COUPONS: Inexpensive Cheap Date Night: Dinner / Takeout from Smokey Bones

After a full week of work usually the last thing my husband wants to do on Friday nights is go out. I admit, I'm ready to relax as well.  Last Friday we had an inexpensive date night in:  Dinner / takeout and a movie at home.  

Every month or so, Smokey Bones puts these great coupons in the Sunday paper.  This past Sunday (August 14) there were at least two more in the paper plus since I get the neighbor's newspaper coupons, I now have three to use for this coming month. 

Coupon from the newspaper:  $10 off a $20 purchase (combined items = one purchase), expired August 13, 2011.  I'm glad I checked the date because it was only valid through the day that I used it.  I hate to waste good coupons.

This is really a great coupon.  We used to use them for bulk pulled pork which bought enough for about 6 meals (I bought buns and made the sides).  We also have used it for a rack of ribs as well.  The restaurant wised up though and now no longer permits this, so you have to be calculating to get the maximum benefit from this coupon.  I needed to order something fairly large to split between two people.

Before ordering takeout I  checked the online MENU to see what was available.  We don't eat steak very often so I chose the New York Strip 12 oz. steak ($17.99) which comes with two regular sides.  That is PLENTY of red meat for two people.  I ordered one Fancy side, the Loaded Mashed Potatoes ($2.99--but they didn't charge me since I replaced the two regulars with that).  I was still short just a bit--the total has to be $20 BEFORE tax) so I also ordered a flavored Passion Fruit  iced tea which was very good.  I think the total was about $22.00 - $10.00 coupon = $12.00 for a nice dinner for two.

If we had actually gone to Smokey Bones, it's unlikely we would have split a meal.  Typically everyone buys something separate.  The portions are certainly large enough to do so, but I rarely can get my husband to do this.  If we had both ordered steak, our bill would have been at least $40.00.

I made a nice spinach avocado salad at home and voila, a great meal for $12.00.  I had some leftover cherry pie that a guest had brought for us last week that was our dessert.   We enjoyed our meal while we watched a movie from Netflix.

Take advantage of the coupons, Entertainment Club books, etc. that you may have or receive.  With a little pre-planning you'll find that they really do save you a lot of money.   They're not just for groceries anymore.  :)

Last Week's Menus at our House

Sometimes you plan menus and that's not quite what gets on the table since schedules change. I keep a list of the main dishes posted on a small erasable board on our refrigerator and check off what we have each night.  When we go out or have takeout, it's in red.  

Here's what we had for DINNER  last week at our house:

Saturday:  Baked shrimp (frozen), macaroni and cheese, fresh broccoli, watermelon

Sunday:     BBQ, salads, chips, fruit, vegetables  (church function)

Monday:   Pork chops, stuffing, L.O. mac and cheese, broccoli and cauliflower, watermelon

Tuesday:  Stir-fried smoked sausage/onion/green and red peppers over bowtie pasta with parmesan cheese, fruit salad

Wednesday:  Leftover night plus hot dogs if anyone wanted them (previously grilled, in the freezer)

Thursday:      Black beans over  yellow rice, green salad, red apple slices

Friday:    Chili, homemade bread, green salad, apple slices

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LUNCHES (my sons and I):

Pizza, leftovers, Chick-fil-A sandwiches (last ones for awhile since math classes are over) grilled cheese sandwiches.

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BREAKFASTS:

Cereals, fruit smoothies, scrambled eggs, toast

Sunday Worship / Rest and Relax / My New Ebay Logo/ Amish Grace

From my windowsill:

Enjoy the morning at church with your friends and family.  Try to get outside for some fresh air.  Everyone needs a little rest before Monday arrives!

Romans 15:13 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 

so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Can't make it to church?  Here's our pastor's sermon text and audio from last Sunday:  click here


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My New Ebay Logo:

Yesterday while my husband was at the car show all day,  I updated my Ebay store with new colors (like my blog) and made a new logo for it as well.   These are some of the items I've recently listed and/or sold plus a photo of me so people can see who they are buying from.  

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Movie:
Looking for a good family movie to watch?  Check out Amish Grace on Lifetime network this week.  I DVR'd it this week and saw it yesterday.  Keep Kleenex close by.

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Lunch:

• Sloppy Joe's on hamburger buns
• Green beans
• Chips
• Yogurt

Dinner:

• Leftover steak stir-fry and egg rolls
• Rice
• Sloppy Joe's
• Strawberries

FAMILY & FRIENDS: Weekly Menus

Psalm 145:15

The eyes of all look to You,

And You give them their food in due time.

Well here it is Monday afternoon. Do you know what your family will be eating this week? I generally sit down on Mondays and look through the freezer and frig and plan the week's menus. This has helped me SO much in not overspending, having nutritious foods and avoiding the panic hour of 5:00-6:00 p.m. wondering what to prepare. I keep a calendar in the kitchen with what everyone is doing so I know who will be here for supper. In addition to that I have a calendar on our computer with what I make for supper to watch that I'm not making the same things over and over (except for absolute favorites).

Breakfast foods are always on hand--waffles, cereals, fruit, yogurt, eggs, grits. My husband takes his lunch at least 3x a week so I plan for that as well. He likes the Healthy Choice frozen meals (which I stock up on when they are on sale) to manage his portions rather than pack leftovers. My other son and I eat smaller portions so there's usually something already made in the refrigerator for us for lunch. I'm getting used to cooking for three rather than four so there aren't so many leftovers, but if there are and it's something that freezes well, I store it away for a later lunch, quick supper, send home with my other son when he visits, or take a meal to someone who needs one. We have an upright freezer in our laundry room. Here are my menus for this week:

• Monday--steak (left from cookout), mashed potatoes, green beans
• Tuesday--taco salad
• Wednesday--chicken & vegetable soup, blueberry muffins
• Thursday--black beans & yellow rice, broccoli
• Friday--stir fry over rice
• Saturday--dinner out
• Friday--leftovers or pizza

Take 20 minutes or so to look through your pantry, freezer and refrigerator and plan your meals for the entire week. It really is a daily timesaver and stress reducer which we all need.