Last week was kind of an odd one at our house.
The HH had a crazy schedule {that included 3 paid business meals} and wasn’t home much. I had dental work {a 1 1/2 hour appointment that turned into 2 hours and 45 minutes}. My mouth was super sore on top of getting over a cold and all I wanted was soup and smoothies for the better part of the week. Our meals were pretty simple and I did try a few new recipes though so I guess it all worked out in the end.
Fred Meyer $13.83
Fred Meyer had their milk on sale for $0.99 a half gallon so I stocked up. It seems like the milk goes on sale every two weeks and the limit is 6 half gallons which seems to work out perfectly for our family. The HH isn’t a milk drinker {unless it’s in oatmeal or cereal} and Monkey Boy only occasionally drinks a glass of milk with dinner. I also spent a whopping $6.19 yeast and picked up a bunch of bananas for $0.69 lb.
In the past I’ve bought yeast in bulk at Costco because the price is so much better. But these days, I just don’t go through it fast enough and I actually had to throw out my remaining yeast last week because it became inactive.
Harbor Greens Market $3.99
10 oz bags of spinach were on sale for $1.00 each and broccoli was $0.99 lb. Funny thing. Each week Harbor Greens offers a few really good deals on produce {which reset each Wednesday}.
Anywho, when I went in early Wednesday morning to pick up the sale items I was interested in they hadn’t changed the price of the broccoli in the system yet. So instead of taking the time to reset the price real quick {or doing simple math}, the cashier just charged me for 1 pound {$0.99} instead of the 1.44 pounds on the scale.
Trader Joe’s $5.14 remaining balance after gift card
As I mentioned in my goals for 2016 post, one of my huge goals this year is not to spend money on nonessential items. After going an entire month without buying anything, I was feeling the need for some retail therapy. So I decided to pop over to Trader Joe’s and BUY some “fun” foods I wouldn’t normally buy with the gift card my parents gave us for Christmas.
Things I wouldn’t normally buy unless I had a gift card: fancy olives, blue cheese, pork roast, sauerkraut, fancy mustard, steamer clams, tamales and sundried tomatoes. I don’t know, maybe I’m a little goofy, but I’d rather have a gift card to a specialty food store instead of a new pair of pj’s for Christmas.
Here are some of the things we ate last week {snacks not included}:
Monday
Breakfast – Oatmeal with frozen strawberries, smoothie
Lunch – Lentils and rice
Dinner – Chicken stir fry and brown rice
Tuesday
Breakfast – Steel cut oats with frozen blueberries
Lunch – Leftover chicken stir fry and brown rice
Dinner – Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup
Wednesday
Breakfast – Malt O Meal with Bananas and brown sugar
Lunch -Egg salad sandwhich
Dinner – Chicken Noodle Soup and Cinnamon raisin bread
Thursday
Breakfast – Cinnamon raisin bread and an orange, strawberry and banana smoothie
Lunch – Leftover chicken noodle soup
Dinner – Spinach quiche
Friday
Breakfast – Tea and cherry danish at Panera
Lunch – Cobb salad from Panera {to go order}
Dinner – Leftover quiche
Saturday
Breakfast – Leftover quiche
Lunch – Chicken soup
Dinner – Costco Food Court
Sunday
Late Breakfast – Eggs with spinach and mushrooms, pot of yogurt and toast
Linner – Huge Plate of Chicken Nachos with guacamole
How did you do with your grocery budget last week? Did you buy anything exciting?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $22.96
Total Spent in Janaury $105.36
Freebies we’ve been gifted or were earned in 2016: $200
- $100 gift card to Whole Foods {Christmas gift from my parents}
- $100 gift card to Trader Joe’s {Christmas gift from my parents}
- 22 Packets of Vegetable Seeds
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Deanna says
I buy yeast in bulk, keep it in the freezer with just a small refillable jar in the fridge Never had it go inactive……
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for the tip Deanna!
Christy says
Yep, you can get it at Costco cheap!
Cindi says
I second the suggestion to keep the yeast in the freezer and transfer it a little at a time to the refrigerator. It will keep forever this way.
Sue R. says
Just going to suggest keeping the yeast in the freezer and wasn’t fast enough 🙂 It works great!
Maryse says
I too have been keeping my yeast in the freezer. It has lasted for years. I use it straight out of the freezer with no ill effect.
Mary G says
I never knew that. Thank you for sharing that tip for the rest of us, too!
molly says
you beat us all to it, freezer the yeast and it lasts forever….well til you use it.
I made peasant bread last week and plan to make more this week with my freezer yeast.
Kathy says
Normally I don’t buy pork loin (reg price is $4.99 a pound in my neck of the woods.) But with the fantastic sale price at my local Giant Eagle store, I picked up a 7.08 pound package for $14.09… $1.99 a pound. And got it cut for free. That being said, I got 2 pork loin roasts and 16 chops, 6 meals in my house. With what I have on hand in frozen/home canned veggies it’s all I spent on groceries last week… $14.09!
Mavis Butterfield says
Awesome Kathy!!
Suzanne says
I agree with Deanna. Store the yeast in the freezer. I’ve had mine for at least four years and it’s still good.
Mary says
Just wondering if any other Mavis Groupies are out there?
I look forward to checking my inbox everyday right before dinner!!
It’s only February but I’ve been following your ideas for 3 years and let me tell you, my bank accounts never looked so good, we are not throwing out spoiled food and the challenge to spend 100.00 a month on groceries is awesome!
We were at 125.00 at the end of January!
Goal was 100 so I’m thinking that’s great for the first month!
Thanks so much, Mavis!
I’m a big time GROUPIE!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Mary! $125 is awesome. Keep up the good work.
Amanda says
Have you shared the cinnamon raisin bread recipe yet? It looks amazing!
ann in E. oregon says
I had the same question! That bread does look amazing! 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
I will tomorrow! 🙂
Marcia says
I pretty much spent as much this week as you did the entire month. And my husband was traveling too! So that’s no excuse. Last week was a light week though.
I bought a lot of veggies. I don’t recall getting much exciting. Some sausage on the sale rack for $1.49. Which would be great except my 9 year old hates it. He ate 1/4 of one tiny slice.
Tracy says
Hi Mavis,
Do you freeze your milk?
Mavis Butterfield says
Sometimes if I get a crazy good deal I’ll buy a few extra and freeze them.
Kelly E says
I am in absolute Awe over the price of milk there. I am in Newfoundland, Canada and we pay anywhere from $3.33 – $4.89 for a 2 liter of milk.