12-31 menu

We are going on a forced Eat From the Pantry, darn it all. It's times like this where I am SO grateful for a good food storage. I'm also pretty glad we're on WIC as we'll have fresh fruits/veggies, milk, and eggs. We'll see how we do with this and how long we have to do it. My goal is to spend no cash at all so that will probably make a very uninteresting shopping blog. Sorry!

Menu for the Week

• BBQ Cheeseburgers with homemade buns and fries
• Smoky Black Bean Burritos with homemade tortillas
• Sweet and Sour Chicken over rice
• Coconut Curry Chicken over rice
• Chili and Cornbread
• Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry (from baking day)
• Apple Pumpkin Muffins, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage

Sides: fresh/frozen/canned fruits and veggies, homemade bread, beans

To buy for menu: NOTHING

RIte Aid diapers

Sorry! I hit Rite Aid on Christmas Eve and just haven’t had a chance to post until now.

Retails: $83.09

Total Spent: $21.06

Percent Off: 75%

plus I will be getting $10 back to use on anything at Rite Aid through their Gift of Savings program and a coupon for a free pack of diapers.

How did I do it?

Huggies Diapers, regularly $11.99 each
- on sale $8.99
- used $3 coupons from newspaper
- when you buy 5 packs you can submit for an online rebate (SUPER easy, just have your receipt) at riteaid.com for a 6th pack for free
- $4.99 per pack (including the 6th pack) PLUS extra savings below

Wet Ones wipes, reg. $3.29
- on sale $1.99
- used $1.50 coupon here
- $.50 PLUS extra savings below

Air Wick Ultra Freshmatic, reg. $12.99
- on sale $6.49
- used $5 coupon from newspaper
- $1.49 PLUS extra savings below

So I did this in 2 transactions to get a better deal

Transaction #1
- 3 packs of diapers= $26.97

- used $5/$25 purchase coupon (I have NO idea where I got this one. The old one is expired and I found this new one off someone’s blog but I can’t find it again. I looked FOREVER to find it for my sister-in-law. Sorry.)= $21.97
- used $5 gift card from previous gift of savings rewards= $16.97
- used 3 $3 coupons= $7.97, plus tax

Transaction #2
- 2 packs of diapers
- wet ones
- air freshener= $26.46

- used $5/$25 coupon= $21.46
- used 2 $2 diaper coupons= $17.46
- used $5 air freshener coupon= $12.46
- used $1.50 wet ones coupon= $10.94, plus tax

I know there is a $5/$20 coupon here if you watch a bunch of short videos. There is a $5/$25 coupon here when you sign up for the rebate program. You do have to print a bunch of other coupons too to get to this though.

Utah Deal Diva has her deal scenario here

This diaper deal ends tonight so go quick if you’re needing diapers!

Money Left for the Month: $53.10

target stocking stuffer candy

I needed to get some treats for Matt's stocking since he reads my blog and has seen every single thing I have ever bought. He is on strict restriction from the blog until after Christmas so we should be ok. By the way, the laundry soap is a funny joke. We'll see if he gets it.

Retails: $22.78

Total Spent: $9.84

Percent Off: 56%

Plus I paid with a gift card (thank you Santa?) so I paid nothing out of pocket!

How did I do it?

Twixels, regularly $3.04
- $1 coupon, store coupon from target.com
- $2.04


Ghirardelli, reg. $3.29
- $1 manufacturer coupon from target.com
- $1/2 store coupon from target.com
- $1.79 each


Premium M&Ms, reg. $3.49
- $1 coupon from newspaper
- $1 store coupon from target.com
- $1.49


True North Nuts, reg. $2.54
- $1 coupon from newspaper
- $1.54


Pepperidge Farms cookies, on sale $2.50
- $1 man. coupon from target.com
- $.75 store coupon from target.com
- $.75


Swiss Miss cocoa, on sale $.97
- $.50/2 man. coupon from newspaper
- $1 store coupon from target.com
- FREE + $.25 overage (only took off $.97 with store coupon)
These aren't for Matt, but are a killer deal


All Small and Mighty laundry soap (travel size), reg. $1.02
- $1 coupon from here
- $.02

Money Left for the Month: $74.16

last minute christmas idea

My sister in law Mandi showed me this. Isn't it so cute?

I actually pumped out 2 of these last night and while it was a bit time consuming, it makes a great present. Plus they are pretty cheap to make.

If you're interested in this at all, check out this post here by the thrift chick, a blog I'm going to have to spend some more time investigating.

peeling potatoes

So my wise big sister had compassion on me and my pathetic 5 lbs of potatoes that I complained about having to peel last week and sent me this little video about how to get the skin off a potato without peeling. This youtube is under 2 minutes and is a great little trick to know. Super easy!

Thanks Sandy!

Buy Low

I was quite the impulsive shopper tonight. I just had this in my mind

and HAD to buy cool whip for it, no matter the cost.

AND I was going to get $.78 tortillas from Fresh Market today and was just tasting cheese quesadillas but they were all out! $1 isn't that much more than $.78, right?

Can I blame all of my cravings on being pregnant and not on no self control?

Retails: about $20

Total Spent: $8.23

Percent Off: 59%

How did I do it?

(and I do have to say that Buy Low bugs me! They do not have any signs anywhere telling the regular price on most things. I just have to guess.)

80% ground beef: reg. about $2.75/lb

- on sale $1.19/lb

fake cool whip: reg. $1.29

- on sale $1.09

Don Julio tortillas: reg. about $2.50

- on sale $1

Money Left for the Month: $84.00

wic produce

I used my last WIC check for December tonight. Good job WIC! I'm telling you all if you qualify you should totally do this program, that is if you like milk. Lots and lots of milk.

Retails: just under $8

Total Spent: FREE

thanks WIC!

I got 2 1/2 lbs bananas, 5 kiwi, a thing of blackberries, 1 lb strawberries, 3 lbs fuji apples, 4 1/2 lbs tomatillos, 1/4 lb serrano peppers