July Grocery Shopping - Part 1

I put in a grocery order on Thursday afternoon and picked it up in the evening. 

I needed bread because I had used up the last two slices of bread in the morning, for my brunch.  I also wanted more vinegar, sugar, garlic, and ginger for more chutney making now that the tomatoes are ripening.

In addition, the store was having some good deals on a couple of items I wanted, including beef with boneless beef chuck roast on sale for $3.99/lb.  I had stopped buying beef (other than ground beef when it was on sale for $3.99/lb.) for the past couple of years because the prices had gone up so much (the regular price on the chuck roast was $8.99/lb., per the receipt).  Trimmed tri tip roast was on sale for $5.99/lb. last week and I thought that was still too expensive.  This week, however, chuck roast was on sale for $3.99/lb. and since I've been paying that price for ground beef, I decided it was a good price for beef.  I ordered two packages of beef and I will cook them in two different ways.  

I bought:

1.74 lb. chuck roast @ $3.99/lb. = $6.94

1.7 lb. chuck roast @ $3.99/lb. = $6.78

1 doz. large eggs = $2.99

1/2 gal. milk, with digital coupon = $1.69

1 container (32 oz.) plain yogurt (reg. price) = $4.39 

1 Loaf white sliced bread (I ordered store brand, but they were out of it and substituted a loaf of Wonder Bread which sells for $4.29 per the store website, for the price of the store brand) = $1.79

1 cucumber = $0.79
2 pieces ginger root (0.35 lb. @ $1.99/lb.) = $0.70 
5 bulbs garlic = $1.99

1 bottle (64 fl. oz.) cranberry juice cocktail, with coupon (reg. price $3.69) = $3.04 + $0.10 deposit fee
(CRV - California redemption value)

1 gal. distilled white vinegar = $3.99

10 lb. white granulated sugar = $7.99

Pepsi, 2 x 6 packs @ $2.99 (reg. price $5.49@) = $5.98 + $0.60 CRV +  $0.50 tax

1 box (16 oz.) pound cake mix, reg. price $4.99, free with  coupon! = $0

Total spent = $45.26

According to the receipt, the original value of the items I bought was $78.70.  I will take their word for it!  

My July grocery budget is $100 (+ $64.38 carried over from May, if needed)

I spent $45.26
Balance left in the July budget = $100 - $45.26 = $54.74

Ricky, the same person who brought the groceries to my car last time (when the loaf of bread was left out), brought the groceries to the car today.  When I got home, there was a phone call from an unfamiliar number on my cell phone, but, I didn't answer it, because I didn't know who was calling and I was wary that it might be a spam call.  So, I let it go to voice mail.  I put away the groceries (the loaf of bread was there!) and then, I realized, my jug of vinegar and the bottles of soda were missing!  Not again!  This was getting annoying.

So, I called the store and spoke to someone named Steve and asked to be transferred to the pick up department.  My call was transferred and someone picked up the phone and said the store name, so I started to explain that part of my order had been left out.  The young woman at the other end couldn't understand what I was saying and I was getting a bit frustrated.  Turned out that I had been transferred to the bakery department!  No wonder the young woman didn't know what I was talking about!  I asked her to transfer me to the pick up department, but, she hung up on me!  She was probably thinking I was a crazy woman!   

So, I called the store again and Steve answered again and I said I had been transferred to the bakery department, but, I wanted the pick up department!  I was transferred again and this time, it was to the pick up department and Ricky answered the phone.  He apologized and said he had called my cell phone and left a message that items had been mistakenly left out.  I said I hadn't checked the message because I didn't recognize the number - it wasn't the store number.  No, he had called from his personal phone.  He was very apologetic about it and said I could come over then or tomorrow morning if that's more convenient.  Well,  I figured I might as well go over right away and get it over with.  It's not that the store is very far, it's just the hassle of closing up the house and driving over, again.  I asked him if I had to go into the store again, as last time, I couldn't get through to the pick up department once I was at the parking lot.  He said I could call him on his phone and he'll bring the items to the car for me.

So, I went back to the store.  I was no longer irritated that I had to go back a second time, again.  Ricky is fairly new, I think, and he's probably trying his best.  It was probably an honest mistake.  Picking up in the early evening is probably not the best time of the day, anyway, as they are probably quite busy.  I shall switch back to morning or early afternoon pick ups.

Anyway, once I got to the store parking lot, I called Ricky on his phone and he brought the items out and apologized again.  I told him we have to stop meeting like this, otherwise people might notice and start talking.  I don't think he expected me to joke about it, because he looked startled at first and then, burst out laughing.  He looked very relieved that I was not angry; I think I might have made another new friend! 

Anyway, I now have my groceries and am set for at least another two weeks.  

By the time I came home, I didn't feel like cooking dinner (brunch had been French toast and bacon).  The sausages I had taken out to thaw in the fridge will keep another day.  I opened a can of tuna, gave Dancer a spoonful, and made tuna salad with the rest.  Tuna salad sandwich for dinner with yogurt for dessert.  Grapes and almonds for snacks.  There's leftover tuna salad for brunch, tomorrow.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to order groceries on line
- Same day pick up only a couple of hours later
- Safe drives to the store and back, twice
- Being able to take advantage of sales
- Working appliances and electricity to run them

Thursday's joyful activity was enjoying a long phone chat with one of my cousins in Sri Lanka.  She had tried to call me earlier and had left a message asking me to call her.  I completely forgot the 12 hour time difference and called her at what was 5:00 a.m. her time!  She was very gracious about being woken up by my phone call! 

Have you grocery shopped in July, yet?  Are you finding good sales?