Boost Your Budget Pantry Challenge ~ 01/16/12 Update

My update is late and I apologize for that.  This week has been a rough week for me.  We've all been trying to not get to sick and our weather has not been helping either.  Plus, I'm still in a funk after the New Orleans Saints lost this past Saturday (big sigh).  
Recap of the Boost Your Budget Pantry Challenge 2012 version:Denise at Shopper Strategy suggested this challenge as a way for us to support each other in giving our budget a boost by cleaning out our pantries. The general idea is use items in our stockpile and freezers to give our budgets a boost to start off the New Year. Each of us that are participating have set up our own personal goals/rules.  The Challenge is being co-hosted by myself, Shopper Strategy, Going Crazy Wanna Go?, The Frugalista Chick, Matter of Cents, Thrifty Divas, Frugal Mom of Two, How About Free, TheItMom.com, All The World Is Art, Sweeping The USA, Mommies Point of View, Mama's Money Tree, Crunchy Frugalista, Fab Find Foodie, Making Time For Mommy, Adventures in Coupons, Full Price? NEVER!, The Frugal Navy Wife, Generations of Savings, A Savings WOW!, and of course, Shopper Strategy.   
Here's my update on how I'm doing with the challenge.  Last week, I came up with my goals and did some planning for the challenge.  I also did what I call "minor" shopping.  I just picked up some staples and good buys that I couldn't pass up.  I'm missing a couple receipts so when I find those I'll post updates on how I am doing on the spending goal.  
I wanted to take inventory of what's in the two chest freezers that are outside on the carport but didn't get to do that.  It was just too nasty and cold to be out there for an extended amount of time.  My joints can't handle that type of weather either.  So I cleaned out the refrigerator and took inventory of what was in there.  
Menu update:  I was too distracted to sit down and make a menu for the rest of the month. I just worked with what we had on hand (Hamburger Helper, pork chops, etc.).   We did try out a new recipe, Taco Soup, that a friend gave me!  I had everything on hand except for the pinto beans!  Everyone liked it except my son who isn't too fond of tomatoes.  So I'll have to tweak it to suit our tastes.  We ordered in once and that was a $40 hit to the budget!  So I've got to come up with a game plan to absorb that.  
This week I started the Sacred Heart Diet that my co-workers are doing.  I'm also going to tackle the freezers outside and make menus with what I find.  I'll get the kiddos involved as they are old enough to cook now.  :)  Wish me luck!
Each Monday during January all of us that are participating are going to post an update of our goals and how we're doing at meeting those goals through the linky below. Plus, we’re also going to be giving away a $25 Coupon Clutch gift certificate each week to one participant who either leaves a link to a challenge post or a comment about their challenge goals. Won’t you join us? Congrats to Julie from Pary Moppins for winning last week and Angela from the Testosterone Palace  for winning during the first week!