Menu Planning

I mentioned last week that my stockpile is getting a bit out of control. I really need to challenge myself over the next couple weeks to eat off of what we already have. Today I took stock of what was in the freezer and planned my meals around what I had. Here's what I came up with:

SUNDAY: Spaghetti and meat sauce, bread
MONDAY: Sausage & Chicken packets on grill, potatoes au gratin, veggie, bread
TUESDAY: (soccer night)-eat out
WEDNESDAY: Pork chops on grill, mashed potatoes, veggie, bread
THURSDAY: Pork loin, noodle side, veggie, bread
FRIDAY: Turkey burgers (I swear my hubby would eat these EVERY day if I'd cook them!), fries, veggie
SATURDAY: eat out

Now that I'm typing it out, it seems a little redundant, but I'll change up the veggies and sides each night and I'm trying to do as much grilling as I can since the weather looks like it's going to behave for a change around here!!

So--what do I need to purchase for these meals?? Here's my shopping list for the week:
celery
onions

Wow...I think I can stay WELL under my $65 weekly budget!! Which is great since I ended up spending that much extra last week with my extra Walmart trip. So, it all evens out in the end.

Now your challenge: eating from the pantry!! It's actually quite cleansing--personally, and for the pantry!!

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A Wonderful Walmart Trip

Is it just me, or do you get a little glimpse of Heaven when you get a cashier who digs your coupons?? This week I went to Walmart. I honestly can't remember the last time I went there. Since they don't have weekly "sales" or sales ads, there isn't that time crunch to get there before the price changes or the RR deal expires. So I kinda end up forgetting about them, always busier with my Wags, CVS and Target runs, along with all the local grocery stores. So, usually once every few months I'll make a run with all my Qs that are getting ready to expire. There are just certain things that you can get a better deal on at Walmart!

I honestly didn't realize how many coupons I had to use up. They were in a little accordion envelope thing and it wasn't until I got up to the register and pulled the stack out that I thought "OMG!! This cashier is going to KILL me!!" I got up there and politely said "I hope you don't hate coupons (cringe!)" and she said "NO! I'm a couponer too!!!"  Oh...how I love those words. We talked coupon sites as she rang me up. My total was $126.77 before coupons, and $66.17 after! LOVE it!!

I really didn't need a darn thing that I bought  (well, except for the baby wipes and shave cream) but it all looks beautiful in my stockpile (which, I might add, is getting a little ridiculous. I think it may be time to start "living off the stockpile," so to speak. Can I possibly go a whole week buying NOTHING?? I'm not sure that's a challenge I'm up for!) So, yes, lots of stuff just sitting on the shelves of my basement right now, but it will all get used eventually!  Among the highlights: 2 Armour Alls for $.28 each, 8 Huggies soft-packs wipes for $1.18 ea, 6 Wheatables Nut Crisps for $.48 each, 2 Capri Suns for $.97 each, 3 soymilk cartons for $1.48 each, and 3 Nivea body washes for FREE....

I found most of my match-ups right here! Thanks KC Penny Pinchin Mama! You're the best!!

My Grocery Savings for this Week

This week I was able to get all I needed at just two stores, and for under my weekly grocery/household item budget of $65. I stopped at Cosentino's Price Chopper and CVS and here is what I got:


3 fruit snacks, a 6pk paper towels, 3 nestle drumsticks, 3 12-ct Pop Tarts, 3 6-pks Ensure, 3 Lay's potato chips, a pound of 93% lean ground beef, 2 Chex Mix, 3 frozen veggies, a pack of blackberries, 2 Apple sauce 6pks, 3 Hunt's pudding 4pks, 2 Cover Girl lip glosses, 2 things of bread, among other things...

...all of this ran me $51.47 out of pocket! I saved over $64 at Price Chopper and about $30 at CVS.

Find Kansas City area Price Chopper match-ups here.
CVS match-ups here.
{Thanks, KCPennyPinchin'Mama & Hip2Save!!}

So...what will I do with these groceries? How will I feed my family on pop-tarts and lip gloss?? That's the beauty of the stock-pile. I really only needed the bread and chips for this week's meals. The rest I already had in the stock-pile! (And everything else from above will be added to it!)

SUNDAY: Turkey Burgers, corn on the cob, Pillsbury rolls, noodle side
MONDAY: Stuffed chicken breasts on the grill, au gratin potatoes, veggie, crescent rolls
TUESDAY: (soccer night) Soup/Sandwiches, chips, apples and cheese
WEDNESDAY: (late night at work) Manwich, chips, veggie
THURSDAY: (school program nite) Eat out
FRIDAY: Turkey burgers (yes, my hubby wants them that often!!), veggie, noodle side
SATURDAY: Tacos, mexi-rice, chips/salsa
SUNDAY: Pasta with Vodka sauce, Pillsbury french loaf