My CVS Trip = Free Stuff!

Good Morning!

Here is the loot that I scored at CVS this week. I profited about $4 to take this bounty home. Here's how:

My First Transaction (Purchase at Check Out):

2 Reeses's Peanut Butter Cups (sale 2/$1)
***used BOGO coupon from Sunday's paper + .55 off coupon from Sunday paper
********************************************************both were FREE!

2 Carefree Ultimate Protection Pantiliners (3.79 each)
***used $1.00 printable coupon from computer
***earned 3.79 ECB for each purchase (2)
******************************************************profited $1.00 to take home!!

Barbasol Shaving Cream (1.79)
***used $1.00 off any shaving cream purchase from CVS receipt
********************************************************************paid .79

Huggies Natural Care Princess Wipes (2.99)
***used $2.00 off any Huggies wipes from CVS receipt
********************************************************************paid .99

I used a $4 ECB and a $3 ECB from last week to "temporarily" pay for the pantiliners, knowing that I would get that money back on the bottom of the receipt for my next purchase.

My OOP total (mostly tax) was $2.23 for this transaction. I earned $7.58 in ECB's at the bottom of my receipt. This means I profited $5.35 on this transaction.

My Second Transaction:

2 Revlon Nail Polishes ($4.99 each)
***I used 2 $1.00 off manufacturer's coupons on these.
1 Revlon Eyeshadow Quad ($6.49)
***I used $1.00 off manufacturer's coupon.

I splurged on this knowing that if I spent $15 in Revlon products, I would earn back $7 in ECB's for next week!

I used my $7.58 ECB from the pantiliners above.
I used $1.89 ECB from last week.
I used $1.98 ECB from last week.
I used $2.00 ECB from last week.

This brought my OOP total to $1.05. I earned $7.00 in ECB for next week. Bringing my total profit to $5.95.


Overall, I spent $3.28 for $29.83 worth of product. Not a bad trip at all, friends! What do you think?

August's Meal Plan or Why Should I Meal Plan?

Good evening, friends!

I get a lot of grief about my meal planning habits. First, it is hanging right on my freezer door for the whole world to see with big black sharpie cross-outs and arrows. Second, I am not a weekly planner (most are)...I am an overacheiver, you see...I am a MONTHLY planner. Third, we have an incredible stockpile of food and I like it that way!

You see, I was raised by a single mother and my grandmother. We had nothing, people. We stood in lines at a church to get government peanut butter and cheese (it tastes like Velveeta by the way.) I remember my grandma taking me along so we could get extra cereal... There were many nights when stewed tomatoes and bread were our dinner.

Now, mind you, we also had feasts! Thanksgiving and Easter were always HUGE! My grandma could make a mean pot of spaghetti and meatballs to feed all of us cousins (she put bread balls in the middle to stretch the meat and "make it moist.") She was known in the family for her cole slaw recipe. We liked to eat and I still do!

I kind of have the "Scarlett O'Hara" complex. You know, "As God as my witness, I'll never go hungry again" kind of thing... So, as an adult, I am a planner. A slightly obsessive organizer. A daily checkbook updater. A "honey, let's talk about our budget" kind of girl. I simply can not do one week of meal planning. What if the car breaks down and all out food money goes to repairs?!?!? I need a plan, people!

Thus, the monthly meal plan was born. I choose to plan 20-22 meals per month that can be served for dinner. When I make my plan, I have all of my meats and boxed foods on hand that I list (see my stockpile pictures to follow). I usually have to purchase fresh produce and dairy only. I like it this way - I feel prepared - I feel wise - I feel safe.

So, if there is ever a major storm in Central Ohio, I could feed you all for at least 2 weeks! :)

I choose to not plan an entire 30 days. This gives our family flexibility to have dinner with friends, family, order a pizza, attend a church function or simply throw something together on a whim. 20 days has proven over time to be nore than enough for our family.

I also only plan dinners. We eat simple breakfasts, lunches are sandwiches, mac and cheese, or leftovers. Dinner is the only thing I focus on because for me, it is the hardest.

I like having a list on the fridge. In the morning (or the night before) I can look at the list and decide what sounds good. Then, I don't have a lot of excuses. I know what to make. I have the ingredients. I have the side dishes. I just have to make it and serve it with love :)

Here is our actual August Meal Plan. We have already eaten almost half of this stuff. It's been a good month of eating here at the Labutises!


My August Meal Plan
1. Burgers on the Grill, Baked Beans, Chips
2. Grilled Italian Chicken, Rice, Grilled Garden Vegies
3. Hamburger Helper and Frozen Corn
4. Smoked Sausage, Red Potatoes, Fresh Green Beans in Crockpot
5. Sloppy Joes, Corn on Cob, Chips
6. Grilled BBQ Pork Chops, Cheddar/Broc Rice, Fresh Garden Veggies
7. Fish Sticks, Fries, Campfire with Smores
8. Sausage, Biscuits and Gravy + Scrambled Eggs
9. Deli Wraps, Fresh Veggies, and Applesauce
10. Mini Pizzas on English Muffins
11. Pork Roast, Red Potatoes, Carrots
12. Pancakes and Peppered Bacon
13. Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad
14. Clean out Fridge Night!
15. Shish-Ka-Bobs, Pasta Salad
16. Cresent Roll Hot Dogs, Mac and Cheese, Canned Fruit
17. Chef Salads and Homemade Bread
18. Steaks on Grill, Potatoes on Grill with Onion, Fresh Squash and Peppers
19. Hot Dogs on Grill, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw
20. Taco Salad Bar with Fritos

This week in groceries...

I try to stick to a $55/week grocery budget. If I go over one week, it's not a deal and I just spend less the next week. My monthly average is around $200 - 220. This week I went over due to the KMart super doubles sale (I don't have pics of this, sorry.) What I bought was $130 before coupons and $51 after coupons. Pretty much everything I bought was toiletries, pull-ups, medication, and cleaning supplies. This bounty will last me for months! Very little food...so I had to do a grocery run. I will probably skip a week of shopping due to my big KMart run.


Here are my two grocery trips and totals for the week.


Carnival Foods had a nice 3 day sale. I bought a lot of FUN stuff for lunches, some soda for the hubs, and some cheap but nice fresh produce. Here is a picture of my items.


Note the sweet corn for .15/ear and the beautiful fresh green beans at .78/lb. The cereal was 50% off and I had a $1 off 2 manufacturer's coupon. The tuna was on special for .39/can. The soda was .68/2 liter (and, yes, it is name-brand). Kraft mac and cheese (the blue box) was on special for .48 - limit 6. I bought all 6 boxes. My total for these 34 items was $27.68 after coupons. According to my receipt, I saved $38.00 in sales, promotions, and coupons.











Next, I hit our local Aldi for a few stock up items. They had out favorite chicken packets back in stock, so I splurged and bought 6 to stick in the freezer at .99/each. I purchased 2 butters for baking, Canola oil, and 2 margarines. We needed paper towels and dryer sheets (I am addicted to the Alsi brand and won't even think of using Bounce anymore...) My daughter's favorite Caesar salad was marked down to .99, so I thought we'd have it with some grilled leftover chicken for tomorrow's lunch...YUM! There is also bread, cheese, and English muffins for mini pizza night. I purchased these 18 items for $23.36. I am now set for the week.



FYI - if you are wondering why we didn't buy any milk...we have SO MUCH MILK from last week's Kroger promotion with Keebler/Kelloggs (we got 4 free gallons!)







The total of these 2 trips was $51.04. I am done for the week, no matter what! :)

Welcome to A Hope-Filled Home!

"A dream is a wish your heart makes..."

My heart has been wishing for this place for some time now. A place to encourage, pray for, walk with each other on a journey of sorts. I am excited to be sharing it with you!

My personal journey is one of contentment, control, and "cash-only."

I need to be content with what I have; to stop accumulating; to acknowldege that the only way I can be truly content is through my personal relationship with Christ. Not more clothes, more debt, more food, more anything - just more of HIM!

I need to have control over my budget so that I can have the freedom to make choices regarding my children's education, our family life, retirement saving, and GIVING more than what is required (tithe). I want to have the monetary freedom to help others, travel, and truly enjoy this life that I've been given.

I want to be a "cash-only" family, so that we can snowball our debt, become debt free, and live like no one else! (Thanks, to Dave Ramsey for putting that fire under my seat!) I want to stop accumulating additional debt. I refuse to vacation, buy gas, school shop, or shop at all with a credit card. I refuse to finance another car!

These are my personal goals. The topics on this blog will relate to these goals directly.

Contentment

• Scripture
• Fun-Times/Game Nights
• Date Nights (on the Cheap)
• Travel (again, on the Cheap)

Control

• Weekly Grocery Budget
• Christmas Shopping
• Meal Planning
• Freezer Cooking

"Cash-Only"

• Savings Strategies
• Garage Sales/Consignment Sales
• CVS Deals
• Using Gift Cards Effectively

I don't know all the answers, nor do I claim to. But I know the One who does and I know that He says He will grant me the desires of my heart. My prayer is that together we can care for our families, help others, make lasting friendships, and give God the glory!