Frugal Food and Cooking

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

MarthaMFI — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:38:36 GMT

Have you done breakfast for dinner nights? easy meals and cheap.

I do envy your guys chicken prices! I have a full pantry too. I am going to post a challenge to keep me on the straight and narrow. need to eat from the pantry and save some money.

strictly just the fresh stuff to buy!

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

dmc_2008 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:01:59 GMT

I can get chicken for 1.79 and sometimes as cheap as 1.50 boneless, skinless. I do have a very full freezer and pantry. I am sure July and maybe even August should be easier based on what I already have. I looked at my pantry and its rediculous, I have 5 or 6 boxes of Tea, 4 - 5 things of dressings and bunch of canned stuff. I have meat in freezer enough for a month. I go thru lots.

I am going to start making veggie night only around here and suppliment with a soup.

Just now I sauteed up some mushrooms and some spinach that was going ot go bad, so I will make omeltte at some time tomorrow or next day.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

latenightleader — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:08:28 GMT

MarthaMFI:
is there a lot of canadians where you live?

Lots of Canadians, I think. Hmong, Somolian, Liberians also.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

MarthaMFI — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:33:06 GMT

well at least you are stocked up! you must have been low in supplies. of course it does depend on your food prices in your area. I know chicken breasts are cheap in lots of places but not here when 2.99lb is cheap.

that is my normal food budget for 5 of us. give or take $100 for deals etc and if momma don't feel like cooking!

I find things tend to balance out some months higher some lower. as long as the average is ok then I am ok.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

dmc_2008 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:27:42 GMT

	GROCERY		Saved
30-May	Abertsons	$92.14	$52.67
5-Jun	Ralphs	$57.95	$17.82
9-Jun	Albertsons	$32.91	$6.62
6-Jun	Costco	$88.88
13-Jun	Albertsons	$93.49	$22.83
13-Jun	Tim (Costco)	$40.00
17-Jun	Vons	$40.36	$17.52
20-Jun	vons	$74.96	$22.59
27-Jun	99 cent	$42.99
27-Jun	Produce	$64.12

		$627.80	$140.05

Now you see my problem? June was out of control in a huge way. Granted, July should be much easier because of stocking up in June.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

MarthaMFI — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:27:14 GMT

that is nice. is there a lot of canadians where you live? celebrations here are pretty much the same as 4th of july.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

latenightleader — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:18:18 GMT

We have a Canada Day celebration here, people get together and sing O Canada and BBQ. I haven't gone, as I'm not Canadian, although guests are welcome. They decorate the park with flags.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

MarthaMFI — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:40:09 GMT

spent $87 and change but it is mostly for july groceries. needed stuff because I didn't get some stuff before I left for camp because I knew they would go bad like bananas. if I hadn't bought stuff for canada day with the inlaws over it would have been $35 less. milk, bread, bananas, produce, 2 boxes of 12 yogurts, 8pk of yogurt shakes,lunch ham,breakfast sausage, desserts( half price) steaks about $25 worth but cheapest sale of the year 4.99 a lb top sirloin. usually bbq canada day. so I bought more produce then normal.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

dmc_2008 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:45:10 GMT

I am way over again this month, imagine that!

Tracy, try Freecycle for canning supplies!

Hope to get it together for next month!

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

latenightleader — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:07:53 GMT

I am under budget, for once. I have over $900 on my EBT card, after having gotten $762 this month. I am trying to carry over a bunch, and use up some groceries from the pantry. I think I've used about five bags of groceries from the pantry this month, if that's a way to measure it- saving a substantial amount of money. In addition, I purchased a CSA this spring, so haven't been needing to buy fresh veggies. I carried over a lot on the card from the last two months. I am trying to keep it up there for if they cut our amount a lot with dh's temp job, and for changes in the future months, you have a year to "spend" the amount on your card. I don't want to ever be so low on resources for food as we were at the beginning of 2008, for 6 months I only had about $300/month for food, before we recieved food stamps. Then dh found work for a little while, but while he worked out of state and we had two households, the amount was low as they only deducted one home, and counted all income.

For July I hope to countinue to use pantry food, and start to preserve food for next year. Costs might be a little higher as I need some canning supplies: vinegar, lids, and maybe some more freezer containers. My goal is to have at least $700 at the end of July on the EBT card.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

Brandy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:15:21 GMT

Spent $62.66

I bought some household items and a little food.

June Spending $499.64

I did go over budget and skipped purchasing Angel Food again so next month I face the double purchase again.

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

MarthaMFI — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:41:52 GMT

well I got gas and then went to the safeway and spent $132 and change! including tax. it is the one that has extra airmile rewards like spend $100 and get 250 airmiles where the others are spend $100 get 100 airmiles. I had some email direct coupons like buy certain 2 (cheap) cheese get 50 airmiles so did that, 10 yogurts for $4, 4kg (8.8lbs) box of frozen chicken breasts that works out to 2.59 a lb. cheapest I have seen chicken breasts for a very long time. normally don't get them but at that price I did.

michelinas had new entrees like lemon chicken on sale 5 for $10 so picked up 10 assted for lunches. plus milk, bread, creamo, lemon pudding cake 2.50. I was close to the $100 mark so I thought better get the chicken etc because I would be upset if I missed out on 250 airmiles. plus kraft airmile deals bought 2 boxes of 30 rice krispie squares $5.99 and 3 boxes of vector bars (I eat for breakfast in the car alot) plus 2 cans of coffee on major sale at that store only. sub sandwich and lunch meat for dh.

I bought 4 bags of mulitgrain old dutch tortillas chips for the office so I get $11 of the money back. cheap at 2.50 and that is one of the standard snacks. I had gone shopping for the office last week and they ate $50 of food! in one week so my boss said no just go shopping every two weeks except milk and creamo. but the chips were such a good deal I bought them and I will hid them in our office. they can be up to $4 - 5 a bag.

so got 375 airmiles which is worth over $70 in movie tickets!

my freezer is stuffed !! need to eat out of it so pulled out the onioned stuffed pork burgers, last of the old chicken breasts and a pack of hotdogs and a brunch bowl for a late lunch because needed the place for the new stuff! no more shopping for me!!! I need a 12 step program

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

Brandy — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:23:15 GMT

Spent $35.88

I got a few things at the store like ground meat on sale, bread and some household essentials.

June Spending $436.98

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

dmc_2008 — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:24:44 GMT

I am going to try it. On the 1st. I am taking out 250.00 and making it work. I bet it will. I am putting it in an envelope and giving it a go! I will let you know how it goes.

I am done shoppping this month though - HOPEFULLY.

Today I am making a batch of muffins for dd and some waffles. All from mix.

;-)

Re: Shopping and Cooking in June

MarthaMFI — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:21:06 GMT

Cash can work. I have the same problem. cupboards are full but there is always something to buy at the store when you just go for bread and milk. markdowns, deals etc. I go to dollar giant for gift bags for teachers gifts and find crystal light, special k snacks, heinz ketchup for $1 to $1.25 each so I get a bunch because we use it and it saves me money in the long run. but it can add up. the cheap boxes of snacks are great for parks etc. I throw a box in a bag with juice and then there is enough to share with friends and we don't buy snacks. or when it is our turn for snacks at blastball. for $1 a box can't beat that. or I get them on sale at safeway for $2 to $2.50.

I find I have been shopping in amounts of $20 - $40 dollars mostly this month. I added up my purchases from my account $466.46 so far. I left out the $71 in pharmacy and prescriptions because it is not food. I know there is some stuff like gift bags etc in there too. I think I will start tracking my expenses to see how much is food, pet food etc. I know I spent $70 on pet food this month.

spent $15.01 at the fruit and veggie market beside the restaurant because dd wanted to make fruit salad. how come if they make it in school or something its a big thing but if I make it at home its gross. I don't bother for years because I was the only one eating it. they eat fruit all the time just not fruit salad. mommy word means nothing it seems.