I’ve Paid For This Twice Already…

Groceries without a budget

Well, my spouse just finished watching the Jets bow down to the Patriots on the computer (we didn’t get the game on TV) while I grocery shopped.  (Sorry Brip Blap!)  I didn’t grocery shop until today because of the tournament I was at yesterday that I mentioned in the link love post.  As I said last week, this is the month without a firm stick-to-it grocery budget.  I’m finding that our budget was just not realistic, and unless I want to start feeding my family ramen and mac and cheese every night, something has to give.  The prices here have been going up recently too, and I thought the increases were small enough to not have a huge effect on the overall bill, but today I started really taking note of what is increased and how much.  It may not seem like much when something that was $1.99 is now $2.29, but in fact that’s around a 15% increase.  If most of your shopping list has increased by 15%, you can, obviously, expect your bill to increase by 15%.  Sometimes math just isn’t my strong suit.  I seem to be spending more like 25% over lately instead of 15% but… well…  we’ll just soldier on and see what happens.  Heh.

On to the carnage that is my grocery spending.  I spent $75.89 at Aldi and $33.20 at Walmart for a total of $109.09.  It seems to be getting worse instead of better.  ;)  I did buy supplies to make my own baby wipes this week, and maybe that should get separated out and go under the diaper budget, but, I’ve decided not to bother.  Although I was irked that I had to buy a huge bottle of baby oil when all I need is 4 tablespoons per roll of paper towels.  But, life goes on.  Oh, the drama!

I did have a few impulse items.  Honestly, one of them I am embarrassed to admit.  Seriously.  I tried to make myself put them back.  I debated with myself in the checkout line and kept telling myself “How stupid are you going to feel talking about this on the blog?”.  I discussed and discussed in my head and… well…  I bought generic spaghettios.  For me.  What adult eats spaghettios?  Why?  Why?  I don’t know.  I seriously could not get over my craving for spaghettios.  And now I have a huge 2lb can of them.  I think Sunday is a bad day to go grocery shopping.  Well, that’s my story anyway.

Anyway, so the non-list items:

2 cans of garbanzo beans for $0.39 each ($0.78)

The aforementioned spaghettios ($1.59)

Chicken Quesadillas kit ($3.99)

White Grape Juicy Juice on sale for my son who has been, um… a bit backed up ($1.97)

Bakery reduced hard rolls for my sandwiches ($1.78)

For a total of $10.11 of non-list items, coming in at 9.26% of the total bill.  Squeaking in under the 10% imposed “limit”.

So, well, I am doing okay at not buying a ton that isn’t on my list.  Maybe I am just becoming better at making lists.  Because I seem to spend more and more each week.  Maybe next week will be better.  I am starting to seriously consider getting the Sunday paper for a few weeks for the coupons and then trying something like Coupon Mom.

At least I resisted the Iced Tea.  (Which is cheaper than spaghettios and I would have enjoyed it more I bet.  I think my brain might be cracking under the pressure!  Heh.)

~J

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