Groceries Week 52 - $93.47

This week was pretty crazy with 8 extra people in the house.  I have been happily busy, but I couldn't find my camera a couple of times and I didn't have time to search for it.  Also, our gracious guests picked up groceries a few times to help out with costs.

This was a Dollar Store trip for just $3.00.  Mustard, relish, Maraschino cherries.

My sweet Father in law loves ice cream so I picked some up to go along with our pie on Christmas Eve.  I spent $6.98.

 

Next, I went to Fred Meyer on Thursday for the 75% off Christmas deals and a few food items.  I spent $9.84 on clearance food items stuff.

 

$1.00 - 6 cucumbers!

$1.00 - 4 yellow squash!

$1.49 - canned artichoke hearts

$0.49 - canned pineapple

$0.39 - canned corn

$1.39 - canned enchilada sauce

$0.49 - canned mandarin oranges

$1.09 - whole wheat pita

$2.50 - hummus (not on clearance, but on sale)

 

I went to a different Fred Meyer on Saturday for a few items I needed for a party on Sunday.  I scored a bunch of 75% off Christmas deals again and bought those food items for $10.65.

 

$1.39 each - 2 cans of black olives (full price!)

$6.49 - 2# brick of jack cheese

$0.49 - half gallon of chocolate milk on clearance

$0.89 - bunch of parsley

 

Finally, I went to Fred Meyer a final time with my sister-in-law because I was out of pull-ups and she needed to get her husband's watch battery replaced.  Fred Meyer jewelers did the job and I found a couple clearance food deals along with my pull-up purchase.  I spent $2.06 on the food.

 

$0.59 - Corn Flakes

$0.49 each - 3 cream of mushroom soup

 

We also had milk delivery.  With all of our guests I had a larger delivery for $16.74.

 

I realized this week (when the check cleared) that I forgot to record a big purchase from a couple weeks ago.  Our church kitchen ministry had ordered a lot of lasagna, but it was delayed in arriving and as it turned out the church wasn't able to serve it as expected.  So it was available to buy at cost.  It was a splurge, but I bought a whole case - 6 pans - of Stouffer's lasagna serving 12 at a cost of $7.40 each or $44.20.  And now I realize it should have been $44.40.  Whoops - shorted the church $0.20.  Anyway, I'm so glad I made the purchase because ALL the lasagna has been eaten by our myriad of guests the last few weeks.  And it certainly afforded me more time to spend with them as I wasn't having to prepare dinner other than salad those nights.

 

This week's grocery total including the lasagnas was $93.47

My Total grocery spending in 2013 was $5,335.68

My weekly average in 2013 was $102.61

 

Overall, $103 per week isn't too shabby.  Next year I want to continue to make healthier choices and buy more organic foods, but inflation is expected to show up more in food in 2014 so we'll see how I do.  ;) 

 

Katie

 



Grocery Shopping Week 51 - $128.51

I went to Costco on Friday to stock up on essentials.  We have 6 extra adults, a teenage boy and a baby in the house on top of the usual 6 of us.  I spent $72.06 but one of the kids had the receipt and it's lost now. 

2 - 6 packs of romaine, taco seasoning, coffeemate, shredded cheese, 2 packs of bananas, salsa, pears, butter, cheese, sausage, & tortillas

I also went to Fred Meyer & QFC on Saturday morning before company arrived.  I spent $23.63 at Fred Meyer and $21.66 at QFC.

8 boxes cereal
3 small cans of coffee
4 pounds of green beans (not pictured - for a party)
2 - 6 packs Yami on clearance
2# cheese
2 sour creams
box of tea
broken peppermint stick (kiddo dropped)
candy canes
2 bags of candy for guests
2 coffeemate
clearance cans - 3 tomatoes, olives, 4 pineapple
bagels
2 pomegranates
clearance lemons, oranges
flour

I'm not putting all the amounts in this week as I'm just exhausted and very overdue posting for Week 51 anyway. 

We also had milk for $11.61

Total weekly spending: $128.51
Total Year to date: $5,242.21
Weekly Average: $102.79

Katie

Week 50 Groceries - $107.23

This week we had very few fresh groceries in the house so were eating canned and freezer food.  I didn't realize quite how unprepared I was for the houseguests that arrived on Thursday.  On Friday I headed to the store for coffee creamer, salad fixings, and a little fresh fruit. 

I spent $38.98 on this trip.

Tyson Chicken Strips - $3.99 (actually rang up at $7.75!  Thankful customer service corrected!)($0.75 MC) = $3.24
Chex - 3/$5 ($1.00/3 MC) = $1.33 each
7-up - $1.25 each ($0.55 peelies) = $0.70 each
Corn syrup - $2.99 (need to make more caramels since we used up our supply already)
Ice cream - $2.00 each (company that is coming loves ice cream)
Bell peppers & cucumbers - $0.58 each
Bananas - $0.64/lb
ID Creamer - $2.79
Bailey's Creamer - $1.99 ($1.00 MC) = $0.99
Potatoes - $0.88 each for 5# bags
Cottage cheese - $1.79 ($0.40 SC) = $1.39
Sour cream - $1.79 ($0.40 SC) = $1.39
Apples - $0.88/lb
Romas - $1.49/lb
Pepper - $2.00
Chocolate Chips - $2.00 ($.50) = $1.50
M&Ms - $2.50 ($1.00/2) = $2.00 each

After all that I forgot the lettuce.  DH picked some up on the way home.  I'm estimating $2.00 because he went to a slightly more expensive grocery store.

This shopping trip was bigger and more painful.  I had to buy ingredients for a recipe I'd signed up to bring to a potluck.  I was late signing up so my affordable options were limited.  I had to pay full price for broccoli and sunflower seeds and I paid way more for bacon than I ever would normally.  On the plus side I hit the jackpot with clearance produce.  I spent $54.09.

4 cucumbers - $1.00 clearance
6 zucchini/yellow squash - $2.00 clearance
10 bell peppers - $3.00 clearance
1# sausage - $2.00 each
broccoli - $1.79/lb
5# carrots - $2.69
lettuce - $1.29
apples - $0.88/lb
bacon - $3.88 each on sale
sunflower seeds - $1.19
whole ham - $0.89/lb on clearance
tomatoes - $0.50 each
pineapple - $0.50 on clearance

I also forgot the red onion I needed for the recipe, so DH kindly ran down to the store for it on Saturday afternoon.  It was less than $1.00.

Our milk delivery was $11.16 and we didn't buy eggs from my friend.

Total groceries for the week: $107.23
Total year-to-date: $5,113.70
Average per week - $102.27

Katie

Week 49 Groceries - $143.67

The busy holidays are catching up with me!  I am late with my grocery shopping post, but I am determined to finish out our year of recording grocery costs.

I started Week 49 out of town and was home only one very busy day before I got busy working in the church kitchen for one of our church's biggest events of the year for 3 more days.  I didn't have much time to shop!

On Thursday morning I headed to Kent to pickup a big bulk food order.  My gals and I had ordered over 900 pounds of food!  Praise the Lord for a big vehicle!  Praise the Lord DH was able to be with the younger 3 girls because I didn't have room them and all that food in the car!  Praise the Lord for so many servants who make it possible for lots of families to get great prices on healthy food. 

I didn't take a picture of all the food, but here's a shot of my fully loaded pantry bins:

I spent $72.98 on:

25 pounds rolled oats - $12.75

10 pounds organic millet - $9.98

0.5 pound organic bay leaves - $7.00

1 pound cinnamon - $7.00

20 pounds pinto beans - $15.00

25 pounds 5-grain rolled cereal - $21.25

 

By Saturday I was beat having worked 30+ hours in 3 days at church, but I couldn't miss out on the Fred Meyer sales that were ending that night!  I spent $36.93.

Wheat Thins - $1.99 ($0.75/2 MC x2) = $1.62 each
Ritz - $2.50 ($0.75/2 MC) = $2.12 each
C & H Sugar - $1.67
Hot Dog Buns - $0.79 each on clearance
Butter - $1.79 each
Banana - $0.64/lb
Nestle Morsels - $1.88 ( $1.00/2 MC) = $1.38 each
Cheese - $4.99 each
Neufchatel - $0.89 each

And on Sunday afternoon I stopped in at QFC for the $0.99/lb ham.  I bought these 2 for a total of $22.60.

Milk Delivery was $11.16

There has been a lack of fresh fruit in the last two weeks.  I have been so busy I can barely make it to the store and we have been using lots of our canned applesauce, peaches and pears from this summer.

I spent $143.67 this week.
Year to date spending is up to $5, 006.47
Weekly Average is $102.17

Katie

Menu Plan & Goals

This week has a pretty crazy schedule.  We just got home this afternoon from a week away and I have 4 appointments/activities tomorrow followed by 3 long days at church for the Women's Ministries Christmas event.  And then another road trip.  Oh, and I have to pick up 900 pounds of food on Thursday, sort and deliver it.    I think planning the meals will save me some serious headaches this week.

Lunches:
Tuesday - hamburgers
Wednesday - pizza
Thursday - Nachos (with sitter)
Friday - Mac'n'Cheese Pie (with sitter)
Saturday - Cheesy Bread (with Dad)
Sunday - PBJ

Dinners:
Tuesday - Fettucini Alfredo
Wednesday - hamburgers
Thursday - Turkey Pot Pie (with Dad)
Friday - Freezer Meal (with Dad)
Saturday - Mexican Dip (with Dad)
Sunday - Dinner at Aunt's

Goals - I'm so busy I don't want to make lofty goals, but I DO want to have a quiet time each morning with my Bible to get ready for the day ahead.  I also DO want to get all our Christmas decorations up.

Katie

Weekly Grocery Shopping - $7.93

This week we were out of town and I spent next to nothing on groceries since we brought all of our food along.

I popped into the grocery store to pick up more tomatoes for dinner one night.  Luckily they were on sale for $0.99/lb and I only spent $1.93. 

DH chipped in $6.00 when his sister was running to the store for ice cream & cool whip. 

Our milk delivery was cancelled and we weren't in town to buy eggs from my friend.

So I only spent $7.93 this week.  Crazy! 
Year to date total for 2013: $4,862.80
Average per week: $101.31

Katie