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