New Year - New Priorities!

My resolution is to get smart about grocery shopping. I have been trying to coupon, but ended up at the store grabbing one or two things multiple times a week. Ending up blowing WAY too much money on food that we didn't eat or convenience food we shouldn't eat. So after getting mad about what food I let go bad sitting in my fridge or pantry and mad about the many McD's entries in our budget and mad that my clothes seem to be a bit snug. I decided enough with that. We are going to get crazy about our food budget. "Gazelle Intense" to quote Dave Ramsey - We've been working - not hard enough- on getting our debt's taken care of and our budget down so we can save money! This is one major step - more of a hurdle - that has been blocking our way. I mean our food budget (including groceries and dining out) has gone 2 even 3 times what we intended it to be. NO MORE!! We are done living like crazy people. Its time to get serious.

The goal $10 a Day. For my family of 3 that is $70 a week and $280 a month. I know it is going to be hard for me and Jake but its worth it. I am sure we won't be perfect in the beginning, but I am hoping that as we get smart and really aware of what we use and don't use that we can do it! So I am going to do my best to document what we are spending and eating - its really for me to track, but I am sharing it with you to be accountable to an audience - whether its imaginary or anyone actually reads it.

So shopping trip #1
Smith's Market Place - Friday morning 12/30 - with Jake
We had 1 hour, a list and a few coupons

Corn Flakes                1.78 - Unopened as of Wed -
Honey Nut Cheerios    1.99 - Gone by Monday -
Frosted Flakes            1.71 - Almost Gone as of Wed -
Creamy Wheat            4.24 - Opened, and used a couple times - big box
Canned Corn X2         0.73 - used 1 can
Don Julio Tortillas X2  0.88 - unopened (bought to stock up)
Bow Tie Pasta             1.99 - used for pasta salad
Kroger Beans              0.60 - used for pasta salad
Kro Pizza Sauce          1.39 - unopened
Heinz Ketchup             2.96 - unopened - stock up
Miracle Whip               3.50 - unopened
Kro Green Chili's X2    0.63 - unopened
Kro Enchilada Sauce    0.79 - unopened
Kro Kidney Beans        0.60 - used for pasta salad
Kro Cream Cheese       0.99 - unopened
Kro 8oz bar cheese      2.00 - used for pasta salad
Kro Provolone Cheese 2.00 - Gone by Tuesday
Kro Crescent Rolls X2 1.25 - unopened
Gallon Milk                  2.49 - Gone - Wednesday
Salad Dressing             3.99 - used pasta salad
2.2lbs Ground Beef      6.64 - repackaged into 3 containers - unused
Romaine Lettuce          1.29 - unused...
Ritz Crackers               2.00 - 1 sleeve gone
2lbs Salmon                 10.60 - Used - made 5 servings
Sliced Turkey               4.99 = 9  4 slice servings = 0.55 per serving - opened
Sliced Ham                  4.99 = 9   4 slice serving - opened
Bagels 12                     3.29 - 6 frozen, opened and 1/2 gone other pack
Sour Cream                 1.25 - used for dip
Potato Chips               1.50 - used for NYE
GS bread X2               2.00 1 1/2 loafs gone
Foil                             2.96 - unopened
Press & Seal               3.49 - unopened
So with tax it was about $90, ok, but not the $70 I wanted - we did make some New Years Eve pasta salad and a dip with these. I am finding it interesting as the week has passed what we have used and not used, and what will last for another week. I am going to track that here as well.

Hmmm. So what did we eat this week?
I am going to have to go backwards.

• Wednesday
• Snacks - cookies - homemade, smoothies - frozen fruit, milk and sugar (on hand)
• Dinner - Kielbasa, pasta, mixed veggies - all on hand
• Lunch - with Corrine (thanks)
• Breakfast - toast with cinnamon & sugar and an Apple
• Tuesday
• Dinner - Panda Express - Thanks Gerry!
• Lunch - Ham and cheese melts and nachos
• Breakfast - Pancakes (from scratch)
• Monday
• Dinner - Chicken Stew - Thanks Barb! 
• Lunch - Mac and Cheese
• Breakfast - Pancakes
• Sunday
• Dinner - with the Graves
• Lunch - Nacho's/Hot ham and Cheese
• Breakfast - Toast and cuties
• Saturday
• Dinner - Pizza and fun chips and dips
• Lunch - Left over Salmon
• Breakfast - Bagel PB&J Sandwich 
• Friday
• Dinner - Salmon, Mashed Potatoes and Salad

So, I will shop again on Friday, maybe with a more specific plan. It looks like I could have saved about $30 by just buying what I have used this week. But I also need to stock up on things so that we have enough options of food to make to keep up at home. So no regrets. The big question for the week is: how do I stay in my budget and shop the case lot sale???