Retire@50

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $19.93, 7.00 eating out, 12.93 groceries
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
Haagen Daz ice cream @1/2 cup
macadamia nuts

Lunch
went to Rosies diner and had a cheeseburger and fries. Spent $7. I saved $2.50 because every time you go they stamp a card for you and after the card is completely stamped you get a free meal. My dad keeps the cards for all of us. Last night we had a free meal so I took a 3rd of it.

Dinner
Goldfish pretzels and ice cream bar

Somehow yesterday spiraled out of control as far as healthy eating. Ah well, try to do better today. Only one more week of the challenge.

Went to Safeway last night after Rosie's and got a bunch of radishes and a head of garlic for .89. They had radishes 3 for a $1, which is the best price I've seen for those. My last batch was so hot though I ended up tossing them. They had russet potatoes .50/lb but they already had eyes growing and were soft. I think I'll pass

This morning I went to the farmer's market and got 5 tomatoes for $3. I still have $5 left this week, but can't think of anything else to get right now that's the right price.

I got 50 swagbucks yesterday which gave me enough for another $5 gift card at Amazon.

I finished reading the library book Angelology by Danielle Trussoni. Not sure how to classify this, maybe adventure - pretty good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $ 9.04, 00.00 eating out, 9.04 groceries
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
cherries
low-cal vanilla pudding cup

Lunch
turkey sandwich
watermelon - mom gave me the watermelon because she had too much
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
1/2 of 21 oz Stouffer's lasagna
1 c sauteed green beans
1 glass skim milk

Snack
apple
1 deviled egg

Went to King Soopers today and spent $4.20 towards groceries and $1.20 for food pantry items

1.00 - small Haagen Daz ice cream cup
-1.00 - q
------
FREE - already ate this

3.00 - 3 StarKist tuna pouches
-1.00 - .80/2 q doubled to $1
-1.99 - buy2/get1 free
-----
.01

2.00 - 2 Hunts ketchup
- .80 - 2 .20 q's doubled
------
1.20 - food pantry donations

1.98 - 1 gal milk
1.25 - pack of Gold Meadow ice cream bars
1.16 - grapes on sale .88/lb
-----
4.39

Finished reading my book The Skystone by Jack Whyte. Historical fiction - pretty good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $ 4.84, 00.00 eating out, 4.84 groceries
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
walnuts

Lunch
turkey sandwich
2 handfuls of goldfish pretzels
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
1/2 of 21 oz Stouffer's lasagna
1 c sauteed green beans
1 glass skim milk

Snack
apple
peanut butter and celery

It's been nice and cool here for the last couple of days. 60 - 70s - great for walking. Also getting lots of rain, which is good and needed. Perfect weather for me.

I finished reading my book Honk if you love real men. Romance short stories. Only one good story by Lora Leigh but it was excellent.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $ 4.84, 00.00 eating out, 4.84 groceries
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c pumpkin spiced oatmeal
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
walnuts

Lunch
turkey sandwich
1 low-cal lemon pudding cup
2 handfuls of goldfish pretzels
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
popcorn shrimp w/ketchup
corn on the cob w/butter and salt and pepper
sliced tomatoes
1 glass skim milk

Snack
apple
peanut butter and celery

The trees have already started to turn here. It really early for that. I don't know why, maybe because it's been so dry. But we've gotten a lot of rain in the last few days, maybe too little too late.

I finished reading the library book Live Free or Die by John Ringo. Sci/Fi - very good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $ 4.84, 00.00 eating out, 4.84 groceries
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c pumpkin spiced oatmeal w/walnuts
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
cherries
1 container low-cal vanilla pudding

Lunch
tuna wrap
coleslaw
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
6 oz ham - yummy
1 c garlic white bean mash
raw carrots
1 glass skim milk

Snack
apple
peanut butter and celery

I saw the garlic white bean mash while watching Nigella Feasts. Basically mash a can of white beans in garlic flavored oil. It was ok, but I think I would just like the beans with some butter and salt better.

I got an ear of corn, 4 tomatoes and 1 1/2 lbs cherries this morning. Spent $4.84

Finished reading my book Freedom's Choice by Anne McCaffrey. Sci/Fi - very good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c pumpkin spiced oatmeal w/walnuts
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
cherries
1 container low-cal vanilla pudding

Lunch
tuna wrap
coleslaw
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
lefover roasted veggies and sausage
2 deviled eggs
1 glass skim milk

Snack
apple
peanut butter and celery

It rained hard for 5 hours last night. We really needed it. We got some hail too, didn't need that. We got 1 1/2 inches of rain. I heard the fireworks going off even in the rain - I don't understand that. Most of the people probably didn't go, why didn't the city just put the fireworks away till next year or change it to tonight? I know the next town is doing it tonight instead. What a waste to do them last night.

It was only 60 this morning though so we were able to get our walk done.

I finished reading the library book Fever Dream by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Mystery - very good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c pumpkin spiced oatmeal
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
cherries
1 deviled egg

Lunch
tuna wrap
coleslaw
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
baked potato w/honey dijon dressing
1 can chicken and noodle soup
1 glass skim milk

Snack
grapes
1 deviled egg

The challenge is halfway over now. I'm doing very well money-wise. It's more restrictive than I'm used to. I usually buy good deals when/if I see them and don't think about it too much in terms of only having so much to spend that week. I think I'll buy that this week even though I don't need it yet because I have a few dollars left in my budget, that leaves me more for next week. It's a different mindset. The eating itself is going well, still thinking about food too much in my opinion, but it is healthy and that's good.

I finished reading my book The Elusive Bride by Stephanie Laurens. Romance - pretty good. I like this author and most of her books are very good or excellent. This is the second one in the series and I just didn't think it was quite as good as many of her other ones.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $22.28, 9.00 eating out, 13.28 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c pumpkin spiced oatmeal
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
cherries
1 deviled egg

Lunch
ham sandwich
carrots
grapes
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
roasted vegetables w/sausage in a mustard sauce
1 glass skim milk

Snack
celery w/peanut butter
1 deviled egg

I woke up very early for me this morning @7:00, I usually wake up around 9:30. I went for a walk and then got a gallon of milk at King Soopers - spent $1.98. That brings me up to $22.28 for the week. Now I'm sleepy again, thinking about going back to bed, but it's already hot here so not sure if I can sleep.

I finished reading the library book Wish List. Romantic short stories - Ok

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $20.30, 9.00 eating out, 11.30 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
handful of walnuts

Lunch
ham sandwich
carrots
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
Had dinner at Chili's. Turkey sandwich and fries. Spent $9.00

Snack
celery w/peanut butter
1 glass skim milk

June food pantry totals were

99 items donated
21.57 amount I spent
122.17 value of items

I finished reading the library book Blood Magic by Eileen Wilks. Paranormal - very good

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $11.30, 00.00 eating out, 11.30 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
handful of walnuts

Lunch
1 slice whole wheat bread w/peanut butter and jelly
large bowl homemade banana nut ice cream

Dinner
ham sandwich
large salad w/egg, tomatoes and low-cal ranch dressing
1 glass skim milk

Mom had company on Tuesday and made banana nut ice cream. She gave me a big bowl to take home after we walked yesterday morning, so I enjoyed it for lunch

Ran several errands today

Walgreens

They only had 1 6 pack of Boost so the cashier gave it to me for 1/2 price. The sale is b1g1 50% off.

3.65 - 3.00 q = .65 on gift card

Gas and $5 car wash $32.84. Gas was 2.69/gal. Discover is paying 5% back for the next 3 months on gas purchases

Safeway

I have a hard time figuring out the Safeway receipts. I don't know how it happened but I got groceries for at least $2 less than I was expecting to pay. I ended up spending $3.29 on groceries for me and $2.07 on groceries for the food pantry

The pantry got

5.07 - 6 Wacky Mac - bogo
-3.00 - 3 .50 q's doubled
-----
2.07

2.97 - 3 bottles Jack Daniels BBQ sauce
-2.97 - 3 .50 q's doubled
-----
FREE

2.97 - 3 bottles Wishbone dressing using SW q
-2.97 - 3 .75 q's doubled
-----
FREE + .03 - 1 kept 2 bottles and gave 1 to the pantry

7.98 - 2 packs Kraft 2% cheese slices - 12 ct
-5.00 - SW q
-1.00 - $1/2 q
-----
1.98

3.98 - 2 Hillshire farm sausage
-2.00 - SW q
-2.00 - 2 .55 q's doubled
------
-.02 - I think this is where I made the $2 I wasn't expecting. The sausage rang up at sale price before the SW q was input.

1.33 - cherries on sale @1.48/lb

King Soopers was next. I spent $3.04

1.00 - Dole coleslaw
-1.00 - .50 q doubled
------
FREE

1.78 - 2 cans Muir Glen tomato paste
-2.00 - 2 $1 q's
-----
-.22 - moneymaker

1.99 - Oroweat whole wheat bread on sale
1.27 - celery
-----
3.26
- .22 moneymaker from Muir Glen
-----
3.04

The pantry gets the Muir Glen. Total spent on groceries today $6.33

Walmart - I got household items - no food. My best deal was on the Finish dishwashing tabs. They had the 20 ct on sale for $2.97 and I had $2.50 q's. Final price .47 + .23 tax = .70 each and I got 3 of them.

Last stop dropped 5 bags of groceries and personal care items at food pantry.

I need some mayonaise. I gave a ton away last year and now I find I'm down to my last bottle and no good sales or coupons. I'm so used to getting it free I don't think I can force myself to pay $2+ for it. Hopefully there will be a good deal before I am completely out

I finished reading my book The Undead Next Door by Kerrelyn Sparks. Paranormal - pretty good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $ 4.97, 00.00 eating out, 4.97 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
handful of walnuts

Lunch
large salad w/egg, and tomato and low-cal ranch dressing
baked potato w/low-cal honey mustard dressing
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
ham sandwich
tomato soup
2 handfuls of goldfish pretzels
1 glass skim milk

I see everyone has cherries on sale this week. I'll have to get some.

Finished reading the library book Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. Paranormal - very good.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $04.97, 00.00 eating out, 4.97 groceries
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
handful of walnuts

Lunch
2 soft tacos
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
ham sandwich
carrots
handful of goldfish pretzels
1 glass skim milk

Snack
peanut butter and celery

Ran errands this morning, library, bank, walgreens and king soopers.

Walgreens

7.29 - 6 pack Boost
3.64 - 6 pack Boost b1g1 50% off
.99 - macadamia nuts
------
11.92
-6.00 - 2 $3 q's for Boost
-4.50 - RR from last week
-----
1.42 - paid with Walgreens gift card from last week's RRs.

King Soopers

Spent 4.97 and bought 1 gal milk, 2 tomatoes and some grapes.

I finished the library book Hosts by F. Paul Wilson. Adventure - pretty good

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
grapes
handful of walnuts

Lunch
Ham sandwich
carrots
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
large salad
baked potato
1 glass skim milk

Snack
peanut butter and celery

My mom goes to Curves with a woman who works at the local food pantry. She thinks things are getting better around here because last week they only had 3 new applications for food. She said at the height of the recession they were getting 30 apps a week. A month ago they were still getting 10 a week. We'll see, personally I think we've had a lull when things get a little better and then it will get worse again.

I finished reading my book Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey. Sci/Fi - very good

I also finished reading the library book Inked. Paranormal short stories - excellent. There were two writers I haven't read before Karen Chance and Marjorie M. Liu, both stories were so interesting I put some of their books on hold at the library. The 3rd writer Yasmine Galenorn didn't impress me. The fourth writer was the reason I got the book. Eileen Wilks writes a werewolf series that is very good. She also writes under the name Sunny and has two very good series under that name.

Week 1 - $23.17, 18.32 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
1 banana
handful of walnuts

Lunch
went to 3 Margaritas and had a cheeseburger and fries. They have THE best cheeseburgers. $8.50 w/tax and tip

Dinner
celery and peanut butter
banana
glass of skim milk

So week 1 is over with for the challenge. 50% is based on cost, 25% health and 25% creativity. I did ok in the cost department. I think most of my meals were healthy, except for the cheeseburger/fries yesterday. Not so sure about creativity. My meals aren't very creative. I'm going to say the creativity was in buying so much food using coupons and sales.

Overall I feel pretty good about the challenge, except I think about food all day long. Since I'm eating 2 snacks each day, which I don't normally do, I eat every 3 hours or so. It feels like that's all I do, eat, think about what to eat, buy stuff to eat, fix stuff to eat, eat. Then trying to meet all the health recomendations just piles up more thinking time. 2 fruits, 3 veggies, protein with every meal, 3 dairy, 6 whole grains, eat fish several times a week, it's never ending. Maybe if I do it thru the whole challenge it will become easier and I won't need to think so much.

I finished reading the library book On the Edge by Ilona Andrews. Paranormal - excellent

Week 1 - $14.67, 9.82 eating out, 4.85 groceries
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c oatmeal w/splenda, cinnamon and walnuts
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
1 banana
handful of walnuts

Lunch
ham sandwich - 2 slices whole wheat bread, mayo w/olive oil, sliced onions and tomatoes, cheese and ham
carrots
radishes
grapes
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
taco salad - 1/2 bag Dole salad, 1/2 tomato, 1 cup taco mixture, light ranch dressing
taco mixture - 1 lb hamburger, 1 onion, 1 can chili beans, 1/2 package taco seasoning
1 glass skim milk

Snack
celery and peanut butter

The salad, ranch dressing, cheese slice and taco seasoning were free.

I went to Safeway this morning and spent $1 towards groceries and found a dime in the parking lot.

1.00 - Fresh Express bagged salad
1.76 - 2 bags Goldfish pretzels
-----
2.76
-1.76 - 2 .50 Goldfish q's doubled to .88 cents
-----
1.00

More free goldfish

I have 10.33 left to spend this evening if I want to. Mom wanted to go to dinner so I'll see if she still does. If not I may go buy some more milk and grapes.

I finished reading my book The Scarletti Curse by Christine Feehan. Romance - excellent.

Week 1 - $13.67, 9.82 eating out, 3.85 groceries
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 high protein Boost drink

Snack
1 banana
handful of walnuts

Lunch
tuna wrap
handful of Goldfish pretzels
1 lemon pudding
1 glass skim milk

Dinner
2 eggs scrambled with a little cheese
baked steak fries w/ketchup
half a can tomato soup
1 glass skim milk

Snack
celery and peanut butter

The tomato soup, cheese and goldfish pretzels were free.

I'm reading the blog of someone else doing the challenge, but not sure how healthy it is. Doesn't seem like very many fruits, veggies or dairy. But interesting anyways because of all the free stuff.

http://www.supercoupongirl.com/

Lots of neighborhood garage sales this weekend, but it's just so hot I'm not going to go.

Finished reading the library book The 5 Greatest Warriors by Matthew Reilly. Adventure - very good. Reads like a video game.

Week 1 - $13.67, 9.82 eating out, 3.85 groceries
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c oatmeal w/splenda, cinnamon and walnuts
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
1 c mandarin oranges

Lunch
ate out at Texas Road House - $9.82 early bird special
1 roll w/cinnamon butter
salad with eggs, tomatoes and ranch dressing
baked potato w/ butter
6 oz Sirloin steak

Dinner
1 slice wheat bread w/peanut butter and grape jelly
1 glass skim milk

Went shopping today and got various good stuff

Walgreens

$15.00 - Walgreens gift card
.34 - 1 can Hunts Tomato sauce w/WAG in-ad q
4.49 - Gillete Body Wash
5.49 - Gillette Deodorant
6.00 - 6 Dentyne gum single packs
.86 - taxes
-------
32.18
-15.00 - 2 $7.50 RRs from ReNu purchases earlier
- 4.99 - free Gillette body wash wyb Gillette DO
- 2.00 - Gillette DO
- 6.19 - 6 $1 Dentyne Gum q's
------
4.00 paid with gift card got back another $4.50 RR for Gillette body wash. Body wash, deodorant and tomato sauce goes to Food pantry. 2 Gums go to mom, (they are cinnamon) other 4 not sure yet. May go to nieces, may go to food pantry. They are peppermint.

Walmart

2.84 - 2 bottles KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
2.48 - Walgreen brand antacid
.20 - tax
------
5.52
-2.00 - 2 $1 q's for KC BBQ sauce

BBQ sauce goes to mom - she will pay the .84 cents it cost.

King Soopers

3.58 - 2 bags Kroger frozen steak fries
1.98 - 1 gal skim milk
1.99 - 1 lb baby carrots - kroger brand
2.43 - 3 vidalia onions
3.23 - 4 potatoes
3.59 - 1 bag Dole salad
1.15 - 1 doz eggs
1.20 - grapes
.99 - 1 bunch radishes
1.07 - 3 parsnips
.70 - 1 bunch celery
2.50 - 2 packages Goldfish - pretzel kind
-----
24.41
- .10 - 2 reusable bags
-3.00 - King Sooper home mailer q wyb $15 in produce
- .70 - 2 .35 Goldfish q's doubled
- .50 - Goldfish e-coupon
- .75 - Goldfish e-coupon
-3.59 - free Dole salad - KS home mailer q
- .50 - KS Home mailer q on carrots
- .55 - KS Home mailer q on frozen potatoes
-12.00 - 3 $4 OYNO q's from buying Reach toothbrush last week
-------
1.83

The gold fish were a .15 cent moneymaker. All of these groceries were for me.

Safeway

1.06 - 6 bananas
1.97 - 3 tomatoes
2.99 - Welchs juice
-----
6.02
-1.00 - SW e-coupon for Welchs
-2.00 - $2 q for Welchs
-1.00 - $1 OYNO q from last week
-----
2.02

The Welchs was free. All of these groceries are for me. I've spent a total of $3.85 on groceries this week. Now I have over $11 left so I could go out and eat one more time. I do want to go to Safeway this weekend and get a bag of salad for .99 cents - still leavs me $10 to eat out. Not sure what I will do. Hate to leave that money on the table, but there isn't very many good deals to spend it on for groceries this week. I don't like to buy groceries unless I get a very good deal.

I got 2 samples in the mail yesterday. One was Kraft Sandwich Shop mayo; chipotle and garlic and herb. The other was Ritz crackerfuls cheddar cheese and bacon. They will either go to the food pantry or someone in my family. Need to ask if anyone wants them.

I finished reading the library book Holiday with a Vampire III. Romantic Short stories. The first one by Linda Winstead Jones was good, the other 2 were boring.

Week 1 - $00.00
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 c oatmeal w/splenda, cinnamon and walnuts
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
1 deviled egg - mayo, mustard, salt and pepper
1 banana

Lunch
tuna wrap - tuna, hardboiled egg, radishes, mayo with olive oil, flour tortilla, pepper
no sugar lemon pudding cup
1 c skim milk

Dinner
1 1/2 Stouffer's individual meatloaves
green beans sauteed in olive oil, w/ garlic salt and pepper
mandarin orange coleslaw - shredded cabbage with carrots, mandarin oranges and juice from oranges, mayo with olive oil, splenda, salt, pepper and cashews
1 cup skim milk

Snack
1 deviled egg
1 snack pack of Weight Watcher pretzel things with olive oil and rosemary.

Mom gave me the box of Weight Watcher snacks so they were free. The lemon pudding was free also.

This is fairly boring listing menus everyday, but haven't been shopping in a few days to post something more interesting. Plan to go tomorrow since I'm almost out of milk and veggies. Making my list and gathering q's today.

Finished reading the library book Demon Bound by Meljean Brook. Paranormal - excellent.

Week 1 - $00.00
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu, there's going to be a lot of repetition, especially for breakfast and lunch

Breakfast
1 c oatmeal w/splenda, cinnamon and walnuts
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
1 deviled egg - mayo, mustard, salt and pepper
1 banana

Lunch
tuna wrap
tuna, hardboiled egg, radishes, mayo with olive oil, flour tortilla, pepper
no sugar vanilla pudding cup
1 c skim milk

Dinner
1 baked potato w/light honey dijon salad dressing
1 can Chunky Chicken Noodle soup
1 cup skim milk

Snack
1 deviled egg
1 apple

The oatmeal and salad dressing were free on top of what was listed yesterday.

I got $5 of gas yesterday, just enough to get me thru the end of the month. Next month both my credit cards are giving 5% back on gas so I'll wait till then to fill up.

I finished reading the library book In Bed with the Duke by Christina Dodd. Romance - good.

Week 1 - $00.00
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

Here's yesterday's menu

Breakfast
1 1/2 c cheerios
skim milk
1/2 c juice

Snack
2 deviled eggs - mayo, mustard, salt and pepper

Lunch
tuna wrap
tuna, hardboiled egg, radishes, mayo with olive oil, flour tortilla, pepper
no sugar vanilla pudding cup
1 c skim milk

Dinner
1 1/2 Stouffer's individual meatloaves
green beans sauteed in olive oil, w/ garlic salt and pepper
mandarin orange coleslaw
shredded cabbage with carrots, mandarin oranges and juice from oranges, mayo with olive oil, splenda, salt, pepper and cashews
1 cup skim milk

Snack
banana

The cheerios, juice, tuna, mayo, tortilla, pepper, pudding, garlic salt and pepper mix, mustard, splenda and mandarin oranges were all free items.

Yesterday I went to Walgreens before going to mom's to walk. I converted my RRs from last week to a gift card and got this week's moneymaker. I had 3 $6 RRs and 1 $4 one.

Transaction 1

20.00 - Walgreens gift card
1.00 - 3 Hunts tomato sauce 3/$1 with their q
7.49 - ReNu contact solution
.52 - taxes
------
29.01
-22.00 - 3 $6 RRs and 1 $4 RR
- 2.00 - $2.00 ReNu q
------
5.01 - paid with a gift card and got $7.50 RR

Transaction 2

7.49 - ReNu
.52
------
8.01
-2.00 - $2.00 ReNu q
------
6.01 - paid with a gift card and got $7.50 RR

Both contact solutions and the tomato sauce go to the food pantry. The reason for buying the tomato sauce was so each RR has an item to go with it. This is called a filler - per Walgreens policy you can not have more than 1 coupon per item.

This morning I went again and converted the 2 $7.50 RRs I got yesterday into a gift card

Transaction 1

15.00 - Walgreens Gift card
.34 - 1 can tomato sauce - using Walgreens q
------
15.34
-15.00 - 2 $7.50 RRs
------
.34

Transaction 2 and 3

7.49 - ReNu
.52
------
8.01
-2.00 - $2.00 ReNu q
------
6.01 - paid with a gift card and got $7.50 RR

So still have 2 $7.50 RRs. I made 1.49 on each bottle of contact solution. I plan to buy 1 more this week making $7.45. I will put 2 more RRs on another $15 gift card later this week also. These 2 bottles of contact solution go to my brother.

I finished reading my book Nimisha's Ship by Anne McCaffrey. Sci/Fi - very good.

Week 1 - $00.00
Week 2 - $00.00
Week 3 - $00.00
Week 4 - $00.00

The All You grocery challenge starts today. I'm not officially entering, just doing it for the heck of it. The rules are:

You can only spend $25/week, per person for food. That includes all meals, snacks and eating out. If you go to someone's for dinner or a party, then that is ok as long as you don't get free meals for all your meals.

If you have leftover money from one week, you can't use it in another week.

You can use your garden, your stockpile, your coupons, catalinas and register rewards.

Part of the challenge is judged on being creative and eating healthy.

I didn't do anything special to get ready for this, such as buy a bunch of produce and vegetables ahead of time. I did buy milk and bread last Friday because I needed them. I'm low on fresh veggies right now so will need to get some this week. My pantry and fridge are full, but they always are. I consider that part of the challenge.

I fixed several things today in preparation for later in the week. Oatmeal, deviled eggs, coleslaw and tuna salad.

I plan to still buy food for the pantry on my regular grocery receipts and just deduct that from the total. I will also deduct anything that is not food, such as paper products, cleaning supplies and personal care items. Only food that I eat counts.

I will be tracking what I eat each day and posting it the following day. Eating out will be the big challenge for me. I hope I can make it past week 1

I finished reading the library book Dragon Heat by Allyson James. Romance - OK

I finally finished updating my financial notebook and made copies of the information to give my parents to keep in case of emergency. It makes me feel very vulnerable having all that information in one place. All my assets are listed and how to access them. If someone unfriendly got ahold of it, it could ruin me. But on the other hand unless I do that, my parents would have no idea where many of my assets were or how to access them. For example, my I-bonds are electronic thru Treasury Direct. I never get mail or email concerning them. Without access information they wouldn't know they even existed, let alone how to cash them in.

Now that I have that done I need to get my will updated. I might do one on the internet. The last time I did it my nieces were very young and I didn't include them in the will. Now I plan to cut out my sister and brother and leave everything equally to my mom, dad and 2 nieces. My nieces are still young and I really don't think it's good for their character for young people to have money handed to them in their 20's and 30's or younger. I think people learn more when they have to struggle a bit to get money and make choices about what's more important to them when spending money. Easy money is a sure way to ensure they don't value money, or the work that goes into getting it. So hopefully I will still be around for at least another 20 years or so

I finished reading the library book Nauti Deceptions by Lora Leigh. Romance - very good.

I've been playing the King Soopers Summer Savings game for a week and I finally won for the first time yesterday. 1 free 4 roll pack of Angel Soft toilet paper. I got it when I went to the store this morning. The game is still good for the rest of the summer.

I also got:

5.00 - 4 more Reach toothbrushes
.40 - taxes
------
5.40
-1.25 - BOGO q - no overage this time
-1.00 - .50 q doubled
-2.00 - $2/2 q
-----
1.15 - got back another $4 OYNO q - made 2.85. 3 toothbrushes go to mom and dad and 1 to food pantry. I have 9 for food pantry so far and will try to do one more deal next week.

1.76 - 2 Luna bars
-1.76 - 2 .50 q's doubled to .88, cost of bar
------
FREE - the bars go to the food pantry. These coupons came from coupons books that CURVES is giving out. My mom has been giving them to me. This book also has No Yolks coupons, which I love. Hope there's a sale on these soon.

1.98 - 1 gal milk
2.50 - Sara Lee bread
.72 - bananas
-----
5.20

Last night mom called while dad was in the other room. Wanted to know if I would go to Staples today and get a letter opener for him for Father's day. Only thing she could think of to get for him. There is a 15% off coupon on Staples good thru tomorrow so I printed it off and went this morning. The most expensive one I could find was under $5, but I got it and used my 15% coupon. Ah well, she'll have to figure out something else, or make do

Finished reading my book Fire and Ice by Julie Garwood. Romance - excellent.

My youngest niece came over today to sweep my garage and porch. I paid her $25 for this half hour chore. She did a really good job, but it was basically just a way to give her money for her trip to Hondurus.

We went to King Soopers to rent Avatar from the Redbox there. I had a promo code to get a free rental. While there I also got the following

3.00 - 3 3 bar packs of Ivory soap
5.00 - 4 Reach toothbrushes
.63 - taxes
----
8.63
-3.00 - 3 $1 q's Ivory soap
-2.00 - 2 $1 q's Reach Toothbrush
-2.22 - 1 BOGO Reach
-2.22 - 1 BOGO Reach
-----
-.81 - I didn't know the BOGO price would be so much or I would have gotten some bananas as a filler. Instead the cashier just zeroed out the order. But I got a $4 OYNO coupon. No money spent - $4 made. I was glad my niece was with me to see the transaction. I've tried to explain to them how I get all this free stuff and sometimes make money, but their Dad basically acts like I don't know what I'm talking about. So seeing is believing. I'll have to try to go back and do 1 or 2 more transactions on the Reach. I have a few more coupons.

We went to Taco Bell for lunch. Her favorite. $6.91 for the two of us - can't get much cheaper than that. The movie was really good, if long, we both liked it.

I also went to Walgreens and still no Neutrogena. My favorite cashier told me she had a customer who came in and bought 4 cases of the lip balm. Paying about $3.75 and getting $10 OYNO coupons each time. That's good for her, but there are other people in the world. I try not to get too greedy and wipe out all the merchandise when I do deals. I did find out the Schick razor deal I did on Sunday was even better than I originally thought since there is a Try Me free rebate out for it. So I will make $8+ on the razor.

Also went back to Walmart and got 2 more of the Hillshire farm lunchmeat. I had my coupons this time so got 2 tubs for $1.54 or .77 each.

I finished reading the library book The Marriage Trap by Elizabeth Thornton. Romance - good

I'm not nearly as good as baselle at finding money on the streets, but every once in a while I find a bit. This morning it was raining and mom and I walked at Walmart. Last fall when we were walking at Walmart she saw a dime on the ground and pointed it out to me. I said don't you want it and she said she didn't want to bend over and pick it up, so I did.

A couple of days later I was getting groceries at Safeway. I got $55+ worth and after coupons I gave the cashier that dime to pay for my groceries and he gave me back 4 cents in change. I told my mom that story and she loved the fact that I paid for groceries with that dime and got change back.

The next week when we were walking I found a nickel and said "aha! grocery money" and it just so happened I bought around $25 of groceries that week and it came to exactly a nickel after coupons. So I love finding money on the street, it always makes me think I'll get free groceries.

While we were in Walmart today we saw they had Hillshire Farms lunchmeat on rollback from $3.88 to $1.12. We both got 2 packages. I have some .35 cent off coupons and am tempted to go back and get some more and freeze them. However, it was a major hassle and I'm glad my dad checked out with his while we were still walking. They rang up at $3 and he had to take the CS back and show her the sign. By the time I got to the same cashier though, he already knew they were ringing up wrong and just fixed mine as he went. If I go back, they probably won't have it fixed and I'll have to go thru the same hassle. Ah well, we'll see if I feel like it tomorrow.

I subscribe to the Denver Post because they usually have much better coupons than the local paper. However, yesterday they only had $4 off the Schick Hydro razors which makes them free except for taxes at Walgreens this week. Since I'm not buying them for myself I didn't want to pay taxes on them. But my parents give me their coupons that they don't want and they had a $5 coupon which makes them a moneymaker of .51. So on the way home from walking last night I stopped at Walgreens and they still had a bunch of them and I picked one up. Now I have $23 in RRs that I need to use or put on a giftcard. I'm waiting to see if they restock on the Neutrogena.

I made $33 from the garage sale my parents had. The last day was pretty miserable with the rain, but they still got lots of people. We had 4 inches of snow in one of the mountain towns and it snowed down to 10,000 feet. We are at 7,000+ feet so we just got rain and cold. Third day I've needed my furnace. But I'm not complaining I like it cooler. I'm sure it will heat up soon enough.

Here I thought I didn't have anything to blog about today and I ended up with a long post

I finished reading my book The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass. Sci/Fi - good.

It's raining today, so when I went to Walgreens this morning I got a free car wash courtesy of Mother Nature

Walgreens did not have all the deals I read about, but I did make $7.80 on the Nivea body washes. They were out of the Neutrogena bars which would have been a big moneymaker, and I only got a $4 coupon on the Schick Hydro razors, meaning I would still have to pay tax to buy them and they're not worth it to me.

I did get 3 of the Nivea body wash for men

5.99 - 1 body wash
.41 - tax
----
6.40
-3.00 - Q
-----
3.40 - used gift card that had put previous RRs on and got $6 RR back. Profit $2.60. Repeat 2 more times and made $7.80

I also got 2 6 packs of Boost on sale buy 1 get 1 50% off.

7.29 - first boost
3.64 - second boost
----
10.93
-3.00 - 2 1.50 q's
-----
7.93 or 3.97 each

I had to turn the furnace on for a little while yesterday - it got under 40 degrees. But I definitely like the cooler weather.

I got a great sample pack in the mail yesterday from P&G

4 Cascade Extra Action tablets
1 Bounce sheet
1 Travel size Tide with Frebreeze package
1 trial size Pantene shampoo
1 trial size Pantene conditioner

I finished reading the library book Devlin's Justice by Patricia Bray. Sci/Fi - good

Well my soup was not the best soup I've ever had, but it was tasty and filling. I gave a big bowl to my parents for their dinner tonight and have enough left over for at least 2 more dinners for me.

I had tuna wraps for lunch and I made mandarin orange coleslaw to go with it. Really good. Coleslaw mix, with chopped up mandarin oranges and cashews. Mix mayo, some of the orange liquid from the can of mandarin oranges and salt and pepper and combine everything.

Over the last year of heavy couponing I've learned some tips that have really helped.

1. Seperate your printed coupons with insert coupons. This keeps them from sticking together and having the cashier miss one. If I have too many printed coupon vs insert coupons, I bend the corners of the printed ones so they seperate.

2. If you want to know if your coupons will double, look at the bar code on the coupon. If it starts with a 9, it won't double. If it starts with a 5, it will.

3. Most of the printed coupons are bricks coupons. To know this look at the address and if it says bricks.com it's from the bricks company. Usually you can print 2 coupons by pressing the back button until a second one prints. But before I print my coupons, I click on the Help link in the lower right corner. A seperate window opens and sometimes there is an option to have the coupon mailed to you, if you fill in your name and address. I do this twice and in about a week I will get 2 more coupons in the mail.

4. Walgreens has a special button on their cash registers that lets them print a rebate reciept for you. This is great when you are buying more than one item that you have rebates on, or just like to keep the original receipt in case of a return. I printed out the instructions and hand them to the cashiers, since they never seem to know how to work their registers The instructions are here:

http://deals.families.com/how-to-print-a-rebate-receipt,t110...

It's raining on and off today, but my mom said they are still getting lots of people at their garage sale. Dad is happy - he's made over a $1000. He sold a riding lawn mower for $880 and has more big ticket items to go. Well worth the effort - unfortunately he has a summer cold and is very sick. He catches colds very easy. He gave me his cold last September. First one I'd had in over 5 years so I'm trying not to get too close.

It's hard thinking of your parents as old. Both of mine are in pretty good health, but have general aches and pains. My mom is 70 and is in excellent health. She's probaby the healthiest in the whole family including all the aunts. My dad is losing his hearing and has bad hips and is generally worn down. But he's pretty healthy overall.

I finished reading the library book Devlin's Honor by Patricia Bray. Sci/Fi - good. This last week I've been reading all library books and have one to go. For some reason I had a bunch due on the same date and none of them were renewable, so I've been scrambling to get them all read by Monday.

I decided to make soup today. I don't have a recipe per say, but just decided to throw in whatever I have. From my freezer I took cooked hamburger meat, Steamfresh potatoes and greenbeans package and frozen corn. My refrigerator donated carrots and celery. My pantry coughed up onion, canned tomatoes, pinto beans, mushrooms and chicken stock. I'll add thyme, salt and pepper and see how it all turns out after a few hours in the crock pot.

My parents are having a garage sale today and tomorrow. I took some stuff over to add to it. Be nice to get rid of some things and make a little money too.

I finished reading the library book Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen. Mystery - good.

I had planned to go to Walgreens today and convert my $9 RRs to giftcards, but after reading Elisabeths blog I used them at Safeway instead and they worked beautifully to buy me lots of veggies.

I spent a total of $4.30

10.68 - 12 Kraft cheesy explosion mac and cheese
-6.00 - 6 .50/2 q's doubled
-----
4.68 - all to the food pantry

2.98 - 2 Kraft salad dressings
-2.00 - 2 .55 q's doubled
-----
.98 - plus I got a $1 OYNO cat. This finishes up what I needed for the $10 Kraft rebate so sent that off today.

3.00 - 3 Zone bars
-3.00 - 3 .50 q's doubled
-----
FREE - go to food pantry

1.58 - 2 cans Kuner white beans
1.19 - lettuce @.79/lb
.24 - celery @1.72/1b
.86 - 2 potatoes @.50/lb
.26 - 2 carrots
1.59 - bagged shredded cabbage
3.00 - 3 lbs apples
-----
8.64
-1.00 - Safeway q for bagged apples
-----
7.64

Then went to Walmart. They were supposed to have KC BBQ sauce on rollback for $1, but our store had it priced $1.42 so didn't get that.

5.52 - 4 cans Muir Glen organic tomatoes
-4.00 - 4 $1 q's
-----
1.52 - food pantry items

2.00 - 4 packages Taco Bell Taco seasoning
-2.00 - 2 $1/2 q's
-----
FREE - food pantry items

.97 - bananas @ .44/lb
.88 - bunch of radishes
----
1.85

I spent $6.20 on Food pantry items and $1.60 on groceries for me.

The food pantry gets

12 boxes mac and cheese
3 Zone bars
4 cans tomatoes
4 packages taco seasoning mix

I'm thinking about unoffically doing the All You Challenge. It starts June 20 and goes for 4 weeks. You have to track everything you eat and anything you spend on food. My pantry and fridge are pretty well stockpiled with food, since that's just the way I eat anyways. I just think it would be interesting to see how I do, but I don't want to officially enter.

Last night mom called and wanted to go out to eat since they didn't feel like cooking. Of course I said yes. We went to Texas Roadhouse. I had a coupon for a free appetizer that they gave me when they severly undercooked my steak on one visit. We ordered the cheese fries. They were huge - a platter of fries, cheese, bacon bits and ranch dressing. They were so good, we all loved them. However, because they were so hugh I ended up just eating the fries and my salad. I brought my steak and baked potato home for another meal. We went during their early bird hour so we got our dinners for $7.99 instead of $9.99. Two meals for $10.

I finished reading the library book Guilty Pleasure by Lora Leigh. Romance - good, but I like the breed and dangerous men series better.

All You magazine is sponsoring a grocery challenge. They did this last year too and it was pretty interesting following some of the blogs about it. Basically the rules are you can spend $25 per week, per family member for one month. Then you track what you spend and what you eat. This includes eating out. If it weren't for the eating out part I could easily spend less than $25 a week on groceries You are also judged on creativity and how healty you eat. You can eat from gardens or stockpiles, you can use coupons, sales etc. The winner gets a $1000 grocery card. It's pretty interesting.

I also read this on Common Sense with money blog today for anyone who does swagbucks.

"Swagbucks is offering 50 free Swagbucks on your birthday. Just hop on over the the Swagbucks homepage to record your birth date (or you could do it under account details too), and you will get the free bucks on your birthday. How is that for a birthday present?"

I finished reading the library book Fire Along the Sky by Sara Donati. Historical - excellent.