Welcome to my $100 A Month Grocery Budget – Week 22 of 52. There are so many things I want to share, I hope I can remember them all!
My current grocery store purchases for 2023 are $709.16
Which is a little more than my goal of an average of $100 a month. But, it’s also about right for this time of year. If you’re a long time reader then you know I detest going into the stores around the holidays. And typically, I pretty much have everything I need to get by for the rest of the year by around early October. So the only thing left to buy in November or December is milk and eggs.
That’s always the plan anyway. But I’m feeling good about this year.
We are working on getting our garden planted, eating down the canning cupboard and working on using up the vegetables we froze from last summer’s bounty.
We already have plenty of beans, rice and pasta in our food storage, so if all goes well in the gardening and canning departments this summer, and a few more deals on stock up items like whole chickens, butter and cheese come our way, we should be set to finish the year on budget.
Fact: We now live in a world where ordinary peaches are selling for $4.99 a pound.
I don’t know about you, but most of the prices in the stores these days, I just shake my head at and move on. Seriously, how many people do you know would pay $4.99 a pound for ordinary peaches?
Another fact: There is a sucker born every minute.
There are people among us who are paying $1.99 for an 8 ounce shrink wrapped potato. And just in case you’re not a math wiz, that’s $3.98 a pound for russet potatoes {the most common potato on the planet}.
And here I thought $1.49 a pound for russet potatoes was insane. I’m here to tell you though that the world has not gone completely mad. {Not yet anyway.}
There are still good deals out there! Although they are becoming harder and harder to find these days, that’s for sure.
$0.99 for a dozen eggs? I’d get out of bed for that. Butter for $2.47 a pound? Where are my shoes? Let’s go! I need to stick to my $100 a month grocery budget!
Shaw’s $21.05
Here’s what the deal looked like:
$3.96 {4} dozen eggs @ $0.99 a dozen
$11.94 {6} 8oz bars of cheese @$1.99 each
$9.99 {4} 1 pound butter @ $2.47 each
$1.27 onion {$1.49 lb}
——————
$27.05
– $5.00 off $25 purchase
– $1.00 off produce
——————
$21.05 Total OOP {out of pocket}
Now that was a deal worth getting out of bed for if you ask me. Nothing flashy, just the basics. I’m good with that.
Hannaford $11.59
$4.91 {1} gallon Oakhurst Whole Milk
$3.59 {16 oz} whipping cream
$3.09 bag of shredded coconut
Clearly no deals there, but I’ve been in the mood for a slice of Zoë’s coconut cream pie for about a week now so I thought I’d make a pie as a special treat for all the hard work we’ve been putting into our garden lately. Even if coconut and cream seem like luxury items on a $100 a month grocery budget. You’ve got to keep the troops happy after all, right?
Here’s a look at the meals we ate last week:
A pot of beans. Shocking, I know. 😉
If I was stuck on a deserted island with a crate filled with 5 magically replenishable ingredients, they’d be beans, rice, eggs, chocolate and bananas. Which coincidentally, are some of the most basic {and cheap} things to eat on the planet. Well, except the chocolate.
I think what we choose to eat impacts us big time financially. There are people who live to eat, and those who eat to live.
I guess I’m just one of those people who wants the basics… So I can splurge on the big wants in life. What people choose to spend their money on fascinates me. And I have no idea why.
Note to self: See if the library has a copy of Bean by Bean.
That whole milk I bought for Zoë’s coconut cream pie {because it’s cheaper than using cream}? Well, I ended up making a batch of creamy chicken and rice soup instead. It lasted for days.
Note to self: buy more whole milk.
I also whipped up a batch of 8 can chicken taco soup. And froze the leftovers. We’ve had a lot of rain here over the past few days {with no end in sight!} so I think I’m going to work on making a few things for the freezer today and tomorrow.
That way, when we’re back outside again working in the garden, I won’t have to think about what I’ll be serving for dinner. I’ll just be able to pull something from the freezer instead. It’s a beautiful plan if you ask me.
I think I’ll whip up a batch of cookies and a pie for the freezer as well. Last night I made an apple galette for dessert. We ate 2 slices and I froze the other 6 for later.
Freezing our leftovers, that’s what I’m all about these days.
Last night I soaked a pot of beans and started a loaf of Dutch oven crusty bread. Today I’ll make a batch of my copy cat Panera black bean soup to serve with hunks of buttered bread.
I think I might also make a pan of my favorite macaroni and cheese {for the freezer} and mini frittatas {also for the freezer} with some of those eggs.
In fact, the egg deal was such a good one, I think I might go back for 4 more dozen if I can come up with some recipes that use a lot of eggs.
If you have any recipes that contain a lot of eggs… Please let me know!
So how did it go at YOUR place last week? Did you find any deals worth getting out of bed for?
Have a good one,
~Mavis
*****
Total Spent This Past Week on Groceries $32.64
- Total Spent on Groceries in June $32.64
- Total Spent on Groceries in May $288.51
- Total Spent on Groceries in April $35.36
- Total Spent on Groceries in March $82.28
- Total Spent on Groceries in February $101.14
- Total Spent on Groceries in January $167.33 {this includes buying groceries on Fair Isle}
- Total Spent on Groceries in 2023 $709.16 for my $100 a month grocery budget
Wendy C says
We are getting about 12-14 eggs a day so I am going to use up some today making 2 quiches-one for tonight and one for the freezer. I might make up some blueberry muffins to use up more eggs. They freeze very well. It is getting very hot here in the day now so I am going to make up some chicken salad to have for easy meals. Deviled eggs are good to make when you have an excess.
Ramona says
This week Fred Meyers has half gallon of milk for 99 cents digital deal. Also peaches for $1.29 lb.
Tomorrow is the first Tuesday of the month so on certain items you get 10% off for Senior Discount day.
When the milk is that cheap I buy several and freeze some for later.
I’m planning on making your recipe for Summer Peach and Almond Tart.
Mavis Butterfield says
That is a gerat deal on milk! And those tarts are fantastic.
Becky-TN says
Mavis,
A friend brought me a chocolate bundt pound cake yesterday. I want to freeze half of it. Should I freeze the individual portions on a sheet pan first and then wrap to freeze or just wrap them up and stick them in the freezer?
Thanks!
Becky
Mavis Butterfield says
I like to freeze individual portions first, then wrap. That way I don’t have to worry about my cake being misshapen.
Becky-TN says
Thanks!
Jennifer says
I am an Instacart and Spark (for Wal-Mart) and I am a often amazed at what people will spend their money buying. I shop a lot at Publix, which is a high end store compared to everything else around here, minus Whole Foods and Earth Fare. The craziest thing, in my most humble opinion was organic honey crisp apples. They were $4.99# that week and HUGE, like the size of a small grapefruit huge. She wanted 8, but I messaged her that they were incredibly large and I just wanted to double check if she still wanted eight. She did and I bagged them up. All 11# worth. $55 for just 8 apples.
Mavis Butterfield says
$55 for 8 apples is nuts!
Donna says
When I have extra eggs I make French toast. I freeze the cooked slices individually on a cookie sheet, then store them together. Later, I let them thaw for 10 minutes and then pop them in the toaster.
Ashley Bananas says
I’m in Florida. I always look for the bagged snacking apples for my son, they also go bogo periodically and that’s when I stock up.
Mona R McGinnis says
Excess eggs? Mini quiches can be frozen & make a meal or a snack. Also, pickled eggs. Frittatas also make a good BLD – bkft, lunch or dinner.
Beth says
Angel food cake uses a bunch of eggs. If you like that.
V says
Bakewell tarts, which can also made in a pan and sliced, are a tasty way to use some eggs.
Rosemary says
Some egg-cellent ideas for extra eggs:
Deviled eggs (maybe add that to your pickety bits meals)
Egg salad
French Toast (I make a lot and then freeze them)
Cream Puffs (recipe I have uses 4 eggs)
Pickled eggs
Mary says
Headed to Shaws for the same deals! So glad I discovered them and their digital coupons. All of the gardens are in but potatoes, which are going to be great on the budget with the ridiculous potato prices you posted.
BettafrmdaVille says
1. Spanish tortilla (tortilla Española) – https://food52.com/blog/21639-jessica-battilana-repertoire-cheaters-tortilla-with-fancy-mayonnaise
2. Dutch babies – I use Smitten Kitchen
3. You can freeze raw eggs
Beth says
You got great deals…I on the other hand shopped at Albertsons and Costco this week so I spent a fortune…I did get my husband 2 of the Eggwich on sale at Costco and that makes for a healthier on the go breakfast than stopping at Burger King.
A couple of years ago you did a giveaway with Rancho Gordo beans and though I didn’t win I became a regular consumer and fan of their products. Last week I got a few packages of beans and a cookbook from their site so this morning I’m deciding what delicious dish to make from Fagioli The Bean Cuisine of Italy by Judith Barrett. I could eat beans every day…my husband not so much…
Linda says
Beth, “Fagioli: The Bean Cuisine of Italy” is listed on Amazon for $224.95.
Beth says
Holy Cow! You can get the updated version on Rancho Gordon’s website for $21.95….
https://www.ranchogordo.com/products/fagioli-the-bean-cuisine-of-italy
Cindy Brick says
Sachertorte. It takes a lot of eggs, but my family begs for it for not only Christmas, but their birthdays. I’ll bet HH would love it.
The stinkers.
(I lived in Austria for a summer back in college days — my cousins were missionaries in Vienna — and had a slice of this once there. I’m not sure, but believe it was even at the Hotel Sacher.)
https://cindybrick.blogspot.com/2007/12/hack-cough-and-sachertorte.html
We have also had rain. A LOT of rain. Way more than usual, to the point that it’s been a tad dreary. Unusual for Colorado’s ‘high plains desert’ environment. I topped it off by getting some sort of bronchitis, plus reports to finish up. Oh joy. So we’ve had a lot of soup, too.
Cheapest eggs are $2.09-2.49. Really good prices for here, since Colorado now requires that all egg-laying chickens be cagefree…and that bumped up prices. (I’m hoping the chickens are much happier.) Apples ON SALE, cheapest kind, are $1.49/lb, and I did get potatoes for an incredible 54 cents/lb. Pretty much all our produce has doubled in price since last year.
Heather says
We like these bean and squares and they use your basic ingredients. We top them with salsa, which I know you mentioned you have a lot of!
https://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/beancheesericesquares.htm
Jennifer says
I really like the egg bites at Starbucks and I see a lot of copycat recipes online. I don’t have a good egg source so I haven’t made them myself yet, but if I had extra, I would definitely try it.
Ashley Bananas says
I’ve been meaning to make those using wonton wrappers as an edible paper layer. As well as cups of tacos and spaghetti.
Angie says
For recipes that use a lot of eggs – try French Toast Casserole. I love the Pioneer Woman recipe for this, you can freeze it AND it is a wonderful use of all the berries we see this time of year. Also quiche – another item you can freeze and enjoy for breakfast or dinner with a nice salad. Frittata is also a good egg filled recipe as are breakfast burritos. All good for a quick protein packed breakfast for those early mornings that you want to get out into the garden to check off lots of tasks on the list.
By the way I made the Strawberry Cake that you shared the recipe for a few days ago. Holy Batman…it was so, so, so good. I used sugar free pudding and made my whip cream with Splenda and it still was one of the best cakes I have had in a very long time. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Ashley Bananas says
Eggs at Aldi in my area, SWFL, are down to $1.16-$1.30 depending on the store. A nice relief!!! This week I did no major grocery shopping except for pet supplies. A little more stocking up at Costco on pet supplies and we’ll be all set for a while. Our freezer is very full so eating out of that for a big and adding sides we have in the pantry is ideal. I also have a stock pile of canned food and want us to go through that as well. .We’re frugal. We try to stay frugal, it works for us.
Annette says
Mel’s Kitchen Cafe blog has a great recipe for Egg and Veggie Muffins.
Lana says
Fifty percent of the peach crop lost to the cold weather here in SC and 80 percent in GA. Might be a year to have just an occasional treat.
Jennifer says
Awww, my ds just said he was looking forward to peach season yesterday. I remember Harris Teeter and Food Lion having them 99¢# last year and not having to sweat the price. We are in NC so maybe they won’t be too bad.
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, make your 18-egg breakfast casserole!
Virginia says
Speaking of whole milk, I make your Copycat Panera Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice soup fairly regularly with a few modifications, one of which is to sub whole milk for the half-and-half. I also only use 8T of butter (one stick) instead of 12T. Those two changes alone make the soup healthier, perfectly creamy, and cheaper. I also add about 1/2 C wild rice blend that I cook up separately while I’m prepping the soup ingredients. It really makes the soup heartier, and I add it to the soup with the cooked chicken toward the end.
Aja in Iowa says
When I have extra eggs, I make a batch or two of curd (lemon, lime orange) and freeze in half-pint jars. Then a lemon tart or curd for my yogurt is in the freezer.
Heidi N. says
99 cents for eggs! Wow, that is awesome. Here eggs are down to $1.59 this week, from over $5 a dozen just a few months ago! Thankful for the drop in price! Butter is still sky-high here, even store brands are almost $5 per pound. When I have excess eggs, I make egg salad sandwiches, and sometimes deviled eggs.
Sue says
Would love a Shaws in central Alabama.
I do my freezing in individual portions also, since it now just myself. Oh, how my husband loved those fresh peaches.
Vy says
I make “egg rice” which is basically fried rice with a bunch of eggs scrambled in, whatever meat and veggies are leftover in the fridge. Freezes great!
Ranae says
Mavis,
Just wondering what kind of hooking frame you use? The frame I use has prickly edges to hold the linen in place and when I move it to work in a different area, it pulls out my loops. Do you have any idea as to what kind of frame I should use. Does that happen to you?
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Ranae, I mostly use my 2″ hoops from Barnett’s Hoops these days. For larger rugs I use my large rug hooking frame {with gripper teeth} from BeeCreekLTD. Both are on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/670457824 and http://www.etsy.com/listing/109455095
I like using the hoops better. 🙂
Jen says
Well this is interesting. I live in nh- and our eggs are 1.99 for a dozen! Cheese and butter are the same price. I wonder why that is…
Kari says
I love baking egg-bites in a muffin tin and using up whatever left over veggies/meat/cheese that is in my fridge. I will freeze these and just take out the night before for a quick breakfast.
Michelle says
The butter deal at our local Safeway in Central WA was $4.99…. I have butter envy. Haha.
Tara Salladay says
I just made these last night and they’re delicious!
Put 9 eggs and 1.5 cups lowfat cottage cheese in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Grease a 12 cup muffin pan.
Chop 6 slices of deli ham into small pieces.
Add a little bit of ham and a small sprinkle of shredded cheese to each cup.
Pour your eggs over ham and cheese.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
To make extra fluffy – put a sheet pan of boiling water on the bottom rack while your eggs bake. The steam will make them super light and fluffy!
Emma says
I always wait till peaches are truly in season to buy.
KC says
Whenever I see what foods other people buy and think are “of course” foods, or what other people think are ridiculous things to buy, I think of the Swistle post about Startling Expenses and also how hard so many commenters found it to initially identify what things *they* spent for that other people would think unreasonable:
https://www.swistle.com/2012/07/17/startling-expenses/
It is a good thought experiment. (but: warning: will temporarily increase smugness because YIKES *other* peoples’ startling expenses are very startling, and then decrease it once you realize your own “but it’s an investment” or “but it’s perfectly justified” or “but it’s the best way to go” or “but it’s worth it” things and realize how other people would feel about those, which can be a bit of a bumpy ride.)
Anyway! I hope the grocery budget and the coconut cream pie go well! 🙂
Ashley Bananas says
Hi Mavis, I did some browsing to find this post. Have you stopped doing the weekly what you spent on grocery blogs? I always enjoy reading those on Mondays!
J says
Here are a couple of suggestions for you.
1) Egg fried rice. Need margarine or butter, sweet yellow onion, green onions, left over white rice (I use Botan sticky rice), eggs and salt and cracked black pepper. In a frying pan take some margarine or butter and saute onions and green onions until onions turn transparent. Set aside, add more margarine and scramble your eggs with salt and pepper as this is going to be your protein you going to make a good bit of them. Set a side again lol add more margarine and add your cold rice season with salt and pepper. Once warmed through add the green onions, onions and eggs in and mix. This is a very basic recipe and a go to when I was growing up and money was a bit tight. I use it now as a easy fast meal and also when money is a bit tight. You can of course add more vegetables or another protein such as cut browned hot dogs or seasoned beef.
2) Steamed eggs (korean style) There are a ton of ways to make this but the basic recipe is just eggs in a bowl scrambled with a fork with some water, chopped green onions, salt and a touch of red pepper. Steam them into a pot and eat with rice with a drizzle of soy sauce mixed with toasted sesame seeds (can be left out if you don’t have any) red pepper and chopped green onions.