[MomToTwoBoys]

I made my first trip of the year to the grocery store. If I was able to, I'd kick myself in the rear end for what I spent money on.

We're already budgeted at the high end of $300 every two weeks. I was $70 over.

We currently purchase our groceries every two weeks and that hasn't changed. I'm not sure where I went wrong, but when DH came to pick me up, he said to me...

"So you bought twice of what you normally buy, and you can't figure out how you were over?"

But to me, it doesn't look like I bought twice the amount of stuff I normally buy. I bought a lot of items that aren't regular expenses, but I still feel like a complete craphead for doing it. I didn't even get to buy one of the lunches I wanted for myself because we were so over on our budget. It'll be peanut butter and jam sandwiches for me, I guess.

I guess the one highlight of the day was that as I was checking out, the lady behind me commented on how organized my cart was and the checkout lady praised my shopping list.

 

[MandaRenee]

No sense in kicking yourself now. Its in the past, learn from it and do better next time. Hugs.

 

[ladytoysdream]

Maybe take your list and go over it with a fine tooth and comb. Grocery prices keep sneaking up sad to say. Maybe shop with a calculater ? We all learn from our mistakes.

 

[Palooka]

Everything is so darn high so it's easy to do.

Hey, there is no shame in eating [email protected]

It's pretty good stuff.

 

[Surilda]

First, you need to turn that frown upside down....

You overspent this time, but you are very aware of it,
so that will help keep you on track your next shopping
trip! You will remember this "wanting to kick your rear
end" day and you will think more next time about what
is going in your cart.

Hoping the compliments softened the blow of your
shopping total!!!

You will do great next time!

 

[mauimagic]

Everyone's comments pretty well sums it all up - no time to beast yourseslf to the ground. Go over your receipt, figure it out and learn from it.....
.........and..... please share what you learn with us too, so we can learn too!! We are all in this together - I still have many mistakes to go!!

Take care!!

 

[AmyBoz]

You live, you learn.

I get knocked down, but I get up again and you're never gonna keep me down.

Lyrics from two songs to inspire you for next time.

It happens. :hugz:

 

[Imarachne]

I beat myself up over stuff too, but are you gonna use what you bought ? If you are then its not wasted and therefore a learning experience. Its ok.

 

[MomToTwoBoys]

Thanks everyone.

Everything I bought is being put to use. Just about everything I bought was on sale too. I plan on going through it all and figuring out how much I use in each recipe and what the cost of it is, then tailoring the food budget to make it so that I don't buy more than I need. If I run out, then I'll buy more. I also tried to make it so that I could avoid going out to eat, but I had to give up a few things while I was out today too.

It was harder to explain to DS6 that we couldn't get fast food or microwave meals because we overspent at the store. He seemed to be fine after getting something into his stomach that he liked. He's learning to compromise and I think that even though we overspent, we humbled him a bit by telling him that we couldn't do it because we had already spent so much at the grocery store.

I know I can do better the next time. The whole part that beat me up was just going over budget. I had done so well for so long and I think a lot of the realization that kicked me in the butt was realizing that we were eating more than we needed to. I think that we can trim the budget even more, but it's gonna take some combing through of the receipt to figure out what our meal costs are and if we can do without.

 

[Josephhgoins]

Did a 38 year old Mom from NJ just quote Tubthumper in this string?

 

[MomToTwoBoys]

Did a 38 year old Mom from NJ just quote Tubthumper in this string?

She did, and she's awesome for it.

 

[NewLeaf]

Grocery prices are up again - don't beat yourself up about overspending. Just be more careful next time. You may even need to adjust your budget or your mealplan.

 

[bumplett]

think of it this way: you did great if you really bought "twice" the norm and only went over by $70! LOL.

 

[Libby]

I bought a lot of items that aren't regular expenses

Uh hello....this is your $70. Why do you feel bad you went over? You obviously needed these items enough to warrant the spending. How else were you planning on getting what you needed? Cut $70 in regular groceries for these needs? Not!

Do not fret about it...now that you have these extra items....you shouldn't need them for your next grocery shop right? Maybe you'll even be under your $300 by the $70?

In the end, it will all balance out Chin up!

PS: Maybe you can cut $70 from other expenses/bills - ie cell phone???

 

[Contrary Housewife]

Not regular expenses... yeah that gets me from time to time also.

 

[Debbie-cat]

It's not hard to do these days. Prices just keep on rising. Don't beat yourself up over it. :hugz:

 

[AmyBoz]

Did a 38 year old Mom from NJ just quote Tubthumper in this string?

Yes, yes I did.

It's my theme song. :toothy:

I LOVE that song.

 

[OOwl]

I overspent at the grocery store by $27 today too. I followed the list and even didn't get a couple of things on the list that the price had gone up too much on to justify getting. The prices at my grocery store were up significantly than just before Christmas. I, too, will be re-visiting my menus and trying to choose more economical ingredients.

 

[MomToTwoBoys]

Actually, I usually do cut $70 into regular groceries for those needs.

Hopefully, I'll be at about $150 or $200 when I do go back. I'm gonna use up the leftover meat in the freezer for the two weeks left in January.

Uh hello....this is your $70. Why do you feel bad you went over? You obviously needed these items enough to warrant the spending. How else were you planning on getting what you needed? Cut $70 in regular groceries for these needs? Not!

Do not fret about it...now that you have these extra items....you shouldn't need them for your next grocery shop right? Maybe you'll even be under your $300 by the $70?

In the end, it will all balance out Chin up!

PS: Maybe you can cut $70 from other expenses/bills - ie cell phone???

 

[mombottoo]

We all overspend at one point or another, so don't knock yourself out! I always take a list and unless it's a super good unadvertised sale I never deviate from the list. Helps keep me in check and gets me out of the store faster.