Well, it finally happened. I used up my giant roll of saran wrap from Costco {I had been working on it for the last 3 years} and now it’s gone. Sniff sniff. It’s been over 16 months since I have bought any new ziplock bags and now I am saying goodbye to Saran wrap. Because seriously, I’m tired of buying products that I am just going to throw away.
So now, I’ve resorted to re-using produce bags and packaging up the HH’s lunch in recycled take out containers my mom saves for me. Monkey boy is beside himself. Fifty bucks says he breaks down and buys HIS OWN ROLL of saran wrap to package up his peanut butter sandwiches. 😉 Actually now that I think about it, a roll of Saran wrap would make a nice birthday gift for him from my parents {they already give him a jumbo pack of Charmin every year because I won’t pay for it}. HAHAHA! Luxuries. Everybody defines them differently I guess.
Winco $47.85
Highlight of the trip: Wheat Thins and Tricuits for $1.58 a box, Zoi yogurt for $2.78 and canned beets. Sadly, Little Debbie didn’t make it into the cart this week. I also stocked up on dried beans for an upcoming recipe post I’m working on.
Does your dog inspect the groceries you bring home too?
Fred Meyer $22.33
Fred Meyer had their Founder’s Day sale last week so grabbed a few of their deals. Butter $1.49 a pound, Bread $0.99 a loaf, Eggs $0.79 a dozen and Tillamook cheese $4.99 for a 2 pound loaf. I also picked up my Friday freebie deals; tortilla chips and Ritz but was totally disappointed that I forgot to load the free Lind chocolate from a few weeks ago. 🙁
Lucy was totally unimpressed with my purchases and thew herself on the floor like a toddler. She perked right up though when I feed her some frozen blueberries. Once a drama queen, always a drama queen. 😉
Fred Meyer $5.40
My sources say an apple crumb pie is in our future. 😉
Albertsons $0.99
Hot dogs are gross. But the boys like them. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
And last but not least… With all this warm weather we’ve been having I’ve been drinking 2 -3 giant jugs of iced tea a day. The only problem is it’s so cold that I have to walk around the house with a blanket wrapped around me like a total weirdo. 😉 Oh well. I can’t possibly be the only one who does this… right?
Next week is a no spend week for me {thank goodness} because I’m totally over budget for the month. I’m hoping our food bill will go down during the summer months and it will all even out by the end of the year.
Have a WONDERFUL Monday!!!
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $76.57
- Total Spent in January on Groceries $202.99
- Total Spent in February on Groceries $143.94
- Total Spent in March on Groceries $183.35
- Total Spent in April on Groceries $205.67
- Total Spent on Groceries in May $248.60
************
- Total Spent in January on Take Out, Date Nights, and Bakery Treats $42.19
- Total Spent in February on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $118.45
- Total Spent in March on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $25.29
- Total Spent in April on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $62.50
- Total Spent in May of Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $54.52
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Mary Ann says
Nope. Although I’m a HUGE animal lover, I would never let my pets inspect my groceries. Gawd knows where those cute little faces have been! I’m too OCD to allow that.
Jeanie says
My two dogs always give the groceries a good once over. I have to remove any bread and quickly put that away separately because I have one that is a carb addict and would grab the loaf and run!
I am curious about the tea. After years of being an avid iced tea drinker, I have kind of start thinking it tastes bitter. Any good bag blends or advice?
erin in iowa says
Just curious, mavis….do you own tupperware? I bought some Rubbermaid tubs that stack great in a drawer and we use that instead of ziploc, tin foil, syran wrap (I don’t think I’ve bought that in 10 years). My husband and kids take it in their lunches everyday. Plus not too mention all the leftovers to store. It’s crazy how many kids have a couple ziploc in their lunch everyday just to then be tossed in the garbage.
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t. I do have glass refrigerator containers. I reuse those big yogurt tubs those to pack chips/popcorn/cookies though. I see the packaging thing as more of a challenge. It’s fun.
Carrie says
My 34 year old hubby takes his sandwich in a bright yellow Crayola sandwich box that I used in college. No squished sandwich or ziplocs for the last 10 plus years! I use glass pyrex for my salads.
PEGGY says
Giant roll of TP….I love it, I’m pretty sure they’ll get him the Saran Wrap! 🙂
Christina says
Yes, my dogs are always inspecting whatever comes into the house.
With your budget of $250 a month on groceries, does that feed yourself, your spouse and your son? Does your son, who I thought I read is out of high school eat out often? I am not nitpicking just curious. I am no where near your savings. But am getting there. We have a decent garden, have backyard chickens and raise meat rabbits. We have bees try to increase our vegetable yield every year. I really enjoy your blog and Ms Lucy.
Mavis Butterfield says
The $250 food budget is for all 4 of us {adults}. My son buys lunch most work days but my daughter rarely buys anything.
Carrie says
I keep bees and hope to make some beeswax covers to use in place of plastic wrap. The tutorials say to use 100% cotton (preferably organic) fabric. I’m thinking of using some old stained t-shirts but people may give me funny looks when they find out… lol
Peggy Ann in CT says
What ratio of tea bags to water do you use to make your iced tea? Do you boil the water or make a cold brew?
I like mint or raspberry tea in the summer time. I used to add a spoon of honey to the pitcher but don’t even add that anymore. any fewer calories helps. The flavored tea helps me to drink more water. It’s hard for me to drink just plain water in quantity.
I just broke down and bought some plastic wrap from Costco this past weekend. The double roll will last 5 years or so. I am trying to cut down on those throw away items as well. No longer buy sandwich or snack bags. Switching over to glass containers for leftovers. But still need to send the kiddos to school with small plastic containers for their lunchbox snacks. I have weird children who don’t eat sandwiches so they get a stainless steel thermos filled with soup or leftovers every day.
Mavis Butterfield says
Cold brew, two tea bags per pitcher {about 3 quarts}. Right now I am using up some Bigalow decaf English breakfast. It’s hard for me to drink plain water too. 🙂
Michelle says
For people like me that are just figuring these things out…:-)
Cold brew meaning you put tea bags in tap (or filtered) water? No boiling water with steeping or putting out in the sun all day?
And 2 tea bags per 3 quarts: for how long?
Since you are using Bigalow decaf English breakfast, sounds like almost any tea will work!
I need a change, like you guys, drinking plain water can be hard!
Thank you!
renay says
I put in about 5 bags in a pitcher. Mix it up with green, black and fruity. Very tasty!
Norma says
I use Tetley, Lipton tastes “processed” or “tinny” to me. I use 5 teabags for 2 quarts. I just toss them into a pot each evening while I am hand washing the dishes. After it has come to a boil, I let it set with the teabags inside over night, then into a glass pitcher the next morning. I like dark tea. I add my sugar per glass not per container. And I use a piece of lemon per each glass too. My glass pitchers were either $.50 or $1 at yard sales.
Earlene says
Did u like the unintentional midwife?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes!
Molly Jo says
Me too and now have her other 2 books on order from the library!
Mavis Butterfield says
I’ll have to look them up! Thanks.
Lauren says
Mavis, honest I am not a stalker! We are possibly moving up your way this next year. What general suburbish areas of Seattle would you suggest. Husband wants at least an acre plus. Would appreciate some ideas. We are retired so no job commute. Or if not Seattle…where in western WA?
Thank you!
Mavis Butterfield says
How close to Seattle do you want to be? What size home are you looking for? Age of the home? Price range? Those are the biggest factors honestly.
Lauren says
Within an hour of Seattle. Two sons moving there for jobs…Age of home not a huge factor. Size around 2200+/- sq ft. I am in a 21 yr old home now. Budget up to 450,000. Would love a couple acres..no HOA! Thanks for input..never been to that part of the country. Moving from Dallas Tx. Schools not a factor..no kids.
Want to be close enough to visit but not in each others back pocket.
Don’t know if moving above or below or off to the east is more desirable.
I’ll take any comments or suggestions you have. I know from your blog you are hopjng to move back east but I figure you are a wealth of info!
Tracy says
I, too, walk around with a huge glass of homemade iced tea, 365 days a year. About every other day or so, I use an electric water kettle (I bought it specifically and only for this) to boil 2 liters of water. As soon as it reaches the boil, I toss in three PG Tips brand tea bags and let them sit in there until the water is cooled. Usually half a day. (Yep, half a day. I’m English…I’m allowed.). Into a pitcher, I juice one whole lemon, pulp and all, and add 1 cup of Splenda. Obviously, one could use Stevia, honey, etc., but I’m sticking with my Splenda. Then I pour the tea into the pitcher and chill overnight. I drink about a liter a day. It’s th best daily, beverage ever. And PG Tips never gets bitter.
Elaine says
I’m a total iced tea freak and drink it year-round (much to the odd looks during a NY winter!) I also prefer PG Tips for my iced tea and usually drink it straight, sometimes lemon and then in season, fresh mint from the garden…delicious. My question is, do 3 bags really do the trick? I usually use 5 but don’t let it steep too long because I find it actually loses some flavor?
Lilly pickles says
I love the gift of Charmin. I only buy Scott and it is only now that my children are in college that they have discovered the Cadillac of tp. I do not buy any type of wrap or paper towels. They are luxury items in my house. I recently glanced at the cost of aluminum foil and almost fell over. About two years ago, I was on a job site and instructed to completely empty the building. A restaurant had walked out on their lease. I brought home a gigantic restaurant size roll of foil but never remember to use it. I have 50 boxes of containers to a workers mother for her church. I wish I had saved some.
gina says
Lucy- The Bag Whisperer, lol! Yeah, our dog, Scamp inspects any package of any sort that comes into the house. He too, gets dramatic if there’s nothing in them for him!
linda says
I grow apple mint for tea- cut leaves up in bowl poor water over it. I stopped making sun tea discovered after couple days it was slimmy.
Rose says
You totally remind me of my two teen boys that go around the house in blankets, even tho I made them robes.
I think the Girl needs to get you a fashionable snuggie! Lol…
Marcie says
I wrap a fuzzy micro fiber blanket aound me too and at the hips!
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s good to know I’m not the only one. 🙂