What I'm Reading...

5 Books Every Broke Person Should Read. (Northern Cheapskate)

A Too-Small House? (Unclutterer)

The Most Important Thing In Seventeen Years. (Simple Mom)

On Life Without A Microwave. (Food Your Way)

Why Is It So Hard To Say "This Is Hard"? (The Happiest Home)

Weekly Coupon Shopping

Pick N Save

I have never lived in a place with a store that does double coupons, so I was super excited to find out that Pick N Save was running a couple double coupon days this week.  I took full advantage!  Since it was double double, you could double 10 coupons per transaction, and your total had to be over $25 after store discounts but before manufacturer coupons.  It took me about an hour to get my coupons ready and my plan all worked out, but I went from a total of $113.22 to $23.30, so I'd say that was an hour well spent!

Transaction #1:

• 2 Simply Lemonade Juices: $2.99 each.  Used 2 $0.75/1 printables (doubled to $1.50/1) = paid $2.98/2, or $1.49 each.
• 4 Golden Grahams Cereals: $1.98 each. Used 4 $0.85/1 printables (doubled to $1.70/1) = paid $1.04/4, or $0.28 each.
• 2 Snickers Ice Cream Bars: $2.50 each. Used $2/1 printable (no longer available; was supposed to use 2, but 1 got missed and I didn't notice) = paid $3/2, or $1.50 each.
• Snyder's Pretzels: $2.25. Used $1/1 (mailer, doubled to $2/1) = paid $0.25.
• 6 Jell-O Pudding and Jell-O Mixes: $0.75 each. Used two $1/3 printables (doubled to $2/3) = paid $0.50/6, or $0.08 each.
• 4 Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream: 4/$12, save $2 instantly when you buy 4. Used $2.50/3 printable and $0.75/1 printable (doubled to $1.50/1) = paid $6/4, or $1.50 each.
• 2 Packages Chicken Breasts: on sale for $1.78/lb. = paid $2.63 and $2.53
• Total before store discounts and coupons: $67.47. Total after all discounts and coupons: $18.21!

Transaction #2:

• 4 Huggies Wipes: $2 each. Used four $1/1 printables (doubled to $2/1) = 4 free!
• 6 Kraft Fresh Take Mixes: $1.99 each. Used six $1/1 (various magazines, doubled to $2/1) = 6 free!
• 2 Shredded and 3 Block Kraft Cheeses: $1.99 each. Used $5/5 ad coupon = paid $4.95, or $0.99 each.
• Total before store discounts and coupons: $45.75. Total after all discounts and coupons: $5.09!

I am debating going back on Saturday for more cereal and chicken, and maybe more ice cream and juice if we have room in our fridge and freezer.  These are awesome deals!  Now to find some recipes to use up all that cheese...

Veggie Pizza Recipe

Jesse was ordained this past Sunday (meaning he is officially a pastor), and there was a dinner afterwards to celebrate.  We ended up bringing home some of the leftovers, including a bunch of veggies from the veggie tray.  I already had some cream cheese in the fridge, and I knew I just had to make veggie pizza, probably my favorite appetizer besides pinwheels (a terrible for you but totally delicious concoction of tortillas filled with cream cheese, olives, chiles, and a few other things).  

Since we were already going to have pepperoni pizza muffins for dinner, I decided to make it an appetizer dinner, and did both.

Veggie Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 package crescent rolls
• 8oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 tsp. dill
• finely chopped veggies (I used carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, and I used about 4 cups before chopping)

Directions:
Roll out crescent roll dough and bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Let cool.  Mix together cream cheese and dill, and spread over cooled crust.  Top with chopped veggies.

That's it! This is a super easy appetizer, and it tastes amazing!

What I'm Reading...

My Soapbox: Clean Homes, Happy Kids, And "Good Mothers". (Andrea Dekker)

How To Hem Jeans Using The Original Hem. (Home-Ec 101)

When Would Today Be A Good Day To Start? (The Minimalists)

On Realizing How My Kid's Childhood Will Be Different From My Own. (Offbeat Families)

Take Care Of What You Do Have. (The Minimalist Mom)

The Secret To Habits That Stick. (Work Your Way)

Can You Believe This Is A Single Photograph? (Twisted Sifter)

Weekly Coupon Shopping

Target

We have been blessed with gift cards and food from our new church, so we had extra money in the grocery budget.  I decided to use some of that to stock up on diapers.

Transaction #1:

• 6 Jumbo Packs Pampers: $8.99 each. Used two $2/1 printables (Easy Ups) and four $1.50/1 printables.

Spent $45.89 with tax, got back $15 in gift cards ($5 for every 2 packs)

Transaction #2:

• 4 Jell-O Pudding 2-packs (2 not shown): $1.49 each. Used two $1/2 printables = $0.99 each.
• 2 Silk Almond Milk: $3.18 each. Used two $1/1 printables and two $1/1 Target printables = $1.18 each.
• Silk Iced Latte: $3.49. Used free coupon from Facebook promo (no longer available) = free.
• Total = $6.46, which I paid for with my gift cards from Transaction #1

Target (again)

Transaction #1:

• 4 Kashi Cereals: $2.99 each.  Used four $1/1 printables =  paid $7.96, got a $5 gift card for buying 4.
• 2 Xhiliration Shorts (1 not shown): $6.00 each.  Used 25%/2 Target printable = paid $9.00/2.
• Total $17.31 with tax.  Used $8.54 leftover in gift cards from the other day = paid $8.77.

Transaction #2:

• 2 Reese's Puffs Cereal: $2.99 each.  Used two $0.50/1 printables = paid $2.49 each.
• 2 Peanut Butter Cheerios Cereals: $2.99 each. Used two $0.75/1 printables = paid $2.24 each.
• Total $9.46. Used $5 gift card from Transaction #1 = paid $4.46.  These cereals ended up not counting for the gift card deal, but I had already promised the boys we could get peanut butter cereals, so I got them anyways.

Other Coupon Savings:

• Starbucks: Saved $4 and change by getting a free small frappuccino thanks to Starbucks Rewards.

Menu Plan June 17-30

My experiment over the weekend with making hot dog buns along with my hamburger buns was a success! It's good to know that works.  For the second half of the month, I planned out all three meals for each day.  Maybe I was feeling ambitious, or maybe trying to figure out lunch each day is just getting rough.  Either way, I planned all 3 meals.  I assigned specific meals to breakfast and lunch each day, but if those get switched around, it's no big deal.

Monday, June 17
Breakfast: Eggs and Leftover English Muffin Bread
Lunch: Italian Pasta Salad (if I get to making it and the broccoli is still good)
Dinner: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Tuesday, June 18
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: English Muffin Pizzas (on leftover English muffin bread)
Dinner: Mini BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Wednesday, June 19
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Dried Fruit and Nuts
Lunch: Leftover Italian Pasta Salad
Dinner: Dinner out to thank my mom for visiting and helping this week

Thursday, June 20
Breakfast: Pumpkin French Toast Bake
Lunch: Turkey Cheese Pinwheels
Dinner: Stir Fry

Friday, June 21
Breakfast: Leftover French Toast Bake
Lunch: PB&J Sandwiches
Dinner: Pepperoni Pizza Muffins

Saturday, June 22
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Turkey Sandwiches
Dinner: Pancakes with Apple Topping, Sausage

Sunday, June 23
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Turkey Cheese Pinwheels
Dinner: Dinner at Church for Jesse's Ordination

Monday, June 24
Breakfast: Eggs & Toast
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Black Bean Taco Salads

Tuesday, June 25
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Dried Fruits and Nuts
Lunch: PB&J Sandwiches
Dinner: Black Bean Taco Salads

Wednesday, June 26
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Crockpot Bean & Sausage Stew

Thursday, June 27
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Turkey Sandwiches
Dinner: Leftover Stew

Friday, June 28
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Dried Fruit & Nuts
Lunch: PB& Banana Tortillas
Dinner: Mini Cheeseburger Pot Pies

Saturday, June 29
Breakfast: Apple Muffins
Lunch: TBD
Dinner: Sour Cream Beef Casserole

Sunday, June 30
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: PB&J Sandwiches
Dinner: Dinner with Family

What I'm Reading...

Food Is Not Entertainment. (The Minimalists)

Fighting My Octopi-Like Tendencies. (Work Your Way)

If You Don't Like The Way Things Are, Why Are You Still Doing Things The Same Way? (The Simple Dollar)

Capitulation. (Simple Mom)

Help! What Do You Do When You're A Saver Who Is Married To A Spender? (Money Saving Mom)

Weekly Coupon Shopping

Walgreens

There were a few other deals I wanted to take advantage of (cheap Nivea Shave Gel and free Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaner Kits), but they were out of those things.  Still, I picked up a few things that we like.

• Clear Shampoo and Conditioner: $4.99 each.  Used two $1/1 printables (no longer available) = paid $3.99 each, got 2000 points.  Not the cheapest for hair care, but I really love this brand, so I might as well get it for half price.
• 2 Nutella: $3.00 each.  Used two $1/1 (RP 4/14/13) = paid $2.00 each.  Cheap for Nutella!
• Fanta 1.25 liter: $0.99.  Got 250 points.  Jesse added this to the cart.
• Spent $14.52 with tax, got 2250 points.  

I'm not a huge fan of the points system, since I only occasionally shop at Walgreens, and haven't even gotten my 5000 points for a $5 reward yet.  But they'll add up eventually.  

With moving and baby, I've taken time off from couponing.  Now, as I learn the policies for a few new stores in the area, I'm still focusing mainly on products we use rather than catching the deals, but I am starting to cut coupons again.  That's probably better for my grocery budget anyways. 

Menu Plan June 10-16

For awhile now, I've been doing weekly menu plan posts on Mondays.  But since I actually plan menus twice a month, it makes more sense to me to switch to posting my menu plans twice a month too.  With moving and getting our new apartment set up, things have been pretty hectic, but we are starting to slow back down into a routine, including regular meals at home. 

Here are our dinner plans for the rest of the first half of the month:

(10) Monday: Chicken Fajitas, Fresh Fruit
(11) Tuesday: Eggs with Veggies, English Muffin Bread, Fresh Fruit
(12) Wednesday: Pizza (Sausage, Mushroom, Olives, Peppers)
(13) Thursday: Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole
(14) Friday: Leftover Casserole
(15) Saturday: Black Bean Burgers, Homemade Buns, Crockpot Baked Beans
(16) Sunday: Hot Dogs, Homemade Buns, Leftover Baked Beans

I'm going to attempt to make homemade hot dog buns (a first), and since our hamburger bun recipe always makes too many, I'm going to split it and do half hamburger buns and half hot dog buns.  I have no idea if that will work, but it's worth a try.

A new town equals new grocery shopping options.  Our little town only has one small Piggly Wiggly (although it is right across the street from our apartment complex), but the bigger town 10 minutes down the road has the Walmart and Aldi that I'm used to.  I discovered that there are certain things the local store doesn't carry (like my favorite brand of coffee, or 1 lb. rolls of sausage), but some of the sale prices in the ad were really good, and they have a points program that gives gas rewards, so I'll be splitting my time between that and "in town". 

What I'm Reading...

I'm back! Did you miss me?  I would love to say I've missed blogging, but the truth is that I've been so busy that I've barely had time to think, let alone formulate readable thoughts.  I finally got the chance to sit down and catch up on my blog reading over the past few days.  Here are some good finds...

The Best Time Management Advice I've Ever Received. (Money Saving Mom)

Why Parenting And Relationships Are Hard: Happiness Doesn't Mean Feeling Good. (Offbeat Home)

5 Tips For Baking In Bulk...With Toddlers. (Andrea Dekker)

Seven Ways We Effectively Reduce Our Food Budget. (The Simple Dollar)

10 Types Of Yard Salers. (Little House Living)

Love & Coffee. (Gidget Goes Home)