth.  Instantly cut the cost of the meat in half!

3.  We paid $8.83 for bread products that had a store value of $31.93.  That works out to a savings of $23.10!

4.  I got a free Starbucks for my birthday that Mike and I shared.

5.  While salvage shopping, we found A 6.11# eye of round for $6.11.  A dollar A pound!!!

Good for roasts, marinated steak, roasts, beef stroganoff, etc.  Yum!!

2021 Salvage Shop #4: July

 Yogurt 10/$1

8 oz cheese (4). 99cents each

Grands biscuits  (2)  50 cents each

Cinnamon rolls (2) $1 each

Pie crusts (3)  $3//1

Two personal pizzas 69 cents each Philly whipped cream cheese 99 cents

Ricotta (2#)  (2)  $1.50 each 

French onion dip  (2) 25 cents each

Hard salami (2#)  80 cents/#

Kielbasa12 oz (4) $1.50 each

Smoked salmon 4 oz (2) $1.99 each

Eye of round  6.11# at $1/#

Sliced deli ham 9 oz  70 cents

Cucumbers 2/$1

Potatoes 19# $2.00

Rice Kris pies 28 oz $1.75

Asian noodles (2)   25 cents each

Salsa (2)  10 cents each

Wishbone Italian (4) $1/4

Sliced water chestnuts (5) 99 cents each

Diced tomatoes (4)    29 cents q

Mac and cheese with sundries tomatoes (2)  50 cents each

Raisin bran  $1.25

Hoisin sauce 24 oz  99 cents

Chopped clams (2) 75 cents each

Banana box of assorted snacks (91 items)  $4

2021 Salvage Shop #3: July

 Evaporated milk (6)  29 cents each

Three bean salad (2) 39 cents each

Sauerkraut  39 cents

Fried apples 59 cents

Sesame oil (2)  99 cents each

Pineapple chunks (2)  79 cents each

Whole water chestnuts (6) 49 cents each

Chinese stir fry vegetables 99 cents

Mandarin oranges 79 cents

Red tart cherries 79 cents

Crushed Tomatoes (28 oz.) 29 cents

Fire roasted diced tomatoes (3) 29 cents each

Velveeta (2#) $4.99

Raisins (4)  99 cents each

Cheesy rice (15 oz ) 59 cents

Tortillas (2)  29 cents each

Bird instant custard 39 cents

Beignet mix 69 cents

Apricot cookies (2)  25 cents each

Olive oil mayonnaise (2) 59 cents each

Ketchup (2) 32 oz.  $1.39 each

Mustard (4)  29 cents each

Lemon herb vinaigrette  49 cents 

Sausage (8) 7 oz. 29 cents each

Bacon  5 # $17.99

 Sausage (3) 12 oz. 99 cents each

Ground pork (3)  $1.19/#

Peaches (2) 6.5 #  $3.99 each

Oatmeal (2# 10 oz)  $1.99corn Chex $1.75

Pasta (3) 69 cents each

Starbucks (5) 2.5 oz 29 cents each

Oat milk (4)  25 cents each

Protein she (4) 10 cents q

3 cheese tortellini (2) 89 cents each

Crackers (2) 79 cents

crackers 99 cents each

$75.03 total

2021 Buying and Eating: July 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $100.79

Cushion:  $793.16

YTD (164 days) $677.70

What We Ate:  homemade chicken pot pie, fruit; pasta with ham and cheese, fruit and bread; grilled pork chops, couscous with feta, butter beans, cheese bread; meat and cheese nachos with fruit; pork chops, baked potatoes, green beans, salad; grilled hamburger, fried potatoes and cheese, salad; pepperoni, salami, onion and pepper pizza with chips and dip; leftover Mexican(; leftover pizza with chips   ; grilled chicken, baked and grilled veggies, buttermilk biscuits; grilled cheese and salami sandwich; pasta with chicken and miXed cheese  ; tacos and refried beans; cheeseburger soup and grilled cheese; sloppy Joe, potato, green beans; black bean soup and homemade bread

What We Bought: 

Aldi:  pie crusts  $1.49

Sam's Club:  cheddar cheese  $6.38

Salvage #2:  black olives (2), pear halves (2), green beans and potatoes, sauerkraut, corn (2), corn (2), hearts of palm, coffee (10), digestive biscuits (2), saltines (2), hit chocolate cookies (5), coconut dreams cookies (2), cream cheese danish, shelf stable milk(2), canned roast beef (2), raspberry tea concentration, cream (4), refried beans (10), applesauce, grits (5 lb.), sugar pops, Cheerios (2), oat crunch, brownies (4), stove top (2), pasta (4#), maple cookies (2)   $52.9

Salvage#3:  evaporated milk (6), three bean salad (2), sauerkraut, fried apples (2), Sesame oil (2), pineapple chunks (2), whole water chestnuts (6), Chinese stir fry vegetables, Mandarin oranges, red tart cherries, crushed tomatoes, fire roasted tomatoes (3), Velveeta, raisins (4), cheesy rice, tortillas (2), bird instant custard, beignet mix, apricot cookies (2), mayo (2), ketchup (2), mustard (4), lemon herb vinaigrette, sausage (8), bacon (5#), sausage (3), ground pork (3), peaches (2), oatmeal, corn Chex pasta (3), Starbucks (5), oat milk (4) , protein shakes (4), tortellini (2), crackers (3)   $75,.03

Salvage#4

Yogurt (10), cheese, grands (2), cinnamon rolls (2), pie crusts (3), personal pizzas (2), Philly whipped cream cheese, ricotta 2# (2), French onion dip (2), hard salami (2#), kielbasa 12 oz (4), smoked salmon (4 oz) (2), eye of round 6.11#, sliced deli ham 9 oz, cucumbers (2), potatoes 10#, rice krispies , Asian noodles (2), salsa (2), wishbone Italian (4) , sliced water chestnuts (5), diced tomatoes (4), mac and cheese, raisin bran, hoisin sauce, chopped clams (2)box of 91 snack items  $49.53

Salvage#5

Starbucks coffee (18) 2.5 oz.Snyder's pretzels (124 oz), cookies (2), peanut brittle mix (2), cheddar rice cakes (2), wheat crackers (2), salad dressing (3)Italian green beans (2), seasoned lima, garbanzo q, corn, fried apples (2),cranberries, mixed veg  $17.20

Salvage#6:

Bacon (5#)Sausage (9) 7 oz.Veg all 29 oz Crushed tomatoes 28 oz (3)  Pineapple chunks 20 ox (3) 79 Apple peach sauce 23 ox 79 Apple apricot sauce 23 oz. 79 Mayo (2) 59 Fried apples (2) Canned chili (2) Assorted veggies (6) Assorted vegetables (4) Total:  $34.75

Salvage #7:  

Butter beans (3), corn, chives, Hormel chili(2), albacore tuna (3), canned chicken (7), self rising flour (2), pad Thai noodles, wheat crackers, pop tarts (32)  $16.54

Salvage #8:

Self rising flour (10#) pasta, think 15 oz (3), Heinz beans (2), beets (3), vinegar (gal), black beans, great northern beans, Heath bar pieces (2), spicy curry sauce, butter beans, oregano, dill weed, ginger, curry powder, bold taco kit  $$20.54

Middlefield Cheese:

4#4oz assorted  $10.45

Country Fair:

Eggs (4)  $3.96

Two Week Total Groceries:  $288.17

Eating Out:

Mike lunch  $1.63  Sam's Club

Lunch  while salvage shopping  $11.52  Sonic

Lunch after arrangements  $5.00

Two Week Total Eating Out:  $18.15

Two Week Grand Total:  $306.32

Amount Into Cushion:  $205.53

Remaining Cushion:  $587.63

Monthly Cost:  $515.53   This includes salvage shopping costs of  $361.74

Monthly Cost/Day (31):  $ 16.63

Monthly Cost/Person/Day:  $8.32

YTD Cost:  $1193.33

YTD Cost/Day (195):  $6.12

YTD Cost/Person/Day $3.06

2021 Household and Personal Care: June

 Household:

Cutting board for RV  $1.06  Dollar Tree

Medium sized bowl for RV  $1  Thrift store

Bowl covers $2.12   Dollar Tree

Total:  $4.18

Personal Care:

Purple shampoo and conditioner  $ 14.85  CVS

Body powder  $1.06  Dollar Tree

Mike hair cut  $11.00 Great Clips

Razors  $1.06  Dollar Tree

Total:  $27.97

2021 Salvage Shop #2: July

 Black olives (2) @59 cents each

Pear halves (2)@ 59 cents each

Green beans and potatoes (27 oz) 59 cents

Sauerkraut (27 oz) 89 cents

Corn (2) 59 cents each

Hearts q palm 59 cents

Creme Butler coffee (20 oz) $3.49

Marshmallows 10.2 oz 25 cents

Starbucks coffee (9oz) $2.29 each

Seattle's Best coffee (2) 12oz.$2.75

Hazelnut coffee (2) 12 oz $2.79 each

Blue Angels coffee 12 oz. $2.75 each

British Digestive (2) 39 cents each

Saltines (2) 69 cents each

British Hit cookies (5) 10 cents each

Coconut dreams cookies (2) 49 cents each

Six cream cheese danish  99 cents

Shelf stable milk (2) 69 cents each

Roast beef (2) 12 oz. 49 cents each

raspberry tea concentration 12 oz 99 cents

Cream (4) 49 cent each

Refried beans 10/ $1.00

Applesauce 48 oz $1.19

Grits (5#)   69 cents

Sugar pops cereal  50 cents

Cheerios (2) 50 cents each

Oat crunch cereal 50 cents

Brownies (4) 50 cents each

Stove top (2)  2/$1

Pasta (4#)  69 cents/pound

Maple cookies (2) 79 cents each

Total:  $52.91

2021 Linus Project April-June

 Linus Blanket:  15

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  14

Pet blankets:  1

Washcloths: 5

Bath mat

Wedding gift

Yarn:

3 skeins  $3.16 Goodwill

13 skeins $15.87 Goodwill

5 skeins $4.99  Salvation Army

4 skeins  $3.99  Salvation Army

10 skein  $5.00  Salvation Army

12 skeins of wool for scarves  $11.88  Salvation Army

18 skeins  $18.00  Goodwill

189 skeins for $68.00  Goodwill (including 25 wool and 8 cotton)

14 skeins for $10

Total of 268 skeins for $141.69

Six month totals:

273 skeins for $146.68 or an average of 53 cents/skein

Pet blankets  6

Linus blankets 33

Operation Gratitude Scarves 20

2021 Buying and Eating: July 1-15

Allocation:  $310.00

Cushion:  $793.16

Amount Spent YTD (164)  $677.70

What We Ate:  chicken paprikash, zucchini, salad; oven bbq chicken, Salad, baked potatoes; beef and bean burrito, corn; steak on the grill will mushrooms, onions and bleu cheese, potatoes Anna, salad; beef tacos, refried beans, Mexican rice; grilled bacon cheeseburgers, cheesy potato rounds, fruit cups, green soy beans; chicken parmesan, garlic bagels, fried zucchini, pasta; sloppy Joe, potato rounds, veggies; enchiladas, rice, beans, salad; pork Italiano with pasta, garlic bread and salad; Reuben and potato and carrot pancakes; mooshu and salad; chicken salad sandwich and popcorn; ham steak, corn fritters and coleslaw; curried potatoes, green soybeans, applesauce

What We Bought:

Costco:  Swiss Cheese  $25.92

Sherman Salvage Shop:

  ten various granola bars, two bags butterscotch chips, 24 bags of coffee, 100 tea bags, four bottles of salad dressing, two bottles of bbq sauce, 4 oz wild rice, boil in the bag basmati rice,  far falls pasta, Ore chief he pasta, Chile powder (1#), cream, grits (2.5#), confectionery sugar, two brown sugar, steel cut oatmeal (1.5#), crushed red pepper (2 oz), housing sauce, ten fruit cups, Cheerios (8.9 oz), two wheat Chex (14 oz), 17 cans of vegetables, 3 cans of fruit, four 32 oz vegetable broth, two boxes of beefy onion soup mix, two boxes taco shells (10 count), five boxes crackers    $84.80

Sam's Club:  protein shakes  $35.50

Aldi:  corned beef flat (half price), hamburger buns  $$8.52

Bread store:  rye bread, rustic white bread, English muffins (2), bagels (3)   $8.83

Price Rite:  mushrooms, coleslaw mix, Carrots (2#)  $3.95

Eating Out:

Lunch After Doctor appointment   $3.24

Lunch after visiting Dad   $13.38

Birthday breakfast  $8.58

Birthday lunch  $$16.49

Total for Groceries:  $167.52, including a salvage shop

Meals Out:  $41.69

Grand Total:  $209.21

Remaining Allocation:  $100.79

We have done our first salvage shop and we are planning more this month.  We will be going into our cushion to cover the cost.  We are restocking our pantry.  Although expensive now, it saves us money in the long run.

2021 Frugal Things in June

 1.  Buying a porterhouse steak as a treat at 50% off.

2.  While camping, we stayed mainly at military facilities.  It is hard to beat $30 A night.

3.  We give to NPR/PBS every year.  This year as our thank you gift I chose two gift certificates for free plants from a local nursery.  I picked two perennials with beautiful purple flowers to plant in our front flower bed.  We saved $26 and will have beautiful flowers year after year.  :)

4.  We used a coupon Mike got because he was a veteran, to get a free chicken dinner big enough for the two of us.  A free dinner!

5.  We used points at Starbucks to get a coffee with an extra shot that we shared.

2021 Sherman Salvage Shop, July 2nd

 Granola bars (10)          $1.00

Butterscotch chips   (2) @ $1.50 each

Coffee  (24)  @ $1.50 each

100 tea bags      $2.00

Salad dressing, 4 at 25 cents each

BBQ sauce   2 @ 50 cents each

Wild rice (4 oz)   50 cents

Boil in the bag basmati rice    99 cents

Two pastas,  farfaalle and orecchiette @ 75 cents each

Chili powder (#) $2.99

Crema  50 cents

Grits (2.5#)  50 cents

Confectionery sugar  50 cents

Brown sugar (2) @ 75 cents each

Steel cut oatmeal (1.5#)  75 cents

Crushed red pepper (2 oz)  99 cents

Hoison sauce  50 cents

Ten fruit cups  $1.00

Cheerios (8.9 oz)  $1.50

Two wheat Chex (14 oz) @$1.25 each

13 cans of vegetables at 49 cents each

Can of vegetables  89 cents

Three cans of pineapple @ 99 cents each

Three cans of vegetables @99 cents each

Four 32 ounce vegetable broth @ 25 cents each

Two boxes of beefy onion soup mix @$1.50 ( probably a bad buy)

Two 10 count taco shells @ 50 cents each

Two crackers @ 75 cents each

Two crackers @ 50 cents each

Crackers $1.00

2021 Buying and Eating: June 16-18, 27-30 (7days)

 Remaining Allocation:  $138.38

Cushion: $703.81

Amount Spent YTD (142 days):  $547.05

Previous Two Week Total:  $81.62

What We Ate: grilled pork, baked potato, butter beans; pasta with sauce, veg, garlic bread; Huevos rancheros; Aunt Joyce's chicken salad, garlic cheese bread; grilled chicken salad sandwich and chips; sandwiches and tomato bisque with fruit; blt, potato salad, green beans

What We Bought:

Aldi:  red grapes (1.92#)  $1.44

Save a Lot:  green beans, potato chips, ribeye steaks (3)  $10.94

Price Rite:  canned white chicken (6), spaghetti sauce (4)$8.04

Country Fair:  eggs (2) $1.78

Aldi:  tea bags, zucchini (4), romaine lettuce (3) $6.29

Groceries:  $28.49

Eating Out:

Lunch with Lucy:  $20.54

Two Week Total:  $49.03

Monthly Total:  $130.65

Monthly Cost/Day (22 days) $5.94

Monthly Cost/Person/Day  $2.97

New Cushion Amount: $793.16

YTD Total (164 days): $677.70

YTD Cost/Day  $4.13

YTD Cost/Person/Day  $2.07

2021 Frugal Things in May

 1.  When we arrived home from our trip, I pulled a frozen pizza, bought on sale with a coupon, out of the freezer for dinner.  Much cheaper than a meal out and easy, too.

2.  For our camping trip, I created a menu using what was in my freezer and cupboard.  Since it had virtually all been purchased on sale.  We saved a fortune over buying meals as we travel.

3.  I needed frames for pictures of the grands.  I got15 frames of different sizes for  $17.05.

4.  We went to the discount bread store and bought bagels (2), English muffins (2), and 12 grain bread for a total of $5.48.

5.  I made biscotti using a $0.79 cake mix.  I got 24 or about 3 cents/ biscotti.

2021 Buying and Eating: June 1-15

 Monthly Allocation:  $220  (Taking into account the 8 days at the lake.

Cushion Amount:  $703.81

Amount Spent YTD  (142 days)$547.05

What We Bought: 

Maraschino cherries (2), buckwheat pancake mix, French bread, porterhouse steak (1.3#)  $19.99  most items were 50% off

Dollar Tree:  salsa, shortbread cookies, ginger snaps $ 3.00

Commissary:  half gallon mocha iced coffee  $ 4.09

Commissary:  cherries (3), ice cream, cheese (2). $  1 4 .3 4

Tops:  eggs, sour cream, rye bread  $3.97

Bread Store:  sourdough bread, everything bagels (2), English muffins  $3.40

Sam's Club:    bleu cheese, olives (2)  $20.36

What We Ate:

Kielbasa on grill, watermelon, German potato salad, salad;  cheeseburger salad; taco salad; lasagna soup, salad, pepperoni balls ; beef and bean burritos and cheesy seasoned rice; steak on the grill, hasselback potatoes, peas, yogurt and fruit; veg and bean tikki masala, lima beans, bananas and yogurt; steak salad and garlic toast; sloppy Joe, potatoes Anna, peas; English muffin pizzas and popcorn; spaghetti and meat sauce, bread, fruit salad; sandwiches and chips; cheeseburger soup and toasted bagel; leftover smorgasbord; Asian peanut noodles and vegetables

Eating Out:  

Mainely  Lobster Cafe    $20.47   crab roll

Groceries:  $61.15

Eating Out:  $20.47

Two Week Subtotal:  $81.62

Remaining Allocation:  $138.38

2021 Household and Personal Care: May

 Household:

Kaboom (2)  $7.89

15 picture frames  $17.05  two thrift stores

Non stick frying pan  $2.99  Salvation Army

Charcoal  $6.44  Wal-Mart

Hand mixer  $3  Goodwill

Personal Care:

Clarifying treatment for hair  $2.96  Sally Beauty

2021 Buying and Eating: May 16-31

 Amount Spent First Two Weeks:  $34.45

Remaining Allocation:  $185.55

Cushion:  $605.82

Amount Spent YTD (120 days):  $465.04

What We Ate:  pot roast, carrots and onions, mashed potatoes, salad; shaved steak sandwiches, homemade French fries; beef stroganoff, mashed potatoes, salad; fish chowder, cheese, summer sausage and crackers; pizza and popcorn; sandwiches, yogurt and fruit ; grilled hamburger, baked beans, cottage cheese and onion; rice, beans and chicken casserole, cheese quisadilla, Caesar salad; Grilled chicken, butter beans, cottage cheese and fruit; salad with chicken and garlic cheese bread; grilled ham steak, cheesy potatoes, peas; pot roast, Brussels sprouts, baked potato, salad; grilled pork, cheesy potatoes, butter beans, fruit; fish chowder, port wine cheddar and crackers; hotdogs, baked beans, German potato salad and green beans

What We Bought:

Bread store:  bagels (2), English muffins (2), 12 grain bread  $5.48

Country Fair:  salami (.66#), sandwich pepperoni (.66#)  $3.90

Save a Lot:  hamburger and hotdog buns  $2.38

Shaw's (camping):  olives (2),'matzo, Italian bread, potatoes (10#), onions (3#), watermelon, bell pepper, lettuce, bananas  $31.55

Ocean Job Lots:  smoked herring, maple cookies  $ 4.33

Eating Out:

Lunch during camping  $4.29  Taco Bell

Lunch while sightseeing  $8.63  KFC

Lobster roll  $ 27.00 (You must have lobster while in Maine.)

Two Week Total Groceries: $47.64

Two Week Total Eating Out: $39.92

Two Week Grand Total:  $87.56

Monthly Grand Total:   $122.01 

Amount to Cushion: $97.99

New Cushion Amount: $703.81

Cost/Day:  $5.55

Cost/Person/Day (22) $ 2.77

Yearly Grand Total (142 days) : $587.05

Cost/Day : $4.13

Cost/Person/Days: $ 2.07

2021 Household and Personal Care: April

 Household:

8 new white plates  $6  Thrifty Shopper

Tea kettle $1.00  Salvation Army

2 custard cups  $0.99  Salvation Army

Personal Care:

Specialty shampoo for gray hair  $6.49 CVS

Haircut for Sandy   $13.00 Great Clips

2021 Buying and Eating: May 1, 11-15 (6 days)

 May Allocation:  $220 ( 9 days less because of river boat cruise 2-10 May)  22 days

Cushion:  $605.82

YTD Amount Spent (120 days):  $566.77

What We Ate:  catfish bang bang, salad, fresh fruit; frozen pizza; stuffed grape leaves, hummus, couscous with veggies; chicken with salsa Verde, black beans and rice, yogurt and fruit; pork Italiano with pasta, salad and garlic bread; curried potatoes, curried vegetables, cottage cheese and fruit; lasagna soup and grilled cheese sandwich

What We Bought:

Aldi :  olives (3) $8.97

Tops:  eggs (2), coffee (2), zucchini (5), green peppers (3)  $7.97

Price Rite:  tuna (4), coffee (4), mushrooms (2), tomatoes, green peppers, romaine hearts, cucumber, sour cream  $17.51

Amount Spent:  $34.45

Remaining Allocation:  $185.55

Cushion: $605.82

2021 Linus Project: January-March

Pet Blankets:  5

Linus Project:  18

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  6

Baby blanket as gift:  1

Yarn:

5 skeins for $4.99

2021 Frugal Things In April

 1.  Manager's Specials are great for cutting your grocery bill.  Just this week I bought a chuck roast and two kinds of sausage for 50% off their regular price.  When  we got home they went immediately into the freezer for future enjoyment.  I also found sweet peppers, eggplant, grapefruit, bananas and mushrooms for  50% off.  Some are frozen, some are worked into the menu for the next couple of days.  None will be wasted.  All will be enjoyed.

2.  Traveling with a lunch packed at home is a frugal idea.  It uses up food in the fridge, saves a stop which saves time and saves money.  It is also usually healthier.

3.  We spent three nights in DC visiting family.  The hotel was all paid for with points!  $0.00 out of pocket.

4.  We bought a case of an item.  We saved a further 10% or $9.00.  I will take it.

Frugal Fail:

I made a batch of cherry citrus jam that failed.  All those ingredients ended up in the garbage!  : (  Throwing away food is the opposite of frugal!

2021 Buying and Eating: April 16-30

 Amount Spent 1st Two Weeks:  $187.61

Remaining Allocation:  $112.39

Cushion:  $  571.21

Amount Spent YTD (90 days):  $300.38

What We Ate:  pepperoni balls and salad;  chicken Alfredo casserole, asparagus, bread; bean and ham soup, parmesan wine supper bread; brats with peppers and onions, potato slices with cheese, baked beans, salad; cheesy potatoes and ham, mixed veg, salad; French onion soup with cheese and croutons, yogurt and fruit;  green chili chicken enchiladas, refried beans, salsa corn; New England fish chowder, cottage cheese and fruit, homemade bread; Reuben sandwiches on homemade rye; bang bang shrimp, cilantro and lemon quinoa, peas; ham and cheese strata, yogurt and fresh fruit, veg; chicken Alfredo casserole, Greek salad; seafood pasta, lima beans, Greek salad; Huevos rancheros,  refried beans, salad

What We Bought:  

Save a Lot:  lemon juice, tomatoes  $3.15

Price Rite:  pasta (2), chicken thighs (4.5#), Salad mixed greens, tomatoes, red peppers (2), yogurt (11), Digorno frozen pizza (4), Marie Callnder pot pies (3)  $17.45

Price Rite:  cheez it (4), hunts ketchup (4), cucumber, saltines, broccoli crowns, bacon (4), eggs (4)  $18.71

Total Groceries for Two Weeks:  $39.31

Eating Out:

26 pepperoni balls  $26.00  Erie Animal Network fund raiser

Lunch in Cleveland  $6.47

Lunch With Craft Ladies $7.00

Total Eating Out for Two Weeks:  $39.47

Second Two Weeks Grand Total: $78.78

Monthly Grand Total:  $266.39

Amount to Cushion:  $ 34.61

New Cushion Amount: $ 605.82

Monthly Cost/ Day: $ 8.88

Monthly Cost/Person/Day $ 4.44

Yearly Grand Total (120 days):  $566.77

Yearly Cost/Day  $ 4.72

Yearly Cost/Person/Day  $ 2.36

2021 Household and Personal Care: March

 Personal Care:

Mike haircut  $11

New thermometer  $10.49  CVS

Toothpaste  1.06  Dollar Tree

Pedicure  $50.00  Expensive!  Boy was it needed

Total:  $72.55

Household:

 Efferdent  $1.06  Dollar Tree

Brass switch plate for living room  $4.74

Total:  $5.80

3 month totals:

Household:  $43.84

Personal Care:  $ 76.71

2021 Buying and Eating: April 1-15

 Allocation:  $300.00

Cushion:  $571.21

Amount Spent YTD (90days): $300.38

What We Ate:  chicken a la King over biscuits, lima beans, salad; garlic and capers seafood pasta; rice and bean burrito; ham, scalloped potatoes, butter beans, fruit salad; sloppy Joe andeftover sides; scalloped potatoes and ham, broccoli, leaf lettuce with sour cream dressing; Italian sausage with peppers and onions, cheesy potatoes, salad; leftovers smorgasbord; grilled cheese and tomato soup; Thai fried rice with chicken, salad, onion pancakes; roasted chicken, baked potato, salad; hummus, baba ganoush, falafel

What We Bought:

Tops:  Italian bread, eggs (2), broccoli crowns,  $3.58

Price Rite:  chocolate chips (2), mushrooms (2), cottage cheese (2), sour cream  $8.93

Bread Store:  bagels (3)  $ 3.29

Aldi:  tomatoes, red grapes, cream cheese (4), leaf lettuce, cream of mushroom soup (2), cream of chicken soup (2), bananas  $ 11.03

Sander's:  eggplant (2), cracked wheat bread, asparagus (.65#), Italian sausage (2.3#), Polish sausage (3#), grapefruit (3), red pepper, yellow pepper, boneless chuck roast (2.25#), potatoes (10#)  $26.63

Tops:  rotisserie chicken, knorr side dishes (4), carrots (1#), beef broth (32 oz), kale (.64#)  $6.50

Subtotal for Groceries:  $59.96

Eating Out:

Lunch with Joyce  $12.00

Dinner in DC:  $12.48

Lunch in DC:  $16.19

Dinner in DC:  $9.41

Brunch in DC:  $30

Dinner DC:  $26.82

Lunch home from DC:  $8.78

Lunch with friends  $ 11.97

Subtotal for meals out:  $127.65

Two Week Grand Total: $187.61

Remaining Allocation:  $ 112.39

2021 Frugal Things: March

 1.  Bread products are a frugal component of many meals.  They are even more frugal when you can buy them at a bread thrift store.  Mike and I stocked up on a Monday:  A three pound loaf  of rye bread for $ 2.29, bakery sandwich rolls for $ 1.19, everything bagels (2)for $ 1.29 each, cinnamon swirl bread for 1.29.  We also got a 15% discount because of Mike's military service.  Total:  $6.25  The original price on the bakery buns was more than that!  Score!

2.  Shredded a supply of block cheese for future use.  I find it goes MUCH farther shredded.  That translates into saved money. (And calories.)

3.  Leftovers.  I have never understood why they get a bad rep.  If it was good enough to ear once, it should be fine to eat again.  Our leftovers are usually lunch the next day.  If that doesn't use them up, I freeze and when I have a goodly number:  leftover smorgasbord for dinner.  Don't throw away food.  It's like throwing away money.

2021 Buying and Eating: March 16-31

 Amount Spent First Two Weeks of the Month:  $121.37

Remaining Monthly Allocation:  $198.63

Cushion:  $396.55

Amount Spent YTD (59 days):  $ 155.04

What We Ate: ham and cheese strata, artichoke, asparagus; Reuben;Cheesy potatoes and ham, lima beans, squash; fish, potato rounds, fruit; stuffing and chicken bake and fruit; roasted chicken with garlic and basil, baked sweet potato, peas; sloppy Joe, French fries, fruit; Buffalo chicken casserole, salad; grilled tuna and cheese with popcorn.; Huevos rancheros and cornbread; Buffalo chicken casserole; hotdog, carrot salad,  potatoes Anna; French onion soup and salad; grilled steak, rice pilaf, salad; beefy rice pilaf, fried cabbage

What We Bought:

Price Rite:  onions (9#), salad greens (2), peppers (2), Cheese (3), coffee (2#), cooking spray, spices  (4)  $23.97

Eating Out:$0.00

Two Week Total for Groceries:  $23.97

Two Week Total for Eating Out: $0.00

Two Week Grand Total:  $23.97

Monthly Grand Total:  $145.34

Amount to Cushion: $174.66

New cushion Amount: $571.21

Cost/Day (31): $4.69

Cost/Person/Day: $2.35

YTD Grand Total (90 days: $$300.38

Cost/Day: $3.34

Cost/ Person/Day: $1.67

2021 Frugal Things: February

 1.  A local store has cauliflower on sale for $1.99 EACH.  We took our time and found one that was 3.5 pounds.  That translates to 57 cents/pound.  A great deal!

2.  A free 8x10 of the cats from Walgreens.

3.  We have been eating from our stockpile hence our small grocery shopping bill.  Our freezer is quite full.  Making space for new bargains.

4.  A local store had tuna on sale for49 cents/can, two weeks in a row.  I bought the max of four cans each week.

5.  Using up some geriatric potatoes.  They are only a bargain if you follow through and use them.

6.  Buying longer life flowers for Valentine's Day so that I can still be enjoying them a month later.  More bang for your buck.

2021 Buying and Eating: March 1-15

 Monthly Allocation:  $310

Cushion:  $396.55

Spent YTD( 59 days):  $155.04

What We Ate:  soupa Toscana, salad, cheese and crackers; vegetables soup over pasta with cheese, salad, corn bread; meatball sub casserole, green beans, salad; sandwiches, potato rounds, broccoli; fish with garlic and olives, artichokes, pasta; sub casserole;  leftover smorgasbord; stuffed pork chops, asparagus, fruit and yogurt; homemade kielbasa, cheesy potatoes, asparagus, yogurt and fruit; tikki masala rice with squash, tandoori chicken, carrots; shaved steak sandwiches and homemade French fries with salad; Salsa Verde chicken, refried beans and fruit; baked salmon, avocado pasta, Caesar salad; lasagna soup and garlic bread

What We Bought:

Tops:  avocado (4), coffee (24oz), Italian bread  $7.90

Bread Store:  Rye bread (3#), bakery buns, bagels (2), cinnamon swirl bread  $ 6.25

Aldi:  corned beef (4.73#), chicken breast (5.62#)  $14.97

Aldi:  Irish cheese, asparagus, oranges  $ 8.37

Save a Lot:  potatoes (10#), lemons (3), polish sausage (2)  $  8.47

Sanders:  garlic bread, bananas, artichokes (6), limes (6), crescent rolls (2)  $ 9.11

Tops:  pretzels, pasta,  $1.76

Sams:  garlic cloves (3#) , olives (3)  $30..92

Price Rite:  coffee, 54oz (3), pasta, Italian sausage (3#), Romaine lettuce (2), tomatoes, sweet red peppers (4), cabbage (3.69#), carrots (2#), cheese (1.5#)  $26.94

Aldi:  oranges, mandarins  $6.68

Groceries for Two Weeks:  $121.37

Remaining Allocation:  $198.63

We really bought this last two weeks!  We bought meat and LOTS of fruit and vegetables.  Hope we do better the next two weeks.  Fingers crossed.

2021 Household and Personal Care: February--

 Household:

Laundry detergent (4)  $4.24  Price Rite

Toilet cleaner (3), antibacterial spray  $4.24  Dollar Tree

Replacement part for lamp  $4.27  Lowe's

Total:  $12.76

2021 Buying and Eating: February 15-28

Amount Spent First Two Weeks:  $38.41

 Remaining Allocation:  $241.59

Cushion:  $232.21

Amount Spent January:  $77.79

What We Ate:  ham loaf, broccoli, baked potato; sloppy Joe, fried potatoes, winter squash; seafood crepes, pasta with pesto, peas, spinach salad; toad in hole, cheesy cauliflower, strawberry salad; vegetarian three way chilli and cheese bread; stuffed pork chops, cauliflower cheese, citrus salad; vegetable soup and tuna on crackers; Buffalo chicken wings, baked cauliflower and potato coins; leftovers; Greek feast with stuffed grape leaves, hummus, falafel, tabouli; cheese ball pasta, mixed green salad; homemade supreme pizza; ham loaf, potato pancakes, lemon pepper broccoli

What We Bought:

Tops:  mac and cheese, tuna  $0.82

Tops:  beef broth, German bologna (lb.), carrots (lb), green pepper (2), asparagus (lb)  $6.95

Price Rite:  tuna (4), salad greens, broccoli crowns, Greek yogurt, sharp cheddar cheese (1.5#)  lemon juice,   $13.01

Dollar Tree:   cloves   $1.06

Eating Out:

Lobster roll from the club for Valentine's Day  $ 17.00

Two Week Total for Groceries:  $21.84

Two Week Total for Eating Out:  $17.00

Two Week Grand Total:  $38.84

Monthly Grand Total:  $77.25

Amount to Cushion:  $164.34

New Cushion Amount:  $396.55

Cost / Day:  $2.75

Cost/ Person/Day:  $1.38

Yearly Grand Total (59 days):  $155.04

Cost/day  $2.63

Cost/Person/Day  $1.32

2021 Household and Personal Care: January

 Household:

Coffee pot:  $9.99 (partially paid by gift cards earned previously)  Target

Scratching post:  $9.99  Target

Spic and span:  $3.18 (3)  Dollar Tree

Coffee filters:  $1.06 Dollar Tree

Snack size bags $1.06  Dollar Tree

Total:  $25.28

Personal Care:

Shampoo, toothpaste, soap, body powder  $  4.16  Dollar Tree

2021 Buying and Eating: February 1-14

 Allocation for February:  $280

Cushion:  $232.21

What We Ate:  Seafood stir fry and egg rolls with Asian noodles; leftover hotdog and sauerkraut casserole and salads; Italian calzone; red beans and rice soup with cornbread;  seafood crepes from the freezer, salad; soupa Toscana; bean tikki masala; navy bean soup; Hummus, cottage cheese and Mandarin oranges, green soy beans; chicken fried rice, fruit; pork chops, butter beans, spinach and orange salad; chili nachos ; French onion soup, spinach strawberry salad; assorted appetizers and chocolate covered strawberries

 

What We Bought:

Tops:  Italian bread, peppers (3), cauliflower (3.5#)  $3.97

Aldi:  Roma tomatoes, bananas, cream cheese (2), bratwurst, green olives, black olives, honey  $15.06

Price Rite:  coffee (4), apple juice (2), spinach (2), eggs (3)  $9.78

Aldi:  strawberries (2), oranges, mandarins,  baguette  $9.60

Groceries for Two Weeks:  $38.41

Remaining Allocation for Month:  $241.59

2021 Frugal Things i January

 1.  A free 8x10 of the grands from Walgreens.

2.  We used some of our incredibly cheap pork to make homemade kielbasa.

3.  We are eating from our stockpile and kept our monthly food expenditure to $77.79.

4.  Making more things from scratch rather than heading to the store.  Convenience can be expensive.

5. Menu planning a month at a time from the stockpile.  It stops that " I must go to the store " syndrome.

2020 Household and Personal Care: November and December

 Household:

2021 calendars (2)  $2.12 Dollar Tree

Laundry detergent  (4)  $4.12  Walgreens

Heat resistance glove  $4.99  Aldi

Glass cleaner  $1.69  Save a Lot

Total:  $12.92

2021 Buying and Eating: January 16-31

 Monthly Allocation:  $310.00

Amount Spent:  $43.83 first two weeks

Remaining Allocation:  $266.17

What We Ate:  Italian pork chops with ricotta and spinach,  beet and white bean salad, rice pilaf; soupa Toscana, homemade bread, bean and beet salad; Mexican pizza; sloppy Joe, cheese grits, tabouli; red beans and rice and Cajun sausage with beet salad and fruit; Toad in Hole with gravy, cabbage, fruit and cottage cheese; Asian peanut noodles and homemade egg rolls, fresh fruit; pierogies, apple sauce, squash;  bleu cheese pasta with smoked turkey, orang  glazed carrots, salad; ham loaf, fried sweet potato, applesauce; pasta with veggies and beef, garlic bread; grilled ham and cheese with chips; hotdog and sauerkraut casserole, applesauce, beet salad; steak salad

What We Bought:

Tops:  cottage cheese, chicken broth, eggs  $2.97

Country Fair:  eggs (3)  $2.97

Price Rite:  flour, sugar (2), oil (gal), brownie mix (4)),,, coffee (4), beef shaved steak (lb), salad greens (2), green pepper (2), turnip (1.5#), broccoli crowns (1 lb), French onion dip, frozen supreme pizza (2)  $28.02

Grocery Total for Two Weeks:  $33.96

Grocery Total for Month:  $77.79

$2.51/day or $1.25/day/person

Amount to Cushion:  $232.21

2020 Linus Project Blankets and Yarn Costs: October-December

 October:

Linus Project Blankets:  5

Adult blanket for a gift

Operation Gratitude Scarves: 2

23 skeins for $11.34  Goodwill

50 skeins for $14  Goodwillfor $23.15  Goodwill

2skeins for $2.49 (one overized)  Episcopal thrift store

32 skeins(some wool) for $19.44  Salvation Army

10 skeins  $8.80

November:

Linus Project Blankets:  4

Animal Blanket:  3

Scarf for gift:  1

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  4

December

Linus Project  2

Operation Gratitude Scarves:  14

Pet Blankets:  2

2020 Clothing Expenses: October- December

 

October:

Mike:

Watch  $20.22  Exchange

Navy hat and tee shirt  $11.75

Sandy:

 Wool Eddie Bauer cardigan  $4   Episcopal thrift store

Skirt  $3.99 Goodwill

Long sweater  $4.00  Salvation Army

2021 Buying and Eating: January 1-15

 Allocation for the Month: $310 for groceries and meals out

Cushion: $0.00

What We Ate:  ham, sweet potato, cabbage and black eyed peas; scalloped potatoes and ham, green bean casserole, fruit and yogurt; vegetable soup and leftover cheese ball; BBQ pork and leftover sides;  chicken paprikash soup and homemade rye bread; meatless chicken fried steak and sides; Buffalo wings, potato, lima beans; leftover chicken paprikash soup;  seafood crepes and pea salad; Orange chicken with noodles and roasted root vegetables with an Asian sauce; curried potatoes, pea salad, warm cinnamon pears; homemade egg rolls, egg drop soup, onion pancake; fish, Greek salad, mashed root veggies; tacos and refried beans with roasted potato skins; pasta carbonara and broccoli

What We Bought:

Tops:  Italian bread, eggs, liquid smoke ( for making kielbasa)  $5.25

Bread store:  English muffins, bagels (2)  $3.29

Aldi:  olives (4)  $11.96

Price Rite:  corned beef hash (2), canned chicken (4), boneless skinless chicken breast (5.83#), butter (2), eggs (4), orange juice  $23.33

Grocery Total for Two Weeks:  $43.83

Remaining Allocation:  $266.17

2021 Budget Amounts

 Buying and Eating:  We decided on $10.00/day or $5/person/day.  Remember, this includes our meals out.  We hope to have more of those this year with friends.  Plus, it makes the math easier.

Household and Personal Care:  Household will stay at $25/month.  Personal Care will go to $30/month because I am hoping for haircuts and a pedicure.

Clothing :  I am setting this at $10/person/month.  We shall see if that is enough.

Linus Project, etc. Yarn:  My goal is to find yarn for less than $1/skein.  Last year I averaged less than 60 cents/skein son should be able to do it.

2020 Frugal Things in December

 1.  Mike got a free haircut because he is a veteran.  A savings of $11.00.

2.  We bought a 16.5 pound ham.  It's original cost was $45.81.  It was on sale for 99 cents per pound.  That took the price down to $16.26 .  THEN we used the $10 in gift cards we received when we had our flu shots.  That took the final cost to $6.26 or about 40 cents per pound!!! 

3.  Mike needed a one-time prescription.  He had it filled at a store that offered $15 in free groceries for doing so.  Boneless pork loin went on sale and we used our gift card.  The result was about eleven pounds of meat for $1.66!

4.  Because of a medical appointment, we had to spend the night in Cleveland.  We stayed in the hotel attached for free using a free night.  We saved about $90!

5.  We used some of our16 cent/pound pork to make Italian sausage.

2020 Meal Plan: December 16-31

 Vegetarian:  cheese tortellini with sauce; 

Low Meat: assorted appetizers; beef pot pie; onions and peppers with Italian sausage; assorted appetizers; chicken Alfredo 

Meat:  catfish; beef stroganoff; ham; beef roast beef for Christmas; Christmas leftovers

Vegetarian:  1

Low Meat:  5

Meat:  5

The holidays threw us off track.  A birthday and two holidays will do that.  Such is life.

2020 Buying and Eating: December 16-31

 Remaining Allocation:  $310.12

Cushion  $1531.16

What We Ate:  catfish and French fries with salad; beef stroganoff and rice with veg; ham, potatoes and limas; tortellini with sauce; assorted appetizer; beef roast for Christmas; hamburgers and French fries; Christmas leftovers; beef pot pie; chicken Alfredo and broccoli; onions and peppers with Italian sausage; assorted appetizers

What We Bought:

Aldi:  egg noodles, butter (4), cream cheese (2)   $9.63

Giant Eagle:  boneless pork loin (11#)  $1.66  This is not a typo!  We used a $15 gift card Mike got for filling a prescription there.

Price Rite:  coffee (2), romaine lettuce, cucumber, red sweet pepper (2) crescent rolls (2)   $9.90

Tops:  broccoli crown, fresh green beans, halo oranges, cherry tomatoes, iceburg lettuce mix, onion dip, $5.35

Total for Groceries this Two Weeks:  $109.60

Eating Out:

Intercontinental Hotel   $55.26

Bruegger's Bagels  $6.38

Mike's birthday dinner at the club  $18.62

Total for Eating Out this Two Weeks:  $80.26

Grand Total for Two Weeks:  $189.86

Amount to Cushion:  $130.26

Final Cushion Amount for the Year: $1661.42