Wicked Wednesday

I didn't get the ads yesterday.    I did go to Winco and the dollar  store as I mentioned before.    I'm pretty much done for the month except fill ins -  but that is usually what I need to do.    I have spent 2/3 of the months budget.    I also have stocked condiments and slices that I needed to replace as well as baking powder and the cheese for the month or more.  

Last night I couldn't sleep.   I out everything I bought on a spread sheet and included where I got it, the price, and what category it fit into,    I'm not doing this every month!    I just wanted to give myself a picture of where o am spending the money.  This month was a little skewed because of replacing a lot of baking  supplies and condiments.  

Last night we had BBQ chicken thighs, tater tots, amd fruit.  We had strawberry shortcake for desert. We don't eat desert often.   I picked up a pound cake and strawberries at Winco were inexpensive with an Ibotta .   It's a treat.  

I've spent at total of 194.64 .   I am not on jeporady of over sounding, because the pantry and freezers are full.    All I need is a little dairy and some fresh fruits and veggies.  

It breaks down as :

Protein   44.86
Produce  31.07
Dairy.     22.23
Frozen.   20.13
Starch     30.07
Canned.  6.40
Misc.      21.63*
Sweets.   18.25


*. Condiments, slices, baking supplies

This tells me there are too many sweets. I already was pretty well stocked with canned goods, and it's not usual for me to have to replenish as much misc.    I did stock because Safeways had a .80 sale on some condiments.    I also got pasta for .25 and .50.   Why pay 150?   It was Barilla.    I also have been getting tater tots for 1.28 for two pounds.   They aren't as "high" as regular tater tots -- more like tater slices, but they are still ok and taste good.    Smaller portions of starch are better for me.  

It pays to analyze your grocery slip every now and then to make sure you are on the right track.  
Then, you can regroup if necessary.  

Staying in track is an important step in not running out of budget before you run out of month.  

Groceries on the cheap is looking at the Put Dinner On The Table meal train from a different

 perspective. Tshe emphasis is on purchasing good food( shelf- stable/ freezer staples )at the lowest possible cost and purchasing enough to last you until it goes on sale again -- Keeping a controlled non-perishable stock of the things you use on a regular basis. It means that when you shop, rather than purchasing just what you need for a day or a week, you  buy a loss leader protein, produce you will 

need on sale, a stock item if it's a RBP, and dairy instead.    This allows you to put well balanced meals 

on the table consistently  for a four dollar a day budget per person.   You spend more time on the 

planning and shopping end of the meal train and less on the cooking end by cooking efficiently.    

Four dollars a day is the target amount for people on snap.   My premise is that of you can do it on four dollars a day, spending more isn't hard.   You still get more bang for your buck.