A September Recap for Groceries

Happy October, friends!

In September, I shopped on 2 occasions, 1 time hitting 3 stores, the other time just 1 store (trips 3 weeks apart), spending $182.30. That amount is greatly supplemented by the use of our emergency pantry/freezer, which I stocked in late spring and early summer. I spent more than I had planned in September. (My goal is to keep monthly spending to about $100 to $150, bringing my average monthly grocery spending to about $250 to $300/month when the use of emergency pantry is factored in). However, a good chunk of what I bought this past month contributes additional stock for the fall/winter pantry and freezer.

I'm shopping in-person for the time being, and 3 weeks seems to be my comfort zone. Any longer and I begin to feel antsy about running low on a few key ingredients. Any closer together and I worry about not-completely-necessary virus exposure. 

Here's what I bought:

Walmart (twice in month)

jalapenos -- for salsa

kosher hot dogs --Labor Day weekend

1 loaf of bread, some sandwich meat, and sliced cheese for a picnic -- Labor Day weekend

2.75 lbs beef stew meat

a couple dozen bananas

2 heads cabbage

2 bags pretzels

1 box graham crackers

2 bags oyster crackers

2 boxes cheerios-type cereal

several decaf and regular instant coffee

3 lbs dried black-eyed peas

12 canned corn

8 canned carrots

10 canned green beans

13 gals milk, whole and 2%

4.5 dozen eggs

6 frozen broccoli

2 frozen broccoli/cauliflower mix

12 frozen apple juice concentrate

6 frozen orange juice concentrate

1 bag frozen French fries

Dollar Tree

6 bags frozen blueberries 

Cash & Carry/Smartfood Service

25-lb bag of carrots
50-lb bag of onions
#10 can tomato paste

1-lb yeast

5-lb frozen peas

6-pack green bell peppers

50-lb whole wheat flour

cantaloupe

There are a few items that I bought that were just fun foods, since we're not eating out or getting take-out at all, such as French fries, sandwich meat, cheese, and a favorite bread just for a family picnic, good hot dogs for a cook-out, and the pretzels and crackers. These "treat" foods have been so enjoyed by my family; even the cold cereal was met with significant appreciation.

Going forward, this past week I did a thorough inventory and made up a shopping list of exactly what I want to buy in October to complete my emergency winter pantry/freezer. I am close to finishing and when I am done filling my stock, I'll be able to slide through the holiday season with minimal shopping. I'm not expecting a doomsday scenario with the virus, but my plan is to just stay out of stores this fall/early winter, if I can. I did read in the Wall Street Journal that stores are putting together "pandemic pallets" full of goods for this fall and winter in preparation for any surge in shopping. That's good news. No hunting for yeast, toilet paper, or flour. Last spring was a wild time to be shopping.

I'm still working away at the harvest this week. I picked the last bucket of plums this afternoon. I left about a dozen on the tree for my squirrel friends to find. Wasn't that nice of me? In reality, these were plums that I couldn't get to without risking life and limb. I started another batch of cucumber pickles, too, today. I feel so blessed this year. 

I hope that you're all enjoying a beautiful first day of October! Be back soon!