2026. Frugal things in July

 1.  I continued to bake rather than buy.  It is much cheaper.  This month I made cinnamon raisin bread, no yeast flatbread, Artisan bread(2),  prune breakfast bread, rustic rye bread, croutons from homemade Bread,  Ghirardelli’s brownies made from a 90 cent mix, rye croutons from homemade bread, olive, bacon and cheese loaf.

2.  I used a Chewy coupon I received in the mail and saved $20 on things I needed that were comparable to local prices.  And, they were delivered to the door.  I saved another $25 by doing auto ship and I can cancel at any time.

3.    I made sure to take advantage of my free birthday drink at Starbucks.  The iced latte was delicious on a hot day.

4.  We froze cauliflower, beets, & strawberries, beets, onion and made sweet pickles with some cucumbers.   All produce was From the CSA to enjoy this winter.

5.  I used the cauliflower stocks to make cauliflower soup to go with tomato and cheese sandwiches.

6.  We used a $15 birthday coupon at the yacht club to enjoy a lunch out.

7.  I had a coupon for my haircut that saved me $7.

2026. Buying and Eating: July

 Allocation   $403

Cushion   $651.37

Days     196

What We Ate:  cabbage, cashew and chicken salad with beans, corn on the cob; (2)       Taco salad and cowboy caviar;      Grilled ribs, baked beans, potato skins, pea salad.         Chicken divan, mashed potatoes, 🥔 yogurt and grapefruit, cowboy caviar      Falafels, homemade flatbread, tzatziki, red pepper hummus, dilled carrotsn, tossed Salas #3.        Blt salad with beans, fresh corn and cheese toast.    Cheeseburger salad with beans       Italian strata with sausage, basil, rosemary,mozzarella and spinach, leftover salad(2)    Bean curry with paneer and potatoes over rice, fried cauliflower , homemade flatbread   , salad.        Crab Louis with white beans, cheese grits, bread.    Lentil and ground beef sloppy Joe, salad, cauliflower cheese;     Taco salad and corn on the cob.          .cauliflower Soup with  white beans, with cheese and tomato sandwiches.       Chef salad with peas, corn on the cob, rye and Swiss bread.              Schnitzel, pierogie, corn on the cob, salad.            Stroganoff with wild rice, sautéed beet greens, tzatziki salad, bread         Tzatziki salad with chicken, olive, bacon and cheese bread, corn on the cob       Chicken divan, cheesy potatoes, corn on the cob         Pizza and popcorn 

What We Bought:  

Tops:  cheese, peanut butter, raw shrimp   11.37      All on sale

Aldi:   Olives (4), Greek yogurt     $15.45  

Sam’s Club:  olives (2)   Pam (2)   $25.44

Aldi:  avocados(4)    $2.76 on sale     On sale

Tops:  sour cream, shredded cheese (3)  $6.26  sale items

Giant Eagle:   Eggs(3)    $0.95     Anniversary special

TOTAL    $52.23           

Eating Out:

Lunch with the ladies:   $10.37

Lunch with Mike.      $11.85

Sandy birthday dinner.    $39.74 

Lunch at yacht club.    $18,21

TOTAL.   $80.22       

  

GRAND TOTAL.  $132.45        

Remaining Allocation:  $270.55

New Cushion:  $ 921.92

YTD grocery      $928.23   $4.74/day            $2.37/person/day

YTD eating out   $294.01       $1.41/day        $0.71/person/day

YTD total     $1222.24           $6.33/ day.         $3.12/person/day