Sunday, November 8, 2015

November Grocery Shopping - Week 2: Part 1

Week 2 Groceries: Part 1
I went grocery shopping yesterday and bought what's shown above:

Chicken, skinless/boneless breast, 2.61 lb. @$1.59/lb. = $4.15
Beef, boneless chuck steak, 2.08 lb. @$3.99/lb. = $8.30 (was $5.39/lb)
Beef tamales (frozen), pack of 6 = $6.29 (was $6.99)
2 canola oil, $1.99@ = $3.98 (was $2.69@)
4 sugar, 4lbs.@; $1.69@ = $6.76 (was $2.69@)

My total came to $29.48.




Another, Somewhat Blurry Receipt


Earlier (week 1), I had spent a total of $9.36.  So, my grocery totals for November comes to:

$9.36 + $29.48 = $38.84

I had gone to this particular store because their weekly ad said a certain cereal was on sale for $1.49/box provided one mixed and matched 4 participating items. But when I got to the store, all that particular cereal was over (there were other types on sale, but I didn't want them).  The store manager said they might get more after the weekend, so, I might try again on Monday.  

I am now stocked up on oil; depending on how much holiday baking we'll do, the 2 bottles should last me until the end of the year.

Most of the sugar, too, is for holiday baking and jam making for holiday gifts.  I might give daughter one of the packages of sugar to take back to Berkeley with her as she's planning to bake pies and breads to gift to various people up there and groceries cost more up there.

The frozen tamales purchase was giving in to a craving I've had for over a month.  They are 240 calories, each, and I had one for my lunch, yesterday.  The rest are in the freezer to share with daughter, when she comes home.

There are three steaks in the package and two whole chicken breasts (not halves).  I haven't decided, yet, how I will cook them.  Might just cook them simply and cut up and freeze, to be taken out and added to salads and vegetables, later. 

I am now on the lookout for a sale on flour; my cut off point for flour is $1.99/5 lbs.  Flour should go on sale next week or the week after, in time for Thanksgiving holiday baking.

I am calling this Week 2 Part 1 because I am planning to go to one other store, today, to buy a few more stock-up items, such as the canned soup that's on sale there.

Yesterday's meals were:
Breakfast: 2 pieces of French toast; orange juice; coffee with milk
Lunch: 1 tamale
Dinner: Salad (lettuce, carrot, cucumber, green grapes, cashews)
Snack: 5 saltine-type crackers (but no salt on the top) spread with peanut butter (about 2 tbsp. peanut butter, total)

Spending Log:
11/1: Gardener, $100
11/2: Groceries: $9.36; Pharmacy: $12.84; Eating out: $9.25
11/3: Gas; $29.01; Car parking; $6.25
11/4: 0
11/5: 0
11/6: 0
11/7: Groceries: $29.48

Today, I am grateful for:

- Caring, concerned friends
- Grocery sales
- Being able to take advantage of sales to stock up
- Visits and phone calls from family
- Sunshine and warm weather

How is your grocery budget coming along?  Do you budget separately for stocking up and holiday baking or do you include that in your monthly grocery budget?

8 comments:

  1. It sounds like someone is getting her bake on, Miss Bless! I hope you will post some pictures of the goodies you turn out with those baking supplies (even if we can't share them with you at your table we can drool over the pictures!) :)
    I know I've said this before but I really love how you end your posts with all the things you are thankful for. You always make me smile and remember to count my own blessings. :)

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    1. Thank you, Dawn. :) There's plenty and more to grumble about, but I prefer to look for and count my blessings. As for the baking, there's nothing I like better than to bake! I'll definitely share the pictures. :)

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  2. Another great blog again Bless. I had a tamale for lunch today too! Had a taste also. Sisters from a different mother. You do so well with your shopping! I include my pet's food with my food purchases and it adds up. If I remember correctly you don' include the pet food.

    Oven is acting up but want to bake this year. Last year I was too sick from Thanksgiving all the way to the New Year and didn't do anything. Just had the tree upstairs thanks to DS2, and it had 3 ornaments on from the year before, and I didn't even care. Dianaro

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    1. Thank you, Dianaro. Definitely sisters! :D

      Yes, you are right, I don't include the pet food (or household products) in my grocery budget. Pet supplies make up a whole different category in the budget, especially since I feed all the strays in the garden as well.

      Sorry your oven is acting up; hope it'll work well enough to let you do your holiday baking. And I hope you will be in the best of health to enjoy your holidays this year. I, too, was sick, last year, and who knows how I'll feel at Christmas time, this year? Will just have to take things one day at a time and see how it goes.

      Thank you so much for commenting. Love hearing from you.

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  3. Sounds like you are going to have some yummy baking going on! I never really paid attention to prices on things like flour and sugar until the past few months when I have really started using them! I'm definitely planning to stock up when I find a good deal.

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    1. Jess, I think buying items, especially staples such as flour and sugar, when they are on sale can save us a lot of money. I saved $1 per bag of sugar, by buying it on sale. That's $1 extra that I will have in my purse (or bank account) which can be saved or used to buy something else. After awhile, paying full price seems like a waste of money!

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  4. Great bargains... So happy you treated yourself to the beef tamales..[they are yummy] . Hope you have a great week..

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    1. Thank you, Judy. Hope you, too, have a wonderful week. :)

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