tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post1378222435994356514..comments2024-03-29T05:54:10.109-07:00Comments on creative savv: October 2016 Grocery Spending JournalLilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-26187101503374576362016-11-02T07:08:58.149-07:002016-11-02T07:08:58.149-07:00Hi Melissa,
We haven't done Little Caesar'...Hi Melissa,<br />We haven't done Little Caesar's in years. I'll have to add that to our back-up plans for the future. Their pizza makes a decent-enough last-minute meal, along with some canned veggies or carrot sticks.<br /><br />Yes, on a very busy day, your sanity is definitely worth spending $15! I hope you all had fun at your Reformation party!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-80412377487713758602016-11-01T09:26:20.516-07:002016-11-01T09:26:20.516-07:00I second everyone else's comments. Well done,...I second everyone else's comments. Well done, Lili--even with the deli splurge. We splurged on Little Caesar's pizza for the kids Sunday night. We were at church nearly all day & were trying to get things ready for our Reformation party the next. The house needed a good scrubbing & my husband & kids were still writing the play about Church history that the kids would perform for the party. So I pushed the easy button. I bought 3 pizzas. We saved one & the kids ate it for lunch the day of the party (even though they had French bread pizza for dinner that night). My sanity was worth the $15. Melissa Matt Macduff Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043554569369923416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-67262189728249812782016-11-01T06:24:30.207-07:002016-11-01T06:24:30.207-07:00That's great, Alice!That's great, Alice! Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-72204431385099009242016-11-01T06:23:59.167-07:002016-11-01T06:23:59.167-07:00Hi Patti,
You're right, being frugal gave us m...Hi Patti,<br />You're right, being frugal gave us money to spare in the grocery budget to cover an off month. The nearest bakery thrift is 30 minutes away, in a direction I never go. Years ago, we lived near there, and I did frequently buy bread for the freezer. Trader Joe's has pretty good prices on nuts and chocolate chips. And the traditional grocery stores will have them on sale in the next month, too, I would think. I hope you find the baking items you want, soon!<br /><br />Have a great day, Patti!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-10737595998800689272016-11-01T06:19:58.975-07:002016-11-01T06:19:58.975-07:00I'm sorry to hear about your health issues, to...I'm sorry to hear about your health issues, too, live and learn. I do think all that you and Ward are doing right now, with two houses, would be exhausting for anyone. Hopefully the bulk of the work needed will soon be done, and you can just relax and enjoy your new home. UTIs are not fun at all! Take good care of yourself!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-52825561170887335042016-11-01T04:25:21.625-07:002016-11-01T04:25:21.625-07:00My all inclusive total was $459 and a few pennies....My all inclusive total was $459 and a few pennies. Not bad since I'm always running into a deal that I can pass up (mostly meat).<br /><br />AliceAlicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660543650879805736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-28415456248191492212016-10-31T20:16:33.397-07:002016-10-31T20:16:33.397-07:00Lili,
You had a great shopping month. I am in aww....Lili,<br />You had a great shopping month. I am in aww. The reason we are frugal on groceries is so we can have some easy<br />things when we need/want. I say bravo You did great. Do you have bread outlets in the PNW. They are great<br />if you have freezer space. They all closed here.:(<br />I am need to find chocolate chips on sale and nuts.<br />Sounds like you are ready for some holiday baking.<br />Blessings,<br />PattiPrecious People Preschoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02284398084100195331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-61449518116071928032016-10-31T19:44:59.352-07:002016-10-31T19:44:59.352-07:00Maybe, Lili, you body was trying to tell you somet...Maybe, Lili, you body was trying to tell you something, that you were doing too much and there was a price to pay. That's how I interpreted it recently when I had a cold one week and a UTI the next. It's been intense here for good reason, but I've got to slow down a bit, because we've been going nonstop night and day with these two houses. I've glad you've found ways to slow down a bit. I'm going to try to follow your example.<br /><br />Ditto on too many sweets this month. I know they weren't doing me any favors.Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-75183510077334333872016-10-31T18:10:20.722-07:002016-10-31T18:10:20.722-07:00Good to know I'm normal in one way, at least!Good to know I'm normal in one way, at least!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-69926769591094106152016-10-31T15:58:56.737-07:002016-10-31T15:58:56.737-07:00I find that when my schedule is crazier, my grocer...I find that when my schedule is crazier, my grocery bill goes up--convenience takes precedence over savings. You are both normal--at least, by my standards! :)Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-26281153609408842292016-10-31T15:40:22.578-07:002016-10-31T15:40:22.578-07:00Hi Cat,
You have a point. We do have to find balan...Hi Cat,<br />You have a point. We do have to find balance, and allowance for changes. For me, I hit a wall, where I really couldn't continue doing everything that I had been doing. Even if I'd thought to just push through it all, it wasn't going to work that way, this time. So, for now, I have to accept that, sometimes, I'll have to go for a little convenience. <br /><br />I'm glad you're doing things that really matter to you. I hope you can get a few more bike rides in before the roads become wintery and a mess.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-78332951048503693402016-10-31T15:35:58.446-07:002016-10-31T15:35:58.446-07:00Hi Kris,
Oh no! Ugh, replacing a furnace has got t...Hi Kris,<br />Oh no! Ugh, replacing a furnace has got to be one of the most un-fun things to do with savings. But you're prepared, so that is really awesome. I hope you can get your new furnace installed before snow flies.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-36256912740395009802016-10-31T12:11:13.749-07:002016-10-31T12:11:13.749-07:00Impressive as usual. I fear I've done a pretty...Impressive as usual. I fear I've done a pretty horrible job of frugal shopping recently. It's been a combination of convenience items and summer fruit - my eternal weakness. <br /><br />I'm trying not to be too hard on myself though since I've been working a lot (both on money-making stuff, and home upkeep) and time has been at a premium. I was finding that I'd resort to eating really unhealthy stuff because it was convenient, and in the long run, I just don't think that's a good approach.<br /><br />The way I see it, you have to balance priorities. After pretty much ignoring work of all sorts for the past 3-4 years while I've been dealing with other stuff, continuing to ignore it wasn't really an option. So I can choose to spend my limited free time on cooking and bargain hunting, or I can spend it biking with CatMan and taking care of myself.<br /><br />Ultimately, my relationship and my health are more important to me than the balance of my savings account. Eventually I'll get caught up, the pendulum will swing the other way, and I'll be able to devote more time to frugal habits. In the meantime, I'm going easy on myself.<br /><br />I guess that's my long-winded way of saying that I don't think you should be too hard on yourself. It sounds like you've been dealing with a lot - especially where your health is concerned, and there comes a point where you have to put yourself first.<br /><br />EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-77187784949051127522016-10-31T08:15:46.666-07:002016-10-31T08:15:46.666-07:00Sounds like you continue to do well with your purc...Sounds like you continue to do well with your purchases. I know you feel like you spent too much, but from what I've learned about you, I think October will be the exception to the rule. Isn't it nice that you had some surplus to work with? <br /><br />We are experiencing the "why" of frugal living. Looks like we need to replace our furnace--thankfully, it doesn't spin us into crisis mode, as we have funds available for the not-so-fun-but-necessary purchases. Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-84635335566957783332016-10-31T06:50:46.853-07:002016-10-31T06:50:46.853-07:00Hi Alice,
What a lovely comment. I just loved hear...Hi Alice,<br />What a lovely comment. I just loved hearing it all, from the help you gave your neighbor, to you and your husband outdoors working together, to the grocery shopping and family Sunday dinner. Just nice.<br /><br />I hope your spending came in at a good point for the month. It sounds like you found a few very good deals, so I'm guessing your budget was happy this month.<br /><br />Have a great day, Alice!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-2575936972469869792016-10-31T04:49:45.830-07:002016-10-31T04:49:45.830-07:00Hi Lili,
You're month was full! I'll tally...Hi Lili,<br />You're month was full! I'll tally my all-inclusive spending tonight when I get home and am sure I'm done spending for the month. We found a couple of good sales on Sat. We needed ground beef and a store nearby always discounts meats in the morning so we went it and found the reduced ground beef but also some chuck roasts and a cubed steak. Hubby wanted the cubed but I don't like them. We then went to another store close to the recyling center where they often discount dairy on Sat. mornings. Sure enough, gallons of 2% and 1% were only 50 cents each. I prefer skim but for 50 cents we bought a couple and froze most of it. We don't mind frozen milk that has been thawed so it is worth it for us to do this. That store also often has turkey pieces reduced and I like that a lot especially cooked in my new pressure cooker. But Sat. they didn't have any reduced turkey pieces. But they had italian sausage brats which we bought and promptly removed the casings to be used in other dishes.<br /><br />We had a lovely dinner of roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans on Sunday. The kids are given the leftovers to take back to college (only one kid came home but she brought back food for her brother)and this way they get a meal courtesy of mom to start their week out. <br /><br />Even though it is the end of Oct. our weather has been pretty decent. Sat. saw temps in the low 70s and that was perfect for an afternoon of cleaning up leaves and we also did the neighbor lady's backyard since we knew she and her kids (single mom) would never be able to get that all done. They help a single woman across the street do her lawn as well as their own lawn so we just help her! See the domino effect? We trimmed a tree for her that had a huge limb dangling and would be dangerous if it fell. Me and hubby had a wonderful time working together cleaning up. But sadly there are so many more leaves that have fallen that we're not close to being done. <br />AliceAlicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660543650879805736noreply@blogger.com