Taking a Hiatus $

I'm terribly behind here. In order to free myself from the guilt, I've decided I'll just give this blog a rest for a while. I'll be going grocery shopping on Friday and it's a GREAT sale! So hopefully it'll be a short lived one.

I will update the numbers though. It's one of the most important parts of this blog to me....keeping track of my grocery budget. In the last week or so we've spent another $75. Tom stopping without authorization ;o) is messing me up! He's never shopped before in his life. I wonder if it's because our cupboards look emptier then they have lately. There aren't many easily made or grabbable things for him to eat.

I may go through the archives and put a few markings into titles to help me search through them easier in the future. Things like a $ when there's an update to monies spent. Numbering the paydays....PD1, PD2, etc.

Total...$75
Payperiod Total...$230.53
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$922.59

Friday, October 22

Kids had the day off from school.

Breakfast...

Hash Browns
Eggs
Toast

Lunch...
Bologna or PBJs
Cheese puffs

Dinner....

4 cans Cream of Tomato Soup
5 cans Chicken noodle soup
Crackers

Snacks at church for a bunch of them

I intended and started to make a Porkloin Roast for dinner but started it too late. So decided to finish cooking it for tomorrow's dinner and forgot about it until it was fully cooked to 180 degrees (suppose to be 160). Opened a bunch of cans of soup for dinner when I realized that we had little time for dinner.

Cheated today $

Olivia and I went grocery shopping today. Well we started going, we didn't do a true grocery shopping run but I think it'll have to be enough for now. I feel like I didn't get enough fruit and meat, although there is meat in the freezer.

We cheated by eating out. Someone at Tom's shop gave him 5 free tickets to the circus so we sent Drew out with 4 kids. They had $20 for parking and McD's. There were 6 of us left here (Pat had left with Jess) so we caved and ordered pizza and wings. :oD YUM!

I'm hoping to get everything back to normal tomorrow! (how long have I been saying that???)

I can't find my Save a Lot receipt but know I spent $155.53

Total...$155.53
Payperiod Total...$155.53
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$847.59

Backlogged again $

I haven't been up to posting too much. Unfortunately this was one of the things suffering for it. I'll try to catch up yet again in this post.

Saturday

We went to a catered BBQ/Pig Roast at church. YUM! I came home with a huge pan of shredded pork which was enough for 2 meals.

Sunday

I was gone at church all day so not sure what they ate. I organized dinner before I left though. They had lasagna and garlic bread, not sure if they had anything else.
Drew and I ran to the store on the way home from the evening banquet. We spent $60.55. (won't list it due to having a lot of days all in one) Bought too many snacks though.

Total...$60.55
Payperiod Total...$155.89
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$692.06

Monday
Liz had soccer practice. Snacked beforehand. Ate after practice.

BBQ Pork Sandwiches (half the pork from the BBQ)
Baked Potatoes
Corn

Tuesday

Baked Salmon
Garlic Noodles
Green beans

Wednesday
Liz had a soccer game. Kids have bologna sandwiches before we left. After we had...

Spaghetti and meatballs
Garlic Bread (last ones...waaahhh!)
Jello


Thursday
Today I'm hoping to go grocery shopping but not sure what I'm buying (NOT a good thing!) I still have quite a few meals in the freezer. I'm hoping I can get away with a tight budget this payperiod, lots of major expenses due right now.

Playing Catch UP $

WEDNESDAY...

Liz had soccer practice, snacked before, ate after.
Ran to the store grabbed a few things to make a taco dip. Spent $6.24
Ran into the dollar store next door and spent $6 on some treats for the kids.

Dinner...
Taco Dip with veggies and tortilla chips
Scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese

Total...$12.24
Payperiod Total...$95.34
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$631.51

THURSDAY...

Liz is sick...we didn't have to go to her soccer game.

Chicken and Gravy over mashed potatoes
bread

FRIDAY...

Chicken noodle soup (leftover chicken and gravy, potatoes, corn, green beans, egg noodles)
Bread
Pretzels
Vanilla Wafer

Tuesday 10/12

I finally got my rear into the dr's for some meds. Let's hope that I'm back to speed in a few days.

Breakfast...
Cereal

Lunch...
snacked at my parents' house

Dinner...
Hot dogs
Baby Carrots
Chips

I asked Pat to stop at a specific gas station to get 3 gallons of milk ($1.95/gal) on Monday. He forgot and stopped at the village store and paid $3.05/gal!!!!!!!!!! Luckily he only bought 2 at that price and not the 3 that I asked him to. I let him know we'd go without milk for a week before I paid that much for a gallon of milk. A convenience store he had to pass on the way to the village usually has milk on sale so that was a better place to stop. (I don't think their regular price would be $3.09) And here I thought my kids had gained my frugal tendencies and knowledge by osmosis. Maybe it's time to break out the wet noodles.

Tom went to the next town over to get my prescription filled. I asked him to run into the Big M next door to the drug store while he was waiting for it to be filled. They were having a 10 for $10 mix and match sale. One of the things they had was half gallons of orange juice that I've been craving! They also had some decent priced fruit which we've been out of for a few days. He says he spent about $27.

Total...$33.10
Payperiod Total...$83.10
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$619.27

Monday 10/11....Update

I've let things go here but intend to get back into it. Having the flu tends to put a damper on your enthusiasm for food and preparing it. Yesterday I couldn't update even if I wanted to because my IP was down for 24hrs (talk about withdrawal!)

Friday...Payday
I was barely functioning and as soon as some older people were in the house I kind of let go of things. Tom stopped at Save-a-Lot on the way home from work. He wouldn't show me the receipt. He doesn't want me to include what he bought in my totals. Something about he probably bought the wrong things and spent too much on stuff. I want as true of an account of what we spend as possible so asked him to give up how much he spent. He told me a roundabout figure which is better then nothing. I can't write out what he bought because I wasn't anywhere around when he put it away but it's been a few meals this weekend and we've been enjoying sodas and more snacks :o)

Tom made dinner....
Chicken nuggets
French fries
Tatertots
Baby Carrots

Total...$50
Payperiod Total...$50
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$586.17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday

I felt a lot better today...ventured outside and took time to make a meal!

Dinner
Seasame Chicken (won't give recipe as I'm still searching for a really good sauce...this one was only ok)
Beer Battered Onion Rings

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday
Forgot Sunday

Dinner was...

Sweet Italian Sausage with peppers from our garden (last of them)
Alfredo Egg Noodles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Monday
Feeling so so, sinuses are causing a problem. All kids have today off of school.

Breakfast...
Hashbrowns
Eggs
Toast

Lunch...
Hotdogs
Chips

Dinner...
Chili w/ground beef (used canned stuff and chili seasoning packets...no recipe)
English muffin Cheese Pizzas
French Fries
Chicken Nuggets

Dinner is finishing up as I write this. Some kids haven't gotten home from errands yet. Looking at the pans I'm going to assume that I'll have leftovers of chili and pizzas.

Beer Battered Onion Rings

Batter...

1 - 1 1/4c flour
1 12oz can beer
1 egg
seasoning (garlic, salt, pepper)

Add ingredients in the order listed. Blend well...will be similar to pancake batter consistancy.

Slice Onions into rings, dredge in additional flour then dip in beer batter.
Immediately drop into hot oil and fry until crispy and brown.

Thursday 10/7

I am still sick! I can't remember what everyone else had to eat today. I know Olivia had toast in the morning, pepperoni, cheese and crackers in the afternoon. Think that Drew also made her something else to eat when he got back from classes.

For dinner we had....

Angel hair with ground beef and sauce
Garlic Bread

Tomorrow is payday :o) It's nice that I don't feel the urgency to run to the store tomorrow (even if I wasn't sick). We still have snacks...which is amazing to me! I've found a new storage area LOL. Fridge is full of meat and bread. We have been out of milk for a day or so. I can have one of the boys pick up some on the way home from class.

Tuesday, 10/5

Breakfast...
Cereal
Bagels

Lunch...
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Cheese, pepperoni, & crackers
Grapes

Dinner...
Porkloin Roast
Stuffing
Carrots & celery with dip

Monday 10/4

Breakfast....
Leftover Pancakes
Bagels
Cereal

Lunch
Canned Chicken & Penne soup
Spinach and dressing
Cheese puffs

Afterschool snack
Cereal
cookies

Dinner
Chicken Patty sandwiches
Carrots

Sunday, 10/3

Feeling like CRAP today (see main blog) FFY (fend for yourself) day

Breakfast...
Leftover birthday cake
Ice Cream

Lunch...
Leftover hamburgers and hotdogs
might have had snacks...not sure

Dinner...
Leftover Kielbasa, PBJs, Ham Sandwiches (not sure if all were types were eaten or not)
Chips
Baby Carrots

Saturday, 10/2

Today is Michelle's Birthday! Having 8 extra kids here. Michelle will pick dinner but hasn't told me yet. She picked breakfast.

Breakfast...
Pancakes
Sausage
Hashbrowns
Cereal
OJ

Lunch...
Grilled Cheese (30 sandwiches!)
Cream of Tomato Soup (10 10.75oz cans, condensed...leftovers)
Soda

Dinner...
Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Kielbasa
French Fries
Veggies and dip
Soda

PHEW! This party thing is putting a dent into my menu. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful I have everything here to be able to feed whomever drops by. I just feel like I've lost a few days worth of meals. So far I've used...

turkey breakfast sausage meant for 2 meals
all the cheese single slices
all the cans of tomato soup
combined what would normally 3 meals for one (burgers, dogs, kielbasa) have leftovers though so not so bad.

Oh well, I still have plenty of food to get through this week. Next week will be a tight week, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes....coooome ooooon good sale! (sales start on Sunday here)

Drew and Pat went to WM for me after classes on Friday. I haven't seen the receipt yet so not sure how much to add to my totals, so I'm approximating. They bought...

14.52 - 2 birthday cakes (clearance)
3.57 - gal bucket of ice cream
6.60 - 3 gal milk
2.40 - 4 gal drinking water (have sulfur water and like to have bottled for company)
2.00 - 4 2lt soda

Total...$29.09
Payperiod Total...$536.17
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$536.17

Pancake Mix

10 c. flour
2 c. powdered milk
1 c. sugar
1/4c. baking powder
1/2Tbsp salt

Mix dry ingredients together, Add

8 c water
8 eggs, beaten
3/4 c oil
1 Tbsp vanilla

Stir until just mixed.

This makes a LOT of pancakes. I sometimes half this when I don't want any extras to freeze. Freezes well (single layer until firm then place into a freezer bag) Microwave from freezer to serve.

Friday, 10/1

October...WOW! Having girls overnight for Michelle's birthday. We're also having a party tomorrow. all day according to her (7am - 11pm! lol)

Breakfast...
Waffles with ice cream (think they are all gone now) :o(
Leftover Meatballs and sauce

Lunch....
Bunch of snacks, not feeling well

Dinner...
Snacked, feeling worse
Ham Sandwiches, fixed their own

I went to the bread store yesterday. They didn't have a GREAT sale but I did find some good things. I bought....

(all 22oz loaves, all cost $.50ea)
4 - Multigrain
4 - Whole Wheat
6 - White
4 boxes Friehoffer Chocolate Chip Cookies BOGOF $.90ea
1 bag Wise Honey BBQ chips (snack for Olivia and I)

Cost...$11.58
Payperiod total...$507.08
Year Total (starting 9/24/04)...$507.08

I'm sending Pat and Drew to WM. They are picking up my meds and buying milk, a cake and a few things for Michelle's party. So unfortunately that total will be increasing. I'm dumbfounded that I'm spending this much! And I wondered where all our extra funds were going! :o( The good thing is that a lot of what I bought will allow other grocery shopping trips to be a little lighter. (which is why I think a YTD total is more accurate)

Thursday 9/30

Breakfast....
Waffles (I'll cry when we finally run out of these)
Bagels
Cereal

Lunch....
Olivia and I will be grabbing something on the road...we actually had frittatas at my dad's house. YUM!
Kids are eating at school

Dinner... Cost $11.27 (leftovers)
Meatball Subs
Salad



Wow! Can't believe that September is over. I have a dr appt in the suburbs today. I'm hoping to stop at the bread store and stock up while I'm in. I'll also have to stop for a milk restock. I'll add what I spend to the payperiod total. I'm thinking I might keep a running yearly total too. I figure it'll be more accurate seeing as I will use things I bought this payperiod in the next one.

We've been talking groceries on a message board I visit. I see what other people feed their family and feel like my family is just a bunch of PIGS! Someone mentioned that perhaps some were taking the budget thing to a level that put their children's health as a low priority. I was slightly offended and disagreed with justification of coming to this conclusion. I do appreciate that she voiced this opinion though. I does remind me to analyze our diet more often. It's one of the reasons I've started this. So I have it written down and can look at it later. I also tend to work harder to feed my family well when I have to hold myself accountable to it. (instead of telling them to grab a sandwich or make some toast lol)

I'm amazed we still have chips and cookies left! I put them in a new place....way up high ontop of the cupboard over the fridge. It stops anyone from just grabbing it when they're hungry, or even myself from doing that. It's too much trouble to climb up there. I've also noticed this week that the kids aren't snacking as much. Always a good thing in my book. Maybe it's because I've been making meals in a timely fashion, thanks to having a "menu". Maybe it's because they've been taking more time to eat breakfast and such because I have a variety of fast and yummy food. I just hope it continues. Snacks can really break my budget!

Wednesday, 9/29

Half day for High schoolers, Open house night for Elementary School

Breakfast....
Bagels,
Cereal,
Waffles

Lunch....
Spinach and blue cheese dressing,
Grilled Cheese
Leftover hotdogs

Afterschool snack...
Ice cream
waffles

Dinner....
Cheeseburger/hamburger on a bun
Pasta Salad

Snack....
Sunkist fruit and cereal bar

I didn't really want to have the hamburgers today. I was distracted and forgot about open house tonight. So needed a quick dinner. I think Michelle might want them for her birthday party dinner on Saturday. So how can I feed 20+ people with 12 burgers (that's what's left lol).

Pasta Salad

1lb Tri colored garden rotini
1 can black olives
fresh vegetables
cucumbers
tomatoes
green peppers
celery
12oz Italian or Ceasar Dressing
Parmasean Cheese if not using Ceasar

Boil rotini, drain and cool, chop veggies and slice olives, add to pasta
Toss well with dressing and parm cheese

Sometimes make this more a meal by doubling pasta and dressing and adding chicken or pepperonis, and mozzarella cheese chunks

Tues 9/28

Half day for Elementary and Middle School kids. A few kids stayed home.

Breakfast...
Cereal
Bagels
Leftover Pasta

Lunch....
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Microwave Popcorn

Dinner...
Hot dogs with bread
Salad

Cost...$6.10




I'm having a hard time choosing what to serve for dinner. LOL I know that sounds insane with my freezers filled, but EVERYTHING sounds good. I also want to plan it so my fresh stuff gets used up first or at least before it spoils. The other problem is making sure I don't eat everything so I only have one type of meat left for the last week. :o)

Monday 9/27

Breakfast... Waffles, Cereal, Bananas

Lunch....Leftover Sloppy Joe and French Onion Soup (instant)
Lunchboxes...Ham Sandwiches, Green Grapes, Cheese curls, Cookies and Juicy Juice

Afterschool Snack...Waffles, leftovers from lunch

Dinner...
2# Angelhair pasta
Sauce (3 cans)
Sausage
Garlic Bread
Chocolate Milk

Dinner Cost...$13.52
Leftovers...Angel Hair left

I finally got the basement upright freezer going. I'm happy to report it is now safe to open the kitchen freezer door. Also rhere is no worry that your bread or roll will be moldy by the time we get around to serving it. I made up 8 loaves of garlic bread (other two rolls...dog got a hunk out of one Sat morning, they ate one on Sunday). So we had 2 loaves of garlic bread with our dinner and 6 more are in the freezer (3 meals). It's been so long since I've made it that I think my family would have eaten all 8 loaves last night if I'd let them. LOL I also put up a baggie of BBQ chicken and chicken fajita meat. (made in my crockpots)