Meal Plan Subscription

Most weeks I do have somewhat of a Menu Plan put together. I try not to eat out more than once a week, but even that seems expensive, especially if I have a few trips to the vending machine during the week too. I have been thinking more about subscribing to a Menu Plan so I can have it already put together and just go shopping. I can't cook ahead more than a meal or two because our freezer is packed 95% of the time.

Here are the Menu Plan subscriptions I am thinking about:

Bikini Body Mommy
-4 12 Week Plans, one for each season, each $29.99 then $9.99/ month after getting the Monthly Subscription
- healthy meals (gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free),  based on two people eating, but easy to increase for more people, nutrition information

eMeals
- 12 months $58; 6 months $48; 3 months $30 for dinners
- also can add breakfast, lunch and dessert plans for additional amounts
- 16 different meal plans to choose from

Plan to Eat
-$4.95/month or $39/year
-compiles recipes from web, others who use Plan to Eat or your own
-make a grocery list that you can see on your phone and puts recipes in to a calendar

100 Days of Real Food
- 5 7 day plans, free to sign up
- healthy real food at a low cost for a family of four

Saving Dinner.com
- Basic service $15/ 3 months or $47/year to get a pdf of recipes each week of 4 meal plans: Classic, Paleo, Low Carb, and Daytime
- Premium service is a application online and on your phone for $12/month or $120/year that has new menu plans each week plus you can look back on past menus and add to calendar and create a shopping list.

These all seem like they would be useful, but I don't know if want to spend money every month. I did sign up for the 100 Days of Real Food. I would like to do the Bikini Body Mommy because I am having success following her Challenge. I don't think eMeals will work since I have a feeling most of the menu would be something we wouldn't eat. Plan to Eat and Saving Dinner are similar, but I like that Plan to Eat has a mobile site for my phone so I can see/check off my shopping list. From the video it sounded like Saving Dinner has an app in the works. I know my weight loss can be accelerated if I just stick to a more healthy eating plan so I'm looking for something to help me stick to it.

Changing to More Frugal Ways

I have been trying to find ways to cut back on cost around here.  Hy-Vee had a sale on boxes of Jello Pudding for $.69.  When I went to the store to buy a box I saw that they have the Hy-Vee brand was only $.49 for its everyday price.  I decided that pudding was pudding and brought home the Hy-Vee brand.  The box said it was worth 4 servings, but I was able to make 5 serving from one box for my daughter's school lunch.  Unfortunately she forgot her lunch today and was unable to give me her take on the taste.

I also found these deals at the stores this week:

Fareway:

 $3/2 Campbell's Chunky Soup

Fareway coupon $3/3 (limit 3, one coupon per customer)

Manufacturer coupon $1 off of 3 

Final Cost: $2/3

Hy-Vee Two Day Thur/Fri Sale

Rice-a Roni $.99 box

Manufacture coupon $1/4 (facebook like coupon)

Final Cost: $2.96/4

Christmas Shopping

This time of year when buying gifts, you should never pay full price.  There are coupons everywhere: mobile coupons, email coupons, coupons in the Sunday paper, bag stuffer coupons, and at the customer service centers in stores.  Just about everything that is season is going to be on sale, or on sale sometime before Christmas.  Last week I was looking at robes for myself at Target and this week they are on sale.  My sister told me about a shirt at Kohl's that her son wanted, and I signed myself up for mobile coupons.  

I would start at a stores website and sign up for their email and/or text coupons.  It really does pay to be loyal to one store so you can learn their best deals and how their system works.  I know the Younkers in our area has certain restrictions on their coupons, like it excludes cosmetics.  If you sign up for their promotions you can find out when they have their Goodwill or Community Day event and get a discount on cosmetics then.  

Some stores don't have coupons like Best Buy.  You could always use your smart phone if you have one and get the free phone app: Shopkicks ( right now use my referral code thru the link and we both earn 50 kicks).  You can earn kicks and then redeem them for a gift card.  I also earn swagbucks online to earn Amazon gift cards to purchase some of my gifts for Christmas ( use my code http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/IAmom, I would appreciate it).  I have also found that many things that were on a good sale on Black Friday will be on sale that price again if they have them left in stock.  It may be too late for your Christmas shopping this year, but thinking ahead for next year this could save you some cold hard cash or some credit debt.

Happy Holidays!

Anyone Can Shop Aldi

I couldn't resist snapping a shot of a Hummer in the Aldi's parking lot.

So I haven't posted for a few days but here is an update on what I've been spending.

Tuesday I went to the Party store to get table clothes for my daughters 4-H group and I ended up also buying the costume that my son has been wanting.  I ended up spending $24.84. My mom is making some curtains for my daughter's room, so I bought decorative curtain rods for $10.18.  I stopped at the gas station while we were out and I had a $.69 freezy drink and my daughter got an expensive shake for about $2.50, and our total was $3.23.  I also went to the grocery store and spent $10.20 on pork steak and 2 gallons of juice.  

Through out the work week I also spent another $4 at the vending machines.

Today I went to Aldi Foods:

12pk cherry cola $2.69 plus $.60 deposit

crescent rolls 2 @ $1.49 each or $2.98

skim milk $2.79

large eggs $1.19

trail mix 4 @ $.49 each or $1.96

taco mix $.39

baby carrots $1.19

meat stick $.89

ingredients to help make an ugly cake (pictures to follow Sunday):

starburst $2.25

werthers original $1.99

starlite mints $.99

chocolate frosting $1.29

Fudge brownie mix 2 @ $1.29 each or $2.58

Total with tax $25.73

Total for the week is $107.77.  Wow, more than I thought it would be when added.  I did have $39.30 in overage from the last two weeks so I would have $109.30 to spend this week if I add that in so I'm not over in these 3 weeks.  I still plan on going to Costco because I really need toilet paper, and I really hope they have the Kirkland frappuccino because they have been out for weeks.  I also need to buy Tampax and Always pads, and I hope I can resist everything else.  I would like to buy some cheerios and yogurt but I think I could get both of them cheaper.  Tomorrow will also be a busy day so I'm not sure how it will work, but I hope to keep the cost low there too.

Timely Returns

So today I finally returned this tube of sealant I bought from the hardware store almost a month ago.  It took maybe five minutes, but I just never made the time.  I was able to get back $6.33.  I think the more time that passes, the more you will just hold on to the item, or the store is less likely to take the item back.  It is best to put the item in your car with the receipt if possible.  I just happened to be driving by the store and remember I had this return, otherwise who knows how long it would have been.  It wasn't a large amount, but every bit counts.

Today I did spend money at the  vending machine(ugh, it is so temping now that I have the cash in my wallet).  It was $.60 for a candy bar, and then I also visited Costco tonight and picked up some photos I had ordered.  I found that Costco was the cheapest for 5x7 photos, at $.39 each.  My total was $2.89, and I also bought a pop for $.75.  So my total spent today was $4.24.  I also priced some items since they have some coupons coming out soon.

Oh Boy! Oberto beef jerky

$14.49, coupon for $3.50 off

Kirkland Signature Diet Green Tea

$9.99 for 35 bottles, coupon for $2 off

Scotch-Brite Sponges

heavy duty 21 count $12.55

multi-purpose 18 count $11.79

coupon for $2.75 off

Kleenex 

Family 10 boxes of 260 count

$16.85, coupon for $3.50 off

Cheerios49oz 

Honey Nut

$6.79, coupon for $4 off of two boxes

37.5oz Multigrain 

$7.69, coupon for $4 off of two boxes

Cottonelle Ultra Bath Tissue

36 pack

$18.89, coupon for $3.50 off

Haagen-Daz Vanilla Milk chocolate almond bars

$11.99, coupon for $3 off

Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner

6 24oz bottles

$8.79, coupon for $2.50 off

Clorox Wipes

4 packages of 78

$11.99, coupon for $2.50 off

Glide Floss

6 pack

$12.99, coupon for $3 off

Tampax 

Pearl regular 96 count

$13.88, coupon for $3 off

Super 96 count

$13.88, coupon for $3 off

Duo pack 108 count

$12.99, coupon for $3 off

Always

Long super 90 count

$11.99, coupon for $2.50 off

Ultra thin regular or overnight 96 count

$11.99, coupon for $2.50 off

I always go online and look ahead to see what the coupons are at adamcos.com.  Next I will budget how much money to bring to Costco so I can bring cash, and not be surprised at the register.

$29.04 left to spend this week.  I will be going to the farmer's market Thursday night and hope to keep it $5 or under.  I also am leaving for out of town on Friday so I hope to just spend $10 on eating out that day which will leave me with $14.04 left to spend on Saturday, when I will be in a very rural area, with no where to spend my money except maybe a gas station. Well, we'll see. :0)

Use Your Resources

My cute Fossil wallet, with money in it!

So today, there was a lot of money spent.  But that's OK.  I gave my sister $10 for the kids since she is taking them to my parents house for the week, and I will meet up with them on Friday.  I also spent $2.00 on the vending machine at work today (this habit needs to die).  I went to Aldi's and bought what I needed for weekly grocery and then some (cuz we all know I can't stick to a list), and to the Bread Outlet.  Here is a breakdown:

Aldi's

1lb of jalapeno peppers: $1.29

3 cans of jumbo biscuits in a can: $1.29 each ($3.90)

8oz cream cheese: $1.29

2 8oz cheese chunks: $1.99 ($3.98)

french dressing: $1.29

3 snack size trail mix:$.49 each ($1.47)

English muffins: $.99

skim milk: $2.79

Bread Outlet

1 loaf of bread, hamburger buns, and hotdog buns: $.99 each ($2.97)

sourdough bread loaf: $1.59

I didn't spend any money yesterday so my total spending for the week is: $33.56.  $33.28 left to spend.  This could be hard this week because I have an itch to buy something at my job.  I have so many things I could buy and many reasons, but none of them are a need.  They are a want.  I might have to make a deal with myself where I can buy something if I make it for 4 weeks with not going over $70  a week, just so this itch will subside.  I really need to not spend anymore this week since I will be traveling.  I don't take gas out of this funding, so you won't see that added in to my totals, but I'm sure I will eat out at least once on the road.

ReStore knobs and handle.

On another note I thought I should mention that if you need some home supplies to see if there is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area.  Their inventory is always changing due to what people donate, but it also a good place just to look.  Our store has great prices on 5x7 rugs, cabinets, and doors. Use this Link to find one in your hood: Habitat ReStore.

Friday Spending Post

So I found a fun activity to entertain the extra kids at the house today. Chalk paint.  Thanks to "The Lackadaisical Willow."  So I went to Hy-Vee.  I never realized that food coloring was that expensive.  The name brand was $2.99, and Hy-Vee brand was $2.69.  I also bought some Diet Pepsi so my total was $4.89.  Tonight we also rented some Redbox movies and those cost $2.12 with the tax.  Not too bad, still under the $10, plus my parents bought the pizza dinner tonight. Bonus.

So now I have $29.92, and one day left.

Also if you have never reserved a movie from Redbox online it is the best way to guarantee it available:  Please use this link to get me free rentals: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fredbox.tellapal.com%2Fa%2Fclk%2F10Cncv&h=nAQBZgp9t