Last Week’s Thrifty Moves

Sunday was a busy and very productive day for me!  First I used Turbo Tax to file my taxes again this year.  Then I managed to get the laundry done, changed and washed all the bedding, washed my kitchen, living room, dining room and hallway walls, cleaned the living room curtains and windows, cleaned my home office and went through a pile of paperwork to be shredded.  The girls dusted, cleaned the downstairs bathroom, cleaned their room and helped fold laundry.  They were great helpers.  I love days like that! 

I made two more big batches of soup for the freezer with plenty leftover for a couple of suppers and several lunches for the week. 

I made homemade veggie dip and a veggie tray for the Daytona 500.  I made homemade buttermilk dressing.

 

I refilled our hand soap dispensers with citrus scented antibacterial dish soap from the $ store thinned down with a little water.  I like the way the citrus scent gets rid of onion and garlic smells on my hands when I am cooking. 

I gave my girls each a haircut while we watched the race. 

Monday I shopped at Albertsons for sale items with coupons.  They were rounding all coupons up to $1.

 

·         Colgate toothpaste and toothbrushes on sale for 10/$10.  I bought three toothpastes and one toothbrush with four 50¢ coupons rounded up to $1 each = final price FREE!

·         Four pound bag of oranges $1.88

·         Ten pound bag of russet potatoes $1.28

·         2 packages of bagels $1.49 each 

You can’t go wrong with free toothpaste and a toothbrush.  The bagels will make a nice change of pace in the girl’s lunches and for breakfasts. 

I made homemade zucchini muffins for our breakfasts this week.  We also enjoyed leftover cornbread with honey butter.

 

I received a voucher for a free 2 liter bottle of Pepsi Next in the mail.  I’ll save it for a get together or potluck I am invited to. 

I knitted a hat from leftover yarn scraps. 

I made my youngest daughter a Christmas gift. 

On Friday I filled my gas tank for the first time in a month.  I used my Fred Meyer rewards points to save 10¢ per gallon.  It was close getting through the month on a single tank of gas.  My fuel light was on as I drove into the station. 

I bought a week’s worth of groceries to supplement what I already have on hand for $29.84!

 

·         2 half gallons of milk $10/$10 less 25¢ coupons = final price 75¢ each

·         1 gallon chocolate milk markdown $1.50 less 25 ¢ coupon = $1.25

·         2 half gallons orange juice 10/$10 = $1 each

·         3 pkgs. cream cheese 10/$10 = $1 each

·         Bread and bagels with a store coupon 2/$3 – bought 2 of each

·         Broccoli and cauliflower 88¢ a pound

·         2 bags of lettuce mix 88¢ each

·         2 pkgs. organic carrots $1.25 each

·         Organic grape tomatoes $2 each

·         Celery hearts $1.99

·         3 pkgs. cheese 8 oz. 2/$3 less 25¢ coupons = final price $1.25 each

·         Store brand plain potato chips for the girl’s school lunches $1.79

·         2 liter bottle of Pepsi Next FREE with coupon from Pepsi 

I am pretty happy with all my healthy purchases this week.  I am also feeling much better about the direction I’m heading with our grocery budget this month. 

I started crocheting a baby afghan to sell in my Etsy store. 

I watched season three of Downton Abbey for free on pbs.org.  Didn’t exactly love how that season ended.  Now to wait along with everyone else to see what happens next season. 

I treated the girls to dinner at Wendy’s because their kid’s meals were on sale for $1.99 each.  I had a baked potato and side salad.  Our entire bill came to $7.17.  The bonus is that the milk they serve comes in really nice bottles that we wash out and reuse.  Perfect for sending drinks in their lunchboxes. 

I paid all our monthly bills online, except for our water bill which I will drop in the box at the water company next week on my way to Bunco. 

I combined errands to save on gas.  I did not shop for anything except food. 

The chickens blessed us with 16 eggs this week!  I think one is a double yoker.  That is a record so far!

 

How was your thrifty week?