Yesterday I went grocery shopping and ended up in four different stores. Good thing I had cash so I knew exactly what I had to left to spend. I spent just under $150.00. Whew. (Actually this is not bad, as I was able to get organic meats and produce.)
Here is my menu for the next 10 days to finish up the No(Low) Spend Challenge:
Lunches - sandwiches (egg salad, chicken salad, pb&j and turkey/ham), grilled cheese, organic carrots and celery, leftovers
Snacks - organic pears, apples, bananas, oranges, crackers and cheese, organic tortilla chips w/salsa, homemade cookies (molassas and peanut butter)
I should have enough for 10 days....and the good news is that I've only spent $546 for the whole month on groceries. That is $100 less than I budgeted for food. (For those of you who have been following me for a while know that this is nothing short of a miracle. :)!)
What's on your menu?
P.S. I'll be back for tonight's Sunday night chit-chat!
Here is my menu for the next 10 days to finish up the No(Low) Spend Challenge:
- Sunday - Roasted Chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing, broccoli
- Monday - Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs* (this makes enough for two meals), tossed salad
- Tuesday - Chicken cutlets, fried rice, veggie
- Wednesday - Hot Dogs (Hebrew National all beef), baked beans, french fries, salad
- Thursday - Chicken Soup with homemade rolls
- Friday - Homemade cheese pizza
- Saturday - Spiedies (marinated chicken cubes), rice, veggie, rolls
- Sunday - Pasta*, tossed salad
- Monday - Macaroni & Cheese Casserole w/veggies
- Tuesday - Beef cubes, fried potatoes, salad
Lunches - sandwiches (egg salad, chicken salad, pb&j and turkey/ham), grilled cheese, organic carrots and celery, leftovers
Snacks - organic pears, apples, bananas, oranges, crackers and cheese, organic tortilla chips w/salsa, homemade cookies (molassas and peanut butter)
I should have enough for 10 days....and the good news is that I've only spent $546 for the whole month on groceries. That is $100 less than I budgeted for food. (For those of you who have been following me for a while know that this is nothing short of a miracle. :)!)
What's on your menu?
P.S. I'll be back for tonight's Sunday night chit-chat!
22 comments:
Sounds like a yummy week. I should have done a ten day menu too that way I don't have to go to the grocery store before we get paid, oh well, next time.
I think this is our lowest grocery bill month too and we haven't gone out to eat at all.
I really need to get on board with the meal planning. With just 2 in the house and the schedule often willy nilly, I never seem to do it!
Yum!! Sounds good!! I *still* hate menu planning... lol! Tonight it's Ribs, veggies, & mashed potatoes for dinner! Great job on the grocery budget this month!! :)
Sharon.... LOVE reading your blog. I have a question though.... how do you do so well budgeting your time? Clearly you are very organized. I would love to have my meals planned more than a day ahead, or be so vigilant with my money... any tips?
Maura
I think I will also do a menu planner up to the 31st, that's a great idea Sharon.
To save $100 on your food shopping is brilliant! Any plans for that extra cash?
Yummy Menu.
Congrats on all you've achieved this month Sharon!
Sft x
Great job!! Feeding as many as you have in your family for $150.00 is a pretty darn good deal. I am on my own again this week so I really don't have a menu (lucky Me) But I will throw something in the crock pot sometime this week to eat on!! See you are gonna make your goal after all!!
that is so great!! I think since switching to tj's I am going to come in much closer to $600/month. I have been averaging betweeen 150 and 160 a week.
@Niki - I had to do the 10 day as I'm out of cash for groceries now! Next fill up is Feb. 1st.
@Sass - Menu planning really helps me, especially with food waste...
@Carla- Yeah, I get stuck a lot, but since I'm trying to use up food, I had to be extra creative this week.
@Maura - Why, thank you! I'm not always organized, and if you read some of my past posts, you'll know that I mess up...alot. My suggestion is to keep reading PF blogs...they offer GREAT info and inspiration! :)! Glad to have you Maura!!
@SFT, Hopefully the extra $100 will go directly to savings! ;)!
@Debby, I would have spent $0 if it was just me...I can live off of pasta and cereal and be a bit more creative! Feeding 5 picky eaters...well that's a bit more difficult!
Great Job Sharon! Super proud of ya!
Yum. I really should make some marinated meat cubes too, I see you have both chicken and beef on the menu...
The food looks great!
Love your food choices and loving that it inspires me to plan out food for the week. It sure helped last week having a plan. go figure LOL
You inspired me. I WILL make a menu for the remainder of the month. I agree that you do seem very organized.
@Denise, Trader Joe's is a great place to get good food, although yesterday we went to Whole Foods, as I LOVE their grass-fed beef. I did get organic chicken at BJ's though, of all places. It's really good there. I'm hoping to stay within the $650 range for a month...I think I can do it!
@Lisa - Thanks!!
@CS - My family LOVEs the marinated beef cubes...I don't eat beef so I'll have to take their word for it. I'll eat the potatoes and a ton of veggies instead.
@Jolie - Had to to 10 days to make the $$ last! I like that it takes me to the end of the month!
@ND, I wish I felt as organized as you think I am! :)!! BUT, since I'm working on NO food waste, the menu and planning help!
One more question.... how do you get the food to last? One of the big problems I have is that fruit, lunch fixings and such are gone within 2 days...my husband and son are notorious for having "just a little something" ALL THE TIME.... makes me crazy...
@Maura,
We've actually had the opposite problem where food just lingered...and then was wasted. I guess you have to figure out how much you eat. I had to figure less, you may have to figure more. That is, unless you are overeating and just make sure when it's gone, it's gone and you'll have to wait for the next fill up! :)!
That's fantastic Sharon - I know how hard you've been trying to whittle away your grocery budget! AND all of your meals are healthy and well balanced plus healthy lunches and snacks. See you tonight!
Sounds like a lot of good food!
You're doing so well this month Sharon - great to see you were able to get so much organic food and stay within budget.
Hi, I like your blog, it looks like a great place to visit and hang out!
Today I put a chicken in a pot of water and will make soup later with it. I will take that for my lunches to work and my daughter will have PBJ with fruit and chips, pretty much all week. I might mix it up with some tuna or ??
Have a wonderful week!
@Jane- I think it all has to do with not wanting waste! I wish I started a long time ago!
@Michelle- I hope!
@Laura- I tried not to over buy as I don't want any waste! Let's hope it works!
@joyofdebt - Welcome and thanks for stopping by! I love chicken soup..I'll be making it this week too!
Your menu sounds great! I did my grocery shop yesterday. Spent $156 for 2 weeks (lawman leaves late this week and is gone until feb 9 so it's just 2 of us). Feels good to have extra cash in my grocery envelope for the rest of the month!
Look at you go, Sharon! Definitely putting me to shame and that's a-ok with me. $100 under is fantastic. And your menu sounds so so yummy. I need to redo mine to accomodate several items I got left from last week.
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