July Almost Middle of the Month Shopping Update

My budget for our family of three is $160 per month.  I normally shop sales, use coupon and do every thing that I can to stretch that budget to get as much as possible.  I have started making a better effort to also do rebates but I don't count those back into my budget.  I am always amazed at how much I can get for very little with a little work to get the best deals on the food my family wants to eat. Many of our foods are made at home like bread, rolls, breakfast treats and more which means less trips to the grocery store because we need something urgently. 

We make most of our meals at home to get yummy home cooked foods and because we prefer it.  Eating out is something that is more of a treat because we do it less often.  We found that we were eating out before and not even enjoying the food or the time out so I find that the food always tastes better when we are looking forward to it.  I budget $40 per month on eating out which is detailed below.

I went a little past the middle of the month because I totally forgot that it was the middle of the month. Vacation seems to have killed my sense of time and any idea of what day it is.  Below is the groceries that I have gotten for the first half of the month with a breakdown of the different items.

Harris Teeter $2.04 

I went to get the Pringles for vacation with a coupon that I bought on Kellogg's Family Rewards because they are my son's favorite.  They worked out to $0.47 each.  I got two more tissues while I was there which were free.

Harris Teeter $0.06

I used up two coupons on the tissues and was excited for more free tissues.

Harris Teeter $0.06

More free tissues.

Giant $0.00

We went to the store to get my freebie and they didn't have it so they subbed out any one and my son picked this one which he real enjoyed.

Harris Teeter $18.42

I went to go get more tissues and saw the Cran Grape was on sale so I grabbed a bunch.  We were down to the bottom of our stockpile so I was excited to stock up.

Harris Teeter $0.06

More free tissues and the last of the coupons.

Harris Teeter $4.51

I went to the store with my $2 catalina in my hand to spend on groceries.  I had a quick list written down and we were leaving for vacation that morning so I knew that I needed to shop quickly but it was super doubles and it was impossible for me to pass it up!!  I got the 4 Nature Valley Granola Bars and 2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks in order to get the free milk.  I paid $0.50 for each salad dressing after sale and coupon and turned it in for $4 from Ibotta on rebates and got $0.25 any item rebate.  I also got $0.50 from Nature Valley and $0.50 from Betty Crocker from Saving Star.  I got the free drink from my evic card which I think someone drank at the beach but I didn't try it.

Harris Teeter $0.31

This was my most amazing transaction because I don't know what happened but I think that the cashier put extra coupons on my account so I needed to find more items to go on the transaction to make it go positive.  The amazing bonus was that I turned in $3 rebates for the Hershey's Bites.  My husband wasn't a big fan but they were like little cookies and not the fluffy doughnuts that they look like on the box so we probably won't get those again.

Harris Teeter $1.36

I still had my catalina from my Nature Valley transaction and wanted to make sure that I had enough to checkout over the amount without having to scramble to get more.  I went and grabbed the 4 bottles of Newman's Own Salad Dressing and 4 of the Organic Ones which were all $0.50 after sale and coupons.  There was a rebate for $1 on each one.  I got the big Dawn bottles for $0.50.  I used to get the small ones free all the time but that isn't normal anymore so I stock up when I get a good deal.  I also got two more pizza crusts which are our new favorite once a week dinner.

Giant $6.96

While we were on vacation we needed ice cream because it is one of the major food groups on vacation.  My husband went to the store by himself and got 4 boxes of cereal with coupons for $0.50 per box and 3 ice creams that were on sale.  It worked out to more of an amazing deal because we got $1 back from Saving Star for the cereal and $3 catalina to spend on more groceries. We enjoyed the ice cream on vacation and then the cereal mostly at home!!  We were totally out of cereal so it was great to find a good deal!!

Total Retail $230.31

Total Savings $196.53

Total OOP $33.78

I think that I did pretty well so far this month which included staying out of the store a little bit and picking up some great deals.  I already turned in $17.75 in rebates so that is a huge chunk of money back on my very limited spending.  I still have a $3 catalina to spend on a few groceries which will stretch to get some more deals this month.  

I have been working on using things from the cupboard, freezer, and around the house.  I did a great job bringing lots of meals and snacks on vacation with us so I didn't need to do any more shopping.  I cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner so we got lots of yummy meals without having to buy lots of expensive last minute groceries or meals out.  Hoping to dig through the freezer tomorrow and plan out the rest of the month with what I have left and see what other groceries I need to grab.  Currently the list is tub butter, stick butter, lettuce and ice cream sandwiches but I am going to try to figure it out what else needs to be added.

Eating Out

We were out on vacation which we try to maintain the same budget for eating out as we do every month which is $40 but we normally go over.  We spent $57.66 so just a little over.  We don't plan on any more eating out for the month.  The great thing is that  being under on my grocery budget usually makes up for the difference so I am sure that it will be the case this month.  Crossing my fingers that it works out at the end of the month on track for our budget.

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread

I gathered together all my ingredients and no recipe in order to make this special bread on vacation that I had seen on pinterest.  I had the idea when I got the bread on sale and with a coupon so I froze a few loaves but funny thing is that I didn't have a recipe but I figured that I would make it up when it was time.

I found a recipe online and it was all of the things that I had so I started the process.  First step is cutting the bread in both directions.  It is really easy with a good knife so I brought my bread knife from home with me on vacation.  You have to go through the bread but not all the way to the bottom.

I started with the grated cheese in each section which I opened with fingers.  The bagged cheese made it really easy to dump it in and push it down into the cracks.  After doing it one direction, the other side is super easy.

Then I added the bacon bits into the cracks which opened the bread even more then before.

I melted a stick of butter in the microwave and then mixed in the ranch seasoning.  The ranch is about half of the package so if you get a package you can make two loaves.

I poured the butter on top of the bread and baked but I only had a little bit of little aluminum foil so it was a little complicated to cover well.  It got a little more brown on the edges but it was soft an amazing inside.

We really enjoyed it and made it the next night too when my mom found a round sourdough bread at the farmers market while we were on vacation.  I might have mastered it but now out of bacon so made two more without it and they weren't nearly as tasty but still yummy!!  It might be the new family favorite recipe!!!

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Bread

Ingredients

• 1 round loaf of sourdough bread or similar
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup chopped cooked bacon
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 1 tbsp dry ranch dressing mix

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
2. Using a sharp bread knife, cut the bread going in both directions but don't cut all the way through the bottom.
3. Place shredded cheese in between the slices in the bread and pack it in here.
4. Add in bacon to taste.
5. Put the bread in a container with sides like a square or round baking dish
6. Melt stick of butter in microwave and add 1 tbsp dry ranch mix. Mix until combined and pour the butter mixture over top of the bread.
7. Cover the container in aluminum foil to seal.
8. Bake at 350F degrees for 15 minutes.
9. Unwrap from the foil and bake for another 10 minutes (or until the cheese is melted and the top is browned). Eat immediately and enjoy!!!

Menu Plan Monday 7/16

Meal Choices

Chicken fries, Chicken Nuggets and homemade fries
Chicken and Rice
Olive Oil Pasta with garlic bread
Homemade Pizza
Fried Rice
Leftovers
????

Last week actually went pretty well and now everyone is back to work and camp so I am just planning dinners again.  Lunches are fairly basic and packed in the morning for everyone.  I don't know what we are having every night yet but I am sure that I will figure it out as the week goes along!!

The Forgotten Road Book Review

I got another book off my hold shelf and when reading the description, I was sure that I had already read it.  I looked up The Forgotten Road (The Broken Road Series) by Richard Paul Evans on my blog and it said that I hadn't read it.  I looked up the author and saw that I read the book before it in the series.  What a second book?!  Yeah!  I was excited to read it but I knew that it was serious so I did put it behind the other book in my reading pile.

Chicago celebrity and successful pitchman Charles James is supposed to be dead. Everyone believes he was killed in a fiery plane crash. But thanks to a remarkable twist of fate, he’s very much alive and ready for a second chance at life—and love. Narrowly escaping death has brought Charles some clarity: the money, the fame, the fast cars—none of it was making him happy. The last time he was happy—truly happy—was when he was married to his ex-wife Monica, before their connection was destroyed by his ambition and greed.

Charles decides to embark on an epic quest: He will walk the entire length of Route 66, from Chicago to California, where he hopes to convince Monica to give him another shot. Along the way, Charles is immersed in the deep and rich history of one of America’s most iconic highways. But the greater journey he finds is the one he takes in his heart as he meets people along the road who will change his perspective on the world. But will his transformation be enough to earn redemption?

I read the first book in the series and when I read the description of the book then I thought this was the same book again...however it was so much more.  This book went over the personal ideas and journey of Charles while he was walking Route 66 after closely avoiding death by plane crash.  I couldn't believe the situations that Charles was in but he grew as a person and learned what was of value to him that made him happy.  It is amazing to see what he finds that brings him joy by the end of the book and makes you realize what is most important in your life.  It was an amazing journey and one that will make you grateful for the life you have and brings perspective to any problems.  I hope that you check out the first book and my review here.  Both books are amazing and I excitedly waiting for the third book in the series expected Spring 2019.  I will most likely not know that it is a new book by reading the description again but I am very excited to check out the whole series to read for myself.  I hope that you do to and enjoy it as much as I did.

Menu Plan Monday 7/9

Meal Options for the Week for Lunch and Dinner:

Olive Oil Spaghetti with peasant bread

Turkey Sandwiches and Chicken Wraps

Chicken fries, Buffalo and Plain Chicken Nuggets with homemade fries

Tacos with corn bread and Mexican Rice

Chicken with white rice and corn on the cob

Spicy Honey Mustard Chicken with mac and cheese

Chicken Marsala with garlic bread

Fried Rice, Salad, Microwave Rice, Microwave Noodles and PBJ Sandwiches

Wendy's

Pizza Hut at the Pool
Grotto's Pizza
Pete's Steak Shop
Crooked Hammock
Casa Di Leo

Last week went pretty much like the plan except I forgot to take out the chicken to grill on Wednesday so I went with some frozen chicken and mac and cheese.  I also made some baby cakes and smiles.  It was super easy and tasty and I used up a little more freezer space and moved things around.  I am hoping to make a little more progress on this so that I can move more things into the big freezer to be safer from freezer burn.  I got to Friday and decided that I was going to do take out instead of cooking because my parents were coming to town.

I just looked to post this week and saw that I never posted last weeks plan!!  Goodness, maybe makin the list is good except for posting!!!

Queen of the Cookbooks Book Review

I went through and put a ton of books on reserve and this must have been one of them.  Queen of the Cookbooks (A Cherry Cola Book Club Novel) by Ashton Lee was before the book that I read before in the same series, Book Club Babies.  It was interesting to read it but still took awhile to get into the book.  I am not sure what holds me back from getting into them at the beginning but it is a slow start every time!!

In the quirky Southern town of Cherico, Mississippi, a new library means an exciting new chapter for librarian Maura Beth McShay—and for the friends and book lovers known as the Cherry Cola Book Club…The construction of Cherico’s cutting-edge library has been an epic struggle worthy of War and Peace. But the Grand Opening Ceremony is scheduled at last—for the Fourth of July no less—featuring lakeside fireworks and a concert by country singer Waddell Mack. Maura Beth has even devised a cooking contest among area chefs and aspiring Julia Childs to crown the Queen of the Cookbooks. Yet even Maura Beth’s careful plotting can’t prevent some glitches…

Between a furniture fiasco that requires some creative problem-solving, and front-desk clerk Renette’s major crush on Waddell Mack, there’s equal parts drama and comic relief. Once the ribbon has been cut and the delicious recipes are judged, the Queen of the Cookbooks will take her crown, and the Cherry Cola Book Club, along with Maura Beth and her staff, will have the library of their dreams. But it’ll take luck, loyal friendships, and the shared love of a powerful story to make this a truly happy beginning…

Although it was off to slow start, this book was a nice addition to the book that I already read which was the book that comes after this book in the series.  I like the characters and the small town so I wanted to see what I missed from the previous book which I was a little confused on because it referred back to a lot of things from this book.  It all made so much more sense when I read this one.  It was about the building the library and the changes in the small town to accept the new library including the construction process, opening ceremonies, and protests outside the new library.  It was interesting to get to know the characters more in depth then I did in the last book.  I hope that you check out this book before the other book that I read last month!!  I hope that you enjoy them both!

June Reading Review

I had a lot of things going on this month and not a lot of reading going on I guess because the book count was fairly low when the month came to an end.  I have finished the first half of the year with half of the yearly goal finished even though it was really low reading amount.  I try to read at least 100 books every year but would rather get 150 books if I can do it.  It doesn't look like I am on track for the higher number but there is still a chance.

If you missed the initial summary and review, you can click on the title and it will link you back to the original post.  I hope that you add a few to your summer reading list.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Falling for You

by Becky Wade

Book Club Babies

by Ashton Lee

The Hawaiian Discovery

by Wanda and Jean Brunstetter

Now That You Mention It

by Kristan Higgins

Total Books 2018

January   8

February  10

 March    10

April     11

May      6 

June     5

Total Read  50

Currently Reading: