Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $74.25

It definitely has been an interesting week!  I actually worked at staying home more rather than going out shopping!  I decided to actually wait until payday to do my shopping. I also prayed before shopping that I would still be able to take advantage of some of the great deals at the store despite not going early in the week and for clarity in knowing if I was getting the item because of the great deal or just to spend money needlessly.

I am doing an eat out of the pantry challenge for the month of May. However, I am still doing my weekly shopping just limiting the amount I am spending to $100 each week for my family of seven! So far, the last two weeks I have come under the $100 mark with change to spare! I need to update my freezer and pantry checklist from shopping based on my mental calculations I should be able to feed my family with what I have on hand through the end of the month.  

I also made my monthly Sam's run this week and ended up spending more than I usually do each month. However, we are doing a mini vacation in the next couple of weeks and also have come into a very busy time of year so I got some "on the go" ready snacks.  I know that I could bake my own ready to go snacks but these days are just not accomodating to spending extra time in the kitchen baking snacks. 

Here is a breakdown of what I purchased:(sorry no pics!)

Family Fare:

• 4 boxes breaded chicken nuggets $9.96
• 9lbs potatoes $2.97
• 1 pkg flour tortillas 99¢
• 2 jars Jif peanut butter $3.38
• 10 cups yogurt $4.60
• 1.16lbs summer squash $1.15

Total OOP: $18.42

Total Savings: $10.51

Total without sales & coupons: $28.93

Big Top Market:

• 4.60 lbs ground beef $8.70
• 3 bottles(64oz) juice $5.00
• 4lbs margarine sticks $2.76

Total OOP: $16.46

Total Savings: $4.56

Total without sales & coupons: $21.02

Save A Lot(SAL): 

• 8 cans cream of chicken soup $4.72
• 2 jars pizza sauce $1.98

Total OOP: $6.70

Meijer:

• 8.07 lbs bananas $2.26
• 2 gallons milk $3.96
• 2 boxes Nabisco snack crackers $3.00
• 1 1/2 lbs cheese $3.00
• 2 gallons Hawaiian Punch $3.38
• 2 bags Doritos $3.99
• 1 cantaloupe $2.00
• 1 bottle Miracle Whip FREE
• 2 boxes Ziploc bags $2.00
• 3 jars applesauce $5.00
• 1 box Ritz crackers 50¢
• 2 boxes Ritz Bits $3.00
• 1 box Nabisco 100 cal snacks 50¢
• 1 box Oreo fun stix $2.50
• 1 pkg swiss cheese $1.00
• 1 box Corn Pops 80¢
• 1 box Froot Loops 80¢
• 4 Tombstone Pizzas $11.32($2.83 each)
• 1 bottle St Ives body wash $1.50

Total OOP: $53.93

Total Savings: $59.18

Total without sales and coupons: $113.11

Grand Total OOP: $95.51

Grand Total Savings: $74.25 plus shopping at SAL

Grand Total without sales and coupons: $169.76

This post is linked at: 

• MoneySavingMom's Super Saturday Savings
  
• BeCentsAble's Centsable Savings Stories
• The Grocery Cart Challenge Weekly Shopping
  
• Mom's Need to Know's Best Deal of the Week

Weekly Glimpse of Pantry Challenge #2

Sara over at Learning The Frugal Life is having an "Eat from the Pantry Challenge" during the month of May and I am joining in even though I did something similar last month. I am thinking that doing these challenges is helping me to use those items that have been sitting in my pantry & freezer over the last few months. It also is helping me to keep my grocery budget low and in check as well.

So here is the results or update of how things have gone this week:

1. I put a new twist to a tried & true dessert recipe with great results! Doing the twist of the dessert used up 16 oz. of cream cheese in my fridge that needed to be used before it went bad!
   
   
2. This was "payday week" so it was time to do some restocking of items that I consider as staples.  However, I was able to do my weekly shopping trip for under $100 out of pocket! There was some good deals at my local stores this week! I should be able to just have to worry about getting milk, eggs, & bread  at the end of next week to round out my shopping for the rest of the month. 
   
   
3. I did my monthly Sam's run this week as well.  This month's shopping trip to Sam's was to restock some essentials along with getting some vacation food so my total was more than I usually do for a month at Sams.
   
   
4. I still need to get some baking done that would help a lot in diminishing some of my pantry supplies. 
   
   
5. Menu plans for the week went very well, I didn't have anything planned for Saturday's dinner but that will be filled up with the family going to a church sponsored event where we can get pizza (all you can eat) for $5 per family!
   
   
6. Before I did my shopping this week, I actually saw bare spots on my pantry & freezer shelves!!  That must mean that we are using up things that are on the shelves.
   
   
7. I know this fact doesn't have anything to do with food, but I stayed home 3 out of 5 week days this week!  That means I still have a more than 3/4 tank of gas in my van! 

I think that about covers the week in the area of food details at Sonshine's house. Take the time to let me know how you did this week!  Also don't forget to blog about it and then link up the post over at Sara's!

This post is linked at: 

• Eat from the Pantry Challenge at Learning The Frugal Life!

Monthly Sam's Run--May

Oh this run to Sam's was a bit of a painful one as I was out of a lot of items that I get every 3-6 months. I am low on several other things that I am pretty sure that I can wait until June to purchase so I already have started a list for June.

Also for this month, I purchased a few convenience things that I normally do not purchase but decided to have on hand for our mini vacations we are taking this spring and summer.   I also am a "soccer mom"(times 2) so this is my Saturday to bring snacks for the teams! 

Here is what I purchased for the month:

• 4 pk Capri Sun $6.68 (vacation food)
• 36 ct mini bags Cheez-its $8.46 (soccer snack)
• 28ct mini bags variety snacks $10.38 (vacation food)
• 30 lbs french fries $17.28
• 60 ct. Eggo waffles $7.79
• 48 ct. Go-gurt $7.83
• 72ct Kraft American slices $6.39
• 4 pks bagels $8.72
• 48 ct granola bars $8.05 (vacation food)
• 24oz. shaved smoked deli turkey $6.78
• 140ct pizza rolls $8.88
• 2-96oz apple juice $4.32
• 3-44oz ketchup $6.23
• 48 ct string cheese $7.12
• 3-45oz Ragu spaghetti sauce $8.16
• 3lbs real bacon bits $7.06
• 5lbs margarine $4.42
• 2-60oz Mrs. Butterworth's syrup $5.84
• 6lbs shredded hash browns $4.88
• 36ct frozen biscuits $5.46
• 5 quart pail ice cream $4.77
• 5 lbs mild cheddar cheese $9.47
• 16oz cajun seasoning $6.44
• 16oz garlic powder $3.87
• 4lbs idozied salt 88¢ (lasts me a year!)
• 8 cans green peas $6.52
• 12 cans green beans $7.97
• 1.25 gallons canola oil $8.67
• 6 big bags assorted chips $17.64
• 12.04 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $23.72 ($1.97/lb)
• 5.37lbs boneless pork loin chops $14.39($2.68/lb)
• 4.66lbs eye of round beef roast $13.42 ($2.88/lb)
• 90 oz bottle Palmolive dishsoap $7.42 (lasts me 6 months or more!)
• 150 loads Downy fabric softener $9.77
• 1 gallon Softsoap $6.39 (lasts me 3-6 months)
• 90ct 33 gallon trash bags $11.62 (use 2/week)
• 720 ct. Huggies natural care baby wipes $14.86(hopefully this box will be my last-- my 2 1/2 yo is working on potty training!)

Total with $3.00 sales tax for non-food items: $321.55

Used $10 gift card that I got for renewing my membership in the store!

TOTAL OOP: $311.55

FREEBIES #7--Homeschooling Resources

**these freebies are no longer available, however you can purchase them at CurrClick!

The LAST DAY of freebies over at CurrClick!!! 

To celebrate Mother's Day, CurrClick has been giving away FOUR freebies for you to download each day for the last seven days!! The freebies have changed each day! This is the last day so do not delay in taking advantage of these wonderful resources!!


Today's Freebies are:

1. Family Worship as Directed by our Forfathers--Twenty-one discourses and letters on family worship by our godly forefathers. We learn from men such as John Bunyan, J.W. Alexander, A.W. Pink, George Whitfield and more! Lovely artwork graces the pages. You will also find a list of helpful resources and links within this ebook.
   
   
2. Activity Bags Sampler #2--5 preschool activities in a bag instructions, 5 craft kits in a bag instructions, 5 Math Games in a bag instructions, 5 science experiments in a bag instructions and a 30 day challenge devotional and journal page are included in this sampler packet.
   
   
3. Prince Caspian Literature Unit--this is a different unit study from the 1st day of freebies! Topics to be covered are kings and queens, castles, knights, trees, celestial navigation, astronomy, and more. This unit includes a book list, a website URL list, and daily lesson plans that include vocabulary, reading assignments, writing assignments, notebooking page assignments, activities and crafts.
   
   
4. My Name Is Gene-Third Edition--The newest edition of the popular textbook "My Name is Gene". The book is written with a Christian perspective and demonstrates God's intricate handiwork, reflecting His glory and wisdom. Much of what makes each one of us unique and special is traced to our genetic code. This book is filled with information on genetics and the scientific advances in biotechnology. It is an easy-to-approach read with many colorful illustrations and several exercises. This book is appropriate for late elementary/middle-school students in either the classroom or homeschool. The workbooks "Fun with Gene" and its accompaniment "My Name is Gene" can be studied as a unit covering genetics.
   

Don't miss out!!!

Where to find the freebies: You can click on the picture above to get to CurrClick's homepage (or the CurrClick links in this post)and then click on the same picture over on the homepage to find the freebies!!

Summer Blues or the "Mom, I'm bored!"

Summer is coming! Which means our children will be on summer break and inevitably they will come to you saying that they are bored!

Here is a list of 13 free or low cost things that you can do with your children to help combate the summer boredom blues:

1. play board games together
   
   
2. go for nature walks--we have several area parks with nature trails.
   
   
3. bake goodies
   
   
4. visit grandparents(or if they are too far away, visit to a nursing home or senior assisted living center)--my parents live twenty minutes from us and they live in on an acre of land, which is great for exploring!
   
   
5. pretend we are at the movies---stick in a movie and do up some popcorn.
   
   
6. play hide n' seek
   
   
7. read books together--don't forget to find those different summer reading programs like at the public library or at your local bookstore like Barnes & Nobles.
   
   
8. brush up on the Math facts by quizzing each other. It always seems that my kids do a "data dump" when it comes to Math facts so we play the game who can get the most facts right in 2 minutes. :)
   
   
9. if we do any traveling, I like to make up a backpack full of goodies for them to do on the trip. I use some of the many ideas over at Mom's Minivan as well to fill the pack.
   
   
10. do a craft project together.
    
    
11. when stuck inside due to the weather, using our imagination to play games from tea parties to hide n' seek to I spy. An article of ideas to have fun indoors.
    
    
12. create an obstacle course or water park or a carnival in your backyard and together with your kids have a fun afternoon playing at the "park".
    
    
13. work in the garden.
    
    
    

These are just a few things that you can do to help keep the "Mom, I'm bored!" saying at bay. There is also a few more suggestions here!

I am always looking for more ideas! I would love to hear what are some things that you do with your kids to keep the boredom at bay??

This post is linked at:

• 3 Moms Thursday Thirteen at Happy to be at Home!
• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom!