So here is the plan - spend less than $20 a week at least for the next 3 weeks. (If not 5... I am working toward pay weeks and I am in the middle of a pay period now... in case your wondering why the odd amount.)
Why am I doing this? A couple reasons. A) To see if my family of 5 can B) To save money C) I am a shop-a-holic - since I can't afford to buy clothes or shoes (a dire necessity for a girlie girl) I have found myself buying ridiculous amounts of groceries to compensate which leads to D) Clean out the PANTRY!
Today's Shopping list -
Bag of Dog Food (not included in the $20)
1 gal of milk
Bread
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Jalepenos
1 pkg cream cheese
Here is my menu for the next week:
Saturday - Homemade Ravioli
Sunday - Chicken Pot Pie (home made)
Monday - Fajitas w/fresh pico de gallo
Tuesday - Green Chili Chick Enchiladas
Wednesday - Meatloaf w/mashed potatoes
Thursday - Crunchy Chicken Strips (from my new Better Homes and Garden Cookbook) w/green beans
Friday - Ranch Style Chicken Salad (which takes left overs from the night before)
Wish me luck.
Here is the list of what I currently have on hand: (b=box/bottle/bag, p=package, c=can, j=jar)
Pantry
1 b each - Cheerios, crisp rice, choc cheerios
1 b (Sam's club size) Oatmeal
1 b Bisquick / 1 b Cream of Wheat
1 b & 1/2 of Pancake Mix
8 sleeves saltines
14 p Ramen Noodles
4 c Evap Milk
2 b Syrup
1 j Peanut Butter / 4 misc j of Jelly
4 b chipotle hot sauce
4 c gravy
2 c whole berry cranberry sauce
18 c tuna / 1 c chicken (chunk)
1 c diced green chilis
2 b lasgna noodles / 4 p spaghetti
1 b rice
1 b craisins
2 lrg p corn tortillas / 1 lrg p flour tortillas
1 lrg b Tort Chips
8 misc p cake mix
3 b misc rice mix (Zatarains)
1 b stuffing
1/2 b potato flakes
2 p bread crumbs
5 c corn and peas / 2 c green beans
10 c chicken broth
3 c pineapple chunks
4 c chick noodle soup
5 c Cream of Mushroom, C. of Chick, 4 of C. of Brocc
1 c Tomato soup
3 p Dry Pinto beans / 1 p Dry Navy beans
1 p French Onion Dry
3 c Refried beans / 4 c each Kidney, Pinto beans
6 c Tomato Sauce / 6 c Diced Tomatoes
4 c diced italian style tomatoes
2 c green chili sauce
8 onions
Freezer
10 p Chicken breasts
9 1lb p hamburger
1 roast
1 pork loin
1 p hot dogs
1 p flank steak (Sam's club)
8 b butter
2 1lb p shredded mozz cheese
2 each p Ham Hock, ham steak
1 pkg e ground pork, spicey italian sausage
1/2 p peas
1 b peas/carrots
1 2lb p shrimp
2 1lb bg mex style shredded cheese
4 p sliced cheese
2 p taco meat
3 p pepperoni
1/2 bag french fries and hashbrowns
Fridge
2 gallons Milk
2 dz eggs
2 green peppers
2 tomatoes
1 lrg p Salad mix
3 naan bread
1 p pre-cooked bacon
2/3 p of raw bacon
1 celery
2 p crossaints
parm cheese
3 lemons
1 eggplant
and misc dressings, condiments, left over lunch meats, cheese etc.
So there you have it. I guess we will see how much it is reduced over the next month.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Could it really already be August?
Good grief... August is here already. The boys start back to school at the end of the month. I took Alex and Erik to the dentist on Monday - Alex needs $600 worth of fillings, Erik needs a baby tooth extracted and a couple fillings (to the tune of abotu $160 out of pocket.)
On top of that, Darren let me know that the great City of Las Vegas has decided they will most likely be farming out their jobs to outside contractors come next June.
So remember my last post of so much that I want to do with no money to do it with... it just got worse.
On top of ALL of that - they asked me to take the Supervisor position back in Training as well as do my current duties. Again - even more to do with less time. I have to keep telling myself - at least I have a job. But my OCD side says I have to shine in this job. I hope the stress doesn't kill me. I DID just get off the blood pressure medicine for goodness sake.
As for the saving - didn't happen last month. I don't know that it will happen this month either - I want it to but there is so much going on.
So not the cheeriest post. At least I made it over here though.
On top of that, Darren let me know that the great City of Las Vegas has decided they will most likely be farming out their jobs to outside contractors come next June.
So remember my last post of so much that I want to do with no money to do it with... it just got worse.
On top of ALL of that - they asked me to take the Supervisor position back in Training as well as do my current duties. Again - even more to do with less time. I have to keep telling myself - at least I have a job. But my OCD side says I have to shine in this job. I hope the stress doesn't kill me. I DID just get off the blood pressure medicine for goodness sake.
As for the saving - didn't happen last month. I don't know that it will happen this month either - I want it to but there is so much going on.
So not the cheeriest post. At least I made it over here though.
Friday, July 23, 2010
A week has flown by
I managed to remember to keep my promise and blog more often so here I am back again!
This week... wow - food is my enemy. Although I should be pleased that I haven't gained any... I haven't lost any either. We had an offsite customer gathering this week so I didn't work out as much as I would have liked either.
Alex and Erik have been away at Boy Scout camp... I definitely miss the random hugs and kisses that come with having the boys in the house. And Erik is headed straight to Oregon with Grandma so there will be even a longer absence of hugs/kisses. *sigh*
So back to food... I am not sure about other women out there but the week before mother nature calls is like releasing the starving beast! I am hungry all the dang time even though I may have eaten a couple hours ago. I try to make good choices but sheesh... really Mother Nature? leave me alone, dang it! It is hard enough to stay away from food as it is!
To continue my rambling...
I have realized there is SO much I would love to do and seriously not enough time/money to do it in/with. My niece is on an amazing road trip across the continent and I am so envious! Or maybe "covetous" is a better word. How I wish I could be on that trip with her. Her and her husband have an amazing blog that recounts their adventure. (thegreatnorthamericanroadtrip.blogspot.com) But I tell you what... something I have wanted to do for a VERY long time is take a road trip cross-country and see all this country's national landmarks! When I was about 8 the family drove in our motorhome to Alaska. It is a trip I will never forget and would love to do with my children. Ahhhh to hit the lottery or something! So I am now scouting possibilities to make this happen - or at least a small road trip - maybe up the coast of CA. We will see.
Shopping/Saving
I am in need of new work shoes but I will have to save up to buy them.
I have created a budget that not only tracks when I have to pay what bill BUT I have started putting away money for Christmas and our annual trip to Disney.
Something I haven't mentioned here in the blog is the Cruise to the Mexican Riveria that I am doing with my BFF since junior high in November. We got an amazing deal with the radio station and got a balcony stateroom for like $600. So I am also saving money for that as well... so I have decided - starting next week - I will be bringing my lunch at least 3 if not 4 days a week.
So in all - I have decided that each month at least $500 will be going to this savings fund. Keep your fingers crossed that I can stick to this!
Talk to you soon!
This week... wow - food is my enemy. Although I should be pleased that I haven't gained any... I haven't lost any either. We had an offsite customer gathering this week so I didn't work out as much as I would have liked either.
Alex and Erik have been away at Boy Scout camp... I definitely miss the random hugs and kisses that come with having the boys in the house. And Erik is headed straight to Oregon with Grandma so there will be even a longer absence of hugs/kisses. *sigh*
So back to food... I am not sure about other women out there but the week before mother nature calls is like releasing the starving beast! I am hungry all the dang time even though I may have eaten a couple hours ago. I try to make good choices but sheesh... really Mother Nature? leave me alone, dang it! It is hard enough to stay away from food as it is!
To continue my rambling...
I have realized there is SO much I would love to do and seriously not enough time/money to do it in/with. My niece is on an amazing road trip across the continent and I am so envious! Or maybe "covetous" is a better word. How I wish I could be on that trip with her. Her and her husband have an amazing blog that recounts their adventure. (thegreatnorthamericanroadtrip.blogspot.com) But I tell you what... something I have wanted to do for a VERY long time is take a road trip cross-country and see all this country's national landmarks! When I was about 8 the family drove in our motorhome to Alaska. It is a trip I will never forget and would love to do with my children. Ahhhh to hit the lottery or something! So I am now scouting possibilities to make this happen - or at least a small road trip - maybe up the coast of CA. We will see.
Shopping/Saving
I am in need of new work shoes but I will have to save up to buy them.
I have created a budget that not only tracks when I have to pay what bill BUT I have started putting away money for Christmas and our annual trip to Disney.
Something I haven't mentioned here in the blog is the Cruise to the Mexican Riveria that I am doing with my BFF since junior high in November. We got an amazing deal with the radio station and got a balcony stateroom for like $600. So I am also saving money for that as well... so I have decided - starting next week - I will be bringing my lunch at least 3 if not 4 days a week.
So in all - I have decided that each month at least $500 will be going to this savings fund. Keep your fingers crossed that I can stick to this!
Talk to you soon!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
oh blog how I have missed you
Ok so I have been very lax in updating the blog... good grief it has been way TOO long.
But to catch everyone up...
Weight Loss Journey
I am now at 65lbs of me gone. Thank goodness! I no longer take blood pressure medicine. I am working out almost every day at the gym at work. (Right now I do 35 minutes on the treadmill - level 6, Random, speed 3.5 - 3.7 miles per hour. (What does that mean? Level 6/Random means it randomly changes the incline up from 0 to 5% which when it hits that 5% - I usually start cursing it's name at the steep side.) I bought new work out clothes and shoes as I was still wearing the shorts/tshirt that were from 2 sizes ago. I had to sintch the shorts and pull them up almost to my arm pits :D
Fun side note - a guy friend of mine in another department (who is also easy on the eyes) ;-) was talking to me in the gym the other day about the progress of sales training - when I went to leave - he complimented my legs and how great they look. (To which I giddily said - THANKS that is one thing I have always been proud of - I have never had fat girl legs!) AND when I wore my new work out clothes complimented them too! Quite the morale booster!
I tried the eliptical on Monday - I hate that thing. It is made from the devil... I plan on doing it again today for at least 10 minutes. damn thing...
I had an adjustment in March (more saline into the lapband) - cons to this - I now can not eat hamburger buns or shredded meats.
I had an adjustment last Wednesday - cons to this - a drier piece of london broil not chewed properly gave me HELL on Monday night. (Thought I would die as this tried to pass through!)
Food - I have pretty much moved to a high protein LOW carb diet (since most carbs are causing me problems.) I have also acquired a LOVE for roasted salted almonds. Very filling with the new adjustment.
Couponing... well to be honest - I have been doing it as much as I used to. I just haven't seen anything at a super great deal with use of coupons that I could use. Not to mention there is a great new local grocery called "Glaziers" that has awesome deals. Their weekly "meal deals" make it great to stock up and have ideas for the week. They also sell Boar's Head deli meat which the boys love. I spend about 100-150 a week and only occasionally have to go to Sam's for the bigger items.
Shopping
About a month and a half ago; my replacement for my POS Dell that had died... died. So I checked the ads and looked around - knowing we had gotten an awesome deal on our TV at Fry's - I checked there online. Darren suggested stopping at Best Buy first which I was thinking... no way it would have a good price. Well! They had the same laptop my son was given for his Eagle Scout (by his uncle) on sale as the last one for $259 but I would have to wait 2-3 hours for their Geek Squad to clean it. Well they had this Compaq on sale for like $279 so I took that. So for about $300 I got a new laptop WEEEEE! So happy!
Personal
Finally - I adopted two more puppies. I know like I needed more critters in my house. But they were so adorable and frail and needed love! And what better to put them in a house with three boys (and a dad) who just gives them SO much love ALL the time! They are now happy and getting plenty of love and chow.
I will stop in and blog more often and let you know how I do in not only weight loss but shopping as well.
But to catch everyone up...
Weight Loss Journey
I am now at 65lbs of me gone. Thank goodness! I no longer take blood pressure medicine. I am working out almost every day at the gym at work. (Right now I do 35 minutes on the treadmill - level 6, Random, speed 3.5 - 3.7 miles per hour. (What does that mean? Level 6/Random means it randomly changes the incline up from 0 to 5% which when it hits that 5% - I usually start cursing it's name at the steep side.) I bought new work out clothes and shoes as I was still wearing the shorts/tshirt that were from 2 sizes ago. I had to sintch the shorts and pull them up almost to my arm pits :D
Fun side note - a guy friend of mine in another department (who is also easy on the eyes) ;-) was talking to me in the gym the other day about the progress of sales training - when I went to leave - he complimented my legs and how great they look. (To which I giddily said - THANKS that is one thing I have always been proud of - I have never had fat girl legs!) AND when I wore my new work out clothes complimented them too! Quite the morale booster!
I tried the eliptical on Monday - I hate that thing. It is made from the devil... I plan on doing it again today for at least 10 minutes. damn thing...
I had an adjustment in March (more saline into the lapband) - cons to this - I now can not eat hamburger buns or shredded meats.
I had an adjustment last Wednesday - cons to this - a drier piece of london broil not chewed properly gave me HELL on Monday night. (Thought I would die as this tried to pass through!)
Food - I have pretty much moved to a high protein LOW carb diet (since most carbs are causing me problems.) I have also acquired a LOVE for roasted salted almonds. Very filling with the new adjustment.
Couponing... well to be honest - I have been doing it as much as I used to. I just haven't seen anything at a super great deal with use of coupons that I could use. Not to mention there is a great new local grocery called "Glaziers" that has awesome deals. Their weekly "meal deals" make it great to stock up and have ideas for the week. They also sell Boar's Head deli meat which the boys love. I spend about 100-150 a week and only occasionally have to go to Sam's for the bigger items.
Shopping
About a month and a half ago; my replacement for my POS Dell that had died... died. So I checked the ads and looked around - knowing we had gotten an awesome deal on our TV at Fry's - I checked there online. Darren suggested stopping at Best Buy first which I was thinking... no way it would have a good price. Well! They had the same laptop my son was given for his Eagle Scout (by his uncle) on sale as the last one for $259 but I would have to wait 2-3 hours for their Geek Squad to clean it. Well they had this Compaq on sale for like $279 so I took that. So for about $300 I got a new laptop WEEEEE! So happy!
Personal
Finally - I adopted two more puppies. I know like I needed more critters in my house. But they were so adorable and frail and needed love! And what better to put them in a house with three boys (and a dad) who just gives them SO much love ALL the time! They are now happy and getting plenty of love and chow.
I will stop in and blog more often and let you know how I do in not only weight loss but shopping as well.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Journey 01/23/10
So not good news on the diet journey. I am sad to say I am up a pound this week. Dang it all!
I knew I was not eating properly. I had three meetings this week that they catered in food. If only I had watched my portions and what I was eating better - I would be at least even. But darn it if I didn't indulge in those cookies and pastries!
Again, there are times when I can't help but wish that this was a miracle cure. That some how by putting this band on my stomach that it would magically zap all the bad food I ingest. But unfortuantely - it is not. I know this.
So back on track for next week. It helps that a cold has settled in on my head and I haven't felt like eating after breakfast today. Let's hope I can get back on that track of 3-5lbs a week. But I would be happy just to see the ounces come off through out the week.
I knew I was not eating properly. I had three meetings this week that they catered in food. If only I had watched my portions and what I was eating better - I would be at least even. But darn it if I didn't indulge in those cookies and pastries!
Again, there are times when I can't help but wish that this was a miracle cure. That some how by putting this band on my stomach that it would magically zap all the bad food I ingest. But unfortuantely - it is not. I know this.
So back on track for next week. It helps that a cold has settled in on my head and I haven't felt like eating after breakfast today. Let's hope I can get back on that track of 3-5lbs a week. But I would be happy just to see the ounces come off through out the week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)