Sunday, March 3, 2019

Let's Figure March Meals Out, Shall We?

I'm at $109 in March already for Household and Groceries after finishing February at a well below budget average of $353. Why so high already? We succumbed to fatigue. Fatigue in not just buying what we want at the grocery store. Fatigue in me not having my oven repaired yet. Fatigue with too much snow. Fatigue  in bland diets based on too many pantry items. I needed it our of system. DH picked up things on Thursday, though I counted as part of March since I had figured out February already. I added $80 Friday night, after a 1 hour 45 minute commute home in the snow, and a kid requesting "anything healthy" for supper. I "recklessly" threw stuff in the cart, not meal planning really, just with an eye to make sandwich wraps and salad for supper. Both DH and I bought a few of the loss leaders, so we have quite a few real groceries as well, so not a total mindless spending spree. 

Now though, I want to make sure all is used up-the fresh veggies for salads, the bagels, the tortillas, the chicken strips, this week, but not get into fatigue again. I also don't want to throw out the budget. Yesterdays show choir was a t n expensive venue, and we were not given enough wrist bands for all out chaperones so we had to chip in to purchase two more. Still, I'm sure there are families of three that spend well over $109 a week, so if I can make use of everything, I can get back on track by next Saturday. Here is my plan.

  • Salad, bread maker bread, chicken wild rice soup (from freezer)
  • Turkey meatballs with mushrooms and sauce, brown rice
  • Burrito bowls/wraps with rice, tomatoes
  • BBQ Meatball (pre-made) sandwich's, French fries
  • Chicken strip wraps with tomatoes, cucumbers, and coleslaw
  • Rotini pasta and sauce, bread maker garlic bread
  • Leftovers or just grilled cheese and canned soup

DD2 has spring break next week and I'm taking a couple days off for fun and also so she can sit in on classes at one of her college options and hopefully get her decision made. We've got a hectic week as she has tests and a school choir concert, DH works late three nights, DD2 and I have the French Club Mardi Gras to work at on Tuesday, and just normal life these days where more snow has been predicted adds chaos. We've my brother-in-law's mothers funeral tomorrow morning and I'm babysitting for my niece again on Friday, but DH and I will probably make plans for Saturday night. I write all that as excuse for needing simple meals and to give myself permission if I veer off course and budget! Enjoy your Sunday. 
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13 comments:

  1. slugmamaMarch 3, 2019 at 9:24 AM

    Meal planning here is becoming increasingly frustrating for me. With the youngest working 2nd shift I never know if he'll eat what we had for dinner(usually not). The daughter is becoming impossible to please and she won't eat leftovers. She complains when my meals aren't "healthy" enough for her and then she goes and buys/eats an entire pizza for herself......when is she leaving?!? lolz

    I have thought about just cooking for me and Hubs but then the kids will just raid the pantry/freezer and take all the "good"(see expensive meats!)stuff I had plans for. sigh.

    Have I said how much I am looking forward to them moving out yet? ;-)

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    1. CheapchickMarch 3, 2019 at 10:12 AM

      Living with adult children is one of the hardest things a parent can do. We even have a hard time when they visit sometimes - it seems like they revert (love seeing them but would like to see the back of them after several days)

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    2. SAMMarch 3, 2019 at 10:42 AM

      We had some of that when DD1 temporarily moved home a few years ago but she was pretty good about just buying her own preferential food, or helping to cook and modify what I made. My son never complains-it is tasty and there, he is good.

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  2. CheapchickMarch 3, 2019 at 10:11 AM

    I totally understand that grocery budget exhaustion - I usually hit it when I am not feeling well or sometimes in the summer when it is nice out and I can't imagine cooking. You are still doing really well.

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    1. SAMMarch 3, 2019 at 10:41 AM

      This was sort of that-we all have been eating too much restaurant or concession meals on weekends, and reheating too many leftovers. I just wanted to see produce n my cart!

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  3. Meg B.March 3, 2019 at 10:28 AM

    Oh I get fatigue! I have a hard time this quarter with eldest on campus 4 nights/week--he likes DH to drive him, because they eat out afterwards. The remaining kids have activities, so I have had a lot of breakfast for dinner, or sandwiches nights. Also, I have been mentally exhausted the past couple of weeks, and couldn't care less about eating, so we have had a lot of fend for yourself nights. Tonight, I'm back on it with a roast pork loin, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. I hope that breaks the spell. We'll see what the week brings.

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    1. SAMMarch 3, 2019 at 10:39 AM

      And if it is a big enough pork loin, maybe pulled pork for one of your sandwich nights?

      Delete
  4. Hawaii PlannerMarch 3, 2019 at 6:30 PM

    I'm fatigued by the multiple meal preps (allergies), so I've finally gotten on board with the low carb meal prep for at least three eaters. My youngest is still pretty much just veggies, proteins & carbs for dinner & won't eat things mixed together. If I can get us down to 2 meals/evening, that would be a huge win.

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    1. SAMMarch 6, 2019 at 6:00 AM

      That would be exhausting since I am tired of cooking a single meal theses days. We may need to entirely replace the oven so now are looking at the crappy dishwasher and the fridge with a couple broken drawers.

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  5. Anne in the kitchenMarch 4, 2019 at 10:20 AM

    I certainly understand the fatigue, especially coming off a month when you feel like things are bland. I get fresh veggie cravings if we have too many days of them and only want something green and crunchy.
    I know you will use all your produce so I would not feel bad at all about buying it without a plan.

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    1. SAMMarch 6, 2019 at 6:01 AM

      We've been eating things and it has felt a bit uplifting to eat salads when it is so cold out.

      Delete
  6. Out My windowMarch 5, 2019 at 10:24 AM

    I totally understand. You are with me as we try and eat up the plentiful supply of too much chicken we had in the freezer. Still working on it. But today it is bean soup with the ham bone from two weeks ago. Hooray for beans.

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    1. SAMMarch 6, 2019 at 6:01 AM

      I'm off my meal planning already, but eating up what I bought the other day.

      Delete

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