Today, I picked up my grocery order and had my groceries brought to the car by the very friendly Jennifer. They had almost everything I had ordered, but, they didn't have the 16 oz. bunch of kale I wanted and I didn't want the 12 oz. bag of chopped kale they offered as a substitution. They also substituted Red Delicious apples instead of the Fuji apples, I ordered, but, that was fine with me.
I bought:
5 Bananas (1.73 lb. @ $0.68/lb.) = $1.19
Green grapes (1.74 lb. @ $1.49/lb. with digital coupon; reg. price $3.49/lb.) = $2.60
Apples (1.33 lb. @ $1.69/lb.) = $2.25
2 cucumbers, $0.99@ = $1.98
Green beans (1+ lb. @ $2.49/lb.) = $2.56
Onions (3 lb. bag) = $2.99
Frozen green peas (12 oz. bag) = $1.25
Bread, 1 loaf (20 oz., white) = $1.99
Hamburger buns (8 ct., 12 oz.) = $1.99
Half & Half (32 fl.oz.) = $3.49
Milk 1/2 gal. = $2.69
Brown sugar (2 lb. bag) = $2.99
Peppermint candy (9 oz. bag) = $1,99
Flour, (all purpose, 5 lb. bag) = $3.19
Grocery Total = $33.15
In addition, I bought these non-grocery items which are not included in my grocery budget:
Cat food (1 can, 5.5 oz.) = $0.89
Rubber gloves (2 pairs @ $2.19/pair) = $4.38
Antacid tablets, 72 ct. jar = $6.29
Plus $1.09 sales tax (on non-grocery items)
Non-grocery items total = $12.65
Total spent (groceries and non-grocery items plus tax) = $45.80
Pick up was free because my total was more than $35.
January Grocery Budget = $100
Spent to date = $68.49 + $33.15 = $101.64
"Borrowed" from February's budget = $1.64
I had $31.51 left in January's budget after my first grocery shopping trip on January 7. I knew I would have to borrow from February's budget for the next grocery shopping trip, if only to qualify for the free pick up. I went over my January grocery budget by $1.64 on this shopping trip and that will be deducted from February's budget.
I might need to pick up more fresh produce before the end of the month, especially since I didn't get the kale I was planning to get, but, I'll see how that works out. I am OK with borrowing another $35 from February's grocery budget, especially since I didn't increase my January grocery budget to accommodate the fact that daughter extended her stay and she'll be here for most of January. She has offered to contribute to the grocery budget, but, I declined her offer!
Today, I am grateful for:
- The availability of groceries
- Curbside (parking lot, actually) pickup
- My car started (after not being driven all week)
- A safe drive to the store and back
- Sunshine in the morning (very cloudy afternoon and a frost warning for tonight)
Today's joyful activity was picking up groceries!
How is your grocery shopping coming along? Are you managing to keep to your budget? I know some people are doing a January no spend/low spend/eat from the freezer and pantry challenge; how is that coming along?
Glad you got to see Jennifer again. Did she get chocolate?
ReplyDeleteJennifer received chocolates along with a jar of my peach sauce just before Christmas. :)
DeleteI'm glad you didn't mind the apple substitution. I'm a bit nitpick about apples, some I don't really like and others I really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI need to go shopping soon, but I may be able to get DH to pick up a couple of items and wait to go for the rest which are not urgent.
Apples are still a bit of a novelty fruit for me. We had them when I was a very young child, but, the government banned imported items, including fruits like apples and grapes, when I was around 5 years old and that ban stayed in effect until after I left Sri Lanka. There were many attempts to grow apples and grapes in the colder mountainous areas and eventually they managed to grow them. But, in the meantime, apples and grapes remained something of a novelty and a rare treat. Of course, today, the everyday fruits I ate growing up are the rare treats! Funny how that turned out, isn't it?
DeleteI hope you are able to have DH pick up the few items you need for now. If not, then, I hope you have a good shopping trip and find all the items you need at reasonable prices. :)
Jennifer sounds lovely you must be thrilled when you see her. I've still been doing a weekly grocery shop but not spending as much as I would normally do and that's taking into account the increase in food prices, as we still have plenty of food in the freezer
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to chat with Jennifer, although we only exchanged pleasantries, yesterday, as she had another customer waiting for her groceries, too, in the spot next to me.
DeleteWell done with keeping your spending below normal during this time when grocery prices are increasing! I, too, have been using up some of the freezer items since they need to be used up. :)
You do such a good job of sticking to your budget and getting things you need. It is so easy when you are in a store to splurge on impulse purchases. Have a wonderful weekend- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana. These days, I've been ordering groceries online and picking them up, curbside. It's a little harder to do impulse shopping when you order online because you can't make changes to the shopping order after a certain time.
DeleteHope you have a wonderful weekend, yourself, Diana; enjoy that lovely weather and snow you are having! :D
I'm well within budget at the moment. I ordered a delivery last week which was earlier than I needed it but I wanted to stock up as the forecast was for more bitterly cold weather. They've now said that all of February is likely to be worse and more snow and ice is expected so I'm trying to decide what to do for the best. I think I'll probably do some more batch cooking to restock the new freezer and then make a decision based on forecasts nearer the time.
ReplyDeleteWell done, staying well within budget! Sounds like a good time to stock up ahead of the inclement weather and fill up the new freezer. :) I should do another freezer inventory, myself, and maybe prepare a few meals to freeze for the days when I don't feel like cooking!
DeleteI am so impressed with what you spend on groceries. I am spending more now, but with my new budget, it is working out okay. I spend less on other things. Homemade meals are so satisfying.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephenie. I tend to shop at Ralphs these days because they have curbside pick up. Its not quite as inexpensive as the Armenian grocery store I used to go to, but, the Armenian store doesn't offer curbside pick up and I am not yet ready to grocery shop in person. I buy what's on sale, freeze what I can for future meals, and combine what I buy in a given week with what I have in the freezer and pantry for meals. I'll do some take out meals when my daughter is home, but, otherwise, I mostly eat homemade meals. :)
DeleteI'm glad that you were able to raise your grocery budget by spending less on other things, although I hope those other things weren't essentials. It's good to be able to tweak the budget as needed, isn't it?
You are doing exceptionally well with your food budget, Bless, and I bet your daughter is enjoying her home cooked meals with you!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I'm doing a low spend challenge which is ticking along nicely as I have vouchers to spend. I'm so lucky, we hardly spent anything this week at all. It will be a shopping trip to Iceland store next Tuesday to use more of my vouchers x
Thank you, Angela. Yes, my daughter is enjoying my cooking! :) I think you are doing great on your low spend challenge, buying most of your groceries with your vouchers and very little cash! Well done!
DeleteYou did well shopping and got some good deals. But things are so expensive aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI said to my husband how a year ago we were buying 2 dozen eggs for $2.50 and now the same 2 dozen is pushing $10.00!
I will get oranges this week - I am thrilled they are on sale for $2.49 for a 4 lb bag which I know I already mentioned to you but I'm so happy about that price that it gets another mention. lol
It's nice that you got to see Jennifer again.
Thank you, Debra; yes, prices are going up! One really has to shop the sales to the extent possible, but, there are some things you have to pay full price and buy when needed. Eggs, for example. I keep hoping that the neighbor's chicken would lay me an egg or two in return for feeding it, but, no luck, so far! LOL. That's an excellent price for a 4 lb. bag of oranges! Oranges keep fresh in the fridge for several weeks, too.
Delete