Week #4

Taco Bell
Bribery for daughter to go to garden with me. oop $4.50

Took trip to Field Museum:
$2.5o for donuts at train.
$6.90 for ice cream on return trip at train

Michaels:
oranges
apricots
plums
tomatoes
green beans
gum
red onions
plums
yellowfin tuna
deli meats and cheese
chick peas
bread
corn tortillas
eggs
juice
king burgers
oop $28.46 I purchased extra plums and apricots with the expectation to can them in a marmelade or in a light syrup. They are sitting on the counter and expect to do process them this afternoon. (wed)

Jewel (I was snack mom for baseball)
3 - 10 ct juice boxes
3 packs gum
$10.04

So far oop: $52.40
Expectations - I didn't put the ice packs back from the cooler for the juice boxes (baseball) and it is going to be HOT today. My husband is buying lunch - expect $10. Promised husband he can have a El Famous Burrito on Thursday (I have Toastmasters) expect $12. Almost out of beer, husband wants Landshark expect $12. Kelloggs deal at Jewel exp $4 and I need to pick up some fruit for baseball team $6 last game party -expect purchases $44.

Week 3 cont.

Jewel:
6 Grande Tortillas + raincheck for 3 more $1.99-$1q
4 Fisher Fusion nut mixes + raincheck for 3 more @ $1.29 - $1q
rain check on worchestershire sauce 2.99-2 q + looking for mail in rebate
20 toothbrushes priced at $1 and had 5 $2 off 2 FREE
4 soda 12 packs for $8 plus free package of Johnsonville sausages
2 kraft salad dressings
2 Edy's ice creams
oop $19.57

Dominiks
Since I'm out of competition decided to do liquor deal
7 bottles 750 ml of smirnoff vodka flavors
1 capton morgans 750 ml rum

oop $60.04 less $50 mail in rebate; gave 2 bottles to friends who contributed their coupons. Using rest of bottles for holiday gifts.

So far:
$156.30-$13.01-$9.08-$50. = $84.21 plus holding $4 off next order.

Week 3

Sunday:
Jewel-
hot dog buns
2 Edy's Ice Cream and received $4 oyno catalina
4 12 packs coke, diet coke, sprite - best price so far 4 for $8
Johnsonville beef brat free w/soda purchase
oop $14.61

Michaels-
4 king hamburgers
chicken drumsticks 49cents/lb
2 dzn eggs
yogurt (activia 4 pk and 2lbs plain)
deli meat-(ham and turkey and cheese american and pepperjack)
grapes
plums
apricots
tomatoes
corn
watermelon
peaches
cherries
limes
oop $30.36

walmart
cat food
cat litter
water
cooking spray
canned pineapple, mandarin ojs, pears
bread
toilet paper
styrofoam cups coffee
candy bar
ice cream cones
gum
oop $22.64 less paper/pet $13.01

menards
garden miracle grow soil and food $9.08

totals $76.69 - $13.01 -$9.08 = $54.60 (Note -I'm trying to keep amount below $100 for paper products, petcare, and food items inc. garden.) +$4 catalina

planted beans, carrots, beets, zinnas, radishes, lettuce in addition to my current plants of: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers (many varieties), corn, cabbage, tomatillos, marigolds. My deck has basil, cilantro, coriander, chives, lettuce, & radishes.

Sunday:
I took some frozen raspberries and cooked them in a simple syrup, then strained the seeds. I used the sauce as a topping on cheesecake (from the freezer) and also in the plain yogurt for the kids.

Made granola bars. A little too sweet. DH has been eating them. Made buttery bisquits with bread machine (www.moneysavingmom.com) ended up with 3 pie plates of dough balls. Placed 2 in second fridge for later use.

Tues:
Made 4 dozen molasses cookies and about 3.5 cups of granola (www.hillbillyhousewife.com) Plan to make fruit/yogurt parfaits for breakfast.

Ceramic Tile
I usually wash the floors with vinegar and water for past 7 years. I was looking at the tile and the grout and it didn't look clean enough. I used borax and a scrubber and I had to change the water 6 times. Wow!

Week 2 Total $117.96

Verry disappointing week.

Total was $123.15 less paper products $1.19 and $4 = $117.96.
Not sure if contest is counting vegetable garden plants = $1.17 + $12.81 = $13.98
Total would be $103.98

I know the contest is on the honor system. There isn't any way that I could not state my husband's expense.

I'll try to keep my chin up and continue to play. But I am very sad.

Week 2 - Wed.

One thing about this contest is that I'm forced to be creative. Many times I think, I could make this or that, but now I'm actually forced to make it.

About 3 weeks ago, the sale on cola was 4- 12 packs coke products for $9 and get a free Hillshire Farm sauage.

I made jumbalya. The recipe was listed on www.gomeat.com. I added shrimp. My kielbasa was turkey so I added liquid smoke. Very good and under $1/serving.

Went shopping:
Caputos:
plums
tomatos
iceberg lettuce
string beans
strawberries
blueberries
green bell peppers
red onion
cucumber
nectarines
tilapia 2lbs
gallon milk
yoplait yogurt
fresh mozzarella - deli
eggs
calamata olives - deli
bath tissue 1.19
total oop 27.72-1.19 (paper) = 26.53

Dominiks
peanut butter
shredded cheese mozzarella
orange juice
almond milk ...trying to be healthy and received tip from Biggest Loser.
sour cream
wheat bread
2 pork chops
breakfast sausage
2 lunchables
5 lbs potatoes 50cents
sliced mushrooms
mailed coupons didn't work and went to customer service for correction oop $18.30

Keller Farm Stand bought 12 vegetable plants for $1.17
Caputos - had free tomato plants ...took 3

Total so far:
$75.34-$1.19 paper $74.15

Fairly certain that I will not need to buy anything else.

• Going to zoo today -opted not to buy gogurts and cheese sticks, instead packing pbj sandwiches, 1 yoplait key lime (currently in freezer), lunchables, refill water bottles w/ice water, juice boxes.
• Friday my husband sometimes buys lunch.
• 4th of July weekend - would like to go to Ribfest or Lisle Fest - husband loves ribs.
• Husband wants to cook pub burgers or equal. on Sunday but Sunday starts a new week.

Week #1

Sunday was the first day of the contest and I was pretty nervous because I was out of town, going to a water park, and then going to the airport.

We ate breakfast at the hotel (continental breakfast not available) - cost was 2 breakfast buffets and kids eat free. Total including tip $13.83 - kids also had leftover french toast in-room microwave and we had our first cups of coffee with the in-room coffee maker.

Food - eggs, sausage, bacon, bagels, toast, fresh fruit, coffee, juice

Snack and Lunch - packed a styrofoam cooler in trunk of car with ice from hotel - salads, yogurts, grapes, pretzels, carrot sticks, peanut butter (minis), filled water bottles with ice and added the single serving lemonades to each one.

Dinner - Wendy's for my husband - double cheese burger combo and kids shared a 5 piece nuggets, small fries, and drink oop $10.56
I finished my salad and yogurt at the rental car facility.

We made it through the airport by refilling the water bottles with water (after clearing the security gate) from the water cooler and made it through without buying anything.

Monday - We were on vacation for 10 days and I cleaned the fridge before I left. We were out of dairy products, deli meats, and produce. My trip to Caputos:

gallon milk
lettuce
mango
string beans
peaches
carrots
grapes
strawberries
yogurt
swiss cheese
deli ham
proscuitto
deli turkey
apples
tomatoes
plums
2 - snacks for kids
jar giardiniera
bananas
rye bread
onion
cucumber
lime
eggs
oop $36.22

so far total - $60.61

breakfast
cereal, eggs, toast/bagel

kids snacks - pb crackers, mini cookies, pudding

lunch - pbj sandwich, soup, turkey burger, lemonade

dinner - chx enchiladas (freezer - homemade chx stock, bell peppers, salsa verde), cheese, chicken, tortillas, cream of mush soup; spanish rice (from a homemade premix), fresh fruit

I have leftover mix in the crockpot from cooking the chicken and seasonings, will add leftover rice, cumin, lemon pepper, 1/2 can of corn for tortilla soup. Will freeze some for a cooler day.