Monthly Grocery Budget Challenge!!

[global_mom]

Yes try e-bay for the Solo $2 Q and don't forget the IP Target $3/$15

Had no idea that coupons are on Ebay - learn something new every day!

Thanks!

 

[delmar411]

Kroger $1.14 ~

2 Gerber Grads meals (free after .50/1 doubled)
6 Reese Whips candy bars ($1 after $1/3 coupon)

.14 tax

 

[stahshee]

all mine for the week so far are on post 122. So far I have spent 65.? That is for all 6 of us. Next week is a bigger shopping week.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I went shopping today and bought stuff that will last us till Saturday. We leave for Disney on Sunday I spent 49.77 at one store and 19.73 at another for a total of 68.50 BUT that counts 3.50 for a large bag of cat food (5.50 minus my $2 coupon) and a big box of cat litter at 5.96 so OUR food was actually 59.04 but I always count the kitties in the grocery budget cause they are part of the family too (Marcie) (Belle)

 

[stahshee]

dh went out and bought 8$ worth of potatoes so thats around 72?? its all updadted on post 122

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

4 Coke 12 packs $14.64
2 Dasani 12 packs $7.96
Strawberries $1.88
Veggies $5.70
2 Onion Rings Natural $4.56
Natural Cheetos $3.28
Ground Beef $3.68

My Total $19.78

(Would have been $41.70+tax

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I finished my monthly shopping today and also my weekly shopping. DS was in a soccer tournament this weekend so 6 games over 2 days. This put a huge dent into my time, so instead of going to SuperWalmart as I plan each month we divided the rest of our shopping between Wegman's, Jubliee, and CVS. I will update these after the kids go to be. I am under budget as of today. I will not buy anything unless it is an extreme reason. I am determined to have the money at the end of the month to use for a bill or Disney payment next month...

Here is my menu for the week. The dinners will not change but the nights we eat them might. I have accounted for the fact that Hot weather puts a damper in my cooking habits...


Starting on Sunday June 8, 2008

Sunday - Pizza and a movie night. 1 frozen pizza jazzed up with veggies, salad w/ cheese, tomato, and croutons... And the movie for this week... Wasn't a movie at all Samantha Brown's Great Hotels - Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kindgdom Lodge...
Monday - Cook out hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, and fruit
Tuesday - Pepper Steak over brown rice and fresh fruit
Wednesday - Chicken of some sort, red potatoes w/garlic parsely butter, and zucchini
Thursday - Ravioli w/sauce, meatballs, and garlic bread
Friday - Turkey Ham steaks w/grilled pineapple, rice, and green beans
Saturday - Chicken Romaine salad and fresh fruit. I will have the chicken done on Wednesday, so tonight it will just be prep-work.

Hope everyone enjoys their week. Diane

 

[estherhead]

OK, week one is done for me.
Page 6, post #90

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1842862&page=6

Weekly Budget $125
Monthly Budget $550

Week 1: $84.19 spent
Monthly Budget left: $436.64

The only thing is that different, we ended up having guests 2 nights & one of the nights I made a full turkey dinner. I had the turkey left but I had to buy yams, etc & it's off season so they weren't cheap. That was kind of a bummer. But boy was it DELISH!!! And I have a TON of turkey leftover so that will be on the menu for this coming week.

I still have the Chicken Parm. Fingers to eat this week held over so you'll see that in week 2's menu We aren't having it twice.

Something I was proud of was we went to see Kung Fu Panda and didn't let anyone get popcorn or pop. I had printed off coupons & it was a matinee. Afterwards we ran them thru BK & just got french fries & nuggets off the value menu & the whole afternoon ended up costing us only $18.00! I thought that was pretty good, at least for us. A movie, popcorn, and dinner for five like normal ends up costing us like $75.00 when all is said and done.

 

[global_mom]

Well I went over the budget but only sort of......

Total spent this week was $146.65 BUT we will be out of town (WDW of course ) for this coming week so I wont be spending any money at the grocery. Since I knew that this week would be zero, I went ahead and bought some additional sale items and will subtract that amount from this week.

Overall the goal is to spend $75 per week but some very wise and savvy DISers have advised to "roll" the budget so that the total amount for the MONTH will be in budget even if each week is not exactly $75. Plus we are stocked to the gills so I should not need much for the week of June 15-21. We will need milk and some fresh fruit/veggie but I have plenty of meats and pastas.

Even if the 1st week really counted as having spent $146.65 that would have still been about $100 LESS than I have typically been spending on a week's worth of groceries. It is amazing how much you can save with just a little extra effort!

 

[neatokimmo]

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.

 

[extremesoccermom]

Follow up from post 136. Starting balance 362.10
Aldis for fruit, veggies and special ingredients for a new desert

2.19 Roma Tomatoes
0.99 Strawberries X 2
1.99 Bratwurst 5 pack
0.79 Whipped Topping
1.19 Garlic Powder
0.97 Peanut Butter Waffers (for DD lunches)
1.09 Avocado X2
1.99 Turkey Meatballs (my new item to try)
0.99 1 LB ground Turkey X2 (saving for father's day)
2.49 Hash Brown Patties (total splurge but I have been craving these)
0.39 Instant Pudding X 2
1.19 Bananas
1.49 Cantaloupe
0.75 Hot Dog Buns
1.89 Gourmet Cookie Dough
0.99 Cream Cheese
0.59 Chicken Hot Dogs (for dog training)
______
26.38 Total

335.72 to go and I only have plans to get the last few things I need for our make your own beef and chicken tacos, Mexican Corn Salad, Graduation Cookies, Strawberry desert for DS18 Graduation Party/Father's Day.

 

[cnj]

I didn't do so well this week. I spent a lot and I did not even buy any meat. We have so much in the freezer, I have to start using that, before I can even think about using anymore.

Today for $111 ($14 was for my kids' end of school parties), I bought:

2 powerades free
2 pantiliners free
pads $1
toothpaste free
2 toothbrushes free
cool whip $.50
1/2 gallon of 1/2 and 1/2 $3.50
peonies (they had them again, yeah!!! ) $26
8 packs of tropical fruit in cups $16
string cheese $3.50
bread $2.50
2 lemonades free
fruit punch $1
4 pack of soda free
2 6 packs of water $3
4 general mills cereal $1.70
frosting .70
napkins $1.50
4 rolls of paper towels $2.50
sprinkles (kid's ice cream party) $2.10
2 pasta sauce $2.50
2 pasta free
gogurt $1
cat food free
2 pounds of peaches $2
green salsa $2
2 mild salsas $2.75
shampoo and conditioner free
floss free
2 sour creams $2.20
eggbeaters $3
box of brownies $.90
bagels $1
frozen pannini $1
huggies wipes $1
liter of diet 7-up $.25
2 packs of gummy worms $.50
dove chocolate $1
3 pounds of cherries $6
pringles $.90
nonfat chocolate pudding $2
3 mexican rice packs $1.80
2 hair gels $3
2 packs of bandaids $.50
salt $.90
glasscleaner free
air freshner free
candle $2
hand soap free
coffee filters $1


I think that is it. I earned 2 more free movie tickets, but I still need to buy a pallet of strawberries at the local market for $12.

This week for dinner, with sides of fruit, will be:

Monday: burritos (have meat and tortillas in freezer)
Tuesday: chicken, salsa and rice dish (chicken in freezer)
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: chicken quesadillas (used with leftover tortillas and chicken from freezer)
Friday: husband working overtime, so kids and I will probably just have grilled cheese sandwiches
Saturday: pepper bellies (need fritos)
Sunday: leftovers

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay here is the last of my monthly shopping. I will only be doing my weekly $25.00 for the rest of the month. That gives me a cushion of $50.00 til June 30th. Here is the list of my final stores. It's been a wacky month so I am grateful that I pulled it out!! Diane

CVS

6 box of General Mills Cereals (3 honey nut cheerios, total, lucky charms, fruity cheerio's) Total after ECB's and coupons $6.00

Jubilee

2 # boinless sirloin steak b1g1f $4.54
1 1/2 gallon perry's ice cream $1.99
16 frozen hamburgers $7.39
Total $ 13.92

Sams Club

Coffee filters $4.87
20 skinny cow ice cream sandwiches $9.28
Total $14.58

Wegmans

4 YoCrunch Yogurt $2.40
6 Yoplait Yogurt $3.90
Tropicana Valencia OJ $3.99
4 Breakfast Hot Pockets $3.96
80oz package of frozen fries $3.99
2 packages of Tyson chicken tenders $11.38 (Club pack size)
Wegmans Frozen pizza $3.99
1 bag of potato chips $1.50
2 boxes of Cheez-it crackers $3.78
1 box of Wegmans Shredded wheat cereal $1.99
1 Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch $2.59
1 Hellmans Mayo $3.49
10 boneless skinless chicken breasts $10.93
1 large jars of Franks Hot Sauce $3.09
4 zucchini $2.42
2 large tomatoes $1.11
1 head of lettuce $1.29

Mfr Savings $7.09, Wegmans Coupons $1.29, Shoppers Club Savings $2.34

Total $56.30

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

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

Monthy Total

$375.00​

DS lunches $1.00 per day 18 school days

($18.00)​

Sunday's Paper 5 weeks in June $2.00 each and yes it comes out of the grocery $

($10.00)​

Sam's Club Post #26

($54.54)​

Wegman's Post #26

($18.20)​

3 store post #128

($86.33)​

It was way hot in the house 88!! Subway

($10.90)​

End of Month shopping Post #173

($90.40)​

Balance as of 6/30

$86.73​

Didn't know if you wanted to go all the way back so here it is... My monthly bill was $288.37 or weekly (4 weeks in June) $72.09 and my $25.00 per week budget would be $92.09. This is for a family of 4. I have 3 weeks that I have not shopped for my weekly items and I hope to be under for those also. As of today I have $86.63 in an envelope for an extra payment on a bill next month... compliments of my grocery budget being under!!

I will still update my weekly shopping and also my meals for the week. I hope everyone else is budgeting well also!! (oh yeah one last comment, I now have purchased 26 boneless skinless chicken breasts this month. It was very inexpensive at our Wegman's and I can create many dishes from it, healthy dishes). With friendship and budget healthy dishes, Diane!!

 

[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​

I will update with any purchases I make for Father's Day dinner and anything I may purchase throughout the week. Its been really warm here and I am still adjusting to the summer meals. Diane

Updated 6/13
Pushed this down the line so you all could see.... (I know I dislike going back to page one also)

 

[global_mom]

Diane - you are awesome! Thanks for the leadership, my accomplishments so far and been great compared to my old habits. You are a grocery budget inspiration!!

 

[JaxJags08]

We ate out last night, so that goes towards the food budget.

Dinner out $15

Week Total $85 I knew we were going out last night, and we don't have plans to eat out for the rest of the week. So hopefully, I won't spend anything between now and next Monday (yeah, right!). This has been a bad week budget-wise. There are a lot of events planned that aren't included in this grocery budget. I'm feeling a little down, since I'm watching money especially close since joining this thread.

This is a lot tougher than I thought! I have never used a budget, but just tried to buy what I "needed" and what was on sale. This has worked out perfectly for us in the past. But with rising gas prices, I'm having to watch what I do now. I'm really going to have to go through the circulars for next week and shop smarter!

I'm updating my total for week 1:

6/5: Soft Batch Cookies (I had a craving) $4
6/8: Lunch/Dinner out (bad, I know) $23

Week 1 Total: $112

The eating out totally killed the budget. But we know that is something we really have to work on. I think we actually did a little better than usual since I was watching things closely. Hopefully I can improve this week. I know that we have a lot of household items to buy this week.

I'm off to check the circulars. Have a happy Monday everyone!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I'm updating my total for week 1:

6/5: Soft Batch Cookies (I had a craving) $4
6/8: Lunch/Dinner out (bad, I know) $23

Week 1 Total: $112

The eating out totally killed the budget. But we know that is something we really have to work on. I think we actually did a little better than usual since I was watching things closely. Hopefully I can improve this week. I know that we have a lot of household items to buy this week.

I'm off to check the circulars. Have a happy Monday everyone!

First, no one is perfect and we all get cravings and go off budget. Its great to see that you are back to reading the sales ads!

At least on paper you can see how much eating out affects the budget. I have oftened wondered how so many other posters (not you - but your post brought up a good subject) can afford to shop and eat out so often. I love eating out. But personally I don't think that its very healthy and I find it to be very expensive. Even a pizza from the corner shop is out of control. I had a week where we did go out to eat! I chose Subway because of the $5.00 full sub deal. I loaded DH and mine with tons of veggies, and the kids with what they like. They were excited about getting 1/2 of a take-out sub. No one fought over what kind, I firmly said I am buying 2 subs, decide and we did! BUT it still put me over budget in the end! My excuse was that it was 88 degree's in the house. Now that I look at the budget, I don't regret going out, but I know I could have made something on the grill and went outside with the kids. In the end with the subs I put fruit on the table and some of the lunch chips. I also put baby carrots and ranch on the table. We each only had 1/2 of a sub and I must confess even with the extra's to snack on I was hungrier during the evening than I usually am. This led me to munch on other foods that I shouldn't have. This depleted some of my stash... It was like we were rolling down a hill out of control. Now I don't think that Subway was a bad choice for dinner nutritionally. It is much better than a double whopper or whatever the other places are serving. But in the end, I prefer my dinners. If you look at my grocery lists, we are far from lacking in the snack category and we also have many healthy choices. I did this on my budget!

I love the library, tons and tons of cookbooks. The internet is chuck full of recipes. You can duplicate any restaurant style recipe and make it as healthy or sinful as you want. And yes sometimes it is MORE expensive than eating it out. But you don't have to purchase extra sides, and no large pops with as many calories as you are recommended daily!!

Okay I am stepping down now. I think that everyone, and I mean everyone on this thread is doing a great job!! I look forward to the rest of the month.

 

[stahshee]

I didn't do so well this week. I spent a lot and I did not even buy any meat. We have so much in the freezer, I have to start using that, before I can even think about using anymore.

Today for $111 ($14 was for my kids' end of school parties), I bought:

2 powerades free
2 pantiliners free
pads $1
toothpaste free
2 toothbrushes free
cool whip $.50
1/2 gallon of 1/2 and 1/2 $3.50
peonies (they had them again, yeah!!! ) $26
8 packs of tropical fruit in cups $16
string cheese $3.50
bread $2.50
2 lemonades free
fruit punch $1
4 pack of soda free
2 6 packs of water $3
4 general mills cereal $1.70
frosting .70
napkins $1.50
4 rolls of paper towels $2.50
sprinkles (kid's ice cream party) $2.10
2 pasta sauce $2.50
2 pasta free
gogurt $1
cat food free
2 pounds of peaches $2
green salsa $2
2 mild salsas $2.75
shampoo and conditioner free
floss free
2 sour creams $2.20
eggbeaters $3
box of brownies $.90
bagels $1
frozen pannini $1
huggies wipes $1
liter of diet 7-up $.25
2 packs of gummy worms $.50
dove chocolate $1
3 pounds of cherries $6
pringles $.90
nonfat chocolate pudding $2
3 mexican rice packs $1.80
2 hair gels $3
2 packs of bandaids $.50
salt $.90
glasscleaner free
air freshner free
candle $2
hand soap free
coffee filters $1


I think that is it. I earned 2 more free movie tickets, but I still need to buy a pallet of strawberries at the local market for $12.

This week for dinner, with sides of fruit, will be:

Monday: burritos (have meat and tortillas in freezer)
Tuesday: chicken, salsa and rice dish (chicken in freezer)
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: chicken quesadillas (used with leftover tortillas and chicken from freezer)
Friday: husband working overtime, so kids and I will probably just have grilled cheese sandwiches
Saturday: pepper bellies (need fritos)
Sunday: leftovers

due tell how you got the free stuff

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I didn't do so well this week. I spent a lot and I did not even buy any meat. We have so much in the freezer, I have to start using that, before I can even think about using anymore.

(edited out your purchases for sake of space)

I think that is it. I earned 2 more free movie tickets, but I still need to buy a pallet of strawberries at the local market for $12.

This week for dinner, with sides of fruit, will be:

Monday: burritos (have meat and tortillas in freezer)
Tuesday: chicken, salsa and rice dish (chicken in freezer)
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: chicken quesadillas (used with leftover tortillas and chicken from freezer)
Friday: husband working overtime, so kids and I will probably just have grilled cheese sandwiches
Saturday: pepper bellies (need fritos)
Sunday: leftovers

You seem down about your purchases... Do you have an entertainment budget, if so, you should be adjusting it downward for the tickets and increasing your grocery budget. To make this work you need to not INCREASE or feel like you are entitled to more entertainment because the tickets were free. If you just shift the budget you are right on track!! Movies are also very expensive. Getting the free tickets should definetely offset something for you. Even if you don't have an entertainment budget, use the tickets for your gift budget, even if it is for DH, your kids, or yourself. Everyone has a birthday budget and who cares if you got the tickets for free from grocery shopping. The seat is still the same and so is the movie . I think you will find out you are right where you should be.