Tuesday, July 26, 2016

2016 Groceries Week 30 - $269.02

Week 30 included lots of bulk fruit purchases contributing to the big spending.

First up was QFC on Monday where I got lots of stuff at 'normal' sale prices.  No spectacular deals, but all the things in the photo (plus a gallon of organic milk) were only $32.09.

Tuesday I drove out to my favorite 'no spray' berry farm and bought 80 pounds of blueberries.  It took 3 days to get them all frozen and I am so thankful for 8 cookie sheets!  I spent $160.

Friday I zipped into QFC again to grab a few things for our weekend camping trip.  I got apples, bananas, peanut butter, hot dogs, hot dog buns, ketchup, & clearance pastries for camping.  I also found clearance baby crackers & sour cream so I grabbed those too.  I paid $23.93.

And finally, Sunday afternoon I stopped at a farm stand down the road from our house.  I'd gotten their email newsletter earlier in the week advertising $1/lb organic apples if I bought a whole box.  I bought everything they had which was only 53 pounds and ordered more for next week. I paid $53.
Week 30 Total: $269.02
Year to Date Total: $4,726.84
Weekly Average: $157.56

Katie

Monday, July 25, 2016

Gluten Free Dairy Free Menu Plan

A busy week with hubby working a lot of hours.  Planning easier dinners for the kids.

Monday - Lunch Nachos, Dinner Macaronada
Tuesday - Lunch Mac'n'cheese (homemade), Dinner Fettucini Alfredo (trying a vegan sauce I found)
Wednesday - Lunch Cheesy bread & tomato soup, Dinner Enchilada Casserole
Thursday - Lunch Mac'n'cheese (need to use up some from freezer), Dinner Pancakes
Friday - Lunch Nachos, Dinner with Friends
Saturday - Lunch finger food lunch, Dinner Ham Bean Soup
Sunday - Lunch leftovers, Dinner Pulled Pork

Katie

Monday, July 18, 2016

GF/DF Menu Plan

This week is a scheduling doozy so having planned meals will be necessary for my sanity.

Monday - errands all day, leftover pancakes for lunch, grill burgers for dinner
Tuesday - out all day, packed lunch chicken, pot roast for dinner
Wednesday - out all day, packed lunch sausages, chicken teriyaki for dinner
Thursday - out all day, packed lunch chicken,waffles for dinner
Friday - home, nachos for lunch, beef stew for dinner
Saturday - tacos for lunch, white chicken chili for dinner
Sunday - burgers for lunch, fettucini alfredo for dinner

Katie

Sunday, July 17, 2016

2016 Groceries Week 29 - $282.41

Oh geez.  I spent a mountain this week.  And my pantry is exploding - seriously ridiculous amounts of food.  

I dashed into QFC Monday for french fries since DH and I were going out to dinner & the kids were eating at home with the babysitter.  I found 3 organic chickens on clearance for $2.09/lb.  I also got organic chicken thighs, organic baby yogurt, organic cottage cheese at $1.49, and a clearance bag of 4 bell peppers for $1.00.  I also got bananas, grapes, & cherries.  I spent $68.96.

My friend told me that a grocery store in her neighborhood was remodeling & had some great deals.  It's kind of far from my house, but I was nearby this week and dropped in.  Sure enough there was some great stuff at great prices.  I spent a pile so I won't give you the whole rundown, but here's the stuff I was most excited about:

  • GF/DF chocolate cake mix for $1.97 each
  • GF/DF confetti cake mix for $1.64 each
  • GF/DF brownie mix for $1.64 each
  • A big jar of pickles for $1.37
  • marshmallows for $0.57
  • HonestKids drink pouches for $0.99/box of 8
  • Formula bottles for $0.99 each
  • Tahini for $1.99 each
  • organic gf noodles for $1.12
  • organic tomato sauce for $0.59 each
  • quinoa burgers for $0.99/box of 4 
  • shelf stable soy milk for camping $0.99 each
  • So Delicious coconut milk creamer, also shelf stable for $0.99 each
  • also got juice, baby crackers, gallon of organic milk, organic celery, non-butter, organic dry beans, organic canned beans, tea, salad dressing, nutrigrain bars, organic baby cereal, and gf spice cake mix.  
Really, it was a huge trip - see all this?  It was $94.99.  Amazing.


There were a few things that rung up incorrectly however, so I called the store and they said I could just come back in with my receipt.  So two days later when I was headed that direction again I stopped in and got the price corrections plus found a bunch more stuff.

Highlights:

  • organic GF pasta for $1.09
  • Clif kids snacks for $1.99/box
  • pectin for $1.24
  • Cocoa for $1.32/can
  • pineapple for $0.49/can
  • corn for $0.39/can
  • organic dark chocolate bars (for DD2 s'mores) $2.00 each
  • organic granola bars $0.99 each box
  • kind granola $1.24
  • pickles $1.04/jar
  • organic salsa $0.99/jar
  • vegan alfredo sauce for $2.09/jar
I also bought a daiya pizza, some bananas, & carrots I wanted to save stopping at another store.  This trip was $64.03


You'd think I'd have stopped at this point, being well over $200 for the week, but no.  I went to Safeway for DD2's slice daiya cheese on Friday morning.  My usual Kroger stores don't have it, & Safeway does.  While there I found a bunch more to buy, naturally.  Olives & relish were on special for $0.99/jar and there were gluten free granola bars and crackers on clearance for $2.49 and $1.29, respectively.  I also got cream cheese I needed for a special dessert that night and while on the dairy aisle found some clearance yogurt.  Organic almond milk was also on sale & I picked up more grapes, bananas, & a couple of apples so I wouldn't have to shop again through the weekend.  I spent $48.77.

Wouldn't you know it I forgot an important ingredient for the special dessert Friday night and had to run down to QFC to grab whipping cream.  While there I couldn't resist a peek and the clearance product shelf and I found $0.99 bags of 4 ear of corn, 6 peaches & an apriocot, and 11 donut peaches!  Talk about fruit-palooza!  When I got home I hid the new grapes in the veggie drawer so my kids will eat the peaches first.  So far, so good.  And I spent $5.66 on this trip.

All in all, I spent $282.41 in week 29.
Year to date 2016: $4,457.82
Weekly Average: $153.72

I'd like to think next week will be better, but I think I'm going to Costco and there's a good chance I'm getting bulk blueberries.  We'll see how it turns out.

Katie

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

2016 Groceries Week 28 - $78.49

Just two smallish shopping trips this week.

I picked up the $1.50 cereal at QFC on Monday and included some sugary choices for an upcoming camping trip.  I also bought corn dogs & GF corn dogs to give my hubby some easy meals.  I also found 2 pizzas for $4.99 each, gf oatmeal on clearance for $3.29, and lots of organic granola bars for $2.49/box.  They weren't all gf/df so I also picked up Van's bars for DD2.  I spent $52.12. 

There was a $5/$25 coupon for Haggen in last week's paper so I went there on Thursday.  I really wanted the organic coconut milk by So Delicious, but they were out.  A big bummer, since a few of those would add up fast toward the $25.  Instead I got a gallon of organic milk and 2 half gallons of almond milk.  I also got bananas, organic potatoes, and 3 kinds of grapes.  I also got sour cream for $1.50 each.  I spent $26.37.

Week 28 Total: $78.49
Year-to-Date total: $4,175.41
Weekly Average: $149.12

Katie

Monday, July 4, 2016

GF/DF Menu Plan

Dinners:
Monday - Popcorn & Smoothies (end of weekend treat)
Tuesday - Burgers
Wednesday - Chicken Curry
Thursday - Pancakes
Friday - Crockpot Pot Roast
Saturday - Tacos
Sunday - Pizza

Lunches:
Monday - Waffles
Tuesday - Nachos
Wednesday - Taco Salad
Thursday - Hot Dogs
Friday - Mac'n'Cheese
Saturday - leftovers
Sunday - leftovers

Katie

Sunday, July 3, 2016

2016 Groceries Week 27 - $191.30

I've managed to miss some photos this week.  Not sure how that happened, but there it is.

Monday I was at QFC.  I spent $33.87 and got:

  • 6 boxes or cereal for $1.49 each
  • 2 boxes of clif bars
  • bananas
  • strawberries
  • 3 donut peaches 
  • a gallon or organic milk
  • 2 packages of Udi's buns
  • 3 mangos 
Tuesday I had a mad dash into Haggen while a kiddo was at an appointment.  We very hurriedly spent $25.70 and I know I laid out all the groceries, but I couldn't lay hands on the camera immediately and then I put the groceries away out of habit when I hadn't taken a photo.  It happens. Here's what I got at Haggen:
  • organic bananas
  • mangos 5 for $3
  • organic Romaine hearts (2 packages of 3)
  • Darigold white cheddar (no dye)
  • gallon or organic milk
  • 2 bags of tortilla chips
  • 2 cans of olives
  • package of tortillas that my kiddo opened (grr)
Next was a drop in to Fred Meyer on Friday with spending of $38.63 on:
  • 2 boxes organic infant formula
  • 3 jars baby food
  • clearance package baby food
Finally!  A photo for my Friday morning swing through QFC at the end of my date with DD#2.  We got the cereal deal that was still running, a bag of onions, 3 organic greek yogurt cups, and a few more bananas. I spent $14.61.


Costco on Saturday was a grand total of $41.30.  I had to buy popcorn for a contribution to our church's vacation Bible school and nachos are such a quick & easy lunch for us I got more tortilla chips.  We were also out of feta which has the best price by far at Costco and I indulged in that curry sauce I like so much.

I had another trip to Haggen on Saturday.  I liked the coupon in their ad for $10/$50.  I bought:

  • 8 ears of corn for $2.00
  • organic cilantro for $1.00
  • 5 pounds of organic strawberries for $1.79/lb
  • 3/4 lb round steak on clearance for $2.34
  • gallon of organic whole milk for $5.79
  • half gallon of organic coconut milk for $3.79
  • 2 dozen eggs for $0.69/ea
  • organic frozen corn for $2.00
  • 2 bags Juanitas tortilla chips $1.50 each
  • 4 Santa Cruz organic lemonade for $0.99 each.
  • 4 boxes crackers for $4.50 total after coupon
  • 3 cases pop for camping $2.47 each
I also bought a package of toilet paper to get my total up over $50.  Then I used the $10 off coupon. So food only cost $37.19.


Week 27 Total: $191.30
Year-to-date Total: $4,096.92
Weekly Average: $151.74

Katie