It’s good to be home!
We walked in shortly after midnight this morning and pretty much collapsed after a long day of planes, trains and automobiles. Luckily our adventure was nothing like the movie. I’ll be sharing some of the pictures we took on our weekend adventure in a little bit, but for right now, here is what I purchased last week before we scadaddled out of town.
QFC – $22.19
Before we headed to London I loaded up on whole chickens at QFC. I roasted all the birds at once and made a few dishes for the boys to eat while we were out of town. I also picked them up a few cans of their favorite Campbell’s Chunky Soup and some cream cheese for the mini bagels I picked up a few weeks ago at the Oroweat bread outlet. I don’t know about you, but I freeze bread when ever there is a deal on it.
Albertsons – $4.20
It’s hard to make white bean chicken chili without white beans, so we picked up a few cans and some onions to whip up a batch in the crock pot so we wouldn’t have to make dinner after spending the day shoveling dirt for the new garden beds.
Amazon – $1.68
I had a $15 Amazon ecard thanks to Swagbucks so I used it for 6 bags of Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips. I’m not a chocolate chip snob, but these ones are my favorite.
Mr. Produce Guy – FREE
Last week was a great week for free produce. We rarely get potatoes so it was nice to see those in the reclaimed produce boxes we get from Mr. Produce Guy.
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I am WAY over budget so far for this year.
But I’m still not freaking out. Even though I’m well in to Mid-May budget wise, I’m still delusional enough to think everything is going to work itself out in the end.
True, I’ve been buying less food this year, but I’m also spending more money on quality products. Clearly I expect our backyard garden to come into play, and my goal is that the garden will not only feed us all summer, but next fall and winter as well. At least that’s what I’m hoping for.
Only time will tell.
How did YOU do with your grocery budget last week? Over? Under?
Mavis wants to know.
Total Spent This Week $28.07
Total Spent This Year $436.12
Total Spent This Year on Garden Seeds/Supplies $627.79 {I bought a Meyer Lemon Tree, Rhubarb crowns, 6 Fruit Trees and 15 yards of soil}
sara says
I am so over budget already I’ve stopped keeping track. I had watched the segment (don’t remember which show it was from) where you mentioned you previously had spent $800 or so a month on groceries. I thought “how ridiculous, what is that woman buying”. Well, after I kept track of what my family was spending on groceries I had to retract that previous statement…. it’s amazing how this and that add up!!! Much like you, I’m hoping that my garden takes a big chunk out of my grocery bill. Fingers crossed…
Mavis says
Fingers crossed Sara. You can do it. Yes, we used to spend around $800 a month back in 2008 when I started keeping my receipts. Crazy, crazy, crazy!
Kathy says
Total for the month of February: $58.93. Seriously. Tons of BOGO on chicken, canned beans and tomatoes. Also, we have a grocery that has what is called a pick 5, which is buy 5 meat products for $19.99 and it’s good quality meats. Believe it or not, we are good now until next week!
Amanda says
How exactly do you freeze your bread? My husband and I hate bread that has been frozen, although I will eat it and he basically has to be forced. I hate that hamburger rolls come in an 8-pack, because we will eat 2 and then freeze the rest, but they are basically wasted because we just don’t want to eat them later! I made 2 loaves of zucchini bread once, froze one and really didn’t like it when I defrosted it. Although, I think my chocolate chip banana bread tastes fine after that’s been frozen and defrosted, so maybe it was just the zucchini bread. Any secrets? I have a cheapo vacuum sealer that I got for free, but I really don’t think it does anything to preserve bread. Wish I hadn’t bought the extra bags!
Mavis says
I triple wrap the bags before tossing them in the freezer and it seems to work well for us.
Amanda says
Triple wrap them in what? Just regular Ziploc or Hefty freezer bags?
Mavis says
I just use regular plastic grocery store bags. 🙂
michelle g-b says
Well seeing as how I’m having a heckuva time keeping my *monthly* budget at $400/month or less, I’d say you’re doing great! I’m including alcohol, household items & toiletries in my budget, though. It’s a tough challenge!
Mary Ann says
The budget flew out the window when we started eating Paleo January 28! The cost of grass-fed beef/bison and other organics are sky high, but I think it may actually end up being a wash because we’re not buying sodas (I probably drank a 6-pack a day), coffee, or alcohol (and other expensive stuff). I’m still couponing for toiletries and paper products, so that helps a lot.
Off to Sprouts this morning to get in on a heck of a deal — 100% organic grass-fed boneless New York steaks and Rib Eyes for $6.99 a pound! Normally about $14.99 a pound.
Mavis says
6 sodas a day? Yikes! I think in the end it will be a wash too. Hang in there. 🙂
Mary Ann says
Yeah, diet sodas — the worst thing in the world for you! Really bad habit. I’m so glad it’s gone now. I don’t even miss them.
Leanna says
Oh I feel you. I have gone over my $100 a week budget every week for the last 8 weeks except once. I keep trying though. Not able to garden as you do since it is over 100 three or four months out of the year here. Come on summer. I want to swim!!!!!!!!!
Dorothy Clunie says
Hi Mavis, I love your website and look forward to it every day, just wondering what kind of soil did you buy, I need to buy some soon.
Mavis says
it was a mix of 50% top soil and 50% compost. I also amend the soil with chicken fertilizer as well.
sharon says
When you say groceries, are you counting the toilet tissue, laundry detergent etc or only the food.
Debbie T says
I’m actually doing really well budget wise this month, but mine is a lot higher than yours but still low by some standards. There’s two of us and I try to spend no more than $400 per month.
Debbie T says
Oops hit the enter button too quickly.
Anyway I’m a gardener and canner/freezer too. My big achievement this year will be to not have to purchase any canned tomatoes.
I don’t know that I’ll ever be as good as you but I’m enjoying reading your blog. Thank you!
Tina says
How the heck do you get “reclaimed produce” for free?! My grocery store has a mark-down rack for produce, but nothing is ever free. Usually, it is not marked down more than 40% at the most.
D'Anna says
Ask your produce manager for chicken scraps…Mavis does and discovered that the majority of what was going to be thrown in a dumpster was perfectly fine to be eaten by people and not just her chickens. Poke around on here and you will see several months of free produce she has acquired. Your produce person may turn you down but you won’t know unless you ask.