I'm so off track it's not funny. I haven't shopped properly since November! ACK!
I have already started for August. My goal is $250.00 for family of 5, one in pullups (still!)
So Far:
2 bottles Windex cleaner
2 bottles Fantastick cleaner
1 case water (4 bonus bottles, so it was for a 28 ct)
4 bottles White Rain shampoo/conditioner
1/4 lb turkey
1/2 lb cheese
dozen ears of corn
I'm keeping my goal at $350. The last two months I've come in under. This is for 2 adults, 1 bottomless pit teen, 1 10yo and 2 to 4 babysitting kids. I'm good on meat and fish right now so the only thing I'll need soon is fruits and veggies.
Okay, let's just pretend that July didn't happen. Okay? Okay.
Now, for August I'm setting my goal at $200. This is going to include a lot of supplies for the new house and some serious stockpiling. This is for 3 eaters eating real food and 1 baby eating baby food (I know it's cheaper to make it myself, I just don't have the time right now.)
Okay ladies, let me get this right. Your household/food budgets are $200 - $350 for the entire month. This includes everything your family and pets will eat and your cleaning and other house products?
If this is correct I'm way off. I was going to do this challenge this month but I budgeted $600 for the month for a family of three adults! I know our prices are more expensive than yours but I've cut down $200 per month from my bill and I thought I was doing fine. Crikey! What am I doing wrong?
Bethany,
My grocery budget does include all groceries (food items),pet supplies, paper supplies and such. I'm at $200 a month but I really have to work hard at keeping it there. We drink no alcohol and I bake most of our breads so that helps quite a bit.
Same here, Debbie. We drink a little but that would add up to around $50 a year, we don't smoke and I do all my own baking. I guess I'll have to work at my shopping skills.
Bethany, I think some places are just more expensive than others. I live in San Diego and the cost of living here is really high. Some months I can make my budget and others it's way off.
Okay ladies, let me get this right. Your household/food budgets are $200 - $350 for the entire month. This includes everything your family and pets will eat and your cleaning and other house products?
If this is correct I'm way off. I was going to do this challenge this month but I budgeted $600 for the month for a family of three adults! I know our prices are more expensive than yours but I've cut down $200 per month from my bill and I thought I was doing fine. Crikey! What am I doing wrong?
That's what my budget includes and we spend approximately $240-$280/month.
We do a lot of scratch baking/cooking. I buy VERY few convienence foods, some get free food by using double coupons. We use meat as a condiment, rather than a main dish, I make a lot of my own cleaners, we garden and put up everything we can get a hold of to eat, I shop loss leaders and stock up when I find a good deal. . . . .
It takes practice and perserverence to keep the grocery bills down. You've done great so far, and as it becomes more familiar, you'll probably drop the bills even further (although with rising prices, I'm doing good to maintain here too)
Okay, I sent dh for the first shop of the month and he did alright. I don't feel like listing everything bought, but the original total was $70.32 and after coupons it was $56.38.
Thanks for your information and encouragement ladies. I will perservere, Sunshine and I WILL get better at this. I very rarely buy convenience foods and I bake from scratch. I never buy frozen meals or takeaway, I cook a good meal for my boys every night. I also provide nutritious lunches and snacks as well as breakfasts. We have chickens, I barter eggs for milk and cream but I do buy extra milk as my son hasn't weaned himself off cows milk yet. Grrr.
My supermarket bill this morning was $176.10. That will be my main grocery shopping for the month but I will go back each week to get perishables. I also went to the butcher and got $90.70 worth of meat - I don't eat any meat and that should do the carnivores for a month. I bought things that were on sale like organic tea @ $2.90 for 50 bags, cat food @ $5.70 for a box of 6 large cans, toilet rolls @ $4.78 for a pack of 12, butter @ $1.38 for 500grams. My most expensive items were: instant coffee 500grams (on sale) $14.97 - my son drinks iced coffee like it's going out of style, ham for sandwiches @ $11.02, olive oil in a spray @ $4.70, tinned salmon @ $3.37, cheese @ $7.10. I hope that gives you an idea of my prices.
My outlay so far is $266.80 but I've yet to buy my bread flours and bulk things. I've only taken out $400 this month so that's my goal and by reading this thread for inspiration I hope to make it.
Both June and July were over budget for me! I need to crack the whip on myself for August!! lol
I'm going to keep mine at $215.00 for food and $70.00 on nonfood items.
I have not spent a penny yet this month!! lol only 2 days.
I do need to go on Wednesday though. I have my menu made up and my grocery list almost done. So, as long as I don't wander away from my list, I should be ok.
im gonna set my goal at 250.00 again..i went over in july but was stocking up
so far i spent 14.91 at stop & shop for fruit and meat on mark down (the guy who put in my car battery had surgery on his knee and i want to take him something good to eat)
and 18.52 at shop rite ( it was 22.12 befor coupons)
goal 250.00
spent 37.03
----------------
left 212.97
I need to jump back on board in the grocery challenge as we have been way over budget lately.
For the month of August, I will start my budget at $300.00. This is for 2 adults, 2 teen boys , 1 growing child, 1 cat, and 1 dog. Let's see if I can stay under budget!!
My goal for this month is to keep my grocery spending for 2 adults, 3 children(one in pull ups), and one cat and one dog at 450.00 per month.
Spent so far: 45.00 for groceries
Left: 405.00
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