2011 Grocery Budget Reduction Challenge

**peanut** · 08-12-2011, 08:05 PM

Sorry, haven't posted in awhile. I'm over budget this pay period...

Had to spend $20 on groceries today that I didn't have. Ended up debiting my bank account, which puts me below our self-imposed minimum.

...it's this diet I'm on. All this fruit and vegetables costs money! You'd think it would be cheap this time of year, but not so. Plus I'm used to having food from our container garden this time of year. But we didn't get one in before vacation due to rainy weather.

Oh well, better luck next pay period!

**Debbie-cat** · 08-12-2011, 08:30 PM

Spent $45 today.

**Palooka** · 08-12-2011, 11:52 PM

186.42 today . includes HBA. Should make goal this month. That was 3 stores. Costco, Save-A-Lot and Aldi!

**gmarie** · 08-13-2011, 05:21 PM

$199/$200 in July
$87/$100 in August

I'm very excited that DH is building me a stockpile closet this weekend, and we started a fall Garden this morning (finally have an outdoor water source!)

Tonight I plan to to inventory what we have an make a meal plan for the next 2 1/2 weeks. There is a lot of food in the house, but will definitely need the $13 left in the budget!

Oh, and I reached my goal weight today... was trying to lose 8 lbs. DH is looking pretty good too - he has another 1.5 lbs to his goal weight! The Wii Fit even reminded him that it is my birthday this week! Love that thing!

**Debbie-cat** · 08-15-2011, 11:06 PM

spent $100 today.

**calimomx2** · 08-16-2011, 12:07 AM

I've been gone for several months but I've been working the grocery budget just the same! It has been hard, everything is so expensive here! I've gone to a cash only system, giving myself $100 in cash a week for everything, including food, H&B and dog/cat food. This week I've spent $97 and I will not go back to the store until next week!

**wunsagin** · 08-16-2011, 02:23 PM

spent another 68.67

**Palooka** · 08-19-2011, 11:13 PM

22.02 today. Doing good this month.

**peanut** · 08-20-2011, 01:10 AM

I've spent $365 so far. But I had a $50 stolen out of my purse at the store the other day. I have no idea how it happened, but it did. I even had my purse around my neck and shoulder. But I was jostled and whoever it was was quick! The zipper was opened, but the wallet with the money had to be opened too. I didn't notice it was gone till I went to pay for groceries. I wasn't short, but I was sure I had more money. Sure enough, I got home and checked my receipts. I was short $50. I'd been to the bank just before going, so I knew exactly how much money I had in my wallet. Frustrating.

DH said it was 'okay'. What can he do? Instead we took some money from another budget category to cover for it. I just won't go shopping in that store for awhile. A friend had her purse stolen in their parking lot not long ago too. Sounds like someone in the area is preying on customers.

**peanut** · 08-20-2011, 04:03 PM

No grocery budget reduction this month! I've been buying fresh produce to can and freeze for the winter ahead. Today we spent another ~$150 on groceries. BUT I bought bulk grn. pepper, bulk tomatoes, bulk peaches, bulk cheese (to grate and freeze), bulk pork tenderloin (25% off), bulk red grapes, bulk celery. It was a real deal!

I'll be slicing and chopping green peppers to freeze, freezing tomatoes whole, canning peaches, grating and freezing cheese, slicing up tenderloin into chops for us, freezing grapes for snacks, and making an awful lot of Waldorf salad to use up the celery! That, plus I still have the six bags of apples on my floor for more apple juice and applesauce. Maybe some apple butter.

**wunsagin** · 08-21-2011, 01:02 PM

spent another 68.23...this month isn't looking too good either. I'm glad we have the extra money to spend but I don't know how those of you on a very strict budget do it.