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Grocery shopping challenge

June 10th, 2006 at 05:22 pm

Today I went grocery shopping with a challenging $12 limit. I spent $11.47 and got a gallon of milk, a package of bagels, a dozen eggs, a can of cat food, a bottle of shampoo, a pound of ground beef, a pound of butter and a package of 40 fabric softener sheets.

Observation: I could have waited on the fabric softener sheets. I thought I was going to run out of my liquid softener, so I put it on my list as a top priority. Turns out I had just enough already to do my laundry. That kind of bums me out, because I paid $1.00 for the softener sheets, and I would rather have bought the liquid refill, which would have gone much farther -- but it was more expensive, and I was trying to stay within my limit. That is how the poor stay poor!

I made some spaghetti sauce with the ground beef, and I baked brownies to freeze as snacks. I'll use the bagels for breakfast with cream cheese, and for lunch or dinner with turkey lunchmeat and cheese. I'll have eggs for lunch/dinner also. I'm also planning on making broccoli cheese soup with ingredients I already have, and I have some French onion soup in the freezer, so I think I'll be OK for a week.

Next week I'll have a similar limit. Interesting times.

4 Responses to “Grocery shopping challenge”

  1. contrary1 Says:
    1149958474

    Don't forget to cut the dryer sheets in half before you use them....

  2. StressLess Says:
    1149962371

    Carolina, I commend your planning and self-control. I was getting frustrated this morning, trying to plan out spending my $15 a day. I can't imagine trying to figure out how to eat for $15 a week, let alone $12. And your menus actually sound pretty good. I will stop feeling sorry for myself now!

    BTW, I looked back through your whole blog because I couldn't remember if things were really tight for you right now, or if you were doing some kind of challenge. I noticed you were planning a trip to the doctor because your prescription was running out, although the appt. would be hard to afford right now. Just a tip--maybe your doctor would ok one extra renewal if the pharmacy called in the request? My dr. did this for me, when I explained I had to wait to come in until our insurance was straightened out.

  3. LittleGopher Says:
    1150025990

    Hey, you did great! I've done this periodically in the past to see us through some tough financial times. I may do this again just to build up the savings a little - though I'd have to up amount a bit for the six of us.

    I do thirds on the dryer sheets, drying full capacity loads.

    Looking forward to reading on how you're doing with this challenge. Best wishes!

  4. Carolina Bound Says:
    1150071312

    Thanks guys!

    I already got my extra refill, so I really do have to go to the doctor. But he will probably bill me after filing with my insurance, so it's not something I have to pay right away.

    Just so you don't worry, I do have more than $500 in my home improvement/emergency fund. I just don't want to tap into it.

    This makes me very mindful, however, that there are people who have to live like this, and they must be so frightened and desperate.

    And thanks for the reminder on the dryer sheets! I had forgotten you could do that!

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