Costco $2.50
The Girl and I popped by Costco last night because I needed to pick up something in the photo center. Since we were there we grabbed a cart and filled it with some food to stock Monkey Boy’s pantry. We still need to hit up Fred Meyer and Winco for staple items {tuna, pasta, condiments etc.} but we’re off to a good start.
The Costco coffee machine. Have you tried it yet? I don’t drink coffee but the hot chocolate there is AH-Mazing! And of course I had to get a cup of the rich marshmallowy goodness. The Girl tried the vanilla latte {at the recommendation of someone standing near by} and LOVED it.
Amazon subscribe and save order:
I redeemed some Swagbucks I and turned them into Amazon gift cards so I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket. I love when that happens. Here are the prices I paid for the stuff I bought {all of which may have increased by now}.
- Hall Cough Drops $3.75 for 18 packs. I think the street value on these is like $1.50 a stick bro.
- 2 pounds pistachios $10.86
- 24 packs of Mixed Nuts $8.41
- Kind Bars $10.70
- Treats for Lucy $6.13
- Salad Dressing $1.68
- Coffee $5.68
- Body Wash $1.72. The current shelf price at Target is $2.39. I ended up donating all of our bar soap and switched to body wash because I was tired of washing the soap residue off the shelf in the shower. Using body wash still seems a little weird to me, but hey, there’s nothing to clean off the shower walls now so I’m happy.
- Degree deodorant $6.79/$1.70 each off Amazon. Seriously. This stuff is $3.99 a tube at Target. Even with the $5 off 4 gift card promo they were running last week the deodorant still would have been $2.74 each. There is a reason people like me shop online for things like toiletries and snack foods. Costco has the deodorant in stock right now 5 for $13.99 which works out to be $2.80 a tube.
Subscribe and save can really be a helpful budgeting/money saving tool if you know your prices and what you are willing to pay. When I place a subscribe and save order I sign up for a delivery of every 6 months. The first time around I get the deal price, then if I need to order the product again I’ll check the price and if it’s gone up {which is usually the case} I simply delete the item from my next subscribe and save order.
Amazon sends out an email a few days before they process your subscribe and save order so there is plenty of time to cancel items if you need to.
Albertsons $5.47
- Crappy Bread $0.89
- White beans $0.79 Yes, dried are cheaper
- Golden Oreos $1.79 {they are so much better than regular Oreos}
- Cranberry Juice $2.00 Because Hey, UTI’s are lame. {TOOOOOO much information.}
Albertsons $ 24.14
Albertsons has Gala apples on sale last through Tuesday night at closing for $.67 a pound so I bought a case {40 pounds} and snagged a 10% off discount as well. Giddy up!
Winner winner chicken dinner. Mrs. HB and I got together last week to gossip {because BIG changes are coming people and they are EXCITING} and she said she couldn’t find last weeks featured recipe on the blog so I went over to her place and we made the Chicken, Sausage and Beans dish at her house, because that’s the kind of amazing friend that I am. Ha! We also made a batch of her favorite {not sweet at all} cornbread. Anyone want the recipe?
Too me… sugar is life. So I wasn’t super excited about it. But Mrs. HB swears by the cornbread recipe and says it’s the way cornbread is supposed to taste. Sugar….it makes everything pretty freakin’ magical if you ask me. But I’m just a girl, addicted to sweet things, AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE. In my opinion, teeth are there for a reason, TO FALL OUT. Bahahaha.
Buy then again, I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, so what do I know about the way cornbread seafood is supposed to taste? Maybe Seafood? Granola? How to NOT use an umbrella in a rainstorm and still look good? Mrs. HB, she’s from Mississippi, and apparently they have really good food there. Whateva. So let me know if you are looking for a not so sweet cornbread recipe and I can hook you up. I’ve got a dealer. And she’s into butter, grits, and any other kind of food you can make when the humidity is like 95%.
Obviously, I heated this up to fast because the soup didn’t get all creamy and smooth {I used 50% milk} like it’s suppose to be. Whateva. Campbell’s tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Who doesn’t love that? If you don’t there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you. Like, maybe you didn’t go to high school in the late 80’s early 90’s. Ya know, like before tofu, juice boxes an ready made meals hit the shelves.
Clearly, I had better things to do than make a homemade meal for the boys. Zaycon chicken tenders and Winco crinkle fries. I’m pretty sure they were in heaven. Me? I was busy doing other stuff like rug hooking and cleaning out my desk. #GOFIGHTWIN
Lentil soup. Kind of like this, but totally not. People are always asking how I feed my family so for little… And I’m always like BEANS and RICE…. seriously. The Pilgrims, now those were some people who knew how to stretch a buck. Or shilling? If you are on a budget, simple wins every.single.time. Maybe I’m alone in my thinking on this one, but grocery stores are stocked with waaaaaay to many products. And because they are, people spend lot’s of time in getting lured into buy MORE STUFF. What happened to the basics?
Remember Ike Godsey? His store was smaller than the size of most peoples garages.
Chicky pot pie. I also pulled a tater tot casserole from the freezer and made big salads. And there was breakfast with Mrs. HB for $13.00
And last but not least… Gingerbread cookies. 😉
How about YOU? Did you buy anything exciting this week? Also, how much are you willing to shell out for a stick of deodorant these days? Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $26.61 + $13 with Mrs. HB
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 on Groceries in June $147.47
Total Spent on Groceries in July $293.63
Total Spent on Groceries in August $117.29
Total Spent on Groceries in September $172.91
Total Spent on Groceries in October $186.69
**************
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 on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $54.52
Total Spent in June on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $119.15
Total Spent in July on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $12.45
Total Spent in July on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $0
Total Spent in August on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $212.67
Total Spent in September on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $132.50
Total Spent in October on Take Out, Date Nights and Bakery Treats $87
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Marcia says
Beans and rice for the win! You also have the advantage of Zaycon credits and the garden. I think people who wonder how you feed your family for so little forget about those.
I don’t garden, and the single biggest expense in my grocery budget is produce. My produce budget is only a little bit less than your whole grocery budget.
Our Costco doesn’t have a coffee machine, boo!
It’s funny that you are switching to body wash, because I’m switching to soap after decades of body wash, because of the plastic. It gets recycled, but only really down cycled. Unless I can find a place that bulk sells it so I can refill. Hmm…the crunchy little co-op might do that.
Diana says
I thought the same thing about the soap. Now granted I’m a little biased because I’m a soap maker (and sell soap and body products), but the waste that comes with body wash just drives me nuts! Plus I feel like it dries me out something terrible.
Robyn says
Exciting News coming Mavis!? Did you sell your house? Did you buy a house in the East? I’m excited to hear! Living vicariously cause I love the East as much as you and I’m stuck in the PNW. Actually I’m not complaining too much- autumn colours and crisp sunny days have been spectacular here lately.
Beans and rice are the bomb! Cheap and cheerful for sure.
Michelle says
$1.50 for deodorant. Winco or Walmart .
Beans and rice, rice and beans! So many different meals to make with them. I spend $450 a month for 2 adult empty nesters but that is for everything including toiletries and 1 good beer or wine a month .
Helen in Meridian says
I use Certain-Dri and it is $6.99$-8.99. This week it is on sale at RiteAid and there is a $1 coupon, so I am thrilled. I use the roll on and the bottle lasts 2-3 months, but IT WORKS. I think Amber told us about it.
Laura says
50 cents for deodorant, but that is getting harder lately and I am getting low. Hoping for some cheap deals for Black Friday.
Dina says
That’s weird about the bar soap. I make our bar soap and never have a residue issue on my tiled shower walls. When my boys come home for a visit and use their liquid body soap the residue is insane and makes me crazy.
Lynne says
We use deodorant stones… they’re a natural alternative to deodorant. Cost is about $6-7, and they last about a year.
LynneinWI
Lauralli says
Beans and rice is what I’m making tonight! And, cornbread! I’m from the South and I’m not too discriminating on cornbread (as long as it’s not dry–the worst!). I grew up eating it non-sweet. My kids like it sweet so I make that sometimes. However, my very favorite is Mexican Corn Bread (cream corn, onions, jalapenos, sour cream, cheese–oh my!). And anyway you make it requires this one thing: get your pan very hot in the oven with a spoon full of bacon grease melted in it before you pour in your batter! Yum! As far as the UTI–the cranberry juice cocktail might taste good but it won’t do you much good–you need the pure cranberry juice–it’s expensive and very sour! The best treatment (besides antibiotic if needed) is AZO available over the counter. If you’ve never tried it, it is amazing!
Deborah says
I add a bit of browned and drained sausage or hamburger meat to my Mexican cornbread. So very yummy!
Laura A says
The grocery store Jewel in the midwest has Arm & Hammer deodorant on sale for $1 at times. I stock up when it happens!
Carrie says
I bought a 4 pack of Dove deodorant at Costco earlier this year for $9.99. $2.50 for Dove isn’t too bad. I’m picky about my smells otherwise I’d buy the cheap Suave kind.
Brook Hart says
I found clinical strength Degree, large size for two dollars at a salvage store. I was almost out and I refuse to pay 11.00 for one stick. I got six and hope to find more. I also use my swagbucks to shop Amazon. I usually search around to find hidden treasures.
OregonGuest says
Costco gives me serious hives, so I don’t go unless I’m forced to, but yesterday I was forced to and happily discovered they have a vending machine with 25-cent Kirkland water bottles (this, of course, was after I took my son to a movie last week and paid, um, $5.99 for a bottle of water at the concession stand. Yes, I did…..). Haven’t seen the coffee kiosk machine, so I’ll have to sniff that out next time I’m there.
By the way, deodorant? I’m pretty sure I’d pay a million bucks if my son would actually use it!
Mavis Butterfield says
I’d pay a million bucks if my son would actually use it! < -- AWESOME! 🙂
Deborah says
I was born and raised in Texas. Still live here. A little Sugar in cornbread is a good thing. I do t like it really sweet like Johnny Cake, but a tablespoon is perfect in a big pan of cornbread. Just a southern gals opinion here.
Gwenn says
I’m so jealous that your Costco has the coffee machine. None of the ones here in Metro Detroit have that. On another note beans and rice, rice and beans are totally the way to go to making your budget stretch. Along with farro, barley and other grains.
Jamie says
Just woke up and I’m getting ready to go to the Great Wall of China today with my mom and sisters!!! Bucket list achievement unlocked!
My bank account has been bleeding money this year, with a family trip to Europe this summer and now a sibling/Mom trip to China and Hong Kong. Finding balance with saving vs. spending can be hard. My two oldest will be graduating college and moving out this year, and my mom’s health is deteriorating so a bucket list trip for her is now or never. It’s hard to see my bank balance go down, but my husband says we have to remember why we work and save money in the first place. I’m glad we’ve spent the money since these opportunities will not be here again.
I asked for a picture of the Costco vending machine last time you posted about it, so thanks for the picture. I shop at four different Costcos regularly and have never seen one, boo!
Mavis Butterfield says
I wonder if we are in a test market area for the coffee machine? And, The Great Wall…. TOTAL bucket list. Good for you and your mom.
Helen in Meridian says
Our Great Wall of China is a buffet restaurant
Linda says
I somehow knew Ms. HB was a MS girl!!! Me too…and we don’t do sugar in cornbread here at my house neither. But southerners know how to make a good dessert Mavis, so we definitely get our sugar quota- no worries there!!
Yep…rice and beans are the way to go!! Love them and cook them often. I’m with you about grocery store options. I keep it simple…keeps my budget in line as well as my waist. Ha!!
Mel says
We just picked 50 lbs of Stayman and Granny Smith apples at a local orchard. They weren’t particularly cheap, but they are incredibly good apples, and I don’t like many fruits, so I go all out on apples. I made apple butter and applesauce, and I’ve been eating them fresh. I may freeze a few slab pies or make apple cinnamon pork chops. I think we have at least 30 lbs left, which just makes me happy.
Mavis Butterfield says
I have never tried a Stayman apple before. What state are you in?
Mel says
We’re in Maryland. They are very crisp, juicy, and sweet apples, with just a touch of tart. They are all-purpose–baking, fresh eating, etc.
Joan Blurton says
What is a slab pie?
Mel says
Slab pie is basically a flat apple pie. You layer the ingredients instead of sealing them in a crust, and you can freeze them and bake from frozen, so it’s a great holiday time saver. The slices hold together well when cut. I use the recipe on the “Life as a Mom” blog, but I use oats instead of nuts (a friend has an allergy) and I add a little boiled cider to the filling.
Joanna says
This is a bit the way I make apple pie, in a pie pan with just the bottom crust and a flour, butter, and brown sugar crumb topping. My old Betty Crocker cookbook calls it a French apple pie.
Connie says
Just cooked a pot of beans and made cornbread -no sugar. This time I added creamed corn , NM hatch green chiles and cheese, but I usually make it plain .
Can’t wait to hear your exciting news!
Mrs. C. says
Yes, I want Mrs. HB’s cornbread recipe!
Practical Parsimony says
I was born in MS where my mother was reared. I live in AL now. NO SUGAR in cornbread! If you want a treat, take cornbread from the oven, slice a piece and split it, put huge blobs of butter on both sides, and sprinkle it generously with sugar. Now, you have sugared cornbread. It’s a great snack or dessert for hungry children. We were always hungry for sugared, piping hot cornbread.
Ask Mrs HB about sugar in hot, buttered cornbread.
Azo does not cure a uti. It just takes away the pain so you do not realize how ill you are and may not go to the doctor like you need to do.
Practical Parsimony says
The last deodorant I bought was Secret powder fresh, my favorite. I paid 50 cents for it and bought ten. I had a coupon for $5 for asking about the price of a prescription at CVS. So, I ended up paying 50 cents each instead of the sale price of $1. It is my daughter’s favorite, too, so I stuck a couple in her Christmas gift.
I use Dove soap, the pink kind. I don’t ‘get’ body wash. I use a wash cloth on the bar on then on me. People tell me they don’t have to used a wash cloth with body wash. I think the wash cloth feels great and helps to exfoliate skin. Those scratchy poufs have to be replaced often and cannot be washed. It just does not seem clean to me.
Joan Blurton says
Embarrassed to admit this but I’ve never made beans and rice. Can anybody give me the deets?
Lace Faerie says
If you want the benefits of drinking cranberry juice without the calories, check out the supplements that contain D-Mannose. It is the sugar from the berries that adheres the bladder walls preventing bacteria from attaching. I was skeptical the first time when I was out of state visiting my sister. Now, I use it whenever I feel the first hint off a UTI. Some people take it daily. Here’s a link: https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_6?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=d-manose+capsules&sprefix=D-mano%2Caps%2C227&crid=2U2L7NZF30VVE