Grocery Budget Update - January

My stock up meat item this month was ground beef.  We were running low with only two packages left in the freezer.  I was able to add ten more packages of 85% lean ground beef I found reduced for quick sale for $20.81.  My goal is to stay around the $20 range and I believe I succeeded pretty well here.

I was able to stock the pantry with 25# of long grain rice, 10# of whole wheat flour, 12# of granulated sugar, 3 cans of iodized salt and 5 cans of nonstick cooking spray (using store promo coupons for 49¢ a can).  Total spent on those items $23.84, less than $5 per week so the leftover $1.16 will be rolled over to use toward other stock up items.

A bonus item I was able to add to our pantry was four bottles of salad dressing.  I make most of our dressings from scratch, which saves us a ton with as much salad as we consume each month, but there are a few that I don't make that have become our favorites so when they go on sale I will usually buy a couple to have on hand.

For the toiletry item I stocked up on $5 worth of toothbrushes I found at the dollar store in twin packs for a total of ten toothbrushes.  That should be plenty to easily get us through the year.  I also wanted to stock up on as much dishwashing soap as I could for $5 but that will have to wait for another time as I maxxed out the non food budget.

My non food budget total came in at $24.98 for a 16# bag of cat food on sale for $9.99, two packages of food containers and five packages of bags, the toothbrushes, a bottle of facial cleanser, cotton balls, and one bottle of dish soap.

This is the food breakdown for the month.  The items I highlighted are the stock up items:

Groceries		$$$
Non stick cooking spray (5)		2.45	Store Coupon
Sugar - 4# (3)		4.50	Sale
Salt (3)		1.71
Ground beef - 7.5#		20.81	Markdown
Salad dressing - 16 oz (4)		6.00	Sale
Mild Italian sausage		1.50	Markdown
Lettuce (2)		3.98
Green beans (3)		1.50	Sale
Corn (3)		1.50	Sale
Mushrooms		2.00	Sale
Ramen noodles (10)		2.00	Sale
Flour tortillas (2)		2.19
Flour - 5#		1.49	Coupon
WW flour - 5# (2)		5.00	Sale Raincheck
Sour cream (2)		1.98	Store Coupon
Tortilla chips (2)		1.60	Store Coupon
Chips (2)		3.58	Sale
Buns (2)		2.75	Store Coupon
Peanut butter		1.27	Sale/Coupon
Spinach		1.67	Sale
Radishes		0.59
Green onions		0.50
Bell pepper		0.99
Cauliflower		3.32
Broccoli		1.56
Tomatoes		1.68
Bananas		0.78
Apples		1.46
Onions		1.37
Pasta sauce (2)		1.58
Pasta (2)		1.58
Salsa (2)		2.50	Store Coupon
Half & half		1.69
Parmesan		1.59	Store Coupon
Canned tomatoes (2)		1.18
Customer Appreciation Coupon		(2.00)
Rice - 25#		10.79	Cash & Carry
Milk - gal.		2.09
Peanut butter (2)		1.96	Sale
Tuna (4)		2.36	Store Coupon
Barbeque sauce		0.59	Store Coupon
Pasta (3)		1.98	Sale/Coupon
Green onions		0.44	Sale
Cole slaw mix		0.53	Coupon
Lemon lime soda (2)		1.38	Store Coupon
Vegetable oil - 1 gal.		5.59
Canned tomatoes (4)		2.00	Store Coupon
Customer Appreciation Coupon		(1.00)
Cashews		3.98	Sale
Total		$    122.54

$122.54 ÷ 31 days ÷3 people = $1.32 per person per day!

How did you save money on groceries this month?  Were you able to find some good sales and stock up on anything?