Living on a Budget
Recipe: Easy Vegetable Bake
One of the best parts about having a garden is sharing it with those around you and the second best part is being able to freeze some of the delicious goodies from the garden to eat during the Fall and Winter months. Now that we have officially had our first “freeze” our garden is done but we were grateful to be picking some produce even in November this year. It has been wonderful eating the vegetables and finding great ways to eat them. One of our family’s favorite ways to enjoy them is on the grill, however, as it is getting cooler we will often bake or steam the vegetables instead of firing up the grill. Our family has tried many different vegetable recipes, including the Easy Summer Vegetables which is similar (quick and easy). It’s a great recipe to use when you have guests coming over for dinner. You can use a variety of fresh vegetables. I like to use the fresh veggies that we have in the fridge and will add some frozen ones if necessary.
Easy Vegetable Bake:
- 1 cup Green Beans
- 1 cup Purple Beans
- 1 cup sliced Zucchini
- 1 cup sliced Okra
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced Onions
- 1/4 cup Italian Dressing
Slice the vegetables into 1 inch pieces and put them into a bowl. Pour 1/4 cup of Italian Dressing over the vegetables and stir until evenly coated. You can add a little more or less dressing depending on the amount of vegetables you want. Let them marinate for a few minutes, pour them into a dish and bake on 350 for 30 minutes or until tender but still crisp.
You can add whatever vegetables you want and substitute, for example if you do not have zucchini but have asparagus or peppers add a cup of them instead. The vegetables have great flavor and are a hit throughout the grilling season.
CVS: Spent $3 and $12 ECB’s Back
Groceries, Household, Baby, Beauty and Gift Items from CVS I went to CVS on my way home from an appointment this week. The CVS had a bunch of cosmetic items marked down 50% to 75% off. I was able to get the items pictured above for $3.16 including tax and received $12.00 ECB’s to use on my next CVS purchase. Today I used some store, manufacturer coupons and ECB’s to help pay for the purchase.
You can get great deals even without clipping a lot of coupons. My receipt shows that as of December 6th I have saved over $2,000 at CVS this year (and I don’t even go every week) so you can do it without investing a lot of time into it or being an extreme couponer that empties the shelves. Over time the savings add up and I have even taken several weeks off here and there while I have been busy or traveling or when our stock pile is full. All of the items I purchased were on sale or clearance. Here is what I purchased this week.
- 1 – Cherry Candy Canes (10 count) for $1.27 (FREE plus overage after ECB’s because the Extra Care Bucks did not print when I checked so I ended up getting $2 ECB’s for this item.)
- 1 – Ali Deep Brown Brow Definer for $1.19 (on clearance for 75% off)
- 3 – Lip Smacker Lip Gloss (Clear) for $2.46 ($0.82 each after 75% off clearance, perfect for stocking stuffers)
- 10 – bottles Confetti Nail Polish for $8.20 ($0.82 each after 75% off clearance, another great stocking stuffer)
- 11 – bottles Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish for $9.02 ($0.82 each after 75% off clearance)
- 1 – Sally Hansen Fingernail Clippers for $1.37 (after 75% off clearance)
- 3 – Wet & Wild Mega Silk Glossy Apple for $2.97 ($0.99 each after 75% clearance)
- 1 – Wet & Wild Mega Silk Glossy Berry Burst for $0.99 (after 75% clearance)
- 1 – Wet & Wild Liquid Lip Color Coco for $0.99 (after 75% clearance)
- 1 – Huggies Supreme Diapers Size 1 (40 count) for $9.49 (received a $1.00 ECB)
- 1 – Sara Lee Whole Wheat Bread for $0.57 (on clearance)
- 1 – Sara Lee White Bread for $0.57 (on clearance)
- 4 – American Greetings Cards for (used store and manufacturer coupons and received $3.00 ECBs)
- 1 – Revlon Deluxe Clipper Set for $2.99 (received $6.00 ECBs)
- 1 – Revlon Valupak Emory Boards for $3.59 (received $6.00 ECBs)
Here are the coupons I used on the items.
- Used $5.00 off $20.00 Coupon from CVS Kiosk
- Used $0.99 CVS coupon from Kiosk for a free American Greeting Card
- Used $2.00 manufacturer coupon for American Greeting Card
- Used $3.00 CVS coupon for Huggies
- Used $2.00 manufacturer coupon from Huggies
- Used $1.00 manufacturer coupon from Revlon
- Used $5.00 CVS Beauty Club Reward Coupon
- Used $25.99 CVS ECB’s
I received $12.00 ECB’s back today:
- $6.00 ECB’s for Revlon Products
- $3.00 ECB’s for American Greeting Cards
- $2.00 ECB’s for Candy Canes
- $1.00 ECB’s for Huggies Products
Today I was able to save $109.01 at CVS by purchasing these items and using coupons.
Here are some more up close pictures of the products I was able to pick up.
CVS had a lot of cosmetic items on clearance for 50% to 75% off
Was able to get 2 loaves of Sara Lee Bread for $0.57 each on clearance!
When you shop the CVS sales regularly and have ECB’s that you can roll over toward future purchases the bonus ECB’s start adding up (Green Bag Tags and Beauty Club). As you can see from my shopping trip today you don’t have to purchase a lot to save money when shopping at CVS. Plus you can use the additional ECB’s you receive towards your next purchase. You can pick and chose what is best for your family.
I would love to hear your CVS shopping story for this week! For those of you who shop regularly at CVS please share how you were able to save this week! Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household. In your comment please feel free to share a link to your blog article showing us how you were able to save shopping at CVS.
Gift Giving: Cinnamon Handprint Ornaments
Are you looking for great gifts to give but are on a tight budget? This is a simple recipe that uses a few items from your pantry and makes a thoughtful Christmas Gift. I posted this last year and it was a huge hit so I am sharing it again this year. These were inexpensive, easy to do, and the girls had a lot of fun. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry already.
Cinnamon Handprint Ornaments:
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 cup Salt
- 5 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 3/4 cup Water
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in water gradually to make dough. If it is sticking to your hands, add more flour or if it is too crumbling add more water. Knead dough for approximately 8 minutes until smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out dough to desired thickness (typically between 1/4 to 3/4 inches thick).
We used a football cookie cutter for the oval (you can use a circle or anything big enough that they can fit their hands in) than lightly floured their hands before making a slight indention on the clay. We took a stamp and pressed their first initial in the bottom of each palm to help us remember who it belonged to. Since my girls are twins their hand sizes are almost the same!
After making the handprint in the clay use a straw to make a hole in the top so you can hang the ornament.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hour. (Thicker dough will take longer to bake). They are done when the clay is dry, you notice a slight change in color. Cool and add a ribbon of your choice!
Optional: Once cooled you can use spray on polyurethane for extra shine.
Ours still smell great even after a year. We made more than one batch since we have a large family but you can do as many as you want. With the extra dough we made Christmas ornaments so we could hang them on the tree.
Amazon: Melissa & Doug Toys 50% off – $10 each (Today Only)
Today only (12/8/11) Amazon has a wide variety of Melissa & Doug toys for just $10
The sale includes Wood Blocks, Food Sets, Puzzles, Educational Toys and more!
Plus you can get FREE SHIPPING with your Amazon Mom account or Free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Use your Amazon Gift Cards from Swagbucks for additional savings, to learn how to get started go here!
Melissa & Doug toys are great gifts if you have any kids left to buy for on your Christmas list.
Recipe: Peppermint Oreo Brownies
Around the Christmas Season we typically have extra candy canes hanging around the house so I came up with this fun and delicious Peppermint Oreo Brownie recipe. You can make your favorite brownie recipe add a few extra ingredients for the Holiday Season and you have a great dessert to share with family and friends. Whether you enjoy a homemade or boxed brownies both will taste delicious.
Peppermint Oreo Brownies:
- Favorite Homemade or Boxed Brownies
- 1 1/2 cup roughly crushed Oreo Cookies
- 2 tablespoons Torani Peppermint Syrup (you can add more or less if you prefer)
- 1/4 cup crushed Peppermint Candy Canes
Make your favorite brownie recipe. Stir in the Torani Peppermint Syrup and 1 cup Oreo’s. Pour the brownies into the baking dish. Sprinkle the peppermint candy canes and remaining Oreo’s over the top. Cook the brownies per the recipe directions. Cool and enjoy!
You can also use up some extra candy canes when you make Candy Cane Smile Pancakes for breakfast.
Walgreens: Spent $2 and Got $6 Back
Groceries, Household Items, & Other Goodies from Walgreens I ran by Walgreens on the way home from an appointment this week to use up a couple coupons that were about ready to expire. I spent $2.06 including tax at Walgreens this week for grocery, household, health and beauty purchases and received $6 Register Rewards back from that visit to use towards my next purchase at Walgreens.
Here is what I got this week:
- 4 – Nice Baking Soda for $2.00 ($0.50 each after coupon)
- 2 – Dove Deodorants for $3.99 (received $3 Register Rewards. Also, I was able to get 2 because there was a BONUS pack that included 2 full size deodorants in it making it an even better deal. Yay!)
- 1 – Revlon TopSpeed Nail Polish for $3.99 (received $3 in Register Rewards back.)
- 9 – Snowman Tumbler Cups for $1.49 ($0.16 each after coupon)
- 2 – Nice Wax Paper (75 feet) for $1.98 ($0.99 each after coupon)
- 1 – Reynolds Aluminum Foil (20 feet) for $0.99 (each after coupon)
- 4 – Wexford Tape (450 inches) for $2.38 ($0.59 each after coupon)
- 3 – Nestle Chewy Spree Candy for $0.75 ($0.25 each after coupon)
- 2 – Red Sharpie Markers for $0.58 ($0.29 each after coupon)
- 2 – Green Sharpie Markers for $0.58 ($0.29 each after coupon)
The total was over $36 with tax before using discounts & coupons. Here are the coupons I used on the items.
- Nice Baking Soda Coupons
- Snowman Tumbler Coupons
- Nice Wax Paper Coupons
- Reynolds Aluminum Foil Coupons
- Wexford Tape Coupons
- Nestle Chewy Spree Candy Coupons
- Sharpie Markers Coupons
- Used $17 Register Rewards
I received $6 Register Rewards back today:
- $3.00 Register Rewards for Dove Product
- $3.00 Register Rewards for Revlon Product
Walgreen’s Register Rewards will expire two weeks from the date they are printed so you will need to make sure to use them before their expiration date. I always keep the ones that are expiring the soonest on top of the stack to make sure to use them first.
Another important fact regarding Walgreen’s Register Rewards you will need to know if you haven’t used them before is you can only use 1 coupon per item. If you use a manufacturer’s coupon for every item you are purchasing you will not be able to use any Register Reward for that transaction. If you do have a coupon for each item then check Walgreen’s weekly ad because they will have items on sale each week for pennies up to $1 that you can use as “filler” items but they won’t raise your total too much. Once you get started using coupons and rewards you may discover, like I did, how to purchase many of your health and beauty items for nothing or very little. Since using coupons and reward programs I rarely pay full price for any of our health and beauty items plus I usually have extra to share with guests visiting us or to give away.
For those of you who shop regularly at Walgreens I encourage you to share how you were able to save this week! Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household. In your comment please feel free to share how you saved at Walgreens (links to your blog article on how you saved are welcomed as well).
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of December 7 – 13, 2011
The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience. You can start stocking up on some great deals for upcoming Holiday cooking. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meats and Seafood
Sugardale Bone In Hank Potion Ham – $1.19 per lb
Chicken Leg Quarters – $0.49 per lb
Beef Eye of Round Roast – $3.99 per lb
Cooked Cocktail Shrimp (41 to 50 count) – $4.99
Hickory Springs Sliced Bacon (12 oz) – $1.99
Farmington Pork Sausage, Hot or Mild (16 oz) – $1.99
Fairgrounds Sliced Lunchmeats, Assorted Varieties (16 oz) – $2.99
Fairgrounds Jumbo Hot Dogs (16 oz) – $0.99
Portside Fish Fillets, Tilapia, Perch or Flounder (16 oz) – $3.99
Matlaw’s Shrimp Ring with Sauce (10 oz) – $4.99
Portside Imitation Crabmeat (16 oz) – $1.99
Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).
Fridge and Freezer
Coburn Farms Cream Cheese – $1.00
Land O’ Lakes Spreadable Butter (8 oz) – $1.99
Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
Use $0.30/1 coupon from insert 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
As low as $1.49 each after couponBanquet Family Size Entrees (26 to 28 oz) – $2.00
Tropicana Orange Juice (59 oz) – $2.99
Chef Antonio Rising Crust Pizza, Pepperoni or Cheese – $3.49
Eggo Waffles (10 count) – $1.79
World’s Fair Vanilla Ice Cream (56 oz) – $2.79
Mrs. Smith’s Pies, Pumpkin, Apple or Cherry – $2.99
Use $1.00/2 coupon from pamphlet Target booklet (Expires 12/30/11)
$2.49 each after couponGold Leaf Deep Dish Pie Shells – $2.33
Coburn Farms Sour Cream (16 oz) – $1.59
Morning Delight Crescent Rolls – $1.69
Save A Lot Today Orange Juice (59 oz) – $1.99
Curly’s Pulled Pork or Beef (18 oz) – $3.99
Produce
California Navel Oranges (4 lbs) – $2.99
Mixed Bag of Fruit (4 lbs) – $2.99
Idaho Potatoes (10 lbs) – $2.99
Tomatoes (6 pack) – $1.99
Red Grapefruit (3 lbs) – $1.50
Sunburst Tangerines (3 lbs) – $1.50
Household
Tide Powder Laundry Detergent (20 oz) – $3.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from Ebony magazine (Expires 12/31/11)
Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 11/27 Proctor & Gamble (Expires 12/31/11)
As low as $2.99 each after couponWrightware Foam Plates (40 count) – $1.39
Poly Steel Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil (37.5 sq ft) – $1.99
Wrightware Napkins (250 count) – $1.69
Chenard Plastic Cutlery, Knife, Fork, Spoon Assortment (48 count) – $1.69
Max Force Alkaline Batteries, Assorted Varieties – $1.99
Grocery
Folgers Classic Roast Ground Coffee (22.6 oz) – $6.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from insert 11/6 Red Plum (Expires 12/3/11)
$5.99 each after couponCrisco Vegetable or Canola Oil (48 oz) – $2.99
Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 11/6 Red Plum (Expires 1/31/12)
Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 11/6 Red Plum (Expires 1/31/12)
$2.49 each after couponCap ‘N Crunch Cereal, Assorted Varieties (12 to 14 oz) – $1.99
Kraft Deluxe or Velveeta Dinners (9 to 14 oz) – $1.79
Ritz Crackers, Assorted Varieties (14 to 15 oz) – $2.50
Prego Pasta Sauce, Assorted Varieties (24 oz) – $1.50
Use $0.75/2 coupon from 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
Use $1.00/3 coupon from 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
Use $0.50/2 coupon from 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
As low as $1.13 each after couponPregresso Traditional Soups, Assorted Varieties – $1.50
Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Assorted Varieties – $2.49
Welch’s Chillers Juice Drinks, Assorted Varieties (64 oz) – $1.99
On the Border Tortilla Chips (12 oz) – $2.00
Grissom’s Brown ‘n Serve Rolls ( 12 count) – $1.19
Monet Entertainment Crackers (8 oz) – $1.69
Lofthouse Snickerdoodle Cookies – $2.79
Cafe Valley Fudge Bundt Cake – $3.39
Portmann’s Mayonnaise – $2.49
J Higgs Saltines – $1.19
Wylwood Chili Beans – $0.75
Hargis House Beef Stew (24 oz) – $2.39
Hargis House Sloppy Joe Sauce (15.5 oz) – $0.99
Mantia’s Alfredo Sauce (15 oz) – $1.99
Crisp Cranberry Lemon Lime Soda (2 liter) – $0.79
Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk (15 oz) – $0.79
Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $1.35
Ginger Evans Ready to Spread Frosting – $1.49
Ginger Evans Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (12 oz) – $2.29
Morning Gem’s Frosted Flakes Cereal (17 oz) – $2.29
Morning Delight Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix (32 oz) – $1.89
Morning Delight Country Style or Buttery Syrup (24 oz) – $1.89
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.
For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
I was back to my regular schedule for the most part this week. It was a busy week with a lot of catching up to do from the Thanksgiving Holidays. I wasn’t able to get everything crossed off the list but made some headway.
Here is the update on last weeks goals:
Family Goals
Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everydayRead a book to the girls everyday- Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
- Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed)
- Get the girls passport pictures taken
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – started the week well but flopped when it got really cold outside
- Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday and Thursday – did it about every other night
Finish reading The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine who has a blog called Money Saving Mom (VERY excited about the opportunity to preview this book by a blogger I have been following for years and thankful to be featured on her blog weekly with the Save A Lot Deals!)Listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (I am going through this book with my Community Group)
Home Management Goals
Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by MondaySpend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house- Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – it was late a couple nights
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day- File the receipts and coupons for the last couple of months. – started, but not finished
Business Goals
Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my deskPay all bills that come in the mail this weekWork on ideas for upcoming blog posts- Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012 – pulled it out but didn’t get in depth time to work on it this week
Ministry Goals
Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requestsMeet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch- Make at least $25 towards my Creative Cash goal this week so I can give more to others. – didn’t meet my goal this week
Deliver a meal to a new Mom.was able to take meals to 2 new Moms! What a blessing to share and meet the new little ones! 🙂
Financial Goals
Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4- Pay off remaining debt – made progress this week
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – on hold until debt is paid off
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
Family Goals
- Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
- Read a book to the girls everyday
- Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
- Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed)
- Do the 25 Day of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities with the girls this week
Personal Goals
- Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
- Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday and Tuesday
- Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay
- Listen to the next section of Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (I am going through this book with my Community Group)
Home Management Goals
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
- Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
- Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Start wrapping and send out Christmas Cards / Presents
Business Goals
- Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
- Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012
Ministry Goals
- Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Make at least $25 towards my Creative Cash goal this week so I can give more to others.
Financial Goals
- Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
- Pay off remaining debt
- Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results
Book: “Money Savings Mom’s Budget” by Crystal Paine
I had the privilege of reading a preview copy of Crystal Paine’s first book “The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year” which will be released on January 10, 2012! I have been following Crystal’s blog Money Saving Mom for several years now and was thrilled to receive a copy of her new book to review. As I expected the book was full of practical advice on life, home management, and finances. Crystal discusses tips and resources that have worked well for her family as well as some of the challenges she has experienced along the way.
In the book Crystal shares a step by step process to financial success through seven rules:
- Rule #1 – SET BIG GOALS AND BREAK THEM DOWN INTO BITE-SIZED PIECES
- Rule #2 – STREAMLINE YOUR LIFE AND CUT THE CLUTTER
- Rule #3 – SET UP A REALISTIC, WORKABLE BUDGET
- Rule #4 – TAKE THE CASH-ONLY CHALLENGE
- Rule #5 – USE COUPONS
- Rule #6 – NEVER PAY RETAIL
- Rule #7 – CHOOSE CONTENTMENT
She has these rules broken out over 12 months so you can focus on one at a time and within a year you may see amazing results in your personal life as well as with your family finances. I like that Crystal gives manageable steps for someone starting out and challenges to those who are already practicing some of the principles in her book. In the back of the book she gives worksheets to help get you started on your goals, priorities, budget, and more. By making just a few changes you may start seeing positive results in your life right away.
I wear many hats throughout the week, however, if my priorities and life are a mess I will not have any time or resources leftover to help others. This book helps you streamline your life, household, and finances so you can be a blessing to your family, friends and to the people around you. Her quote “Stop trying to do it all” rang loud and clear when I read it. As women for some reason we feel like we have to be SuperMom or Superwoman yet we often fail because we cannot do everything. When our priorities are in order we will have the time to focus on things that truly are important.
Crystal wraps up the book perfectly by addressing her final rule, “Choose Contentment”. This chapter was my favorite, it is a good reminder to practice contentment in all areas of our lives. No matter what the circumstances are there is ALWAYS much to be thankful for in my life. “Choose to bloom where you’re planted – even if it seems like it’s among thorns.”
I am super excited to see how implementing a few key rules can make a positive impact in my family and hope to share them with you along the way. The Money Saving Mom’s Budget is a practical, encouraging, and motivating book. It would be a perfect gift for your Mom friends, graduates, or as a wedding gift.
The best part…..is that all the profit for the sale of this book are going to Compassion International. Compassion International is an organization that helps to feed and clothe needy children around the world. You can pre-order The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine now at Amazon it’s $11.09 right now, with a price-guarantee that if the price goes down any between when you order and the release date, you’ll get the lowest price. Plus you can get free shipping with your Amazon Mom account.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4
I didn’t get a post up last week with birthday celebrations and Thanksgiving taking up extra time. I sent Jake to the store with a list of items to pick up and he came home with a few “extras” and I was told that they were for my birthday so they shouldn’t count in the normal weekly budget. He did get everything on the list and the few extra items were delicious (shrimp, corn on the cob, etc….) . I am back to a more regular routine this week. Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.
Groceries from Walmart and Ingles Walmart Groceries:
- $21.40 at Walmart for 2 packs Yeast, 1 gallon of milk, 1 bag Purple Grapes, 1 bag Apples, 2 bottles Ocean Spray Juice, 2 bags Bread, and 1 bag Chicken.
Ingles Groceries:
- $7.74 at Ingles for 2 containers Strawberries, 1 box Wholly Guacamole, 1 container Mushrooms (Everything I bought this week at Ingles was on sale, marked down, or on clearance except the strawberries because they were for a new Mom’s dinner I was delivering this week.)
Groceries from BiLo and Walgreens BiLo Groceries:
- $3.27 at BiLo for 1 gallon of milk. (Somehow my family managed to drink a whole gallon in a day this week so I had to go back and get some more!)
Walgreens Groceries:
- $0.18 at Walgreens for 2 boxes of Brown Sugar after coupons.
This week I spent $32.59 on groceries. Even though I was only a little under on my budgeted amount for the week I was able to stock up on some items and to recover a little bit from last weeks birthday and Thanksgiving celebrations. This week I had the privilege of taking meals to two new Moms and meet their little ones, what a blessing children are in our lives! I hope that next week is better week and we can come under budget!
It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks! As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me. I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too. The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.
Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances. Life doesn’t always go as planned. We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given. Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life. A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others. There is so much more to life than having all the stuff. We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.
