Adventures in Grocery Shopping

So, a couple of days ago I told you that I wanted to see if I could spend $75 or less a week on groceries. I made a menu (which included 13 dinners, and some other things including food for other meals), made a very detailed list, searched the ads for the best prices on anything that I was planning on buying (I am not skilled enough to make my menu based on what is on sale - yet), and hit the stores.

My original plan involved spending about $120, so that I would have approximately $30 left for the extra trips to the store for whatever I forgot, plus being able to buy extra milk and possibly fresh vegetables as the 2-weeks progress.

Well, if you look at it in a strictly 'black and white' sort of way, I broke the budget.

I spent $144.99, before taxes. I know that I will have to buy at least 2 more gallons of milk, before our next payday. At $2.50 a gallon, I definitely go over. Plus, it's before taxes.

However, I did make a few purchases that will take us well beyond our 13-meal plan. For example, hamburger was on sale for $1.59 a pound. That's a really good deal, so I went ahead and purchased 10 pounds, all individually wrapped, for future use. My meals only call for 3 to 4 pounds of hamburger this week. I also purchased a big bag of chicken breasts at Costco (my favorite kind, I refuse to buy anything else) - which will last us for at least 4 more meals beyond what I need this shopping period. I also got enough pork chops to last us for FIVE meals, and I only need 1 meals worth this week.

I was trying to buy enough food to get us through January 20th, and I managed to buy enough meat to last us through February 5th... at least.

I'm bummed that I broke the budget, but I'm not giving up yet. This is the first time I've really ever tried to stick to a budget while grocery shopping. All in all, I did a pretty good job. If all I have to buy is more milk during the coming weeks, we are in REALLY good shape.

How do you think I did?

If you are interested in what I purchased, keep reading. Otherwise, consider this post over. :)

On January 8, 2008, $144.99 (before taxes) can buy you the following:
4 cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
Bear Creek Broccoli Cheese Soup
2 Gallons of 2% Milk
One whole Chicken
2 "packages" of green onions
3 large white onions
1 package of hot dogs
2 packages of hamburger buns
HUGE bag of Costco/Foster Farms Boneless Chicken Breasts
Case of Kern's Nectar from Costco
Giant container of Pace Picante Sauce
2 bottles of pickles
16 oz bottle of Kraft Parmesan Cheese
Honey Dijon Mustard
A can of peas and carrots
15 Pork Chops
French Fries
2 packages of tortillas
1 package of dried cranberries
1 bag of walnuts
1 bag of celery
Garlic
Light Mayonaiise
2 packages of Welch's Juice (6 packs)
Turkey Breast
2 packages of shredded cheddar cheese
Ham (Deli sliced, lunch meat)
2 packages of Crescent Rolls
Sour Cream
6-pack of water bottles
4 South Beach Diet Frozen Dinners
Loaf of Bread
2 packages of frozen broccoli
2 jars of peanut butter
10 pounds of ground beef
4 bottles of Juicy Juice
4 boxes of Cheerios
2 boxes of Total (cereal)
1 box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch
1 box of Trix