Grocery Challenge Hot Seat

We have spent $290.78, with a balance of $59.22 on household and groceries (H&G) for the month of January and 11 full days to get to February 1. We will need dog food, and at nearly $20 a bag, we most likely will be left with under $40, way less than $4.00 per day. However, even despite DH's rogue shop last Thursday, he went for frozen pizza and a loaf of bread and ended up with $93.80 in groceries, we should be just fine. Should is the operable word. Quite a word, should. We are gone for three days, so have budgeted some meals out, but I plan to pack some sandwiches and snacks to keep some  of the expenses down. The road trip meals are not part of the budget, but rather in our travel and entertainment column. We have not eaten supper out at all this month and at between $40 and $50 minimally a pop, that will greatly positively impact the credit card statement in February.

I need to do a total clean out of the refrigerator and freezer again-seems I feel like I am doing that each week, but in reality, I've been superficial at best.  While DH did get some good deals, it is the kind of shop where there is 6-8 of one or five things, and not well rounded so actually making meals is challenging. I need the $40 to go towards items like more fruit and veg, milk, eggs, and bread. I think I can squeak through the rest of the month with what I have for laundry soap, shampoo, soap and other personal needs. Fortunately one of the items he bought was a huge multi pack of toilet paper so no running out of that. As much as his rogue shops frustrate me, both he, and DD2 have been for the most part on board with this challenge. I need to listen to DD2 better as when she says there is nothing in the house t eat, she means nothing quick and easy to snack on while doing homework, or when she walks in the door hungry hours before dinner. If the fruit drawer has apples and she has access to things like rice cakes or popcorn, she pretty much is fine with whatever supper becomes. We do need more popcorn too though, I just realized, and rice cakes.

I'll do a menu option list tomorrow, but today I do need to figure out what I am serving for supper tomorrow when my mother in law comes and if I need to run to the store. DH bought a big bag of chicken and we have ton's of pasta. Perhaps I can come up with some sort of a chicken tetrazinni? I know I have a brick of mozzarella-the only cheese in the house. I'll think of something. I ended up picking up DD2 cheesecake slices for her actual birthday so today I'll make the strawberry rhubarb dump cake. Regardless of what I serve for a main dish, the cake will be a hit. 

My dump cake-picture from an earlier blog post.