Weekly H&G Spending and Meal Planning

     Well, we started the month having only spent $9, which was a reimbursement to my older daughter. As I shared, my younger daughter did our shop. She did pretty well, but way beyond what was on my list as I had her do a look through the cupboards, fridge,a nd freezer, and gave her freedom to add what she felt was needed. A few, but not many treats were added. She also found the experience stressful, so didn't really do much  looking at the prices on shelves. She spent just shy of $123, When I later shopped for my mother-in-law, there were a couple requests hubs wanted, she had forgotten diet pop for me, and my MIL's list reminded me of an item or two. We also needed stamps, so I added another $42, plus  $5 to mail some masks, bringing May to $178, 1/3 of the way in the month. 

     At this pace, we'll be at abut $525. It's $125 over what I had thought back in January was going to be my monthly Target. However, with less eating out or take out, we're not spending more. Well, I will add that  hubs spent $15 on Culvers-concrete mixers and french fries and onion rings when he and the  college kid spent a little time  wandering on Thursday. I spent $27 on Jimmy Johns as I was picking up masks to send to a friend who works in a hospice and care home, and was going to  also get hostas dug, but they weren't ready yet. Add that, and we are $215, moving us towards a forecast of $645 for the month for household, groceries, and other meals. Ouch! Let's not pick up $27 worth of sandwiches again, OK! Still,I'm rationalizing that is still less than H&G, eating out, and entertainment in total form bygone months.

     On to meal planning and review. Here was last weeks plan.Planned-Black, Actual Red. If only black, it was on plan.

Sunday: Meatballs and gravy with roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables
Monday: leftovers supplemented with soup from freezer if needed Jimmy John's
Tuesday: Hot dogs and chili-though might switch to grilled cheese as DH had hot dog the other night DH-left over lunch pizza and some cheese and crackers, me a salad, college kid had tacos in the back yard of her friends safely distanced, I was assured.
Wednesday: Tuna hot dish, mixed vegetables  Goulash-loaded with vegetables, some homemade fries as I wanted to use up the two remaining potatoes that had grown eyes
Thursday: Goulash, green beans Hodgepodge of sort of leftovers, or sandwiches as we had eaten the Culvers snacks late afternoon, so was more a grazing dinner
Friday: Homemade pizza
Saturday: Chicken wings, homemade french fries, quesadilla's-pub food night at home

     I spent some time looking at our food stocks to plan. I have odds and ends from the pizza to use up, so as thinking to try calzones with the sauce for dipping. I have both hamburger and taco meat, ham left from Easter, breakfast sausage, bacon, and two meals of cooked up hamburger form a large pack. We'll see if the college kid wants to shop again, but I'd like to use these items up regardless. The menu below is highly subject to change, though could be pulled off without stepping foot in a store. though, we always need fresh fruit and bread. If we had to though, we could make do as there is canned and frozen and DH could take alternative lunches.

Sunday: Rice hotdish with hamburger, onion, celery and carrots, green salad

Monday: Calzones stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms and onions, last of the salad

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday! with refried beans, and rice

Wednesday: Ham, steamed mixed vegetables, cheesy diced potatoes

Thursday: Hamburgers or veggie burgers and homemade French fries

Friday: Spaghetti with meat sauce

Saturday: Combination of leftovers and or frozen pizza

     My tracking will continue more so I know our current reality rather than trying to target a spending goal. I don't really plan a leftover night since  the kid and I are eating them for lunch, but I like to get to a new week without lingering items, and of course, a no waste mantra. While I don't even try to stick to the menu, it was helpful this past week giving me a reminder of what I could make, and if it does that, I'll keep sort of planning.