Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts

Thursday, September 04, 2014

A Month of Meals: The Shopping List

So far we have our menu and our recipes. Today it is time to go shopping. It is good to plan the menu a bit to the shopping. If you know that a recipe calls for half a bag of frozen veggies you might as well make it twice or select another meal that will use the rest. You can't buy half a bag after all and it keeps costs down if you buy 1 bag instead of 2 bags in which only half is used. shopping

A few notes on my shopping list. We generally buy Kraft because their company is always upfront about gluten in their information. You can certainly get some of these things for less if you do not need gluten free. Also, I don't have milk on my list. I didn't even think about it. My mom does daycare and always has a ton of milk on hand. We have bought maybe 2 gallons of milk since we moved in. You can save by buying dry beans and rehydrating yourself. We just don't have the option for so much cooking. I also bought my pesto in two small jars. You could save a lot by making it yourself or doing a pesto sauce mix. Let's dive into the list now.
A Month of Meals Shopping List

 

Can Aisle

$1.58 Can Tomatoes and Peppers (Rotel) $.79 X 2

$1.58 Can Black Beans $.79 X 2

$6.36 Can Pineapple Tidbits $1.59 X 4

$1.58 Can Tomato Sauce 15 oz $.79 X 2

$6.16 Can Tuna $.77 X 12

$1.99 Sweet and Sour Sauce $1.99 X 1

$1.99 Ranch Dressing $1.99 X 1

$3.96 Italian Dressing $.99 X 4

$2.98 BBQ Sauce $1.49 X 2

 

$28.18 Can Aisle Total

 

Dry Goods

$5.98 Small Jar Pesto $2.99 X 2

$4.76 Box Au Gratin Potatoes $1.19 X 4

$5.97 Box Pasta $1.99 X 3

$7.98 Fritos Corn Chips $3.39 X 2

$4.09 Sushi Rice $4.09 X 1

$2.99 Parmesan Cheese $2.99 X 1

$2.69 Soy Sauce $2.69 X 1

$6.36 Corn Tortillas $1.59 X 4

$11.16 Box Cereal $2.79 X 4

$24.00 Oatmeal $6.00 X4 (We buy our gluten free oatmeal on Amazon)

$1.49 Jar Spaghetti Sauce $1.49 X 1

 

$84.25 Dry Goods Total

$112.43 Total so far

 

Cooler/Deli

$11.97 Hamburger (or other ground meat) $3.99 X 3 lb

$3.98 Cream Cheese $1.99 X 2

$4.99 Shredded Mozzarella 16 oz $4.99 X 1

$8.89 Shredded Cheddar (fine shread goes farther) 32 oz $8.89 X 1

$2.99 Cottage Cheese 24 oz $2.99 X 2

 

$32.82 Cooler/Deli total

$145.25 Total so far

 

Freezer

$20.97 Bag Frozen Chicken Tenderloins $6.99 X 3

$3.87 Frozen Green Beans (2 cut, 1 sliced) $1.29 X 3

$3.98 Frozen Corn 32 oz $1.99 X 2

$5.96 Frozen Stir Fry Veggies $1.49 X 4

$1.99 Frozen Broccoli $1.99 X 1

$23.96 kinnikinnick Donuts $5.99 X 4

 

$60.73 Freezer Total

$205.98 Grand Total for Meals

If you are eating 3 meals a day you are done for a grand total of $205.98 for your month! This leaves plenty of room in our family's $300 budget to add some of our favorite snacks. On our snack list we have the makings of meat and cheese topped rice cakes, veggies and dip, and apples and peanut butter. I also added in a head of leaf lettuce each week to add to our meals and use in taco salad the days we make our taco filling. So here is the rest of my shopping trip with our snacks included.
Snacks

$8.00 Rice Cakes $2.00 X 4

$9.98 Deli Meat (to be frozen in 4 bags) $4.99 X 2 lbs

$11.98 Sliced Deli Cheese (to be frozen in 4 bags) $5.99 X 2 lbs

$9.96 Fresh Cut Broccoli $2.49 X 4 Buy Weekly

$9.96 Fresh Cut Cauliflower $2.49 X 4 Buy Weekly

3.98 Dressing as Dip $1.99 X 2

$11.92 Apples $1.49 X 8 lbs Buy 2 Lbs (roughly 4 apples) weekly

$5.36 Peanut Butter $2.68 X 2

$5.16 Leaf Lettuce $1.29 X 4 Buy Weekly

 

$76.30 Snack Total

$282.28 Grand Total

Our grand total with snacks is $282.28. We are still $17.72 under budget. I am more than willing to admit that our snack costs are quite high. You could probably cut that back a lot but I am not worried about splurging because we are under budget.

It took me about an hour to wander around getting all these prices and doing the math. Now that I have my prices I can refer to them later to make my budgeting faster in the future. I will probably add these items and prices into my grocery app to make it even easier as I can make up my shopping list in it and it will add everything up for me and even sort by food type making my shopping trip super fast.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="230"]Mighty Grocery Shopping List Free Mighty Grocery Shopping List Free I have the paid version but they have a free version now![/caption]

What are some of your go to snacks? I would love to see that go down a bit.

You can find the rest of the series here.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Awesome Shopping

I have done some pretty awesome shopping lately, for a woman who does very little of it. I have to share because I couldn't not!

First up is What's in the Bible. I have already given a rave review of the entire old testament set, but we recently got the Why Do We Call it Christmas DVD and Everyday Emmanuel Advent book. I am as impressed as ever! The DVD answers pretty much every question a person could have about the Christmas season. It is very fun and informative and will likely be watched over and over till I pack it away with the other Christmas movies in January. Everyday Emmanuel is an e-book. I printed the entire thing,  which is somewhere around 90 pages, because I didn't want to read it all on the computer. I cannot wait to use it. It includes instructions to make a very easy and inexpensive pocket countdown calendar. It includes prayers, songs, and devotions for advent Sundays  There are big question days that include videos that can be found online if you have purchased the book. There are lots of activities like baking cookies and activity sheets. We are very excited to make ours and it will be great to use every year! You can save 20% at this link: http://whatsinthebible.extole.com/a/clk/2pWM73


Exciting shopping #2 is Zulily. They have a $10 credit waiting for anyone who is a new member and it can be used till the 27th. As of posting this they have magazine subscriptions with no shipping. I was able to get little guy a 1 year subscription to Ranger Rick Jr for FREE! That is right in my price range! You can find Zulily here: http://www.zulily.com/invite/mmorgan5791

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Holiday Showcase: Fischer Images

It's time for another showcase! Today is Fischer Images, fine art photography by my fantastically creative Aunt.


Where can we find you?

What is life like in your studio?
My studio is my home office. I have some of my favorite englargements on the walls for inspiration.It is well organized,so I have no distractions when working or creating.
My favorite giftable item in my shop would have to be my book markers, they are waterproof & last almost forever! They can be custom made to fit ages 4 to 99 ! All though all my prints would make great gifts also,with many to choose from.
I love homemade things, knowing that someone put their heart into making it, & knowing I am getting quality work!

Share a handmade gift anyone can make.
These card notes are easy to make & anyone can make them. Take your favorite 4x6 inch photo print. Get some cardstock, sold at most department stores & craft stores. Fold in half, mount (double-sided tape) your picture on the cardstock, Cut any extra cardstock away.(Giving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch border).Personalize your card. Ta-Da you are done!
Here is the link to one of my favorite..http://www.etsy.com/listing/103034715/live-laugh-love-card-fine-art?ref=pr_shop

Is there anything else you would like to share?
I live in south-west Wisconsin, I enjoy the beautiful scenery all year long. My husband & I have been married for 32 years. We have two wonderful children, & they have blest us with 5 beautiful grandchildren. They all are the joys of my life!
Linda Fischer on Etsy

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Holiday Showcase: Our Children's Earth


Today we are visiting Our Children's Earth, enjoy!

Where can we find you?Website: www.ourchildrensearth.org
Etsy: www.etsy.com/people/ourchildrensearth
Ethical Community: www.ethicalcommunity.com/shop/our-childrens-earth
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Childrens-Earth/109367279088893
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/rchildrensearth
Blog: ourchildrensearth.wordpress.com/ 
Pintrest: pinterest.com/rchildrensearth/

What is life like in your studio?Our studio is full of a huge variety of items. I like to figure out how to make new things so I am constantly coming up with new creations or gifts. Some days, I want to sew so I make our Recycled Sweater Coats or reusable sandwich bags, some days I want to make jewelry so I make our bottle cap earring or vintage record jewelry, some days (ok most days on this one) I love to shop and find awesome vintage items or supplies at Thrift Stores, Yard sales or from friends. Our shop has become this great eclectic place to find treasures and our studio definitely reflects this.

What is your favorite giftable in your shop?I love our Recycled Crayons. They come in a huge variety of shapes and colors. That way you can give them for any occasion. The thing that is great about them is that children and adults love them.
www.etsy.com/listing/89821868/recycled-heart-crayons-hearts-weddings

Why is handmade important to you?I think that we lose the heart in items when we just make them by machine or from someone who just clocks in to work and does not care about the outcome of the products. There is truly something magical about creating an item from designing it to actually finishing the product. I love to support other artists also since I know how long it can take to make something. The other great thing about homemade is that it gives us a chance to use Eco Friendly products and recycle. Like we only use water based glue in our shop but if it was mass produced I am sure many of products would be made with harmful chemicals.

Share a handmade gift anyone can make.I love our Button Hair Accessories:
www.etsy.com/transaction/59306119
These are fun and easy to make. 
1. Get a hair barrette from the craft store.
2. Find some great vintage buttons or use old buttons off shirts that you can't wear anymore
3. Take your glue gun and glue the buttons onto the barrette. Becareful not to burn yourself and do this over newspaper incase the glue drips off the barrette.
4. To add something fun you can also glue material or ribbon on the barrette to create some fun designs.

Is there anything else you would like to share?We can all make a difference in the world. It can be little or big, it is up to us to make the world the way we dream it should be.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

What's in Your Lunch?

Pirate pack collection

School starts today for the public schools in our town. Many kids will bring their lunch boxes for that first lunch of the school year. So what is inside? I bet there will be a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit snacks, chips and crackers. There is one main thing that will be in most of those lunches, garbage! A lot of it too. When I grew up each thing I ate came packaged in some kind of plastic that ended up in the trash when I was done eating. It is one of the main reasons that I designed the lunch packs. Since we don't go to school, we use our for picnics and long car trips. Here is a clip from our listings:

"Pack your lunch box with flair with our complete lunch pack. Not only will lunch time be fun, it will also be environmentally friendly. Your set includes 1 sandwich sized bag, 1 snack size bag, and 1 coordinating napkin for complete lunch time packaging that is entirely reusable. The bags close and open easily with the traditional sandwich bag closure. The outside of each bag is 100% cotton and the interior is nylon. The napkin is 2 sided cotton. All 3 pieces are machine washable. Do not wash or dry any warmer than warm. Hot water or dryer air can melt the nylon and that’s just no good. They can also be brushed out or wiped out and reused between washings."

Halloween pack collection
 School may have started, but it is not too late to make your child's lunch the coolest, and greenest, in school. So stop by the shop and see what is available, and feel free to ask what other colors we have that are not listed yet!

thecrazyelephantboutique.com

Thursday, August 18, 2011

3 Day Birthday Sale

We are running a 3 day birthday sale! The sale runs from Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st with the 20th being The Crazy Elephant's 2nd birthday. We got a great reaction last time, so we have decided to do a 50% off sale! The sale will run in both our shops this time. At thecrazyelephantboutique.com the prices will reflect the discount. On our etsy page you will need to use the coupon code HAPPY2TCE. So go browse and plan you weekend shopping trip!

P.S. Please bear with me when you stop at my artfire page, since my computer broke down I have not been able to make my new banner yet, Thanks.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Last Zumbrota Block Party

The last Zumbrota block party of the year is this thursday! We will be there, by we I mean all 3 of us! The mini crayon rolls will be present and accounted for. We will also be bringing Adam's adorable knitted hats. With the weather getting cooler, the knitted goodies will be poping back up. Stop on by Zumbrota, MN this thursday from 5pm-8pm and check us out! It is supposed to be sunny so the rain can't keep you away!

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Sale at My Place...Stop on By!

This Friday and Saturday, I am hosting a garage sale to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. I will also have The Crazy Elephant and Michelle Morgan Original Art present and 10% of those sales will still go toward our ADA fundraising. If you are in the Stewartville, MN area on those days, you will find us on hwy 30 near St. John's and we will be open from (roughly) 8am - 5pm both days. In the meantime, check out the picks for a small sampling of what we will have. 10% of our online purchases are still going toward our ADA fundraising through the 14th so there is still time to make an order. Also you can make a tax deductible donation on their site here, http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/MinnesotaArea?px=6679453&pg=personal&fr_id=7583



Sunday, April 17, 2011

Easter Basket Fillers Without Sugar!

It is a good idea to have a little less sugar, and all these items will help fill up the easter baskets without all the sweets. There are items for every age!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Wierd 2 Weeks

With our show last Saturday and one coming this Saturday as well, our schedule has been thrown for a loop. I spent most of last week getting ready for the women's expo and this week we started training for the Tour de Cure and I have been restocking on a few items I sold last week. The Crazy Elephant will be closed Friday through Sunday for the show this weekend (St Pius X in Rochester from 9-3) and next week I should back to listing and blogging as normal. The women's expo went well and I hope this weekend is just as good or even better. Shown is a photo from my display last week. This was also the premiere of Adam's sign holder. It was SO easy! I love it and the braided ribbons I did on the side helped it to look very nice.