Friday, October 16, 2009

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $48.31

This week was payday week and it was also time for my monthly run to Sam's Club.  I actually did my shopping all in one day, which made for an exhausting day! Looking at my shelves in my freezer and pantry I would say that we are pretty well set for at least a couple of weeks, next up is doing an inventory of things so I can work at spreading things out across the days. As I sit here doing a rough inventory in my head, I am not sure that I figured correctly and got enough meat for my meat and potatoes family to last another two weeks!  So I might have to hit up Meijer next week to get their sale meats along with doing a milk run.

Here is what I purchased from the grocery stores this week. Go here to see what I purchased for the month at Sam's.

Meijer: 

  • 1 lb Land of Frost deli meat $2.00
  • 1 lb Hillshire Farms deli meat $4.94
  • 4 pkgs Kraft shredded cheese $5.52
  • 2 bags Lays potato chips $3.94
  • 3 boxes Special K bars $4.24
  • 6 lbs carrots $3.00
Total OOP: $23.64
Total Savings: $20.14
Total without sales & coupons: $43.78

Family Fare: 
  • 36 double rolls Northern TP $16.05 (including tax)
  • 2 boxes breaded chicken tenders $4.98
  • 3 cans Minute Maid OJ $5.00
  • 1 bag Gortons fish fillets $5.59
  • 4 Chicken cordon bleu $3.96
  • 3 lbs stick margarine $2.37
  • 3 lbs bacon $5.64
  • 1 bottle Sunny Delight $1.00
  • 2-64 oz apple juice $3.34
  • 2 bags Fritos $4.00
  • 5 lbs sugar $1.99
  • 2 gallons milk $3.50
  • 1 gallon apple cider $2.99

Total OOP: $60.41
Total Savings: $28.17
Total without sales & coupons: $88.58

Grand Total OOP: $84.05
Grand Total Savings: $48.31
Grand Total without sales & coupons: $132.36


This post is linked to:

Monthly Sam's Run--October

I went to Sam's this month with a a long list of items to purchase.  I was not going to take any of my kids with me due to the length of the list but I ended up taking two out of five with me.  It just so happen to be my youngest two which are for the most part my best shoppers!  I can stick them in the cart and they are happy to ride through the store other than the need for a couple of potty breaks we were in and out of the store in an hour!

This month was my month to stock up on some my baking basics so that I can get started with the holiday baking in the days and weeks to come. I also saved myself a trip later in the month by planning ahead and grabbing a mixed bag of mini candy bars to hand out for Halloween.(not sure if it will suffice but I can always have hubby pick up another bag on his way home from work if necessary).

Remember that several of the items listed below I do not get every month. There are many things that I purchase in bulk at Sam's that will last me several months. For instance, the last time I got paper plates was back in June!!  Whereas the meats, margarine, hash browns and few other things I get every month so they are considered "staples" on my list.

Here is the items I purchased this month:

  • 25 lbs all purpose flour $6.49
  • 25 lbs bread flour $7.34
  • 30 lbs french fries $16.98
  • 5 lbs pepperoni $11.76
  • 5.24 lbs pork chops $12.47
  • 13.67 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breast $26.93
  • 3.87 lbs beef round roast $11.07
  • 2-60oz Country Crock margarine $6.44
  • 6 lbs Ore Ida shredded hash browns $5.38
  • 48 ct Gogurt $7.64
  • 2-96 oz bottles apple juice $3.98
  • 60 ct Eggo waffles $7.79
  • 5 lbs frozen cut corn $4.98
  • 12 individual mini Red Baron pizzas $10.76
  • 140 ct Totinos pizza rolls $8.97
  • 600 ct 9 inch paper plates $17.26(including tax)
  • 4 bags chips $11.96
  • 105 ct bag mini candy bars $9.98
  • 3 lbs Hormel bacon bits $6.97
  • 2 pk Jif creamy peanut butter $6.83
  • 2 pk Jif crunchy peanut butter $6.83
  • 2-18 ct eggs $2.92
  • 5 lbs mild cheddar cheese $9.75
  • 1 prescription-Ventolin $9.00
  • 36 ct Kudo bars $5.48
  • 72 ct. Kraft American cheese slices $6.82
  • 36 ct. Kelloggs poptarts $6.28
  • 45 ct. cheese crackers & peanut butter $5.28
  • 16 oz chicken bouillon $4.87
  • 67 oz can Nesquick $6.68
  • 48 ct. string cheese $7.22
  • 3-45 oz Ragu spaghetti sauce $7.74
  • 12 cans Swanson chicken broth $6.26
Total OOP: $308.59

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

PRAISE the Lord!!

If you didn't catch my previous post, my brother had open heart surgery today!

Just a quick update...

My brother made it through his surgery! My dad called me about 2pm this afternoon to let me know that he had made it through the surgery and they were taking him to the recovery room and then on to ICU.

Thanks for your prayers!  He has an uphill battle now in the recovery phase. Continue to pray for him!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Calling for Prayer Warriors!!

If it seems like I haven't been around too much lately here posting it is because not only is it time for a weather season change and all the readiness that needs to happen for the long winter months but I have had a "life season" change as well.   Being the oldest child in my family, I have taken on the responsibility of caring for my aging parents. They are still able to relatively live on their own but they need help with making sure that the bills get paid and that the every day upkeep of their home is done. Two weeks ago, I was officially made my parents' power of attorney so that I am able to help them.  So I have been concentrating on getting the mess of their finances cleaned up and a monthly budget working for them on their fixed income.  Just about the time I see the light at the end of the tunnel some other bill or circumstance pokes through the piles of papers!  So I have had to put aside some of usual free time activities(yes as a mom I try to have free time!) and work through my parents' financial matters.

My mom has also been diagnosed with progressive dementia so that has put some challenges into the mix of things as well.

Along with all of this, today my 24 yo brother is at the hospital for all the pre-op appointments along with getting admitted to the hospital. Then tomorrow(Oct 13th) around 8am he is going in for a 10-12 hour open heart surgery.

He was born with a 3 chambered heart and has had open heart surgery before(back when he was 2 1/2yo). The surgery is to do a repair on the repair that he had done when he was 2 1/2yo. Basically medical technology has changed enough over the years that his doctors are confident that they can make his heart work in his adult body as a 4 chambered heart.  He also has transposition of the great vessels so the option for an artificial heart or heart transplant are out of the list of possibilities.

Also this will be like the 6th or 7th time that my brother has had his heart medically stopped and restarted again. Each time this happens it is one less time that the heart can be stopped and restarted.

My dad is at the hospital(which is out of town for us) with my brother and my mom is home and alone for the majority of the next 48 hours!! I still have a unmarried 35yo sister and mentally impaired 22yo brother that still live at home so my mom won't be alone all the time but during the day today and some of the day tomorrow.

The reason for calling the prayer warriors....pray for my family at this time it is a very stressful time with my brother's surgery. Also pray for strength for the 3 doctors that will be operating on my brother tomorrow.  Also pray for patience for when I am working with my parents on their financial mess!  They have made some unwise decisions and it has left them with not a whole lot of money to work with in their pockets.

TIA for the prayers!  I will post an update on my brother when I know more after his surgery tomorrow!

Menu Plan Monday 10/11-10-17


I am struggling with menu planning lately. I just feel so uninspired and cooking the same old dishes every week or every other week is getting boring!  I gotta snap out of this rut and find something new to cook that my whole family of picky eaters will eat.  It is also difficult when one of the picky eaters is having a palate change.  Nothing like cooking something one week to find that the next time I cook it the individual doesn’t like it anymore and there was no changing the dish the second time around.

This week’s shopping trip was getting mostly essentials.  For some odd reason, I was missing several pantry essentials so making meals were just a bit difficult.   At the end of this week, it will be payday time again so I will be doing my monthly shopping to Sam’s along with a shopping trip to the grocery stores.  The sale ads for this week are not very happening so I think I am going to wait and do the grocery store shopping next week; maybe there will be better sales.

This week’s meals are using what I have on hand and trying to use up several things to make room in the pantry and freezer for the shopping in the next week.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check the over 300 other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie’s site or look down in my right sidebar for my menu suggestion lists!



Sunday (10-11)
Breakfast: eggs, bacon, hash browns, and cinnamon rolls
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: goulash served with leftover homemade rolls and biscuits
Snack: snack basket

Monday (10-12)
Breakfast: cereal and toast
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: roasted pork loin served with rice, and green beans
Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (10-13)
Breakfast:  waffles and sausage
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner:  baked chicken & fish served with baked potatoes and corn
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday(10-14)
Breakfast:  bagels and cereal
Lunch: pizza
Dinner:  ??? maybe something new! J
Snack: snack basket

Thursday(10-15)
Breakfast:  Pancakes and sausage
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner:  chili served with rice and corn muffins
Snack: snack basket

Friday(10-16)
Breakfast:  cereal and toast
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner:  roasted turkey breast served with mashed taters, gravy, corn and biscuits
Snack: ice cream night

Saturday(10-17)
Breakfast:  Your Choice
Lunch: ???
Dinner:  burgers, fries and carrots
Snack: popcorn