Menu Plan

I didn't post a menu plan for this week, so I'll update now.  The Eat From the Pantry Challenge is going well.  We have focused a lot on what we already had, which was nice.  I was able to use up some stuff that I may not have used otherwise.  T also was away on a trip last Saturday, so I took advantage and ate a couple of things that he doesn't like (mac and cheese, for instance).  Here's what we've eaten this week so far and the next couple of days:

Monday- ate out (a compromise between T and me)
Tuesday- turkey pot pie
Wednesday- frozen pizza
Thursday- spaghetti and garlic bread
Friday- date night at Kincaid's (T's favorite- I got him a gift card for Christmas)
Saturday- chicken and dumplings with homemade bread
Sunday- shrimp fried rico

We still have plenty of food left.  However, we're on our last couple of boxes of cereal (a staple around here).  Maybe we'll have to partake in the Kmart deal on that tomorrow, depending on what coupons I can scrounge up.

Menu Plan for the Week

T ended up getting a trip this weekend, so the meal plan got a little altered for the weekend (I usually don't like to cook for just myself).  I ended up scrounging around for most of the weekend, but it was nice to have some freedom from cooking. 

He'll be back tonight, so it's back to the meal plan.  Tonight is turkey chili night. 

The rest of the week will be:

Monday- chicken tacos
Tuesday- frozen leftover peanut butter Thai chicken
Wednesday- Penne Rustica
Thursday- spaghetti and garlic bread
Friday- date night (eat out)
Saturday- turkey pot pie
Sunday- turkey sausage, white bean and spinach soup

First Shopping Trip of EFTP Challenge

So, it wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be.  The damage?  $44.44

For that, we got:

1 can generic navy beans  
1 generic light soy sauce
1 lb. penne pasta
24 pack Diet Coke
24 pack Coke
2 Muir Glen tomato sauces
2 bakery rolls
2 lbs. frozen shrimp
1 pkg. pepperoni
3 lbs. ground turkey
1 pt. half and half
4 half gallons soy milk
1 pkg. plain bagels

We saved $17.93 ($12.10 from coupons)- not the best trip, but certainly not the worst.

January grocery budget remaining:  $35.56

Not planning to go to the grocery store for two weeks, though.

Goals for Eat From the Pantry Challenge

Having decided to take part in the Eat From the Pantry Challenge, our goals for the month are:

1.  Spend no more than $80 for the month, buying mainly produce and milk (but excluding cat food).
2.  Continue to build a stockpile, but only with free or super cheap items, such as this week's CVS sale on toothpaste.
3.  Donate our excess/things we won't use or eat, such as the can of spaghetti-O's that has been in the pantry since before I met T.
4.  Continue our date night each week, but go to restaurants we have giftcards to, so we can limit the oop as much as possible.

After evaluating the pantry and freezer, I don't think this will be too difficult of a month.  The hardest part will probably be limiting my spending because I like to take advantage of deals!