Grocery Shopping

I wouldn't be able to fit all the food in here for 1 month. It is hard squeezing it in for 2 weeks.
_________________
Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

[/url]

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1919

I usually do once a month shopping and LOVE it! This month with farming and all (making hay) there has been no time, so I have been buying bits and pieces at Walmart...but I spend WAY more.

I know just what you mean Kim .. those mini shopping trips are budget kllers
_________________
Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

We used to shop every week ,but decided not to do it anymore due to the high cost of gas. I am sure that we probably spent more money also. Now we do a big shop the first part of the month and then get a few things like milk,produce and anything else we need halfway through. Storage is very difficult in this tiny place, but I love the fact that I do not have to keep running out to the store to get something else.
_________________
MARY

This week totals for 2 weeks including pet food, some homeschool supplies and some VBS supplies along with toilet paper, foil,saran wrap,dish liquid, femine products(3 different kinds), shampoo (4 different kinds), soap, conditioner (2 different kinds), 2 cases water,trashbags,toothpaste,cottonballs, facial wash,astringent

Safeway 72.30
Giant 34.82
Food Lion 37.51
Walmart 111.05
Total 255.68

Total savings Walmart 3.00
Food lion 24.58
Safeway 63.80
Giant 36.82
_________________
Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

[/url]

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1919

good job Vicki...

this is another goal I have to see if I can save $....I am looking around at all the "stuff" I buy...like why do I buy different toothpaste for the kids and us? different shampoo? face & body wash when dove soap would be sufficient? I think I buy too many different products when I could get away with just a few...this will save! Just a thought Smile

Kim I know what you mean. We have 5 different shampoos here, 4 different deodorants,and 3 different feminine products. It is crazy. I told the girls I was thinking about making them pay for their own if they couldn't use the cheaper brands
_________________
Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

[/url]

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1919

I did that with our teens and they were more than happy to change brands! It can be REALLY expensive to keep teen girls happy! LOL

Well, I had my ONE SPEND DAY as mentioned in another thread and decided to 'copy' Vicki (that's a huge compliment btw) by trying to do a fortnightly shop with the exception of using next week's 'ONE SPEND DAY' to buy a few fresh items such as milk & mushrooms etc so that should be a pretty small bill.
I printed off a copy of that Menu/Shopping planner I'd added the link for and wrote out a menu for the week. Then I worked out the groceries I'd need for everything but doubled the amounts so I could run that menu for a fortnight!

$150.00 - 1st supermarket (incl. toiletries & some hardware & some goodies not on my list Embarassed

).
$30.00 - 2nd supermarket (their potatoes and chicken fillets were cheaper).
$44 - 3rd store (tray of petfood, bulk t-rolls, 10kg laundry powder which lasts for close to 6 months!).
$39.00 - petrol (gas) which lasts 2 weeks.

$263.00 all up I think scratch

I did take a list but I confess that I deviated from it otherwise my total would've come in a fair amount cheaper. I also bought 1/2 price steaks, 1/2 price sausages, 1/2 price beef roast & 12 chicken drumsticks on special (I can get 2 dinners worth from the drumsticks). These probably cost me approx. $20 extra on my list and will take me well into a third week of dinners. I still think I can do better and a little more practise with this will help get me there. I won't have to spend much next week and have purchased food that'll take us well into a third week. So I suppose if I averaged it over a month it might look better...

I've now got a huge pot of veg. & chicken soup cooking, we can stretch that over a few days and a double-batch of stew (so I can have a night off next week Wink

).

Ohhh! I just realized I could use a conversion chart to convert this to U.S. dollars as I'm spending Aus. dollars...

I spent $225.27 U.S. cheers

This included petrol. This also included toiletries, petfood and laundry powder which I buy in bulk packaging!
I do not use coupons (can never find any Razz

) but I do get 5% discount with the supermarket chain I work for!
_________________
~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

That is great skin!!!! You did good!! The first time I did this I was amazed. The second time I did this I tried to do better. Now it is like a game
_________________
Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

[/url]

I love that theres ither women in this world that gets excited over saving money as I do! Its those little savings here and there that add up to be a huge saving in the long run.I will always buy my veggies ,,canned goods,,at SAL,,its to the point I wont buy them anywhere else.They taste the same as name brands and are literally 1/2 the price.With my sons home right now to help them get back on their feet,,every penny helps.

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1919

Great job Skin!! I REALLY need to get better at my shopping! I always think we will go to Aldi, but this is prime farming time and we never get to go!
Vicki~ it also sounds like you are doing a super job!!

wow you ladies are doing great ..
_________________
Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Thanks ladies.

Just regarding Aldi...I have found that many (not all) of their items are NO cheaper than store-brand or generic items in the larger supermarket chains (perhaps that's just in Aus?). But I have definitely noticed this.
They do have some things which are a little cheaper but much of it is junkfood which I'm trying not to buy anyway...like snacks and fizzy softdrinks.
I must take a trip to the local Aldi soon and recheck all of this out.
_________________
~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Skin, I just now am finding your update. It sounds like you did a fantastic job! If you do not mind me asking, how was this experience for you and do you think that will continue your one day spend day?
_________________
MARY