Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Big Shop: The Frugal Edition

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I shop the first Tuesday of every month for all the meat and pantry items we need in a month. Grocery stores here offer consumers 10 % off the entire grocery bill. I've been making monthly menu plans and shopping this way for years. It's supposed to save us money.
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But for the past few months, this has been costing us money--not saving it.
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That's because I've been stupid and using my credit card to pay for them. If we're "a little short," it's no biggie, right? My husband gets paid on Thursday--every Thursday--so we'll just transfer the money right over.
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Except I forget.
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Or there isn't quite as much as I'd thought would be there.
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Or something.
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So, as part of this whole Dave Ramsey thing we're doing, we decided that though I would do up the menus and go shopping as usual, I would check my bank balance and not spend any more than we had available. (Novel concept.)
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I usually spend about $350.00 after the discount.
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Today, I had a little over $200.00 to work with.
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I came in under--far enough under, actually, that I could have purchased those two cans of coffee I left behind because I was a bit anxious. (I really wish I'd got them, actually. But, I do have enough to last until the next shopping trip on Sunday.)
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I also left behind the lovely hams: we usually have at least one in a month--and use the left overs for another meal--but I couldn't do it.
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I also found that I didn't pick up any extra. I bought one bottle of ketchup--not two. I got just one can of tomatoes even though they were on sale and "I can always use tomatoes." I have some in my pantry. I didn't buy the pre-shredded or the pre-sliced cheese.
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I have no idea how the rest of the month is going to go. But we seem to be off to a good start.
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The next thing I need to do is write up our budget for the month based on Ramsey's method.

7 comments :

Carol-Anne said...

Such a great idea! I almost always have my hubby do the shopping because he can somehow guy more groceries than me and spend way less money! I come home with lots of cleaners, candles, and fresh bread....but nothing to eat!!!!

onshore said...

I used to keep an excel record of all money I used and made. I kept it for years, it gave me quite a good image of how much I use a month. Haven't kept it for few years, now that I don't live alone anymore it would be wise to keep that record again to see how I'm doing now. Especially now that I had to get a car, I'm interested on how much it actually costs per month.

I'm sure it will help in a long term to make that budget and seeing how much you can spend.

BTW, you do have a cheese slicer?

Alana in Canada said...

I just did the budget. No wonder I'm alays feeling short of money! We are overspending. I have issues ith "economizing" on food. I need to get over them.

No cheese slicer here but a good sharp knife.

onshore said...

No No No! Knife makes too thick slices. Slicer is the way to go :)

Could I send you a Finnish cheese slicer? Those are the best in the world. It would be economizing too, since it makes thinner slices.
Send me e-mail to leena.onshore@gmail.com. I would love to give the slicer as a present to you.

thefarmersdaughter said...

If I send the Mr. to the store I end up with crap- chips, dip, soda. NO real food...snacks.

I go shopping every Monday morning. I go online on Sunday for the ads and decided what I'm cooking for the week based on whats in store fresh AND on sale. I'm in awe you can do a month menu...I can't do that.

We bought 1/2 a cow and a pig this year though..having meat in the freezer is a big help when it comes to planning. I just need a day in advance to thaw whatever I need. The meat is FAR better quality since it's local and we know who raised them and comparable/cheaper than in the store.

Alana in Canada said...

We have been discussing buying a huge chunk of meat like that, too, lorijo--I'd rather venison than beef though. Unfortunately, we have lost our contacts in the hunting community. Still, no you mention it....maybe I can do something.

thefarmersdaughter said...

too bad you're not down here... we get offered venison all the time but the Mr. is allergic to it!

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