Popped into CVS today to pick up another Rx for my sinus infection (am still smarting over how rude the nurse practitioner was.... highlights of visit included her quip of "well, if you were in Europe, they wouldn't even TREAT you...." yeah.).

Christmas was at 90% off, so I got:

$0.38 2sets of gift tags
$0.29 1 roll wrapping paper
$1.25 5 gift card tins
$0.72 4 medium-ish hallmark gift bags
$0.65 5 small to medium hallmark gift bags...

I'm staying home from work today with a sore throat (and I'm just really tired). On antibiotics already for a sinus infection, so I'm guessing that this is a cold on top of all of it. yippee.

Since I'm working from here today, I decided to use the chance to get my homemade chicken stock made. In the pot as I post is:

2 whole chicken carcasses with a liberal amount of meat still on them.
Giblets and necks from both chickens
1 1/2 onions
2 carrots...

I took everyone's advice and pared back the grocery budget a bit. Spent right at $45 and got the following:

6 boxes cereal 3/$8, $1/1 q's for each
2 gallons milk, free with cereal (one for my sister)
4 Harvest select light soup. 4/$5, $.50/2 q's
3 pkg. Kroger shredded cheese, $1.88 each
3 bottles low sodium V8 (64 oz.), $3.66 each, $.50/1 q's used
1 6-pack 6 oz. V8 cans (for weekends)
2 lb. organic carrots $2.49 (conventional was $1.99)
10...

Walmart-- $23ish
6.00 2 bags cat litter
9.00 stackable shelves for chest freezer
7.00 2 Olay Regenerist cleansing cloths after $5/2 q.

Will mail in Olay rebate for my friend Mariah.

Walgreens-- $8ish
2.00 4 pkg. stayfree after $3/1 WAGS q's and 2 BOGO q's
6.00 2 benefiber after $2/1 q's

earned $5 RR

CVS Round 1:
3 soyjoy
3 kotex
1 of those things for spreading your toes made by the ped-egg people...

I've set my monthly food budget at $250. $200 for groceries, and $50 for eating out. Just finished taking inventory of my stockpile, and I need to get to eating!

I have on hand, unopened:

Meats
2.75 # catfish nuggets
3 tubs Farmland shaved ham
4 packages Tyson 100% natural chicken breast
2 cornish game hens
2 # ground turkey
2 smoked sausage links
2 boxes stuffed chicken breasts (1 buffalo, 1 fiesta)
1 turkey breast roast...