Category Archives: Recipes

Grocery Budget for the Week – How’d we do?

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Following up on last week’s theme of Food Shopping & Menu Planning, here’s how we shook out. 

Total supermarket spend last week:  $128.98

There were a number of sale items last week on frozen foods, mainly for the kids that will tide us over for the next week. 

This morning I did the supermarket shopping for the coming week.  Because a number of the items purchased last week are still stocked in the freezer, my spend was only $79.21.  I’m not 100% confident it will get us through the entire week – but I’m going to try!

Unfortunately I didn’t have any coupons and had to rely completely on my store club-card  …which is better than nothing but not fantastic.   

Deals & Tips in the cart:

  • 10lb bag of potatoes for $4.99 (v. the 5lb bag for $2.99)
  • Whole chicken for roasting $.99/lb. so less than $5.00
  • Grapes $2.99 for 2lbs. v. $2.49/lb. sitting one display over
  • Hebrew National Hot Dogs 3/$8.00 (only brand my kids will eat… normally these are $5/pack)  Sadly, the sale price on these used to be 2/$5

Yesterday was the monthly Costco run totaling $202.49.  That will add another $50 to the weekly average.  If it wasn’t on the essential list, it wasn’t purchased.  Mostly this was cereal, juice, pasta, crackers, frozen foods.  This may stretch a little further, but we’ll see.

I have quite a bit of chicken so I’ll be looking for chicken recipes.  I’ll roast a chicken this evening and make another dish for later in the week.  I’m not sure I can four meals for four from one chicken like Almost Frugal does, but I can try!

Any tips or advice on how we could save more on our grocery bill?  Specifically, I’d love to save on fruits and veggies without having to drive an extreme distance.  I don’t think the local supermarket has the best deals, but I’m not convinced the farmer’s markets or other places will do much better.

Budget Breakfasts for Kids

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We all know that kids who start the day off with breakfast do better in school, eat healthier overall and are more likely to participate in physical activities.  None of us want to send our wee ones off to school on an empty stomach.  Cereal prices are skyrocketing and the frozen food breakfast goods are sharing the same sticker shock. 

Our kids love frozen toaster waffles and pancakes, but at $3.00+ a box and three children, the costs quickly add up.  

The solution?  Make your own batch of toaster-ready pancakes and store in the refrigerator.    Our favorite is Bisquick at $2.69 for the 32oz. box on sale.  At Costco, you can buy the larger box for much less cost per ounce.  Be sure and get the mix that requires eggs and milk as they tend to store better.

Simply follow the instructions on the box being sure to make the pancakes no larger than what will fit in the toaster slot.  Take the ‘cakes off the griddle and place in a large casserole dish.  Let the batch of pancakes cool before covering with plastic wrap and storing in the refrigerator.   Otherwise the “sweat” will make the ‘cakes soggy.

When breakfast time rolls around just pop the pancakes in the toaster for a quick, easy and budget-wise breakfast.   Top with syrup, butter or the healthier alternative – applesauce.