Saturday: April Grocery Shopping Week 3

April 21 Groceries

I had a relaxed morning, today.  I spoke with Aunt C in the morning (I wanted to ask her if I could visit her tomorrow, instead of this evening, because I was wondering if I'd be up to grocery shopping, cooking and visiting, all in one day).  Aunt suggested I visited on Monday morning, instead of today or even tomorrow, as her daughter will be freer to sit and chat on Monday morning (she gives music lessons at home and the weekends are her busiest days).  That works out well for me because I have a day off from work on Monday.  Instead of grocery shopping this morning and cooking this afternoon and visiting aunt in the evening, as planned, I can grocery shop this afternoon, cook tomorrow, and visit aunt on Monday.  Much more relaxed!

I called my neighbor T to check on her (her daughter left for an out of state conference, yesterday, and will be gone the whole week, and I have promised to check on T during her daughter's absence).  She said she was doing OK and waiting for her friend to give her a ride to church.  I told her I planned to go grocery shopping in the afternoon and asked if she needed anything; she thanked me, but said she didn't need anything.

Then, I called friend R to check on her and we chatted for a bit.  She had already run her Saturday morning errands and was looking forward to attending a friend's birthday party in the evening.

It was a warm, sunny day.  I did two loads of laundry and hung them up to air dry inside the house.

Then, I went through this week's grocery ads, made my list, and went grocery shopping in the afternoon.  I went to two stores.

Mostly Fruits

First, I went to the ethnic store and bought:
1 lb. bag carrots = $.50
Green beans @$.79/lb.  = $.33
Broccoli @ $.49/lb = $.27
Red potatoes @ 3lb/$1 = $.70
1 Cabbage @ 5lb/$1 = $.40
Zucchini @$.39/lb = $.40
Beets @$.39/lb = $.37
2 cans mackerel @$1.49 = $2.98
2 cans coconut milk @$.99 = $1.98
1 package chicken cold cuts (7 oz) = $1.49
Apple bananas @$.99/lb = $.73 (regular bananas were $.49, but these small bananas are a treat)
Fuji apples @$.39/lb = $.69
1 cucumber @3/$1 = $.34
Total = $11.18

Store 1 Receipt

Cantaloupe was on sale for $.39/lb. at this store, but I had noted that the other store had advertised it for $.25/lb., this week.

Mostly Vegetables

 At the second store (Kroger affiliate), I bought:
4 packages of 4lb. sugar @$1.50 = $6.00
2 lb. chicken drumsticks @$.67/lb = $1.36 ($.99/lb. at the ethnic store, this week)
1 lb. pork chops (3 chops) @$1.29/lb = $1.26
1 cantaloupe @$.25/lb = $.87
8 mangoes @$.25 = $2.00
1 box pancake mix = $1.69 (regularly $1.99)
1 bottle pancake syrup = $1.99
1 container flavored coffee creamer = $2.49
Total = 17.66

Two of the bags of sugar 

The sugar was a stock up price for me.  I usually buy it when it is $.50/lb. or less.  They had a limit of 4 packages, so I bought the limit, even though I still have several packages of sugar from when I stocked up, earlier.  This will replace what I have used, already, and I will share with daughter.
 

Rest of the Groceries

I also bought a bag of cat food ($10.49 + $1 tax) at this store.  With the cat food and tax on cat food, my total spending at this store came to $29.15.  But the cat food is from the Pet Supplies budget, so isn't included in my grocery budget.   Therefore, the groceries only spending at Store 2 came to $17.66

Store 2 Receipt

Today's grocery spending came to:  $11.18 + $17.66 = $28.84

My April grocery budget is $75 - $.69 (that I overspent in March) = $74.31
Spent to date = $27.05 (week 1) + $20.49 (week 2) + $28.84 (week 3) = $76.38
Amount over budget = $2.07

Oops!  I shouldn't have bought that bottle of syrup!

Oh, well.  Some of the groceries I bought today is to cook to take to aunt when I visit her and since she lives with her daughter and son-in-law, I will take enough for them all to share.  And some of the sugar is to share with daughter.  I am not going to worry about going over budget, this month.  I don't anticipate needing more groceries, next week, but, if I do, it won't be much. 

Cousin P called in the evening and we had a chat.

I also video chatted with daughter; she, too, had gone grocery shopping, today.  She went to the regular grocery store to stock up on meats, she said.  She didn't take any pictures, today, but she bought 2 whole chickens for $.78/lb., pork sirloin chops for $1.99/lb., 1 lb bag frozen salmon fillets (3 fillets) for $5.00.  She also bought 1 bottle (20 oz) ketchup for $1.99, 4 ears of corn (@$.50), 1 bag frozen shelled edamame for  $2.99, 4 Lara bars @$1, and 1 bag (4lb) sugar for $3.59 on sale!  She also went to the dollar store and bought 2 bags of pop corn (white chocolate peppermint flavor!),  1+ lb. bananas @$.49/lb, 1 English cucumber, 2 cans coconut milk, 1 pack maple bacon pork sausage, and 3 types of cold cuts - black pepper turkey, rotisserie style chicken, honey smoked turkey.  She spent $9.58 at the dollar store and $39.15 at the grocery store.  Her grocery spending was higher than average, this week, because she stocked up on meats. 

Today, I am grateful for:
- A sunny, warm day
- A relaxed morning
- Phone chats with family and friends
- Video chatting with daughter
- Good deals at the grocery store

How was your Saturday?  What are your plans for tomorrow?