Monthly Grocery Budget Challenge!!

[tonilea]

I'm in.

This is a short week. I usually spend $150 every two weeks. Last week I spent $103, so this is my lower week. Oh, and I didn't have any really good ads to price match.

Bananas 2+lbs $1.37
Polish Sausage $3.84
Shampoo $1.46
Shampoo $1.46
Pinto Beans $ .58
Ketchup $1.00
Spray & Wash $2.27 - .50 coupon
Tomatoes $1.00
Jarred Alfredo Sauce $1.58
Salsa $1.88
Diet Coke $3.00
Diet Coke $0 (had coupon for free 12 pk)
Bleach $1.28
Milk 2% 3.38
Grapes, 2pkgs 4+ lbs, (reg. 2.08lb, price match .99 lb) $4.38
Pasta $1.39
Dr. Thunder soda for DN 12 pk $2.00
Broccoli Crowns 1.74 lbs @ .99 price match (regular 1.58lb) I usually at least 4 lbs, but the selection was poor tonight - $1.74
Eggs dz (regular 1.58) price match .77
Eggs dz (regular 1.58) price match .77
Total w/ $2.30 in taxes - $40.93

Menu for the week:
Breakfasts - we aren't big on breakfast, usually toast, fruit, cereal or something quick.
Lunches - Usually leftovers or sandwiches
Dinners:
*BBQ Polish Sausage w/ rice and steamed broccoli. never had this before, special request from DN
*Chicken Pot Pie - homemade
*Grilled chicken breasts w/ mashed potatoes, green beans and corn.
*Breakfast - bacon, eggs, pancakes or possibly omelettes
*Beans & Cornbread, calico potatoes, steamed broccoli
*Pasta w. alfredo sauce, some crumbled bacon and salad.
*Leftovers

Week 2

Chili 2@ .94
Cream of chix soup 2 @ .82
Cream of mushroom soup - .82
Tomatoes - can - .72
Pop Tarts - 1.98
Milk 2@ 3.38
Purex Laundry Soap 2.98
BBQ Sauce - Kraft 3 @ .78
Black Beans - dried - 1.12
Burritos 3.17
Celery 1.42
White Corn Chips 2 @ 1.28
Egg Noodles 1.54 -HOLY COW these are going up - they are up 50% - Looks like I need to learn how to make them!
LF Minis (no idea what this is lol) 1.18
Popcorn 2.00
veggies 6@ .50
Mixed veg 2 @ .52
Bananas 2.09lbs@.64 1.34
Garlic Salt .50
Dry Yeast 3.66
Coke 3.00 less 3.00 coupon - 0.00
Twist Up 12 pk 1.99
Dr. Thunder 12 pk 1.99
Pillsbury cake mixes 2@.77
Cereal - 2 bags of MOM - 5.00
Hot Dog Buns .89
Hamburger Buns .89
Ground Chuck 10.96 (was 15.18 - got for 1.99 lb price match)
Pork Steak 1.29lb 4.73
Smoked Ham - lunch meat - 2.29
Tomatoes .89lb - 1.50
Leaf Lettuce - .99
Onions .50lb - 1.48
Broccoli - 2 bunches @ 2/$3
Tea - trying store brand .99
Grapes Green 4.37 lbs @.99 lb 4.33
Total - including taxes 88.68
Running total for month - $129.62

It should start getting easier as DN has decided to move back home with his mother.

Dinners this week (in no particular order):
* Chicken Breast w/ pasta, marinara and steamed broccoli
* Tuna Noodle Casserole w/ peas and salad
* Beans & Rice w/Cornbread and some assortment of veggies
* Taco Soup
* Pork Steaks w/ mashed potatoes & steamed broccoli
* Chili Cheese Dogs - bad, I know.
* Hamburgers w/ Oven Fries

Oops! Forgot to add the bananas that I picked up at Sams for $1.39 and some snack mix for 2.50

new total $133.50

 

[faindrops27]

Ok, so my running total as I have tried to drastically reduce my food budget. Is now up to 164. This is from June 7th. For a family of 5. I am trying to go until the 20th or so. But, I have run out of milk, and kind of low, on bread. But, I will only get these items. So, I will post my tally when I go out for it.

My menu so far:
June 7th: Spaghetti
8th:chicken, mashed pots, and frozen veggies
9th: Chicken, veggies
10th: shrimp fried rice, veggies
11th: Leftovers
12th: Hamburgers, and veggies
13: Leftovers
14: Spaghetti

I think if I can stay on this course of spending. I will come right under 300 on food for the month. However. I have to also get laundry supply's. So, we will see!:thumbsup:

 

[ELLE-TN]

Stayed on budget again this week! updated post #55

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Okay I have my meals planned and I will add my shopping list tomorrow...

Starting with Father's Day - Sunday June 15

Sunday - London Broil on the grill, baked potatoes, sauteed onion/mushrooms, and zuchini side dish. For dessert I will make an ice cream cake w/coffee ice cream and Kahlua hot fudge topping.
Monday - Chicken taco's, (steak if any left over), spanish rice, and corn
Tuesday - Hot Dogs and Hamburgers on the grill, french fries, and green beans.
Wednesday - Turkey Ham/Potato/Cheese casserole, rice, and pineapple
Thursday - Cheeseburger Pie, glazed carrots, and homemade applesauce
Friday - Chicken Nuggets, red potatoes w/garlic butter sauce, and green beans
Saturday - Pasta night, homemade sauce, garlic bread, and salad.

 

[faindrops27]

Ok, so i overspent. As i decided to make hubbys favorite, meal. Fried chicken. Mashed potatoes, and vegatables. But, I also got him some nicely decorated cupcakes. Well, maybe for me, and the kids too. Anyway. I spent 40 dollars. So,I am up to 204.00.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Ok, so i overspent. As i decided to make hubbys favorite, meal. Fried chicken. Mashed potatoes, and vegatables. But, I also got him some nicely decorated cupcakes. Well, maybe for me, and the kids too. Anyway. I spent 40 dollars. So,I am up to 204.00.

Father's Day is kindof like a mulligan in golf....It doesnt count...

As for the flip side of the coin neither do extreme PMS day's for me!!

 

[stahshee]

So far this week alone I spent 172.83 …
Now I make our own laundry soap so you will hardly see laundry soap on my shopping along with I make my own bread.

Some menus ideas
Bake potato bar
White spaghetti- tomatoes and cheddar cheese
Shepard’s pie with ground turkey
Omelets and home made home fries
Hamburgers on the grill w no buns, that’s just the way we like it

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

So far this week alone I spent 172.83 …
Now I make our own laundry soap so you will hardly see laundry soap on my shopping along with I make my own bread.

Some menus ideas
Bake potato bar
White spaghetti- tomatoes and cheddar cheese
Shepard’s pie with ground turkey
Omelets and home made home fries
Hamburgers on the grill w no buns, that’s just the way we like it

Out of neccessity for my budget, we have hamburger/hotdog bar same as other would do potato bars.... We do not buy buns all the time, and if we have white or wheat bread I will add it to the bar if not it looks like this...

Hamburgers/Hot Dogs
Sliced tomatoes
Pickles
Hot Peppers
Onions
Relish
Grated Cheese
Lettuce

All the things you would pile on your burger minus the roll...

I forgot about this one. Thanks Stahshee for reminding me. This is once less trip I will have to make the next cookout....

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Well, I just don't know how you guys do it. I went shopping today, and here is my list (family of three adults, two of us are vegan but you will see a steak in there that my one son wanted - he's the only non-vegan. I have other family over for dinner once a week or so and include food for them too).

dog treats $3.99 (large bag - store brand)
dog food $14.99
toilet paper $9.99 (16 double rolls)
glad clear garbage bags $2.89 (we are on a 3-bag garbage system here)
bran cereal (store brand) $3.49
omega-3 granola (store brand) $3.49
organic just peanuts peanut butter (store brand) $4.29
black beans .79
organic orange juice $5.29
soy yogurt $3.99 (times 2)
5 lb. onions $1.79
soymilk $1.99
Korean barbecue sauce $2.99
sundried tomato salad dressing $1.99
steak $6.89
6 loaves of whole wheat & oat bran bread at $2.50 each: $15.00
multigrain tostitos $3.29
lychee soda (12 cans) $3.49
cucumber $1.29
curry powder $4.49
red pepper flakes $3.99
oranges $4.40
bananas 2 kg $1.15
broccoli 1.1 kg $3.61
mushrooms $1.99
red mangoes (4) $5.16
cherries $5.06
strawberries $3.49
salad $3.99
red grapes $3.29
asparagus $2.50
green grapes $3.20
windex $3.49

Total with taxes: $155.69

Teresa

 

[jamesnnick]

This week we are eating out of the pantry since DH is traveling for work and DSS is staying another week at his mom's house. It's going to just be the two little ones and I after tonight, and we really don't eat all that much.

Piggly Wiggly:
$24

crescent rolls X2
cream cheese
bagged salad
biscuits
mozerella
potatoes
canned pears
carrots
milk
bread
pork chops

Kwik Trip (they have the best price around here on fruit): $4
bananas
apples
oranges

Breakfasts: pancakes, cereal, apples and peanut butter, bananas

Lunches: tuna salad, ham kabobs, chicken nuggets, pbnj, carrots, pears, oranges, apples

Dinners:
-Hamburgers, steamers mixed veggies, buttered noodles
-crescent chicken bundles, corn
-salad with imitation crab, biscuits
-baked spaghetti, salad
-catfish (caught by my husband), broccoli and califlower, baked potatoes
-egg bake, fruit
-pork chops, potatoes, peas

Total for the month $192.28

 

[faindrops27]

Father's Day is kindof like a mulligan in golf....It doesnt count...

As for the flip side of the coin neither do extreme PMS day's for me!!

Good to know. Because, I have those almost 2 weeks out of every month!!

 

[faindrops27]

So far this week alone I spent 172.83 …
Now I make our own laundry soap so you will hardly see laundry soap on my shopping along with I make my own bread.

Some menus ideas
Bake potato bar
White spaghetti- tomatoes and cheddar cheese
Shepard’s pie with ground turkey
Omelets and home made home fries
Hamburgers on the grill w no buns, that’s just the way we like it

How do you make your own soap?
Man, I should get back to making my own bread. But, the problem with that is. I was eating to much of it. With butter right out of the oven. So, I had to stop to be able to click my seatbelt on my upcoming trip. It is funny. But, I am being serious!

 

[stahshee]

So far for the month I have spent 305.34 . I still have 2 more weeks.

 

[cruisnfamily]

OK, I'll play.

I set my budget at $105 per week....used to be $125 per week and I keep trying to cut back. So, $105 per week x 52 weeks divided by 12 months = approx $455 per month. So far this month I've spent $337.14 for the month and there are 2 more Sundays left(I shop on Sundays) which is another $210 if I stay on budget which means I'm going to be waaaay over for the month but this is a 5 Sunday month and that always happens. We'll see how I do.

So $337.14 spent/ $455 budgeted = $117.87 left to spend this month.

 

[IDoDis]

You have very healthy foods on your list which costs more. I guess it's a give and take. Maybe if you have a grower's market nearby you could try shopping there on the weekend for the fruits & veggies. I want to do that, but was busy this last weekend in the mornings so I didn't make it. I'm in the same boat though expense-wise. I have not yet been successful in tightening the grocery budget. Since we are all home in the summer (DH and I are teachers), we have decided to limit ourselves to one 2 liter bottle of diet soda a week, so we are drinking even more milk than usual which is a lot anyway. We are averaging a gallon a day! It's fat free so I guess I just need to suck it up. My grandma had horrible osteoporosis for the last 20 or so years of her life so I don't want to tell the family to stop drinking so much milk. Oh well.

Well, I just don't know how you guys do it. I went shopping today, and here is my list (family of three adults, two of us are vegan but you will see a steak in there that my one son wanted - he's the only non-vegan. I have other family over for dinner once a week or so and include food for them too).

dog treats $3.99 (large bag - store brand)
dog food $14.99
toilet paper $9.99 (16 double rolls)
glad clear garbage bags $2.89 (we are on a 3-bag garbage system here)
bran cereal (store brand) $3.49
omega-3 granola (store brand) $3.49
organic just peanuts peanut butter (store brand) $4.29
black beans .79
organic orange juice $5.29
soy yogurt $3.99 (times 2)
5 lb. onions $1.79
soymilk $1.99
Korean barbecue sauce $2.99
sundried tomato salad dressing $1.99
steak $6.89
6 loaves of whole wheat & oat bran bread at $2.50 each: $15.00
multigrain tostitos $3.29
lychee soda (12 cans) $3.49
cucumber $1.29
curry powder $4.49
red pepper flakes $3.99
oranges $4.40
bananas 2 kg $1.15
broccoli 1.1 kg $3.61
mushrooms $1.99
red mangoes (4) $5.16
cherries $5.06
strawberries $3.49
salad $3.99
red grapes $3.29
asparagus $2.50
green grapes $3.20
windex $3.49

Total with taxes: $155.69

Teresa

 

[IDoDis]

Updated list for this week (will ad to my weekly lists on page 8)
6/16

3 cans of green beans @.50 each $1.50
ibprofen $4.28
flaxseed $1.74
box of Triscuit crackers $3.48
frozen mixed vegetables $ 1.89
can of mixed nuts $4.48
Danon quart of low-sugar yogurt $2.46
2 cans of black beans @.88 each $1.76
Laura Scutters Natural creamy peanut butter $2.54
Laura Scutter's Natural cruchy peanut butter $2.54
whole wheat bread $2.48
eye of round thin-cut $3.38
Kashi Go-lean cereal $2.99
Captain Crunch (DS's special request) $1.99
peaches 1.41 lb - $1.18
grape tomatoes $2.28
2 bunches of broccoli $1.50
1 cucumber .99
1 head leaf lettuce $1.29
roisserie chicken (whole) $4.74
1 gallon fat free milk $3.47
1 whole watermelon $2.50

Total: $55.46

DH made this run and I didn't know he was going. Otherwise, I would have gone myself or waited a couple more days for the new ads to come out. I have some coupons and others things we still need that he didn't get.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

IDoDis posted:

You have very healthy foods on your list which costs more. I guess it's a give and take. Maybe if you have a grower's market nearby you could try shopping there on the weekend for the fruits & veggies. I want to do that, but was busy this last weekend in the mornings so I didn't make it. I'm in the same boat though expense-wise. I have not yet been successful in tightening the grocery budget. Since we are all home in the summer (DH and I are teachers), we have decided to limit ourselves to one 2 liter bottle of diet soda a week, so we are drinking even more milk than usual which is a lot anyway. We are averaging a gallon a day! It's fat free so I guess I just need to suck it up. My grandma had horrible osteoporosis for the last 20 or so years of her life so I don't want to tell the family to stop drinking so much milk. Oh well.



I do often go to the Farmer's Market for fruits and vegetables, but it is only open Saturdays and it was my grandson Xavier's first birthday on Saturday so we were busy celebrating. I do think it is important to eat healthy foods even if it is a little more expensive.

According to the Canada Food Guide, I should be eating at least 7 servings of fruits and veggies every day, with 5 of them veggies, and my sons should be eating 8 servings. I just don't see how people are getting that many servings of fruit and veg in their grocery lists!

Teresa

 

[cnj]

Well, I did my every 6 weeks grocery stop at Costco this week. It was $90.

I bought:

4 pack of ground turkey meat
oreos
brownies
baguettes
roses
orchids
bacon 4 pounds
And I can't remember what else I bought, it was a couple of days ago...

My brain is officially fried with school being out for 3 days now. Summer break is killing me. Swim lessons started today and afterwards, I went to a swim party with the kids. I took the kids to Ralphs, where my son who is 4, started saying his throat hurt. I am hoping he just swallowed a little chlorine, because I have a playdate/dinner plans with a friend at 5:30.

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO bummed, because my Ralphs is starting to only double up to $1 after tomorrow. I need to go through my coupons and look for some more things that will be free and go back tomorrow.

Anyway, I spent $68 and this is what I bought:

2 pounds of nectarines $2
a jalapeno .06
2 grapefruits $2
2 cream cheese $2
2 shredded lowfat cheese $3
whipped cream .50
4 juices $4
lemonade FREE
baby wipes $1
kids hand soap .50
3 lipton rice mixes $1
2 ragu sauces $2
3 cinnamon roll cans $4
2 gallons milk $5.89
5 toothbrushes .50
toothpaste FREE
2 boxes of tampons $4
pads $1
shampoo and conditioner FREE
chili mix .90
2 boxes of straws $4
coffee filters $1
6 rolls of paper towels 5.90
2 diced chili cans $1.50
dove chocolate $1
wheat bread $2.50
4 boxes of discount crayola crayons (24 box for .40 cents) $1.60
hand soap .30
cranberry juice .50
Newcastle 6 pack (for my husband as a treat and also to cook chili with) $6
2 pringles $1.76

I still need to go to Vons. I have heard that they will be stopping doubling as well. I hardly have anything to buy there, but I am bummed that I have to wait until tomorrow now. I REALLY, REALLY need butter so I need to go to Costco again SOON.

Our dinner this week will be:

Tuesday: burritos
Wednesday: chicken quesadillas
Thursday: chicken chili
Friday: leftovers

Saturday and Sunday, my husband works nights, so we just eat grilled cheese or tuna sandwiches.

I know Monday will be spaghetti and Tuesday will probably be breakfast for dinner.

 

[DVC Sadie]

IDoDis posted:



I do often go to the Farmer's Market for fruits and vegetables, but it is only open Saturdays and it was my grandson Xavier's first birthday on Saturday so we were busy celebrating. I do think it is important to eat healthy foods even if it is a little more expensive.

According to the Canada Food Guide, I should be eating at least 7 servings of fruits and veggies every day, with 5 of them veggies, and my sons should be eating 8 servings. I just don't see how people are getting that many servings of fruit and veg in their grocery lists!

Teresa

We do the farmers market and drink a gallon of fat free milk every other day (at least). We are only feeding 1 child, 2 adults and spend about 30.00 per week just on milk, not including the farmers market or other fruits or vegetables.

Your food guide is accurate and some families are not getting enough fruits, vegetables or low fat protein in their diets. I am basing this on posters food purchases and the amount of people in the family.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

We do the farmers market and drink a gallon of fat free milk every other day (at least). We are only feeding 1 child, 2 adults and spend about 30.00 per week just on milk, not including the farmers market or other fruits or vegetables.

Your food guide is accurate and some families are not getting enough fruits, vegetables or low fat protein in their diets. I am basing this on posters food purchases and the amount of people in the family.

I agree that our family does not reach your guidlines based on 7 or 8 fruit or veggies per day. Our family goal is to strive for 5.

Breakfast - one fruit via cereal or juice
Lunch - one fruit
Dinner - one/two veggies per meal. I try to get a serving in the actual main course and one as a side
Snack - fruit......

Its more of a battle than not having the food in the house. Summers are definetely easier for us. Once the farmer's market opens up, everyone munches more often. I need some guidance though on low fat protein. Could you give me some examples. I am definetely open to changing menu's etc...
Thanks, Diane