Menu Plan Monday (or Tuesday)

Menu Plan Monday is hosted each week by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie. Check out her site for more menu ideas.

Sunday: I didn't make the sauerkraut chowder. We ate Chinese with friends. :)
Monday: Cheese Lover's Tuna Casserole
Tuesday: Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole (recipe below)
Wednesday: Homemade meatballs, mashed potatoes, peas
Thursday: Eric will be out of town, so we're having leftovers from the freezer!
Friday: Pizza night with fries
Saturday: Chicken Fried Rice
Sunday: Beef stew and corn bread


Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole:

2-3 cups chicken (you can used canned, but I prefer to boil chicken breasts)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream
1 sleeve of Ritz style butter crackers
1 stick of butter or margarine
poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350. Spread chopped chicken over the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking dish. In a separate bowl, combine cream of chicken soup and sour cream. Spread this over the chicken. Crush crackers ( I leave them in the bag to do this). Combine with 1 stick of melted butter. Spread this over the top. Sprinkle with poppy seeds (you can omit these and still have a delicious recipe, but it's not really poppy seed chicken). Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the top is lightly toasted and bubbly. Enjoy!

The Art of CVS-ing

How to master the art of CVS shopping:

1. Apply in store or online for a CVS ExtraCare card. If you apply online, you have to wait for CVS to mail the card, which can take up to two weeks. If you apply in the store, make sure you go online and register your card to your email address so you can get "special" savings.
2. Next, scan through the weekly sales ad and find what you need (or want). I do a quick run through first, paying special attention to anything with the "free after extra bucks" notation and the items that earn extra bucks. They will stand out in the ad, as they have a yellow rectangle indicating the price.
   
3. Then, I flip through my coupon list to see if I have any manufacturer's coupons that I can match to the items I have selected.
   
4. Next, I plan out my trip. This requires me to simply jot down what items I'm planning to purchase, what coupons I have, how many ECBs I will use, and what I should earn back.
   Having this sort of plan is very important. This way, if your cashier makes a mistake or something doesn't ring up correctly, you don't have to make a trip back to the store. It also allows you to get in and out in a minimal amount of time.
   
5. Work your magic.
   
6. ExtraCare Bucks, or ECBs, will print out at the end of your sale. These are just like cash, so store them in a safe place! And don't forget to use them. They expire 4 weeks from the date they're issued. You also earn 2% back on all purchases. This is issued quarterly.
   

Here's how I conduct my transactions:

• Allow cashier to ring up all products.
• Submit all CVS coupons (ex: $5 off $25 purchase).
• Submit all manufacturer's coupons.
• Submit any ECBs that I have.
• Pay for remainder and collect earned ECBs.

I hope this will help you master the art of CVS-ing.

My CVS Deals This Week!

CVS is great! I'm running by there on my way to scrapbooking tonight.

Here's what I'm getting:

1. Crest Pro Health Toothpaste ($3.49)
   
2. 4-12pks of Coke products ($12)
3. 2-Olay Quench lotions ($12)

That comes to: $27.49. I'll then use the $5 off a $25 purchase coupon they emailed me to bring the total to $22.49. Then, I'll use $1 coupon on the toothpaste and a $3 coupon on the lotion that can be found in the P&G Brandsavers book from this past Sunday. That will be $18.49. I have $9 in ECB from a previous visit which leaves me paying $9.49 OOP. But wait! I'll earn $11.49 in ECB to use on my next trip!

You certainly can't beat that!

My Biweekly trip from Sunday

Sorry this is a little late. I've had a crazy week!

This week was my first time to shop as a smart shopper at Publix. I got some decent deals, so I'll definitely be trying again.

Anyway, here goes.

My first stop was Publix:

• 3 cans of Chef Boyardee Pasta = Reg. $4.50, on sale for $3.00 less $0.35 coupon (doubled) = $2.30 ($0.76 each)
• 2 boxes of Nestle Cocoa = Reg. $3.98 - BOGO sale = $1.99 ($1.00 each) I had a coupon for this but, I lost it :(
• Quilted Northern Toilet Paper = Reg. $7.99, on sale for $6.49 - $1.00 Target coupon = $5.49. When I called the store, the lady who answered told me they doubled coupons up to $1, but what she meant was they doubled coupons up to $0.50 which = $1.00.
  

Regular Price: $16.47
Total OOP: $9.78 (41% savings)

After that, I headed to Aldi:

• 3 rolls of paper towels: $1.77
• 2 pizzas: $1.98
• celery: $0.99
• 2 loaves of bread: $1.58
• chicken tenderloins: $6.49
• onions: $1.49
• sloppy joe mix: $0.79
• 2 cans chicken: $3.58
• 2 cans of tuna: $1.14
• boneless pork chops: $4.15
• 2 gallons of milk: $4.98
• 2 packs of lunch meat: $2.98
• 2 boxes of macaroni: $0.70
• 2 packs of seasoning: $0.66
• apple juice: $1.65
• refrigerated crescent rolls: $1.49
• sugar: $1.99
• eggs: $1.19
• cinnamon crunch cereal: $1.89
• chex mix: $1.99
• nacho chips: $0.99
• cheese: $1.99
• margarine: $0.67

Total OOP: $47.13

Next stop, Walmart:

• 2 boxes of Red Diamond tea bags: Reg. $2.68 - matched Food Giant price = $1.96 - 2 coupons $0.50 each = $0.96 ($0.48 each)
• 2 bags of Kraft shredded cheese: Reg. $4.96 - sale price = $4.00 ($2.00 each)
• 2 Pillsbury cake mixes = Reg. $2.16 - sale price = $1.76

Regular Price: $9.80
Total OOP: $6.72 (31% savings)

Final stop, Target:

• Box of Luvs diapers: $15.99
• MP mustard: $0.77
• Campbell's potato soup: $1.47
  
• carton of Swanson chicken broth: Reg. $2.12 - sale $1.99 - $0.40 coupon doubled = $1.19
• Little Debbie cakes: $1.43
• Libby's pumpkin pie mix: $1.09
• Coffee Mate liquid creamer: Reg. $1.64 - sale $1.50 - $1.00 coupon = $0.50
• cotton balls: $0.97
• Ziploc bags: Reg: $1.10 - sale $0.85 - $0.75 coupon = $0.10

Regular Price: $26.58
Total OOP: $22.54 (16% savings)

I know it doesn't seem like I save a lot at Target, percentage wise, but that's mainly because I spend more there on diapers and things. And I like Target because they never give me any hassle about my internet coupons. Sometimes Walmart employees try to argue that they don't accept internet coupons, even though according to their posted coupon policy, they do accept them.

Anyway, I only spent $86.17 + tax on groceries this trip! That is well below our $120 biweekly budget!

What is still...

As posted on my pastor's blog this morning, I wanted to post this as a reminder to all of what will not CHANGE.

1. God will still be seated on His throne.
2. Man will still be unable to save himself.
3. Jesus Christ will still be the only way to heaven.
4. The Holy Spirit will still be calling men and women to repent.
5. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will still be saved.
6. The Bible will still be the sole authority for life.
7. God will still inhabit the praise of His people.
8. The church of Jesus Christ will still be in business.
9. There will still be room for JUST ONE MORE in the family of God.
10. The heavens will still continue to declare God’s glory.
11. The joy of the Lord will still be my strength.
12. The fear of the Lord will still be the beginning of knowledge.
13. The peace of God will still transcend all understanding.
14. The world will still be passing away along with its desires.
15. The fool will still say in his heart, “There is not God.”
16. The righteous will still live by faith.
17. The cross will still be foolishness to those who are perishing.
18. The cross will still be the power of God to those who are being saved.
19. The Kingdom of God will still be advancing forward.
20. The return of Jesus Christ will still be forthcoming.

Sola gracia,
Lisa

Menu Planning Monday

I stayed home from work Monday. Jaxson and I had some stomach bug that I won't go into any detail about. Anyway, here is our menu plan for this week. Better late than never!

Menu Plan Monday is hosted each week by Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Sunday: I didn't cook because we were sick.
Monday: Pizza night
Tuesday: Homemade chicken noodle soup (my first time to make and it was delicious!)
Wednesday: Teriyaki chicken stir fry
Thursday: Sloppy Joe Bake
Friday: Scrapbooking and Eric and Jaxson's Boys' Night Out which = Milo's
Saturday: Poppyseed chicken casserole
Sunday: Sauerkraut Chowder

Racking up at RiteAid!

This is my first week to shop at RiteAid, so I was a little disappointed when I found out the store most convenient to my house was closing. I perked up when I realized there was a location close to my workplace that I could visit! I really racked up some great deals at RiteAid today. Here's what I got:

• M&M's Fun Size Candy = $3.39, on sale for $1.88
• Snickers Fun Size Candy = $3.39, on sale for $1.88 - coupon for $1.00 off two bags of candy = $0.88
• GE 6' extension cord = $4.69, on sale for $2.00 - less $2.00 SCR = FREE
• Power Strip = $8.99, on sale for $5.00 - less $5.00 SCR = FREE
• L'oreal Age Perfect Moisturizer = $19.99, on sale for $15.99 - less $15.99 SCR = FREE
• Axe Shower Scrubber for Men = $5.99, on sale for $3.99 - less $3.99 SCR = FREE
• Oral B Artica Toothbrush = $3.49, on sale for $2.49 - less $2.49 SCR and MC for $1 = FREE + earn $1.00
• Kotex Tampons = $3.99, on sale for $3.00 - less $3.00 SCR - $1.00 coupon on box = FREE + earn $1.00

Regular Price: $53.92
Subtotal after sales / coupons: $34.23, $5 of $25 purchase by signing up at RiteAid = $29.23
Earned SCR: $32.47
Total: FREE!!! And I made $3.24!!! I love shopping!