I am always working hard to trim my grocery budget because, lets face it, it is one of the only bills that I have very much control over from month-to-month.
In the last few months, I had been spending $130 on average every 10 days (down from $175 or so that I had been spending prior). During that time we had some unexpected medical bills and our car was totaled (hit from behind; everyone was safe, but the car was totaled). So I had to do even better. I challenged myself to a $110 budget. I brought along my oldest child for the trip and he was in on the challenge too! When we got the receipt back for $80.10 my son high-fived me. He didn’t even miss all the extras we left on the shelves to save all that dough!
As the title says, I do it without clipping coupons. Good for you if you do clip coupons, but I have tried several times and they just don’t work for me.
Instead I work with a meal plan, shop sales, purchase very few to zero household products, and limit treats. Also with very few exceptions my family drinks water. Usually using these habits I stay around $130, but when I decided to really push it worked. I will still give myself $110 to work with in the future because I did have a few staples on hand but I hope I continue to have this kind of success.
For my $80.10 trip you may be wondering what I was able to get:
For breakfasts:
Milk
Cereal
3 cartons of eggs (some will be for breakfast dinner)
Bread for toast
1 pint Blueberries
2 bags Frozen strawberries and bananas for smoothies
For lunches:
1 Watermelon
Turkey breast
Bread (4 loaves including breakfast)
Jar of peanut butter
Snacks:
Bananas
Organic Carrots-I do not try to buy all organic because I can’t, but if the price is close I will splurge (also will use a few for one soup)
Pineapple fruit cups in 100% juice
Pear fruit cups in 100% juice
New york cheddar cheese (mom and dad eat snacks at night ;-))
Micro wave popcorn
Dinner:
Head of broccoli
1 lb Chicken breasts (boneless, skin-less)
2 lbs Ground turkey
Bag of onions
Mini Bell peppers (also for snacks)
Garlic
Frozen Brussel sprouts
Blueberry pancake mix (for breakfast dinner)
Pint of blueberries (so yes that makes 2 pints)
Cheddar cheese (for taco night)
1 carton of vegetable stock
1 bag of frozen chicken tenderloins (about 2 lbs)
1 jar of tomato sauce-sometimes I make my own-not this time. LOL
2 boxes of penne
Chicken thighs (bone in, skin on)
Corn on the cob
Iceberg lettuce
1 can of corn
Extra household:
Gallon slider zip bags for my daughter’s school
Dessert:
Tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream
A few items I already had on hand but may have bought: rice, beans, jelly, honey, coffee, tea, agave nectar, oil, vinegar, tortillas, and taco shells.
Here’s my receipt:
I will post my meal plan in the future. 🙂
Whoa! Yeah, area definitely makes a difference. All that would cost a fortune where I live. Kudos to you (and further proof we need to relocate).
We are in South Florida-so I used to think it wasn’t possible either. But then an ALDI came to town and we are getting Trader Joes in a few much which I am super excited about.
*months not much
I have only one real grocery store in town and we are nowhere near crops of any kind (too far north to grow anything), so produce is expensive. I keep hearing about ALDI – maybe one day I can experience it for myself!!