3 week results

APRIL

Analysis of receipts WEEK 2 (April 13-20), WEEK 3 (April 21-27), and WEEK 4 (April 28-May 4)

Total grocery expenditure was $518.70

Week 2 total was about $190.00 (includes Easter shopping)

Week 3 total was about $193.00

Week 4 total was about $125.00 (short week because of wedding trip)

Average spending for these three weeks was about $170.00.

Estimated total month expenditure following this trend would be between $680 - $850.

EXPENDITURE BY CATEGORY

Total amount spent on            was $$            

Meat                                       $29.12             ($10 per week)          

Largest single item was $12.82 for 2 small hams (Easter sale). I also bought:

bone-in chicken         $6.50

*reduced beef for      $5.77

*smoked sausage       $0.99

*breakfast sausage    $2.99

WASTE: Left half of beef roast out overnight instead of thawing in fridge: -$2.00

ANALYSIS:

I felt like this was a more meat-heavy month than usual. I would probably have bought ground beef if the beef roast meat had not been reduced. Pleased with ham purchase; $12.82 provided meat for 2 meals, 1 soup, 2 broth bones, and almost 4 weeks of lunchmeat. Normally I would expect to spend at least $12.00 for 3 weeks of lunch meat.

ACTION:

Try to pack sandwich alternatives for Dennis at least twice a week (pasta salad, curry, enchiladas). This will cut down on lunchmeat expenditure and be healthier!

Dairy                                       $61.02             ($20 per week)

Bought 6 lb butter for $9.00 on clearance and cream for Easter treats for $3.47. I also bought

cow milk                     $9.04

almond and soy milk $9.57

cheese (all kinds)       $6.16

eggs (medium)           $14.09

*margarine/spread   $1.50

yogurt (tub plain)      $6.19

yogurt (all cups, *)    $2.00

WASTE: Geneva broke seal on two yogurt cups. ½ gallon milk too sour to cook with: -$3.00

ANALYSIS:

Bought chunk cheese and sliced for sandwiches for an estimated savings of $1.00 per week.

ACTION:

CHICKENS. Begin research now!

Try to make own yogurt. Also, pack homemade yogurt tubs (with jam + plain yogurt) for Dennis.

Try to make own almond milk (query – calcium?)

Produce (fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, and nuts)   $111.79           ($40 per week)

Subcategories include FRUITS & NUTS, $54.60 and VEGETABLES, $57.19

Especially heavy purchases were for

apples (all fresh varieties)     $10.02

bananas                                  $5.68

blueberries (frozen)               $7.89

pears                                       $10.38

zucchini                                  $4.85

yellow squash                                    $5.58

fresh spinach                          $5.28

Total expenditure on fresh vegetables was $47.80 and frozen vegetables $9.39

WASTE: ½ package of okra, two ends of zucchini: -$1.90

ANALYSIS & ACTION:
Be more careful to package and freeze vegetables before they spoil. Frozen blueberries are almost all for me. I wish I could eat strawberries – they are much cheaper now L

Pantry and canned goods                $78.76                                     ($25 per week)

Most expensive item purchased was olive oil, $16.10. I also bought

canned tomatoes                              $9.09

other canned veg/beans/fruit         $13.47

coffee                                                  $5.98

This category usually includes lots of flour as well as flour, peanut butter, condiments, dried beans, rice, pasta and cereal (oatmeal, grits, and Cheerios).

WASTE: Charged twice for peanut butter; ate half a box of raisins in a week          (-$3.00)

ANALYSIS & ACTION:

Store raisins somewhere really high up. Source wheat or flour for bulk purchases?

Stock back up on dried beans after move.

Pre-cook vegetables for Geneva each week (pick a day) so less tempted to open a can for her.

Baby-specific purchases                    $33.37                                     ($11 per week)

Bought infant pain reliever for a total of $14.97 because Geneva was sick all week. Also purchased diapers ($14.97), wipes, and go pouches for our trip.

ANALYSIS:

Spent much less than usual on diapers because I had 2 coupons for free store-brand diapers.

ACTION:

Ask Dr. Morrison about toilet training! Try to make own wipes.

Non-food and cat-specific items      $59.99                                     ($20 per week)

Large purchases include cat litter ($6.99 with coupon), charcoal ($10.99), and packing tape ($13.14). I also bought laundry and cleaning supplies, cough drops and cold medicine, toilet paper, paper towels, and zip-lock freezer bags.

ANALYSIS & ACTION:
Tried a new brand of cat litter – see how it works.

Snacks, Luxury Items, and Miscellaneous Purchases         $80.71             ($27 per week)

I’m going to copy down this complete list and analyze it one chunk at a time.

“GOOD” items            $45.47

2 6pks beer                 $16.98

2 bottles wine                        $13.98

Fresh juice for G         $2.50

Trail mix                      $7.29

Chocolate chips         $3.00

Popcorn                      $1.72

ANALYSIS: Quality items worth the expenditure. I would like to buy more wine, in fact.

ACTION: Ask re. case discount on wine. Make own trail mix. (Future: juicer!)

“NEUTRAL” items       $26.62

Crackers for Geneva  $2.98

Ice cream                    $2.39

Pkg PB crackers for G            $1.39

12pk seltzer water     $3.34

String cheese for G    $0.49

Tortillas                      $4.54

Unidentified item      $11.79

WASTE: crackers left to stale by Geneva -$0.80

ANALYSIS: Mostly unnecessary purchases. Tortillas are abnormal (several are in our freezer still). I didn’t recognize the $11.79 item on the receipt, and could not remember what it was.

ACTION: Use “baby day” as for canned vegetables, to pre-prep and have easy snacks already made for Geneva. If she doesn’t want a snack, put it away immediately and offer it later.

“BAD” items                $9.25

12pk Diet Dr Pepper  $3.98

Misc. sodas/drinks E  $2.40

Jelly beans (*Easter)  $1.98

Pudding mix               $0.89

WASTE: Jelly beans were gross. -$1.98

ANALYSIS: WHY THE DIET SODA. This was a total list fail.  Pudding mix is on “bad” list because of dyes/flavourings (after a cake fail Easter week I wanted a shortcut for the trifle pudding). Jelly beans I bought on clearance (I like the black ones)…except they were totally nasty. My tastebuds have changed.

ACTION: Exercise some self control and stop buying crappy sodas. Drink water instead. Carry a water bottle everywhere when I go out.

TOTAL WASTE: -$10.78          (-$3.59 per week)

Actions to implement immediately (or ASAP) are highlighted in blue.

To Do Right Now:

Choose a “baby day” once per week (Monday or Tuesday). Prep and cook vegetables and snacks (crackers, snack mix, cheese portions) for Geneva. Package them for easy access throughout the week.

Take stock at least every two days of what’s in the fridge – does anything need to be used up or frozen before it spoils?

Begin emptying the freezer.

Attempt to make yogurt.

Dennis’s lunch: twice a week, pack an alternative to sandwiches to save on meat and cheese. (Sugg: curry, pasta salad, calzone, turnover)

Make trail mix at home.

Carry a water bottle whenever I go out.

Research CHICKENS (ask Lauren Souers!)

Ped appt May 19^th: ask re toilet training.

As much as possible, dry clothes outside instead of in dryer.