September Grocery Challenge

[Nada.Leona]

Ugh. Had to add:

~ 1 can crushed tomatoes = $1.29
~ 1 package of green split peas = $1.29

Total = $2.58

Grand total = $79.38 Hope that's it for the month! Gotta start cookin' from the pantry!

[SMILESFRSD]

I spent another $7.85 + $15.56 +$1.83 =$25.24
Leaving me $125.72

Saving about 88%, at least that's what the receipt reads.

[Opal]

Well the reason I am here in the first place is because I spent over 600 dollars on groceries in August. That is way too much for my income. Even if it wasn't way too much for my income, I think it is too much for 4 people. When I figured I was in for another 600 dollars for Sept after spending nearly 200 by Sept 9th, I had better be looking for ways to trim that amount and quick. So I found this place and found a link to the spam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typedspam! It is better fried than typed Housewife and that helped tremendously as well.


325 so far this month, but I have food stocked for at least through the 26th.

Might just make it under 400, down 200 and that is with spending most of that before the 9th.

I am going to try for 300 in October.

[Neeley]

For the month: $510 spent / $90 left to stay under budget

Went to Walgreen's and picked up three dozen eggs. Spent $3.

For the month we have spent $513 / $87 left for food only to stay under the projected amount.

[SMILESFRSD]

I spent $21.60, yesterday. I have $104.12 left.

[nuisance26]

~Spent $90, which brings me to $175. I have $50 left. I can make it!~

[dwnloom]

I am at 219. I should be close, but think I will make it. I will let you know.

Dawn

[Little Birdie]

Amount in grocery budget: $315.00
Total spent in first 10-day period: $123.39
Goal for 2nd 10-day period: $86.61
Goal for 3rd 10 period: $105.00

Sept 11 - 15
9/11/07 Tuesday
. Hy-Vee: $29.02 (GM $5 onyo catalina deal and some other shopping)
. Target: $2.85 (free NV granola bars and some stuff to eat the overage)
. Walgreens: $0.00 (free J&J Softlotion and Body Wash, paid for tax with GC)
9/12/07 Wednesday
. Walgreens: $0.00 (gallon of milk for 2.98, paid with GC)
9/13/07 Thursday
. Target: $1.07 (clearanced school supplies and some deals that gave overage)
. Walgreens: $0.00 (2 Tom's of Maine toothpastes & deal for overage, paid 4.64 with GC)
9/14/07
. Aldi: $1.78 (six pounds onions)
. Hy-Vee: $12.19 (forgot to use the catalina I had)
. Walgreens: $5.38 (4 half gallons milk, used last $0.58 off GC)
9/15/07
. Fareway: $3.53 (ground beef and fresh pears)
. Walgreens: $8.94 (6 half gallons milk--last day of sale)
. Target: $1.17 (soap, bananas)
. Hy-Vee: $14.49 (forgot to use the catalina I had)

Total for Sept 11 - 15: $80.42
Amount left for this 10-day period: $6.19

Sept 16 - 20
9/17/07
. Fareway: $3.96 (stocked up on oatmeal)
. Target: $6.90 (Pseudoephedrine for sick Husband, stocked up on tuna)
. Hy-Vee: $8.78 (eggs, chicken, stocked up on Prego; used the cat!)
9/18/07
. Target: $2.44 (school supply clearance and tuna)
Thursday
. Wal-Mart: $5.63 (10 lbs Iams cat food)
. Target: $4.15 (pie crusts, bananas, a deal for overage)

Total for Sept 16 - 20: $31.86
Total for Sept 11 - 20: $112.28

Total spent so far: $235.67
Amount left in budget: $79.33
Goal for 3rd 10 period: $79.33


Well, I'm obviously over spending. But I've been here before near the end of the month and been able to pull it off, so I'm not giving up hope.

I've added to my stockpile (cat litter, cereal, pasta sauce, tuna!, cat food). If I could undo *just* the $32 splurge near the beginning of the month, I would have $111.35 (greater than the $105 share allotted at the beginning of the month!) going into this last 10-day period. This tells me that my shopping strategies are sound--I just need to stick to them.

[brennasmom]

Safeway today:

4 Pkgs Mission Wraps
4 Bags Chex Mix
3 Boxes Granola Bars
4 Boxes Fruit Rolls Ups (I have enough to last 2 years )
4 Boxes Yogos
2 Salad Dressings
2 Boxes Life Cereal
3 Packs of Juice Boxes
1/2 Gallon Tree Top Apple Juice
1 Gallon Milk
1 Ziploc Steamer Bags
1 Package Honey Ham

Total $38.82 (Savings of $64.17 with store card & coupons & $20 off 20 deal)




To date ~ $324.11/$400

[bagpipes00]

I did my shopping tonight for next week (we won't be home this weekend).


* on sale
** on sale with coupons

Albertson's

Tilapia @ $1.99/lb. = $ 2.69*
Wonder Light Hamburger Buns (for tonight's dinner) $3.39
2 lbs. ground sirloin @ $1.99/lb. so $3.96*
1/2 pound shrimp $2.00*
Tomatoes $1.19*

Bag refund -$.05
Grand total $13.18 6 items and savings of $10.30

Ralph's

4 1 liters of Diet Coke @ $1.00 each so $4.40 (with deposit of $.10 each)*
1 box of Kleenex on sale for $1.00 each minus $1.00 coupon doubled so
-$1.00**
1 tub fat free sour cream $1.00*
2 pkgs. turkey lunchmeat $4.00/2 minus $1.00 off 2 doubled coupon so $2.00 for 2 or $1.00 each**
2 pkgs. lean ground turkey on sale for 50% off so $2.24 each
Bag refund -$.15
Total: $11.09 Items: 15 Savings: $13.04

Howe's (new store recently discovered and they DO double coupons!)

LARGE tub of Quaker Cook Oats on sale for $2.00 each minus $.50 coupon doubled so $1.00**
Whole Wheat Bread $1.99*
1/2 gallon organic 1% milk $2.49
Bananas $.69/lb. $1.80
Total: $7.28 Items: 4 Savings: $4.59

Spent: $31.55
Left for the month: $6.61 (don't think I'm gonna make it, but did a TON of stockpiling...even on meat...our freezer's full!)

[zenmama]

I'm starting a new job (with WAY more money) and my pantry has been SERIOUSLY depleted over the last few months, I'm in for $600 for the two of us and three cats. This probably sounds stupid high, but it's $100 /week food etc and $50 for stocking up. Hopefully this will give me a realy well stocked pantry by months end.

This is our budget also $150/week which I think is really reasonable for the canadian prices. Part of this goes to stockpiling also. So its not stupidily high, it's quite reasonable

[i.m.cheap]

I spent $4.83 at Homeland tonight. This is the store that doubles $1.00 coupons. I saved $46.64 with coupons and my store card. Here is my list:

(5) 18 oz. Quaker Oats FREE!
(3) boxes of Quaker "Oatmeal to Go" breakfast bars FREE!
(2) boxes of Quaker Chewy Granola bars FREE!
(3) 5 ct. cans of Pillsbury Grands biscuits
(1) 12 oz. package of Borden cheese singles
(3) 12 oz. cans of Old Orchard frozen juice concentrate
(1) package of Mission flour tortillas
(2) small bottles of Dawn Ultra dishwashing liquid
(3) pouches of Betty Crocker muffin mix FREE!
two fresh baked cinnamon rolls from the store's bakery, on sale 2/$1.00 (I just got off work, and had not eaten in over ten hours, I shouldn't go to the store when I am starving!)

[ilovechocolate]

Yesterday I spent a little over $8 at Kroger but I got sugar 4 lbs for 99 cents each (limit 4).

I still have $18.93 left in the grocery budget for the month, but I've got to get a few more things this week. I'm totally out of "my" bread (100% whole wheat----my kids won't eat it) and we need some fresh fruit and probably another gallon of milk.

[peanut]

$14 on fruit yesterday.

Jean

[SMILESFRSD]

I have $94.12 left.