Monthly Grocery Budget Challenge!!

[Tinker'n'Fun]

If you are going to do the challenge you may want to block out a few posts in a row like I did at the beginning.. Or if not, just make sure to keep track of your post #'s so it will be easier for others to see your purchases!!

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi all. I am new to coupons and budgets. I don't have a set amount my food bill shoudl be, yet. So, this is going to be quite a learning experience for me.

 

[mefordis]

June 2008 - Monthly Grocery Budget w/ toiletries.... $375.00

Monthy Total

$375.00​

DS lunches $1.00 per day 18 school days

($18.00)​

Your son's lunches are only $1 a day? What do they consist of? I have to pack my dd a lunch every day for day camp this summer. Ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Your son's lunches are only $1 a day? What do they consist of? I have to pack my dd a lunch every day for day camp this summer. Ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks!

His school offers reduced lunches, normally the cost is $1.75 per day.

Friday he had..

BBQ Pulled pork on a wheat bun (LOL just like WDW)
French Onion Soup
Sweet & Sour Coleslaw
Assorted Fruit (they get to pick from banana's, apples, grapes, etc)
1/2 pint milk

I send him with a bottle of water also... (this will be in the budget)

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I'm up for the challenge. Well, basically I'm challenging myself to spend $200 / week. Family of 3 - one 4 year old. Right now we are spending over $300.00 per week. In Sept we will have a baby so will have to buy diapers and some (very little) formula (I'm b.feeding).

How do we do this? Type in every item we buy or scan receipts, or either? I really would like to report the break down and see everyone else's breakdown.

Next week we will be going on a long weekend vacation. Do I need to post the food expenditures on that trip, or skip those days entirely?

If you purchased food from your grocery budget, add it, if not, a vacation is just that, VACATION!! You budgeted for that so if you don't use your grocery expense for vacation I don't think it should be added. You get a freebie!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

This is part of my monthy bill. June is laundry month, so what I purchased will last at least 2 months... 1/2 of the bill is for these items is $13.37. I will not be purchasing deodorant, toothpaste, body soap, and dishwasher detergent this month. I have them from previous month's bill but I would call it even.

I am not a mean Mom, my kids get treats and such, but not on a whim.. Example DD and I were in the grocery store the other day picking up rolls... Well dab smack in the front of the store were these "huge" chocolate muffins... $4.79 for 4!! DD was drooling... She looked at me and I said, not in the budget. She understands, but as you will see I do listen when they ask!

Sam's Club 5/31

Clorox Ultra $7.03
All 300oz $12.88
Dryer Sheets (400) $6.84
Apple Juice 2-96oz containers $4.49
(2) Nestle water 30 bottles $3.88 each
Asst HUGE muffins 12 $5.86
Sea Salt $3.88
Pickles 64ounce $2.78 (this will probably last all summer)
Tax $3.02
Total shopping trip $54.54

Wegman's

Watermelon $3.99
Angel Food Ring $2.59
Fat Free whip top $.99
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (8 in the package) $10.23
Total $18.20

 

[luv2nascar]

Even though I am on a budget $125 week it is hard to keep myself on track. Food is going up so much.

week 6/1:

breakfast was cinnamon toast crunch sticks & turkey sausage from freezer & milk
$7.88 for a veggie and dip tray for pot luck lunch at church. Also made 20 blueberry muffins & 20 chocolate chip muffins for potluck from pantry.
lunch for kids and I was free - DH stayed home leftover BBQ from last nights dinner

Walmart after lunch:

$2.50 loaf lite wheat bread
$4.18 gallon skim milk
$1.38 bag powdered sugar
$3.68 -6 pack diet pepsi bottles for work
$1.25 -2 liter bottle soda for dinner


Dinner is always at Inlaws for spaghetti on Sunday nights. MIL makes spaghetti and sauce. I will make a nice salad from romaine and organic spring mix from frig - dressing is oil, vinegar, splenda, and spices from pantry. I bought the powdered sugar to make icing for muffins -leftover from church will take for dessert.

lunch was leftovers and sandwiches from home. Dinner was porkchops from freezer. Market day fried rice from freezer.
Went to Bath & Body works today $46 spent-decided to divide into two weeks so counting $23 this comes from grocery budget. It is for the stockpile enough pump soap and shower gel to last rest of year.

6/2 dinner was chicken breasts on the grill from freezer w/BBQ sauce yummo
sauteed zucchini I bought today and baked potatoes

I stoppedf at produce market at lunch. 2 lbs sweet cherries, 2 medium sized zucchini, 3 large red onions, 6 tomatoes, and 6 roma apples $18.??

6/4 Walmart on way home from work one loaf lite rye bread, one loaf lite wheat, lb ham, 1/2 lb naturally slender american, 1/4 lite swiss cheese. $14.??

6/4 dinner homemade ground turkey vegetable soup w/choice of either romaine/tomato salad, natural applesauce, or ham sandwich. Dessert has been grapes, cherries, or apples for now.

6/5 we had Johnny Marzetti w/whole wheat pasta and homemade ground turkey meat sauce and salad.
6/6 just kids and I went to Wendy's $17.?? Went to Weis for 5 -12pks pepsi for $10, $1 bottle sweet baby ray's BBQ sauce (coupons),croutons, and turkey sausage $18.??
Also couponing at Shoprite after dinner $20 for a cart full of goodies. 8 bottles of Ecotrin, 8 bags Sargento reduced fat shredded cheese, 8 bottles frank's Hot sauce, 8 packs chinettes plates, shop rite plastic wrap, Colgate total, 4 bottles purex, and 2 bottles citre shine conditioner.

Total so far $112

 

[luv2nascar]

week 6/8

weekend dinner out big splurge we were in Lancaster and ate at Shady Maple $68

6/10 Tuesday $17 for pizza and salad for local shop. Family went swimming at inlaws need quick dinner on way home.

Wednesday $25 weekly produce run. Lucky for me last week we are on vacation not much needed for groceries that week.

total for week $110

 

[luv2nascar]

week 6/15

Bath and body works handsoap, shower gel $23

 

[luv2nascar]

week 6/22

another run to BBW $44 only counting $20 towards budge other $24 was for 2 birthday gifts

Bath and Body 2nd run from semi annual sale stock up prices $21 for shower gel, wallflowers, spray

Total $45

 

[jgraney106]

I try to not buy more than $50 to $60 a week for groceries. I am buying for a family of 3 1/2 people.( husband , myself, daughter-18 and my nephew 8 yrs than eats with us about half the time because I babysit him)
I too live in Rochester ,NY and shop at Wegmans and the Dollar store for my cleaning and paper goods. But I also have a topps and Aldi's close to the Wegmans I shop at.
I am subcribing to this thread , as I can always use more pointers on budgeting grocery shopping.
My husband works for Wegmans, wish we got a discount there.
Carol

 

[stahshee]

this should last me a week or more. I just went shopping and it was 99$ I told my 4 kids that
they had 5 l debbie snack boxes to split and last them 2 weeks for school lunches.If they ran out, they are out of luck. ... I am trying to limit junk snacks

 

[SnowWhite607]

I just got back from SuperWalmart and spent 66.92. I had some stuff in the pantry and freezer (maybe 2 meals) so I suppose if I bought for those other 2 days it would have been maybe $75?

I got:

1 box Bagelfuls 1.92
1 box Toaster Streudel (on sale for $1)
I box popscicles 2.38
baby carrots 1.66
shredded cheese 1.98
2 lbs ground beef 2 x 2.48
1 pack beef franks 2.50
1 pack American cheese 0.98 (borden, one of the best deals in my store)
1 lb bacon 2.00
1.5 lbs grapes 1.54
1 roll cinnamon rolls 1.93
3/4 lb honey ham lunch meat 3.98
sour cream 0.74
1 box cereal straws (for DD) 2.78
1 box suddenly salad 1.50
1 box pancake mix 1.37
2 oranges 2x 0.58
6 mini ears frozen corn on cob 1.76
1 box trash bags 2.88
1 lb red beans 1.16
1 lb white beans 1.04
pack of plastic disposable cups (DD is having a lemonade stand at our yard sale next weekend) 1.26
2 packs Kool Aid (see above) 0.40
1 pack Hawaiian Punch drink ad ins (only $1!! Great for our trip to WDW in a few weeks!!)
1 pack taco seasoning 0.56
1 jar salsa 1.84
1 can black beans 0.82
1 bag chips 2.00
1 can chicken 1.48
2 lbs rice 1.54
1 box tea bags 1.58
1 box honey buns 1.18
1 loaf bread 2.42
20 tortillas 1.50
1 pack each hot dog and hamburger buns) 1.13 each
1 bag cat food 3.66

I had about $3 in coupons

Our meals this week will be:
Breakfasts: honey buns, cinnamon rolls, cereal (I have to go back and buy milk so add another $3 for a 1/2 gallon), toast, Bagelfuls, waffles, cereal straws, Toaster Streudel.

Lunches: chicken salad sandwiches, ham sandwiches, hot dogs

Dinners: pancakes and bacon; red beans, rice and sausage; sloppy joes, pasta salad and corn on the cob; Mexican casserole and black beans; spaghetti and garlic toast; chicken (from freezer), rice and broccoli (from freezer)

Snacks: popsicles, grapes, baby carrots, orange slices, cheese

I wont have to go back except for milk till next Sunday or Monday.

 

[aprilvaca04]

Today is June 1st. I am looking forward to seeing your shopping list. Can you also give us some idea of what the meals you serve your family consist of? Thanks for sharing! I am looking forward to learning from you.

Me too! Thanks for your time and efforts to make things go a bit further for all of us!

 

[SnowWhite607]

And I still have my receipt if you want to ask a specific price on something.............

 

[albertamommyof4]

For this week we have spent
Homesteaders health food ( organic fruit and veggies)
Green leaf lettuce 2.19
kettle chips 1.99
onion .33
tomatoes 1.89
Bannanas 2.65
russet potatoes 3.04kgms 6.05
Total including tax 15.20

Superstore
Tray buns 2.29
cheese bagels(6) 2.81
bread ( 3 loaves) .99 each so 2.97
mini muffins 2.99
kelloggs mini hweat club pack 5.98
organic corn flakes 3.89
club reeses puffs 4.48
personal item 1.49 ( had coupon
finger bandaids 5.49
kids toothpaste 1.77
regular bandaids 2.99
nibs 1.49
oreo cookies 1.99
relish 1.48
ichiban (4)total .96
pop tarts 1.48
pencils (10 pkg) .99
velvetta shells and cheese 2.87
my toothpaste 1.77
kids toothpaste 1.89
babys toothpaste 3.49
syrop 1.99
pop including deposit (6 bottles) 6.66
Total 66.00

The bandaids and toothpaste will last about 1 month or more
And we live in alberta canada
We had meat in freezer
Forgot to add that we are a family of 6 hubby , me son almost 11, son 8 daughter 6 and son 2

 

[jamesnnick]

Okay, I'll play along. Our family is fine as long as I'm the one grocery shopping because I plan our menu around the sales, know exactly what I already have on hand, and know what the bottom price is for the items. Now, if I send my husband to the store, the budget doubles, and the food goes half as far. Our family includes me, DH, DSS (14)(here during the week, at this mom's on the weekends), DS (6), and DD (3).Here is the grocery receipt and menu for this week (6/1). You will see that some items in the grocery list will carry over to future weeks, and some items in the menu will be carried over from previous weeks...it generally evens out in the end.
Grocery receipt
Tortilla shells 1.69
Cookies (couldn't resist) 3.00
butter 1.69*
Cheddar (1 lb) 3.00
hot dogs .99*
air popped popcorn 1.49
Cheese slices 2.19
Stuffing 1.00*
Tater tots 2.00
Green peppers (1 lb) 1.41
Ketchup 2.00*
Carrots (1 lb) 1.00*
Bacon (3 lbs) 5.07*
Potatoes (5 lbs) 1.49*
Bread (2 loaves) 1.78*
Milk 2.89
Apples (3 lbs) 2.99*
Salsa 2.19
Velveeta 3.99
Onions (1 lb) .79
Peas .55
Corn on the cob (10 ears) 2.00*
Chicken breasts (5 lbs) 9.98*
Stew meat (2 lbs) 2.00*
Total $57.18
I'll post my meals in the next post

 

[jamesnnick]

I can't get in to edit my previous post where I wanted to add the 2 lbs of sliced ham that I bought for 3.98 which changes my total to 61.16. I also wanted to mention that the starred items were on sale.

Disclaimer: My sister raises chickens, so we get free eggs...I know everyone does not get free eggs, and I didn't account for that in my budget. I'm just going to add 10% off the top for things like the eggs and condiments and stuff that I have on hand which brings me up to 67.27

Breakfasts: toast, eggs, apples, cereal (I bought 15 boxes on a sale that a PP mentioned and got them for less than $1 each)
Lunches: leftovers (the main stock for DH and I), ham sandwiches, peas, carrots, PBnJ, hot dogs
Snacks: air popped popcorn, cookies, applesauce (on hand), cinnamon toast
Dinners: 1. Beef stew (stew meat, carrots, potatoes) & buttered bread,
2. stuffed baked potatoes (potatoes, bacon, frozen broccoli (from a previous week) sauteed asparagus (which we pick growing wild around here)
3. fajitas (tortillas, pepper, onion, shredded cheddar, chicken breasts, salsa)
4. grilled chicken breasts, grilled potato wraps, corn on the cob
5. omlettes (eggs and shredded cheddar), bacon, baked apples
6. smothered chicken (the last of the chicken breasts, sliced cheese, cream of mush soup, stuffing) peas
7. baked ham sandwiches (buns, cheese slices, ham), corn on the cob, tater tots

 

[IDoDis]

Thanks for taking the time to share your grocery lists. No disrespect, but I still see gaps in some of the lists where there is not much food, and on other lists, I see lots of processed food like tater tots with dinner and pop tarts and honey buns for breakfast. Also, I am amazed at the price discrepancies around the country. If I shopped the same list as the pp, I would spend at least $20 more.

Some of the meals are healthy, but sloppy joes, suddenly salad, and hot dogs are not staples I could raise my kids on week in and week out. I shudder to think what kind of "meat" is in the $1.00 package of hotdogs and don't even get me started on the carb overload with the foods, either.

Okay, sorry to be a downer but I could not shop or eat like many of you. I wish I could, but I would not metabolize that food and would be very overweight in due time. Again, not all of the meals were like this, but most are. I see now why my groceries cost a lot more. We just eat differently. Also, we go through 4 or 5 gallons of fat free milk each week. One gallon would last a little over a day.

 

[tasha99]

This is a great idea. Here's my blocked off space for this week. I'm setting a goal of $75/week for my family of 3 and a half (3 at home, and I'm going to be making some meals for DS18, who is living in my folks' mother-in-law apartment while on delayed entry into the marine corps. He was sworn in last week, but won't actually go until October.)

Okay, here's my tentative menu. I'll post shopping and receipts as I get them. I am stocking things though (for example, I bought a ton of ribs last week--at $2 per family meal, it was a huge, huge bargain, but previously purchased. It'll all even out since I'll buy other stuff in bulk.

Disclaimer: We're eating down our frozen vegies now because I plan to garden and freeze. I hate gardening, but what can you do . . .

Tentative menu:

Breakfasts: Cereal/Fruit/Milk or Bagels/Cream Cheese/Fruit or Potatoes/Eggs/Bacon or Waffles/Milk etc.

Lunch: Leftovers

Dinners:
Mon--Spaghetti, Salad, French Bread
Tues--Kung Pao Shrimp and Rice
Wednesday--Yakisoba
Thursday--Ribs, Potato Salad, cauliflower/broccoli/kidneybean/tomato salad
Friday--Black Bean Burritos with Salsa and Guacamole
Saturday--Marmalade/Ginger BBQ Salmon, French Bread, Green Salad w/Vinaigrette

Spending (updated at least daily):

$1.29 Carl's Jr. Big Hamburger (for DD after school)
$2.99 Bottle of 2 buck chuck (cabernet sauvignon) from Trader Joes

Safeway Trip (all the way across the street):

1.33+ 2 lbs dry thin spagetti
1.50+* 1 bag Lays BBQ chips
1.50+* 1 bag Lays Sour Cream and Cheddar chips (hiding both bags from the kids for now, but these were on a big sale w/coupon and I couldn't resist)
1.50+* Box Post Raisin Bran
1.50+* Box Honey Bunches of Oats
2.00+* 2 Jars of Prego
2.50 + Lucerne shredded parmesan
5.96+ 4 lbs frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
2.82+ 1 lb 20/80 ground beef
7.98 +* 2 lbs frozen large shrimp
4.48 + 4.48 lbs red seedless grapes
1.50 1 green pepper
1.52 .6 lbs bulk shelled peanuts
1.99 10 lbs potatoes
____
$38.08
Total savings 42.20
Savings value 53%

Total for week so far: 42.36
+= on sale
* = coupon of some sort, though all the safeway ones were safeway coupons from the flier they have in the store).

HOW IT REALLY WENT:

Well, we had the kung pao chicken a few nights later than planned and I ended up getting Safeway Chinese for $13.99. I also made a grocery run that was like $30--so I went over if you count the Chinese. No salmon--I can't believe how expensive it is! I have friends who fish and get salmon all the time; maybe I can barter a little off them for a more reasonable price.