Menu Plan Monday Oct 19-25

Here's my meals for this week:

Dinner

Monday- Pizza Cups, Salad

Tuesday- Tomato Soup and Sandwiches

Wednesday- Crispy Chicken Drumsticks, green beans, rolls

Thursday- Lentil Tacos, Spanish Rice, Corn

Friday- Weekday Lasagna, salad, Low-fat Bread Machine Italian Bread (made into breadsticks

Saturday- Halloween Party (I'm bringing Crockpot Brown Sugar Chili)

Sunday- Potato Soup, Peasant Bread

Breakfast

Monday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Tuesday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Wednesday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Thursday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Friday-Heart Smart Waffles, sausage links, (kids will eat with homemade syrup)

Saturday-Heartsmart Pancakes, bacon, (kids and dh will eat with homemade syrup)

Sunday-Cereal, yogurt, fruit

Lunch

Monday-Cheesy Vegetable Soup

Tuesday-Cheesy Vegetable Soup

Wednesday-sandwiches, fruit

Thursday-Refried Bean Soup

Friday-Refried Bean Soup

Saturday- sandwiches, fruit

Sunday- Fat Free Hotdogs, oven fries

Snacks

Air popped popcorn, , String Cheese, Fat Free Rice Krispie Treats, Chex Party Mix

My family is also wanting some Caramel apples, but since they are so expensive at the store, I'm making my caramel from scratch.

Come back and see how my shopping went. for the Grocery Cart Challenge.
Go here to see more plans.

Grocery Cart Challenge

I try to spend about $120 a week on food for the week, stocking up and on items to put in my food storage. Here's how this week went.

Day's Resale Bakery

2 Loaves sandwich bread, 1 loaf potato bread, 1 Arnold Sandwich Thin-$4.00

Walmart

5.34 lb bananas- $2.56

King Size M&M's- $1.00 (Child treat)

1.59 pounds tomatoes- $3.15

4.46 pounds red grapes- $5.44

2 Velveeta cups- $1.96

Smart Taste Rotini $1.50

2 Nature's Own Hamburger Buns- $3.94

Celery $1.36

Weight Watcher Cheese Singles- $3.62 minus $1.00 off coupon

Whole Cantaloupe $1.00
2 Fat Free Sour Cream-$2.00

2 Weight Watchers Yogurt- $1.08 minus $0.55 off 2 coupon

2 Weight Watchers Yogurt- $1.08 minus $0.65 off 2 coupon

Fat Free Yogurt- $2.14 minus $0.55 off coupon

2 bacon- $4.96 minus $1.50 off 2 coupon

Heart Smart Bisquick- $2.94 minus $0.60 off coupon

Cherry Limeade- $1.98

Herbal Tea- $2.32

2 popcorn seasoning- $3.74

2 pizza cheese- $3.96

Turkey Pepperoni- $3.32

2 frozen steam broccoli- $2.50

Lunch meat- $3.00

Weight Watchers Mexican Cheese- $2.68 minus $1.00 off coupon

Sunchips- $2.68

Great Northern Beans- $0.98

2 cooking spray- $3.36

Bacon pieces- $1.56

2 pasta sauce- $3.06

Salsa- $1.44

Whole Chicken $5.30

Fat Free Hot Dogs- $2.98

I Can't Believe It's not Butter- $3.24

2% Velveeta- $4.46

Orange juice- $1.98

Rice Krispies- $4.18 minus free coupon so I got for free!

Diet Dr. Pepper- $3.98

Nestle Water- $3.88 minus $0.50 off coupon

Total: $98.05

Save a Lot

Lettuce- $1.29

cucumber $0.59

apples $3.49

24 cans tomato soup- $11.76

Total: $17.13

Food City

3 bags popcorn: $4.47

Total: $4.47


WIC

2 gallons milk
1 bag rice
1 juicy juice
1 eggs
2 boxes cereal

Total for the week: $123.65

See how others spent their money this week at The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Menu Plan Monday: October 12-18

Here's my menu for this week:

Dinners

Monday- Sloppy Tacos (made with 2% cheese and lean meat on light bun), oven fries

Tuesday- Soft Tacos, Mexican Rice, Corn

Wednesday- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Peasant Bread

Thursday- Chicken Sandwiches, green beans

Friday-Homemade Pizza, Salad

Saturday- Spaghetti Casserole, salad, Low-fat Bread Machine Italian Bread

Sunday- We are going to a friend's house who invited us (but I am bringing some fat free hot dogs for the grill

Breakfast

Monday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit
Tuesday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit
Wednesday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Thursday- Heart Smart Waffles, sausage links, fruit

Friday- Cereal, yogurt, fruit

Saturday-Heartsmart Pancakes, bacon, (kids and dh will eat with homemade syrup)
Sunday-Cereal, yogurt, fruit

Lunches

sandwiches and soup or leftovers and fruit each day

Snacks
Chex Party Mix, String Cheese, Fat Free Rice Krispie Treats, air popped popcorn, granola bars

Come back and see how my shopping went.

Go here to see more plans.

Come back tomorrow and see how I do at the grocery store for the Grocery Cart Challenge.

Grocery Cart Challenge Oct 5-11

Here's how my shopping went this month......

Day's Resale Store

2 loaves sandwich bread, Weight Watchers English Muffins, Arnold's Sandwich Thins $4.00

Save a Lot
4.51 pounds bananas $1.50
Basil $1.39
4 Biscuits $3.56
Cheese Puffs $1.19
2 cream cheese $1.98
4.02 pounds ground chuck $6.79(on sale $1.69lb)
Lite Ranch Dressing $1.29
4 lbs onions $2.99
Oregano $1.39
5 lb bag potatoes $0.99
Pretzels $0.99
Powdered Sugar $1.29
2 Sugar $3.98
Brown sugar $1.29
Dill pickles $1.69
Tortillas $0.99
Vanilla Ice Cream $2.29
Total: $35.59

Walmart
Bell Pepper $0.94
Cucumber $0.66
Lettuce head $0.98
Cereal $5.24
Shell Macaroni $1.00
Strawberry Syrup $1.34
Hawaiian Punch $1.97
3 Butter Non stick Sprays $5.04
2 Non stick Canola oil spray $3.36
Spaghetti $1.50
Bacon $2.49
Red Velvet Cake $1.16
Cream Cheese $1.82
Lite Hot Dogs $3.00
WW String Cheese $3.42 minus $1.00 off coupon
1 lb Ground Turkey $1.98
Ham Cheese Loaf $3.00
2 shredded cheese $3.96
6 WW Yogurt $3.24 minus 2 free from two buy 2 get 1 free coupons
White Rice $1.32
Egg Beaters $4.38 minus $1.00 off coupon
Yogurt $2.00 minus $1.00 off coupon
WW Cheese Slices $3.62 minus $1.00 off coupon
4 Progresso Soups $6.00 minus Two $1.00 off 2 coupons
Lite margarine $0.62
Yogurt $2.14 minus $0.55 off coupon
2 Granola Bars $$4.52 minus $1.00 off 2
Sunchips $2.98 minus $1.00 off coupon
Margarine $0.50
2 mini marshmallows $1.92
2 All purpose flour $3.48
2 Bread Flour $4.28
Diet Dr. Pepper $3.98 minus $1.00 off coupon
RF Parm Cheese $2.42
Orange Juice $1.98
Sloppy Joe Envelope $0.88
Cherry Lime aide Drink mix $1.98
Total:$86.14


Food City
3 White Popcorn $4.47
1 small package M&M's $0.79(kid treat)
Total: $5.31

WIC Vouchers
2 boxes Multi gran Cheerios
2 gallons milk
1 Juicy Juice
1 dozen eggs
1 package brown rice
2 huge bunches grapes
Total: FREE

School Snack Program
My child's school got a grant to give kids on free and reduce lunch snack on days off school and weekends. Since we have Fall Break this week, here is what they sent. I don't usually buy these things so they will be treats. There are pop tarts, crackers, fruit cups, pudding, juice boxes, ravioli, applesauce, etc.
Total: FREE

Total Spent: $131.04

Week in Review: While I went over $11, I still feel good because I bought extra Butter sprays because I have not been able to find them when I go to the store and they had lots this time, I bought more ground chuck than I needed because it was like $1.00 cheaper a pound than I had been paying. I also bought some beginning of the month stuff like basic baking supplies. I also bought extra stuff for a birthday that we would not usually buy. I am also feeding my kids breakfast and lunch this week which they usually have at school. (That added a lot) All in all I am pretty happy this 1st week of doing this.

See how others spent there money this week at The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Menu Plan Monday October 5-11

This week I am trying something new. On Monday's I'll post my menu and then on Tuesday's I'll show you how much I spend at the grocery store. We have decided to budget $120 a week for groceries, but some week's may be a little more and others may be a little less. I have a family of 6 to feed. I think planning is key to making that happen. It seems really hard to eat healthy meals and spend less at the grocery. So, here's my attempt. My kids are home this week on Fall break, so I have to plan more food because they usually eat those meals at school. We also are celebrating my dh's 40th birthday this week.

Dinners

Monday-Spaghetti Casserole, Salad, Low-Fat Bread Machine Italian Bread

Tuesday- Headstart Family Fun Night (I'm bringing Pickles and Chips)

Wednesday- Lentil Tacos, Spanish Rice, Corn

Thursday- Soup beans(made with ham bouillon), Sauerkraut with Lite Hot Dogs, cornbread

Friday- Sloppy Joe Casserole, Corn, fruit

Saturday- Spaghetti and Meatballs, Low-Fat Bread Machine Italian Bread(made into bread sticks), salad, Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese icing, vanilla ice cream (This is the meal my dh picked for his birthday: I might be using my 35 weekly points for this meal)

Sunday- Crispy Chicken Drumsticks, green beans, baked potatoes, rolls

Breakfast

Monday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Tuesday-Eggbeaters Omelet, English Muffin, fruit

Wednesday-Bagels with light cream cheese, yogurt

Thursday- Heart Smart Waffles, sausage links, (kids will eat with homemade syrup)

Friday-Biscuits and sausage, yogurt (I'm having same as Monday)

Saturday-Heartsmart Pancakes, bacon, (kids and dh will eat with homemade syrup)

Sunday-Cereal, yogurt, fruit

Lunch

Monday-Sandwich on Arnold's Sandwich Thins, fruit

Tuesday-Sandwich on Arnold's Sandwich Thins, fruit

Wednesday- Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup, fruit

Thursday- Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches (for kids), Sun Chips (For me: Boca Burger on Arnold's Sandwich Bread instead of P&B sandwich, fruit)

Friday-Grilled Cheese, Chicken Noodle Soup, fruit (Weight Watchers Progresso Soup for me instead of Chicken noodle soup)

Saturday-Sandwiches, Sun Chips

Sunday-Leftovers

*I made my dh some homemade bread in the bread maker and he is eating that with some soup this week.

Snacks

Chex Party Mix, String Cheese, Fat Free Rice Krispie Treats, air popped popcorn, granola bars

Come back and see how my shopping went.

Go here to see more plans.

Campfire Night

One of the things on my kid's list of fun things they wanted to do this summer was to make smores. I thought it would be neat to expand that idea to a campfire night. During a campfire night, we roast winnies, make smores, and just enjoy the fire. You could build a fire at a local park which has the facilities to do that, make a fire in your charcoal grill, or use a fire pit. Fire pits can range from $50-$300, so that might be an expensive purchase if you only bought it for that one time use. It could however be an investment if you planned to do several campfire night or use it when you campout. I was planning on going to a local park, but my son's Cub Scout Pack had a campfire night that we were all invited to and someone brought a fire pit. The kids enjoyed looking for sticks to roast their hot dogs and marshmallows on, but you could also use skewers. Make sure you keep safety in mind during a camp fire night by keeping your children from getting too close to the fire and having a bucket of water near the fire in case of an emergency.
After it gets dark, you can sit around the fire and tell stories. This activity was a lot of fun for my family and cost a lot less than if I would have gotten a camping site. The only money I spent on this activity was on the food and my family would have eaten dinner that night, so this was a pretty frugal activity for us. Here's a list of some items you may need for a Campfire Night.

Things to get for a Campfire Night
Campfire Marshmallows
Hershey’s Chocolate Bars
Graham Crackers
Hotdogs
Hot Dog Buns
Mustard, Ketchup, other condiments
Charcoal, wood, etc (Things to start your fire with)
Cold drinks

I hope you get the chance to have a campfire night with your family this summer.