Eat From the Pantry Challenge

Money Saving Mom and Life as Mom are having an eat from the pantry challenge for the month of January.
Accounting Dude and I decided to participate because December seems like our month when we forget that we live on a written game plan. So a new month and new year seems like the perfect time to bring in the reigns and participate.

Our Challenge will include:

• Inventorying our Pantry. Just inventoried the freezer a couple of weeks ago.
• Reduce Grocery spending to $150.00 for the month. Normally spent $320.00 a month last year.
• Purchase only dairy, produce, bags of ice (ice maker hasn't worked in a year and we don’t own ice cube trays and this is just easier), Diet Sunkist (drink one a day for both Accounting Dude and I) and items that are either free or super cheap.
• Find creative things for lunch at work because Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones will eat into our budget.
• Clean out my coupon organizer and keep it up to date.
• Make a monthly menu. Did this in the past and it seemed to work out great.
• Money saved will go towards our new refrigerator.
  
  *We have an eat out envelope and still plan to use once a week. When the money is gone - there is no more eating out. We maybe helped in this area because we did get eat out gift cards for Christmas.
  *CVS items will no longer count in our grocery envelope. It is now going to have its own envelope.

I think that we can handle all of these items and we are always up for a good challenge. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Publix (12-28-09)

Accounting Dude was taking down the Christmas decorations and he had them spread out all over the kitchen counter making it impossible to take my picture in there. I had to move my groceries into the living room and they relaxed a little while in the recliner. ( Coupon used will be in green.)
Good deals in this picture - Starkist Tuna - $1.39 Expiring Coupon -$1.00 = $0.39
Contessa Shrimp BOGO $3.78 -$1.50 off 2 = $2.28
Starbucks Coffee - $6.99 -$1.00 = $5.99
Chex Mix BOGO $2.49 -$1.00 = $1.49
Bertolli Oven Bake $4.99 - $1.00 = $3.99

Good Deals in this picture: Pulbix Grape Juice $3.39 - $3.38 = $0.01
Snuggle Fabric Softner $3.00 -$2.00 = $1.00

Good Deals This Picture - Emerald Peanuts BOGO $3.29 -$1.50 = $1.79

Pillips Crab Cakes $4.50 - $2.00 -$0.55 = $1.95

Lindsay Olives BOGO $1.99 - $1.00 = $0.99

TGI Fridays Quesadillas $4.50 - $2.00 = $2.50

Savings Summary
Vendor Coupon $10.05
Store Coupon $7.93
Advertised Special Savings $38.71
Your Savings at Publix $56.69

CVS (12-28-09)

This is probably my last CVS trip of the year. The assistant manager was funny tonight he said he wished that he could do as well as I did on my trips to CVS. He also told me that there were only about a half a dozen of us who pretty much break even. I took that as a nice compliment, especially since the one woman in my CVS hates it when I get good deals.
These items were purchased in two transactions (Coupons in Green):

First: Old Spice Deotarant (the only kind Accounting Dude will use) 2/$5 -$1.00
Dawn Dish Detergent $0.99 -$0.25
Efferedent $4.99
CVS Extra Care Bucks Used - $5.00, $2.00, $2.00
Total Out of Pocket - $1.83 Got Back - $1.00, $3.00

Second: Dawn Dish Detergent $0.99 -$0.25
Colgate Toothpaste $2.99 -$0.75
Ivory Soap $0.99 - $1.00
Ivory Soap $0.99 -$1.00
CVS Extra Care Bucks Used - $3.00
Total Out of Pocket - $0.92

Still have CVS Extra Bucks of $1.00 and $2.00

Tips on Tuesday

Make your own laundry detergent. I know it sounds like a pain, but it is actually fun to make and pretty cheap. I haven't figured out the cost per load, but it can't be that much. Not buying detergent allowes me to either save that money or buy other house hold items. I think I have made detergent for about a year now, and love it. I have learned that I need to keep one bottle of laundry detergent on hand because we did run out of detergent while I was sick and Accounting Dude would not make it himself. Instead he went to the store and purchased a bottle of detergent without a coupon and not on sale. I learned my lesson on that one.

This is our finished laundry detergent. I really wish it would dispense out of this spout, but it is to thick.

This is me trying to disolve the bar soap. I usually use Ivory, but it looks like I used something different here.

My recipe ( Came from the net. I wish I could remember where, but I can't)

Items needed: Large Pot, Slotted Spoon, Water, Bar of Ivory Soap, Borax, Arm & Hammer Washing Powder, and Container to Keep Detergent In (2 gallons).

Grade bar of soap into a large pot add 6 cups of water. Let the soap melt over med/low heat for about 30-45 mins.

Mix 3/4 cups Washing powder and 3/4 cups of Borax in a seperate bowl.

After the soap is melted or disolved add bowl of Washing Powder and Borax to the melted soap and water. Keep over low heat. Stir untit the under mixture is disolved.

Add disloved mixture to your container and fill it up with water. I usually add cold water, but I don't think it would matter if you added hot water.

Let me know if you try this.

Menu Monday

I would like to tell you that I have a plan for this week, but I don't. So unless you consider flying by the seat of your pants a plan I can't help you out this week.

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Publix, Walgreens, CVS (12-20-09)

Publix - Not Pictured a gallon of milk, a 12 of Diet Sunkist, and a bag of firewood
Had a free coupon for the Jello Mousse which I can't wait to try.

Savings Summary - Vender Coupons $11.94

Store Coupons $ 6.10

Advertised Special Savings $22.16

Total Savings - $40.20

Total Spent - $58.75 with tax

CVS and Walgreens

CVS - They were out of the Thermacare Heatwraps which messed up all my plans for the day.

First Order - 1 Revlon Lipstick - $6.99

1 Almay Makeup Remover - $4.99

ECB Used $1.99 & $3.98

Total $7.21

Second Order - 1 Zooth Toothbrush - $2.99

1 Oral-B Floss - $2.88

1 Nivea Bodywah - $5.99

Coupons Used - $2.00

ECB Used - $1.00 (Green Tag), $3.00, $5.00

Total - $1.95

ECB to use next time - $2.00, $2.00, $5.00

Walgreens - 2 HotWheels cars at $0.49 each

Holiday Baking

Baking Christmas cookies is so enjoyable and in a way rather thrifty. Since I purchased most of the ingredients on sale and with coupons I didn't have much in them. I don't know anyone who doesn't like a fresh homemade cookie. Accounting Dude and I pass them out to co-workers, friends, family members, and neighbors. This is our little way of letting these people know that we are thinking of them and appreciate them. Besides that they are pretty taste if I do say so myself. I should know I think I have eaten several dozen in the last couple of days.

Menu Monday

This week is going to be kind of hectic. We have a hard enough time sticking to our menu on a normal week that I don't know how this is going to turn out.

Monday - Chicken Wings and Fries
Tuesday - Island Lime Shrimp and rice
Wednesday - Lobster Raviolli with angle hair pasta. (It isn't as exciting as it sounds)
Thursday - Sunday - Are not Suppers that we don't have to take care of .

JCP Fun

Accounting Dude and I both got these coupons in the mail. At first we thought we had both gotten a $10.00 off a $10.00 or more purchase. At closer look we got a $10.00 off a $10.00 purchase and a $10.00 off a $25.00 purchase. We have decided that we are going to use the coupons as they were addressed. So Accounting Dude will use the $10.00 off $10.00 or more and Frugal Chick will use the $10.00 off $25.00 or more. Our goal is to purchase stocking stuffers or general present for the other while staying as close to the minimum as possible. When I mentioned this to Accounting Dude and he thought it would be fun.
We'll see how we did after Christmas!

Walgreens (12-16-09)

Let me start off by saying that I don't really like the Walgreen's Register Rewards System. I find it complicated and inconvenient. But sometimes their deals are just so good that I have to go there. Tonight was just one of those nights.

Items Purchased:

Puffs - $0.89

Puffs - $0.89

Puffs - $0.89

Oral B Floss Picks 2/$7.00



Total Before coupons #9.67



Coupons Used:

2 $1.00 off coupons for the Oral B Floss Picks

1 $0.25 off 3 single boxes of Puffs

1 $5.00 off Register Rewards from last week



Total after tax $2.89 plus I got a $2.00 Register Rewards for the Oral B Floss Picks.

CVS Trip - 12-13-09

I didn't see much that I needed at CVS this week. I know that my mother-in-law likes to use tissue paper so I went and got this for her, and I can always use more name tags.

First Transaction - 2 Roll Tags - $3.98
1 Tissue Paper - $1.99
1 Carmel Filler - $0.33
Coupons Used - Extra Care Bucks (ECB) - 1.99, 4.00
Total - $0.88

Second Transaction - 1 Tissue Paper -$1.99
Coupons Used - ECB $1.99
Total - $0.18

Not bad for a couple of minutes of work.

Publix Order (12-14-09)

Our week has been off its regular routine, but we will get it back in order some time after the new year I'm sure.

It seems really, really odd to take a picture of my groceries. I would like to add that I had to bring the groceries in while it was pouring down raining and that the phone rang 3 times while I was running in and out to the car. Accounting Dude had gotten soaked earlier in the rain and he was in the shower trying to get warm. So it was kind of a hectic night.

On to the groceries:

Highlights -

The Contessa Meals - Regular $6.99( Sale Price $4.99 - Coupon -$2.00 = Total $2.99)

Auburn Tablecloth - Clearance $0.50 (Giving it to my sister-in-law)

Publix Ex-large Eggs - Free w/ purchase of Sargento Cheese

Campbell's Select Soup - 3/$4.00 got 2 at $1.34 and had 2 $1.00 off coupons = total $0.68

The Savings Summary

Store Coupons $4.57

Vendor Coupons $9.85

Advertised Special Savings $30.29

In-Store Special Savings $4.49

Total Savings $49.20

Total Out of Pocket $56.13

Cleaning Out the Freezer

So as Accounting Dude and I were making our weekly menu, we got inspired to clean out the freezer and actually see what was in there. So here is what we have in our freezer:

(This is listed as packages, if sold that way)
Rib eyes - 5
Turkey Sausage Mini Links - 1
Pork Chops - 6
Sarah Lee Pound Cakes -2
Cool Whip -1
Bacon -2
Hot Dogs -9
Cheese & Spinach - 1
Fudge Pops- 1
Banana Slices -1
Whole Strawberries - 1
Garden Peas - 2 bags and 1 box
Spinach Chopped -2
Corn -1
Mixed Vegetables -1
Lima Beans - 1
Broccoli with cheese -1
Broccoli with cheese and rice - 1
Potatoes with garlic sauce - 1
Rice with Mixed Vegetables -1
Cheese - Mozzarella Slices - 1
Mozzarella Grated -1
White Sharp Cheese - 2 blocks
Hush puppies - 1/2 a bag
Turkey Patties - 2
Chicken Breast -4
Popcorn Chicken - 2 bags
Hamburger - 1 lb.
Curly Fries - 1
Tortellini - 1
Wings - 2
Ravioli - 1
Tyson Chicken Patties -11
It is amazing what can be found in ones freezer. Acccounting Dude and I hope to plan our menus around what we have in there. We will update you next month on what we have eaten out of the freezer.

Tips on Tuesday

We all know that it is good not to let food go to waste. So sometimes you are just stuck eating leftovers or as my mom calls them "warm ups". Well how are you suppose to make something exciting that you have already eaten... Eat by candlelight.

Yes, that's right Accounting Dude and I ate the last of our leftover chili by candlelight. It was actually fun and different, and the chili didn't taste the same.

Menu Monday

This week is pretty hectic, but we have decided on a menu. We will just have to see if it last. We mostly concentrate on what we are having for dinner. Since we pretty much eat cereal for breakfast everyday, and lunch is either a sandwich or a Lean Cuisine we won't post those meals.

Here are our dinners for the week:
Monday - Stove Top Easy Bake Chicken
Tuesday - Left Over Pizza & Salad
Wednesday- Breakfast (Eggs, Toast, and Sausage)
Thursday - Stew Pork with rice in an Asian Sauce - Accounting Dude will make this which means there is no recipe and he will make it up as he cooks. If it turns out we'll post the recipe later.
Friday - Eat Out
Saturday - Chicken Wings and Fries
Sunday - Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup

Kohl's Jewlery

Okay, I admit this isn't the best picture, but photographing jewelery at night is not the best think to do.

Kohl's sent me a $1o.00 off a $10.00 or more purchase and then they emailed me a 15% off coupon. So I had to make sure I went to Kohl's before they expried.

So I went to Kohl's not knowing exactly what I wanted. I looked at this as my free money.

The long silver and green necklace was on sale for $6.40 and it was regularly $32.00. The large purple beaded necklace was $4.4o and it was regularly $22.00. The Halloween Cat Pin was $3.00 regularly $15.00. My subtotal was $13.80 minus the $10.00. It was $3.80 and then Kohl's took of the 15% which was another $0.57 off. My subtotal was $3.23 after tax $3.55. Not bad for some costume jewelry.

I also learned that Kohl's takes off the $10.00 coupon first and then the 15% off coupon. Had I known this before I checked out I would have only purchased the two necklaces and my total would have been closer to zero.
Since, I go in phases were I love jewelry and then some times I wear the same thing every day. Right now I'm into jewelry so $3.55 isn't to bad for two necklaces and a Halloween pin.

Do you pay alot for costume jewelry?

Just another deal,

Frugal Chick

New Hairbrush

So the other day I decided that I definatly need a new hairbrush. It actually started to hurt when I used it. It hurt so much that Accounting Dude told me I had to get a new one. Luckly, Ulta had a coupon in Sundays paper for $3.50 off a $10.00 purchase. The hairbrush I wanted was on sale for $9.59 instead of $11.99. I had to find a filler for $0.41. I hate finding fillers because I have the hardest time picking the right one and they never seem to ring up correctly. I decided on a Christmas nail file ($0.99) and a Pop Up Brush w/Mirror ($0.99). After the $3.50 coupon and tax my total was $8.89.

I'm A Winner

Can you believe that I the Frugal Chick is a winner? Yes, that's right I won this large basket of Pecans at work the other day.
Included in it were: two bags of raw pecans, a bottle of BBQ sauce, white chocolate and dark chocolate pecans and an assortment of candied pecans.

My co-workers said they were going to take bets that I would either sell it or re-gift it. What they didn't know is that our pecan trees didn't make this year and pecans are needed for baking so I will keep those or give them to my mother.

The other stuff I will more than likely give to my dad and grandmother, spread a little holiday cheer there way.

Who are the Accounting Dude and Frugal Chick

Frugal Chick and Accounting Dude on their most expensive vacation EVER, a Hawaiian Honeymoon. Purchased on credit! Before we found our true frugal selves.

Accounting Dude and Frugal Chick love to save a dollar, but both have different ways of doing it. Frugal Chick likes to use coupons, discounts, and finding great deals. Accounting Dude likes to work the budget and save up to buy big purchases. We started our marriage off on the right financial foot by attending Dave Ramsey's FPU with in the first 6 months of our marriage. It changed our life and sorry Dave, but you became our common enemy. We both love to read, all kinds of books with each of us trying to mix in a financial book every now and then. We both love to travel, and it has to be the biggest place we spend money thus the reason we must try to save our pennies in other areas.

Within this blog we hope to include: frugal tips, show our purchases, and keep us accountable.

Hope You Enjoy,