I went over budget this week.
(Kristen shakes her fist at Costco. Kind of.)
I'm not upset at Costco, exactly. But I never cease to be amazed at how fast things add up in that store!
What I Spent
This was a week with lots of different grocery spending.
I stopped at Costco to replenish my frozen fruit supply and also to buy coffee for Mr. FG. I spent $73 there, but what I bought should last me for quite a while.
At Target, I spent $17.07 on flour, tea, and a few other things.
I also got my produce box, which costs $32.
And then my regular grocery shopping trip ran me $120.
So, I'm clocking in at $242 for this first week of February. I don't see that continuing all four weeks, though, so I think I'll still average out on budget by the time the month is over.
What We Ate
Monday
It's the first two weeks of February, which means it's 14 Days of Valentines for Mr. FG (more on that here). For day one, I told him to meet me at a favorite restaurant of ours. 😉
The kids made buttermilk pancakes and they had strawberry syrup with 'em.
Tuesday
We ate leftover ham from the freezer, plus braised red potatoes with thyme and mustard. Plus sliced cucumbers and oranges from our produce box.
Please enjoy this dreadful photo of that meal.
Daylight savings time canNOT come soon enough.
Wednesday
I was bringing a meal to a family from church, so I opted to make BLT salad, both because it's portable and because if you leave the croutons off, it's gluten-free (one of the family members has Celiac disease).
I also made whole wheat rolls (obviously not gluten-free!) and, as I mentioned yesterday, chocolate-dipped macaroons.
Thursday
Lisey cooked with me and we made Chicken Tortilla soup.
Along with that, we had orange slices and leftover whole wheat rolls.
Friday
I got some bread flour, finally! So I can make homemade pizza tonight.
So, that wraps things up for my food report this week.
What did you eat this week?
Costco got me this week as well! I bought chicken, eggs, tissues, cascade, and rice and spent $75 which was the same amount I spent this week at the regular grocery store on 10 days worth of groceries. I know the prices were better but its still a hard hit all at once.
Monday - We also had chicken tortilla soup with your honey glazed rolls from the freezer.
Tuesday - Pancakes stuffed with cottage cheese with orange sauce on top
Wednesday - Paninis with coleslaw
Thursday - Spaghetti and cauliflower
I'm not sure what I'm making today. Maybe some coney dogs made with homemade sauce (a throwback to our eating out days when we used to go to the local coney island every Friday...of course that was when we only had one kiddo and I still worked).
The picture may be "dreadful" but, boy, do those roasted potatoes look good. 🙂
They are tasty! And in better lighting, they'd look even tastier.
Do you find that with a produce box, you're frequently overspending on your grocery budget? I used to get a produce box and loved it, but always went so far over my budget that I eventually had to cancel it. I just wonder if anyone else has that problem or it's just me?
Generally speaking, it still works out ok for me. But this week I needed things at Costco, and then also at Target, and so the combo of all of that put me over.
But it'll balance out over the course of the month so I'm not really worried about it.
I get a small produce box 3 weeks then have a rest week. This allows me to eat up everything that's been left and gives me a little extra money for replenishing whatever I need (meat, olive oil or coffee, usually). Maybe look around, see if there are some other places that offer them around you that can be a little more flexible or that have a better value?
This week we had:
Burgers, veggies, and a side dish
Eggs, sausage, toast
Chicken Alfredo w/peas and carrots, and garlic bread
Better than take out fried rice
And cheesy goulash tonight.
Was excited to see bonesless chicken breasts for $1.49/lb and eggs for $0.99/dozen at Aldi! I stocked up on both!
I know how you feel. When I go to King Arthur and buy 50lb sacks of flour or the Asian grocery store it always destroys my budget.
Just last week my wife and I took advantage of a formula sale at Target and paired it with coupons and got a month's worth of formula for around $70. The bright side is that we won't be buying formula for a while but there went the budget.
Say it isn't so! LOL
This week we ate:
- Lentils shepards pie
- Pastas with beef and tomatoes
- Sausages with roasted potatoes and broccoli
And repeaters/leftovers
Say "NO!!" to daylight savings time. It's archaic, unnecessary, costly, and dangerous. Every year there are more traffic accidents during Spring Forward week than would be expected from conditions.
It was started to save fuel, back in a different time and under different conditions. It doesn't even save fuel anymore.
Its not so much DST I'm looking forward to...just more hours of daylight.
Well, I don't care so much for the flip-flopping back and forth. What I like is when it's suddenly light at dinnertime, and I can take more appetizing pictures of our meals!
And since I don't get to control whether we do DST or not, I'm just going to enjoy that photographic upside. 🙂
It's actually not so archaic...it was begun in 1917 as a sort of answer to the fact that in an industrial society where everyone followed a routine (as opposed to agrarian society that followed patterns of daylight) that was divided by hours where getting off at the same time every day all year was the norm it would give industrialized workers more time to enjoy time outside and participate in after work activities like sports.
Now, one of the arguments for keeping it has been that it saves fuel-- but it doesn't. However, I do like that DST means there is more light later on the clock-- but that that's a very modern problem since for thousands of years the rhythm of the day-- sunrise and sunset-- determined when humans did activities, not a clock. 😀
We tried out some new meals this week. Chicken Caprese was the favorite. It was easy to make and tastes great. I stocked up on eggs at Aldi for only $.99! I think it has been almost a year since I have seen eggs for that cheap.
Monday: Take out pizza.
Tuesday: Cereal for the kids and leftover pizza for the grown ups
(Rough start for the week but this is where it turns around)
Wednesday: ATK's Crock Pot Revolution Chicken in a pot, sourdough bread (from the bakery, not homemade, sigh), and green beans
Thursday: Used the left over chicken and jus to make ATK's Chicken pot pie with a savory crumble. (leftovers for lunch *fist pump*)
Friday: I was thinking homemade pizza but see Monday. Tacos or Chili
There is always one week a month that seems to get me but it all balances out in the end.
This week we had:
*Perdue Oven Roaster with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots
*Blackbean soup with grilled cheese sandwiches
*Shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches with french fries
*Hamburgers & Hot Dogs with chili & cheese and corn
*Tonight is leftovers!
It makes me feel better that you spent more than you expected at Costco. We actually let our Costco membership lapse for this reason (we were buying "luxury" food items that we would not have otherwise, at a time when our budget didn't have room for those.) Since there are only two of us, it makes sense. I will likely renew our membership once we have kids.
So hard for me to think all the way back to Monday.
Mon-Baked Salmon with mixed veggies,corn on the cob, and brown rice
Tues-We had brinner.
Wed-Cheese pigs in a blanket and cucumbers with ranch dip
Thur-KFC, yes I know, this is kinda bad. My only is excuse is the stressful night we had. My daughter was struggling to learn her spelling/vocab words this week before tomorrow's test. We were both about to pull our hair out. Also my kids were fussing and fighting all night about petty stuff. My husband felt sorry for me and brought home a bucket of chicken.
Tonight-No ideas yet but so glad it's the weekend
All of your meals look delicious! We budget by the month so I can stock up the first week on non-perishables and then spent much smaller amounts on fresh stuff and special loss leader sales the rest of the month. I'd call your shopping trip a win :).
It was an unexpectedly good week:
Monday we had pork chops with quinoa and hot coleslaw
Tuesday we had shrimp and veggie stir fry over rice
Wednesday was leftovers
Thursday we'd planned to eat out, but were too tired so we went home and threw together prosciutto and mushroom omelettes with broccoli
Tonight is curried lentil soup
I still liked the photo DST or not!
M--Spaghetti and turkey meatballs, salad, garlic bread,
T--BBQ chicken on wheat rolls, coleslaw, potato salad, pickles
W--Burgers and assorted condiments, veggies and dip
T--Leftovers from all of the above days
F--I have no idea yet! lol
Costco and Target are like black holes for me. I get sucked in and I can only muddle my way out if I open my wallet and my dollars go flying into the register.
This week was actually pretty good on the frugal front but that is because I only made dinner one night. The other nights my kids were subjected to jelly sandwiches, frozen veggies, and plain pasta. I just couldn't muscle up the ambition for dinner this week so while the kids ate weird stuff my husband and I ate cookies. Every night.
Making me giggle -- can so relate. And everyone survived -- it's a win 😉
This week was good, did stock up on stuff I had ran out off & hadn't bought in a while..but managed to stay under budget, just as well as last week went over..it all evens out in the end I reckon..
M: Roast veg pasta
T: Mediterranean quiche
W: Homemade Vegetable soup & brown bread
T: Beef stew with mash potatoes & turnip
F: Chicken Kiev with potatoes, turnip & peas
Wow. What a terrible week for me, meal wise. Monday was good - steak and asparagus and leftover potato but then it all fell apart. Tuesday I just grazed - cheese stick, cereal, dried fruit, whatever, and Wednesday and Thursday I had bacon sandwiches. Not even a BLT - just bacon and bread. I bought several lunches out instead of packing them for work like I usually do. (Bad for the wallet and my health.) Tonight I am meeting a friend for dinner. Tomorrow the meal planning begins again. Next week I shall endeavor to actually make the meals I buy the groceries for.
I've never heard of eating just bacon and bread. Does that taste good?
My family loves a bacon, mayonnaise and bread sandwich!
A friend always called Costco the "$100 club" since no one could seem to get out the door for less 🙂 So you are doing great!
Not my best week -- trying! Did succeed in buying only the fresh stuff needed and using up some freezer stuff. Brought lunch, ate breakfast in every M - Th.
Sun -- turned bad meatloaf into slightly better soup, using lots of 'frig veggies, and pantry items. Husband gagging.
Mon -- Met daughter for dinner at 30 per cent off Mondays Mexican restaurant.
Tuesday -- Tried to pawn off Meatloaf soup -- husband begged for frozen raviolis, so we used that up instead, steamed broccoli, salad. Used up more refrigerator stuff . . .
Wednesday -- Frugal fail -- had to be across town to do things, called husband to meet at salad restaurant in mall. He quickly acquiesced. The Meatloaf haunts him.
Thursday -- Aha! Finally wore his defenses down and meatloaf soup was served with salad. Not half bad, actually.
Friday -- Treat day -- meeting friends at happy hour and treating a birthday friend. So not frugal. Next week will be better!
Thanks for all the encouragement here!
Cracking up at your husband's meatloaf soup avoidance tactics. Ha.
Living Social has the Costco membership for $55 and you get back $78 in free items including a $20 cash card. The fine print says not for current memberships or memberships that expired after 10.1.15. I understand Costco never deletes your membership like Sam's so I hope that Costco will honor the wording on the Living Social voucher. My membership expired September 2015. I love Costco toilet paper. Lasts forever!
I'm starting to wonder if Costco charges an admission fee somewhere in those prices. I agree that getting out of there for under $100 IS an accomplishment!! I have to make a run there for those doggone Sonicare toothbrushes that cost $50 or so. And you KNOW I'll be getting 25 lb flour and who-knows-what-else so that i can be part of the $100 Club as well......
Jogging my memory here for the past week of dinners......Here we go:
mon-steak and french fries
tue-homemade beef stew
wed- crockpot bbq chicken with your homemade roll recipe!
thur- bbq chicken & stew leftovers
fri- homemade chicken sandwiches
Coming up this weekend, we'll be making:
Sat- chicken strombolis (pillsbury dough w/chicken/cheese/mushrooms/onions)
Sun- smoked bbq pork ribs
Mon- smoked beef boneless ribs
I had gotten DH a smoker a few years ago for Father's Day...He uses it all year and in any type of weather. You will find him in shorts and a t-shirt while braving the Colorado snow with the smoker.
I hate going over budget, I don't know who I get more mad at- the supermarket or myself!
Our meal plan this week was
-Fish Pie
-Veggies burgers, rice and salad
-Baked potatoes with various fillings
-Leftovers (ended up being fish pie with rice and salad)
-Spaghetti Bolognaise
-Stir fry.
Costco hit us too! My husband has been doing most of the shopping lately, and he has discovered Fresh Thyme. So far for the first week of Feb we are at$248. This week we have had Red Curry chicken, French bread pizzas, pasta with sausage and peppers, Cincinnati chili (left over from the freeze), and roast chicken (X2).
Costco gets me every time too! Even though I, like you, stop in infrequently and don't make impulse buys.
Sunday: our plans fell apart and we ended up at Panera
Monday: Brunswick stew from the freezer
Tuesday: your Jambalaya
Wednesday: breakfast burritos
Thursday: curry chicken and veggies over rice
Friday: my mom picked up a pizza for us
Saturday: homemade pizza
You can clearly tell which nights I get home late. 🙂
Are those braised red potatoes made with the ATK recipe? I watched that episode on Netflix awhile ago, thought "That looks insanely delicious," and then forgot about it! I'm doing my meal planning later today, so I will now have to work those in somewhere.
This week was not pretty in the frugal department - I only made real dinner once (whole wheat penne with roasted asparagus and pesto!), ate a random hodgepodge of food over the course of a few hours on two different days, and went out to eat twice.
I'm not one to read comments on blogs.... But seriously, Kristen and everyone commenting, you guys all give me such good ideas between this kind of post and the five frugal things posts! 🙂 Now I read all of the comments on every post, and am inspired to refocus my efforts in this coming week
Yes, it's an ATK recipe!
Alas, we do not have a Costco near enough to warrant spending the gas money to get there...perhaps this is not the end of the world as many of you consider Costco a money-eater!
We had an ok week here:
Mon- Turkey chili and corn bread
Tues- burgers and dogs, coleslaw, FF
Wed- baked ziti, Caesar salad and bread
Thur- BBQ chicken, LO slaw, roasted potatoes
Fri- homemade pizza and veggies
Tonight we had leftovers, grilled cheese and spinach salad with bacon and sautéed onions, oranges for dessert
Tomorrow we shall plan for maple pork, peas and carrots, and baked potatoes
I need to grocery shop tomorrow. I spent just under $100 on Tuesday and $10 today on veggies but it's all already gone...except for the apples and mushrooms bought today. I see a large food bill in tomorrow's list...
What type of flour are you buying? I have been having a lot of trouble with my usual brand leaving hard clumps of flour in my baking.
I use Gold Medal unbleached flour for everything I bake except pizza. For pizza dough I use King Arthur bread flour.
Gold Medal unbleached is usually available for a good price at Target, and it works so so so much better than off brand flours.
What stores carry King Authur flour?
Most grocery stores carry it, and until recently, my Target did too. Last time I checked, they didn't seem to carry it anymore.
Monday- leftover pasta and meatballs all homemade from my son's birthday party
Tuesday- leftover calzones for party
Wednesday- roasted a whole chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce
Thursday- chicken and veggie soup from leftover chicken
Friday- chicken fried rice (used up the rest of that roasted chicken)
Saturday- steak and pepper subs
I've been buying a Perdue Oven Stuffer chicken and using it for 3 meals a week!
Kristen - Have you tried Bob's Red Mill Artisian Flour (when on sale) for your pizza crust? It is really, really good in my opinion. I use your recipe 🙂
I've never been to Costco-- the nearest one is an hour away. But Sam's destroys my budget! Yet, it's the only place around here to get decent tomatoes and spinach at a reasonable price during the winter.
I don't like Costco. I find that it's not bad for people who don't keep an eye for sales, but it's not my case. So by shopping at the regular grocery store and using coupons, price matching and sales, it's cheaper than Costcol
Hi . I did cook ahead meals
I Cutup my whole chickens and buy leg of lamb and Cutup for meals. Breakup and pack in freezer bags . My lamb for 2 people is 2.87 serving and chicken is 2.00 serving. 2.00 for both people not 2.00 eachBought wings at Aldis. On saleMy dinners
Lamb stew with veggies in crockpot with cooked rice
Hot wings , cheese potatoes , steamed broccoli
Baked chicken over veggies in dill sauce
Cottage cheese lasagna , salad
Paul Newman pizza and salad used coupon and on sale
I buy 100 percent fruit juice Costco and water down to cut the sugar. For drink.
I go to Costco once a month, and it works out to be about $10 per item. So I just count how many things are in my cart, times by 10, and can figure the total. Some items are quite a bit more, and some are less, so it just evens out I guess.