Time To Face The Music

Well, it's the end of the month and I need to see just where I stand with my challenge. So far this year, I have spent $682.02, but, have received $131.93 back in rebates, for a total cash outlay of $550.09. It should only be $400 right now. I've got to really buckle down. I have used a total of $1,659.06 in Qs, store cards, store-specific GC. I think, considering the rebates reducing the amount of cash outlay, I'm at 76.5% savings overall.

I'm also staying pretty well within my $50 per month in eating out. I think this month was $50 and a few pennies. Some months have been over, most under, so, I'm not exchanging eating out for shopping less for groceries.

I'm going to have to get my spending down to about $80 per month for the rest of the year to reach my goal. So far, I have not exhibited the ability to do that! I'm determined to get there, though.

I Haven't Fallen Off The Earth!

I apologize for not checking in with you more often. My time has been taken up with my dad, getting him to his treatments and doctors' appointments, and, of course, visiting with him more and more. We will get the news Tuesday afternoon if the chemo has done any good or if it is the end of treatment.

You know, I get sticker shock every time I buy a loaf of bread. I can never find anything for less than $2 and most of the time it's more like $2.39 or more. So, I have started making my own. I had some false starts a couple or three weeks ago and the loaves came out inedible. I've fine-tuned my recipe and I'm getting a much better product. The only bad thing about it is that since there are no preservatives in my bread, it only lasts about 3 days or so. I have loads of bread flour, yeast, and all the rest of the ingredients, so, I am able to use up quite a bit of stockpile items.

I'm not doing as well as I'd hoped with my cash outlay every month. Last month, I figured that I would have to cut down to $75 a month for the rest of the year to make my goal. I've gone over that by $100 this month. I just bought 42 lbs. of cat litter today. Walgreens had a great price, I had Qs, and some RR to use. I did buy some other things there. Sometimes the deals are just so good that you can't pass them up.

I haven't been eating much lately. My appetite just comes and goes. I'm trying to eat all the stuff in the fridge and I am always looking over stockpile to see what I can make that's quick and easy. Most of the time, though, I just say, "forget it."

I think I may have mentioned last week that I cleaned out the closets and gave away all my clothes that no longer fit. The rescue mission was thrilled to get them. I think there were 93 articles of clothing, plus I gave them a lot of toiletry items. Since I cleaned out my closet, I realized that I had nothing to wear! I didn't have a single pair of shorts and only a couple of pair of jeans and a pair of wool slacks. Now, I've probably mentioned this before, but, I HATE to clothes shop. I was slightly inspired to go looking the other day and went to America's Thrift Store. I like that store because they have very good quality clothes with nothing wrong with them. I bought 6 pair of shorts, 4 pair of capris, and 3 pair of dress slacks. My friend gave me 19 tops of all varieties and seasons for Christmas, so, I am set for the next 5 years! Oh, I should mention that for the 13 garments I purchased, I paid a total of $35. That's my kind of shopping.

When I find great frozen food deals and stock up, sometimes I have to store them at my dad's in his extra fridge in the basement. The last time I got a good deal (BOGOF + double Qs) on bacon, I bought about 15 pounds or so. I had to store it at Dad's. Now, my dad has never been really big on eating bacon, but, since he's been sick, he's had a taste for eggs and bacon at any and every hour of the day. I told him to help himself to all that was in the freezer at his house. I guess that I could count all the bacon he's using as part of my daily goal of using 3 stockpile items, right? I'm just happy that he's eating. He's lost a lot of weight since his diagnosis.

Later this week I will figure up my costs and savings so far this year. I got several free glucose meters with Qs and with each one I redeemed, I got a free Q for Crest toothpaste. Then, I heard of someone over at Hot Coupon World who works at a vet's office where they serve a lot of clients who don't have much money. When she said she was gathering blood glucose meters to give to clients there, I knew just what to do with all these. It was a bit pricey to mail 9 glucose meters to her, but, I was happy to do it to help out pet owners who want to do the best they can for their animals, but, may not have the money to do all they can for them.

I scored $50 in CVS GC with prescription purchases a couple of days ago. I just wish that their deals were as good this week as Walgreens. I don't have a GC for Walgreens right now and that's where I shopped this morning. That's O.K. It will all even out in the end.

I Think This Is Working

It's been relatively easy to find 3 things from stockpile each day that I can use immediately. I just have to make a conscious effort to do it. Today, so far, it's been paper plates and bowls. I'll pull something out for dinner, maybe more than one. That would be great.

I think I've mentioned that I've lost a lot of weight in the past couple of years. I had a lot of very nice clothes in the XL, 1X, XXL, and 2X range. I got busy a few days ago, laundered everything, ironed what needed, made sure there were no missing buttons, broken zippers, ripped seams, etc. and packaged them up. While I was at it, I boxed up a lot of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, women's products, and soap. I took it all down to the rescue mission today. The head of the women's ministry was thrilled to get it. She told me that she had 11 women in the full-time rehab program and another half dozen who often came to spend the night. She said that the majority of women with whom she has the most contact wear just those sizes.

If I am any measure of an average woman, I take for granted that I will always have a bottle of shampoo or a toothbrush or a bar of soap. These homeless and marginalized women don't even know where their next meal is coming from, much less having their own bottle of shampoo. I hope that I have caused one woman today to feel loved and cared for.

I received a little surprise in the mail today. Neilson wants to know what I watch on TV and with the TV diary they sent, there were also 5 crisp, new $1 bills. I will probably keep up with my TV watching and send it back in. I know they give away a lot of money to people who won't follow up. I guess that $5 just makes me feel obligated!

Using Stockpile--Really!

My plan to use 3 things from stockpile each day seems to be working. I confess that it was pretty easy a couple of days ago. I was preparing to go out of town and upon checking my bag, found that I was out of a couple of travel sized toiletries. I was able to replenish my bag and use some stockpile. I also took a bottle of facial cleanser out of stockpile. I will be using that for quite a while.

I was out of town for a couple of days, so, I think I am excused from using stockpile when I'm not here!

Practice makes perfect, or so they say. I confessed my absolutely horrid luck at making bread a few days ago. I made 2 loaves, both terrible. Well, I finally got it right yesterday. I baked a loaf of white bread and added just about an extra tablespoon of water, getting a feather-light bread with a nice brown crust. I might even try the raisin bread again, this time with a bit more water. I really like a scrambled egg sandwich on raisin bread with dill pickles, and, no, I am not pregnant!

A Disaster In The Kitchen

I was in the mood to cook today. Started off by making a loaf of raisin bread. I opened a new jar of honey, so, one item from stockpile. The bread turned out to be a small, hard lump. I cut into it; it was not done in the middle but burnt on the outside. Score one for the birds. I had purchased a Boboli pizza crust the other day. Had a coupon, no other reason. So, the bread's not worth eating, nixes the idea of a sandwich, so, I make a pizza. Boboli crust was nice and firm. I took a pouch of Ragu out of stockpile. I also took some pepperoni out of the freezer for the pizza. I'm not going to tell you how long that pepperoni has been in my freezer, you might freak out. So, another item from stockpile. When I bought the Boboli, I knew I would need shredded cheese, so, I bought that. Put the pizza together, put it in the oven until the cheese was nice and bubbly. Crust was so dough-y that I couldn't hold a slice. Also, a fork wouldn't cut it, it was so soft. Tasted terrible. Score one for the cats. I now have a loaf of white bread in the bread machine. If this doesn't turn out well, I'm not going to cook for a week!

I'm sure when Paula Deen started cooking, she made a few flops. I'm not so bummed out by everything turning out poorly as I am that I still haven't had enough to eat! I'm going to take a nap and I'd better have an edible loaf of bread when I wake up!

Oh, yeah, I had several slices of bacon in the fridge that had been there for several days. Even in Tupperware, it doesn't last forever. So, I cooked it all and put it in a baggie and stuck it back in the fridge. Maybe if the bread turns out, I can make a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich later. If the bread doesn't turn out right, I'm going to give up for the day. I can eat the bacon in the morning with some oatmeal. That's one thing I've never ruined. How can you mess up oatmeal? You put a 1/3 cup of quick oats in a bowl, stir in 2/3 cup water, and stick it in the microwave for 2 minutes. I'd have to be a real idiot to go wrong with that.

Meeting "Quota"

I'm revising the stockpile rule. If it's been opened, it is not from stockpile, so, it doesn't count toward my daily quota. That means the coffee that is already open and the cereal already open don't count as I had said earlier.

I was able to use many stockpile items yesterday when I made hamburger vegetable soup. I used 2 cans of broth, a box of Lipton onion soup mix, a can of tomato sauce, and a bag of frozen veggies. I had purchased the ground beef just a few days ago, planning to make this soup. I used a couple of other fresh produce items, too. I was able to use up a couple of things out of the fridge; a jar of minced garlic and the balance of a quart of chicken broth. I used a pouch of cornbread mix, too. I guess it's fair to say that I used 6 stockpile items yesterday.

I have so much soup left over that it's going to be a challenge to use 3 things out of stockpile today!

I'm going to be out of town Tuesday and Wednesday, so, I guess that excuses me from using stockpile items then. I'm going to be 1/2 mile from a Harris Teeter where they double up to .99 Qs. I PROMISE I will not go. It will kill me, but, I'm not going.

A New Approach?

I was doing pretty well there for awhile, using stockpile items and not adding to it much. I've kind of let it get out of hand again, so, here's what I think I should do; each day, use at least 3 things out of stockpile. Now, it might not be the whole thing, such as a bottle of meat marinade or something like that, but, every day, I will use at least 3 items from stockpile. Today, so far, I have used 2 things; a can of soup and a stack of crackers. Oh, I did have cereal this morning and that is definitely out of stockpile, so, hey! I made it already today. In fact, I have coffee stockpiled to the moon. I have that every morning, so, actually, I had 4 things today. Good for me!

I made a banana pudding and a loaf of banana-nut-raisin bread yesterday for my dad. I'm trying to fatten him up a bit. I think he's lost some weight. No wonder, with the chemotherapy and such. It's hard for him to eat.

My store is having an Easter promotion. With each purchase of at least $35, you get a "ham point." You must have 7 to redeem for your free ham by Sunday. I have 6 ham points. I was able to get most of them without much cash outlay. I was using a bunch of free Qs to run the total up to $35. This means I'm either going to have to spend something on the order of $35 tomorrow, or lose 6 ham points. You know I hate to do that. I can always use cat food, so, I think I will go tomorrow, get a couple of big bags of cat food, some litter, and get my free ham.

Oh, I should mention I've already redeemed for one free ham and cooked it last week for my dad. I've just had so many free Qs that it seemed a shame not to put them to good use to get a free ham (or two!).