Welcome to a new month of food!

Did you go under or over your budget last month? Are you making changes to the way you meal plan and shop this month?

Set your May food and supply budget then track your shopping and meal planning with us!

 April Groceries: $336.44

April Supplies: $52.02 

May Budget Groceries: $400

May Supplies Budget: $50

We were under budget in April by about $65 for groceries. We found some good deals, ate out of the freezer and pantry, skipped a week of grocery shopping because of the stocked pantry and freezer and had a neighbor give us 10 lbs of dog food (um, for our dog, of course! LOL). So I am chalking the savings up to a lot of blessings. So for May, I am still keeping my $400 monthly grocery budget and $50 supply budget. I don't want to decrease it and have April just be a fluke, especially with rising food costs. But I like seeing my budget be under!

This month, I know I will be buying more fresh produce as we cut back last month. I also know I will be making more sun tea which is so very cheap. My parents gave us 10 pounds of beef (my mom is really trying to cut out red meat in her diet) so we have hamburger and stew meat, 1 roast and a package of sirloin. But we don't want to eat beef all the time either. So I will be looking for some great chicken and fish deals this month.

The farmer's market starts this weekend. I hope to get down tomorrow if the weather holds.

 In April, my husband and I compromised on a budget between what I prefer to spend and what he feels is a good amount. Our actual spending went in his favor so I give up and I am adjusting our budget upward again.

 My May food and supply budget is $600.

 Brandy, I think that we will all be doing this at least a little. Babs

 Sadly Babs, I agree. I don't think we will be seeing some of the cheaper prices we enjoyed over 2007.

 I was looking back at some of the post from last summer and fall. We were complaining about prices and now they would look wonderful. We found out today that our local Home Depot is being closed. That will put a large group of people out of work.and leave another huge building empty. Sad situation. Babs

Babs, I am sorry to hear that many will be unemployed.

April Food & Supply Budget: $250.00

Actual Amount Spent: $272.84  $22.84 overbudget!

May Budget: $275.00

 I did have to go the store last night for a few things (milk, a loaf of bread, lunch meat) and to return some crab I bought that I noticed expired a whole month before we bought it.  Got a $3.89 refund on the crab, but spent $29.67.  I'm increasing the May budget to $275.00 given the cost of groceries...I just don't see how we can keep doing it at $250 any longer. But I am going to try my best to work with a $250.00 budget.

Well I know I went overbudget last month. so many deals to stock up on.   My cooking is not great if 2 of the following happens.. when I am tired, not feeling well and that time of the mth and this week it's all three.  I keep forgetting stuff at the store and end up going back the next day or so for the item.  It was margarine this week. 

 So I went to safeway and stocked up on things I fiqured we will need plus to use the coupons from the last batch of quakers crunchers to buy more boxes (works out to $1 a box) and some stuff to add to what I have for easy meals plus whatever I might need in the next couple of weeks.  plus a couple of deals. have hotdogs no buns etc. spent $100.66 with tax. used $8 in coupons and had $40.62 in club cards savings plus it was spend $100 get 100 airmiles plus some extra airmiles on the pizza, tea etc that was on sale that I normally buy.

spent $100(most stuff on sale) on milk,creamo, 6 boxes quaker crunchers plus two boxes trail mix bars (bogo coupon on last box and these ones have them too,sale $2 box) 2 frozen safeway pizza $6.99 each, 2 boxes of evening delight tea (drink it every nite) on sale $2.49 each, 8pk dlbe roll tp $5.99, hotdog and hamburger buns,  4 bottles of snuggle fabric softener in my favorite scent. $3.29 each 50% in store special, romaine lettuce, strawberries, sandwiches for tomorrow, 1kg edwards coffee, jasmine rice, mccain fries one spicy wedges, one cracked pepper fries, bogo special $3.87 (never that cheap, may have to go back for more since it is limit 2), bogo kotex, large tub of margarine, sm. spinach dip with bread for my lunch.

I could go and get more cruncher boxes with the new coupons of the boxes I bought today but 12 boxes is enough. Will save them for another time.  Plan to eat out of the pantry and freezer since we are so stocked up. Need to do a costco run for couple of cases of juice boxes, havarti cheese, bag of chicken chimchangas (dh lunch 20  for $11 dh loves them), cheese strings, salami and the kosher pickles. We only go to costco  about 3 - 4 a year. Those are normally the only things I buy there. Those I save money on.  of course there probably will be a couple more things in the cart. shopping with the family

Since we have to go to maple ridge for a birthday party, we pass Hopcott meats which has grain fed, hormone free meat so I will stop to pick up some to try before trying one of the packs they have.

We live in the Austin, Texas area and our local Randalls is having a ReGrand Opening sale.  They just remodeled and are reopening June 7th.  I was told that they would be having great sales for the next 12 weeks.  Last week they had  pork chops for $.99 per lb.  and this week they have chicken legs and thighs for $.79 per lb..  The pork chops averaged $10.00 per pk.  The chicken is averaging $5.00 -$6.00 per pk.  I hope this keeps up because I have not  stocked up since winter.  I have not been checking in with you guys for a while and my budget or lack there of  really shows it.  Thanks for helping all of us aim higher or lower as the case may be.