Menu Plan/ Grocery List Dec 18-26

I have yet to find the perfect system for menu planning for me, so this will be a work in progress as I hopefully find the way that works best for me.  This is my first time writing a menu plan for all three meals in a day, so we will see how it works.  I am going to be pretty flexible with moving things around if needed but I am hoping this will help with running out of ideas on what to make for dinner.  My lunch ideas are mostly for the kids, I will usually eat left overs from dinner.   I will usually do 1 menu a week, starting on Wednesdays but since Christmas is next Wednesday I planned through the 26th since I don't plan on shopping again until after then.  I gave my self a $130 budget for 9 days.  Below you will see my menu for the 9 days, my grocery list an my estimated cost.  I am a little over in my estimate so hoping I can find some more sales or that I over estimated.  After I go shopping on Thursday I will post how much I actually spent.

Bulk Cooking: I am going to pick a few meals each week to make in a large batch and freeze to hopefully start saving some time and money.

Tips: Kroger has a seasonal sale on the 18oz jars of peanut butter for $1.88.  Once we use the peanut butter I wash the jar and it makes a great size for me to freeze, refried beans, chicken stock, spaghetti sauce, freezer jam, black beans, etc. in.

Date	Day	Menu	In the pantry	Grocery Lists
18	Wednesday	Eggs & Toast		Item	Amount	Price	Store
		PB & J/Carrots/Apples		Rice Krispy	1	$2.50	Aldi
		Baracoa Pork	* Pork	Bananas	2	$3.00	Aldi
19	Thursday	Cream of Wheat	* Cream of Wheat	Hummus	1	$2.00	Aldi
		Grilled Cheese/Carrots/Grapes		Apples	1	$3.00	Aldi
		Mexican Pizza	Refried Beans	Water Bottles	1	$3.00	Aldi
20	Friday	German Pancakes		Peppers	3	$3.00	Aldi
		Cheese & Crackers/Carrots/Apples		Bread	2	$3.00	Aldi
		Lemon Chicken/Rice/Salas	* Rice/Chicken	Crackers	1	$1.50	Aldi
21	Saturday	Oatmeal	*Oatmeal	Orange Juice	2	$3.00	Aldi
		PB & J/Carrots/Apples		Carrots	1	$1.25	Aldi
		Spaghetti	* Noodles	Peanut butter	2	$4.00	Kroger
22	Sunday	Pancakes		Grapes	2	$4.00	Kroger
		Spaghetti	*Noodles	Marshmallows	1	$1.09	Kroger
		Tilapia/ Rice/Salad	* Tilapia/Rice	Jalapeno	1	$0.50	Kroger
23	Monday	Eggs & Toast		Ground Beef	1	$8.00	Kroger
		Chicken Black Bean Burritos	*Chicken/Tortillas	Crushed Tomato's	4	$4.50	Kroger
		Roast Turkey Breast/Mashed Potato's/ Carrots/ Peas	*Turkey Breast	Tomato Sauce	2	$1.80	Kroger
24	Tuesday	Waffles		Potato's	1	$4.10	Kroger
		Turkey Sandwiches		Celery	1	$1.10	Kroger
		Turkey Potpie		Flour	1	$2.00	Kroger
		Rice Krispy Treats		Apple Sauce	2	$4.00	Kroger
25	Wednesday	Utah Scones, Bacon, Eggs	*Bacon	Zucchini	1	$1.00	Kroger
		Turkey Sandwiches		Enchilada sauce	1	$1.15	Kroger
		Ham, Scalloped Potato's, Green Beans/Carrots	*Ham	Tomatillos	2	$1.50	Kroger
26	Thursday	Oatmeal		Cilantro	1	$0.80	Kroger
		Sausage and Lentil Soup		Yogurt	18	$8.10	Kroger
		Left Overs		Butter	1	$8.00	Sam's
				Eggs	1	$4.00	Sam's
		Bulk Cooking/Freezer Meals	# of Meals	Milk	2	$6.50	Sam's
		Doubling Spaghetti Sauce	6	Tomato's	1	$5.00	Sam's
		Baracoa Pork	6	Italian Sausage	1	$12.00	Sam's
				Gum	1	$8.00	Sam's
				Cheez-Its	1	$7.00	Sam's
				Mangos	1	$10.00	Sam's
				Spinach	1	$4.00	Sam's
				Lime Juice	1	$1.50	Target
				Sour Dough Bread	1	$4.00	Target
				Bagels	1	$1.90	Target
				Basil	1	$1.50	Trader Joes