If you are just tuning in, we are doing a major budget challenge this month. We are trying to spend as LITTLE as possible out of pocket on groceries and eating out this month. I can’t believe it’s been two whole weeks already. We are still doing really well. This week we spent only $16.72 out of pocket, bringing our monthlong total to $58.72.
SHOPPING TRIPS
Here was our original menu plan and our planned shopping trips.
Here’s what we ended up spending this week:
Grocery Outlet – I spent $17.77, but I had a $30 gift card, so I’m not sure how to count this. Technically it isn’t out of pocket, and it was for my Queen Bee review post, but I’ll still keep a tally of it.
Safeway – I spent $3.99 on a block of Tillamook cheddar. This is a stock-up price and we were nearing the end of our loaf in the fridge.
Uwajimaya – While we were in Seattle last weekend we went to one of my favorite grocery stores, Uwajimaya. It’s an Asian-specialty store with all sorts of international goodies. Our total was $12.73 – we bought four packets of “tea rice” at $1.89 each (only three are pictured). My husband loves to have this for breakfast – mixed with rice and hot water – and we can’t find it locally. I also got some noodles and spring roll wrappers to make homemade spring rolls someday soon.
MEALS
Just because we are being frugal doesn’t mean we can’t eat well. We are making full use of the foods we have in our freezer and our stockpile.
Here are some of the meals we ate this week:
Last Wednesday night we roasted a quartered chicken that we had in the freezer for a long time. It turned out awesome.
Thursday night we ended up grilling hot dogs and burgers. We sautéed onions for the burgers, since we didn’t have much for toppings. We had fruit smoothies for dessert.
Friday night we all just ate what we wanted. I made stove-top popcorn for the kids. They had some Miso soup (packaged) and we snacked.
Saturday night and Sunday morning we were in Seattle to celebrate my husband’s birthday and this was one of the weekend’s excluded from the challenge. But we still managed to be incredibly frugal – eating happy hour at Dragonfish where you can get sushi as low as $1.50 per half roll and cocktails only $3.95 (reg. $8). We had a lot of fun!
Late Sunday afternoon we went to my in-laws for lunch/dinner to celebrate Mother’s Day. Later Sunday night we went and got ice cream and milkshakes.
Monday night I made corn chowder in the crockpot. I made it because we have a TON of frozen corn in the freezer and we still had some whipping cream in the fridge from the Rhubarb Custard Cake. The chowder turned out amazing and I served it with homemade rolls.
Tuesday night we had leftover chowder chowder.
I think we did pretty awesome this week! I’m happy that we didn’t eat out last Thursday on soccer practice night. We did go out for ice cream cones and milkshakes on Mother’s day, but I was happy for this splurge (and the kids were too).
WEEK 2 TOTALS
- Gift card – $17.77 at Grocery Outlet, but I had a gift card, so this wasn’t out of pocket and was part of my Queen Bee giveaway/review.
- Grocery stores –$3.99 at Safeway on a block of Tillamook cheddar and $12.73 at Uwajimaya = $16.72 out of pocket
- Eating out – $9.68 for ice cream cones and milkshakes on Mother’s Day
MONTH TOTALS TO DATE
- $58.72 out of pocket on groceries ($37 was apples)
- $17.77 on groceries with a gift card (not out of pocket)
- $29.68 eating out
Considering I could easily have spent this in one grocery shopping trip, I think we are doing great this month so far. It’s really made us think about our purchases and we are having to be creative about the meals we plan. One thing is certain, we need to hit up the grocery store soon. . .our fridge is empty and we need some produce!
Please note: This doesn’t include all of our living expenses. I’m only reporting the amount we spend on groceries and eating out – as that is where we are focusing our efforts this month (although we are being more conscious with all purchases!)
I’d love to hear from you! How are you saving money this month!
Leave a Reply