Dan and I are really trying to save money. We buy mik and eggs (for now) from the farm. We have tons of veggies and a few fruits in the garden - that helps. And we don't buy ANY bread products - I make them. So, today I went to the grocery store (usually a Monday, but this week has been weird). I bought 1 weeks worth of groceries. I was so proud that the list was short - based on a menu of using what we have and some leftovers, etc. So I was SHOCKED whent he bill was $200!!! That is the most it has ever been!
I can't stop thinking about it. So, I want to look at each item and think about how to make changes in the future. I thought I would write it up so I can reference it in the future and learn from it - and if I write it here, well maybe some other people will chip in with their feedback as well (if they are willing to actually read this long and boring post).
BTW, here is the menu and below is the list I went to the store with:
fruit
toilet paper
chicken
butter
celery
lettuce
lemons
onions
chicken broth
parm cheese
ground turkey x2 or flank
new potatoes
18oz sharp white cheddar
8oz greyere
romano
chicken tenderloins
parm
black beans
avacado
butter lettuce
Eval from recipt:
things bought that were not on the list -
- stick fruit (for Cooper). Is an easy, portable snack - 3.40 - maybe I could make these in the dehydrator?? Probably not for less money. Should have just bought more regular fruit.
- Snap pea crisps (for Cooper). again, good portable snack. 2 @ 1.29 Not so great for him, but trying to transition off chips.
- Wine (not for Cooper). - $9 Friends are making it. I really want to try that - cheaper and healthier. But I want to get more familiar with the bread/pasta and cheese before moving into something new...maybe after xmas. For now, I will buy the non-organic cheap stuff at Harrys.
- 3 sodas - 4.60 - tried the Sevia soda (yuck), got a black cherry drink, and I get one every time I go there - and then a blood orange soda ($3) to try with Vodka. it was yummo by the way - could have done without it, though.
- Turkey Bacon (2) and Turkey Ham - staples for Cooper - not sure how to do without these - $15
- Grapes - another staple for Cooper - they are in season now but maybe I should encourage him to eat only the fruit we can grow?? hard one - $8
- Basil plant - ours plants suck this year and even though it is almost end of season, buying the plant is the same as buying a bunch, but will last longer - $6 - grow a better variety next year
- Plant seeds - cabbage and green onion were not available on SSE but were there so got them - $4
on the list -
- bath tissue - $8 - can't really do without this one. I am trying to move away from paper towels though - un necessary and can get expensive
- black beans (2) $4+ - I am planting some dry beans this Fall. Maybe I should look into growing these - or maybe I should buy them in bulk and dry rather than canned. I think Breadbeckers has these in organic in bulk...check into this.
- Chicken broth (4 and $3.70 each). I could definately make this cheaper, I think. I tried before but stored it in plastic. All went wrong. Need better way to freeze this. Research this.
- Chicken breasts (2), ground turkey (1lb) - staples. Pretty soon we will have our own chickens for meat and that will help
- Butter (2) - $13+ Buying the pasture butter and it is still cheaper than making our own. I guess we will have to wait until we have our cow before I can save here.
- Cheese - (4 types, $22)here is an area where we SPEND! Some of the cheeses we are making now for reasonable prices. but we use parm almost every day. Even if I made it this week, it will not be ready for 10 months or more. And sometimes even the grass-fed or imported cheeses (Europe does not allow the same anti-biotics and checmicals that the US does) are available for less than i can make it. Maybe once we have the cow I can spend more time making cheese. We need a press too.
- grass-fed flank steak - $15 - we have really cut back on beef since we only purchase grass-fed and the price is high. I would love to order in bulk from a local farmer, but it is just now as good once it is frozen. What to do? cut it out?
- halibut - $26!! - I did not notice this until we got home. The wild caught fish is outrageous! I wanted to add more fish to our diet but at this rate, we just can't do it! Rather take the $40 per month per person Omega vitamins. Special occasions only from now on.
- Lemons, Avacoado, celery, lettuce, onions - staples in our house, even out of season. Onions I grew this year were not a success - will keep trying. Lettuce is out of season in GA. One day we will have a green house where I can grow these things. For now, I keep buying - $23
- Bananas - $2 - could I grow these in a greenhouse?
- Watermelon - $7 - should have bought the watermelon and not the chunks already cut up. Can save that way going forward. Growing these this year but they are not ready. Maybe should try to wean Cooper to in-season only fruits?? Just so hard.
OK - that's it - sorry if the math is off, I rounded. But all this is $200!
Major lessons:
- buy fruit whole (if at all) and cut it up myself
- avoid the fish now
- cut back on red meat
- research how to best freeze chicken broth
- check into buying dry beans in bulk
- work on better portable snacks for cooper
