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Grocery Challenge 2009

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T O P I C R E V I E W
Alee	Posted - Jan 02 2009 : 08:02:55 AM Hi Ladies! It's a New Year and a New Start! So I am going to be planning meals and making shopping lists that we have to stick to! Even if that means us adults have to eat PB&J sandwiches for dinner! I have $1000 for the next 5 months that I am going to spend at Costco to but a bunch of the staples- flour, sugars, beans, canned goods. Any thing that we can't spend will be put aside for monthly food in addition to the roughly $100 out of our family budget. So for 3 of us, for the month, I want to spend ONLY $300! I am cracking down on our budget to get some bad debts paid off. So if I have to I can readjust later if we are just unable to do it on what I am planning. So what I am thinking is we can all post our grocery budgets, say if the stated budget is flexible or not and then when we go shopping we can post out receipt and total. At the end of each month we will know if we were successful or not and then we can adjust our budget more/less from there. What do you think? Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Pat in Tenn	Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 4:12:52 PM Hello Gail ! Yes, this is a good place to come to receive ideas and encouragement is shopping. I look forward to hearing from you. Pat in Tenn Born in the city but married to the country for over 22 yrs ! http://onlybygodsgrace.blogspot.com/ http://www.homesteadblogger.com/inhishands/
GailMN	Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 12:26:19 PM Hi Girls - may I join you in the challenge? I just finished 2 cups of coffee while I read through the 7 page thread. I have a page of notes and this is a prime time for me to begin. I generally make my grocery list on Saturday evenings since we receive our local grocery adds in a publication called the "Shopper" each Saturday. Then with the coupons in the Sunday paper, I generally can get some pretty good deals. My big challenge will be the non food items - I have been trying to be more "green" in my choices, but this can often mean more dollars. I have not set a goal in terms of dollars, but will do that and report on Monday. I also read through the Meal Planning Challenge thread - so many awesome ideas in that forum. I will be posting to that as well. Lara had a post on page 6 where she mentions red beans and rice and a kielbasa sauce, would you be willing to share the recipe? Fortunately I am not in a debt situation, but I did retire on June 1 of 2008 to assist my disabled husband in his care , I had planned to work a few more years, but it is more important that I be home with him. So this will help stretch my retirement income as well as prove many other benefits. I am still working my way through my pantry and freezer, finding all kinds of goodies that I purchased while I was working and never used. So 3 cheers to all of you and I know this accountability will make me more conscious of my choices and decisions. Gail Farmgirl Sister #506 A Smile a Day . . .
Alee	Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 10:58:01 AM Pat- that sounds good! I like Costco and find that their meat prices are VERY competitive, though sometimes the local butcher shops can beat them. Hi Kandra! Welcome to the challenge. For your beef side, how many butchered pounds is that? That is how you will know it is a good deal or not. If you really want to get picky you could count up how many types of meat you got. So lets say your prepared meat is around 500 pounds, and you get 50 pounds of ground beef. That is about 10% of the weight of your side. Then you could calculate how much your ground meat cost. $70 is 10% of $700 so your 50 pounds of ground beef cost you $70 which is about $1.40 a pound. As long as those calculations put you ahead of your local beef prices- then you did great! Also knowing where the beef came from is really important too- so you can consider that to be a bonus and maybe worth spending a bit more on the beef. Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
kofarmgirl	Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 09:43:55 AM ya'll are inspiring me to do better on groceries also. we have a family of six. recently i invested in some milk goats and we are loving the fresh milk. Milk here is close to $4 a gallon. i also have chickens and I sell the extra eggs. We only have one grocery store here so I have to drive to Midland to go shopping at a wal-mart or heb. We are planting a garden this year and I know this help also. We do get beef locally for $700 a side. Is that good? Thank ya'll for all the ideas! Ya'll are great!
Bellepepper	Posted - Mar 07 2009 : 07:01:30 AM I'm getting behind. Went to Walmart last thursday. Picked up a few grocerys. Our walmart is not a super center so the groceries are limited. They had Helmans Mayo on sale for $2.49 a qt so we bought 3. Bought cereal and stuff. Spent $29.60. Then went to Braums (dairy store) and spent another $3.29 Great Granddaughter is staying with us this weekend so will probably have to buy more milk soon. Never did go to the groc store. Nothing in the sale paper that we use or needed. So I did pretty good for the week.
Pat in Tenn	Posted - Mar 06 2009 : 06:26:23 AM Alee, Yes, we have both near by and I have a membership to SAM's. I go there maybe about every 6-8 weeks. I have a set list of items that I get there. I do not buy foods such as fresh meat there unless it is for a special meal coming up for a large crowd or something. I mainly get items like cleaning products, trash bags, butter, and a few pantry items like spices, coffee etc. When I go grocery shopping I start at the "Health & Beauty" dept if there is something on my list for this trip. Then I head to the back of the store and start at the Dairy Dept. I pick up things like sour cream, eggs (when the chickens aren't laying)butter, milk and such. Then I go down the meat dept, bacon, sausage, deli meat and fresh meat. FOr fresh meat I always buy 5-6 lbs fresh ground turkey (white meat), some chicken breasts, some cut of pork, usually pork loin chops, a beef roast or beef stew meat if it is a good deal. I know that I have menu items to chose from for these cuts of meat. I will buy ground chuck for meatloafs, hamburgers and such but most everything else I use ground turkey. After the meat dept, I head through Produce, then bread(if needed, I try to bake everything here at home). I then go up and down the rows for a few can goods and such. I end up at the forzen food last. After I have covered all of the "outer side" of the store for fresh items (meat, dairy and produce) according to how much money I have left, determines how much I will buy in the middle. I get a few chip items and maybe snacks like crackers and such. I also have to consider how much I need for paper items and cleaners on that trip. It keeps me in budget and I almost never spend more then the $200 each trip. I also keep a running total of my shopping as I place each item in my cart. I do have to get extra milk and a few items between shopping trips. I hope this was not too much to post here. Pat in Tenn Born in the city but married to the country for over 22 yrs ! http://onlybygodsgrace.blogspot.com/ http://www.homesteadblogger.com/inhishands/
Alee	Posted - Mar 05 2009 : 10:34:01 AM Hi Pat! Congrats! What kinds of foods did you buy? Do you have a Costco or Sams club near by? Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
Pat in Tenn	Posted - Mar 05 2009 : 09:27:01 AM Ladies, The shopping is done and I did it !! Stayed on budget !! I went to the local Wal-mart to get everything. I had a few coupons to use. I get $200 for the pay period for everything and I spent $198.77 !! I saved $5.40 in coupons. At Walmart they do not double them so I was happy for that amount. Payday here will be next Friday on the 13th and get to do this all over again, lol...... Pat in Tenn Born in the city but married to the country for over 22 yrs ! http://onlybygodsgrace.blogspot.com/ http://www.homesteadblogger.com/inhishands/
Pat in Tenn	Posted - Mar 04 2009 : 09:52:16 AM Okay, I went over to the Meal Planning challenge. Thanks for pointing me over there. I will be back on here later to post how I did today. Thanks! Pat in Tenn Born in the city but married to the country for over 22 yrs ! http://onlybygodsgrace.blogspot.com/ http://www.homesteadblogger.com/inhishands/
Bellepepper	Posted - Mar 04 2009 : 09:00:11 AM OK, finally made it to Sam's. Got everything on my list. Salmon, shrimp, fish, chicken breast, parm cheese, walnuts, pine nuts, dried apricots, maple syrup, lots of olive oil, cornstarch, chili season, artichokes, roasted peppers. Spent $220. That is actually my whole month's budget but this stuff will last at least 6 months or longer. So I don't think I did too bad. Besides the salmon was $21.33 for 3# bag and I bought 2. The maple syrup was $19.88. These are things that I would not buy at the grocery store. Then we went to the supermarket that we like and I can get KS milled flour. Yes, I have to go to MO to get KS flour. Bought 20# unbleached, 20# whole wheat, 5# stone ground corn meal, 5# organic flour for my MaryJanes sour dough and 5# rolled oats. Spent another $30 there. Then went to Panera Bread and spent another $11 on goodies and french baggett. AND we ate out at Red Lobster. Oh, and I have to go to the grocery store today. We didn't buy any "groceries" yesterday. Will try and figure out how I should spread yesterdays $ over 6 months. I'll not count it in my total for the month. Back to being frugal.
Alee	Posted - Mar 04 2009 : 07:44:37 AM Hi Pat! Welcome to the forum! I know that by tracking EVERYTHING I have found lots of ways to close up little "money leaks" in my shopping budget! Also check out the Meal Planning Challenge. I find that also helps me stay on course with my shopping! Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
Pat in Tenn	Posted - Mar 04 2009 : 06:38:06 AM Okay ladies, I am jumping in with you guys. I have been trying to save on grocery shopping for quite some time. It seems like it would help to stay in touch with you that are also trying to stick to a budget. Here is my info for my family: 5 family members (hubby, me and 3 daughters ) 3 dogs ( oldest daughter works p/t & trying to buy all dog food) Payday bi/monthly Each pay-period I get $200 for everything, I mean everything, food health and beauty, paper, cleaners........ Between times my husbands works "extra side jobs" and I will get some where around $25 a week (maybe) for extras (milk, deli meat, etc). Some weeks there will not be anything extra to give me. We have not lost any weight, have not missed a meal and somehow we make it each time. It will help me to keep up with you all here and to track my spending to see if I can do better. I know that there have been times when I would only have $75 a week and that was it. Nothing to add to it later. I love to bake everything, I cook all home-made. No pre-cooked or packaged items here. I am going to buy groceries today and I will be back to report how I do. Pat in Tenn Born in the city but married to the country for over 22 yrs ! http://onlybygodsgrace.blogspot.com/ http://www.homesteadblogger.com/inhishands/
Alee	Posted - Mar 03 2009 : 3:08:16 PM Well I just spent $16 at the grocery store, and only $11 and some change was actually groceries. So we are doing good. That should be dinner for us for a few days. We are trying to eat more salads. Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
nampafarmgirl	Posted - Mar 03 2009 : 2:45:32 PM I came in at 115.70, 15.70 over budget. This week, HB and I decided to try for a 70.00 week. Kim Farmgirl Sister # 302
Bellepepper	Posted - Feb 26 2009 : 10:14:00 AM No more shopping until next month! Ole Ron needed some bananas so stopped by the store. Nothing on sale that I needed. Bought carrots, celery, purple onion and bell pepper for copper pennies salad for a dinner party next week. Bought mushrooms and a container of Chicken livers (just because). Spent a total of just under $10. That makes it $156.40 for the month. Next month is going to be out of sight. Going to Sams. Haven't been there for months and months. Out of everything that I buy there.
nampafarmgirl	Posted - Feb 25 2009 : 07:15:39 AM I came in at 128.00 last week. That included party stuff. I had a sushi making party and provided all food for all 11 of us. Crab, sticky tice, avocados, etc... We also had tempura. 28.00 over budget. Kim Farmgirl Sister # 302
Bellepepper	Posted - Feb 23 2009 : 10:35:45 AM Just got back from the store. Not much on sale so I just bought some fresh veggies, bananas, milk etc. Got out of there for only $39. I am on schedule for comming in under budget for the month. However, this weeks sale adds come out on Wed. I may have to make another trip just to pick up a really good sale item. So far I have spent $149. Doesn't quite make up for going over budget $78 last month but I am happy with what I've done so far.
sweetproserpina	Posted - Feb 19 2009 : 4:41:15 PM I've been keeping track this month. We've been on a very tight budget as my work hasn't picked up at all.(Boo on you Google.) So, here's the tally for February so far. Superstore: 24.65 (Crackers, rolled oats, brown sugar, raisins, mozzarella, milk, breadx2, broccoli, tomato soupx2.) Highland: 18.42 (Milk, honey, pepperoni, hot smoked sausages, pork chops) Superstore: 59.88 (TP, Mr.Noodlesx6, antiperspirant, cheddar cheese, lemon, onions, oranges, lettuce, vitamins, butterx2, tomato pastex6, breadx2, sugar, potatoes, flour) Total so far: 102.95$ When all you buy at the store is basics for making things at home it's amazing how much stuff I notice is 'food product' at the store, all packaged up, shelf stable and full of things I can't pronounce. There are aisles and aisles of products that we don't even go down now :) Well, now I'm off to make supper- pork chops, potatoes or rice, carrots, breadsticks, and salad. Yum! "Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world." http://quaintandkeepinghouse.blogspot.com New Homekeeping Blog! http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/
Alee	Posted - Feb 10 2009 : 07:19:21 AM Kim- If Winco doesn't have something, make sure you ask the customer service desk to order it in for you! They will do that no problem and it doesn't cost anything extra. I love Winco's prices. My husband used to work there! I wish there was one here in Billings, but the Distribution centers are too far away. They couldn't get the food here and keep the prices down. I think they need to put a Distribution center in Spokane so they can hit Spokane area, Missoula area, Butte Area and Billings area! Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
nampafarmgirl	Posted - Feb 10 2009 : 07:03:28 AM I went to the Winco grocery store, HB came too, I fully expected 'extras' in the buggy from him, but he was good. he is totally on board with me (us) on this one and even looked at things he wanted and picked to lowest cost brand or generic item he could find. We came in under 15.40. Then I went to Walmart, where I buy shampoo, cat food and items that Winco did not have in stock. I went over by 10.00. I needed Vanilla and Almond flavorings for baking. Thats ok, I'll make it up this next week, I hope. Kim Farmgirl Sister # 302
Bellepepper	Posted - Feb 05 2009 : 07:31:13 AM Just made my first Feb trip to the store. Not much of anything on sale. Bought mostly produce and dairy. Ole Ron had to have a half pound of his deli cheese. Produce is sky high. Cauliflower is almost $5 a head. Didn't buy any. Potatoes were higher than usual. Bought a 10# bag, $5. Anyway, spent $38. So far, that is keeping me under budget. Gotta make up for Jan.
nampafarmgirl	Posted - Feb 05 2009 : 07:07:29 AM I cook alot from scratch as the sodium levels in prepackaged foods are too high. I found if I stick to less than 6% that I can stay off HBP meds, besides their expensive. Well this weekend back to the store... Kim Farmgirl Sister # 302
Alee	Posted - Feb 04 2009 : 12:36:40 PM Hi Kim- actually I think that at least in our area, eating healthy has saved us money- but then I cook from scratch so I think that helps too. Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com
nampafarmgirl	Posted - Feb 04 2009 : 07:00:08 AM I came in under budget, 99.69. My weekly is 100.00, HB is thrilled. Have you all noticed that eating healthier costs more..... Kim Farmgirl Sister # 302
peachy	Posted - Feb 03 2009 : 7:01:28 PM Thanks Alee! I'm on the meal planning challenge too! (I've just been bad the last week and lost track of my responsibilities!) I'm still working on the month of February tonight so hopefully I can get it posted in the next couple days then have one giant grocery list to work from and one big giant shopping day! Melissa Farmgirl Sister #360 Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain!

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