How I managed to overspend my grocery budget by $60 this month ... so far!

**Early Bird** · 01-23-2005, 08:37 AM

First, let me say that, even with high grocery prices in the Southwest, I have an adequate budget for our family of 4. I also have a freezer and an extra fridge. And a whole closet that's been converted to a pantry, complete with 2 large metal shelving units to hold my finds!

First, boneless, skinless chicken breasts were on sale -- for the wonderful price of $1.50/lb. I bought 28 lbs. So, that was $44 spent on stockpiling.

DH went to the groc store to rent a video. He saw that his salsa was on sale for $1.40/jar. Unfortunately, he didn't realize that it had been on sale for $1/jar a few days earlier. He remembered that I had been upset that they were out of his sale salsa, so he spent another $20. Still a good price, but not rock-bottom. I didn't criticize him.

THEN, Albertson's was having a terrific Quaker promo. I bought enough Life Cereal, Quaker oatmeal, and Breakfast bars to last more than a month. Combined with their $10 for 10 Progresso sale, I spent an additional $50.

After that, Kroger had cross rib roast on sale and Progresso soups on sale. The roasts were under $2/lb. Progresso were $1 apiece, and they had a lot more flavors than Albertson's. I bought 4 roasts and about a dozen soups. Another $30. (We have eaten one of the roasts; 3 are in the freezer.)

Then DH's favorite cereal (Basic 4) went on sale -- $2 a box. Since the usual price is $5/box, I stocked up. 8 boxes. Another $16.

This week, Ragu went on sale. It's usually $2.39/jar. This week, it was $1/jar. I bought 26 jars for a stockpile spend of $26.

Lovely pork chops were on sale -- the boneless thick-cut ones. For $2.50/lb. When I see them on the reduced rack for $3/lb, I snap them up. By now, I've overspent by $20, so I take a deep breath and only buy $26 worth. Combined with everything else I bought on that grocery run -- milk, etc. -- I'm now $60 over budget.

The trouble is ... I do this almost every month. Am I being a fool?

What would you have eliminated, if it were your family? (Note, DH eats breakfast bars every work day, so the Quaker sale was worth it.)

**Darlene** · 01-23-2005, 09:26 AM

Sounds great to me!

I guess I would have eliminated the progresso soup. You can make your own cheaper and with less sodium. Also have to be careful with the cereal, seems it's goes stale so fast.

Ya did good.

**AmyBoz** · 01-23-2005, 10:14 AM

I think you did great.

Where I usually need to watch myself is not overbuying on things I already have enough of. I realized, finally, that I was taking up too much space w/my Aunt Jemima frozen waffles that could have been used for other good deals, so I stopped buying them, even though the sales that allowed me to get them for free continued, until we had eaten a good amount of the ones we had. A stockpile is wonderful and important, but it shouldn't be excessive with regards to what you can and will actually use and with how much storage space you have.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-23-2005, 11:49 AM

I would not have bought the soup either. With the roast and chicken, you could make homemade soup.

One thing I'm very careful of when stockpiling and thats with meat. Even though it goes on sale, I watch how much I have in my freezer because I hate freezer burn and having to throw it out. I seldom have more than 3 months worth of meat in our freezer.

As with all stockpiling, you have to rotate and eat whats in your pantry at some time. When purchasing in large quantities, watch those expired dates.

**Telephus44** · 01-23-2005, 02:57 PM

I run into the same problem too - I go shopping with DH and he wants to make every trip a "sale trip" - but right now I'm trying to go a whole month just living on our stockpile and only buying milk and bread. Well, I got eggs, Bisquick, and butter yesterday because we were totally out.

I think at some point you just have to have faith that even though there are great sales this month, there will also be great sales next month, and the month after, and the month after - and once you have a stockpile built up to the point where you feel comfortable, you don't have to buy something every time it goes on sale.

And yes, I have been buying the Progresso 10/$10 - with coupons on top of that! They are great for DH or myself to bring to lunch or class.

**nicsmom** · 01-23-2005, 03:25 PM

It sounds like you got some great deals!
I tend to do the same thing - overspending by taking advantage of sales that I feel are just too good to pass up.
I agree with what Sara said - that there will always be good sales - week after week, month after month.
I've made one of my goals to remember that and really try to stick to my grocery budget. I'm trying to do a stockpile once a month (I buy my meat at a wholesale club where the prices are always much better than the market - and the quality is better too) and then try not to spend anything else - be creative with what I have. This is a new goal so it's still not perfected - I'm still always tempted to grab that great deal! That's why I try not to even look at the flyers until I am ready to stockpile again

**AmyMCGS** · 01-23-2005, 04:42 PM

I try to remember what my friend tells her husband-- "that's a good price, but it will be on sale again".

I wouldn't have cut out anything you bought if I had the room and the money to do it. If you're trying to cut down, though, would it help for you to focus on one area of your stockpile at a time? For example, you should be stocked up on meat for a while, so maybe in February you can concentrate on canned goods or health & beauty items. Don't let yourself look at the meat sales.

I dunno, just my

.

**nodmicks** · 01-23-2005, 04:49 PM

Good deal!!!

**bmma** · 01-23-2005, 07:27 PM

I agree -- most everything will be on sale again. So I wouldn't have bought more meat or chicken than I could eat in 3 months. Closeouts are different, but I don't like to overbuy on sale items.

**pkellyc** · 01-23-2005, 07:41 PM

I always figure as long as it's not wasted. I also do the same when shopping but we also cleanout for a while. Meaning I won't buy anymore of the same item until we have eaten what I have bought. I just hate the waste and will eat nothing past the experation date.

**Early Bird** · 01-24-2005, 12:28 AM

Thanks everyone. Guess what ... I did worse: we went to the commissary (100 miles away) as part of another trip today. I stocked up on frozen fish (lent is coming); nutella; tea; and frozen produce -- better prices AND better selection than locally.

But now I must eat from my stockpile!

Just an aside: Nutella is $4/jar at Kroger; $3/jar at Trader Joe; and $2.12/jar at the commissary! I bought 4 jars. It won't go to waste either.

**nodmicks** · 01-24-2005, 09:25 AM

Originally posted by Early Bird
Thanks everyone. Guess what ... I did worse: we went to the commissary (100 miles away) as part of another trip today. I stocked up on frozen fish (lent is coming); nutella; tea; and frozen produce -- better prices AND better selection than locally.

But now I must eat from my stockpile!

Just an aside: Nutella is $4/jar at Kroger; $3/jar at Trader Joe; and $2.12/jar at the commissary! I bought 4 jars. It won't go to waste either.

Last aug we hit a Don Smith Sales and found nutella for .59 a jar. I about fell over! They had 17 jars so I bought them all!!! My youngest son eats it every day. It is now all gone and I told him I'll keep checking there once a month (its 45 min away) but until then its pbutter and jelly or pb and bananna sandwiches.

**Michele Annette** · 01-24-2005, 01:17 PM

I've made one of my goals to remember that and really try to stick to my grocery budget. I'm trying to do a stockpile once a month (I buy my meat at a wholesale club where the prices are always much better than the market - and the quality is better too) and then try not to spend anything else - be creative with what I have. This is a new goal so it's still not perfected - I'm still always tempted to grab that great deal! That's why I try not to even look at the flyers until I am ready to stockpile again

I do what Deb has said in this quote too, but I think you did great, if you think that these items are important to you. I think it's okay to go over a bit once in a while, but if you are finding that you do this every month, it does deplete funds from your account. I agree with CJ in that I wouldn't have bought the soup, I always make my own. So much more soup (and healthier) for the cost of canned, even for a $1 each, but that is just my opinion... not that I think you shouldn't buy it.

**Early Bird** · 01-24-2005, 07:37 PM

I wonder if I could give up STOCKPILING for Lent?

Probably worth a try!

**i.m.cheap** · 01-25-2005, 01:33 AM

We don't observe Lent, but I always look forward to the fish/seafood sales before and during Lent. That is the time to stock up. I have a bit of a problem with over-stocking when the deals are great. I love keeping a stocked pantry though. I know we could eat, even if no money was coming in for a while.