January Grocery Budget Update

In January I did challenged myself with eating from our stockpile including our freezer, refrigerator and pantry by participating in Money Saving Mom & Life as Mom's Eat from the Pantry Challenge.  We accompished eating from our stockpile and survived the meal plan that I established with a few changes as the month progressed.  My biggest downfall is that I can't resist a good deal especially when it comes to Organic, Earth-friendly products!  Throughout the month I scored great deals on numberous deals on Organic produce, Muir Glen, Horizon, Method, Earth's Best and Seventh Generation products to name a few.  In total we spent $409.52 on groceries and household products for the month and since I grocery shopped on 1/29, this will also strech into February.  We are going to continue to eat from our stockpile in February, however I'm not going to meal plan again for the entire month.  We will use what we have on hand, buy what we need and find exceptional deals on . . . basically back to the plan that I've used for the last few years.  Bottom line is, we will continue to purchase as much Organic and Earth-friendly products as the budget will allow, meal plan to keep us organized in our busy household and provide our children with the best start in life we can when it comes to keeping it natural, green, sustainable, organic, local or however we might choose to say it!

Here's the master list of what we bought in January 2010:

If you take out all the paper products and diapers purchased at the beginning of the month, we were at $307.09 for primarily food and some personal products.  Our typical grocery budget is $250.  We'll see how we do in February and post the final totals again here.

Sustainable Saturday - Recycling Childrens' Clothing

Children grow entirely too fast and for those of us living in parts of the country where we see temperature swings from -10 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, children's clothing can amass in ridiculous quantities. I have saved all of the clothing from both of our children since their birth, but the amount of storage space required in our house to do so is becoming quite daunting. I have done so because we weren't sure how many children we might have and thought that it would be worthwhile to hang onto things for at least a few years. Several months ago my neighbor and I did a clothing swap. She took all my old girl clothes since my daughter is now 3 (she has a 1 month old little girl) and I took all her boy clothes (Her son is 3 and mine is 1). It was a great way to recycle or reuse clothing, saved us both hundreds of dollars on clothing that our children will wear for a very short period of time.

Excerpt from Guide to Recycling Infant Clothing & Gear:

There's nothing more beautiful than a baby, but if you're on a budget, there's nothing pretty about how fast they grow. Indeed, all too many parents have a drawer full of clothes that were worn only a few times before their little one grew too big. Add shoes, toys, and all the other early childhood equipment that becomes obsolete before its time, and chances are you've got a pile of like-new items that you can't use anymore.

For those with even the barest eco-conscience, it's a Brobdingnagian waste of Lilliputian proportions. Here's how you can turn your collection of outgrown items into a force for good:

- Buy only what you need!
- If you underestimate, you can always supplement later.
- Seek used items wherever possible. There is a wide variety of nearly-new goods available, and buying used lets you conserve everything from raw materials to energy. And you'll save money, too.
- Garage sales, consignment shops, and other local used clothing stores are great sources for pre-owned stuff.
- There are also several online resources. Check Baby Place for a long list of shops selling gently used necessities.

You can read more here.

Originally published February 2009.

Newman's Own Coupons - NEW!

In addition to the coupons available on Newman's Own website, redplum has also released a $0.50/1 coupon here.

Newman's Own coupons available here!

$1/2 on any TWO Newman's Own dressings, marinades, pasta sauces, salsa, popcorns or drinks.
$1/1 on any ONE Newman's Own thin and crispy pizza
$1/1 on any ONE sweet enough cereal

Whole Foods Market® - Bundle Deals?

I've seen this deal reported on several blogs. If you want to confirm if your store is participating go to Whole Foods, select your store, then click on calendar on the left side of the screen under welcome.

Here are the details of this Bundle promotion for the Austin (Gateway), Texas Whole Foods which runs thru Wednesday, Jan. 27th:

Wednesday, January 20th through Wednesday, January 27th
BUY ONE POUND OF DELI COUNTER DIESTEL OVEN ROASTED TURKEY BREAST AND GET THE ITEMS BELOW FREE!!

Store Hours - 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

We have great news for you and it's a very special bundle deal!!

Come to Whole Foods Market Gateway and purchase one pound of Deli Counter, Diestel, Oven Roasted TURKEY BREAST and receive all of the items below for FREE:

1.) Deli Counter - CHEDDAR CHEESE - 1/2 Pound

2.) Whole Foods Market Bakehouse - LIL' LOAF OF BREAD - (Honey Wheat, Soft White or Whole Wheat)

3.) 365 Everyday Value - BAGGED APPLES - 5 Count Bag ~ Assorted Varieties

Take advantage of this amazing offer and be ready for your lunches and meals for the upcoming week. Be sure to tell your friends and neighbors!!

If you want to see if your store is participating, check out your store website or call.

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals

You can check out all of Whole Foods Market® Hot Deals here.  These prices are valid from Jan. 27th thru Feb. 2nd.

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Whole Foods Market® 85/15 Lean Ground Beef
Sale! $2.99 lb
Reg. $4.49 lb

Air Chilled Whole Chicken
Sale! $1.49 lb
Reg. $2.29 lb

Chile Organic Blueberries (1 pint)
Sale! $3.99 ea
Reg. $499 ea

Mexico Avocados
Sale! 10 for $10
Reg. $1.69 ea

Wild Caught, MSC Certified Coho Salmon Fillet Previously Frozen
Sale! $8.99 lb
Reg. $11.99 lb

Whole Foods Market® Traditional Guacamole Dip (11 oz)
Sale! $3.99 ea
Reg. $5.99 ea

Health Valley® Canned Chili (15 oz)Select Varieties
Sale! 2 for $4
Reg. $2.69 ea

Route 11 Potato Chips (6 oz)Assorted Varieties
Sale! 2 for $4
Reg. $2.99 ea

Back to Nature Juice Boxes
SALE 2 for $8
$1/1 coupon available here

Siggi’s Icelandic Style Fat Free Yogurt
SALE 2 for $4

Muir Glen Organic Soups 14.5-14.9 oz.
Vegetable Varieties SALE 2 for $4
Chicken & Beef Varieties SALE 2 for $5
$1/2 coupon available here
$1/2 coupon availalbe here

Nature's Path Organic Hot Oatmeal 11.3-14 oz.
SALE 2 for $5

Roberts American Gourmet Puffed Snacks Assorted Flavors 3.5-5.5 oz.
SALE 2 for $4

Menu Plan Monday

January 24 thru 30 Menu:
Sunday, Jan. 24 - Minestrone soup w/ pasta Dinner out
Monday, Jan. 25 - Salmon cakes, salad, bread & brie
Tuesday, Jan. 26 - Crockpot Sweet & Sour Pork
Wednesday, Jan. 27 - Beef Tacos, fruit
Thursday, Jan. 28 - Leftovers
Friday, Jan. 29 - Ricotta & spinach stuffed shells, salad Homemade whole wheat pizza
Saturday, Jan. 30 - Pork chops w/ apples & onions, rice, applesauce Ricotta & spinach stuffed shells, salad, garlic bread

I’m an Organizing Junkie is home to Menu Plan Monday.

Eat from the Pantry Challenge - January 2010 Update

Well it's the end of the third week and we are still going. We were able to go a whole week without running out of milk! My son drinks it like it's going out of style. :)

I changed some things up here and there.  Here's the update:

January Breakfast Menu:
Oatmeal
Banana pancakes, breakfast sausage
Cereal, fruit
Ham, broccoli, egg casserole
Egg, hashbrown, sausage casserole
Zucchini muffins
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins
Homemade granola bars

January Lunch Menu:
Leftovers
Ham & Potato soup
Chicken & noodles
Hot dogs, mac & cheese, peas
Crackers, peanut butter, raisins, apples
PP&J, celery sticks, apple
Soups (Tomato, Chicken Noodle, Minestrone) & grilled cheese
Yogurt
Fruit

January 1 thru 9 Menu:
Friday, Jan. 1 - Rose Bowl parties
Saturday, Jan. 2 - Leftover pasta w/ peppers, garlic bread and salad
Sunday, Jan. 3 - Crockpot Chili w/ cornbread
Monday, Jan. 4 - Chicken, vegetables, pineapple stir fry with rice.
Tuesday, Jan. 5 - Sausage with peppers and pasta Everyone liked this new to us recipe!
Wednesday, Jan. 6 - Chicken enchiladas, fruit
Thursday, Jan. 7 - Leftovers
Friday, Jan. 8 - Dinner out
Saturday, Jan. 9 - Dinner at a friend's house

January 10 thru 16 Menu:
Sunday, Jan. 10 - Roasted Pork tenderloin, corn casserole, applesauce
Monday, Jan. 11 - Pineapple & Mandarin Orange Chicken w/ rice Dinner at a friend's house
Tuesday, Jan. 12 - Barbeque pulled pork (leftovers from Sunday) sandwiches, peas & carrots, fruit Sloppy joes, fries, fruit
Wednesday, Jan. 13 - Hamburgers with jalapeno cheese & guacamole, chips & salsa, fruit Pineapple & Mandarin Orange Chicken w/ rice
Thursday, Jan. 14 - Leftovers Hamburgers with jalapeno cheese & guacamole, chips & salsa, fruit
Friday, Jan. 15 - Dinner out for Grandma's Birthday
Saturday, Jan. 16 - Leftovers

January 17 thru 23 Menu:
Sunday, Jan. 17 - Scalloped potatoes & ham, fruit Tilapa, fish sticks for the kids, salad, broccoli and bread
Monday, Jan. 18 - Chicken & noodles, fruit
Tuesday, Jan. 19 - Pork chops, applesauce, rice
Wednesday, Jan. 20 - Baby Greens with Avocados & Pears
Roasted Red & Green Pepper Quesadillas
Thursday, Jan. 21 - Leftovers We ordered pizza.
Friday, Jan. 22 - Homemade pizza with pepperoni & green peppers Whole wheat spaghetti with italian sausage in a red sauce, salad and bread with brie
Saturday, Jan. 23 - Swedish meatballs w/ pasta, salad Dinner at my parents' house

January 24 thru 30 Menu:
Sunday, Jan. 24 - Minestrone soup w/ pasta Dinner out
Monday, Jan. 25 - Salmon cakes, salad, bread & brie
Tuesday, Jan. 26 - Crockpot Sweet & Sour Pork
Wednesday, Jan. 27 - Beef Tacos, fruit
Thursday, Jan. 28 - Leftovers
Friday, Jan. 29 - Ricotta & spinach stuffed shells, salad Homemade whole wheat pizza
Saturday, Jan. 30 - Pork chops w/ apples & onions, rice, applesauce Ricotta & spinach stuffed shells, salad, garlic bread

January 31 thru ??? Menu:
Sunday, Jan. 31 - Shepard's Pie, fruit
Monday, Feb. 1 - Swedish meatballs, salad, fruit
Tuesday, Feb. 2 - Barbeque pulled pork sandwiches, peas & carrots, fruit
Wednesday, Feb. 3 - Homemade minestrone soup, bread
Thursday, Feb. 4 - Homemade whole wheat pizza with pepperoni and green peppers