Last week I talked about attempting to keep my “food snob” status on just $50 a week. I am happy to report that week 1 of the new grocery budget was successful. I spent a total of $53 and was able to make it work for all meals and snacks from Sunday to Saturday! I thought I would feel deprived, but not really! I mean, sure, it would have been nice to have a few extra things on hand throughout the week, but it was DO-able and I didn’t have to sacrifice my health! PHEW!
I miss Hawaii.
These are a few of the things I learned from this past week:
- You don’t have to make NEW and exciting recipes every night of the week. Although I love me some variety, having a few of the same meals for lunch or dinner saves you lots of dough!
- Dried beans. Cheap, versatile, and EASY.
- Pasta. I’ve never been a big fan, but when you literally have NOTHING else to eat at the end of the week, pasta sauce, noodles, and peas come together quite nicely.
- Homemade bread. I’ve made 10 loaves of bread and 2 pizza crusts from a big bag of organic flour I bought when it was on sale for $5.99. The bread might not last as long, but it’s still a great way to have fresh bread without spending $3-6 a loaf! These French loaves are SUPER easy to make.
- Fresh produce. When you don’t have the “extras;” chips, crackers, cookies, sodas, etc., it really isn’t as expensive to keep lots of produce in the house! Although most fruit isn’t on sale right now, lots of winter veggies are! I spent just about half my bill on produce and it was well worth it!
- Plan ahead. Last week I didn’t spend very much time in the pre-planning stage. This week, I felt more prepared for my grocery shop. I began planning my attack last Wednesday. This may sound crazy, but it’s NOT!! With several days to compile a grocery list, I was better able to piece together EXACTLY what we would need and be better equipped to avoid impulse buys. This is how I managed to be UNDER budget in week 2!!
Yesterday I left the grocery store (Mustard Seed Market, a health food store similar to Whole Foods, only WAY better), spending a total of $31.35!! This is what I picked up!!
I always start in the produce section. I spent $22 on lots of organic veggies; swiss chard, spinach, red leaf lettuce, potatoes, yellow onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms.
Just a few pieces of fruit; organic apples and bananas.
I originally planned to pick up a spaghetti squash for a new recipe I wanted to try, but it was $6 ($1.99/lb). I just couldn’t justify it! I will just have to come up with something else to eat! Sometimes, you have to improvise.
I spend good money on cheese because I believe that with the good stuff, a little goes a LONG way! This Kerrygold, grass-fed cheese ran me $4.59. In my opinion, it’s worth every. single. penny.
Vegetable broth, peanut and coconut butter spread, 2 cans organic corn, pastured eggs, and organic butter.
I am on a weekly mailer for Mustard Seed Market. In the mailer, you get a coupon for ONE free item each week. This week happened to be vegetable broth. What did I do? Included a new recipe including this FREE ingredient! I also picked up their coupon booklet, which they give for FREE at the front of their store, and found $1 off of nut butter (which I needed) and a $1 off organic butter (which I also needed). SCORE! Although I DO typically buy grass-fed Kerrygold butter…you can’t beat a coupon!
All of these things combined (and baby wipes) totaled $51.35. BUT, lucky for us, this week’s GROUPON was spend $10 and get a $20 GROUPON toward Mustard Seed Market! I bought one, Brandon bought one on another credit card, and my brother picked one up for us too! You can only use one at a time, but that’s $10 off for the next 3 weeks! NICE!
So, even though I paid $31.35 at the market today, I really spent $41.35, since I paid $10 for the GROUPON. Make sense?
Still, UNDER BUDGET!! Crazy! Happy. Girl.
QUICK lunch when I got home (I was starved)…coconut/peanut butter on homemade bread, banana, and celery.
This week’s menu is going to look something like this:
- Sunday: Potato Soup (I will have a recipe up tomorrow…AMAZING) and homemade bread.
- Monday: Potato Soup leftovers and salad greens.
- Tuesday/Wednesday: Supposed to be spaghetti squash gratin. Must improvise. Pinto bean, corn, rice OR potato, and enchilada sauce concoction with veggies.
- Thursday: Salmon cakes, roasted potatoes, and salad (will share the recipe…super easy, quick, and tasty)!
- Friday: Dinner at a friend’s house (probably pizza).
- Saturday: In-laws house.
- Breakfasts: our usual oatmeal concoctions.
- Lunches: Leftovers, salads, PB, tuna, etc.
[...] I certainly can’t afford that! Have you been reading my grocery budget posts!? [...]
Thanks for sharing Juli!! I will have to start doing this!
Hey I saw the veggie broth from your most recent post and I wanted to share a budget tip. I’ve been making my own veggie broth for almost a year now and it’s soooo easy and the finished product is basically free.
This article is what inspired me: http://www.thesweetbeet.com/vegetable-stock/
Some have thought that it’s tedious. I really don’t think so because when I chop veggies, I put the stems, ends, papery wrappers in some nearby bowl or bag anyhow! Might as well be my broth bag. I keep it in the freezer and when it’s full, I drop it in my pot and boil it then an hour later TAH-DAH! I have culinary stock that cost me next to nothing and is probably healthier than what you might find in grocery stores.
Some people recommend adding stuff to it. I don’t add anything except a dash of vinegar.
[...] Under Budget! How We Are Making It Work! [...]
I would say we average $75/week. Weeks when chicken or milk is on sale, I stock up (1/2 gal organic milk lasts like 2 mts!)and spend over $100. Then there are weeks I only get the essentials and spend $30. My biggest problem, as a working mom, is finding a set time to meal plan and grocery shop. I find myself going on the weekends and then 1 or 2 times during the week for specific items for a certain meal. I try to plan at least 2 meals a week and otherwise we eat leftovers or something from the freezer.
I would say our groceries are maybe 15% organic – milk for the girls, yogurt, apples, celery, grapes, other “dirty dozen” fruits and veggies are all I really concentrate on. Otherwise, unless it is on sale for less or very close to its non-organic counterpart, I mostly stick to non-organic store-brand items.
Actually, the store I shop at providea all local organic! If it’s not local, they state so, but almost ALL of their produce is local! It’s literally a store that was made for me
Yay! Congrats! I knew you could do it
I agree with you, I think most people think soy ice cream is obviously health food and has no calories so eat more of it…
I don’t come under 50 because I prefer to spend that little bit extra on local organic food but then I don’t have kids… plus from your haul I think organic food is Australia is more expensive.
Our kitchen is mainly fresh with some frozen to help the budget and for when we run out. And then the dried beans/grains/lentils/mushrooms etc.
I think budgeting is the same as dieting- if you feel deprived you won’t stick to it! You’ve got to keep it exciting and enjoyable but it sounds like you’ve got that one down. Oh and having a treat every now and then goes a long way.. like your good cheese