tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post1934340884953068755..comments2024-03-28T18:58:47.880-07:00Comments on creative savv: October 2015 Grocery Spending JournalLilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-3622377412064093322015-11-04T06:20:53.759-08:002015-11-04T06:20:53.759-08:00Hi Rhonda,
Thank you! I appreciate the words of su...Hi Rhonda,<br />Thank you! I appreciate the words of support.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-30518653040067778812015-11-04T02:46:25.012-08:002015-11-04T02:46:25.012-08:00Hi Lili,
I always enjoy the grocery spending journ...Hi Lili,<br />I always enjoy the grocery spending journal posts. You really do an amazing job getting the very best deals. I don't think it will take you very long to get back on track with the budget.<br />RhondaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-1129849268306229732015-11-02T16:43:30.919-08:002015-11-02T16:43:30.919-08:00Hi Carol,
Thank you.
I can totally understand your...Hi Carol,<br />Thank you.<br />I can totally understand your situation. And it's very wise to run your surplus down in the months leading up to your move. If you are moving to a more affordable town, you may find that groceries are more affordable, as well as housing. So it would be silly to overstock on groceries in your high cost of living town, when you could just bank extra money, to do a very complete grocery shopping once you are settled in your new lower cost of living town.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-10534492577039667092015-11-02T16:40:23.776-08:002015-11-02T16:40:23.776-08:00Hi live and learn,
Yes, we do have periods where w...Hi live and learn,<br />Yes, we do have periods where we just use up what's on hand. January and February are lean months for good sales, so we just use what we have, then. This will usually clear out one of the freezers and a good chunk of the spare fridge. I've had an occasional month in late spring, too, where I've only spent about $45 or so for the month. So, it does happen.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-19107903572582744302015-11-02T16:37:49.877-08:002015-11-02T16:37:49.877-08:00:-):-)Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-17161342804855643082015-11-02T15:54:04.329-08:002015-11-02T15:54:04.329-08:00You are doing awesome, providing healthy, varied m...You are doing awesome, providing healthy, varied meals on so little! Even bumping up to $200/month-that's great. I aim for $100/person but barebones would be $67. Aiming to use up stockpile that I don't want to move in July.CTMOMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04825780992878036362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-3718937962321388792015-11-02T14:39:57.881-08:002015-11-02T14:39:57.881-08:00If after a year of VERY careful spending on food a...If after a year of VERY careful spending on food and you are always over budget, I agree that it is time to increase the food part of your budget. <br /><br />You are always stocking up on something when you find a good price (as most smart shoppers do), but it seems as if there is always something on sale to be stocked up on. Thus while the amount spent waxes and wanes some, it seems as if you spend a pretty constant amount year round. I think this is something that not everyone understands when they start to shop this way.<br /><br /><br /><br />Do you ever just live mostly one the items that you have stocked up on? As the practice would suggest Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-85714627523444134462015-11-02T14:38:12.787-08:002015-11-02T14:38:12.787-08:00Great Lili, glad to hear you are giving yourself t...Great Lili, glad to hear you are giving yourself the gift of time to do what you want, or just relax and have fun. I am in the process of streamlining my life even further, so I can spend almost all day on my projects....I've have waited my entire lifetime to indulge this way. Getting old is not fun, but it has its perks too lol<br /><br />YHF<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-10348400538230989572015-11-02T14:36:12.503-08:002015-11-02T14:36:12.503-08:00YHF, that sounds pretty good. It helps to isolate ...YHF, that sounds pretty good. It helps to isolate each different contributing element to a total, to really "see" where to money went.<br />As for the stock-up at Sam's, that makes sense, especially with the dried items (you're not exactly going to plow through those, simply because you have lots now). This will save you money down the road. That's part of what I'm counting on with my recent overages with the budget. My pantry (and now my second pantry, in a closet under the stairs), fridges and freezers are so jam-packed. Surely, all this stocking up will save us money, in the months after the first of the year, when not much is on sale at a great price.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-22369275312015078592015-11-02T14:28:04.886-08:002015-11-02T14:28:04.886-08:00Just on the back of the napkin....if I add the $13...Just on the back of the napkin....if I add the $137.14 (dad's extra stockpile) + $75 (extra eating out) ...and $40.82 stocking up on Sam's (pinto beans and shiitake mushrooms) since we will not be renewing for awhile (normally I wouldn't have made this purchase this month)...subtracting these...our food bill would be around $300. <br /><br />YHFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-60471447032890457012015-11-02T14:25:54.558-08:002015-11-02T14:25:54.558-08:00Hi YHF,
So it sounds like your father is now very ...Hi YHF,<br />So it sounds like your father is now very well stocked up for. This will ease your mind, especially when you take your trip. But I've been in the same mental place -- trying too hard to do one frugal thing, and then neglecting another. It's all a learning process, and I figure I'll get it close enough to "right" for the most part.<br /><br />I am doing something more, though, due to your comments and others. Im stocking what little space I have in the freezer with pre-made meals. It's only a few nights worth. But, it will give me that feeling of the luxury of convenience, and give me time for a few projects, or just having a fun afternoon.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-92129206949247465552015-11-02T14:15:45.191-08:002015-11-02T14:15:45.191-08:00Thank you for sharing your thought process. That ...Thank you for sharing your thought process. That is the real gem of your blog. Other frugal blogs do not share this as much, and are more show and tell. For me, not just "how", but the "why" is important.<br /><br />This month, I am in shock....we've spent $546.84 on food/eating out/toiletries. After the initial OMG, I realized that a lot of that spending went to stocking up on my dad's food. Our freezers are full to the brim with cooked carrots, squashes and papayas ($66.92 on just carrots alone). And maybe because we were so exhausted doing "his" chores, just like your truffle treat, while shopping for his foods, we made excuses to eat out ($123.76 on fast foods when the average is about $50/mo). I love the truffle idea and think it is so wise!!<br /><br />YHF<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-27361442220306790772015-11-02T14:09:03.739-08:002015-11-02T14:09:03.739-08:00Hi momsav,
Good for you!!! We all learn someplace....Hi momsav,<br />Good for you!!! We all learn someplace.<br />I do occasionally find myself without a calculator and then I'm the one digging through my purse for a pen and anything resembling a piece of paper. I figure it keeps my mind sharp, to have to do the math from time to time!Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-8593035125197401252015-11-02T13:43:25.755-08:002015-11-02T13:43:25.755-08:00I always enjoy reading your posts. I've starte...I always enjoy reading your posts. I've started doing more math at the store because of your diligence with your shopping. I don't have a calculator, so i'm the woman who stands there muttering to herself while i look for a pen and paper. But, just today, i've learned that chips at GFS are more expensive than chips at DT per ounce. (I do not eat these but there would be mutiny if my husband din't have them with his work sandwiches.) I also bought eggs at DT, for the first time, after doing the math. I'm not too old of a dog to learn new tricks, apparently! Knowledge is power! Thanks!momsavnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-10103661360472051612015-11-02T10:19:11.292-08:002015-11-02T10:19:11.292-08:00Thanks, Kris!
I think grocery prices remained som...Thanks, Kris! <br />I think grocery prices remained somewhat stable for several years, then really jumped up, instead of just a slow and steady creep. Compound this with needing more nutrient dense foods, here, and it's just necessary to rearrange the budget a bit. Thanks for your support.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-33422706913442337192015-11-02T10:15:11.429-08:002015-11-02T10:15:11.429-08:00Hi Melissa,
Thank you. I don't have a Costco m...Hi Melissa,<br />Thank you. I don't have a Costco membership, but I can sometimes compare prices online, for specific items. I was comparing Karo corn syrup yesterday, and Costco was cheaper than Cash & Carry, at C & C's regular price. Where Cash & Carry really compares favorably is when something is listed on their Hot Sheet or Weekly Specials, for our area. C & C's Weekly Specials are comparable to traditional grocery store loss leaders. <br /><br />They've just built a new Costco near us, and I'd like to go in sometime and check their prices on many of the items I buy in large quantity. Then do the math to see if it would be worthwhile to pay the membership fee.<br /><br />For now, Cash & Carry is my "costco without membership fee".Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-67212967377971262342015-11-02T09:55:31.278-08:002015-11-02T09:55:31.278-08:00I think you made a wise decision with increasing y...I think you made a wise decision with increasing your grocery budget. Price points change, and so do family needs. Krisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-17497902485631390322015-11-02T08:17:51.679-08:002015-11-02T08:17:51.679-08:00You're doing a great job, Lili. Keep up the g...You're doing a great job, Lili. Keep up the good work! Sometimes I get frustrated with our grocery spending, but like you, I don't buy convenience foods. When I look at what I actually buy, it's all good stuff. We just go through a lot of food around here. Thanks, also, for all of the Cash & Carry tips. I don't shop there very often because I have a Costco membership (the Executive Membership is free for me because I buy so much there). However, I've popped into Cash & Carry a few more times in the last few months because of your recommendations & have found a few items that are cheaper than Costco. So thanks!Matt Macduff Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043554569369923416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-58303133220590621502015-11-02T07:26:09.257-08:002015-11-02T07:26:09.257-08:00Hi Angie,
Thank you. And if this round of budget i...Hi Angie,<br />Thank you. And if this round of budget increase isn't enough, then I'll up it again, just a smidge, until it's just right. This is stressful, though. In November's budget, I have my big spend at our local produce stand (end of season). I went yesterday, with cash in hand, and spent a lot of time/energy figuring out what I could buy for that cash, weighing the items to both get the most for my money, and make sure I wasn't going over my cash allotment. Anyone who has ever bought groceries with only cash can probably understand this situation.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-4690230936926911242015-11-02T07:16:20.352-08:002015-11-02T07:16:20.352-08:00Hi Theresa,
Thank you.
I've read about comme...Hi Theresa,<br />Thank you. <br /><br />I've read about commercial food producers using sugar, salt and fat to make their products highly palatable (and hence repeat purchases and over-consumption). <br /><br />I agree, when you prepare foods at home, the recipes, themselves, don't call for as much fat, sugar or salt as a commercially-produced item. And there are some things that I find way too salty (canister potato chips is one of those items). And I could never add as much sugar to homemade iced tea or lemonade, as is in the containers of powdered drink mix. I think salt, sugar and fat are just the cheap ways to add flavor. Whereas, most of us who cook from scratch use garlic, onions, lemon juice, herbs and spices for extra flavor, when something tastes "flat".Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-66190910131730042602015-11-02T07:07:57.439-08:002015-11-02T07:07:57.439-08:00Hi Lili.
You make very wise purchases, groceries ...Hi Lili.<br /><br />You make very wise purchases, groceries have just gone up so much! I think increasing the grocery budget was a good decision. I know you will be back on track soon.<br /><br />AngieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-26165083723006639482015-11-02T07:02:07.363-08:002015-11-02T07:02:07.363-08:00Good job Lili. You have to do,what you have to do....Good job Lili. You have to do,what you have to do. Always nutritious are your meals. I see your family is easy to please and try's new things. <br />Good on the lack of convenience foods. It's the mouth/ taste feel, salt,sugar fat. There has been so much research as to how manufacturers strive for this, I think when the majority of meals are prepared at home these factors are lessened .Many times my family finds something too salty when packaged.<br />TGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02844081721447489856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-52610578883883054452015-11-02T06:43:01.841-08:002015-11-02T06:43:01.841-08:00Alice, do you mean like egg rolls, but with pizza ...Alice, do you mean like egg rolls, but with pizza filling, inside? If so, I don't see why you couldn't buy wonton wraps, fill with pizza fillings, deep-fry/pan-fry, then freeze. <br /><br />Many years ago, myself and a group of friends made fried wontons for a wedding reception, ahead of time, then kept them frozen until the day of the wedding. They came out of the freezer in very good condition. The filling on these had little water content (cream cheese and green onions), and that may have contributed to their good condition after freezing. So, my guess would be a wonton wrapper, filled with shredded cheese, chopped pepperoni and a bit of sauce, would freeze pretty well. Then they can be reheated in a toaster oven and crisp up nicely. Because it would cost so little to try this out (the cost of a package of wonton wraps, and small amounts of pizza fillings), this would be worth a try to see if it meets your daughter's liking.<br /><br />As for adult kids living at home, while they save to buy/rent a place to live -- we support that in our family. Our son does pay us rent, and contributes to chores, so there's never the feeling that he's sponging off of us. And we kinda like the guy! ;-)Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-64437178464647243192015-11-02T06:28:27.437-08:002015-11-02T06:28:27.437-08:00Lili,
I also don't use convenience foods but m...Lili,<br />I also don't use convenience foods but my adult daughter living with us (new college grad, new teacher, trying to get a hold on living the adult life so we grant her a home with us for as long as it takes to get on her feet) likes to eat pizza rolls for a Sunday night snack after church. Do you ever make those and do you have a good recipe to make a bunch, freeze, then bake as many as needed? I think that's the only convenience food I buy (because I love my daughter!) but they are crazy expensive.<br /><br />AliceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055690688282230469.post-65530048391702442222015-11-02T05:37:00.641-08:002015-11-02T05:37:00.641-08:00Hi Cat,
I can understand having mixed feelings abo...Hi Cat,<br />I can understand having mixed feelings about organics or not, especially when you have health issues. It's a tough call. Don't let my choices influence your spending. If you have the resources to buy organic produce/meat and you feel it may help, then if it were me, then I would buy the organics. Two months before my husband's income was reduced by 30% I had been researching grass-fed beef, and we were in a place, financially where we could afford this, for our beef, and planned to move on to free-range chickens/eggs, too. Then our income was slashed and I had to put off that move with our food. For us, keeping an organic garden, I feel that we get a large enough share of organic produce to off-set the non-organic stuff that I buy. It's the meats that I'm more concerned with.<br /><br />If anyone were to analyze my grocery spending, I think the big takeaway would be that I don't buy convenience items. I think that is where the biggest savings lie, and likely the difference between my shopping cart and your average American consumer.<br /><br />Since my time is crunched several weekdays per week, I'm working on building up a freezer stash of my own convenience items. It's been hard to do, and maintain, as I will then think, when planning the night's dinner, "oh, I've got a such and such in the freezer. Why not just have that", even when it's a day when my time is not really compromised due to other activities/work.Lilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13292553654219380455noreply@blogger.com