Ok, so here’s the thing. I was using cash this month… and then I realized that Discover is doing 5% back on GROCERY STORES until May 31st!! What was I thinking!?! Maybe the $30/week challenge should have waited until June. Anyways, to make the most of the rest of the 5%, I decided to use my Discover Card and do another $60 that I wouldn’t use until next week when we get back from Memorial Weekend plans. Technically, I started this Thursday, May 11th (or maybe even Wednesday) so we are technically past our 2 weeks. Anyways, I went shopping and here’s what I got:
From Save A Lot
I got one huge sweet potato at .98 per lb, making it $1.34 and a 10lb bag of potatoes for $3.88. Didn’t think you needed a picture of potatoes… sorry. (I also may have scored 2 pallets, but shhh that’s a secret between me and the cashier… and now all of you.)
Total: $5.45
From Harps
Bone-in Country ribs were $1.79/lb, which is pretty decent. Even though Ansen doesn’t love crockpot meat, I think he’ll be ok with these. The pasta sauces were $2.19 each with a $.50/2 (doubled to $1). The Hamburger Helper was on clearance for $.88 a piece. The unbleached flour was $2.77! The Post cereals were 2/$5 with $1 coupon for each, making them $1.50 each. The Land O Frost lunch meat was on sale. They had beef for .99 and the rest were $1.99. I had $1/2, making them .50 and $1.50. The bleach-less bread (which is more expensive, but worth it) was $1.89. (Look, this time I’m shopping for lunch stuff!!) Country Crock 15 oz tubs were $1.98 with $1 off made it .98. And my favorite purchase: The cool whip (cinammon flavor seasonal delight!) was $1 with a $.50 coupon (doubled to $1) was FREE!!
Total: $22.06
From Aldi
This trip was a lot harder. Good thing I was keeping a running total, or I would have gone over… more. Yes, I went over a little. :/Actually, if it weren’t for the .25 charge to use Discover at Aldi, it would have been fine, but I rationalize it was worth it. (In retrospect, maybe the cereal could have waited, but at $1.50 a box, it’s hard to pass up.) Also, I realized just how much meat we buy (which is expensive!!). I bought chicken breasts for $1.69/lb which is a pretty decent price (so I convinced myself I had to get it), and ground beef for $2.89 (not as great, but without it, we can’t have mexican, or hamburger helper, or make freezer burritos). The burritos also meant that I had to get 2 packs of tortillas (which we use a lot of anyway) for .99 each. And then I got the tortilla chips for nachos for $1.19. Farfelli was .99, so I got 3, but had to put one back when I realized our total was going to be over. Ansen asked for sausage patties for lunches, they were $4.99. He also asked for American cheese, which was on sale for $1.49, and potato chips, which were $1.49, (gosh Ansen, your lunch is wrecking my budget!). Black beans and tomatoes were all .59 each and the refried beans were .79. The corn was .99 for the pack of 4 (way better than Harps or Walmart’s prices!!). And last, if we get in a bind, we can always have eggs, which are currently .50!
Total: $33.19
Total spent: $60.07
Total in Discover cash back: $3
It appears that this month, the groceries are going to help pay for Christmas!
Also, if you’re curious how May’s budget faired, we only spent $72 of our alotted $120, which means that $30 of this (which will actually be used next week for the end of May anyway) can go toward that without messing up June’s challenge and we’ll still be under budget! Ok, that makes me feel better about being $.07 over.