My Grocery Budget - September Update

This month started out amazing when I found coupons in my mailbox from Winco for free groceries.  Then we got the ones from our neighbor and I was beyond just a little happy.  Needless to say the first half of the month didn't see me spending much money at the grocery store at all.  Yaaay.

I waited until the middle of the month before I did any major grocery shopping and really only bought items on sale and markdown.  It is really nice when we are so well stocked that all I really need is a few fresh produce items and milk so I can take advantage and stock up on sales items which is exactly what we did.  Almost everything I bought this month was either on sale or marked down for clearance.  Or better yet, FREE!

Free eggs, free bacon, free orange juice & free English muffins

I've been concentrating on restocking the baking box in anticipation of the holidays.  We've added M & Ms, baking chips, coconut and powdered sugar to it, plus vegetable oil, butter (in the freezer), evaporated milk, sugar and flour to the pantry.

On the spur of the moment I got a bug to make apple butter.  I hadn't made any in years and it sounded so good.  I picked up the apples at a local fruit stand and used sugar and spices I already had on hand.  I was really pleased when Albertson's ran a coupon in their ad for sugar so I could replace what I used and add an extra bag for the holiday baking.

My non-food items included the usual cat food and litter.  I stocked up on toilet paper, which was on sale at Albertson's, and enough fabric softener to see us through winter at the dollar store.  I bought a large bottle of dish soap on sale and with a coupon too.  I spent a total of $35.45 of my $25.00 budget so I was definitely over budget this month on non food items.  I've been under enough times, however that it was well covered.

I was extra careful not to get carried away with all the great buys I've been seeing, which would have been really easy to do, and stuck to my $150.oo budget.  I came in just under and our pantry is stuffed right now.  I know with growing teenagers it won't stay that way for long, but for now it is really nice.

Here is the list of food I bought.  The items highlighted in red are my stock up items:

Groceries		$$$
Smoked sausage		3.89	Sale
Milk - 1 gal		1.84	Sale
English muffins (2)		FREE	Store Coupon
Bacon (2)		FREE	Store Coupon
Eggs - 1 doz (2)		FREE	Store Coupon
Bratwurst		2.50	Markdown
Steak		3.71	Markdown
English muffins (2)		FREE	Store Coupon
Bacon (2)		FREE	Store Coupon
Eggs - 1 doz (2)		FREE	Store Coupon
Orange juice - 59oz. (4)		FREE	Store Coupon
Flour - 20#		5.96
Coconut		1.42	Sale
Non stick pan spray		1.68	Sale
Onions		1.26	Sale
Tomatoes		0.46	Sale
Lettuce		0.98	Sale
Cole slaw mix		0.98	Sale
Ground turkey - 1# (3)		5.87	Markdown/Coupon
Summer sausage		3.99	Sale
All Bran		3.99	Coupon
Shredded wheat		1.99	Sale
Cornflakes		1.88
M&Ms (2)		3.50	Store Coupon/Coupon
Sour cream		0.85	Sale/Coupon
Tea		2.24	Sale/Coupon
Tortilla chips		0.60	Sale/Coupon
Potato chips		1.19	Sale/Coupon
Bananas		1.33
Apples - 8#		8.00	Fruit Stand
Bell pepper		0.69	Fruit Stand
Avocado (2)		1.00	Fruit Stand
Clam chowder (8)		5.92	Sale/Coupon
Frosting (2)		1.98	Sale
Potatoes (8)		5.52	Store Coupon
Pasta (6)		2.94	Store Coupon
Noodles cups (12)		2.40	Store Coupon
Cheddar - 2#		5.00	Markdown
Tortilla chips (2)		1.76	Sale
Potato chips		1.56	Sale
Veggie tray		5.99	Coupon
Spinach		1.54	Coupon
Salad		0.99	Markdown
Broccoli		0.99	Markdown
Guacamole		0.99	Markdown
Strawberries		1.50	Sale
Clam chowder (4)		2.96	Store Coupon/Coupon
Enchilada sauce		1.67	Sale
Bananas		1.03
Cream cheese (2)		1.36	Sale/Coupon
Milk - 1/2 gal (3)		2.37	Sale
Ham		1.99	Sale
Turkey		1.99	Sale
Bologna		1.00	Sale
Salami		1.00	Sale
Pudding cups (3)		2.64	Sale
Spanish cupcakes - 6ct (4)		1.16	Markdown
Balsamic vinegar (2)		2.74	Sale
Sugar - 4# (2)		3.38	Store Coupon
Baking chips (2)		3.98	Store Coupon
Butter (2)		4.98	Store Coupon
Peanut butter		5.00	Sale
Sausages (2)		5.00	Markdown
Total		$     145.13

$145.13 ÷ 31 days ÷3 people = $1.56 per person per day!

Did you stock up on anything this month?  Any super deals?  Are you already squirreling things away for the holidays like I am?

This budget month runs from October 1 through October 31.