Busy Tuesday and April Grocery Shopping Week 1

April 4 Groceries

I have had a busy day, today.  First, I returned the packages of fish and beef steak to the grocery store and they refunded me my money ($13.96).  So, yesterday's grocery spending of $36.20 has now been reduced to $22.24.

Then, I went to the ethnic grocery store and bought some fresh produce, a couple of healthier snacks than chips and chocolate (cashew nuts and dried cranberries), some shrimp and chicken.  Chicken leg quarters were $.49/lb.  I bought three leg quarters; I asked the butcher to cut each one into three pieces for me and he did.  It makes it easier for me to clean and cook them.

I bought:

1 bag (10 lb.) potatoes = $.99
1 papaya, @$.49/lb = $1.15
Chicken @$.49/lb = $1.47
Shrimp @$3.99/lb = $2.99
Raw cashews @$6.29/lb = $3.52 + $3.62
Apples @ 3 lb/$1.00 = $.47
Snow peas @$2.99/lb = $.27
Dried cranberries @$1.99/lb = $2.16
Green beans @$1.39/lb = $.71
1 cucumber = $.50
Onions @$.20/lb = $.29
Broccoli @$.49/lb = $.35
2 cans mackerel (15 oz); @$1.69 = $3.38 (cheaper than the store brand at the supermarket, which was $1.99 per can)

 I spent a total of $21.87 on groceries at the ethnic store.

April 4 Grocery Receipt

April Grocery Budget = $75 + $8.07 carried over from March = $83.07

Amount spent on 4/3 = $36.20 - $13.96 = $22.24
Amount spent on 4/4 = $21.87
Amount spent to date = $22.24 + $21.87 = $44.11
$83.07 - $44.11 = $38.96

Oh, but this is going to be an interesting month!  The first week isn't even over and I've spent over half the grocery budget!  Those chocolates, cookies, chips and ice cream I bought really added up!  Snack foods can be expensive!

After I came back from grocery shopping, I had brunch - pastrami sandwiches and a banana.   Then, I went to the animal shelter to drop off somethings I had collected for them.  On the way back, I stopped at the garden center and bought two bags of potting soil (bought the smaller bags than try to carry a big bag!) and some packets of vegetable seeds (green bush beans, okra, tomatoes) and a packet of cat grass seeds for Dancer.  I took a look at the vegetable seedlings, but they were rather expensive, I thought.

$3 each for tomato and pepper plants

I did find 6-packs of tiny tomato seedlings for $4.48; I might end up buying one if I can't find any in the dollar stores.  I didn't take a picture of that price tag because my attention was drawn to this:

Container Grown Tomatoes

It looks like there are 3 or 4 almost fully grown tomato plants in the planter and with a tomato cage!  Good for a patio garden, I suppose.  I loved the price!

Almost $16!

The smaller plants were more affordable, but one didn't get the planter or the cage:

Less Expensive Option

Well, I suppose if the small plants are 4 for $12, then, 3 or 4 almost fully grown plants in a planter with a tomato cage for $16 isn't too bad!  And yes, people were buying them!  I preferred to spend $1.59 on a packet of seeds.  If they grow, they grow.  If not, well, I'll continue to buy my tomatoes from the store for under $1 per pound.  They were $.79/lb. at the ethnic store, today and I didn't buy.  Starting tomorrow, they'll be $.49/lb. according to the sales ad and I might buy some.  I generally don't eat raw tomatoes, but add them to my curries and make chutney with them.  I spent $19.25 at the garden center, today, on 2 bags of potting soil and 4 packets of seeds. 

After I came home from the garden center, I had a cup of coffee.  Then, I picked a bagful of curry leaves and several lemons to give my friend, along with her food containers.  I also took her some carry out food containers, too, that I had washed and saved for her.  She has a very generous heart and is forever giving food to people, so the containers will come in handy.  When I took the curry leaves and containers over, my friend invited me to have some dinner.  At first I declined, since I had just had coffee.  But she insisted and started to serve me a plate, so I sat and ate dinner!  Rice, chicken curry, pork curry, bitter melon, cooked greens, and lentils.  Then, she served me more rice and curries in a container to bring home with me!  She was getting ready to serve a second container so I'd have enough for two days, but I insisted that one was enough.  She wasn't happy about that, so she took something else from her fridge and put that in the bag with the container of food!  It is something called "pittu" that is made with flour and coconut and steamed.  It is a little bit like cous cous in texture, and maybe eaten with curries or with sugar.  My daughter loves pittu, so I accepted it with a grateful heart and put it in the freezer for when daughter visits next. 

By the time I came home, it was 8:00 p.m.  I handwatered the front garden and watered the back garden with the sprinklers.  Then, I washed the dishes and wiped the kitchen counters.  I was wanting to cook the shrimp, but decided I had done enough for today.  I didn't want to overdo things and get too tired, especially since I am planning to go to the office, tomorrow.  I will cook the shrimp and chicken, tomorrow.

My cousin called me, today, while I was watering the front garden (I had my phone with me).  She called about something she wants to do but isn't sure if she's doing the right thing or not.  So we talked about it for awhile and I told her I will find out some information for her.  Eventually, I asked her if she got a ride to her uncle's birthday dinner, if her daughter was able to drive her.  She said her daughter had made other plans, but another cousin's husband was able to give her a ride.  I am glad she was able to find a ride.  That other cousin had called and left a message on my answering machine and I called her back in the evening, but I had to leave her a message in my turn.

I had texted another cousin (from the other side of my family), last night, to inquire how she is feeling (her mother had told me that cousin was having a sore throat and was on antibiotics).  She texted me back today, in reply, saying she still has a sore throat.

I also called another friend to check on her and she said she's feeling like she's coming down with something.  I guess it is still the flu season.

So, for those who are thinking about the balanced life goals - today, I said my daily prayers (spiritual), touched on the finances by spending mindfully at the grocery store and garden center, communicated with daughter (replied to her good morning text, emailed her pictures of the worm, spoke with her on the phone twice, and video chatted in the evening), communicated with cousins (family), visited with one friend and spoke on the phone with another, touched on the environment (dishes and watering the garden),  etc.  I didn't do much on the health segment, but I took my medications, etc.  I played a couple of games of solitaire on the computer (leisure), and I cuddled a kitty! 

Today, I am grateful for:
- The store accepted the return of the fish and meat without any questions and I received a refund.
- I was able to accomplish quite a lot today, without feeling tired!
- My friend giving me dinner plus enough for another meal!
- Phone calls and texts from my cousins and "water under the bridge" and so forth.
- Virtual hugs and kisses from my daughter. 

Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring trash cans in - DONE
- Do the rest of the grocery shopping - DONE
- Cook the fish and beef Return fish and beef - DONE
- Drop-off at the animal shelter - DONE
- Water the garden - DONE
- Call to schedule a car service
- Buy potting soil - DONE
- Dishes - DONE
- Laundry
- Litter box - Will do after I post this
- Clear/dust bedside table/nightstand - DONE
- Pay bills (the one bill that is due later this week has already been paid; others not due yet)
- Take a bag of curry leaves to my friend and return her empty containers- DONE

Wednesday's To Do List:
- Go to the office
- Call to schedule a car service
- Laundry
- WALK
- Clear the dining table
- Daily tasks (put away washed dishes, wash the day's dishes, litter box, etc.)

How was your day, today?  Have you done your first grocery shop for the month?  Have you ever spent more than half your month's grocery budget in the first week as I have?