Ending October, we were $11.36 over our grocery budget. I now have a base budget of $135 per month. In addition, I've decided that we'll take a small amount of money from January and February's grocery budgets to use in November and December, a total of $60 to be used at any point in November and December. January and February are notorious for few and far-between grocery sales. Spending some of those month's budgets in the months where there actually are a lot of sales just makes sense. And, I have a $10 budget for Thanksgiving dinner. So, for the month of November, I have at minimum $163.64, but up to $193.64 (should I choose to spend all of the "borrowed" $60 this month.) Because I am borrowing from a future month, I want to make sure that I buy almost all basic foods (so we don't gobble everything up, but have some foods leftover going into the new year), with just a few treat foods.
The exact items and their amounts are rather loose this month, as it is too early to know which items will be advertised on sale and what their prices will be. As a result, my list and the pricing is vague for some items.
My November shopping began on the 1st, as this is the day of our local produce stand's annual clearance sale. Friday morning, I got myself out of the house by 8 AM. No shower, no breakfast. just downed a cup of coffee, got dressed, grabbed my boxes and left. I've learned that if I want a good selection and the space in which to make my choices, I need to get there as close to 8 AM as I can. And once again, this proved true. There were already 5 or 6 other shoppers when I pulled into the parking lot. This is a produce stand, so it was very cold at this early hour, so cold that I wore mittens as I was choosing apples and squash. The fact that another 5 or 6 shoppers got there before I did shows the kind of dedication these shoppers have. Anyway, by the time I checked out, the stand was mobbed with people.
This is what I bought for $26.64:
about 16 pounds of apples, mostly yellow delicious (33 cents/lb) with some fuji (50 cents/lb).
4 heads of garlic (50 cents each for large heads)
7.26 pounds of yams (79 cents/lb)
about 36 pounds of winter squash, some butternut (39 cents/lb), some banana (33 cents/pound), and some Red Kuri Hubbard squash (33 cents/lb)
That's about 60 pounds of produce at less than 50 cents per pound.
So, now for the rest of November's list.
Walmart 28.83
Great Value pumpkin 15 oz, 78 cents (18 cans) 14.04
Great Value decaf coffee, 3.57 (2) 7.14
Great Value solid shortening, 2.98
Fred Meyer 38.21 Senior Shopping Day on 11/5
4 gals milk 1.79 (limit 4) 7.16
Kroger cream cheese 90 cents (10) 9.00
Kroger butter, 16 oz. 2.25 (8) 18.00 (don't know if there's a limit, it's not listed in the online ad)
Kroger Powdered Sugar, 32 oz 1.35 (3) 4.05
Dollar Tree $2
1 qt. soy milk, $1
1 box crackers, $1
WinCo around $29.05
canned veggies if price is around 39 cents/can, a couple of cases of mostly green beans and some corn, around $9.50
pecan pieces, $3 worth
chocolate chips (3)
coconut (1)
sparkling cider, $2
5 dozen eggs, about $5.25
powdered milk, about $2
powdered milk, about $2
Cash & Carry 17.45
First Street lentils, 25-lb bag, $17.45 (works out to 69 cents/lb)
Will also need/want:
1 additional gallon of milk, $2
russet potatoes, 40 pounds, $6.00
celery, about $2
whole turkey, around $12-$14, depending on deal
6-8 cans of cream of mushroom soup, about $3
The total for all of the above comes to $167.18 to $169.18.
Second Senior Shopping Day at Fred Meyer (Nov.12) $16.15
Kroger eggs, 18-ct., 1.35 (6)
Smidge & Spoon granulated sugar, 4-lb, 1.61 (5)
Albertsons 3.56
1/2-gallon milk, 89 cents w/coupon (limit 4)
New total -- $186.89 to $188.89
I noted that butter is on sale at Fred Meyer this week through Tuesday, yet there is no limit announced in the online ad. If I'm allowed, I will buy 8 pounds. If there's a limit, then I will have additional money to spend on other bargains this month. Also, I don't know what WinCo's canned veggie sale is this year. Two years ago, the price per can was 39 cents. Last year, the price was 49 cents/can. I can buy Great Value brand canned green beans or corn for 50 cents/14.5 oz can, or 96 cents for the 28 to 29-oz can ( about 48 to 49 cents for 14.5 oz.) At WinCo, I'm hoping to find a price per 14.5-oz can that beats Walmart's price. I will hold off on picking up the lentils at Cash & Carry until the very end of the month, just in case I find another deal on something else. I'm thinking that $17.45 could go a long way toward other deals.
I would say that for the most part, I'm pretty responsible about pre-spending or borrowing from future month's budgets. I rarely buy treats with borrowed money, unless there is a birthday or other special occasion for a person or couple of people. Still, I don't like to do this on the regular, as I feel it could be one of those proverbial slippery slopes. How do you feel about borrowing from the budget of a future month? Is this something that you're comfortable with, or do you always stick to a set amount without going over? what's on your grocery list for this month?
For readers in the PNW, thecouponproject.com is updating its site with the latest in turkey deals for the area. Plus, the same site has an updated article for how to spot a good price on this year's turkey. That article doesn't look like its been updated (the time stamp still says 2018), but it has been, as you'll see when you read further into the text.
whole turkey, around $12-$14, depending on deal
6-8 cans of cream of mushroom soup, about $3
The total for all of the above comes to $167.18 to $169.18.
Second Senior Shopping Day at Fred Meyer (Nov.12) $16.15
Kroger eggs, 18-ct., 1.35 (6)
Smidge & Spoon granulated sugar, 4-lb, 1.61 (5)
Albertsons 3.56
1/2-gallon milk, 89 cents w/coupon (limit 4)
New total -- $186.89 to $188.89
I noted that butter is on sale at Fred Meyer this week through Tuesday, yet there is no limit announced in the online ad. If I'm allowed, I will buy 8 pounds. If there's a limit, then I will have additional money to spend on other bargains this month. Also, I don't know what WinCo's canned veggie sale is this year. Two years ago, the price per can was 39 cents. Last year, the price was 49 cents/can. I can buy Great Value brand canned green beans or corn for 50 cents/14.5 oz can, or 96 cents for the 28 to 29-oz can ( about 48 to 49 cents for 14.5 oz.) At WinCo, I'm hoping to find a price per 14.5-oz can that beats Walmart's price. I will hold off on picking up the lentils at Cash & Carry until the very end of the month, just in case I find another deal on something else. I'm thinking that $17.45 could go a long way toward other deals.
I would say that for the most part, I'm pretty responsible about pre-spending or borrowing from future month's budgets. I rarely buy treats with borrowed money, unless there is a birthday or other special occasion for a person or couple of people. Still, I don't like to do this on the regular, as I feel it could be one of those proverbial slippery slopes. How do you feel about borrowing from the budget of a future month? Is this something that you're comfortable with, or do you always stick to a set amount without going over? what's on your grocery list for this month?
For readers in the PNW, thecouponproject.com is updating its site with the latest in turkey deals for the area. Plus, the same site has an updated article for how to spot a good price on this year's turkey. That article doesn't look like its been updated (the time stamp still says 2018), but it has been, as you'll see when you read further into the text.
