I ordered and picked up groceries today (Saturday).
I was out of bread, half and half for daughter's coffee, bananas, carrots, and wanted more fruit for the week, and daughter asked for a savory snack that was not chips or cheetos.
I also wanted to get some juice as I had no bottled juice in the house (I've been making fresh lemonade from lemons in the garden, but, my lemons are coming to an end and the few that are left are getting parboiled in the heat) and store brand apple juice was on sale, this week.
I decided to try a different white bread, which cost $1 more (even on sale) partly because the cheaper store brand sandwich bread has been declining in quality. I've tried and like the multi-grain bread this company makes, but, the store was out of the multi-grain bread when I put in the order.
I ordered some boneless pork loin chops that were on sale for $4.99/lb., to have a different meat, besides chicken (which was on sale for $1.99/lb. ), but, the store texted me back saying they were out of the item and could substitute a different cut of pork chops for $5.99/lb. and the difference in price will be charged to my account. They used to absorb the difference in cost if the substitution cost more than the original item ordered, but, they no longer do that. I declined the substitution.
As usual, I shopped mostly from what was on sale this week, and used digital coupons and multi-buy deals to stock up on some items that we use. Had I not done so and paid full price for the items I bought, my total would have come to $94.14. According to the receipt, I saved $41.79 (or about 44% of the total) by shopping the sales and using coupons.
I bought:
Order Summary
Item Details
27 Items
Other Fees
$0.40
I spent a total of $52.75
August grocery budget = $250
Spent to date = $38.17 + $15.24 + $44.18 + $54.94 + $52.75 = $205.28
Balance remaining in August grocery budget = $44.72
I anticipate doing one more grocery shopping trip at the end of the month. I should be able to stick to my August grocery budget.
I am grateful for:
- Being able to order groceries online
- Free pick up with a minimum purchase amount
- The availability of groceries
- Being able to afford groceries
- Daughter putting away the groceries for me
How are you coming along with your grocery spending this month? Are you finding good deals?
I don't blame you for not taking the substitution.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I didn't want to spend extra on the other type of pork chops. I'll wait and see if it goes on sale, again.
DeleteMany of our stores have «loyalty cards« and reductions are applied automatically at the checkout. we can also 'self scan' as we go round to save time. On Thursday Bob and I picked up a few items on 9ur way home from the spa trip. A favourite but costly range of desserts was half price. After much discussion I chose one. And was really annoyed at the checkout- of the 8 flavours, the one I'd selected was the only one not in the offer! O well, it tasted good, we ate it slowly and mindfully!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's too bad about the one dessert you chose was not on offer! But, the occasional full priced item, savored slowly and mindfully, is a lovely treat. :)
DeleteWe, too, have store loyalty cards and a lot of the times, the "sale" price is applied only if one has a loyalty card. This particular store also has a paid membership card which, apparently, entitle you to special sales, but, I am not paying for a membership. The digital coupons have to be downloaded onto your loyalty card.
Are the Ritz the savory snack? I love Ritz crackers. So did my father and grandmother. They always had Ritz crackers on the table.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Ritz crackers are the savory snack. They are a favorite of ours, too. I tend to avoid buying them because we tend to eat too many of them at one time, but, the roasted vegetable ones are delicious! :)
DeleteI'm waiting for a sale on the light cream for coffee, hoping for one before DS and family come again. If there isn't a sale I shall buy it anyway. In the meantime I poured some milk into the almost empty carton and shook it, for my own use!
ReplyDeleteI hope the light cream will go on sale before your DS and family's next visit, Bushlady. I usually pay full price for the store brand half and half (half milk, half cream) I buy for daughter as I have never seen it going on a sale. She will use milk if the half and half is not available, but, she really likes it so I buy it for her. I used to love a flavored coffee creamer at one time, but, it's an artificial creamer and I've stopped buying it. As a result, I rarely drink coffee, these days, choosing to have tea, instead. :)
DeleteBy coincidence, I switched to a different bread, myself, when I went to the store this morning. The one we usually eat just hasn't tasted as fresh recently, and Lily seems happy with it, so...
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased to say that my meal plan has been written, and the weekly shop completed. It's time to get back into some good habits. Xx
How interesting that you, too, switched to a different bread, Jules. Sometimes, you do get what you pay for, don't you? The new bread tastes fine and seems more substantial; I will probably continue to buy it in the future.
DeleteWell done with the meal planning and the shopping! I need to make my meal plan for this week!
Well done. Have a beautiful day.
ReplyDeletersrue.blogspot.com
Thank you, Regine. Hope you have a lovely day, too.
DeleteThe store I used to pick up at stopped absorbing the cost of substitutions a while back. I set my profile for no substitutions after i got an order where I paid more being unaware of the new policy.
ReplyDeleteYou've done well with the new budget. Do you feel good about the amount? Not feeling too restricted?
I still have the "substitutions ok" button checked because the store has been contacting me before making any substitutions, but, maybe I should change that, just in case they stop contacting me!
DeleteThe new budget is working well for me; for now, at least. Of course, it has been just one month and things might change. But, my current budget is just under what either one of us is allowed in the USDA Thrifty Food Plan, when adjusted for household size. So, I'll be quite happy if I can manage to stay under budget.