June Grocery Shopping - Part 1

 

Some of the Groceries

On June 3rd, I went grocery shopping in person at the Armenian grocery store which is one of my favorite grocery stores in which to shop (second only to the Sri Lankan store, I think!)  Their prices are what attracts me the most and then, the specialty foods they offer.  Pictured above are just a few items of the groceries I bought: canned coconut water, a bottle of rose syrup, a bag of ready-to-eat chestnuts, a fresh papaya.

This week's main attraction was salmon steaks on sale for $6.99/lb.  The supermarket's sale price has been $9.99/lb. for fillets, which cost more than steaks, but, even so, the past couple of times I ordered them, they were out of stock.  Salmon is my daughter's favorite fish and it is a treat for her.

Whole tilapia was also on sale for $1.99/lb.  I know that some people will not eat tilapia, but, I am not one of them.  I bought one and asked the fish counter service person to cut it up into three pieces for me and I cooked a curry with it for our dinner (and went slightly off my meal plan for the week!)

I also bought a small piece of pork cushion meat on sale for $2.99/lb.  Daughter said she could make fajita with it, if I bought the bag of mini sweet peppers that was on sale for $1.29/lb. (she loves the mini sweet peppers in salads and as snacks, too) and a bunch of cilantro on sale for 4/$1 or $0.25 each.  I didn't buy tortillas for it as tortillas are a better price at the supermarket or I could make some thin tortilla-like roti/flat bread at home.

I also bought a container of labne kefir cheese, which is a type of strained yogurt, that is thicker and tangier than regular yogurt.  It reminds me of the yogurt I had as a child, which was made with water buffalo milk, set in clay pots which naturally caused liquid to evaporate.

 

So, here's what I bought (supermarket price comparison in blue for added interest):

1 Box Dove mini ice cream bars (10 count), reg. price $8.99 = $4.99 ($6.49)

1 Broccoli crown @ $0.79/lb. = $0.55 ($2.49/lb) 

1 Celery = $0.69 ($2.99)

1 gal. distilled Vinegar = $2.99 ($4.49 store brand)

1 Tilapia, whole @$1.99/lb. = $3.02 ($4.33/lb. frozen in 3 lb. bag for $12.99)

1 bottle Rose Syrup, 19 fl.oz. = $7.69 (not available at supermarket)

1 Labne kefir cheese (yogurt), 16 oz. = $1.99 ($4.49)

4 salmon steaks @ $6.99/lb. (bought 2 steaks per package) = $9.44 + $9.54 = $18.98 ($12.99/lb. for fillet)

Pork cushion meat (boneless) @ $2.99/lb. = $5.52 ($2.99/lb for pork butt, bone-in)

1 lb. bag Sweet Mini Peppers = $1.29 ($3.99; $6 for 2 lb. bag)

1 bunch Cilantro 4/$1 = $0.25 ($0.99)

1 Mexican Papaya @ $0.79/lb = $1.04 ($1.99/lb.)

Green Beans @ $1.69/lb. = $1.47 ($2.99/lb.)

1 Red Onion @ $0.99/lb. = $0.55 ($1.79/lb.)

2 bags (100g) Chestnuts (ready to eat), @$1.25 = $2.50 (not available at the supermarket) 

4 cans. 16 oz, Coconut Water @ $1.49 + $0.05 deposit = $6.16 ($1.49@)

Total Spent = $59.60 (I rounded it up by two pennies to make up for not being given my exact change as discussed below)

Here's the receipt:

6/3/26 Grocery Receipt

You will notice that the receipt states the grocery total was $59.58  and the change due was $40.32.  However, since I paid with cash and the penny is no longer being minted, many stores are not giving out any pennies back in change.  They round up the amounts to benefit the store.  As a result, I received $40.30 in change back and the store made the $0.02 profit!  In this instance, I did not make a fuss, because this store tries to give discounted prices and they have items that I want which are not easily available in other stores.  It is also not part of a major grocery chain.  But, this is a good reminder for me to offer exact change when paying with cash.

This same thing happened to me at the gas station, too, the last time I put gas.  I pay with cash at the gas station because gas is cheaper per gallon if you pay cash, but, one runs the risk of being short-changed when paying!  

Anyway, I saved quite a bit by shopping at this store instead of shopping at the supermarket.  The one item that seems to be cheaper at the supermarket are bagged carrots; this store was charging $1.39/1 lb. bag while the supermarket is still charging $1.99/2 lb. bag.  I will be ordering some carrots this week, when I put in an order for daughter's half & half and my milk, etc.  Yes, I will be putting in another grocery order for delivery from the supermarket this week, again.  And, if I keep this up, I'll be going over budget again!  

June's Grocery Budget (for food items only) = $250 - $26.13 (spent on the last day of May) = $223.87

Spent to date = $59.60

Balance left in June Grocery Budget = $223.87 - $59.60 = $164.27

Have you grocery shopped in June, yet?