S.O.S: Holler at Saving a Dollar!

Ya'll know how much I love Summer Vacation. I mean seriously I get to be a full time mommy, wife, and writer! No other responsibilities, though trust me I keep very busy with just those! But during the school year I am a teacher. A paid teacher. I do not get a salary of any kind in the summer, so I used to stress about that.

This year? Not so much! Do you know why? Every year we have proved to get by just fine. Yes, the husband works hard and sometimes harder in the summer to compensate but our bills are all paid, there is food on the table, and more than a time or two we are on an excursion to have fun in the sun!

With that said, this is one of those slim and trim weeks and for just a spit second I got a bit concerned about what and how I was going to feed the family. Sure, we have savings ~ no big deal, but we really do not like using it unless we need to. Guess what!? This week we do not need to!

I sat down yesterday morning and began to begin listing the "fixings" for meals that I already had on hand. For the moment, it was not my intention to go to the grocery store until Monday. As I began listing things I was able to come up with a tasty dinner menu that included some new recipes as well as some old (and simple) favorites. I made the grocery list for the few things I would need and decided what the heck, I would go to a discount grocery store that I do not often frequent and see how good we could come out. Who knew?! I did fantastic!

Here is what I bought from our local Joe V's:

Frozen Chicken Strips (kid's lunches) 2.97
4 Pack Totinos Frozen Cheese Pizzas 4.17
1 shredded cheddar cheese (2 cup bag) 1.77
Hickory Bacon (1 lb) 2.97
1 1/2 pound sirloin tip (for stir fry) 5.44
Oscar Meyer Chopped ham 2.37
Green onions .50
18 ct Eggs 3.42
Grands Biscuits 8 ct 1.38
Grands Biscuits 8 ct 1.38
Blueberry Muffin Mix .58
Blueberry Muffin Mix .58
1 Gallon Whole Milk 1.98
Family size Rice A Roni chicken Rice 1.68
Red Lobster Biscuit Mix 1.97
Red Lobster Biscuit Mix 1.97
4lb bag of sugar 1.84
Whataburger Spicy Ketchup 2.00
HEB Splenda 100ct 1.88
1 8 oz can of Mushroom pieces 1.08
Baking Cups 1.28
1 lb rice 1.08
Rotel Diced Tomatoes .88
Rotel Diced Tomatoes .88
1 lb bag of Shell pasta .58
Zipper Freezer Bags Gallon Size (40 ct) 1.88
10 lb bag of potatoes 2.74
Canned green beans .62
Canned green beans .62
Folgers Classic Coffee 3.47
5 lb All Purpose Flour 1.48
Honey Wheat Bread 1.85
White Bread 1.78
24 ct Ozarka Water 3.33
8 ct Powerade 3.78

Total: 68.75 (without tax 68.18)

Here is our dinner menu for the week:
Friday:Bacon grilled Cheese  & Ramen Noodles (or Tomato Soup)
Saturday: Chicken Fried Steak, French Fries, Gravy, Salad, Biscuits, and Gravy
Sunday: Roasted Chicken Thighs w/ roasted veggies, Chicken Rice, salad, and "The Best" ever rolls
Monday: Beef & Broccoli over Spicy Noodles or left over rice from night before
Tuesday: Goulash & Cornbread
Wednesday: Hamburger Steak w/ gravy over mashed potatoes, corn and green beans.
Thursday: Homemade Cheeseburger macaroni (shells really) & garlic knots

For dessert this week I will be making:
Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter Chip cookies
Smores

As you see my family is NOT going to go hungry. In fact, they will be eating very well and really will have no clue that they are eating on a slim grocery budget. We did already have some of the meat in our freezer (burger meat, chicken thighs, hamburger steaks), and staples on hand and this is why I do that! It is easy to pull together a menu when you keep a set amount of regularly used items in your pantry and freezer. This was also a week I did not need any pet supplies, cleaning supplies, nor paper goods.