For some reason I can't seem to keep track of my grocery amounts. I put the slips in my pocket and either lose them or wash them in laundry. :toothy: (I hate checking pockets before I do laundry.)
This month I'm setting my grocery goal at $300 for 2 adults and 3 teens. I need to do some stockpiling. This does not include pets.
I'm ok keeping track until I know I'm going to be over budget--then I've been just giving up and avoiding it! Kind of like being on a diet, blowing it with one piece of cake, and then pigging out because after all, you've already failed.
Can you tell I'm over budget again this month???
There was a thing I used to do years ago, budgeting amounts for specific kinds of groceries and keeping track of it in Quicken. (I kind of went wild when I figured out how to make new categories!) So much for meat, so much for snacks, so much for non-foods, and so on. It was tedious to keep up with, but I know I was spending a lot less.
I'm the same way, I can keep track but if I know I'm about to go over, I give up!! lol
I'm keeping mine at $300 for June for 2 adults, 4 children & 2 cats (altho I don't include pet food in my food totals)
I went over by about $90 for May. I really need to cut it down. My stockpile is pretty good, so I hope I can do it!!
I am the same . I start to keep track and then know its over so
give up.
I am going for $400. this month but thats with a grad party .
Not counting pat food, but will include paper and toiltries
2 adults and 2 teenagers
I'm going to go in for $100 again for June. I went over $33 in May but it was for the stockpile. We have a lot of food in the freezer and pantry so I know we can do it.
This is the first time for me. I'm going to set my goal at $400, for 2 adults, 17 & 20 yo dsons, large dog and finicky old cat. Plus my 2 grown dsons and their families who eat with us pretty often. this is going to be a challenge, all right!
Okay, why not...I've never really tried this before. I had about $700 a month, but that included Target too (diapers, cat food, cat litter, and all that other target stuff). So, I'll start small...let's try $550 for the month. And that's for 2 adults, 2 kids and 1 cat.
I DID IT! Sort of. My goal for May was 200.00 and I came in at 192.00. Dh pointed out that we ate out ALOT this month. Weekends are the killer for us. He says we saved on groceries because we didn't use the groceries. Hmmm. Guess this makes sense Oh well, the goal for June is still 200.00
Spent $20 last night at Price Chopper. Got dh's soda (3-6pks) *rolling eyes*, grapes(3lb), apples (3lb), pot pies (6), yogurt (2), soy milk, paper towels (2), & tissues (2).
My first time for this challenge. I know I'm spending way too much right now. I've been buying things like Sara Lee because I'm too tired and busy on my work days to make breakfast. I know better.
For June I'll set my goal at $400. I better get out some of my muffin recipies and start baking!
OK, after much fiddling I've come up with a new budget plan for June. It's based on government charts of what people actually spend on various stuff, by size of household, income level and so on.
One thing that gives me some relief is that the average person in the US now spends nearly 1/2 of their food money on "food not at home," i.e., takeout, fast food, and restaurant meals. Instead of feeling guilty about spending anything at all in that area, I'm just going to adjust my food budget to reflect it. Here's the new plan--
Food Not at Home, 100
Pet food and supplies, 85
Nonfoods, 47
Food, 325
For a total of $557. In May, it all came to over $600, so this will be an improvement. Sounds like a lot, but I've got to be realistic.
I'm going to say $250 again. I want to go lower, but I will be stockpiling for my July trip to Cape May. We take some of our food with us, and buy the rest at Aldi's whn we get there. I like to get good deals to take, so I will be watching the papers.
OK this is is my first time of trying a food budget in years!! I hope I can do this!!
I am going to also make a budget for my eating out, I like that idea.
Ok here it goes for the month of June........
Grocery Challenge June- $130
Restaurant Budget-$60
weekly grocery run: $60/wk x 5 wks (may 31, Jun 7, 14, 21, 28) = $300
Sam's Club/Trader Joe's/etc: $140
SHARE co-op: $60
So, I'll be happy if I keep the total to $500.
OTOH, we don't usually eat out at all. Now, I have to modify that for special occasions -- for example, this Friday is DD's scout banquet at a restaurant. Her meal will be paid for, but the rest of us will have to buy our own -- probably $30.
And, when we do our once-a-month run to the big city (this weekend, I hope), we usually eat one meal out. I try to keep the family happy with just picking up lunch at Sam's Club (about $14 for all of us -- even with salads!) But DH is interested in a new Mexican restaurant, ...
I'm setting this month at $150 plus $60 for non-food items (including diapers). I went over my goal last month but we had some extra cash so it didn't hurt too much
Spent $38.10 today at the local co-op. I was really pleased because they are having a giant warehouse sale and I also got a number of marked down items.
I went shopping yesterday. I'm hoping all I need to get for the rest of the month, ok the next 2 weeks anyways! lol is mayonnaise, milk and fresh produce.
At Shaw's I spent $25.68 and got:
2 lbs onions
2.53 lbs pork cutlets
2 boxes of cheezits
bottle of french's spicy mustard
16 cans tomato sauce
bottle of Ken's teriyaki marinade
box of 10 of quaker granola bars
4 boxes of healthy harvest pasta
2 bottles of tropicana twisters juice
gallon of hood ice cream
4 bottles of sunny delight
At BJ's Wholesale club I spent $25.13 and got:
gallon of whole milk
3 lbs bananas
3.5 lbs chicken tenders
4 lbs bacon
2 large boxes of potato buds instant potatoes
At Market Basket I spent $32.38 and got:
4 boxes breakfast sausages
6 pack tomatoes
bag of granny smith apples
bag of red apples
5 pack of cucumbers
bunch of celery
20 lbs potatoes
3 bunches of romaine lettuce
2 lbs frozen broccoli
10 pack tortillas
2 bags of seasoned french fries
2 lbs mixed frozen vegetables
2 king size loaves bread
2-6 packs bagels
Are you guys including taxes (I have been)? I know some states don't have taxes on food items....just wondering for those of you that do.
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