I decided to make WW Chicken and Sausage Gumbo for dinner tonight. However I didn't have the turkey sausage that I needed. Since I needed to go to CVS to use up a $ 6.00 ECB that was expiring today, I decided to stop into the Top's near there and pick it up.
After getting everything in the crockpot but the sausage, I headed out. I lucked into 2 packages of Jennie - O Lean Italian Turkey Sausages reduced for quick sale. I got each package for $ 2.85. Then I went to CVS and picked up 5- 25oz. Just The Basics Dish Liquid for $ 1.37 each. After the ECB, I paid $ .85 plus tax which was an OOP of $ 1.45.
I am so upset with Dawn downsizing their dish liquid to 9 oz. for $ .99 when it is on sale that I decided to try something different. I have also noticed that Dawn's liquid is not as thick as it used to be. So we will see how long this dish liquid lasts. If I like it, then I will like the price.
When I got home I quickly cooked two of the Italian turkey sausage which I had cut into chunks and added them to the crockpot. All I have to do to finish this is put some okra and corn in an hour or so before it is done and thicken the sauce a little. It smells delicious! Then I froze the rest of the sausage at 2 per bag.
After the money I spent today I have $ 55.13 left in my grocery budget for the rest of the month. I will most likely be rolling this into my February budget and starting the month with $ 255.13.
Since February is a short month, I have decided to do a No Spend Month. I have never done one. Have any of you? That means that I will only be spending what our monthly bills cost like cable, telephone, internet, heat and light, gasoline, and Netflix, etc. The only groceries that will be purchased will either be free or something that DH can't live without. I am so stockpiled that I can't think of anything that he would ask for except juice, milk and some produce.
No money will be spent on eating out, gifts, clothing, etc. I will let you know how it goes.
Today I am washing a load of clothes in the HE washer which I will hang to dry. There will be no TV for me until the NCIS's tonight. The only light that is on right now is here at my computer. It's about 50 degrees today so the heat isn't running constantly like it has been. I was thinking that my plastic ware that I use to store things in the fridge was looking a little old and that I should look for a sale to buy more. However, I remembered that I had a box of Lock N Lock storage bowls that I purchased for a gift and never used. So they now grace my cupboard and I didn't have to spend any more money today buying them. Sometimes when you need something, you can shop in your own home. Since I chose to cook in the crockpot today minimal energy is being used to cook dinner. Lastly, we got a bill for our lawn service for this coming lawn season. We save a 5% discount by paying it now. I am off to the exercise room.
Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you have done the past couple of days to save money.
16 comments:
Hi Precious. I'm sorry to hear you're ill. Hope you feel better soon. Your dinner looks delicious! My mouth is watering :)
I've been purchasing the Palmolive dish soap, since noticing the Dawn size reduction. My GS normally has it on sale & I like to grab the bonus (25% extra) bottles. And I, of course, dilute it with water.
I've also been stockpiling the holiday ziploc containers at the after xmas sales. I still have a huge amount that I got for 25c/set with a coupon. So be sure to keep any eye out for those in future. Like you, I love to shop in my own home too :)
Hi Pubbler,
Thanks for the good wishes. I think I am back to par today.
Thanks for the tip on the Palmolive. I will have to check the per ounce price for those too.
Wow! That is such a great deal on the Ziplocs. At $ .25 each, I would be stockpiling also. I haven't seen any around here unfortunately.But I will be keeping my eye out.
Hi Precious, I am under the weather too, the second time this month and I hardly ever get sick. I hope we are both back to normal soon and won't have these bugs anymore for a long time.
Frugal doings- stayed home for 2 days ate nothing but crackers. Hubby ate leftovers. I had plenty to work on Swagbucks and got lots of points. But I would rather feel good and do normal stuff.
I want to know how you like the CVS dish detergent later- I am also unhappy with the tiny Dawn bottles
Hi Rhonda,
I hope you feel better soon also. I will let you know about the dish liquid.
Hope you feel better soon, this stuff is not nice this time around, take good care!
The Gumbo sounds and looks good. Great deals, I buy Palmolive-there are only of them Ultras I don't like at all. The others last and work well.
I've done the No Spending, at this time -while trying to stock up on items- I'll do the No Spending in most areas. Like no eating(if possible or need to be free), buying items not needed or not on the list, and such.
Hi Precious!! I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well. I'm so glad your feeling better now! ♥
Your dinner sounds amazing, and I have the same recipe from when I was on WW's, loved the program, did really good on it. If one stays on it, LOL, like I didn't!!
I get my frozen juice at Aldi's. The OJ is 1.29, the apple is 1.09 and the grape is 1.49. All 100% juice. As I said before I use 4 1/4 cans and my family loves it!! Can't be that price anywhere else that I've looked. I refuse to bring process crap into the house.
I haven't done a no buy month, but I can't afford to not buy. Even though finances are very tight, I ended up helping family with food. I'm looking for cheap meat prices as we speak along with veggies.
You are doing great on WW!'s
Hi Urmelche,
Thanks for the good wishes and the tip on the Palmolive.
No spend is new for me. I am excited to try it.
Hi Didi,
We both loved the gumbo. We will have it again tonight and then freeze the leftovers.
I am committed so I think I can stay on it.
Thanks for telling me about the OJ at Aldi's. I haven't looked for the frozen.
Wishing you cheap good meat prices. I haven't seen any really good prices in a long time except the chicken and reduced for quick sale.
I hope you feel better! My mother lives with us and knows to dilute the dawn, but unfortunately didn't realize that they thinned it themselves. My husband squirted some out and it pretty much poured out instead and he bellowed out "we can afford dish soap!". LOL! I only spent $100 on groceries so far for January, been using up the pantry but tomorrow will be a big food shop. Sounds like WW is coming along nicely.
Hi Precious, this is Chris. I have been getting some things on the Kroger mega sale that I need for my stockpile. I know that is not saving money exactly, but some of the things I won't have to buy until next fall. :) DH and I have been good about eating the leftovers I have been cooking.
I have never done a no-spend month, but it sounds intriguing, I think I will try it for the month of Feb. also with one exception: when we go visit our kids one weekend, we are going to take them out for dinner. We have already planned for this.
Glad to hear you are feeling better. :)
I'm glad you're feeling better!
Hi Aggie,
You made smile with your Dawn story. It is just awful what manufacturers are doing to make us believe that they haven't raised prices. UGH!
$100. for a month for groceries is phenomenal. I am hoping not to spend much in February.
I am doing well on WW. I love their program. I don't feel hungry in between meals.
Hi Chris,
If you are buying on sale and stockpiling what you need, you are saving money in the long run. Great job on eating up the leftovers. I hate to throw out leftovers because I feel like I am throwing money in the trash.
It will be interesting to see just how much money we don't spend in February.
Hi Jillian,
Thanks so much.
I have done a no-spend year, buying no food whatsoever, or toiletries, either--just paying bills. I've done lots of months like that.
It's good; it keeps you from wasting what's in the pantry and freezers. My reasons have simply been a lack of income, but it is very possible.
Hi Brandy,
You have done so well in your situation. You are an inspiration to us all. I know I can do it.
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