Life in Southeast Alaska

April Monthly Grocery Trip = $120

I completed our monthly grocery shopping today.  With some great deals and careful comparisons, I spent $120.  I visited 3 stores and spent about 2 1/2 hours.  Here is what we got:

This is our 3rd month of once per month shopping.  It has been fun, challenging, and has taught us to get creative with leftovers and making do with what we have.  Last week we were down to about a half a cube of butter...so we were rationing it!  I found a cookie recipe that didn't use butter, used shortening instead.  We also used the last bit of mayonnaise, so when I made fried halibut, I couldn't make our normal tartar sauce.  So we came up with a seafood sauce that used ketchup, chili sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, onion, etc. and was a nice change!  Went good with our homemade french fries too!  Today before I went shopping, our fridge was pretty empty.  We used up the last of the milk yesterday and finished off the eggs this morning just in time to fill it up with new supplies today.

Our budget used to be $200 per month and I shopped every week or so.  We would pay for that month's groceries with that month's paychecks - so January groceries were paid with January's paychecks.  By being very careful, we have saved enough to be ahead of the game now.  Our May groceries will be paid with April's paychecks - so I will have money in hand on April 30th to buy May groceries.  That is so cool!  If we are able to keep the budget below $200 after that, I will use the excess to restock the pantry when items are on good sales.  This may mean an extra trip to the store, but it will be worth it!

Way to go

2:54 AM, Sunday, April 1, 2007 .. Posted by Chas

Way to go, it looks like you got some great deals!!!

Blessings,
Chas

I'm Impressed

9:39 AM, Sunday, April 1, 2007 .. Posted by frugalmom

You did a great job. I like how you used creativity to make do.

Wow!

10:40 AM, Sunday, April 1, 2007 .. Posted by Mickey

I thought I was doing well if I spent that much per week. It's an area I'm working on right now.
You have truly inspired me to try and do more till I can get to that point! Thanks so much for sharing!

Thank you for sharing!!

1:17 PM, Sunday, April 1, 2007 .. Posted by LittleHouse

I have been trying to shop every two weeks. I am trying to work at that then try to go every month. This week we spent 300.00 for two weeks. That included all paper products and two pairs of shorts for my daughter and two cheap shirts for me:) I bought enough meat for three weeks so we could see how long we could go before going to the store. Thank you for sharing you ideas:)

Ma

awesome!

1:49 PM, Tuesday, April 3, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

I am soooo glad that you have been able to save money!! (and time)!!! Doesn't it feel good to get the creative juices flowing?? Kind of makes us feel like "real" homesteaders when we have to make do with what we have..... sometimes things turn out WAY better than they would have if we could have just ran to the store!!!!
Congratulations!!!!
PS.... by the way it was through you (your blog link on
"praire homemakers") that I found my favorite forume (homemakers homestead) then in turn I started my own blog!! All thanks to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are an inspiration!!

OOPS!!!

1:51 PM, Tuesday, April 3, 2007 .. Posted by hcorbin

OK.... It was me that left the "anonymous" post above.... I forgot to login!!!!! YIKES!!!
Indiana country girl

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11:18 AM, Thursday, April 5, 2007 .. Posted by CandyFoote

Great shopping!
You have inspired me!

Candy

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4:25 AM, Friday, April 6, 2007 .. Posted by MamaDuke

Great job! We are trying to do something similar at our home. We usually spend around $300 for 2 weeks of groceries (for a family of 4) and then head back to the store for little things. This last time, I spent $245 and we didn't go back once. Yeah!! I get paid again today and I'm going to try and do it again. It certainly helps on the budget!

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10:52 PM, Wednesday, April 25, 2007 .. Posted by crewchief

HOLY COW! I'm truly very impressed. We used to spend about $130 for 2 weeks (for a family of 4) when we lived down south. Now we spend about that once a week here in Anchorage. And here we scrimp and penny pinch and don't buy what we WANT but rather what is on sale, etc.

I wish you could come over and sit down with me and teach me how you are doing it. I'm trying my best to make changes to curtail my grocery spending, but I have a very reluctant family.

I'm getting there. Just nowhere near as awesome as you are doing yet!!