groceries of 2010

So you may remember at the beginning of this year when I linked up with my friend Sarah for The 200 Challenge. It went well for several months and then life got in the way and we didn't post anymore about it. However, I continued the challenge through the entire year, even though I didn't post. I wanted to bring you all my results as encouragement that you can feed two (and sometimes more) mouths on a mere $200 per month limit.

Aaaaand I didn't just buy groceries! I included toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, make-up, deoderant, etc. in my budget as well. Want to know what I spent on all of that in one year?

$1,820.29

And if we average that per month?

$151.60

That is an average of $48.40 saved every month. Let's compare this total to 2009s, shall we? In 2009 I spent...

$2433.58

Which is an average of $202.80 and that is not bad, but by being very conscience of what I buy, where and when I buy it and how I use it in my home I have managed to save my family $613.29 in one year. That is a lot of money! I plan to continue this trend in 2011 and I may start adding coupons to my ever-growing list of tips/tricks to save money on groceries and household items!

A big thanks to Sarah who was the inspiration for my frugal grocery budget makeover!

So how about you guys? How did you do in 2010 budget-wise?

july 200 challenge

Ok so this month has been a little crazy because of The Maker's Diet and vacation. I can not buy food monthly because of all the fresh fruit and veggies I need to be eating. So I have gone 1 or 2 times a week to the store...and I have gone to lots of stores! I have been checking to see where my favorite fresh produce items are on sale and buying them there.

So I have spent $10.33 at Food Lion, $44.75 at Bi-Lo and $48.68 at Wal-Mart. That brings me to a total of $103.76 so far for the month. I am pretty sure I can stay under the $200 budget for July!

june 200 challenge

Well I am officially off the shopping-at-the-15th-of-the-month cycle. That's right, I stretched our groceries a whole 2 weeks longer! We went 1.5 months without a shopping trip...and I was out of everything! So I went a little over this month, but not too bad considering this is the first time I have gone over my allotted $200 since we started this little 200 challenge party.

I have also started a new adventure. I am the newest member of the CVS Extra Care Card club. My friend Taylor (shout out) got me hooked. I had to make the initial investment, but after my first purchase of $21.37 (which got me 2 bottles of shampoo, 2 of Eric's deodorant, and 2 body washes) I had $10 worth extra care bucks! That's $10 free money to spend anywhere in the store. AWESOME!

I went to Aldi first, of course. I got a lot there and did pretty well. I got LOTS of fresh fruits and veggies! I spent $69.12. Then on to Wal-Mart. I needed a lot of things, plus I am doing The Maker's Diet soon, which requires some expensive ingredients. I already know I will have to go back, which makes me sad but I can justify it because it is for my health. I spent $120.40 there.

So my total (including CVS, Wal-Mart, and Aldi) comes to $210.89. (If you count that I have $10 waiting to be spent then I really have only gone over by $0.89!)

I am short on time now, so I will post meals later!
Good luck to you all in June!

april/may 200 challenge

I have been a little slack this month. I didn't go grocery shopping until today...3 days after I was supposed to (Remember I am doing the 15th-15th of each month). We ate out way more than usual. We spent a week at our dear friends (the Henry's) for a week to take care of Ms. Alice and Kimber while they were out of town. Our schedule just seemed to work against us. We had a LOT of meals from last month that didn't get made, but the up side is we didn't have to buy a whole lot in the way of groceries this month!

So I did my usual Aldi run today and got lots of fresh fruits and veggies and I only spent $54.98 It was super busy on Sunday afternoon so it took me an hour to get what seemed like not a whole lot. Then on to Wal-Mart. Well, actually I forgot my cooler to put my cold/frozen stuff in so I had to truck it back home, unload, and then on to Wal-Mart! I had to get a few pricier items such as olive oil, so my total there was $82.16. That brings my total to $137.14 so far. I usually go back in two weeks and pick up more fresh produce, milk, etc.

Can I just say that I am loving this challenge. Oh and I will update later with the meal menu for this month!

update: march/april 200 challenge

Here is my half-way there update! I have not gone back to the store for anything yet and I think I can make it the rest of the month this way, which is really exciting. Here is what we have eaten so far...

Dinners
-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (one to go!)
-Shepherds pie
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Salmon, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza
-Mexican lasagna
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Chicken pesto
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Popcorn shrimp, faux tatoes
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Scallops and pasta
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Turkey burgers
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits

Lots of yummy meals to go and only 12 more days til shopping!

march/april 200 challenge

Ok I am a day off from my normal 15th of the month shopping spree, but Mondays are impossible for me to do anything except tutor. Seriously, I am at work from 9-10am, then 2-8:30pm. Yup. I love my job, but no grocery shopping on Mondays!

Now for the good stuff. This month I am including the money I spent on my cousin (in-law) Amy's baby shower, which is this weekend! I also went to Big Lots for dishwasher detergent tabs and Eric's deoderant. I spent $10.05 there. Then it was on to Aldi! I got about half of the things I needed there, including some spices I was out of, for a whopping $66.08. Next stop was Wal-Mart for all those obscure "Aldi doesn't carry that" items. I spent $71.83. Last stop was dollar tree for shower decor, where I spent $11.77. Love a place where everything really is a dollar.

That bring my entire total (minus the trip in 2 weeks for more fresh veggies) to $159.71! Yes, that is $40.27 under budget, so far.

Ok my meals for the month!

Dinners
-Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (x2)
-Shepherds pie
-Baked ziti with spinach
-Salmon, onion rings, asparagus
-Burritos
-Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
-Frozen pizza
-Mexican lasagna
-Mexican lentil casserole
-Chicken pesto
-Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic toast
-Shrimp scampi
-Popcorn shrimp, faux tatoes
-Biscuits and gravy (x2)
-Butternut squash risotto
-Smoked gouda mac and cheese
-Greek crock pot chicken
-Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
-Scallops and pasta
-Hot dogs and beans
-Chili beans and biscuits
-Turkey burgers
-Fried eggs, sausage, grits

Breakfast/Lunches
- Cinnamon rolls
- Fried eggs
- Honey Oatmeal muffins
- Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
- Yogurt with honey and granola
- Trail mix, mixed nuts
- Hot dogs
- Tuna with crackers
- Leftovers

feb/march 200 challenge

I did my grocery shopping today! I am shopping on the 15th of every month so I will go from 2/15 - 3/15 with this months groceries. I went to Aldi first with my list and got a good majority of my groceries and fresh produce there. I only spent $58.51 there.

Next stop was Wal-Mart. They carry a few things that Aldi just doesn't have. Also, we are trying to cut out high fructose corn syrup and use more natural sweeteners like raw local honey and agave, and even some of Aldi's "Fit&Activ" brand contains hfcs. This month I had to buy toilet paper and sponges, but those were my only non-food items. I spent $98.08 there.

That brings my total to $151.59. Now I will go back for milk and probably bread before the month is out, but that is still seriously under budget! Now for my meals...(some meals are frozen from last month, and no that isn't cheating!)

Dinners:
- Frozen Veggie Soup and biscuits
- Frozen Lemony Lentil Soup and cheese toast (x2)
- Buffalo chicken quesadillas
- Chicken fajitas
- Cheesy chicken and rice with broccoli (x2)
- Shepherds pie with corn (x2)
- Spaghetti with garlic bread
- Baked ziti with spinach
- Baked salmon, rice, and spinach
- Baked salmon, rice, asparagus
- Hot dogs and baked beans
- Burritos (x2)
- Greek crock pot chicken
- Crock pot chicken and black eyed peas
- Veggie pasta with Braggs
- Frozen pizza (x2, for Wednesdays, not able to cook)
- Black bean quesadillas
- Mexican lasagna
- Enchiladas (x2)
- Tuna melts and faux tatoes (x2)
- Mexican lentil casserole

Breakfast/Lunches
- Cinnamon rolls
- Fried eggs
- Honey Oatmeal muffins
- Whole wheat blueberry pancakes
- Yogurt with honey and granola
- Trail mix, mixed nuts
- Hot dogs
- Tuna with crackers
- Biscuits and gravy

That is 28 dinners! We will also have leftovers for lunches and dinners too. If you want to join The 200 Challenge just go on over to Sarah's and link up!

the 200 challenge

I, and a few of my friends, and joining up with Sarah at Clay in His Hands for The 200 Challenge. The goal here is to spend less than $200 per month for the entire year of 2010. I am so excited! I am always looking for new ways to live the frugal life. Right now I am 6 days past my Meals for a Month Challenge...which has also included not going to the grocery store! I can honestly say I am so proud of the fact that I haven't been to the grocery store since January 1st, and we have eaten every meal at home. (Minus a few generous friends/family that treated us!) I am aiming for stretching this out to February 15th so that we can enjoy a nice meal out for Valentines Day, which was the original inspiration for this challenge. I think we will make it!

Typically I spend less than $200 on groceries per month, but that doesn't always include toilet paper, paper towels, trash bags, etc. I also want to incorporate personal care products into that category as well like shampoo, make-up, deodorant, etc. I also do 1 month grocery shopping, where I buy everything we need for the month, and I only go back once for milk, fresh veggies and fruits, and bread or eggs. My "big" trip will be on the 15th, so I will post then about what I bought and how I saved!