Lockdown Budget: Ground Zero and 1/3 There Already

Tomorrow is day one of Lockdown Budget, and I am happy to report that due to a large case closing and the auditing process taking not nearly as long as usual, we have already paid off 1/3 of the debt we goaled ourselves to pay off by December 1. I anticipate, based on the way my work is swinging along, that we will be halfway to our goal by October 1, and God willing we might be done by November 1.

I don't think this big start out of the gate will make us complacent; Baboo and I are really determined to make.this.happen. I am doing my best to carve out as much as I can from the food and household budget and we are selling a few things on Craigslist and Ebay as well; we'd been meaning to do these things before but are now super motivated to get the no-debt party started. If you're the praying type, please keep us in yours as we sacrifice temporarily to get our family to financial freedom. I'll certainly be updating you as we go along.

Tightwad Tip Tuesday: Pack Lunches the Night Before

This seems more like an organizational tip, and it is that, but it also saves money. At night, while you are cleaning up the dinner dishes, pots, and pans, dish up the leftovers into a tupperware (or pyrex dish, if you are concerned about BPA leaching into your food in the microwave like I am -- sue me, I'm a little freaky about these things) and stick it in the fridge. The next morning it is ready for you to grab and go.

I cannot tell you how much money this has saved us; the wonderful combination of Baboo's thriftiness and slight to moderate culinary laziness means he prefers leftovers for lunches, and if they are ready to go he will happily grab them out of the fridge and eat them.

Similarly, if you can't bear the thought of two or three bucks per kid for school lunches but find the thought of packing lunches in the morning even more intolerable, make them the night before and stow them in the fridge. In the morning, plop them in the backpacks before they head out the door. Again, this has, quite literally, saved my sanity with five children. I might be exhausted when I drop into bed at night, but by golly, at least lunches are packed!!!

Menu Plan Monday: One Day Late Edition

Tomorrow's the first day of school!! I shouldn't be this excited, but I am. A trip to the grocery store with no children hanging off the cart . . . . aaaaaahhhhhhhh.

Monday: pasta with cheese, fresh fruit
Tuesday: French toast with raspberries and whipped cream, fresh fruit
Wednesday: Creamy italian chicken, brown rice, broccoli
Thursday: lasagna, salad, garlic bread
Friday-Saturday: mini vacation up nort', likely a romantic wine/cheese/fruit dinner whilst lounging in the whirlpool tub, followed the next day by dogs/brats over a campfire someplace.
Sunday: ham and swiss stromboli, salad

http://www.expoeducator.com/coupon.html

Go here http://www.expoeducator.com/coupon.html

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for a .pdf 1/1 Expo Click coupon. Print as many times as you like, and take to Office Max this week; Expo Dry Erase markers are on sale buy one get one free.

What's the Deal: Pick N Save through September 2, 2009

A spectacular week for Pick N Save, even if you don't go on Wednesday for double coupon day.

They're clearing out their Staples school supplies; many small items such as single subject spiral notebooks, pencil cap erasers, and other miscellany are .10 each, limit 10. 12 count Staples pencils are 5/1.00, limit 5. Highlighters and index cards are .33 each. Elmer's glue and 24 count Crayola crayons are .25 each, limit 4.

To finish up the Kraft/Nabisco rebate, buy 10 Handi-Snacks and/or Nabisco Snack Sacks at 1.00 each; if you have coupons from the rebate booklet for 1.00/2, you can double them, or just redeem them on their own, or not use coupons at all; you will have completed your needed purchases for the $20.00 rebate and those items will be free after that rebate.

Dannon yogurt is 2.00 for most all varieties this week; pair with this week's coupons in the Sunday inserts to get them for 1.00 each or free if you double them on Wednesday.

Jennie O Turkey Franks are 1.00 per pack; there are .55/1 coupons from the Sunday paper a couple of weeks ago, making them .45 or free, depending on whether you go on Wednesday.

Klement's precooked brats are 3.00 per pack; double a .75/1 coupon from the Sunday inserts a couple of weeks ago and get them for 1.50 each.

By the way, hot dogs and brats freeze beautifully.

Finally, Skippy peanut butter is .98, limit one, and Roundy's lunch bags are .78, limit one.

Canning supplies are 25% off, if you are overrun with cucumbers and need to make pickles (like me).

You're all set for back to school!