Shopping and little things

I did pretty well this week with my shopping.  I spent $64 on groceries at Ingles (which is our local grocery store).  It is usually more expensive than Wal-Mart and definitely more than Aldi (my favorite) but I shopped the sales and did OK.  I then went to Wal-Mart and spent about $75, but most of that was non food items (razors, shave cream, pet food, etc.)  My goal is for $125 on food a week, but there is sometimes a gray area when it comes to stuff bought at Wal-Mart.  So while I went over, I really don't think I did too bad.  I didn't take any pictures.  I went on Friday night after dinner and it was misting rain.  I was too tired it snap pictures.

I was thinking about saving money the other day, and it is the little things that save the most.  Like for instance, I make my own laundry detergent.  It takes about 15 minutes and it costs  about $2.50 to make it.  I also make most of our food home made, even our bread.  Yes it does take some time, but not much more time than shopping.  I also bring my lunch to work most days.  I work in a school and our lunches are $3.00.  That is $15.00 a week or $60.00 a month.  The food is not very good or healthy either.  I just bring leftovers from work or make a sandwich or a wrap. It's the little things that we save for that add up!

On a completely different note, we had a wild game supper at church last night and we had a man with reptiles come and speak. He also spoke at service today and had the snakes out.  This is my husband helping with the snake.

Not for me, but Steven loved it! Happy Sunday!

Frugal shopping Saturday

This weekend the youth kids went on a retreat and the little guy spent the night with a friend, so it was just me and little girl on Saturday so we went shopping together.  She wanted to get a new bible case so we went to Lifeway Christian first.  I did buy the new David Platt book.  It can be so dangerous for me to go in a bookstore, especially a Christian one.  After that we went to Aldi.  This is what we got:

I also got a 10 pound of potatoes that didn't make it into the picture.  I paid $54 for everything.  I didn't really need much this week so shopping was easy.  Aldi had those strawberries for $1.15 each so I bought four pounds.  I also bought a cantaloupe that didn't make it into the picture for $1.00.  That big container of organic lettuce was also $1.00.  I love the produce deals Aldi will have sometimes.  We try to buy those and eat it in the beginning of the week.  Now here is the menu

 

Monday:  Tacos made with meat and beans

 

Tuesday:  Crockpot chicken, mac and cheese, salad

 

Wednesday:  Church group pancakes and bacon

 

Thursday:  Chicken soup and grilled cheese

 

Friday:  Pizza

 

Saturday:  Sausage casserole

 

Sunday: Hamburgers, hotdogs and homemade fries

 

We usually have cereal, muffins, bagels or oatmeal for breakfast.  Sometimes I cook eggs and grits.  All the kids eat lunch at school and Steven and I bring leftovers.  If the kids want to they can fix a sandwich to take to school.  I usually have peanut butter, jelly, and bread and fruit.

 

Little girl and I also went to Kohl's.  We used my sister's 30% off and we each got a pair of tennis shoes, a new outfit for her, a new shirt for me, and a new set of queen sheets for $100 and I got back $20 in Kohl's cash.

 

Now we are all home and watching TV.  I think everyone had a good weekend and we have a holiday tomorrow. Yeah!



It is Friday night and I just got home after leaving the house at 7:15 this morning.  Of course I worked all day at the school, and then I took all of the kids to the larger city so that big girl could take a life guarding class.  She has to go back tomorrow all day and maybe Sunday if they don't get done.  I hope they do because they are going to be worn out, plus I don't want to have to go back to the bigger city on Sunday.  That is my day to chill!

So tomorrow the Older boy is doing yard work, the Big Girl is doing more life guarding, the little girl and Small Boy are going to the circus with Grandma, so for a couple of hours tomorrow it will be just me and the middle girl.  I guess we will go thrift store shopping.

Steven is at a men's retreat this weekend and so there is no man here to be the heavy.  I hope I keep my patience and don't yell.  I want him to have a good time with men and learn more about Christ.  I don't want him to worry about home or work just focus on God.

Well, I am going to go.  Have a good night.