Tuesday, October 30, 2018

My Grocery Budget 2018 - September Update



Last month, in September, I did a $20 a week grocery challenge and for the most part I didn't do too shabby, if I do say so myself.  My total spent came in at just $104.88.  I try to only spend around $150 each month on groceries and try really hard not to go over $200.  I'm usually pretty close to the $150 mark most of the time. For three of us, one Mom and two active teenagers that is really good.


This month I was over the $150 mark, in fact I was over the $200 mark just a bit because I was in winter stock up mode.  And fortunately the sales lined up perfectly for me to do so.  I was able to stock up the holiday portion of our pantry, fill in some gaps on items we were low on and top off our freezer.  I also treated myself to some root beer that was not on sale, but I really wanted it.  It doesn't happen very often, that I do that, but I'd been craving some root beer lately so I caved in.


Our non food items this month included stocking up on three bags of cat litter that was on sale plus I had two digital coupons loaded onto my store rewards card, stocking up on canned cat food for the old man kitty and then stocking up on toilet paper.  I got 30 double rolls for $9.99.  I thought that was a pretty good deal.  I spent $33.02 this month where I prefer to keep it under $25.  Most months I'm under so I accrue a surplus each month and roll that over.  Right now I still have a surplus of $8.02!


I'm really excited about everything I bought this month because I have most of what I need for Thanksgiving and I even picked up the meat for Christmas dinner.  Plus now I have pretty much all that I need for holiday baking as well as our Christmas Eve supper with the exception of salad fixings.  Here is what I bought this month for food:


Groceries

 $$$









Mushrooms

              1.79

Trader Joes

Carrots

              1.69

Trader Joes

Celery

              1.69

Trader Joes

Olive oil

              6.99

Trader Joes

Almonds

              6.99

Trader Joes

Smoke Almonds

              7.99

Trader Joes

Peanuts

              2.99

Trader Joes

Avocados - 6

              3.49

Trader Joes

Bananas

              0.57

Trader Joes

Taco seasoning

              0.79

Trader Joes

Powdered sugar

              0.99
Sale
Albertsons

Brown sugar

              0.99
Sale
Albertsons

Baking chips (2)

              3.98
Sale
Albertsons

Walnuts - 1#

              4.99
Sale
Albertsons

Eggs (2)

              1.98
Sale
Albertsons

Butter (2)

              3.98
Sale
Albertsons

Milk - gal

              1.79
Sale
Albertsons

Chicken breasts

              5.81
Markdown
Albertsons

Coleslaw mix (2)

              1.98

WinCo

Onions

              0.89

WinCo

Bananas

              0.98

WinCo

Cream cheese (2)

              2.44

WinCo

Cheese sticks

              2.38

WinCo

Cream (2)

              6.76

WinCo

Whipped cream

              2.56

WinCo

Flour

              2.24

WinCo

Coconut flour

              1.12

WinCo

Baking chips

              2.49
Sale
WinCo

Baking chips

              1.74

WinCo

Pudding (2)

              1.00

WinCo

Cheese (2)

              5.26
Sale
WinCo

Mapeline

              2.89

WinCo

Salad Kit

              1.50
Sale/Coupon
Albertsons

Apple cider (4)

              3.96
Sale
Albertsons

Cake mix (3)

 FREE
Overcharge Refund
Albertsons

Frosting (2)

 FREE
Overcharge Refund
Albertsons

Soup (4)

 FREE
Overcharge Refund
Albertsons

Olives (4)

              3.96
Sale
Albertsons

Nutella

              4.99
Sale
Albertsons

Cheese

              4.99
Sale
Albertsons

Bacon (2)

              5.98
Markdown
Albertsons

Lunchmeat

              2.49
Markdown
Albertsons

Grapes

              2.27
Sale
Albertsons

Potatoes (6)

              4.14
Sale
Albertsons

Coleslaw mix (2)

              1.96

Wal-Mart

Lettuce

              0.98

Wal-Mart

Stevia

              2.98

Wal-Mart

Marshmallows

              0.98

Wal-Mart

SF baking chips

              2.98

Wal-Mart

Baking chips

              1.98

Wal-Mart

Almond bark

              2.48

Wal-Mart

Broccoli

              3.99

Fred Meyer

Lettuce (2)

              1.33
Coupon
Fred Meyer

Capri Sun

              1.39
Sale/Coupon
Fred Meyer

Pasta sauce

 FREE
Coupon
Fred Meyer

Bananas

              0.82
Sale
Fred Meyer

Salad dressing - 2pk

              1.99
Sale
Fred Meyer

Ground turkey

              1.80
Sale/Coupon
Fred Meyer

Ground pork

              1.65
Sale
Fred Meyer

Steaks

              5.52
Sale/Coupon
Fred Meyer

Rice

 FREE
Friday Freebie
Fred Meyer

Tuna

 FREE
Friday Freebie
Fred Meyer

Beef wieners (3)

              3.75
Markdown
Fred Meyer

Cheese sticks (8)

              1.52
Markdown
Fred Meyer

Salad mix

              1.29
Markdown
Fred Meyer

Grapes

              2.12
Sale
Fred Meyer

Bananas

              1.32
Sale
Fred Meyer

Bread

              1.50
Sale
Fred Meyer

Bread

              1.00
Sale/Coupon
Fred Meyer

Hotdog buns

              1.00
Sale
Fred Meyer

Orange juice (2)

              1.18
Markdown
Fred Meyer

Cottage cheese

              1.25
Sale
Fred Meyer

Cream cheese (4)

              4.00
Sale
Fred Meyer

Root beer

              5.49

Fred Meyer

Candy bar

 FREE
Friday Freebie
Fred Meyer

Steaks

            13.15
Sale/Coupon
Fred Meyer

Pumpkin (5)

              5.00

Dollar Tree

Marshmallow crème (5)

              5.00

Dollar Tree

Baker's chocolate (2)

              2.00

Dollar Tree

Food coloring

              1.00

Dollar Tree

Vanilla

              1.00

Dollar Tree







Total

         213.90




$213.90 ÷ 31 days ÷3 people = $2.30 per person per day!


Even though this total comes in at a $2.30 per person per day, which you must admit is pretty good in and of itself, but most of this food is actually earmarked for November and December as well as the first part of January.  Not bad, huh?


This budget month runs from October 1 through October 31




15 comments:

  1. All that lovely food. We live in such a wonderful country with such great grocery stores filled with every good food imaginable! I hope never to forget the bounty that is ours. Thanksgiving will last all month long for most of us. Such blessings! Thank you for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are indeed very blessed here in the states. I appreciate it so much. :)

      Delete
  2. Smart and awesome shopping!!! Enjoy, Janie

    ReplyDelete
  3. You've already noticed the title of this post is mislabeled...right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cindy, I can always count on you. ;)

      Delete
    2. What can I say... you can take the girl out of Editorial (sometimes), but you can't take the editor out of the girl! :)

      Delete
    3. You are a tease...

      Still loving your blog. It's on my daily list of things to do.
      Just noticed -- Amazon's Warehouse Deals have a number of grocery items, marked-down bigtime, that would be good for stocking your pantry and/or holiday baking. I just got cranberries at 12 cents an ounce, and pecans for $5.70/lb, which is a STEAL in our neck of the woods. (Denver, CO area) In fact, I just got some bulk pecans at Sprouts for $7.95/lb, and thought I was doing good. (The Brick is North Carolina-born and bred, and loves 'pay-kan pah-i' for Thanksgiving.)
      A lot of the items are 'last one,' but they're still in fresh, usable condition. Good for stocking stuffers and small gifts, too, and you don't have to go out to get them, or pay shipping if you get $25 worth.

      Delete
    4. Wow, those are some great deals. I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the heads up.

      Delete
  4. Do you use cash envelopes to do groceries or debit card? If debit card do you just write down what you spend?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't do cash because I'm to busy to take the time to go to the bank. I've always just used my card and track it all on a spreadsheet.

      Delete

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