This month I am TRYING DESPERATELY not to overspend on groceries. I am getting back to using up everything, getting creative, etc.
I have used up a box of jello that has been here forever. To liven it up, I put canned pineapple in it. I have cooked up some chicken for a chicken noodle dish I made up (cheap chicken, free noodles, free Philadelphia cooking cream, add a veggie, have a meal). We have also eaten lots of the Easter candy floating around, all the peanut butter, jelly (fresh strawberry I made LAST MAY!), okra (FROM LAST SUMMER"S GARDEN), meatloaf, pizza, cheese, tortilla shells, etc.
Looking forward to being even more creative to stretch the dollar!:hungry::hungry:
I've sworn off buying groceries for all of May, except for milk and fresh produce. I'm trying to get the freezers and pantry under control again so need to use up some of the stuff that's been in there a while. Besides, this is going to be a very expensive month due to some other upcoming expenses. Cutting the grocery bill will help a little.
Last night I made taco salad using two stray taco shells that were in the pantry and some corn tortillas from the freezer, along with browned hamburger and Cheddar cheese from the freezer, and fresh tomatoes harvested from the Aerogarden. It's on the menu for tonight as well. We also had milk that had been thawed from the freezer several days ago.
Used up leftover chili and the last of a box of whole wheat spaghetti making cincinnati chili.
This morning, I used up the partial can of tomato sauce leftover from last night and the leftover half of an onion as part of a barbecued ribs sauce in my crockpot.
I too am definitely trying to reduce my trips to the grocery store this month and mostly just buy fresh stuff. In another month or so, when my garden gets going, I'm hoping to not even do much of that.
I'm trying to do this too. We had some car repairs and other stuff. I'm trying to keep the groceries to the very minimum. I made a menu to use stuff on hand. http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/meal-planning/139795-ideas-use-these-things.html. Breakfast will be pancakes, oatmeal, etc and lunch is sandwiches, leftovers or soup. Here's hoping for all of us.
I need to get in on this. I have a tiny bit of debit from my visit with cricket this month. My rule is to never carry a balance so I have to pay it all off. I know I'm all stocked up after spending 27.00 at aldis today, that leaves me with 75.00 from this weeks budget to apply to debt.
Tonight will be Black bean pasta made from pasta I got free last month, a can of black beans from the pantry, mushrooms bought on sale last week and left over spinach from Tuesdays salad.
and for dessert/tomorrow's snack I'm baking banana bread from last weeks .39cents a pound sale
Using some beans,cabbage & okra out freezer today for dinner used one banana & some nuts out freezer had 2 ripe bananas to make muffins but most of them will go in freezer.
I made supper using a bag of frozen veggies from the freezer, an onion that needed to be used, the mushroom which may be the last of the crop , and some mini-meatloaves from the batch cooking in the freezer.
-finished a chicken casserole my mom was gracious enough to send over about 3 weeks ago
-been eating lots of leftovers
-working on a box of cereal now
My son (4 years old) looked at me tonight and said "you gave me leftovers mom". I thought he was complaining until he said, "thanks, we don't want to waste food!"
Gathered my first produce of the season. I gathered turnips and had enough to put up 1 1/2 quarts of the turnips and 3 quarts of the turnip greens. I have kale ready also, but don't really know how to prepare it for the freezer.
Today I put up more kale in the freezer for a total of 11 quarts of kale for my winter stews. I used fresh cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini from the fridge for dinner tonight.
I'm in for the rest of the month. I'm only going to do loss leaders or extremely cheap the rest of the onth. We got hit hard with medical bills for all 3 of us plus car repairs.
Also need to use up some stockpile items so I can start buying again on sale with new expiration dates.
Today, I made deep fried cherry pies using a can of cherry pie filling and egg roll wraps.
For supper making a pork tenderloin and putting a can of small white potatoes in with it in the oven. Using a box of scalloped potatoes that need to go. Leftover can of corn in fridge from couple nights ago. Maybe garlic bread.
Well, I guess it is June now, but I figured I would just stick with this thread. I HAVE to clear out the pantry and freezer this month. A) the freezers (regular frig one and the outside one) are both so full I have to be careful getting anything out
B) we got a new to us car and the payments are going to KILL us!
We are going to be eating what is here to save money this month.
USED:
leftovers brought home from Memorial Day cookouts
bacon, grits, hamburger meat, hamburger helper, corn, roast, 1/2 bag of potatoes, 1/2 bag of carrots, lemonade drink powder, cranberry juice, frozen shrimp, peanut butter, cheddar cheese, shredded chicken, mixed veggies, frozen mac n cheese dinner
Tonight I tried a new recipe for creamy chicken enchiladas. I was able to take two chicken breast and turn it into 10 enchiladas. I also used up a frozen sour cream that has been in the freezer for way to long as well as the rest of the salsa that was leftover after the chips were gone. The best part? We only ate 5 enchiladas so we still have 5 left over for tomorrow!
I have an upright freezer in the laundry room, the kitchen a side-by-side that is full of bits and pieces. I took inventory of the top shelf and I'm going to make it my goal to use that up.
2 hamburger patties
1 sandwich thin
1 hot dog bun
2 Table. tomato paste
spaghetti sauce
smoked sausage
partial bag of broccoli
2 bags mixed frozen veggies
partial bag of pepperoni
I need to start doing this again and being more conscious of trying to come up with meals that use the stuff I already have or can get cheap. I feel like my grocery expense has been running rampant and I need to get it back down to earth again.
We used up some broth and pasta sauce that were opened in the fridge this week, and some shredded carrots and deli ham. We used some pasta that was in the pantry.
I am beginning to see some room in my inside freezer! Today we:
finished off some old sandwich thins to make mini pizzas. We also finished off some mozzarella cheese. Tonight we are making two chicken breast marinated in the last of the Italian dressing, finishing off the corn on the cob, and fixing some yeast rolls and broccoli and rice that I got all for free. Everything is from the freezer.
Keep forgetting about this thread. I've done ok since last post but can't remember what all used. Have alot of stockpile I'd like to get used up especially freezer so I can restock fresh and start over but still want to stretch it like it was intended to do without waste. Need to remember this thread.
Used 3 small bags of hamburger last night. Made sloppy joes for last night and later.
Used up bag of home fries, at least 4 cans soup, container coffee mate fat free that I use, 1 box cereal, 1 jar pickles, 2 cans sloppy joe sauce, the last of a bag of shredded cheese, a couple ziplocs chicken breasts, more hamburger.
Know more used up and not wasted but can't think of them right now.
Hubby wants sloppy joes and scalloped potatoes. So one box gone from pantry plus some of the ham below in them.
Me, I'm having ham from the freezer from a few weeks ago and the rest of the leftover grilling beans. One container gone from fridge with plenty more meals left from the ham and joes.
I, too have been forgetting about the thread, but am working on my stash. We have bought very little groceries this month and have specifically focused on the items we have tons of and the items that have been here way too long!
I used up a jar of homemade bean soup that I mixed together in Dec. 2009. I just added the dry beans and spices. I just kept not making it. It has turned out to be at least 2 meals.
We are almost done with the deer a friend gifted us. We love deer, but it was old when she gave it to us. We have had it for about 8 month!
We have eaten lots of other stuff, fresh garden produce to save money, jarred home made pickles to prepare for fresh ones being made, spices, frozen veggies bought from the store to make room for ones from the garden, and much more!
I really need to jump in on this as well. There is waste going on here as well and if nothing else, this will make me accountable for it and want to try to do better.
2 hamburger patties
1 sandwich thin
1 hot dog bun
2 Table. tomato paste
spaghetti sauce
smoked sausage
partial bag of broccoli
2 bags mixed frozen veggies
partial bag of pepperoni
I'm going to try to rely on food I have on had for the rest of June.
This weekend, I made vegan sausage, tabbouleh (bulgar chickpea salad), carrot bisque and a fruit salad with stuff I had on hand and produce that needs to be used. Those should last several days.
More items used from the freezer, also had 2 partial bag of fries and we used those tonight also. Don't think I'll get around to using the veggies sot that will go on my list for next month.
2 hamburger patties
1 sandwich thin
1 hot dog bun
2 Table. tomato paste
spaghetti sauce
smoked sausage
partial bag of broccoli
2 bags mixed frozen veggies
partial bag of pepperoni
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