January Grocery Shopping - Week 4

Another sunny day with the highs in the mid-60s. I had taken a day of vacation from work, today, in order to attend my neighbor's memorial mass.  Afterwards, I put gas to the car to fill it up.  I had less than half a tank, but more than quarter tank; I could have driven to the office and back a couple of times, next week, with what I had in the tank, but I like to fill it up before it gets to the quarter tank level, just in case there's an emergency, such as an earthquake and the power goes off.  Besides, now I don't have to worry about stopping for gas when I am coming home after work and it is dark or raining (more rain expected, next week).  Gas was $2.55/gallon; I spent $25.20 on gas, today.  So far, I have spent $57.17 on gas, this month, but, once I start going to the office 4-5 days a week, I anticipate needing to fill the tank with gas every week.

After that, I went grocery shopping.

January 27 Groceries

I bought:
2 bread rolls, @$.50 = $1.00
1 cantaloupe = $1.50
Bananas, @$.69/lb = $.99
6 pk. soda = $2.49 + $.30 CRV = $2.79
Total = $6.28

I also bought a bag of cat food which cost $10.99 + $1.21 tax = $12.20 (but that's not part of my grocery budget).

January 27 Grocery Receipt

January grocery budget = $75
Spent to date = $5.12 + $4.39 + $5.25 + $6.28 = $21.04
Balance remaining = $53.96

My grocery spending this month has been very unusual, partly because I have been eating from the freezer and the pantry.  I have now finished all the uncooked chicken and the fish I had in the freezer; I still have a rather large bag of cooked honey sesame chicken that my daughter cooked (too sweet for my taste) and several packages of cooked roast beef, plus a package of cooked pork chops.  I want to finish those before I buy anymore meat.  However, I did look at the meat, chicken, and fish at the grocery store today, but didn't feel like buying any, so I didn't.

In addition, my daughter's favorite brand of coffee is on sale for $4.99 for a 10-12 oz. bag and when I mentioned it to her, this evening, she asked me to buy some for her.  So, I will go back to the grocery store this weekend and stock up on coffee for her.  She would like about 5 packets, she said, and there is a limit of 2 packets of coffee at that price, so I might just go to two stores or make two trips.  (If anyone is wondering, I'll buy the coffee and keep for her to take back when she visits next, at the end of February/beginning of March.)  Also, I might buy two more bread rolls to take to the office for my lunches, next week.  So my month-end grocery totals might be higher than they are right now.

After I came home and put away the groceries, I had half of a bread roll with some spicy onion relish for brunch.  I had the other half of the roll for dinner.  Although my stomach is much better, it is still grumbling a bit, so I don't want to eat anything with a lot of fiber for another day or so.  Just to be on the safe side!

My gardener friend came over to do the garden, this afternoon.  He cut the grass in the back garden, did some weeding, and planted some nasturtium seeds for me in the front garden.  I also picked an orange from my tree.

Still later in the afternoon, I did a load of laundry and it is hanging up to dry now.  I aired the house, earlier, but I have the heater on now, as it got cold.  It is rather windy, too.  I am wearing two sweaters, a pair of socks, a knitted poncho, and a knitted hat and my hands are still icy!

The evening hasn't been very productive.  I watched some news and read a few other news articles, had a fairly long chat on the phone with one of my cousins, and have been video chatting with my daughter.

Today, I am grateful for:

- A day of vacation
- A sunny day
- Being able to run errands
- An orange from my garden
- A working heater!

How was your Friday?  How are you coming along with your grocery budget, this month?