Friday, December 27, 2013

Grocery Budget Update - December

 
I ended last month at-29¢.  I know what you are thinking - Oh, my goodness gracious! 

I added my deficit to my budget and started the month with $124.71 as a beginning budget.  I spent $116.60 and ended the month with $8.11 left.  I'll add this to next month's budget and then I'll begin all over again. 

Our non-food spending came in at $10.91 (of our allotted $25 budget) for two 20 lb bags of cat litter, a box of facial tissues and a bottle of laundry detergent.  Whatever is leftover each month goes into savings and I start fresh with $25. 

This is what I bought for groceries this month:

 
 
 $$$
 
Lettuce (2)
 
              1.76
 
Tortillas
 
              1.49
 
Rice - 5#
 
              2.89
 
Black beans
 
              1.49
 
Pot pies (6)
 
              4.74
 
Frozen veg (4)
 
              2.76
Store Coupon
Olives (2)
 
              1.98
Store Coupon
Bread (3)
 
              4.00
Store Coupon
Stuffing mix (2)
 
              1.78
Store Coupon
Milk - 1/2 gal (2)
 
              2.50
Store Coupon
Orange juice - 1/2 gal
 
              1.25
Store Coupon
Clam chowder (6)
 
              4.69
Store Coupon/Coupon
Ground turkey - 3#
 
              3.99
Markdown
Lasagna noodles
 
              1.00
Dollar Store
Green olives
 
              0.99
Store Coupon
Lettuce  
 
              1.88
Sale
Milk - 1 gal
 
              2.08
 
Eggs - 18ct
 
              1.58
Store Promotion
Bananas
 
              1.02
Markdown
Carrots
 
              0.49
Sale
Avocado
 
              0.98
Sale
Cereal
 
              1.13
Sale/Coupon
Green beans (4)
 
              1.96
Sale
Olives (2)
 
              1.00
Sale/Coupon
Cream cheese (4)
 
              4.00
Sale
Cranberry juice (2)
 
              2.76
Store Coupon
Pasta (4)
 
              3.12
Store Coupon
Cake mix
 
              0.99
Store Coupon
Crackers (3)
 
              5.00
Store Coupon
Bread (3)
 
              4.00
Store Coupon
Clam chowder (2)
 
              2.00
Sale/Coupon
Cranberry juice (2)
 
              3.34
Store Coupon
Ground turkey - 20 oz.
 
              2.99
Sale
Cookies (4)
 
              4.00
Dollar Store
Tortilla Chips (2)
 
              2.00
Sale
Cheese (2)
 
              3.00
Store Coupon
Bagels (2)
 
              1.60
Markdown
English Muffins
 
              0.60
Markdown
Orange juice - 1/2 gal (2)
 
              2.50
Store Coupon
Breakfast rolls (2)
 
              2.76
Sale/Coupon
Roasted pepper dip
 
              2.49
Markdown
Cheese (4)
 
              6.00
Sale
Bananas
 
              0.66
Markdown
Spinach dip
 
              2.04
 
Tomato sauce (8)
 
              2.00
Markdown
Bread  
 
              1.78
 
Spinach   
 
              1.66
 
Ground beef
 
              2.23
 
Italian sausage
 
              3.65
Sale
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 $      116.60
 

I so did not need to buy the four packages of cookies at the dollar store but I did.  I'm not quite sure what on earth possessed me, especially at Christmas time when there is so much junk around.  Oh well. 

Do you set a grocery budget each month?  How did you do?  How are some ways you save $$ at the grocery store?

6 comments:

  1. I would love to only spend $125.00 per month on groceries. Right now we spend $100.00 per week. I have tried to go lower and it seems it wasn't enough but that does also include things like laundry detergent and TP. I would love to get it down to around $50.00 per week. I love your blog and your budget updates! Do you take the whole 125.00 out at the start of the month or do you just use a debit card and keep a tally? I think that's the hardest part for me.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jenn,
      I use my debit card and keep a tally. After I put my groceries away I sit down and update my spreadsheet so it's done before I have a chance to lose the receipt. :) How many are in your family?

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    2. It's just me, my husband and 2 children under 12.

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    3. $50 a week would be doable. I'm putting up a post next week explaining how I do it. The challenge is to get creative and that is the part I like the best. My girls are now hitting that growing teenage phase at 10 & 13. Some days it is hard to fill them up.

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  2. I do have a budget, but am not so great with it. lol! Its expensive feeding a familly of 6 in Canada, especially with all my food allergies. My goal is $180/week and it's tight when I need to order organic meat, buy specialty health food products, etc.. it can be a challenge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel very fortunate that we don't have health or diet issues. I'm sure your cost of living is much higher than ours too. We are very fortunate in Idaho to have lower grocery and electric costs. Gas on the other hand....

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