Frugal February Menu... and party plans...

Today was Budget Day. Since we tend to avoid bills, we've made a no excuses date for Fri. mornings, to sit down, look at our finances, and see where we're at for the upcoming week. When we were done today I had a budget for grocery shopping, a list, and a plan. Here's how I did it & what I came up with.

First, what's on the menu from last week we didn't get to? A Lot.
Second, what's in the fridge, pantry & freezer? Beef. It's what's for dinner.
Next, do we have any plans this week? Yep, a birthday. And coffee with the girls.
THEN, I was ready to make my list:

Breakfasts are eggs & toast, cereal, or oatmeal, with a pancake or muffin thrown in. Lunch is leftovers, soup, tortillas, or PB & J.
Dinners:
Marinated Mexican Steak, Wild Rice, Salad (Saving Dinner -Low Carb- p. 70)
Shake & Bake Chicken, Red Potatoes, Salad (Saving Dinner -Low Carb- p. 55)
Texas One Dish (Saving Dinner -p. 20)
Crock Beef Sammies, cole slaw(Saving Dinner -p.17)
Southwestern Crustless Quiche -Low Carb- p.58)
Spaghetti & Green Beans
Homemade Pizza, Homebrew Root Beer, Cupcakes (Happy B-day, Peanut!)

We eat a lot of beef & eggs now, because it's what we have. (and it's good!) I got all of our groceries & household stuff (P.T. & T.P.) for about $85. Not bad for a family of 5. Mostly Organic, too. I do this by looking at the Kroger Ad while planning meals, and using what's on sale. (AND I buy the Kroger brand a lot, I really like them) When something we use a lot (white rice) is cheap, I stock up as much as I can afford that week. Then I look at my coupons (paper & online) and see what I have a coupon for that is ALREADY ON THE LIST!! (very important...)

EX: Today I needed one 1/2 gal. of OJ. The Kroger brand is on sale 2/$3.00. I usually get it in the paper carton, but this was the plastic jug. SO!?! Then, I looked in my coupons, and had a dollar off one. SO, I bought 1/2 gallon of OJ for $.50. YAY!!!

EX: The flyer told me Cheerios were on sale for $2.49: I had a coupon for $1.00 off 2. So I got 2 BIG 16 oz boxes of cereal for $3.98 (this will last us a couple of weeks)

Another EX: For Peanut's B-day (we're celebrating early to work around Mr. I's schedule like usual...) Breakfast is French toast. Nearly free, as I make the bread, and my chickens make the eggs. Then we're driving to Chattanooga (using up my frugal gas, but oh well.) We'll spend the day at the Children's museum (have a membership, so it's free) maybe the aquarium (have a membership, so it's free too.) We like to walk up around the Hunter Museum of Art & check out the sculptures (free), or maybe walk across the river & ride the free carousel. We'll eat LUNCH out instead of dinner (WAY cheaper) then beat the traffic by heading home mid afternoon. Dinner will be the pizza listed above, Curly Sue's making the cupcakes, and Grammie will be joining us for what Peanut is calling the "Afterparty" (-; (dinner & snowflake cupcakes) The trip is a clutter free, pretty cheap (field trip??) gift, and we got her the MP3 player she wanted today as her one present. We went to dollar general & the five spot in my wallet got her blue plates & napkins (we'll decorate them with snowflake stickers from my scrapbook stash), a happy b-day mylar baloon, and a notebook for our new Letterboxing Box. We're READY!!

I actually don't mind having to work a little bit to be frugal. It's being creative about something practical. That suits me just fine.