May 1. The produce stand, hoping for markdowns, but not much there. I buy 1 yam (79 cents/lb), 1 head of cabbage (50 cents/lb), and 1 seedless watermelon (39 cents/lb). Spent $3.90. These items will round out some of our garden and freezer produce for the next week.
Dollar Tree to pick up a bunch of items. While here I get 8 jars of peanut butter. Spent $8. This should last the month of May.
Cash and Carry for a few items, but it will be expensive. I buy 35 lb container of vegetable oil ($22.58), 50 lb sack of pinto beans ($29.25), 50 lb sack all-purpose flour ($13.19), 1 gallon soy sauce ($5.59), 6-lb container Crisco shortening ($9.58) and 2-lb bag raisins ($4.59). By buying the veg oil and pinto beans in such large volume I estimated that on those two items alone, I saved us $21.25, over buying smaller quantities at a time. The pinto beans work out to 59 cents/lb! And the veg oil, about $5.16 per gallon. Anyway, I spent $84.78.
Last stop, Trader Joe's for bananas and tofu. I buy 12 bananas (19 cents each) and 1 lb of organic tofu ($1.49). The tofu is for lasagna later this month, to replace ricotta cheese (too much dairy for me). Spent $3.77 Month to date spending so far (and it's only the 1st of the month -- yikes!) -- $100.45.
May 7. Country Farms, produce stand for 2 small avocados (2/$1), 3 small bunches leaf lettuce (99 cents), 3 grapefruit (99 cents), 7 pasilla peppers ($1.29), 1 cucumber (50 cents), and a head of green cabbage (50 cents/lb). Total spent -- $5.78
Fred Meyer for whole milk (1/2 gallons, $1.25 each, limit 4), natural peanut butter, 16 oz (3/$5), bought 6, some turmeric ($11.79 lb). Spent $15.94
May 11. Country Farms for marked down produce -- found cantaloupes, 50 cents each (bought 4), 3 red peppers (99 cents), large eggplant (99 cents). Spent $3.98
May 13. coupon for cheese at Safeway -- $4.99 for 2 lbs, limit 1. spent $4.99. total month to date -- $131.14 -- not as bad as I thought it might be, but our freezers are beginning to empty out. That's to be expected for this time of year. I'm not anticipating much to go on sale between now and end of the month, with exception to hot dogs and soda pop near Memorial Day. So, the rest of my grocery money will likely be used on produce and milk. We have enough meat to last through autumn, the garden is producing, we have eggs to last through June, so I think we're doing okay. We'll see how the second half of the month goes. As a point of reference, May 2013, I spent $258.92.
May 19. Fred Meyer still has milk on for 4 half gallons/$5, limit 4. I stop in on way to get daughters. Spent $5.
Also make a stop at Trader Joe's while out and pick up 13 bananas, at 19 cents each. Spent $2.47.
May 20. Albertsons has hot dogs on sale w/coupon 3 package limit, 88 cents each. I choose the chicken franks. Spent $2.64.
May 21. Again this week, Fred Meyer has the milk coupon 4 half gallons for $5. My daughters need special no-slip shoes for work, and Fred Meyer is recommended as a place to find them. (I mentioned on my facebook page, a couple of weeks ago how my two daughters are sharing one pair of shoes for work.) I buy the milk, my daughter buys the shoes. I spent $5.
May 23. another stop this week for milk, and powdered sugar. I've had these 2 coupons on my desk all month, 1 a store coupon for C & H sugar, $1.67/2 lb bag, and 2nd a manufacturer coupon for C & H sugar, any product 2 lbs and up, 40 cents off, making my price on 2 lbs of powdered sugar $1.27. I buy 4 milks, and 1 bag sugar, spending $6.27.
May 25. Last shopping of the month -- Fred Meyer one last time (Fred Meyer seems to have more good sale prices this month than any other store in our area), this week for coffee (33 oz cans, $5.99) and marked down sour cream (containers are slightly squashed), 79 cents for 16 oz. I buy 2 cans of coffee and 2 containers of sour cream, spending $13.56.
Total month to date spending on groceries for May -- $166.08
I came in $3.92 under budget of $170. I'll add this $3.92 to the rolling surplus of $55.79, for a carry-forward surplus of $59.71, available for future months. I averaged $37.50 per week, which is $6.02 less than last month's weekly average of $43.52.
How much I spend each month fluctuates with available deals and loss leaders, combined with seasonal price adjustments on staples, and how much is growing in my garden. Late spring greets us with a good portion of our produce needs. By May's end, our garden was giving us rhubarb, spinach, kale florets, chard, mustard greens, lettuce, garlic greens, chives, oregano, thyme, sage, mint, lemon balm and pea tendrils to add to meals.
This month, I stocked up on a few staples, such as coffee, Crisco shortening, pinto beans, soy sauce, all-purpose flour and peanut butter. I was also able to buy enough milk to get us through mid-June, and found many markdowns on produce at the produce stand. We're fortunate that we have a freezer full of meat (ground beef, hams, turkey and whole chickens), and a garden for our produce. Those two will help keep our grocery bills down through the summer months.
So, we're still in a tough place, financially. I need to cut our expenses further. I'll be reducing our grocery spending beginning with June. I'll be taking it in small increments, and see how it goes.
If you are feeling discouraged about finding low prices on food, stay tuned for Monday's post. I think we can put all of our ideas together and build a master list of all of the places to look for grocery deals.
