Chicken stretching

After a sweaty tough workout, the best thing for a chicken to do is stretch! Into about 6 meals that is :)
Yesterday I plum lucked out at Kroger and found 2 whole chickens for $0.64 a lb! That meant that for the 5.78 lb chicken I cooked today, I paid $3.70. This is under what I would pay for 1 package of boneless chicken breasts. I decided to stretch this yummy little chick to its fullest by following a few steps from Heavenly Homemakers and their advice on stretching a chicken to make 6 meals. We will be shooting for 6 between 2 adults (not 6 like them...we like our protein!). Here is the way I've done this. Lather, rinse, repeat....I mean use as you see fit.

Tuesday-7:00 am-Put the chicken in the crockpot with 1 cup of water and poultry seasoning and turned on low. Arrived home from work smelling the lovely chicken all ready to go. I took the chicken out on a platter and took off ALL the chicken from the bones (we do not discriminate in our house...we like the light and dark meat equally) and put it in a bowl.
Put all the bones, skin, and any additional scraps back into the crockpot with all the stuff that had initially fallen off the chicken before I pulled it out and filled the crockpot to the top with water. Add a few bay leaves, salt, pepper, garlic, and half an onion. Leave on low for 12 hours. Refridgerate during time I'm at work to allow fat to rise so I can scrape it off. Then pour through strainer into another pot to catch the bones/scraps.
Bam! All chicken and broth are ready to go!

Now for the good stuff! The meal plans...links are included for all the recipes :)
Our chicken provided about 3.5 lbs of meat and about 6 quarts of broth.
Tuesday-Chicken alfredo pizzas-1/2 lb meat
Wednesday Dinner-Chicken and Gnocchi soup-3 quarts of broth and no meat (the soup has the bits left from making the stock in it which is more than enough)
Thursday Lunch-Chicken and Gnocchi soup-repeat :)
Thursday Dinner-Chicken fajitas-1.5 lbs of meat since I'll be using some for the chicken salad tomorrow
Friday Lunch-Chicken taco salad-some of the meat from last night's meal
Friday Dinner-Chicken Tortilla Soup-1/2 lb of meat and 3 quarts of stock
Sunday Dinner-Cheesy Chicken, Rice, and Brocolli casserole-1 lb of meat

That uses all 3.5 lbs of meat and 6 quarts of stock in one week. Sure we'll be chickened out, but what better way to use in a variety of recipes throughout the week. All for the low low cost of $.16 per serving of the dish with meat. Sure can't beat the price on that!

O...M...G!

I really had absolutely NO idea how to explain my shopping trips today other than with a big, loud, "O...M....G!" I got to work this morning and my mom gave me maybe the coolest shopping news since I started this couponing experiment a little more than 18 months ago. Marsh, a local grocery store, was going to be tripling all coupons up to $1 this Friday-Monday. There were a few rules....1. Only 2 of the same coupon would triple. 2. No overages.


With that, I set my plan in action. I've been watching this Extreme Couponing show on TLC since it started and I've found it interesting that most of the people only have 10-20 actual items they buy, but the quantity is so out of control it's ridiculous. I am a single girl and I have no need for more than 5-10 of most items (yes I bought a couple hundred boxes of pasta for free, but I donated them so I don't count that!) so I don't consider any of my shopping trips to be extreme or over the top in the least.





I headed to Bargain Briana (my favorite for Marsh match ups) and looked up the best deals for the week. I printed and clipped what I needed to then headed to Marsh after work! This is my first transaction with about 20 minutes of planning and "winging it" at the store with the coupons I already had clipped in my coupon organizer.


This transaction includes 8 packages of hot dogs, 2 packages of breakfast burritos, 2 bottles of BBQ sauce, 2 bottles of salad dressing, 3 pasta sauces, 2 jamba smoothies, 2 pasta sides, 4 packages of gum, 2 tubs of lunch meat, 2 candybars, 2 dog treats, 2 packages of cheese, a lunchable, bacon, deoderant, sour cream, Helluva good dip, Mrs. Dash, 6 pack of popcorn, snack crackers, Franks red hot sauce, tortillas, chips, and Seventh Generation cleaner.


Total retail cost: $129.92
MFR Coupons Savings: $32.40
Bonus coupon savings: $62.85
Fresh idea savings: $24.49
Total savings of $119.74 (93%)


Total paid out of pocket: $10.18


I came home and went through all my coupons then decided to go back tonight because my mom had heard a cashier talking at another location about how they might end the promotion early because they were going broke! Duhhhh you gave me $62.85 in my first transaction...of course you're going broke! So I clipped from my newspaper coupons and back I went. Here is a picture of my 2nd trip.

This transaction includes 8 cans of Alpo, 4 Diet cokes, 4 packages of hot dogs, 2 buffalo wing sauces, 2 Worcestershire sauces, 2 packages of paper plates, 2 smoothies, 2 cottage cheese doubles, 2 tubs of lunch meat, 1 breakfast burrito package, 2 Asian sauces, ketchup, granola bards, 2 bags of chips, Tabasco, 2 salad dressings, fig newton cookies, instant cafe latte, laundry detergent, frebreeze, seventh generation cleaner, instant lunch, individual size pizza, dog treats, a Rubbermaid container, a thin crust pizza (not pictured...in my tummy :), and 2 packages of Aunt Millie's hot dog buns (not pictured).

Total retail value: $143.24
MFR coupon savings: $33.25

Bonus coupon savings: $64.69

Fresh idea savings: $27.67

Total savings of: $125.61 (88%)

Total out of pocket cost: $17.63

Total from both transactions: $27.81

HOLY COW!!!! This is by far and away the best and most extreme shopping trip I have ever had. I did get a lot of hot dogs, but about 3/4 of them are already in the freezer so I can enjoy them throughout the summer and fall. I got all 12 packages of them for free so you can't beat that for summer grilling and cookouts! I am going to go over my grocery budget for the month by about $5, but that is more than ok with me to get this many items for dirt cheap prices!

How Much Can I Save in a Year-April Update

Well my April update is a little late, but here goes nothing! I actually took the month off from a lot of shopping because I did an eat from the pantry challenge. I spent $10 a week and just got fresh foods or dairy products. I went over by $2.18 one week, but overall I did save money quite a bit by using up some of the pantry. I pretty much only bought extra things if I could get them for free or under $0.25 each. With as much working as I was doing after my actual job (reffing and coaching), I did find myself picking up dinner out a little more often which sucked so I am going to try to work at that a little better this month. So far, I have only been out to dinner twice in May and have cooked at home the other nights. It's my hope that I will be able to keep this up despite my busy schedule this month.


Here is what I got in April for free or less than $0.25!




6 pouches of Starkist Tuna-$1.00 each- (6) $.50 coupons (double)=6 free

Seventh Generation paper towels- $.89 on clearance-$1 coupon= FREE + .11 overage

Suave deodorant $1.06-.50 coupon (doubles)=$.06

2 tubes of Crest toothpaste-$1.00 each-(2) .50 coupons=2 FREE


2 Reach toothbrushes $1.00 each- $2/2 coupon=2 FREE

3 Reach floss-$1.00 each- (3) $1/1 coupons=3 FREE

Vasaline Sheer Infusion lotion-$1 on clearance-$1/1 coupon=FREE

Head and shoulders trial size shampoo $.97-$1/1 coupon=FREE


Degree deodorant $.97-$1/1 coupon=FREE

Heinz ketchup $1.99-$2/1 coupon=FREE

Grey Poupon $1.12 on clearance-$.50/1 coupon (doubles)=$.12



Well that's it for now. I promise I will get back to posting a lot more once school gets out in 10 days!

Murphy pays a visit

Well it has certainly been awhile since I last posted. As much as I hate to admit it, things have been a frenzy around here and I have had very little free time to find awesome deals and even more so to post. First an update: Job is going great! Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. In the one month since my last post, things have completely broken around my home! I blame that crazy guy named Murphy...him and his crazy laws. First my water heater needed to be replaced because my water pressure and hot water production was ummmm zero....cold showers are NOT fun! Murphy hit #1. Then we had some thunderstorms roll through one Sunday night in late February...weird I know, but they took out the motherboard on my refrigerator. Murphy hit #2. And now I patiently await Murphy hit #3....hoping so very much I can fool the sucker into only getting me twice. It has cost an arm and a leg, but what do you do? You thank Dave Ramsey for instilling the "emergency fund" idea into your head...or at least that is what I am doing! My emergency fund is pretty pathetic until I can ref some more soccer games to pad it back up so I'm hoping Murphy gives me a bit of time to recover! Has Murphy hit anyone else lately?

And now for some FANTASTIC DEALS I've gotten lately! I had some great luck this week at Kroger with a ton of free products after sale, $5 off instantly with the purchase of 10 items, and coupons. Don't believe me....see for yourself :)

There are 30 boxes of free pasta and 8 cans of Red Gold tomatoes. All were completely and utterly free. They are on sale yet again this coming week so I plan to return to Kroger to get about 30 more. You are probably thinking I am sounding like those INSANE people off the "Extreme Couponing" show on TLC because I plan to buy 60 boxes of pasta (but they're free right...)

I promise you that as absolutely extreme as it sounds, I have a plan for all that al dente goodness. Here it goes:

20 boxes of various pasta saved for me in my Ikea containers in the pantry-check out a pic of my pantry with the containers here

10 boxes of various pasta for my sister who is a poor college student at Butler (GO DAWGS!!!)

10 boxes of various pasta given to my best friend and her husband

20 boxes to the food shelter at another friend's church

One thing I have discovered about myself lately is how powerful this tool of couponing can be. I have taught co-workers about it and I feel blessed that I am sharing my knowledge with others. I told one of my co-workers today about the free pasta deal at Kroger. She is a struggling single mother of two teenagers who works 2 jobs to support them because she does not want to take federal assistance. She got insanely excited to find out about a deal like this and thanked me multiple times for telling her all about it. I told her where to find the coupons and explained the details of the deal. Now not only is this knowledge feeding me, my sister, my best friend's family, and some people who will receive the food at the food bank, it is benefiting a single mother and her family. She will more than likely share the deal with her friends as well. It is our own little version of pay it forward. I love the power of people, ideas, and frugality on our society. I am truly blessed to have found this way of life and how much it has taught me about being a wise steward of what we're given! In what ways do you feel blessed to have the knowledge and power of frugality?

Saturday mega savings

I have to admit that I during the holidays I was not very good with my couponing. Partially because there weren't a lot of deals I was interested in, partially because I was preoccupied with other things. This is a new year and yes I am back on my game. I have to admit that have I have never really gotten good with Kroger. I don't know why, but I can never quite figure out the deals. Since I have 2 Krogers within a mile and a half of my house, I figured I BETTER figure this one out. Kroger has had some INSANELY amazing deals lately so I took about 30 minutes to plan this out and hit the store. I forgot to take a picture when I got home and put everything away so no picture on this one, but get ready for some awesome deals. All these deals run through next Wednesday here in Indy.

4 Kashi Go Lean Cereals-$2.99 each
-(4) $3/1 coupon (2 from Vocalpoint in the mail, 2 from Recyclebank account rewards)
-$4 off total order for buying 4 Kroger deal
=Free +$4 overage

Febreeze Air Effects-$2.79
-$1/1 Kroger eCoupon (loaded to plus card)
-$1/1 coupon from 12/27 P&G insert
-$1 off 4 P&G Kroger promotion
=Free + $.21 overage

2 Dawn plus Olay hand renewal Soap-$2.79
-$.50/1 Kroger eCoupon
-(2) $.50/1 coupon from 12/27 P&G insert (doubles)
-(2)$1 off 4 P&G Kroger promotion
=$.29 each

3 Secret deodorant-$2.29 each
-(3) $.50/1 coupon from 12/27 P&G insert (doubles)
-(3)$1 off 4 P&G Kroger promotion
=$.29 each

Wholly Guacamole 100 calorie packs-marked down to $1.29
-$1/1 wholly Guacamole coupon (no longer available)
=$.29

10 Horizon Milk Singles-$1.00 each
-(10) $1/1 Horizon coupons
=10 Free

Softsoap-$.88
-$.35/1 coupon from 1/2 inserts (doubles)
=$.18

Hormel All Natural Roast Beef-marked down to $1.99
-$.50/1 coupon (doubles)
=$.99

ChiChis tortillas-$2.55
-$.50/1 coupon (doubles)
=$1.55

Tyson whole chicken-marked down to $3.29

Tomatoes-$2.52

Hoagies-marked down to $.79

Fresh salad-marked down to $1.49

1/2 gallon of milk-marked down to $.25 (scored the GREATEST DEAL on this! They mismarked milk that someone must have thought said Jan 8 because mine doesn't expire until 1/18!!!!)

Tax $.08
Total=$8.67

Saved 89% off regular price (not that I would EVER pay regular price for all that!)

I then got the BEST deal EVER on meds at CVS. So much so that I will not have to buy any sort of pain reliever for the next couple years...would be my guess! Back in December there were all kinds of coupons around the blogging world for free Excedrin Extra Strength and Excedrin Migraine. I've gotten 5 of them in the mail so far (used one back in December at Walgreens). Here is the deal:

Excedrin (Buy $20 worth and get $10 ECB)
3 Excedrin Extra Strength-$5.79 (all mine had a bonus 8 pack of Excedrin PM attached at that price)
1 Excedrin Migraine-$4.79
-(3) Free Excedrin Extra Strength
-(1) Free Excedrin Migraine
=Free + $10 ECB

I have 5 bottles for free which is more than enough to suffice for quite sometime around here since I'm not too medicine happy. I am also happy to report that my migraines have all but disappeared with my new classroom (and its MASSIVE window this year). Get yourself out of florescent and into sunlight to become independent from medicine!

Tip from my sister the pharmacist: Check the active ingredients in your meds because both of these have the EXACT same(Extra Strength and Migraine)! Buy the cheapest ones with the same active ingredients and don't get caught up in the label with it :)

I hope you can capitalize on some of these great deals! I'll also be heading to Meijer afterwork tomorrow because I have some great coupons to go with their 10/10 sale that will make about 10-15 items completely free. Can't really beat that!

What great deals have you found this week?

Kroger deals

So I had every intention of posting some amazing deals I got after the holiday, but alas I got sick and the posting did not happen. I'll do a full run down of my post holiday shopping before the end of the week, but boy am I excited about 2 fantastic deals I've found this week!

Kroger

Horizon Organic Milk Single (8 oz) – $1
Use $1/1 printable
Free after coupon
(I printed off 10 of these which means for 10 days I will be enjoying organic milk with my lunch!)

2 pack of Coast Bar Soap – $1
Use $1/1 printable
Free after coupon

Plus if you have enough of these coupons, it will definitely be worth your while:

Secret Deodorant-$2.29 **Buy 4**
Use (4) $.50/1 coupons from 12/26/2010 P&G Insert (my store doubles each to $1)
Get $4 off instantly through P&G rebate
$.29 each after coupons and instant rebate

(The only catch is that you have to buy $4 in additional merchandise because it won't take it off the P&G items...shouldn't be a big deal if you are buying other things too)

Mark down Madness!

I stopped at Kroger today on my way home to pick up some chicken tenders so I could make boneless wings for the Colts game tonight. I ended up coming out with about $12 in extremely good mark downs!

2 half gallons of egg nog-$.40 each

2 organic Caesar salad kits-$1.49 each

2 packages of huge portabella mushroom caps-$1.49 each

Mozzarella cheese-$1.99

4 pack of chibatta bread $1.19

Lays Garden Tomato and Basil chips $1.99 on sale through Wednesday (THESE ARE THE MOST DELICIOUS CHIPS I'VE EVER HAD!!!!)

All in all my extra purchases cost me $11.93, but probably saved me quite a bit in the long run. Here is my plan to incorporate these into meals.

Freeze the egg nog and use during winter break.

Take the salad for lunch tomorrow and Wednesday and add some of the leftover chicken from my baked whole chicken last week for some protein.

I will marinate the mushrooms since their sell by date isn't until the 4th in some balsamic vinegar and grill them with some chicken later this week.

Add some sliced tomatoes and basil from the garden to the cheese to make some caprese salad as an after school snack a couple days this week.

Bread for sandwiches tomorrow night for dinner (with soup) and on Thursday and Friday at school.

My plan is for the chips to make it throughout the week as a salty addition to my lunch, but the Colts game is on tonight so I'm not going to hold my breath. I'll probably go get another bag to be perfectly honest.

Be on the lookout for markdowns on your next shopping trip!

Marsh trip in review

Today's Marsh trip was a huge deal saver! Check out some of the deals I ended up getting.

I got 4 boxes of Suddenly Salad pasta salad, 3 cups of Yoplait Greek blueberry yogurt, 2 Grands biscuts (5 in each container), and a bag of Green Giant Red potatoes and green beans in rosemary butter sauce for FREE + .60 overage. Check out my previous post to see how I did this.

I ended up spending more than I normally would for groceries because of the one day only meat sale. I won't have to buy chicken again until August which is FANTASTIC!!

Perdue boneless chicken breast was $1.57 lb so I bought 4 packages. This was 18 chicken breasts total. I already had one bag of frozen chicken breasts so pair these two up and I am set for the summer!

I also got boneless pork loin for $1.68 lb. I got a 7 lb package and had it cut into 3/4 inch chops by the butcher. He then packaged them up in twos so I have quick grab chops to marinate and throw on the grill. I ended up with 14 packages so that breaks down to 28 chops! All for about $12! Wonderful!

I ended up buying a few other items I had coupons for that were on sale. I also bought 6 vine ripe tomatoes for sandwiches over the next week. All in all I ended up spending $35.54 for everything. This is only $3.00 more than what my 7 lb pork loin costs at regular price. I saved a total of $75.79 on my order (68%).