Since we have quite a bit of beef and chicken in the freezer, my goal is to spend $150 or less this month on groceries (just groceries, not toiletries or cleaning products). I feel like this should be easy, but it always feels like a challenge. I think after my first trip today, which will hopefully largely last 2 weeks, we should be on track...but it may be close!
So, here's what I got:
2 boxes instant brown rice @ $1.48 per box
Whole Wheat Ritz- $3.48
Quick Oats- $1.88
2 cans golden mushroom soup @1.48 per can
Caribbean Jerk Marinade- $2.96
5 pound bag unbleached flour- $1.98
Dried Cranberries- $1.84
Bulk Whole Wheat Penne- 1.39 lbs @ $1.99/lb
Salsa- $1.77
Reduced Sodium Beef Broth- $.98
Gravy Mix Packet- $.44
2 sleeves all-purpose yeast @ $.88 per sleeve
Olive Oil- $3.88
3 cans whole kernel corn @ $.60 per can
Cornbread Mix- $2.18
Bulk Ground Cumin Seed- 0.15lbs @ 4.39/lb
10 pounds potatoes- $2.49
2 bags Wheat Bread- $1.68
Green Bell Peppers- 0.71 lbs @ $1.19/lb
Tomatoes- 1.01 lbs @$0.89/lb
Zucchini- 1.03lbs @ $0.49/lb
Navel Oranges- 5.16lb @ $.49/lb
Yogurt Tub (32 oz)- $1.98
2 bricks cream cheese @ $1.18/ brick
2lb medium cheddar cheese- $4.88
5 dozen eggs- $5.58
Asparagus- 1.08lb @ $1.69/lb
Red Delicious Apples- 3.64 lbs @ $0.89/lb
Strawberries- $1.89
Bulk Peanut Butter- 2.04 lbs @ $3.79/lb
Celery-$0.69
Pineapple- 3.95 lbs @ $0.98/lb
Total: $78.97
This was a little more than I hoped to spend, because we've already used about $14 of our grocery budget this month shopping for our portion of last night's dinner and getting some basics like milk (leaving us roughly $58 for the month). However, some of the things we purchased (like the peanut butter, eggs, and bulk pasta) will probably last all month, which means that if I plan correctly, the shopping trip for the next half of the month will hopefully bring us in right at our budget.
This post is already long enough, but in case anyone is interested, I'll add my meal plan for the next two weeks after the jump! Click "Read More" at the bottom of this post to view the meal plan as well :)
Meal Plan-
Tuesday May 1- Steaks, Asparagus, Baked Potato
Wednesday May 2- Taco Soup in Crock Pot (Freeze Half)
Thursday May 3- Leftover Tumeric Chicken and
Rice
Friday May 4- Grilled Shishkabobs, Rice, Beans
Saturday May 5- Homemade Pizza / Pizza Bites to freeze
Sunday May 6- Crock Pot Roast, Mashed
Potatoes, Gravy
Monday May 7- Leftover Taco Soup
Tuesday May 8- Potato Bar (topped with taco soup for Justin)
Wednesday May 9- Scrounge
Thursday May 10- Sweet Potato Soup, Bread
Friday May 11- Homemade Pizza
Saturday May 12- Tacos/Burritos
Sunday May 13 (Mother’s Day)- ???
Monday May 14- Crock Pot Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
Tuesday May 15- Green Salads with Chicken
So cool! Would love to see the meal plan you derive from this, as having a grocery budget for the month is always helpful and often necessary!
ReplyDeleteHappy seeing beautiful!
Wow. I'm seriously impressed!
ReplyDeleteI spend about $100-125 every 1 1/2 weeks. I have really really really tried to cut back and cannot seem to get it lower than $100.
I buy off brand and can't figure this out. I want to go shopping with you! Teach me your ways. :)
I've been working on this too! I was spending about $230 a month on groceries, and for awhile I had it down to $170. But then I noticed prices going up, so I've had to work even harder to use coupons and only buy what seems like a good price, and not just what I feel like eating. : ) SO HARD!
ReplyDeleteLol, I just started a similar post and got overwhelmed, I'm so glad you posted this! I love seeing what other people buy on similar food budgets to us!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Megan...I'm seriously impressed as well. We also spend about $100 a week, and that doesn't include us buying beef, pork, and chicken all in bulk. So $100/week with no meat. It's produce that kills us. Isaac and I could seriously live on fruit. We end up going through 3 large containers of strawberries a week when it's strawberry season...
ReplyDeleteSince staying home - I was amazed at how much I can spend and save on groceries. Then when I got my deep freezer for Christmas - that saving was so much easier. Right now I am spending about 75-80 a week... but that is trying to stock up our pantry staples and freezer meat/meals for when baby is born. I meal plan weekly... I think I need to try the two weeks like you.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way Megan. I really don't know what to do differently. I'm going to make my way out to Oregon to have you teach me Meredith! ;)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're doing pretty good! Buying less processed foods always helps lower the cost of groceries - it's amazing what we pay for pre-processed chemicals in a box.
ReplyDeleteNow that is REAL talent! Can you pretty please come do all my shopping... And cooking for that matter? Thanks for inspiring me to cut back!
ReplyDelete