The Sweet Life On A Budget

  Our meals need to be nutritious, clean, flexible, quick and cost effective. Between our work schedules and after school activities, we need to carefully plan our meals so that we do not end up ordering out.   Instead of guessing regarding our food budget, I looked up the Official USDA Food Plans as of December 2020 which was enlightening.    Since, we have 3 members in our household and use the thrifty plan, the food only weekly budget would be $123.40.  However the monthly SNAP benefits average $125 per person or about $260.00 per household.    Goal: $500.00  What did we spend?  Week 1- $108.97 Kroger: $87.83 Meijer: $21.14 Rebates- $9.65 IBOTTA: $7.55 IBOTTA: $1.10 Kroger Cash: $1.50 Week 2-$84.37 Kroger: $84.37 Rebates: $7.44 IBOTTA: $7.44 Kroger Cash: $2.19 Week 3: $183.11 Meijer:$10.19 Kroger: $25.08     $36.60 Aldi: $111.24 Rebates: $13.29 IBOTTA: $11.00 Coupon.com: $2.29 Week 4-$133.87 Kroger: $76.87 Aldi: $57.00  Week 5-  Total: $510.32 Rebate To

  Our meals need to be nutritious, clean, flexible, quick and cost effective. Between our work schedules and after school activities, we need to carefully plan our meals so that we do not end up ordering out.   Instead of guessing regarding our food budget, I looked up the Official USDA Food Plans as of December 2020 which was enlightening.    Since, we have 3 members in our household and use the thrifty plan, the food only weekly budget would be $123.40.  However the monthly SNAP benefits average $125 per person or about $260.00 per household.    Goal: $500.00  What did we spend?  Week 1- $108.97 Kroger: $87.83 Meijer: $21.14 Rebates- $9.65 IBOTTA: $7.55 IBOTTA: $1.10 Kroger Cash: $1.50 Week 2-$84.37 Kroger: $84.37 Rebates: $7.44 IBOTTA: $7.44 Kroger Cash: $2.19 Week 3: $183.11 Meijer:$10.19 Kroger: $25.08     $36.60 Aldi: $111.24 Rebates: $13.29 IBOTTA: $11.00 Coupon.com: $2.29 Week 4- Week 5-  Total: $376.45 Rebate Total: $30.38 Final Total: $346.07 NOTE: R

    Making small changes that have big results.  On Friday’s I share the weekly deals that cost less than $1.00.   These deals help to keep us in our budget and living The Sweet Life.  Although I do not advocate shopping at a large number of stores during this health crisis, if you are going to a particular store that has a deal- just pick it up too.       CVS Deals (January 10- 16, 2021) Poparazzi Nail Polish  Cost: 2/$5.00 OOP: $5.00 ECB: $4.00 Final Cost: $1.00/2 or $0.50 each Garnier Shampoo/Conditioner (12-13 oz), Leave-in (10.2 oz), or Treatment (3.4 oz) Cost: 2/ $7.00 Coupon: $3/2 (RMN ⅓)     $1/ 2 Instant Coupon (From Red Box Machine)  OOP:$3.00  ECB: $4.00  Final Cost: FREE + $1.00 MM Scope Mouthwash (1L) Cost: $4.79 Coupon: $1/1 (Digital) OOP: $3.79 ECB: $3.00 (Limit 2) Final: $0.79 Garnier Facial Care (B1 Get 1 50%) Garnier Micellar Make Up Wipes  Cost: $7.59 +$3.80) = $11.19 Coupon: $2/1 (Digital)     $2/1 (RMN ⅓) OOP: $7.19 ECB: