Daughter's Grocery Shopping

My daughter went grocery shopping today, after returning to Berkeley.  Afterwards, she was excited to show her receipt to me.  Back in July and August, when she was getting ready to start living on her own, she had asked me to help set a price book,  grocery budget, household budgets, etc.  She has done well with keeping to a budget, so far.

Today, she bought:
1 gallon milk, reg. price $4.99; sale price = $2.79
64 oz. apple juice, reg. price $3.99; sale price $1.67; with $1 off coupon = $.67
1 box cold cereal, reg. price $4.29; sale price = $1.88
1 box cold cereal, reg. price $4.49; sale price = $1.67
1 box of instant oatmeal variety packets, reg. price $4.99; sale price = $1.67
1 box cookies, reg. price $3.49; sale price $1.67; with $.50 off coupon = $1.17
1 bottle ginger ale; reg. price $2.67, with $1.79 coupon = $.88 + $.10 redemption value
4 frozen pot pies; reg. price $8.99; sale price = $6.99
1 yogurt; reg. price $1.19; sale price = $1
1 loaf bread = $1.99
1 8-oz. pkg. cold cuts = $2.99
bananas, reg. price $1.45/lb, on sale @ $.61/lb = $1.12
1 cucumber, reg. price $1; on sale = $.89
1 avocado, reg. price $1.50; on sale = $.95

Total spent = $26.85

According to the receipt, with sales and coupons, she saved a total of $21.36 or 44%

Some of the items she bought (like the cereal) are stock up items bought because they were on sale or she had coupons; some will be for easy lunches during the week; the frozen pot pies will be for those nights when she doesn't want to cook dinner.

But I think she's doing well, with her grocery shopping and budget, don't you?