Tuesday, March 28, 2017

March Grocery Shopping: Week 4


March 28 Groceries
 had a text from the pharmacy, this morning, saying that one of my prescription refills was ready for pick up.  So, in the afternoon, I went to the pharmacy to get my medication.  The dollar store is next to the pharmacy, so I picked up some bananas from them, since bananas are $.49/lb. there and $.69/lb. at the grocery store in the same mall.   I bought a bunch of 4 bananas - 1.63 lbs. - and paid $.80.



Receipt for Bananas
 After that, I went to the regular grocery store and bought:

1 container creamer = $2.59
1 loaf bread = $1.00
1 bag frozen corn = $1.00
1 can pasta sauce = $1.00
1 lettuce = $.99
1 cucumber = $.50
Total =  $7.08

(I also bought a packet of canning jar lids, 12 lids for $2.59, which is a taxable item).




March 28 Grocery Receipt

Total spent on groceries today = $.80 + $7.08 = $7.88

March grocery budget = $75
Spent to date = $5.50 + $21.90 + $15.84 + $15.81 + $7.88 = $66.93
Balance left in the budget = $8.07

I will add the $8 to the April grocery budget and use it for stocking up or a splurge!

I boiled three eggs this morning, added the last piece of bacon crumbled up, and made some egg salad.  I had an egg salad sandwich and an orange for brunch.  There is more egg salad for sandwiches for lunch for the next couple of days, as well.  What I was craving was a Big Mac, though!  LOL.

For dinner, I cooked some pasta with spaghetti sauce, made with the half a can of pasta sauce I had in the freezer and some of the ground beef I browned the other day.  There's enough pasta for tomorrow's dinner (and enough sauce for at least one more meal; will just have to boil more pasta).  Had a banana for dessert.

I also went to the library, this afternoon and borrowed two books.  Later in the evening, I called my cousin who lives across the street from me and went over to give her a piece of cake.  We met on the sidewalk outside her house because she can't invite me to her house since her husband is angry with me (and has been angry with me for years).  Remember what I said about family dynamics?  LOL.

One of my friends called and we had a nice chat while I watered the front garden.  Later, one of my aunts called.  

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Put away washed dishes - DONE
- Bring the trash cans in - DONE
- Water the garden, front and back - DONE
- Pharmacy to pick up medication refill - DONE
- Grocery shop - DONE
- Library - DONE
- Return my friend's containers - Will do another day
- Tidy the house a bit


Wednesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Tidy the house
- Daily tasks (dishes, litter box, etc.)


Today, I am grateful for:
- Medications being available
- Insurance to help pay for the medications
- Water for the garden
- Sunny, warm weather (it was 77F today)
- Family and friends calling to check on me


How was your Tuesday?  How did you do with your March grocery budget?  Did you stay under?  Did you go over?

16 comments:

  1. It's hard to imagine that someone could hold onto ill feelings for that long. Sounds like he's probably a miserable man. I'm glad your cousin still talks to you.

    Hope you have another nice day.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, he's managed to estrange most of his family and hers.

      Thank you, Live and Learn; hope you are having a good day, too.

      Delete
  2. Your shopping is very healthy. Eggs are one item I could live on! (And bananas...I love them). That is funny you were craving a big mac...I got one the other day when we were traveling as I was also craving one...and it was cold and not very good tasting! And it cost almost $5. (I also lamented over all those calories I ate that didn't give me fulfillment). I keep trying to make a rule, No more fast food....as it is rare to have it taste perfect like I remembered it...and I keep forgetting. So, again I will vow to quit stopping in mcdonald's! ha! Andrea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Andrea. I did well, this time, except for the coffee creamer, but my neighbor served it when I visited her and had a cup of coffee with her and I liked it. I've been off coffee since I started chemo, so thought I'll try coffee with that creamer.

      I saw a picture of a Big Mac and that had me craving it! But I know the taste isn't quite what I remember it to be and, as you say, at nearly $5, it's not worth it.

      Hope you are having a lovely day.

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  3. Proud you had a good day...[sorry about your cousin's husband..sad.But definitely happens in all families.Probably
    you could ask him, "what are you mad at me about?" and he wouldn't even be able to remember it.]

    We are having a really pretty sunny day today.. I am going to the garden center and buy some flowers [annuals] to put in my pots and maybe get ferns for my front porch.. [I am waiting on them to be on sale.. normally Easter they put them on sale??].
    Grocery budget did well this month.. I used pantry and freezer more [trying to clear the deep freeze before garden starts producing]. So I was under budget.yea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, well done on coming under budget and eating from your pantry and freezer! Enjoy your trip to the garden center and selecting the plants. Hope the ferns are on sale. Have a blessed day, Judy.

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  4. You've done really well to keep under budget, maybe you could reward yourself and spend the surplus on a Big Mac.
    As for your cousin's husband....I can't imagine anyone being angry with you. You are such a kind and thoughtful and generous person. It can't be doing him much good holding onto his misplaced anger for so long either.
    Enjoy your day Bless. X

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    1. Thanks, Jules. I have a separate budget for eating out/take aways. I will wait and see - if I still crave a Big Mac next week, I'll get one.

      Delete
  5. It takes a lot of personal energy to maintain ill will for years. I am sorry for him, but glad you and your cousin maintain sidewalk relations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That it does, Anne. Energies that could have been put to better use, elsewhere. Oh, well, what can one do?

      Delete
  6. Oh I do hope the creamer helps you to enjoy your coffee. Your egg salad sounds very good.

    I don't really have a set grocery budget at this stage of my life but I do shop carefully and value for money. It's hard to break a life long habit of frugality. I will do a big shop tomorrow, my goal is to purchase enough to last us one week and I am sticking to that plan right now. I found that running back for top up shops often caused me to spend a lot more than was really necessary.

    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sandy, the creamer is helping! These past couple of days, I've been having a cup of tea in the morning and a cup of coffee (with the creamer) in the evenings. My favorite creamer used to be amaretto flavored, but they stopped making it! There is another company that makes an amaretto flavored creamer, and I tried it, but didn't like how it tasted. I don't care much for the vanilla or hazelnut flavored creamers, either, but this creme brulee stuff seems pretty good!

      It's true what you say about it being difficult to break frugal habits. I no longer need to be quite as frugal as I have been in the past, but I continue to do so because it has become a habit! I will splurge on occasion, but I must really want to!

      I, too, generally shop once a week. Very often, if I run out of something, mid-week, I just do without until I shop again. I just have to make sure I have enough things to take for lunches when I go to the office. There have been times when I've had the bread but nothing for a sandwich filling (except peanut butter, perhaps) or, had the fillings, but no bread!

      Delete
  7. I forgot my packed lunch today, was going to begrudging go to McDonald's for a cheap lunch but opted for grocery store egg salad and a banana. Funny.
    I never thought to add bacon crumbles to homemade egg salad. Thank you for the great idea! Hugs, Jen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was probably a healthier lunch option, Jen. I had an egg salad sandwich and banana for my lunch, today! I learned to add the bacon to the egg salad from a friend of mine when I was in college! It gives it a nice flavor.

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  8. Well done, as usual, on your grocery budget, Bless! I need to use the tactique of remembering how the sandwiches they sell at McDonald's never end up looking like their pictures or even taste half as good and yes, the price too! Somehow none of this ever bothers me when I get a craving or I'm very hungry!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nathalie. Yes, cravings and hunger need to be appeased, no matter what! I'm the same way. But I tell myself that if it is a true craving, it will still be there next week or the week after. Saves me quite a bit of calories, that way! :D Hunger, on the other hand, must by taken care of right away, because otherwise, my sugar levels go down too much and I get the "shakes".

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