1st CVS Trip in a While!

It feels like it has been forever since I made a trip to CVS and I couldn't stay away any longer! I always love shopping their Black Friday sales, but this weeks sales are BETTER (I think) than their Black Friday sales this year! So I was super excited to go shopping today!

I have to give Addicted to Saving credit for my transactions today since they were modeled after her weekly scenarios that you can find HERE
Just a warning, when you have such a detailed (and big) shopping list like I had, and Addicted to Savings gives, sometimes you may not be able to find everything on your list, so you will need to adjust your transactions or go to multiple stores.
This happened to me today, I was unable to get 3 of the items I planned on, but just rearranged my transactions to make due and everything worked out!

Now for my 6, YES SIX transactions. (The items may be free/cheap, but you sure do work for it! At least it's fun!)

I had $10 ECB burning a hole in my wallet so I decided to spend it on something that would give me $10 ECB back. So I did. (Well, close enough) check it out!

Transaction 1:
Snapple: $.79
Youtherapy Collagen: $12
Sale: $9.49
Minus $10 ECB (from previous trip)
Total: $.28
Received: $9.49 ECB

Transaction 2:
Starbucks Refresher: $1.99
Sale: $1.50
Children's Advil: $2.37
Minus $1/1 Q
Carmex: $1.67
Sale: $1
Minus $.30/1 Q
Glade Plug In: $2.27
Sale: $1.25
Minus: $1/1 Q
Total: $3.82
Received: $1.50 ECB, $2.37 ECB, $1 ECB, $1.25 ECB ($6.12 ECB)

Transaction 3:
Nips Candy: $1.27
Sale: $.88
Powerade: $1.49
Sale: $1
ThermaCare Wrap: $3.99
Sale: $3.49
Charmin Single: $1.49
Sale: $.99
Minus $.25/1 Q
Play Dough: $1.69
Sale: $1
MINUS $6.12 ECB (from transaction 2)
Total: $.99
Received: $.99 ECB, $1 ECB, $1 ECB, $3.49 ECB, $.88 ECB. ($7.36)


Transaction 4:
Mac & Cheese: $1.77
Sale: $.99
Advil 10 ct: $3.19
Sale: $2.99
Coke: $.99
Sparkle Towels: $1.49
Sale: $1
MINUS $5.35 ECB (from transaction 3)
Total: $.61
Receive: $.99 ECB, $.99 ECB, $1 ECB, $2.99 ECB ($5.97)


Transaction 5:
Air wick Warmer: $1.49
Sale: $.99
Phillips Universal Remote: $12.49
Sale: $6.99
MINUS: $7.97 ECB (from previous transactions)
Total: $.01
Received: $6.99 ECB, $.99 ECB ($7.98)

Transaction 6:
Starbucks Doubleshot: $2.27
Sale: $1.99
SK Energy Shots: $5.49
Sale: $3.99
Scooby Doo Fruit Snack: $2.99
Sale: $2
MINUS: $7.98 ECB (from transaction 5)
Total: NOTHING!!
Receive: $1.99 ECB, $3.99 ECB, $2 ECB ($7.98)

Total Worth: $63.19
Total Spent: $5.71
I saved $57.48!!!
Received: $17.47 in ECBs!!!

And I was surprised when I scanned my card at the red machine and ANOTHER $5 ECB from Beauty Club printed!!
Now I have a total of $22.47 ECB for next time!

I was kind of bummed that they didn't have some of the things I wanted, especially since it would have lowered my OOP cost, but I am still satisfied! :)

And if you didn't catch on....everything that I bought ended up being FREE after ECB. Everything came with an ECB in the exact amount that I paid for it! So go out and get your free stuff at CVS! :)

Dinner on a Dime: Prosciutto, Spinach, and Pasta Casserole

So it's been a while since I have posted a dinner on a dime because we have been making normal (but cheap) meals and didn't see the need to post how to make red beans and rice. :)

But tonight we made Prosciutto, Spinach, and Pasta Casserole and it was AMAZING!--but only if you like onions, spinach and tomatoes.

Yu can find the original recipe HERE

Before I get into the ingredients let me say that if you don't like prosciutto (or have no idea what it is) I think this meal would be great with cooked chicken, bacon, or even ham!

Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups dried bow ties, penne, or ziti (8 ounces)
2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges, or 5 medium leeks, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon anise seeds, crushed---I didn't have any so I used fennel
1 3/4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus some for serving
1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
2 ounces prosciutto, cut into thin bite-size strips
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

I also added some other seasonings from my spice rack!

Now here is what you do:
1. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain; rinse pasta with cold water. Drain again.

2. In a large saucepan cook onion and garlic I added a Roma tomato as well, in hot butter about 5 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and anise seeds and any other seasonings. Add the milk and chicken broth all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Stir in the cooked pasta, spinach, and prosciutto. Spoon the mixture into a 2-quart casserole.

3. Bake, covered, in a 350 degrees F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Let stand about 5 minutes. To serve, stir gently and top with chopped tomato and Parmesan cheese.
We served it with salad and garlic bread (that we already had)

My Cost:
Prosciutto: $3.50
Pasta: $.50
Spinach: $1.08
Milk: $.45

Total: $5.53

And it definitely made enough for us to have leftovers Friday night and lunch for me on Friday!

So a total of around $5 for 2 nights of good meals! :)

FREE Shampoo at CVS!

Jonathan and I both woke up this morning feeling terrible, I still don't feel well but I felt we'll enough to make a quick trip to CVS!
I didn't plan on getting out today at all but when I saw this awesome deal I just couldn't resist eying this deal!

This week they have a P&G deal, when you spend $30 you receive $10 ECBs.
The herbal essence and Aussie shampoo/conditioner are on sale for $2.99 each!
If you have your smart source from 9/16 there is a BOGO FREE coupon for herbal essence that is auto deducting $6.99 when scanned. So when you get 2 bottles of shampoo for $5.98 and use a BOGO Q you will technically be making $1.01. So check out the deal I did to get 10 bottles of shampoo for FREE and receive $10 ECBs!

Now I need to find something to do with all this shampooing just got FOR FREE!


9 Herbal Essences: $4.49 each: $40.41
1 Aussie Shampoo: $4.49
Sale: $2.99 each: $29.90
Minus (4) BOGO FREE HE (auto deducted -$27.96)
Minus $1/1 Aussie Q

2 Candies: $1.19 each: $2.38
Sale: BOGO $.25
2 for $1.44

Minus: $1.50 CVSQ

Total before: $47.28
Total after: $.88 (for the candy)
received: $10 ECB

And I will receive another $5 ECB from the beauty club!

So I will end up getting paid $14.12 for all of this! :)

Dessert on a Dime: Nutty Pumpkin-Pie Pudding.

(Photo from better homes and garden website)

If I haven't recommended for you to sign up for Better Homes and Gardens 100 Days of Holidays daily email then I have failed you, and GO SIGN UP NOW.
They are amazing. You will get an email with holiday ideas (decorating, homemade gifts, recipes...) every day! They are so great.

Well yesterday's email was all about crock pot desserts, and you know how much I love my crock pot so I was super excited.
When I saw the Pumpkin Pie Pudding I decided that I just had to make it. So I did.
It was super easy and cheap and very delicious! :)

You an find the original recipe HERE

Ingredients

15 ounce can pumpkin
5 ounce can evaporated milk (2/3 cup)
1/3 cup sugar (I used Splenda)
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
1-layer-size yellow cake mix
1 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted and chopped
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar

What to do:

- Lightly coat the inside of slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Stir together pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the pumpkin pie spice. -- - Spread batter evenly in the bottom of the prepared cooker.
- In a medium bowl stir together cake mix, nuts, and the remaining 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice.
- Sprinkle mixture evenly over pumpkin mixture in cooker.
- Melt butter over stove and stir in brown sugar until butter is melted.
- Drizzle melted butter and sugar over mixture in cooker.
- Cover and cook on high-heat setting for 2 1/2 hours.
- Remove crockery liner from cooker, if possible, or turn off cooker. Cool, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

A bit of a warning, it doesn't look pretty AT ALL. But I promise once you taste it you will forget all about how it looks.

What it cost me:

Walnuts: $2.50
Pumpkin: $2.24
Evaporated milk: $.74

Total: $5.48

And it made a lot!
It goes great with ice cream! :)

Dinner on a Dime: Braised Beef Tacos

Dinner on a Dime tonight was SO GOOD!
Braised beef tacos with (semi)-homemade salsa.
I'll be honest, I had my doubts for sure. I'm not a fan of cooking (or eating) London broil, but ti my pleasant surprise it was fantastic and so tender! It was so good in fact that Jonathan made the comment that it tasted like something you would order in a restaurant, and it really did.
Oh, and did I mention that it is a CROCK POT MEAL?!?? It doesn't get easier than that friends! :)

And a lot of the ingredients are things that you probably already have so that makes it even cheaper!

You can find the original recipe HERE

We used: (and by we I mainly mean Jonathan since he is the one that put it to cook this morning)
2 lb London broil
Can Rotel tomatoes w/ chilies
Minced garlic
Cilantro
Garlic powder
Onion powder
beef broth
Taco seasoning
Onion
Lime juice
Tortillas

So I am against cooking meat that has not marinated for at least 30 minutes, but I prefer to let it marinate overnight. So that is what we did. We rubbed the meat with onion powder, garlic powder and taco seasoning then added some broth (about 1/2 cup, water would do) and let it marinate.

What to do:
Put 1/4 can of tomatoes and 1/2 the cilantro at the bottom of the crock then place the meat on top. Rub the minced garlic on the meat then add the remainder of the cilantro and another 1/4 of the tomatoes and a can of broth and cook on low for 6 hrs. When done drain crockpot and remove beef and shred it. (I saved my liquid for my round 2 meal)
About an hour before the meat is finished make your own salsa, with the remainder of the can tomatoes (1/2 the can), 1/4 chopped onion, cilantro, lime juice and S&P.

The salsa is so good! We had some Tortilla chips that we ate along with our tacos and store bought (well I got it free) salsa.

My Cost:
London Broil: $6.78
Rotel Tomatoes: $1
Cilantro: $1
Beef broth: $1
Lime juice: $.20 (approximately how much I used from my new bottle)
Garlic: $.30 (approximately how much I used from my new bottle)

Total: $10.28

That may seem like a lot for a meal but we had a LOT of beef leftover and we have already planned a Round 2 meal for for the leftover beef that will give us meals for 2 more nights and a couple of lunches!

Braised beef Mexican rice bake extra cost:
Corn: $.89
Black beans: $1
Rice: $.20 (approximately how much I will use from my new box)

That brings my grand total to $12.37 for THREE nights worth of meals plus lunch! Now that's not bad! That makes it under $2 per serving!

This really is one of my favorite meals we have had lately, and they have all been good! What I love about this is that it's the amazing-ness of tacos but a bit more flavorful and sophisticated by not using ground beef but keeping the cost low.

So try it out and let me know what you think! :)

My First Winn Dixie trip in a While!!

It feels like it has been FOREVER since I have posted anything....or even gone shopping for that matter. Grad school has officially taken over my life, and if it hadn't been for me not feeling well and staying home today this trip would cease to exist. So thank goodness for the common cold/crap so I could finally go shopping!

I didn't do as we'll as I normally do, but oh we'll I did manage to get the ingredients for 2 of our meals this week. Shredded crockpot beef tacos and Mexican bake with leftover shredded beef, rice, beans, and corn (using leftovers from the first meal. And this will yield more leftovers too!)
I got more items this week that were not on sale/had no coupons for. But sometimes you just gotta do it.

Instant Rice: $2.39
Sale: 2/$4
$2

Beef Broth: 1.49
Sale: $1

Rotel Tomatoes: $1.29
Sale: $1

Corn: $.89

Black beans: $1.49
Sale: $1

Tomato Sauce: $.39

Lime Juice: $1.79

Minced Garlic: $5.49
Sale: $4.99

2 Wholly Guac/Salsa: $2.99 each $5.98
Sale: BOGO FREE (-2.99)
Minus (2) $1.50/1 Q
FREE!

Garlic Bread: $3.19 each: $6.38
Sale: BOGO FREE (-3.19)
Minus: $1/2 Q
$1.10 each: $2.19

London Broil: $9.84
Sale: $6.78

Cilantro: $.99

Bell Pepper: $.89 each: $1.78
Sale: 2/$.88

Minus: $5/$30 Q

Total Before: $40.19
Total After: : $18.90

Still managed to save a little over 50%! :)

How we Budget!

About a month ago Jonathan and and I started a budget.
Budgets have NEVER worked for us. Especially Dave Ramsey's envelope system. (No hate to Dave, but using cash just isn't practical for us. We are debit/credit card users. Plus, we love the rewards we get from them)

So when I saw THIS blog post/video on a budget system that works best with credit/debit cards I was so excited!
Seeing an easy and practical way to make and stick to a budget had me excited to try it.
It is a simple concept, and really easy to stick to.
And I found that just by having a budget in place I was watching more closely what I would spend money on. And that alone helped us save money because I would seriously ask myself if what I was about to purchase was really necessary.

I think you can see from the picture that the envelope is split in half then into 4 separate weeks. One side is the grocery budget which is strictly for food, household, and beauty/health items. The other side is for miscellaneous items like haircuts, date nights, weekly emergencies etc... (you are NOT allowed to borrow money from another week if you are running low, but you CAN borrow from grocery to miscellaneous or vice versa. Like one week Jonathan went over on the Sam's club budget so we borrowed money from that weeks etc money to cover it)
You have to decide for yourself what each budget should be.
Jonathan and I started with $250 grocery and $200 etc each month and $75 on the back for Sam's Club. (Our etc budget is kind of high but before we started this we had a $35/week date night allowance but since this also includes haircuts and such we decided to up the amount) but last month we had $137 in surplus for the month that went into our "fun" account. So after next month if we still have a lot of surplus each week/month we will adjust our numbers accordingly.

A lot of budgets have you look at the whole month which cane be kind of overwhelming. Plus you tend to spend more at the beginning of the month then by mid-month you have to be super strict about what you buy.
This system takes the month and breaks it into weeks. So you have a certain allowance for each week and you are NOT allowed to borrow money from the next week if you are running low. (If I'm confusing you just watch the video from the link I posted, it will save your budget I promise)

This system will definitely work for people who use cash, but I love it because it is debit/credit card friendly! And if you put all of your receipts in the envelope you can put it in a file cabinet and have all your months receipts in one place for tax season!

I am absolutely shocked at how much we were able to put into savings just by knowing where all of our money is going and by sticking to a budget. Saving money really can be easy!

Let me know what you think or if you have any questions! :)