Last week we worked outside almost everyday until midday before coming inside for a hot meal, and it was very fulfilling {both the meal, and the work}. This time of year when the mornings are cool and crisp just can’t be beat.
On Monday before heading out to work, I started a Mississippi pot roast in the Crock Pot and later in the day as the HH was putting all the tools away, I roasted a pan of potatoes in the oven.
The next day I turned some of the leftover pot roast from the day before into a beef pot pie for linner.
And on day three I used up the remaining pot roast in a beef stew. I don’t know about you, but I love it when I can cook one thing {in this case a roast} and make it stretch into 3 totally different meals.
I also baked a loaf of our favorite no knead Dutch oven crusty bread.
The bread is great served along soup, but even better the next day with a little PB and J.
Remember that 50 pound bag of potatoes? I think I might need to get another one. 😉 Seriously! I think we went through at least 5 pounds of spuds last week. If I do go back for more potatoes, I think I’ll grab a case of apples too.
Farmstand $30.25
$20 of 4 slices of cheesecake, $7.25 for 12 1/2 pounds of butternut squash {that’s only $0.58 a pound!} and $3 for the eggs.
Note: If you are in New England, One Hundred Dollars a Month reader Aimee mentioned on Saturday that “Market Basket in MA has all sorts of squash on sale for $0.59 a pound starting tomorrow. It has been from a farm in Western MA in years past.”
General Store $17.84
While I was out loading up on cheesecake and squash I popped by the general store for some milk and whipped cream {for hot chocolate} and spied salad greens and bananas too.
It’s been a while since I’ve a salad so I grabbed a bin seeing how I have plans to stop buying groceries for the rest of the year here in a few days.
Missing from photo: asparagus.
Walmart $21.98
The Girl is coming for a visit and she wants to make caramel apples. So I asked the HH to pick up a few supplies. I’m not sure how many apples he thought we’re going to make, but apparently it’s a lot.
Canned carrots are for carrot cake bars this winter.
Online order $14.85
The oven ready pasta is for all the roasted butternut squash lasagna I plan to make this winter. YUM!
Rancho Gordo Beans $50.60
And last but not least, more beans from Rancho Gordo. A small luxury, I know. But after so many people left glowing comments on the last batch that I ordered, I decided to grab a few more bags.
Plus, I figure if I am over the moon about a certain variety, I’ll have enough seeds to grow some in my garden next year. 🙂
So how did you do this week? Have you been stocking up on anything or find a great deal on something? Curious minds want to know.
Have a great Monday everyone,
~Mavis
*****
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home $135.52
- Total Spent in September on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1166.51
- Total Spent in August on Groceries and Bakery Treats $675.99
- Total Spent in July on Groceries and Bakery Treats $1037.79
- Total Spent in June on Groceries and Bakery Treats $297.1
- Total Spent in May on Groceries and Bakery Treats $323.38
- Total Spent in April on Groceries and Bakery Treats $352.64
- Total Spent in March on Groceries and Bakery Treats $712.01
- Total Spent in February on Groceries and Bakery Treats $230.98
- Total Spent in January on Groceries and Bakery Treats $128.60
- Total Spent on Groceries and Bakery Treats We Brought Home in 2021 $4984.62
Connie says
Hitting Costco in big city today. That will determine if I am done. Still need potatoes and sweet potatoes and onions for sure. I will made monthly run for dairy and eggs.
My husband will get lunch things he likes as needed. We do plan to do carryout occasionally.
But overall I’m excited about my grand experiment. I’ve done this for years but in a more haphazard way.
Buying laundry detergent and other cleaning things for a year is easy way to start.
As I’ve gotten older I don’t want to grocery shop. And it is easier to stock up with only 2 people.
Heidi P says
Looked at your total September grocery purchases at $1,166.51 and couldn’t help but remember the $100. per month days. That was a huge goal and you actually achieved it! I think you’ve proven life is to short not to eat what you love.
I’m shocked and intrigued that you aren’t going to shop for the rest of the year. Totally amazing.
Mavis Butterfield says
Ahhh yes, the double coupon days. Although time consuming, it made grocery shopping much less.
Aunt Diane from Streator says
I was busy yesterday! Followed your directions, Mavis, and made 4 pies for the freezer. 1 apple, 3 pear. We are going to bake 1 up on Thursday just to make sure it’s seasoned correctly. Planning to make up the rest of the pears next weekend, maybe with some cranberries, if I can find them. Thank you for all your helpful & optimistic posts!
Ashley Bananas says
As someone else said…I too remember your $100 dollar a month goal days. I still enjoy your blog, and realize life changes. Kids in or out of the house, location, moves, job changes, retirement….sort of? Kind of? Possibly?
I am still in, I have a child at home mode, with the associated costs with time and money. To offset this I still try and shop sales. I’ve just about given up on paper coupons however, they just dont seem to match up with sales anymore, and their expiration dates are so much closer. I find that to keep them organized (not clipping, just sorted by type of insert and date), I find that I use almost no paper coupons from the Sunday paper anymore.
I have started using Ibotta. It’s ok, but nothing like the savings that were available ten years ago. I also started using the Fetch app to upload receipts. Each receipt is worth a base of 25 points, and you can earn additional points if certain items are purchased on the receipt. 1,000 points equals $1 in value toward a gift. So…doing the math, the base amount of points for the receipt is worth 2.5 cents. I’m not sure if it’s worth it, but I’m still going off of the pennies in the cup theory believing that they all add up.
I have been stopping by Aldi lately to look for clearance deals as well. Trying to only buy clearance meat lately, or if not on clearance the best price possible. Such as….drum roll….1lb of bacon or 3.49 at Walmart, the next closest is 3.89 at Aldi.
Saving money on groceries continues to be a challenge!
Heidi P says
I’m with you on the paper coupons. I only use the ones that the Fred Meyer I shop at most often send me. Back in my coupon days I never thought I’d give up couponing. It was a fun game to me seeing how low my bill could become.
I too use ibotta but don’t find all that many deals but every penny adds up:)
I use swagbucks to shop online and have benefited a lot….one penny at a time.
Susie says
To Heidi & Ashley Bananas ~ Sounds like the 3 of us are on the same page. Same with couponing then & now (hardly at all now, very few in the paper) and I’m using Ibotta (lifetime earnings $600) and Fetch (the BF’s Miller Lite adds up quickly!) and shopping at Aldi are now my budgeting methods. Plus the BOGOs at Publix are great. The whole key for me was learning prices so I know what are good & bad deals.
Kristy says
I am too am there. I basically only am using digital coupons for my non food items. Fetch adds up for me and I also have Amazon Shoppers Voice which 10 receipts a month earns me a $10 Amazon gift card.
Rosemary Calhoun says
I love turning one meal into at least 2 or 3! My granddaughter loves chicken tenders (breaded chicken breast cut into strips) and she also loves chicken alfredo. I will make the chicken tenders first (and there are always some left over). The next day I will make some fettuccini and throw in the leftover chicken tenders and some alfredo sauce. It’s a win every time!
Hubby is planning for the fall garden . . . after he finishes the chicken coop. Even when you are retired, there just isn’t enough time (or energy) in a day!
Ellen in Clackamas says
Mavis, have you canned any of those beans? Or do you just store them dry?
Mavis Butterfield says
I am storing them dry. I’ve canned beans before here: https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/how-to-can-dried-beans/
Samantha says
I have always wanted a pantry set up so I can go at least a year without many grocery stops…..we spent this last year building one up. As of next month the only grocery trips will be for a few fresh veges and dairy here and there! Looking forward to snuggling in for the winter!!
Mel says
I’m basically stocked up and done with freezer meals. Our grocery store is bad at keeping shelves stocked (it’s not supply chain issues–they just don’t seem to stay on top of it), so I have a few more things to grab as I can find them, but we’re basically just down to grabbing milk each week. I have one or two more freezer meals to make as well at some point (plus turning 60 lbs of frozen tomatoes into sauce), but I have the ingredients on hand, and I already have about 95 meals frozen. This year I also set aside individual portions of all the soups I froze for my dad, so his freezer is stocked as well.
I haven’t bothered to really hunt for deals since I have so much else going on, but I do use the digital coupons for stores when I remember. They’re automatically applied at checkout, so they’re far easier than paper coupons.
On the recipe front though, I did find a crock pot copycat rotisserie chicken recipe, and that turned out amazing. I think it’d be great as an actual meal (and it neatly collects fat and drippings if you wanted to make gravy), but I actually used it to cook a ton of chicken thighs so I’d have great dark meat for soup and bones to roast for stock.
Janet says
Mel, Please share your crockpot rotisserie chicken recipe! I have been inspired by you, enjoyed several of your recipes and love your comments on Mavis’s awesome site!!
Have a great day!!
Janet
Mel says
Aww thanks, Janet. I get inspired here too! Here’s the recipe:
https://dinnerthendessert.com/slow-cooker-rotisserie-chicken-thighs/
Samantha says
Thanks for sharing that recipe. Can’t wait to try it!
Margo says
You all inspire me! I am planning to start canning some apple butter, pear butter, and applesauce here this next week, but I’ll have to get up early before the heat piles on. It’s been cool this week, but of course I’m not ready yet. I can cook batches of fruit butter in my crockpot overnight, get up early and do the canning. Maybe one more Costco trip this year to stock up on a few more things and fall garden planting ahead. Love this time of year.
Mrs. C. says
There is a family on YouTube, Our Tribe of Many: 10 kids, number 11 on the way. She feeds the whole family on $1,300 a month, and that includes toiletries and household goods. She does one massive haul a month, and they eat really well.