my grocery bill made me cry!!

**tammy88** · 05-28-2008, 08:57 PM

my husband gave me $300.00 and asked me to fill the freezer and get some extra heat and eat stuff for him and the kids. i had 100.00 in the checking account and needed 65.00 to go to the eye doctors. i went to kroger, i never use coupons they never have coupons for the main stuff i get i had a couple for air freshners. anyways my grand total was $387.00!!! i wanted to not go over $250.00..my heart stopped at the registered i didnt know what to do i couldnt put it back!..the price on groceries have really gone up and really hurt me for the rest of the month. i had already put $40.00 in gas in my truck because i thought i would have extra $$. i still have a couple of bills to pay this month but its going to end up running over the next month and making that a hard month. plus our health insurance which was almost $600.00 a month is now $800.00..too late to drop the insurance and go anywhere else. we put off buying our own because i was scared we would loose to benefits i needed.

so today i listed items for sale on Craigslist.com and i am a sahm but i applied for some positions i saw available i would rather stay home but with the price of stuff going up i dont know if i can. but if i got something it would have to pay enough to put 2 kids in daycare and gas for back and forth and still make a profit.

i know this ran outside of the grocery issue sorry..just a little upset
thanks for listening

**BeachBaby** · 05-28-2008, 09:01 PM

Hugs!! It sucks because everything just keeps going up. I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow and I really don't want to see the prices have risen again!

**cissylu** · 05-28-2008, 09:05 PM

Tammy I would be upset also. Groceries are so high and going up like every thing else.
I know I hate it every time I have to go.
I`m gonna have to learn to be frugal and cook more from scratch .
good luck

**Marie78** · 05-28-2008, 09:11 PM

I am sorry that happened to you, each time I go I think I have done a great job of clipping coupons and matching sales and by the time I am done, I have spent what I used to spendl ast year before clipping coupons and shopping sales.

**tammy88** · 05-28-2008, 09:16 PM

thanks..its so frustrating im sure we will be fine its just sucks that the extra money went so fast..we did manage to pay the irs their money this week in full so that they wouldnt hold up our stimulus check that is scheduled for July..wish it were june..im sure it will be eaten up anyways..i think my next goal is to see how long i can make this last..i wonder if i can make it last 1 month..the sad this is i didnt the my can goods because i was going to get them a save a lot..much cheaper...

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-28-2008, 09:17 PM

Shoot! that is terrible indeed!!

You MUST sit with yoru husband and talk about the increase.

Eliminate anything... like air fresheners? maybe?

**favesis37** · 05-28-2008, 09:37 PM

what a shock, i know things here are going up

**tammy88** · 05-28-2008, 09:41 PM

the air freshners were .20 and free with the coupon..didnt do the damage, the 300 was extra because he sold his old boat plus he gave me another 300.00 to pay a big bill, and then the regular amount out of his check weekly..he keeps some cash and i take care of the house stuff..wasnt his fault..

**Dixie** · 05-28-2008, 09:42 PM

It's so frustrating to grocery shop, these days.

**frugalnana** · 05-28-2008, 10:00 PM

I know what you mean about the shock of the bill. It happened once and now I really keep an eye open, matching sales with coupons and what we will eat for the next two weeks, plus any extras that may come on sale for stockpiling. I went to krogers last week and the bill was $233, then the coupons, freebies and discounts came off, total when done was $141.00 that was with the meat that was buy one get one free, soda for dh and all pet food, treats for pets and litter for the month. Just keep watching the sales, coupons, etc. It will get better for you.

**missmanny** · 05-28-2008, 10:14 PM

Unfortunately I think that this is happening the world over, our grocery bill has increased by about $50 a fortnight over the last 6 months and this is since I have started to be good and cook from scratch and stop buying pre packaged foods and chips and softdrinks.

I have no idea how much it would be if I hadn't.

**mom2matty** · 05-28-2008, 10:22 PM

It really is frustrating to grocery shop these days!! I know I spend a lot more time meal planning, going through my pantry and freezers before I shop and checking the sales ads for the very best deals!!

**dianne9106** · 05-28-2008, 10:30 PM

I am sorry - it is getting tougher. Next time take a calculator and don't be afraid to put stuff back. What are they going to do to you? Follow you home and point fingers? I do it all the time. Sometimes I even keep some items back and get a sub-total before I have those added in. Might sound ghetto to some - but if I don't have the extra cash - then I don't. Keep an eye out on the coupons next week - they are supposed to be some good ones coming out this Sunday. Good luck!

**LuvMyHubby** · 05-28-2008, 10:45 PM

I'm sorry that happened. I agree with Dianne though, don't be afraid to have them take something out if you don't need it immediately. I also have held items back until I had a sub-total to make sure I don't go over.

Unfortunately it is going to get rougher before it gets better.

**missytata** · 05-28-2008, 11:03 PM

I know what you mean. Groceries are getting higher here too.

The issue with finding a job, however, is going to be the cost of daycare. I know for me, two weeks of my monthly pay went to daycare. The other half was paying for my car. As soon as I paid off the car, I quit. It just wasn't worth it to me.