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