Monthly Grocery Budget Challenge!!

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Week ending June 15th budget $25.00

$25.00​

Jubilee
2 boxes eggo waffles $3.32
1 loaf of bread $1.49
1/4 #cooked ham (deli) $.89
1/3 # sara lee turkey (deli) $2.72
1 chub braunsweiger $1.89
1 gallon milk $3.09
Steak and Mushroom's $.20
Total

($22.60)​

Balance left for the week

$2.40​

Updated 6/13 - Include Father's Day meal but no dessert. Since Father's Day is on Sunday, I may get up early and do my weekly shopping. DD has exams this week so she could eat lunches out of the cupboard and I can get away with a smaller weekly bill. If all goes as planned I can purchase items to make DH an ice-cream cake. Total cost of items for this would be around $5.00. Much cheaper than any of the store bought one's but I would have to cut the recipe to an 8x8 pan vs. the original recipe of a 9x13 pan. So no leftover but I am sure he would enjoy this more than cupcakes...

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I can purchase 1# of 90% lean ground beef for $1.99 or $.50 per person for a meal. Here are some of my favorites that enhance my budget.

Meatloaf - yes it is a small meatloaf but more that enough for a meal. Add potatoes, veggie, salad, and or fruit to have a very filling meal.

Mock Stroganoff (interested in recipe, let me know) - serve over noodles or mashed potatoes. My family loves my roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Add fruit and or a veggie.

Meatballs - One # meat makes 32-36 smaller meatballs. Ideas, spaghetti, meatball subs, swedish meatballs, and bbq meatballs. Serve with sides...Yummo!

Hamburgers - Homemade, it could be greek, italian, mediteranian, bbq, anything your heart desires - add some frozen french fries and a veggie....

Goulash - serve w/ salad and warm bread

Stuffed Cabbage rolls - use rice as a filler and serve with a veggie, salad or bread

Taco's - original or casserole - Anyone for Mexican tonight????

Hamburger/Cheeseburger casserole - with 2 sides of veggies....

Chili - Yeah a meal that serves an army...of can you say leftovers!!

Crockpot - Hamburger meat and baked beans, served over mashed potatoes. Mom called this poor week casserole!

Stir Fry - yes no one thinks hamburger and stir-fry. But it is delicious. Tons of veggies and the flavor is very good. Make sure to get out your spices.

Pizza Night - I am sure you all can do this one... So many varieties your head will spin!

Homemade Hamburger Helpers - no kits needed!!

Sloppy Joes - homemade also, no need for the processed can stuff....

And last but not least:

Hamburger Surprise - the casserole of champion's. Clean out the refrigerator day!!

See all is not lost!!

Have a great day, Diane

 

[IDoDis]

Wow, hamburger here costs much more -- like double what you pay! Luckily we don't eat much hamburger at home, but other meats are costly, too!

OP -- I'm trying to follow your grocery lists so I can get a gist for how a month looks. You have some posts of purchases on other pages. Would you mind putting them all on the first page where you saved your spots? That way I don't have to click the pages around to see everything. I could wrap my brain around it better if it were all on the spots you saved in order on page one.

We've been eating out of the fridge/freezer this week, but I know in due time I'll have to go to the store for another huge grocery run. I'm going to update my list for week 2 on page 8. I'm not doing so great money-wise. I don't have an extra freezer so I can only buy what fits in the one we have.

Thanks!

 

[Tonydana]

I can purchase 1# of 90% lean ground beef for $1.99 or $.50 per person for a meal. Here are some of my favorites that enhance my budget.

Meatloaf - yes it is a small meatloaf but more that enough for a meal. Add potatoes, veggie, salad, and or fruit to have a very filling meal.

Mock Stroganoff (interested in recipe, let me know) - serve over noodles or mashed potatoes. My family loves my roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Add fruit and or a veggie.

Meatballs - One # meat makes 32-36 smaller meatballs. Ideas, spaghetti, meatball subs, swedish meatballs, and bbq meatballs. Serve with sides...Yummo!

Hamburgers - Homemade, it could be greek, italian, mediteranian, bbq, anything your heart desires - add some frozen french fries and a veggie....

Goulash - serve w/ salad and warm bread

Stuffed Cabbage rolls - use rice as a filler and serve with a veggie, salad or bread

Taco's - original or casserole - Anyone for Mexican tonight????

Hamburger/Cheeseburger casserole - with 2 sides of veggies....

Chili - Yeah a meal that serves an army...of can you say leftovers!!

Crockpot - Hamburger meat and baked beans, served over mashed potatoes. Mom called this poor week casserole!

Stir Fry - yes no one thinks hamburger and stir-fry. But it is delicious. Tons of veggies and the flavor is very good. Make sure to get out your spices.

Pizza Night - I am sure you all can do this one... So many varieties your head will spin!

Homemade Hamburger Helpers - no kits needed!!

Sloppy Joes - homemade also, no need for the processed can stuff....

And last but not least:

Hamburger Surprise - the casserole of champion's. Clean out the refrigerator day!!

See all is not lost!!

Have a great day, Diane

I would love the recipe for your mock stroganoff. sounds yummy. just finished reading everyones posts. sounds like everyone is doing great!! always looking for ways to save.

thanks again.

dana

 

[mistydoodles]

I know that this can be done. We budget $150 every two weeks and an additional $30 for misc in between grocery weeks for a family of 4. This includes hygiene items, dog food for 2 dogs and cat food.

We do go over sometimes when we are having to get extra items for cookouts, special meals, or school party items but normally we stay pretty close to this budget.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Wow, hamburger here costs much more -- like double what you pay! Luckily we don't eat much hamburger at home, but other meats are costly, too!

OP -- I'm trying to follow your grocery lists so I can get a gist for how a month looks. You have some posts of purchases on other pages. Would you mind putting them all on the first page where you saved your spots? That way I don't have to click the pages around to see everything. I could wrap my brain around it better if it were all on the spots you saved in order on page one.

We've been eating out of the fridge/freezer this week, but I know in due time I'll have to go to the store for another huge grocery run. I'm going to update my list for week 2 on page 8. I'm not doing so great money-wise. I don't have an extra freezer so I can only buy what fits in the one we have.

Thanks!

Yes I can, I will change post #2 to include my whole shopping list, but give me a bit.....

 

[SeansMom]

After reading most, but not all of this thread, I'm curious how much I really spend on food/groceries/and other, like dish soap. But even more, I wonder how much other people spend who eat mostly organic and gluten free products. For example, organic chicken is rarely on sale and is $7.99 a pound. Yep, you read that right. Organic milk is easily twice as much as regular milk. And you're getting a deal on pre-made brownie mix for a buck; the gluten free versions are about $5-7 a package. Is it worth it? For me it is. But I obviously spend WAY more than $75.00 a week. Add the "friends" that come over (as in, Can my friends Jon, Jason, Scott, and Tony come up?" and there goes the food and the budget. I seriously don't know what people do that have multiple teens in the house!

Guess that was a little OT, sorry. Just frustrating that food with less chemicals cost more!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I would love the recipe for your mock stroganoff. sounds yummy. just finished reading everyones posts. sounds like everyone is doing great!! always looking for ways to save.

thanks again.

dana

1# ground beef (I use 90-95% lean so I need to include the next item)
1/2 package dry beef or au ju gravy mix (no need if using 80% or less beef)**
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 - 1 cup milk
2 large dollops sour cream

Brown your beef in the pan w/gravy mix. Don't worry about the bottom of the pan browning as you will deglaze it next. Stir and break up meat so that it is uniform. *go here if 90% or higher **go here for 85% or lower

*once meat is finished cooked keep heat on high and mix in flour thoroughly. The flour will no longer be white. Add just enough milk to de-glaze the pan. I use a wooden spatula that works wonders. Once de-glazed add milk in 1/4 cup increments until you have a gravy formed. Add more milk if the gravy is very thick. Turn off heat. Dollop in the sour cream. Serve over mashed potatoes or noodles.

**once meat is finished cooked, drain any extra grease. Put pan back on high heat and mix in flour thoroughly. The flour will no longer be white. Add just enough milk to de-glaze the pan. I use a wooden spatula that works wonders. Once de-glazed add milk in 1/4 cup increments until you have a gravy formed. Add more milk if the gravy is very thick. Turn off heat. Dollop in the sour cream. Serve over mashed potatoes or noodles.

I use low-fat sour cream. And a side note 4oz. of ground beef has 8gram fat, so don't freak when you see the totals. Most people do not realize this!!

Nutrition Facts

4 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 197.6

Total Fat 9.3 g
Saturated Fat 3.8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.4 g

Cholesterol 69.5 mg

Sodium 260.3 mg

Potassium 59.6 mg

Total Carbohydrate 2.6 g

Dietary Fiber 0.0 g

Sugars 1.6 g

Protein 25.4 g

Vitamin A 1.9 %
Vitamin B-12 2.7 %
Vitamin B-6 0.8 %
Vitamin C 0.1 %
Vitamin D 4.0 %
Vitamin E 0.2 %
Calcium 4.6 %
Copper 0.3 %
Folate 0.9 %
Iron 0.9 %
Magnesium 1.2 %
Manganese 0.3 %
Niacin 0.5 %
Pantothenic Acid 1.4 %
Phosphorus 3.8 %
Riboflavin 4.3 %
Selenium 1.8 %
Thiamin 1.1 %
Zinc 1.2 %

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay for anyone interested I combined all of my lists...

Post #2 is my monthly shopping
Posts #3 - Post 6 have my weekly shopping.

Please feel free to comment....

Diane

 

[IDoDis]

This sounds good and easy-- a nice way to jazz up some beef. I'm going to try it with flank steak next week. I'll use fat free milk to cut out more fat. I hope it works. We are not big sour cream eaters unless I make chicken enchiladas, so I guess that will go on the menu, too. Otherwise the carton will go to waste. Maybe boil the steak first and then grill the pieces in foil outside? I hate using the stove when it gets so hot. It's in the low 90s this week, but will be in the upper 90s and maybe 100 early next week here.

 

[IDoDis]

After reading most, but not all of this thread, I'm curious how much I really spend on food/groceries/and other, like dish soap. But even more, I wonder how much other people spend who eat mostly organic and gluten free products. For example, organic chicken is rarely on sale and is $7.99 a pound. Yep, you read that right. Organic milk is easily twice as much as regular milk. And you're getting a deal on pre-made brownie mix for a buck; the gluten free versions are about $5-7 a package. Is it worth it? For me it is. But I obviously spend WAY more than $75.00 a week. Add the "friends" that come over (as in, Can my friends Jon, Jason, Scott, and Tony come up?" and there goes the food and the budget. I seriously don't know what people do that have multiple teens in the house!

Guess that was a little OT, sorry. Just frustrating that food with less chemicals cost more!

I feel your pain! Both kids had friends sleepover the past couple of nights and seems like all they want to do is eat! I try to go for the healthier options -- not necessarily organic all the time, but if I find a good deal, I'll buy organic. Luckily we don't have any gluten allergies here. It is more expensive to eat healthier though -- that is true! We pay for what we put in our bodies years later when it's often too late.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

We are the house that all the kids come too... WE have just set more boundaries. I buy a big bag of pretzels at Wegmans at $2.00. This is what they snack on or popsicles if it is hot. They know not to ask if so and so can eat over, I will ask them if I have enough. For drinks, I buy Tropicana Fruit Punch 1/2 gallon for $1.25. They can have it until its gone or 2 glasses each whichever comes first. Then they can use the water in the Brita Filter....

If it is a play date where a meal is included, there are so many things that are cost efficient - Lunch PB & J, cut veggies, fresh fruit, and something from the kids stash (yes From Their Stash) for snack. Dinner - spaghetti, salad, and bread or if its really hot out I will do a cookout w/ potato and or macaroni salad. I have had to change dinners for the week around to accomodate kids, but it can be done.

DD's b-day was a sleep-over for 16 girls this year. She had 2 bags of pretzels, 2 12packs cheapo pop, and cupcakes. For breakfast the girls could pick pancakes, bagels, cereal, or just fresh fruit (teenage girl thing). We had leftover pop and none of the breakfast stuff ran out... Total cost was around $15.00. A steal for teenage girls.


Cookouts or backyard fires are smore's....

It's possible to be the cool house and be budget-minded. When all was said and done not one of the kids friends missed any of the extras we used to hand out.

 

[neatokimmo]

I stopped by the store because we ran out of milk.

BBQ Chips - $1.35
Milk X 2 = $7.78
Avocado - $.99
Spaghetti noodles - $.50
2 packs of gravy mix - $1.00
cheese - $1.59
link sausage - $1.25

Came out to 14.82 with tax, I have $46 more to spend for the month.

The next two weeks we'll have two of each of these: spaghetti, seafood alfredo, stroganoff, breakfast, chicken stir fry, taco casserole & leftovers. I am going to clear all the veggies out of the freezer this week and I'll have to buy more fruit later on.

I want to play!

I spend $40 avg for a family of 1.5. Last week I spent $38ish. I have a decent sized stockpile, we do not eat $40 of food a week so sometimes our menu won't match what I bought very well. Cat food and liter come out of a separate column.

I just came back from the store tonight and spent $60.23, more than I normally do because of a meat sale. That leaves me with $61 to spend still.

7.9 pounds of ground chuck = 14.78 (mark down pack, this is about 50 cents less per pound)
7.32 pounds of boneless chicken breasts = 14.56
fudge bars and ice cream sandwiches - $5 (hehe)
Blackberry preserves - $2.49
grape juice - $2.50
2 tomato soups - $1.18
Sara Lee bread - $2.00
2 cans of tuna - $1.38
1.41 pounds of bananas - $.97
1.65 pounds of grapes - $2.46
Watermelon - $5.99
1.46 pounds of yellow squash - $1.46
milk - $3.99

This is the menu..
Chicken Cesar Pasta, hamburger patty with mushroom gravy and carrots, chicken fried rice, bbq chicken with peas and potatoes, tuna melt and tomato soup, shrimp and yellow squash with onions, and baked whitefish with rice and peas.

 

[SeansMom]

I feel your pain! Both kids had friends sleepover the past couple of nights and seems like all they want to do is eat! I try to go for the healthier options -- not necessarily organic all the time, but if I find a good deal, I'll buy organic. Luckily we don't have any gluten allergies here. It is more expensive to eat healthier though -- that is true! We pay for what we put in our bodies years later when it's often too late.

Yep! I think teen boys second favorite thing to do is eat (and I'll let you figure out their first favorite!) In their defense, at 15 they are all still growing and none of them are fat. I guess I really don't mind, I'm just impressed when people can spend so little. I thought I was doing great to spend $120 plus change for our two night camping trip awhile back. I was feeding three adults, one teen, and I knew the family that came with us would eat some of what we brought as well. But again...organic everything costs more. But yes, I totally agree we pay for what we put in our bodies, one way or another.

 

[brenalexacamp]

ok- i've been trying this new way of shopping- basically stockpiling
today with coupons I got
6 poland springs waters
4 betty crocker suddenly salads
10 yogurts,
2 HUGE containers of laundry soap
15lbs chicken breasts
2 soap to wash dishes
6 boxes prince pasta
5 boxes cereal
2 pillsbury rolls
1 pie crust
spent 51.00 and change!!!!!!

saved 59.00!!!!! with coupons

you can do it- takes some planning

now- you say- but you cannot live the week with that BUT last week I got pork and rice on sale,
ice cream snacks, cookies, fish

crest toothpaste was 10 for 10.00 I got 2 with two coupons- so I got 2 tubes for free- had i had 10 coupons...............get the idea?

over time your stockpile rounds out
we are camping this weekend- actually- I have the fire and the cocktail, dh is sleeping
we did not need to stop at the store- I have eggs, ice cream, chicken, hot dogs, burgers, rice, pasta salad, beans,veggies, fruit, smores, cheese and crackers, and probably anything else we need.

My dh thinks I am a nut- I ordered water coupons from the clipper so this week the gallon is on sale for 1.00 and the coupon is 1.00 off 3
30 gallons will be in my garage as soon as the coupons come-rock bottom price- not lugging water every week-priceless........

 

[IDoDis]

But yes, I totally agree we pay for what we put in our bodies, one way or another.

Yep, look at what happened to Tim Russert today, God rest his soul. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25145431/?GT1=43001

His doctor said the heart attack happened because a "cholesterol plaque ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis."

He'll be missed in this house.

Having said that though, we had pizza for dinner so that changed the menu. We went to see Kung Fu panda and then decided to go out to dinner. Ah, what are ya gonna do?

 

[NHWX]

My pantry doesn't say I'm out of control (except cereal!) but my monthly spending does. I can't believe how much I'm spending. We're a family that's pretty much home for meals a lot - DH works at home and DS15 and DS12 are homeschooled. The kids are always doing something with friends, and as others have posted, teenage boys are pretty much always hungry. And hungry for protein; they are growing so amazingly fast.

One thing which I'm finding is how disparate the prices are across the country. OP's 1.99/lb 90% hamburger would be sold out really fast. Next week Market Basket has 93% on sale for 2.79/lb and that's a great deal. Here's the items from today's shop:

Apples 1.29/lb = 1.29 (That's two apples; I needed a snack.)
Rhubarb 2.99/lb = 4.63
Morningstar Farm Crumbles 3.49
Hamburger Helper $1/each, coupon for $1 so $2 for 3
General Mills cereal - $2/each, $2 in coupons plus free milk (for later), total $8
Had to get five for this deal
Near East mixes, $1/each, $8
Cake and brownie mixes, $1/each, total $5
Diet Coke, 3 fridgepacks for $11
Weight Watchers meals, $2/each, total $6
Fudgicles, $3 for 20
Butter, $2.50/box

Total: 54.19

I'd shopped yesterday at another store for veggies, fruit and milk but that receipt's gone now. Lettuce was .99 for small head or 1.99 for a large but broken head. Strawberries were 3.99 for 2 pounds. Bananas are .59/lb.

I'm not sure how to corral our food spending. Obviously I could take out treats like the fudgicles but they're sugar free and stop me from eating higher calorie treats. (The cake and brownies will go to the one of many cookouts that we'll attend.) Ditto for the weight watchers meals. Some of you may empathize with me but if I'm starving, it's far better for me to know that there's a 4 or 5 point frozen meal than to open up the fridge or cookie container. Fast frequently doesn't end up being healthy.

NHWX

 

[estherhead]

Ok, ya'll, I'm done for the week (page 7) and went way over my weekly budget. But I'm pretty sure I'll still make my monthly budget. It would be very odd that I wouldn't as we are really well stocked & we're spending 4 days away next weekend so we should be good to go. Next week I'll probably only get any sales that are amazing and lunch meat/cheese to take for sandwiches on our trip.

My monthly budget is $550 and I have $288.10 left.

I have spent a lot on other things, though, this month. My monthly clothing budget is $150 & I've spent $250.00 on clothes & toys (we don't have a toy budget ;-) And $70 on hair cuts which we've spent $85 as all of our hair needed cut on the same day. So I'm feeling pinched but hopefully it will all work out as the month goes on.

We have an annual convention we go to which is where we'll be next week and the hotel & restaurants comes out of our vacation savings, but it always breaks my heart to take money out of that, ya know? I just bought our Disney tickets for fall & paid for our accomodations. So the vacation savings is dwindling & looks sad.

But, on the grocery level, we're all good.

 

[extremesoccermom]

So I am now at 314.08 to go for the rest of the month.

Finished up my shopping for Father's Day now I have to start cooking we will do a Taco Bar (Help yourself, Chicken and Beef)

Sams Club
14.97 Large Decorated Cookie
4.97 Rotissere Chicken
_____
21.04

Orlando Bro Produce
Tomatos, Jalapenos, Green Onion, Red Onion, Vandalia Onion (onion rings later this week), Peaches, Limes, Avacados and Cherries
14.60 total

Dierbergs
2.50 Old El Paso Salsa
2.50 Mission Whole Wheat Wraps
2.50 Manny Tortillas (Whole Wheat)
1.50 OEP Refried Beans
0.99 OEP Taco Seasoning Mix
1.79 OEP Taco Shells
1.79 OEP Taco Shells
-3.99 Q
_____
10.10 total

Finally Aldis
3.49 Frozen Strawberries
1.46 Salsa
1.95 Salsa Con Queso
1.39 Condensed Milk
0.99 Large Can Olives
0.79 Whipped Topping
0.99 Tortilla Chips
0.99 Tortilla Chips
_____
12.53


255.81 to go and I believe we wont need anything except Milk and Cheese this week. Unless there is a good sale and I get some free or cheap items I will stay home. Hopefully Shop and Save will have another 10/50 coupon this week since it has been a week without.
I will also be going by Target or Petsmart to pick up Puppy Food.

 

[KKB]

and I HAD to respond!

$300/week for a family of 3??!! Eating steak & lobster daily? I could almost go out for every meal! That is nearly $5/pp/meal!!!!! That is insane!

We are a family of 5 hearty healthy eaters. DS13, DD10, DS7. We eat fresh produce daily, and try to hit all 5 food groups at least at lunch/dinner. My budget is $500-600/month for food, and has been for some time. I checked recently, and even with increased prices, we are still running around $600. This does NOT include anything but food, and we eat out about once a week as a family at a sit down restaurant for an additional $30-50/week. I have noticed our budget is tighter w/ summer (kids home) and increased prices, so we have been eating out less.

HOW? I try to go to the store only once a week. I STOCK UP on non-perishables on sale that we use regularly (if in my budget) I scour the sales (more in summer, less during school year when I work). I buy VERY few convenience foods; I plan meals on Sunday (based on what is in freezer or what is on sale), and I ALWAYS have assorted things in my pantry/fridge/freezer that make it easy to whip together a meal at the last minute. From spaghetti & meat sauce (WW pasta/ground turkey/bottled sauce) to turkey hot dogs/ww buns to grilled cheese to frozen pizza to quesadillas, even canned soup. I buy high-fiber English muffins/bagels/bread/cereals; we buy very little w/ transfats. Kids snack on store brand pretzels & popcorn, baked chips & salsa, fruits & veggies (buy in season & on sale). I do not buy pop for the kids at all. DS likes Gatorade for baseball; we buy powdered. TONS cheaper. Meals usually involve natural chicken breasts or ground turkey breast, but right now I know we have sea bass, scallops, steak, all found on clearance at Super Target. Store brands are so much cheaper, but if it is name brand, Target is usually cheaper. Like I said, seasonality/sales run my menu.

A couple of great deals; $1.50 stickers on $2.50 pkgs of steak at Target (expiring next day; fine to freeze or use immediately). I check the meat department every time I go in for these stickers. Sometimes good deals, sometimes not so much. At the end of last summer I got a deal on Wylers drink mix--like Crystal Light. Normally $1/3 pkg. Good deal (CL is like $3+). End of summer they had is for 25!!! Got like 50 containers. This is in our fridge DAILY...and I still have more than enough to still get through THIS summer!

It is not about sacrificing health. It is about planning...watching sales; knowing prices; planning meals. My family eats healthy for a decent price.
I am a teacher, and my children each have at least one activity going on, sometimes more. But this is how I am with my money...I am going to squeeze every ounce of value that I can out of every dollar! It isn't necessarily about the cheapest...but paying the least amount possible for what I do buy.