Aah, the end is near. School is almost out, and this assignment is almost over. Comfortable, welcome changes of spring/summer. And we’re planning, and we’re planning…
This week’s menus rely on what we’ve got in the way of leftovers, fresh cheap produce, and freezer stuff to use up. The goal is to have everything out of the basement freezer and packed into the smaller upstairs freezer, before we vaca. Then there’ll be enough for about a week for three of us, until I can get back into the replenishing groove. So! Here’s what’s on our dinner menus this week:
Sunday/Mother’s Day: Omaha Steaks steaks, burgers and dogs (FREE), baked potato casserole (~$1), broccoli slaw (.75). (Switched from Saturday due to scheduling.) About $1.75.
Monday: Leftover chicken (I’m guessing about $1 not calculated in other meals), peppers (1.59), onion (.25) with tortillas (.50). About $3.40.
Tuesday: Fish (2.24), green beans (.34), salads (.40). About $3.00.
Wednesday: Flat iron steak (2.47) on big salads ($1), oven steak cut potatoes (.75). About $4.25.
Thursday: Chicken (1.25) taco casserole (~ 1.50), small salads (.40). About $3.20.
Friday: Cheese ($1) quiche (~ .30) with Push In Pie Crust (~ .30). About $1.60.
Saturday: Pork dish tbd
These dinners for the four of us will cost about $22.00, estimating Saturday. We’re already eating lighter meals, and have fired up the grill more than once. Yup, it’s going to be a nice summer.
For more inspiration and awe, visit Menu Plan Monday.
May 14, 2012
Reader David Henry forwarded this information:
“If you want to supplement your collection of technical e-books, or you need in-depth information about Microsoft technologies, you may be interested in a set of works from Microsoft Press which are being offered for download free of charge. There are 10 books on offer including Office 2010, Windows Phone 7, SQL Server, Office 365 and Windows Server and Visual Studio.”
These are ebooks for high-end products that your office may be using, or that you can use in your business. Go HERE for more information.
May 14, 2012
This week we saw double coupons at No Frills again. (Still opportunities through Tuesday.) Trying to dissect it, well, the best I can figure it’s about once a month. There doesn’t seem to be a set policy or pattern, so I just think of it as an interesting surprise when it happens.
Since Mother’s Day was coming up, I weighed the cash v. cleanup time issue. I ended up finding a great deal on breakfast-in-bed items, so we went that route. I still had to clean up. Also found some treats and awesome produce for healthy meals.
No Frills: Doubles got me there this week. Two trips, one a scouting mission, and another bigger visit. Chips Ahoy!, peanut butter, DiGiorno pizzas, Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and broccoli slaw, were the only deals I got this round. Thank goodness for the pb! Total for food $16.41.
Bag N Save: Early in the week I went back for two more milks at 2.29. After Wednesday, I found some great grocery deals: large dozen eggs .79, split chicken breasts .88/#, Kraft colby slices (4.39 – $2 sticker markdown coupons – .55 insert coupons = 1.84), LoL sliced ham 2.99 – $1 insert coupon, apples, sausage for brunch, flour tortillas 1.79, green onions (beautiful!) .50, romaine 1.69, bananas, cereals, potatoes. Total for food $39.74.
Aldi: I always run into someone I know at Aldi! Twice this week, I saw old friends. Milks were 2.29 again, for all variety gallons. Thank you. I picked up list items here, mostly, and some great looking produce at great prices. Cucumbers for .29 — outrageous. Later returned for a gift item. Total for food: $16.88.
Target: Brown rice for .79.
Total this week: $73.82, which puts my monthly total just for food at $126.99. I didn’t get much meat, but did get easy-make items for the lazy weekend. Next week is the last rush-rush week for a while, and I’m glad.
What I have for the coming weeks: Some ground chicken, split breasts, lots of produce, a little pork, and a flat iron beef steak. Also some premade/planned over ingredients. I hope to make chicken enchiladas this week, some for the freezer. We’ll see.
To see how I put these provisions together into menu plans, check out my Menu Plan Monday posts each week. They list how much each dinner costs, which is usually less than $5 for dinner for four.
May 14, 2012
The Red Cross hosts a blood drive with Dr. San Guinary (I’m not making this up) on Saturday, May 26, 2012, at Westroads Mall. The drive will be in the upper level near Center Court, 10 am – 3 pm. Appointments are available every 15 minutes. Contact the Red Cross to make an appointment.
Special guests include Omaha Roller Girls, The Omaha Steampunk Society, Vaders 501st Stormtroopers, Zombie Research Society, Red Cross Club Red as well as Dr. SanGuinary from Dr. San Guinary’s Creature Feature.
I think if pageantry gets folks in the door who are able to donate, then go for it!
Give It Back! is an occasional series on CheapThrillsInOmaha.com about caring for others in our community. Please consider giving blood if you are able.
May 11, 2012
If you like good Mexican, and good times with friends, get this 50% off deal through KETV’s 7 Can Help You Save. Good at Hector’s 84/Center location.
Go HERE for this deal right away! Only while they last.
May 10, 2012
Get 30 or 60 Days of Unlimited Dance and Fitness Classes for Two (Up to 83% Off) at Omaha Ballroom. Two options:
- $19 for 30 days of unlimited dance and fitness classes for two (a $100 value)
- $35 for 60 days of unlimited dance and fitness classes for two (a $200 value)
Get this Groupon deal while they last — through Friday 5/11/12!
Groupon
May 10, 2012
You can help by setting out donations of nonperishable food at your mailbox; carriers will pick it up and deliver it.
This from the Campbell Soup Company: “The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, held on the second Saturday in May, has become the nation’s largest single-day food drive benefitting Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. In 2011, generous Americans donated 70.2 million pounds of food, which marked the eighth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected by letter carriers.”
May 10, 2012
Thanks, David Henry, for this info! At Skate Daze (Millard Ave.), on Mother’s Day, Mom Skates FREE (skate rental extra). Still, that’s a deal if Mom likes to skate.
And, there are Skate Daze coupons HERE for the rest of the family. Or for summer break. Be sure to check out What’s Up links for even more special events and promos.
May 10, 2012
Here we go again! DOUBLE COUPONS through Tuesday! At first blush of the No Frills weekly grocery print ads, here are some pretty good deals. Please feel free to add yours in the comments below.
* EVEN MORE NEW RULES: Our Family coupons cannot be doubled. Nash Brothers coupons cannot be doubled.
Chips Ahoy! cookies 2.50 – $1 Facebook coupon – .55 double value = .95
Ensure 7.99 – 1.50 coupon HERE - .55 double value = 5.94
Roberts gallon orange juice 3.98 – .50 insert coupon – .50 double value = 2.98
Ball Park franks 1.99 – .75/2 insert coupon – .55 doubled value = 1.34 each wyb2
Ball Park buns 1.88 – .55 insert coupon – .55 doubled value = .78
PM to SuperSaver: select General Mills cereals 1.98 – $1/2 coupon HERE - .55 double value = 1.21 each wyb2
PM to Baker’s: DiGiorno stuffed crust pizza 4.99 – $1/2 insert coupon – .55 double value = 4.22 each wyb2
PM to Baker’s: select Pepsi 2-litres $1 - .55/Pepsi Next insert coupon if included – .55 double value = FREE OOPS! DND!
PM to Baker’s: Lay’s potato chips 2/$5 – $1/2 insert coupon – .55 double value = 1.73 each wyb2 OOPS! DND!
PM to HyVee: Jif peanut butter 1.77 – .55 printable (gone now) – .55 double value = .67 !!!
PM to HyVee: BirdsEye Voila! 3.99 – $1 Facebook coupon – .55 double value = 2.44
PM to BnS: Banquet pot pies .69 – .60/6 package coupon – .55 double value = .50 each wyb6
PM to BnS: Banquet fruit pies .69 – .40/2 package coupon – .40 double value = .29 each wyb2
PM to BnS: BirdsEye Steamfresh vegs $1 – .35 if rice blends are included, or .50 if Chef’s Favorite are included, HERE = .30 or FREE, depending on inclusions.
Also a good PM deal, but no coupon, PM to HyVee: store brand frozen veg .69
May 9, 2012
Thank you for all your support of Project Hope and the Feinstein Challenge during March and April — and year round! If you’d still like to donate, but don’t know where, contact me.
*FP = potential food pantry donation. They are in daily and desperate need of canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, pork & beans, pasta, rice, soups, tomato products, cereals, crackers and canned meats. They’ve also posted that they need personal hygiene items!
BnS: new online ad format — not so much.
Here are what I think are the best grocery deals at Bag N Save this week.
Tyson bone-in chicken breasts .88 — great for the grill!
Banquet value meals .69
dozen large eggs .79 !!!
Banquet pot pies .69 – .60/6 package coupon = .59 each wyb6
Banquet fruit pies .69 – .40/2 package coupon = .49 each wyb2
Our Fam potato chips 1.67
Johnsonville sausage varieties 2.88
BirdsEye Steamfresh vegs $1 – .35 if rice blends are included, or .50 if Chef’s Favorite are included, HERE
Additional in-store ad good thru 5/10/12:
Our Fam sandwich cookies 1.67 *FP
Palermo classic pizza $2
6 oz Borden ShredMate .99
Our Fam snap seal freezer bags 1.59 – $1 coupon HERE = .59 *FP
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Happy Shopping!
This post is part of Becentsable’s Grocery Gathering
May 9, 2012
Thank you for all your support of Project Hope and the Feinstein Challenge during March and April — and year round! If you’d still like to donate, but don’t know where, contact me.
*FP = potential food pantry donation. They are in daily and desperate need of canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, pork & beans, pasta, rice, soups, tomato products, cereals, crackers and canned meats. They’ve also posted that they need personal hygiene items!
These are just the best deals I see, not a relisting of their ad. Be sure to check out my “$350 per month in 2012″ posts!
INCREDIBLE PRODUCE PRICES THIS WEEK! No excuse for not eating healthfully.
Wednesday fresh meat special buy: fresh bacon cheddar homestyle beef patties 21.28 oz for 5.99 ($4.50/#)
kids’ Zebco fishing poles 9.99
8 oz sliced cheese 1.99
1# baby carrots .49
cucumbers .29 each
10 oz grape tomatoes .79
12 oz bagged garden salad .49 !!!!!!
3-pack multicolored peppers 1.59
8 oz mushrooms .79
corn flakes cereal giant box 1.49 *FP
Jumbo size bed pillows 5.99
Milk price check: 2.29/gallon all varieties (yay!)
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Happy Shopping!
May 9, 2012
Here we go again! DOUBLE COUPONS through Tuesday!
Print high value coupons HERE or HERE. I’ll try to get a list of best-buy coupon matchups soon. Please share your top deals in a comment below. (We’re all about the sharing here.)
Same rules:
Limit 10 doubling coupons per customer
One coupon per item
Limit of 2 identical coupons for 2 identical items
Coupons of .55 or less will be doubled
Coupons of .56 or more will be doubled up to .55
No rain checks or subs
“Do not double” coupons will not double
Good at ALL No Frills
* EVEN MORE NEW RULES: Our Family coupons cannot be doubled. Nash Brothers coupons cannot be doubled.
May 9, 2012
Many of you have heard of a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, program. These are organized food share programs that provide local, farm-fresh produce and other foods (usually organic) for a small fee.
In Omaha, we have Tomato Tomäto! You can join your choice of programs, and receive fresh foods each week of the growing season, for as low as $10/week. If you’re on the SNAP program, you can use those funds to pay for the CSA. Check out the options and the sample week’s offerings.
The 2012 season starts June 4, with the first summer harvest providing fresh, nutritious eats for you and your family. Update: Sign up for the 2012 CSA is quickly coming to a close. If you’ve applied, you need to go to the site and set up your membership for it to kick in.
Tomato Tomäto is a part of The Community Market Basket Project through NoMoreEmptyPots.org.
May 8, 2012
Save up to 25% on Mothers Day Flowers and Gifts. Click Here.
May 8, 2012
Saturdays this summer, enjoy an old-fashioned outdoor movie event at Camp Fontanelle (just north of Fremont). Movies to be projected onto a giant sheet near the barn. Great family event. FREE. Bring the bug spray!
May 7, 2012
Celebrate National Public Gardens Day with Free admission to Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s botanical garden, on Friday, May 11 — NOT the 7th! (I was hacked.) 100 Bancroft St. Enjoy the blooms and foliage, and beautiful displays, and learn more about what Lauritzen has to offer. 9 am – 5 pm Friday.
May 7, 2012
I was able to kick back a little last week because my menus were planned. But this week I’m relying on pre-cooked ingredients and frozen delights more, so that I have time to work in the yard, hopefully, and walk with #2. Here’s what’s on our dinner menus this week:
Sunday: Indoor-grilled (too windy) burgers (free), brats (3.75), tortilla chips (.50), veg plate. About $5.00.
Monday: Italian chicken (cooked Sunday) (.88/#), with pasta (.88) and cooking creme (1.49), salads (.60). About $4.60.
Tuesday: Baked fish (2.50), rice (.35), broccoli (.88). About $3.75.
Wednesday: Bbq pork in the freezer (1.49), fries (1.00), slaw (<1.00). About $3.50.
Thursday: Spaghetti (.50) with meatballs and sauce (1.78), salads (.60), garlic bread (.75). About $3.65.
Friday: Grilled chicken breast (~2.70), potatoes (.50), carrots (.50). About $3.75.
Saturday: Grilled boneless pork ribs (3.00), burgers (free), corn? (.70), vegs tbd (~$1). About $5.00.
These dinners for the four of us will cost about $29.25, with some leftovers. But leftovers are fewer with what we have in the freezer to use up. Still, just enough is good enough, and we are certainly not going hungry! Still lots to use up. God provides.
For more inspiration and awe, visit Menu Plan Monday.
May 7, 2012
“$20 for Photo-Shoot Package with Two Poses, One 10″x13″ Montage, One Enhanced Sheet, and Four Natural-Color Sheets ($100 Value)” Available at Olan Mills Portrait Studio – Kmart Studio #9361, 50/L.
Get this Groupon deal while they last — through Wednesday 5/9/12!
Groupon
May 7, 2012
I cut back on my deal-doing this week. I only got the things I needed, plus one or two or so “what was that?” deals tossed in the cart. I did pretty well, really.
First, I only stopped at Aldi and Bag N Save. On purpose, so I wouldn’t PM or grab bargains. I did stop at No Frills, but that was for a birthday card and a discount deli snack for #1, which came out of another budget. We’re trying to eat down the pantry and freezers since we’ll be less at home this summer.
Aldi: The price of milk went up to more than $3 for 2% and whole gallons; they had to put a sign on the milk doors to not harrass the cashiers about the price. Really, that’s sad. I got apples, breakfast sausage, tortillas, pears, and stocked up for the year on dressing mix packets. Total for food: $15.82.
Bag N Save: Potatoes, tomatoes (and stupidly forgot the lettuce), boneless pork ribs cheap, pork filets, oven fries, Philly cooking creme for 1.49, lunchmeat, Swiss for 1.99, large eggs for .99/dozen, bread, and milks for 2.29 (cheaper than Aldi this week). I didn’t need the cooking creme, but it was half price, and I immediately made plans for it this week. I also got mac & cheese for the food pantry at 3/$1. Total for food: $37.35.
Total this week: $53.17, which puts my monthly total just for food at $53.17. I’m workin’ on it. In a few more weeks I’ll have a little more time at home, so I’ll probably turn to scratch cooking more. Plus, the weather will be hottER, and we’ll feel less like eating gobs of food.
What I have for the coming weeks: Still lots of everything we need. That recent freezer inventory seems untouched, even though I’ve been using stock. I got the pork this week just to add variety. And there is lettuce growing in my square foot pots from last year’s plants! (I thought I cleared those out, but they came back.)
To see how I put these provisions together into menu plans, check out my Menu Plan Monday posts each week. They list how much each dinner costs, which is usually less than $5 for dinner for four.
May 5, 2012
This is an updated post. It used to be titled, “Double Coupons in Omaha? Sorry, No.” But there have been some changes in local grocers’ approaches to consumers in this dull economy, so we’re keeping you up to speed.
So many inquiries today! Must be the new TV show!
Sorry, no stores in Omaha regularly double coupons. Your best chances in that arena are few and far between: HyVee will occasionally offer a coupon allowing you to double up to 10 coupons, up to .50 face value. It is rare to find super deals with this offer. Lately, they’ve raised that face value to $1, but it’s not a regular thing. It’s easier to find good deals, and even some FREEs with the higher limit. No Frills has been offering sporadic double coupon weeks, with a limit of 10, up to face value of .55, with higher value coupons getting an extra .55 value. You can get some great deals using Our Family coupons (their store brand).
While you can find FREE items and Cheap Thrills just about every week in Omaha, you’ll be hard pressed to cut your “normal grocery bill” by 90% each time. The deals done on the extreme coupon shows are not typical, no matter where you are. These families have done a great job preparing their best efforts for us to watch, though! It’s great entertainment.
If you only shop week to week, you will pay more to feed your family. But if you take advantage of sales, stock your cupboards and freezers, and use up what you have, you can put together great, healthy meals for very reasonable cost. Take a look at my posts on menu plans, and be sure to see my$350 Per Month in 2012posts, too.
I’ve lived in the Land of Doubles, and it’s really nice, but the overall price of groceries, especially produce and dairy, is much higher than in Omaha. Back about 10 years ago, when the Grocery Wars were going on here, Cub Foods had regular doubles and price matching, and their non-sale prices were higher than competitors, but the bargains were to be had.
May 5, 2012
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