Week two of grocery shopping ensued this morning after church. While I would love to say I particularly enjoyed battling the shopping aisles with a bunch of crazed Superbowl fans, I can tell you that didn’t happen. Whatever the case may be, it seems as if Chicago isn’t quite as hyped up about the Superbowl this year. It’s not that we’re bitter or anything, it’s just that we don’t like the Packers. I suppose I’m just speaking for myself.
If you remember from week one of grocery shopping, I went over my budget and spent $73.99. I have to prove to you right now that I do NOT overbuy.. at all. In fact, I have heard many times from the Husband this week about how this “grocery budget crunch” is cramping his style. I suppose that would be true, as I have not been spending my personal spending money on his weekly treats. C’est la vie.
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
We were pretty much down to the wire on food around here – which makes me think that $73.99 just got us through the week. ::sigh::
So, off I went to only three stores today – which was much better than the five I went to last week. This week I went to:
- Jewel
- Aldi
- Trader Joe’s
Below is proof to all that Charlie has self control when it comes to groceries – now we just have to work on those socks.
If you’re cringing because you see more Captain Crunch, you’ll need to just get over it. I can only fight so many battles.
From Jewel, I bought the following:
8 items: $17.32
Savings: $7.00
I made a mistake an grabbed the wrong brand of cereals I had a coupon for. Fortunately, Quaker cereals were on sale 2/$5.00 so it wasn’t that big of a deal. I also got two loaves of bread because they were buy one get one free.
Next up, Aldi:
8 items = $9.49
Savings: $0.00
I’ve recently begun to love Aldi a little bit. If you’re not completely tied to organic produce (I buy mostly organic, but I have some wiggle room), their produce is amazing. One wouldn’t think they would be able to find great produce there, but I am never disappointed.
Last, but certainly not least: Trader Joe’s:
25 items = $43.81
Savings = $0.00
Clearly I do the bulk of my shopping at Trader Joe’s. It stinks because they don’t offer coupons, but their prices are so reasonable for organic items, you really can’t go wrong. This week the bill was higher because I bought items such as sugar and ground beef (clearly not for me). For the amount of food I got, I’d say that was a pretty good deal.
Charlie “stayed” for the entire time. He always looks pretty pathetic towards the end. He refuses to lay down (read: stubborn) but his head goes waaay down in between his front legs because he’s tired of sitting. It’s always a sight to see.
If you already haven’t added everything up in your head, it’s time to pull out the receipts.
Total: $70.62
UGGGGH! If you go back and look through the groceries, I only bought what we need for the week. It’s frustrating to me that I cannot stay on budget. The Husband told me I should just take more money for the month, but I’m bound and determined (read: stubborn) to make this work! $250/month should be easy for two people, right? Apparently not. I’ve already spent $145 and it’s only February 6.
Insert panic here.
Question: What was your “must buy” of the week at the grocery store?
{ 66 comments… read them below or add one }
Girl, I would just make the budget $500 and make it seem like you’re doing AWESOME on the current system:)
Slash my must-buy was PLANTAINS:) I love me some Nicaraguan food, I have to make tostones at least once a month or I explode!
Yum – plantains are so so good!
It looks like Aldi has great deals – that is a lot of produce for $10. I think I’d pay at least $4.99 for the blueberries here
I haven’t gone grocery shopping yet for the week – I was afraid of the Superbowl crowd! And if I “stretch my dollar,” I can sort of go a week and a half between trips
*sigh* I have too many “must buys” to list.
Oh dear. I hope next week turns out better!
One must buy for me??? Definitely Peanut Butter.
My must buy was cereal. I was desperate to try something new and got myself some Puffins at Trader Joe’s. It was far more exciting than it should have been for a normal person.
I loooove Puffins!!
Chelsey, you are doing AMAZING. For two people, $250 a month is a pretty small budget and the fact that you’re even attempting it is awesome. I’m interested in seeing what you end up spending at the end of the month.. maybe taking the husbands suggestion of a bigger budget wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
The end of the month gets hairy – I make it work though! Next month I”ll probably bump it up if this month proves to be super tough.
You are doing fantastic! Don’t be too hard on yourself.
This week I thought I did awesome, when I only spent $50 at the grocery.
Then I realized we spent $15 at Whole Food yesterday.
Plus $45 at Trader Joe’s for pantry items like Olive Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Oyster Crackers, and oh yeah….beer for my husband.
The frustrating part of the food situation is my husband is only home every other weekend. Our food bill should be so much less!
You are doing great, Chelsey. It’s so easy to save tons of money with coupons, sales, etc. when you don’t buy things like fresh fruits and veggies.
I know, I thought to myself – “wait the Husband was GONE for three days!!!”
My must buy this week was 8 bags of peanut flour! It totally threw off my weekly budget, but because it’s being discontinued I had to clear off the shelf. I’m pretty sure I’ll be set until summer, though.
I bought 5 bags last week!!!
Hey, if you’re going to get Captain Crunch, at least you got the kind with the berries
It’s seriously inspiring to know that there are people out there who can spend only 70$ in 3 different stores. I would honestly have a very hard time spending under 70$ in just one store. You are my hero!
You’re my hero too.
GIRL!!! You are doing amazing…don’t be so hard on yourself:) You clearly are only buying the necessities and doing everything you can to save some mula!! I am sorry that you are frustrated though!! My must have grocery items are broccoli, spinach and pears:) K, we really would be real life besties…I think it is time for a video from you gorgeous girl!! Maybe we should Skype?
You are still doing REALLY well I think!!
We have had the same problem grocery shopping recently. I completely agree that $250 should be enough for two people for a month. Unfortunately, lately we have been spending closer to $275 or $300. Not great, not terrible.
A must buy for us is always red peppers. They are so good on salads, in stir fry, with hummus… way too many ways to eat them!
Organics can really drive up the figure on the receipt. I try to do organic only for fruits and veggies on the Dirty Dozen list – do you do that, too? Also, if you catch soy or almond milk on sale and use a coupon, you can get it for $.99/half gallon. That being said, $250 for two is extremely frugal. I try to get buy for $70/week, which is closer to $300 a month, and it’s tough!
If having the low budget is helping you cut costs, then that’s a good thing! You seem to be doing awesome for two people, especially with one being a foodie!
My must buys each week are apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, and greek yogurt!
I still believe that you are doing great! Maybe not the budget you wanted but you shop for two people with different diets and you buy organic. I’ve already told you how much I spend. Your post did make me think about our grocery budget for once. I am trying to figure a good budget out for us, monthly items as well as weekly. I am going to start in March to follow it. Only because I still need to tweak it.
I think you’re doing great! $250 for 2 people is really low!! I haven’t gone grocery shopping for the week yet. Gotta go do some meal planning…
Amen girl
“If you’re not completely tied to organic produce (I buy mostly organic, but I have some wiggle room), their produce is amazing.”
I feel that way about TJs and also just regular on-sale buy of the week type produce at the reg groc store.
I am not married to organic. I’d rather not go into debt feeding a family of 3 on only organic produce
oh man I feel ya on the grocery prices!
For about 6 months ive be$200/month for groceries (eating tons of cereal, toast, oatmeal, lentils, soup, apples, nanners, seasonal fruit, not buying milk, drinking tons of water)
But now ive gotten used to that whole system and just want to eat more fun food! So now i bumped it up to $250. I feel a lot more relief having that extra money in budget just in case.. and dont even use it all sometimes!
don’t worry girl! Everything will work itself out . its all about trial and error. And it sure looks like you got some yummy things! Love TJs!
DON’T GET FRUSTATED!
Please…work in progress..”wiggle room” The fact of the matter is not the strict “dollar amount” but the fact that you are being concious.
I, for one, am extremely proud of your almost empty fridge. For me that NEVER happens….that says SO MUCH! Yay!
Questions you may want to answer (or not) wink*wink…I deliver.
Watch Oprah? What are some Things You Know For Sure…OR…ever have your own “AHA” moment? Do you watch Food Network? What do you like, not like?
I love these grocery shopping budget posts. They are really helpful. You inspire me to start doing a food budget of my own.
I usually go to the store every 2 weeks (or every 1 week and a half, depending on the week)–we spend between 45-70 for those 2 weeks. But I buy at a store that sells local produce so it is all cheaper. I also make homemade bread and a lot of healthy mexican (which my husband LOVEs and it is pretty cheap). Sounds like you’re doing really well- don’t be TOO hard on yourself!!
How do you spend 70 every TWO weeks!?!?!?
Saving is totally hard. It take a lot of practice to get good at it! try looking up more coupons online maybe? or jewel is a low costing grocery store check it out
I think Jewel is one of the most expensive grocery stores in the Chicago area! I always spend sooo much money there!
Just the fact that you are doing this is giong to make you way more conscious about spending in the future after you stop really being on a tight budget. You’re doing awesome – plus you’re stocked up on some things like bread, sugar, etc, that you won’t have to buy the rest of the month.
I’d go broke if I bought organic produce. I buy SO much produce as it is. The organic stuff at the store is always really nasty looking too. Probably because expensive so no one buys it and it sits there forever getting old.
The only reason I buy some organic is because Trader Joe’s is so cheap!!
I would never cringe at Capt N Crunch….sometimes you have to give in
You are doing awesome on your budget. I know how you feel, I have to stay on a budget and sometimes it is so hard especially when you want to eat healthy! It’s also hard for me when Kris (my fiance) wants to buy extras and insist we just add a little more to the budget but I am stubborn and refuse because I know we can make it!
YOu are doing a great job
I say food is so worth spending a little extra on. A girl’s got to eat, doesn’t she?
You are seriously awesome with your shopping. I have to make sure I don’t leave your blog open around Sam or he’ll ask me to take a page out of your grocery shopping book! haha
$250 for a whole month is hard! Hard hard HARD!!!! That was my original goal as well. Then I upped it to $300. Then the hubs upped it to $350. Last month we STILL went over budget, although I blame my 5 year old niece wanting hibachi grill for her birthday (we count eating out in our food budget too.) I also blame my grocery store putting cocoa roast almonds at $3. I have 15 containers in the basement now. Good luck. You’re gonna need it.
You’re doing really WELL! I would’ve blown the whole budget by now!
My must buys were peanut butter and dark chocolate! I ran out of PB yesterday and had to dash out and get some, and I picked up some choccie during one of my runs! I ran past a health store and couldn’t resist!
Girl I totally feel your frustration. This weekend I spent $85 on groceries for the week and that’s JUST for me! So if it makes you feel better, you’re a much better budgeter than I am!
Kashi cereal and Greek yogurt are my downfalls. They’re so expensive, but I can’t go without them!
I spend that much money a month on JUST me so I think you are doing a great job! You only went 62 cents over budget this week..That like, doesn’t even count!
I went $5.62 over budget!
Like I said last week: this looks damn amazing to me, considering my grocery budget is that much for JUST ME…and I go out to eat pretty frequently. Yeah, I suckity suck suck at the budget thing. But as my dad points out to me, he’d rather I spend it on healthy food than on shoes.
Must buy of the week was probably oatmeal! I ran out of rolled oats awhile ago and have been eating oat bran since. Both are good, but I’m excited to have the real stuff back.
I couldn’t live without oatmeal. Enough said.
My husband and I used to have a weekly grocery budget of $70 a week. Things got pretty tight with that, so we upped it to $80 a week. It is just me and my husband and we are able to get the things we need with that.
Thanks for the input! I’m seeing how this month goes and then taking it from there!
you are so so close to budget dont fret! maybe you need to change your budget!… you got some great great deals though– so if you are getting what you need than maybe $60 is too low for you two!
One idea: I know that coupons are usually for name-brand items, BUT, I find that I can usually just purchase on-sale store-brand items for much cheaper. So… if your or the hubs isn’t too worried about trying store-brands, I’d suggest seeing if that helps. I know our Kroger sells an “off brand” of soy and almond milk that is usually $0.50 cheaper than on sale/with coupon Silk brand. And our fridge totally looks like that at the end of the week too! It’s kind of nice, because you can clean it each week. AND you can see what you NEED to incorporate into meals next week!
You can do it! Don’t give up!
The problem with that is, I don’t buy enough packaged foods for that to even make a difference! The only “off brand” almond milk I can find is at trader joe’s and it’s the same price as Silk when I have a coupon (which I did)
Ok, maybe you didn’t make it EXACTLY on budget, but I think you’re doing really well! It’s hard to keep costs low when you’re feeding a boy- they eat a lot!
You’re right – they are extremely expensie!
more peanut butter! I bought a HUGE size cos it was 55% extra free! Not bad….I actually think you do really well – I don’t even try to budget even though I should, so I’m still in awe of your organization!
haha I’m quite impressed with how much food you got for your money. my boyfriend and I are trying the whole food budget thing and I am failing miserably, its monday and I have already spent 80 and still need groceries for the week… darn superbowl party.
Oh no! Good luck!
Honestly, I think you are doing great! I was only planning on spending $30 at the store this morning since a lot of what I bought last week hasn’t been consumed, but when I bought only what was on the list, I still spent $62!
I think you are doing great, I mean 70 bucks for two people for a week is pretty good…But I understand your frustrations.
I guess try and see where you can make some wiggle room with things and what think you don’t absolutely need. For me, it’s not buying 3 boxes of cereal at once, although I am guilty of just doing that! woops!!
Grocery shopping is my favorite kind of shopping, but I always seem to go over budget! I hate how the one store that is most convenient for me (as a college student without a car) is the one that charges the most for fresh produce!
This week my “must-buy” item was brussels spouts. And boy, were they good!
I LOVE brussels sprouts. I haven’t bought them in a long long time!
FYI: at my Jewel (Chicagoland area) right now, Larabars are 5/5.00! Pretty budget friendly because they are usually like $1.50-1.75.
Wow! I don’t even think my Jewel sells Larabars! I have to go take a look! Thanks Meagan!
I just discovered your blog – awesome!! would you mind posting or sending me that grocery list ?? I am always on the lookout to make my shopping easier (I usually write lists and only allow myself around 2 extra items) … and this might help with grocery budgeting – I am actually with you on that february grocery budgeting thing!! Can’t wait to see the third grocery haul!
I am trying to figure out a way to upload the document into a post.
Yay!
Great, thanks!
Oh, and I just realized that I should really try and answer that question: my must-buy of the week was almonds to make some almond butter!! Yum! (and it is less than a third of what I would pay for store-bought almond butter – score!)
I feel ya on the grocery store budget. I simply cannot stay under $70 a week. Plus I’m usually running 1 or 2 times during the week for more milk or random odds and ends. It’s helped me a lot to plan meals and shop the sales. but it’s hard when your sig other eats differently than you. At least your husband tries the “different” food you eat. Mine poo-poo’s it if it doesn’t have meat!
Did you know that TJs and Aldi are actually owned by the same company? I just found that out recently, but I haven’t shopped at Aldi before. We just moved to an area that doesn’t have a TJs (gasp!) so I might check out the Aldi…I have a budget of $125 a week for 3.5 (my youngest is 7 months).
I LOVE the deals at Aldi! It’s a bit of a drive away, but Wal-Mart does price matching if you bring in the ad. I love when I can get avocados for 50 cents each!
I still think you’re doing a great job with the spending, especially since I can easily spend that much on just myself! My “must buy” is always bananas! Oatmeal is never the same without them!
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