So this week I got all these Pull-ups - 32 for FREE!
How did I do this? For 2 years I've been taking online surveys from a group called Opinion Outpost. I take 10-20 minute surveys about all kinds of stuff and get paid for it. It's not very lucrative like only $200 a year but I get to try free new products all the time. I got paid $3 to take the 10 minute potty training survey and then got sent 32 Pull-ups for free to try. I will have to do a follow-up survey and I can't tell you about the new product changes they are considering but pretty good deal if you ask me!
I also got:
5 boxes of Post Trail Mix Crunch cereal for $.07 per box paying $.60 out of pocket for my entire order. PLUS PLUS PLUS I earned a $5 Catalina to use on more groceries! I got paid to buy cereal!!!
6 boxes of Frosted shredded wheat $.24 per box
A ton o' Jello puddings $ .20 per box
3 1/2 gallons milk $ .49 each
3 bottles Soft Soap $ .56/bottle
2 bags No Yolks egg noodles $ .50 bag
3 bottles Kraft Salad Dressing $.08 each
2 bags Easter M&M's $1.08 a bag
I got tons more great buys this week on everything, produce, dairy, bread. . . spending $86.03 and saved a total of $157.79 on my groceries! We are now fully stocked again for 1 full month and will only have to buy milk and few fresh produce items.
This brings me to another thought. I have heard from several people that eating out costs just as much as eating in. Really? They believe this? There is also a commercial on right now with Albies advertising you can feed a family of 4 for $15. Each week they have a refrigerated case with all the "ingredients" for this meal at the front of the store. It's all prepackaged pricey stuff. Feeding a family of 4 one meal for $15 is a good deal? Really? People believe this?
You know me always making lists, crunching numbers. . .
Intrigued by the above allegations about the cost to feed a family I've kept track of the costs of meals for one week for our family.
First how much does it cost for the Parish's to eat at a fast food joint like McDonald's or Wendy's?
Well depending on what Brandon and I order between $18-$21 for all 5 of us. Most recently about 3 weeks ago we went to Wendy's it cost $18.66 and that's just because I ordered a sandwich off the $ menu and shared Brandon's fries and drink.
Let's step it up a bit. How about a sit down place like Applebee's? Well it costs us approximately $40-$44 including tax and tip.
Now let's look at eating at home. Here's the breakdown of our last 5 dinners. Remember I stock up when things are at rock bottom prices and use coupons paired with sales.
#1 Chicken Alfredo
Linguine noodles $ .25
1 lb chicken breast 1.19
Package Alfredo sauce .30
3/4 cup milk .05
Crescent Rolls .40
Total cost $2.29
#2 Pizza night
Free Book-It Personal Pans for the boys
1 Frescetta Pizza $2.99
Green Salad .50
Fresh strawberries .40
Total Cost $3.89
(4 slices left over for tomorrows lunch)
#3 Beef Tacos
Tortillas .99
1lb extra lean ground beef 1.25
1/2 lb shredded cheese 1.00
Shredded lettuce .25
1/2 tomato chopped .25
Sour Cream .25
Seasoning packet .30
Total Cost $4.29
(1 cup of meat left over for tomorrow lunch-Nachos!)
#4 Chicken & Rice Casserole
2 cups rice .28
1 lb chicken breast 1.19
1 can Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup .66
1 Eggplant 1.60
1 cup Bisquick .11
2 eggs .17
Green Salad .50
Total Cost $4.51
(More leftovers)
#5 Hot Dogs on the Grill(the kids favorite)
Hot dogs .69
buns .99
Fries .49
Green Salad .50
Fresh Fruit Salad -
Banana .22
Strawberry .40
Green Grapes .30
Apple .39
Orange .40
Total Cost $4.38
Tack on another $1 for condiments, salad dressing, ketchup, mustard. . .
Total cost to feed the Parish's dinner for 5 days $20.36. This is the same amount it costs to feed us 1 meal at McDonald's and nearly the cost of one of Albies feed a family of 4 for $15.
Things that make you go hmmmmmm.
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