January grocery totals

Added up the month of January- grand total - 454.08
Our budget is $100 a week.... I am calling this a 4 1/2 week month.  There were 5 weekends to feed in this grocery cycle!   how is that for logic?

In that case, we went over by 4.08.  Darn those cookies from earlier in the month! 

December grocery shopping

OH december.
The month that costs the most.
Between tipping, gift exchanges, pot-lucks, donations, gifts, etc.  I feel like I should just hold my wallet open for the taking.
 
Here is my "Why we went over for December excuse list."
First of all, it is colder outside so we tended to stay home more on the weekends.  We've been making larger, heartier meals and tend to snack more when we are hanging out at home.  There were a few 'bring a dish' holiday parties, which means a few extra items added to our grocery bill.   We were all off of school and work for two whole weeks this month.  Add to it that we FINALLY got the cow and had to pay that bill..... yikes!

there was a trip to Kroger for about $125 (didn't get a pic).
A trip to costco for a few items -(lost this receipt but this was at least $50)

A shopping day to sprouts and central market $150.39

a Tom Thumb trip 89.42 (what the heck did I get for that ?? )

another small trip to central market $41.46 (that is a nice cut of salmon in the clear bag.  The salmon alone was $13 but kept us from eating out that night!)

and a Kroger run for $103.33

BUDGETED - $500 ($100 a week)

ACTUAL SPENT - $559.60

went over by about $60 - not as terrible as I was expecting, but still over.

As for the cow, we spent just over $300 for 150 pounds of beef.  That is just over $2 a pound.  It hit hard this month, but we knew the call was coming and were prepared.  Plus, it will last us for months to come!  I am not quite sure how to add that to the budget - it should be spread out for several months, I am just not sure how many?!    Luckily, since changing the way we eat, we have gotten used to not eating a lot of meat in general so it should stick around for a long time.

End of november shopping

I've gotten behind in my grocery postings.  Here are a few shots I took over the last few weeks but neglected to post.  My husband made a few grocery runs that did not get photographed.

This is a Kroger run, saved $34.31 (does not count manager special item savings) in sales and coupons and spent $56.98

This was a Tom Thumb trip - saved about $35, spent 77.35.  not a great trip since I did not really buy a lot.  But I am a toilet paper snob and we are now loaded up for a while! The lunchmeat and cheese is a good quality too, and a littler pricier.  As for the pizzas... it was just that kind of day that day!!


As for the trips NOT pictured this month, we were in charge of the turkey for Thanksgiving and decided to 'splurge' on an organic turkey. 
We spent $36.96 on the turkey.
$54.86 on a quick costco run.
$9.62, $26.89 on a few quick run in trips my husband made for milk, eggs, etc.
Plus add the grocery runs at the start of the month... and......

Goal for november - $ 400
actual TOTAL for november.....$395.33 !

month 3 budget check

for month 3(of tracking) the grand total spent on all groceries was $625.67 from sept.26- oct. 31st (5 weeks)
$105 of that was the 'rollover' money from being so under budget last month.

Once averaged out between the two months, I did pretty well at keeping to my $100 a week budget for food and household/toiletries, basically, everything except dog food (I have delivered every few months in bulk) and alcohol (we still like a beer now and again).  Really, looking at the amount spent between the two months, I was only over by about $20. 


I do need to note that we did go out to eat once twice this month - once with my parents to try the new burger place in town, and once while out shopping, we went to a cafe.
We also did one night of take out for my husband and myself - sushi!  yum.

Considering we have spent $0 on entertainment (other than the 5.99 netflix subscription I am about to cancel).  That will count as our monthly entertainment! lol - who know burgers and sushi were so entertaining!

going organic - month 2 totals

There are some areas in my life where I am a huge procrastinator, some areas where I do things very halfway, and some areas where I go gung-ho.  Switching to organic/natural foods has been one of those areas.

For me, it was an all or nothing task.  So, month one took it's toll in the pocketbook.  We spent a lot of money switching out all the basics in the house - the little things that add up, added up.  You can read about it here.  This month's total is less because of the drastic route we chose to take last month.

Now we are almost done with month two (will end this saturday) and I wanted to give an update.
My guess/budget was $100 a week (give or take).
 
here are some ways we are saving/cutting back.

To see what I've bought this month, click here.

week 1 - $93
week 2 - $130.66
week 3 - $45.72
week 4 - $26.01
At this point, doesn't look like I will need to go to the store before the weekend, so my friends, that was our month!

Budget - $400  
Actual Total $295.39 

The only items not included were dog food, and alcohol.  We buy our dog food in bulk and have it delivered to the house so it lasts for months. As for alcohol, I did include wine from week one because I will cook with some of it.  But my husband laughingly said his 'beer buying is no one's business.' 

The BIG switch - one month down.

There is more to this than school lunches...

This is about the one month mark for a grocery overhaul in our house.   The number one comment we have gotten from people when we tell them we are buying mostly all organic is.... "But aren't organic items more expensive?"
Our answer... "UH, HUH,  BUUUUUT..."  you knew there was going to be a but there, didn't you?!  "We are paying more money on individual items, but we are buying less."

Now for the total hypocritical statement - this past month, my grocery bill was close to $1000!!!!!!!!!

A little background info. here..... I was coupon queen!   At one point in my crazy couponing days, I had 6 of every coupon and would match store sales with coupons for rock bottom prices.  It was normal to open my pantry and see a rediculous amount of  mustard, ketchup bottles, bbq sauces, cereals, fruit snacks and a full shelf overflowing with brownie and cake mixes that I didn't even pay a single cent for!  I have stocked my house and pantry on $250 a month (including toiletries AND dog food!).  A MONTH!
That is what I just averaged a WEEK!

so... am I freaking out a bit about my spending this month?  no.  I am remarkably  calm.  I see the bigger picture.   Have you ever moved before and tossed all the open containers?  I have.  3 times in the last 8 years.  Each move we kept what we could, but tossed anything nearing it's date and gave away whatever would not make the month in storage  (side bar - why do moves never run smoothly?  I don't think I have ever gone directly from one house to another!).  Each time we moved, the first few shopping trips were ridiculously high.

Well, we have moved.  Not physically, but we have moved none the less- into a new phase of life - attempting to educate ourselves a little more about what we put in our mouths.  Now, please don't think I have blinders on.  I know I can't control the world around me.  I know my kids are still asking me to buy dora cereal or GI Joe fruit snacks. I am aware of what I am competing with!  My homemade food is not as fun as dora, or as shoot 'em up cool as GI Joe... but I' working on it!
I am not trying to shelter my family from the rest of the non organic world - but If I can make more meals at home, try new things and keep them fun and exciting, I can at least control what goes into our bodies about 90% of the time.  I figure with 3 meals a day, plus snacks that 90% of the time, meals come from our house.  Yes, they will eat gummi worms from Grandpa, and eat who knows what at friends houses, but if our diets are 90% free of chemicals, HFCS, and genetically modified foods, then I am ok with that!  It is a 90% change from where we were!

So back to the cost - The first few weeks were the most expensive.  There were a few costco and specialty store runs in there to overhaul the fridge and pantry.   There are still a few items I would like to switch over, but for the most part I think I have done it!   I even hit up a few pantry item clearance/overstock sales at the chain grocery stores in the area (guess the rest of the area isn't buying organic?) I feel pretty competant now that my fridge and pantry are loaded with basics.  My grocery bill this week consisted of $70 at Kroger and $20 at the farmer's market.  That is $90 a week.  I think I can do this for under/right around $100 a week.  Winter may bring some new challenges, but I am up for it!  I am sure it is fluctuate a bit, but as I said above, we are paying more for less.