My Grocery Budget 2017 - February Update

Once again, I am over my monthly grocery budget, but not by much.  I'm not worried however, as I'm sure it will all level out over time.

This time I purchased A LOT of fresh produce.  Our freezer is fully stocked so at the first of the month I headed off to Winco to fill in the blanks on some pantry items and to resupply our herbs and spices from the bulk bin.  I bought quite a few items from the bulk bin and found the costs to be significantly lower over purchasing off the shelf.  Good deal!

We are transitioning to a meat-less meal plan, which isn't the same as no meat, just less meat in our diet.  I'm pretty confident we are sitting on a year's supply of meats in our freezer right now.  My focus now is to keep us well supplied with fresh produce, some frozen produce, whole grains and some dairy.

The only non-food item I purchased was a bag of cat litter for $3.88 and two bottles of laundry detergent on sale and with a coupon for a total of $2.98.  That made up my small deficit and left me with almost $18.00 extra to use to stock up on sales items like toilet paper.  It's on my list, but then I think, it always is.

I tried out Trader Joes.  We've had one for awhile, but I've never shopped in it before.  A friend and I met for coffee and then we checked it out.  He shops there all the time as well as Whole Foods and the Boise Co-Op.  I've been to Whole Foods once and left without buying anything due to the prices, but he wants me to give it another chance.  So we will be checking it out soon and I'll see if my opinion changes.

Trader Joes

I liked Trader Joes.  They didn't have everything I needed so I ended up finishing at Fred Meyer that trip, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that the prices were pretty reasonable.  So will I be going back?  Yes, actually, I think I will.

So now, without further ado, here is the list of foods I bought.  The items highlighted in red are my stock up items:

Groceries		$$$
Cereal (5)		7.50	Sale
Bread		0.99
Tortilla chips		FREE
Mac & cheese		FREE
Ice cream (4)		9.96	Sale
Lunchmeat (4)		3.96	Markdown
Weiners (2)		1.50	Sale
Tortilla chips		0.98
Eggs (2)		1.72	Sale
Bell pepper		0.58	Sale
Red pepper		0.88	Sale
Tomatoes		0.69	Sale
Apples		1.08	Sale
Oranges		2.80	Sale
Onions		1.05	Sale
Lettuce		0.98
Avocados (2)		1.76	Sale
Bananas		1.02
Carrots - 2#		1.28
Celery		0.88
Mushrooms		1.16
Coleslaw mix		0.98	Sale
Spinach		1.98
Raisins		2.98	Sale
Craisins		1.98	Sale
Flour - 10#		2.77
Pan spray		1.88	Sale
Cocoa		2.99	Sale
Honey		2.58	Sale
Parmesan (2)		3.96	Sale
Pesto		2.34	Sale
Spaghetti sauce (2)		1.76	Sale
Milk - gal		1.76
Cream - qt		3.18
Au Jus (2)		0.90	Sale
Taco seasoning (2)		0.98	Sale
Diced tomatoes (4)		2.36
Tomatu sauce (2)		1.16
Canned corn (2)		1.16
Water chestnuts (2)		0.96
Bean sprouts (2)		2.16
Enchilada sauce		1.47	Sale
Enchilada sauce		1.50	Sale
Pasta (2)		0.50	Sale
Bologna		0.98	Sale
Peas & carrots		1.05
Peas		0.88
Corn		0.88
Pineapple		0.98	Sale
Ravioli		2.68	Sale
Tortellini		2.68	Sale
Parsley		0.56	Bulk
Chili powder		0.53	Bulk
Lentils		0.68	Bulk
Red lentils		0.76	Bulk
Black beans		1.71	Bulk
Split peas		0.75	Bulk
Bagels		1.68
Bread		1.18
Cereal		3.00
Cereal		3.00
Cereal		1.85
All Bran		3.58
Cornmeal		1.76	Bulk
Basil		0.33	Bulk
Spinach		1.96
Limes (2)		0.50
Tomatoes (3)		0.58	Sale
Bell pepper		0.58	Sale
Avocados (2)		2.56
Apples		1.26
Cucumber		0.58
Apples		1.19
Bananas		0.98
Lettuce		0.98
Feta		2.69	Trader Joes
Lettuce		0.99	Trader Joes
Broccoli		1.79	Trader Joes
Bananas		1.14	Trader Joes
Bell pepper		0.69	Trader Joes
Red pepper		0.99	Trader Joes
Mushrooms		1.69	Trader Joes
Pomegranate seeds (2)		1.18	Markdown
Coleslaw mix (2)		3.48
Lettuce		0.89	Markdown
Cucumber		0.69
Yellow squash		0.69
Zucchini		0.98
Garlic		0.44
Green onions		0.79
Tomatoes (3)		1.30
Radishes		0.59
Oranges		2.16
Avocados (4)		2.99
Apples		1.49
Green beans		1.29	Markdown
Mixed veg		1.99	Markdown
Almond milk		2.50	Sale
Tortilla chips (3)		4.99	Sale
Pasta (2)		1.58	Sale
Hotdog buns		0.69
Total		$    168.42

$168.42 ÷ 28 days ÷3 people = $2.00 per person per day!

Did you stock up on anything this month?  Come across any super deals?

This budget month runs from February 1 through February 28