2026. Buying and Eating: February 1-28

 Allocation:  $13x28=$364.00 

Cushion:   $160.81

YTD:   50 days as of February 

YTD Grocery.    $125.19 as of January 

Eating Out.    -0-

YTD Total:  $125.19.      5.68/day     $2.85/person/ day as of January 

What We Ate:     Soupa Toscana, grilled mozzarella and pepperoni sandwiches;       Creamy sour cream chicken, rice, beets, cinnamon bread;      Salmon, baked potatoes, squash, yogurt and mandarins;     Leftover Greek spinach casserole ;     Salmon and pasta with cream sauce, carrots with orange sauce, apple salad;     Asian beef and vegetables with rice, yogurt and tropical fruit;      Beef, bean and cheese nachos with fresh fruit salad;     Crab chowder, cheese biscuits, cheese;     Ham salad sandwich and popcorn;     Huevos ranchero, fruit and cottage cheese,  cheese biscuits ;     Curry, potatoes, cabbage, cheese biscuits;   Meatloaf , mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables, fruit bread with apple butter;     Cottage pie, spiced peaches, cheesy muffins;      Valentines Day :   Beef tenderloin, asparagus, potatoes Anna;        Sloppy Joe, potato skins, butter beans ;     Pittsburgh steak salad ;       Steak wraps, chips, salad;     Pierogi, tropical salad, asparagus, garlic bread;     Jambalaya, salad, bread;     Matzo Fafell asparagus, salad, everything bagel;     Joyce’s chicken salad:    Boneless pork loin chops, mixed fruit salad, banana and blueberry bread, salad;      Taco salad;     Lasagna soup and crackers with cheese;     Italian beans and greens, grilled bagels;     Stack enchiladas and cornbread with a salad;     Macaroni and cheese with baked beans, applesauce and brown bread ;     Mexican pizza and popcorn 

Eating Out:

Lunch with Amy and Cindy         Cracker Barrel     $14

Lunch with Ginger         Toreadors        $8.00

Monthly Total Eating Out:   $22

What We Bought:

Aldi:   Sweet colored peppers (6), avocados (3), eggs.          $7.29

Tops:   Beef broth, chunk cheese, pasta, asparagus (#).    $8.56

Country Fair:   Eggs (2).  $3.00

Aldi:    Bagels(2pkg), mushrooms (3pkg), romaine hearts.    $10.84

Sam’s Club:  butter (16#).    $6.96 cash.    (And $26.80 in Sam’s cash)

Giant Eagle:   Perogies (6),   Tuna (10).    $20.       

Amazon:   Vital wheat gluten.   $28.99. Lasts two years

Monthly Total Grocery : $85.64

Grand Total Monthly:   $107.64

New Cushion:  $417.17

YTD Days as of end of February:  50

YTD Grocery:  $200.83.        $4.02/day     $2.01/Person/Day

YTD Eating Out:     $22.       $0.44/day.      $0.22/person/day

YTD Grand Total :    $232.83.      $4.46day.       $2.23/person/day

Thank heavens for stockpiling.

2026. Household and Personal Care: Januaryand February

 Household.  $40/month

   Toilet paper.     $9.55.     $15 was paid by a gift card    Sams Club 

    Dishwasher detergent (82 tablets)   $14.75   Amazon 

Total:  $23.30   

 

Personal Care. Was  $20/month      And I  know already it won’t work so raising to $50/month

Sandy haircut     $47    I needed a change, but boy!

2026. Frugal Things In January and February

 1.  We stayed over in Budapest for a few days.  Our hotel room was paid for using points.

2.  I combined a sale on ground beef and the redemption of some perks earned to buy about five pounds of hamburger meat for $0.27.   I feel successful.

3.   We used a $15 gift card won at bingo to help buy a year’s worth of toilet paper.  Cash was only $9.55.  Quite happy.

4.  I cooked a yummy beef tenderloin dinner with asparagus and potato, plus dessert and wine.  It fed the two of us for well under the restaurant cost for one.  And there were leftovers.  Only the asparagus was bought specifically for the meal and it was a sale item.  The rest of the ingredients came from our stockpile and freezer.

5.  We continue to rely on our stockpile and freezer when planning meals.  Since the items are always bought during a sale, It really helps keep us within our food budget.  YTD we have spent $

6.  By using $26.80 in Sam’s cash, I managed to buy 16 pounds of butter for only $6.96.  Quite good.