Weekly $68 Grocery Total, Best Buys, and Update On My Goals

We've been immersed in our bathroom remodel project. So, my grocery shopping and menu planning have been abbreviated this week. Since I was able to bulk cook last Saturday, we actually fared very well. But, we've been coasting all week on last week's efforts. As of this writing, I am nearly out of all of my bulk cooking booty. Time to get back in the kitchen!

Here's a look at this week's best buys!

Store #1: Kroger (2 Locations): 

Yes, I really went to two Kroger stores on the same day. I really wasn't purposeful. I actually stopped at the first Kroger after driving across town to drop my son off at his weekly science class. But, I realized, after I left the store,  that I had forgotten to use my 55¢ off coupon on soy milk. Really, under other circumstances, I would never have stopped at another Kroger on the same day. But, about an hour later I realized that I was literally across the street from a different Kroger location. So, why not just run in and pick up that on-sale soy milk and use my coupon? It turned out to be a good decision. I found a ton of produce markdowns!

 Here's the scoop!

Half Price Markdown Greens!

 

 Half Price Markdown Veggies

 

 

Non-Dairy Half Price Markdown Yogurt

 

99¢ each on sale. 

I know! That's pretty expensive. But, if you have someone in your family with a sensitivity to dairy, then finding the non-dairy version of yogurt for just 99¢ each is really good. That's half the regular price, by the way. I bought 6 of them.

EXPERIMENT COMING SOON! Because non-dairy yogurt is so expensive, I'm going to try making my own. My 1946 stove has a standing pilot light that heats milk to a perfect 110 degrees. This is the exact temperature at which milk cultures. Years ago, when I still used dairy products, used to make homemade yogurt on it overnight all the time. I am going to try using some of this yogurt as a starter and culture some soy yogurt on my stove this week. I'll let you know if it works.

By the way, you can just glimpse the berries at the bottom of this photo. It looks like I didn't snap a separate photo of the berries. They were sale priced at just 99¢ each for two days. I got two cartons.

Regular Sale Items 

 $2.50 each, but I saved an additional $.55 with a Kroger physical coupon.

*If you don't have a Kroger store loyalty card, get one! They will periodically send you high value coupons, based on your shopping history.

 99¢ each - two day sale!

$1.29 a pound! 

Kroger total: $34.77!

Store #2: GFS 

 

GFS is consistently putting items on their markdown shelf at fantastic prices!

I don't get my veggies from my bread, but at $1.50 a loaf, this intrigued me. 3/4 cup of veggies in 2 slices of bread. I bought it because I thought it would be a hearty bread for the vegan pumpkin french toast recipe that I want to try later this week. I'll let you know how it turns out.

75¢ a bunch for bananas! Best price in town! 

GFS: Total: $5.30

Store #3: Mediterranean Mart

I've mentioned before that Mediterranean Mart is my very favorite ethnic store in town. I was almost out of date syrup. They sell a nice-sized can for about $7.00. 

When buying date syrup, look for products that have ONE ingredient. The only thing it should say is: "dates". Some brands add extra sugars. Dates are seriously sweet. You don't need any added sugars. I use date syrup when making homemade salad dressings, desserts, and muffins. If you're trying to reduce your use of refined sugar, date syrup is a very nice alternative and it's cheaper than real maple syrup (my other natural sweetener of choice). 

While I was there, I bought a big jar of olives. I didn't get a photo, because my family scarfed down that jar in about 48 hours. If you like olives and you are a Central Illinois native, Mediterranean Mart has a fantastic assortment of types and flavors to try.

Mediterranean Mart is located at the corner of Glen and University Streets, in Peoria, IL.  

Mediterranean Mart Total: $11.80

Store #4: Aldi

No photos of this one. My husband ran in to Aldi earlier this week. I think he said something vague on his way out the door like, "I'm running to Aldi for a couple of things." He left, "supervised" by our 11 year old son. That turned out to be not such a wise idea. Seems that when a really cute 11 year old asks his Dad for food that Mom doesn't generally buy, Dad gets it for him. But, since the total was under $20, the budgetary impact was limited. 

Aldi Total: $16.92

 

Grand Total for the week: $68.77

 

My Current Goals

Right now my goal for meals for my family is $60 a week. I actually have managed on $50 a week for the past two weeks! I've been spending slightly more than $60 a week on groceries, but several of the items that I purchased will last for more than one week. For instance, last week's killer deal on 30# of potatoes will last us for a month. So, we'll see in another few weeks if I need to inch up that goal by a few dollars.

But, still, $60 a week for food for a family of 5 (6 when my oldest comes home from college to visit) is absolutely crazy! I know! But, I'm keeping it for now for two reasons: 

1) This journey began because I was consistently overspending on food over the winter months and then trying to play "catch up" with the grocery budget during the growing season (when we pick up our weekly bushel basket of produce through our CSA membership). I was driving myself crazy, sometimes whittling down my food budget to $100 by December (NOT the time of the year when you want a limited grocery budget!). So, this year I decided to take the bull by the horns, pulling out every grocery saving device in my repertoire of money-saving devices! And it's working! I have cut what I generally spend in January, February, and March by nearly 50%! Best of all, my family has not noticed a thing. (Watch for a post later this week detailing the TEN tips that I use for the past few months.) 

2) The other reason I'm doing this is to PROVE to you that you can serve your family healthy food for an extraordinarily low cost! I hear it all the time: "I can't eat healthy. It costs too much." No, it doesn't! And I'm out to show you how to do it! 

So, hang with me, while I continue to chronicle my weekly grocery spending and bulk cooking sessions for you. 

Your Turn! 

What are your current goals for your budget? Are you working your way out of debt? Saving to replace a car or buy a new home? Are you striving to cut utility or food costs? Let me know in the comments section or e-mail me at underthemedian@gmail.com. I'll write a blog post, giving you my tips and insights on your personal goals. 

 

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope