2016 Groceries Week 39 - $76.84

We were on a cruise ship most of Week 39 with all food provided.  We had a few granola bars and some baby food pouches we'd packed for days off the ship, but otherwise the cruise line provided.

We got home in the week hours Sunday and I made it to the store Sunday night for some basics.  But of course found a mountain of other deals I couldn't resist.

I spent $76.84 on the food pictured: a head of romaine, a gallon of organic milk, 7 -6packs of Hershey bars on clearance for $1.79 each (so $0.30 per chocolate bar with expiration date next summer), 2 organic cucumbers, 2 containers of dried cranberries on clearance for $1.99 each, 5 clearance packages of linguica sausage, a 3# bag of clementines, a box of organic lettuce, 2 creamers, 2 boxes of cereal, 2 loaves of bread, 4 organic apples, 3 lemons, a 10 pound sack of potatoes, a 1 pound package of lunchmeat, and a clearance box of Skinny Cow candy. Not pictured: $3.99 box of a dozen clearance donuts.  Not too bad. 

Week 39 Total: $76.84

2016 YTD Total: $5,999.75

2016 Weekly Average: $153.84

Katie

2016 Groceries Week 38 - $29.10

We were at Disneyworld all week in Week 38.

I had purchased some groceries in Week 37 and made another shopping trip mid week to supplement what I'd purchased our first day.  I bought more applesauce, more organic oatmeal, 4 packs of pudding cups & a dark chocolate bar for GF/DF kid snacks, I bought organic ketchup, a 3# bag of mandarin oranges, & a few bananas.  I also bought a 5 pack of sausages for lunch in Disneyworld.  No photo of this trip.  I spent $25.11 on food.

I went to Walgreen's for a few items and picked up a second bottle of creamer.  It was a whopping $3.99.  Yeesh!

Week 38 Total: $29.10
2016 Year-to-Date: $5,922.91
Weekly Average: $155.87

Katie

2016 Groceries Week 37 - $138.14

We were getting ready for a long trip out of town in week 37 so I was trying to use the perishables.  But it's also always crazy leaving town so we ate some 'convenience' meals this week, too.

I picked up GF/DF pizza for DD#2 when we were having a quick pizza dinner, a watermelon, and a gallon of milk to get us through the week.  I spent $25.86 on these few items.  Ouch!

I spent $45.70 on this trip to Fred Meyer Wednesday.  I went to pick up avocados, tortilla chips, cheese & bananas that I needed for Friday night, but I couldn't resist the clearance cereal, applesauce pouches, Capri-Sun, baby cookies, pasta, granola bars, & canned goods.  I also picked up creamer & bananas and DF cheese that was on a great sale at $3.49.

Wednesday I also dropped into the Dollar Tree for mylar birthday ballons and I picked up a couple packages of pepperoni, a jar of relish, and 2 small bottles of shelf-stable coffeemate for emergencies or weekend visits.  I spent $5 on the food items.

Finally, when we'd traveled all day Sunday (flying a red eye to Miami then driving a rental car to Orlando) and taken the kids swimming at our timeshare I finally got out to the grocery store.  The kids were starving so I had to be fast.  I found a close grocery, Publix, and looked for deals.

To avoid buying milk I bought organic oatmeal ($1.99) & a small bag of brown sugar ($1.09).  I also bought unsweetened applesauce ($2.79), some organic nectarines ($1.99/lb), & bananas ($0.59/lb) for morning fruit.  I bought a dozen eggs ($1.35),  a small can of coffee ($4.19) & creamer ($2.50) to finish off the breakfast foods

I was at a loss for lunches at Disneyworld because I didn't want to buy bread & pb & jam we wouldn't finish, but bought a small package of chicken breast ($4.55)to get us through the first day and chicken nuggets ($3.00 each) that were on sale for fast lunches or dinners at the timeshare.  So I also bought unbreaded, pre-cooked chicken pieces that I could microwave fast to go with the nuggets ($4.55).  I bought microwave popcorn, both buttered and plain ($3.59/box) because it's great cheap snack food in the parks and I bought fruit cups for lunches, too ($2.29).

For dinners, I got olive oil ($2.79), spaghetti noodles (both GF ($2.99) and regular ($1.67)), and a jar of spaghetti sauce ($2.00).  I also bought progresso soup that was on sale B1G1 ($2.29) and found two varieties that were GF/DF.  I didn't buy lettuce, but I grabbed a cucumber ($0.75) that froze the first day in our fridge.  Boo.

Altogether I spent $61.58 on food then raced back to heat up some soup.  We ate about 10pm, but that's only 7pm on the west coast so it wasn't so terribly late.

Week 37 Total: $138.14

2016 Year to Date Total: $5,893.81

2016 Weekly Average: $159.29

Katie

2016 Groceries Week 36 -$232.55

Oh, I can't resist fruit!

A local gal brought fruit from her parents' organic orchard in Spokane and I jumped at the white peaches for $1.50/lb.  She had a few pears & apples so I got those, too.  I spent $99.00 on all this.

Back home we needed some basics in a hurry so I headed to the store for cereal, milk, & lettuce on Tuesday.  I also grabbed a few bananas and found clearance Annie's organic dressing for $0.75 each, clearance pectin for $1.12 each, and clearance glutino pretzels for $0.75 each.  Yay!   I spent $17.99 on food.

DD3 picked this carrot from the garden for baby boy.  She was pretty excited that he ate it for dinner.

Thursday I went to QFC and spent $85.09.  The photo disappeared from my camera, but it shouldn't be a surprise since the kids were busy with the camera for several days.  I found a clearance pizza for $4.99, 5 boxes of cheerios, 5 bags of chips, 2 boxes of organic formula, 2 tubs of organic sour cream, 3 boxes of organic cream cheese, creamer, 8 jars/pouches of baby food, 2 soy yogurt cups, daiya shredded cheese, and a clearance pack of k-cup soup.

I went back to QFC on Friday and spent $30.47.  This time I got the photo.  I bought 6 ears of corn, 3 boxes of crackers with coupons were just $1.36 average, 5 boxes of cereal were just $0.89 each after coupons, gluten free corndogs were $4.99/box and I found a box of clearance organic formula for half price!  

Week 36 Total: $232.55
YTD Total: $5,755.67
Weekly Average: $159.88

2016 Groceries Week 35 - $55.10

I didn't spend much on groceries the week I was out of town.  Pictures to come later.

I bought a box of baby cereal for $2.86 at Wal-Mart on Tuesday.

I was back at Fred Meyer on Wednesday for milk and more creamer.  I also bought a malt-o-meal cereal bag, 2 boxes of organic formula, a bag of lifesavers, bananas, clearance sourdough bread bowls. garlic, and 3 baby snackfoods.  I spent $52.24.  *note the bacon in the photo I bought and left for my mom.  I didn't include it in the total.

Total Week 35 - $55.10
YTD 2016 Total - $5,523.12
Weekly Average - $157.80

Finally!  A small week.

Katie

2016 Groceries Week 34 - $215.05

I'm two weeks behind on grocery posts because we've been out town.

Week 34 was big due to a Costco run.

These were a few things I picked in the garden on Monday.

Tuesday I went to Costco and spent a whopping $157.92.  I bought organic sugar, organic brown rice, organic gluten free flour, organic quinoa, organic tortilla chips, organic flour, organic diced tomatoes, organic hummus, corn dogs, grilled chicken strips, bananas, curry simmer sauce, organic chicken thighs, organic peanut butter, watermelon.

I went to QFC Friday for milk & grapes.  I didn't want to stock up since we were leaving town.  I also bought DD2 a soy yogurt since they were on sale for $1.00.  I spent 6.88.

We left town Saturday, but I went to the store early Sunday morning to buy a few things and not eat my parents out of house and home.  I bought coconut milk, bacon, 2 boxes of cereal, a brownie mix, baby teething biscuits, baby puffs, 2 cucumbers, creamer, a gallon of organic milk, a hershey bar, gluten free flour, pita bread, wheat bread, gluten free bread, bananas & a gf/df pizza for DD2.  I spent $50.35.

Week 34 Total: $215.05
Year-to-Date 2016 Total: $5,468.02
Weekly Average: $160.82

Katie

Baby Food Ninja!

So I'm loving making A his baby food.  For 4 kids I've purchased jars of food and transitioned to solids as soon as possible.  This time I decided to give making it a try and it's been great! 

Here's a recent example:

Yellow Squash & Zucchini to sautee for dinner.

cut off the ends, plus a little for A's dinner

Peel & microwave with a little water for 2 minutes

Toss in the ninja with a little oatmeal

Voila!  Baby food.

Scrape into bowl & A gobbles it up!

 Seriously, this baby is like a little disposal with the way he eats up all the bits & pieces around here.  A little cucumber, some tomatoes leftover?  I just whip it up in the Ninja and A's dinner is done.

Katie

2016 Groceries Week 33 - $146.91

Even though we're home and I had lots of food planned for dinner I couldn't resist the lure of good sales (that had matching coupons) at Fred Meyer.  $83.15 later I had a large quantity of groceries to photograph! 

Here's the rundown:

• Tostitos on sale for $1.88 each with store coupon
• Corn dogs for $5.69
• Creamer for $2.50 with $1.35/2 MC = $1.83 each
• Baby Mum-Mum crackers for $2.50 each (almost half price)
• Almond coconut milk sale $2.50 each with $1.00/2 MC = $2.00 each
• Tyson chicken strips on sale for $5.99 with $2.50/2 MC = $4.74 each
• Horizon Mac'n'cheese $1.00 each with $1.00/3 MC = $0.67 each for 3, $1.00 for the other 2
• Better Than Cream Cheese - $3.49
• Lunchmeat - $3.00 for 1# packages with store coupon
• Kielbasa - nitrate free - $3.50 sale price (great for a crockpot stew we like)
• Brookside chocolates - $3.50 sale price with $2.00/1 MC = $1.50!
• 18 eggs - $1.93
• Navel oranges - $0.99/lb
• Bananas - $0.69/lb
• Bread (no sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, just honey) - $1.33 with store coupon
• Organic carrots - 2# for $1.79
• Frozen potatoes (to go with corn dogs) = $1.50 each on sale
• Parsley  - $0.79
• Baby food - $0.62 each with $1.00/3 MC = 0.29 each
• Cream cheese - $0.88 each with store coupon
• Peanut Butter - $1.79 on sale with $0.45 store coupon = $1.34
• Uncured bacon on clearance for $4.49

The little guy is eating a lot of banana so stopped Wednesday to grab a hand of bananas & cruised the borders of the store.  I spotted organic sour cream for $0.49!  I already had 2 or 3 tubs at home so I just bought one.  I spent $2.24.

I picked all of these goodies in the garden Thursday morning.  The garden is producing pretty perfectly for us right now.  Just enough tomatoes, zucchini in abundance (but we're keeping up pretty well), a cucumber now and then, a few strawberries to mix in the baby's cereal, and I was adjusting the cage on the tomatillo plant and one fell off into my hand.  I'm not sure what to do with it, but wow they've been interesting to watch grow.  It's like this empty husk of leaves, hollow, and it slowly grows fruit inside and gets heavier and heavier! Very cool.

Thursday night I went to Fred Meyer again and got lots of the same deals I mentioned above.  I laid out all the groceries - $41.03 worth - and put them away without taking a picture. 

Finally, one more stop at Fred Meyer to pick up grapes for a potluck contribution.  I also grabbed chips. I spent $20.49

 

 

Week 33 Total: $146.91

Year to Date: $5,252.97

Weekly Average: $159.18