I had hoped to do a bit of a small shop this week, but it turned out to be a bit of a stock up cycle. Le sigh. We did our big grocery shop in one hit, but also went back the next day for a few things because I knew they were going to be on sale.
And I apologise for the crappy size of the receipt image below. I think I know why I’m having some sizing issues right now on some images but I haven’t had the time to sit down and test the fix I have in mind yet.
$142 Grocery Shop
In case you can’t read it, it is a fairly standard type of shop for us, including:
- Tuna
- Coconut cream
- Dog food
- Peanut butter
- Tinned tomatoes
- Milk
- Lebanese bread
- Tissues
- Toilet paper
- Chicken breast, wings and legs
- Minced beef
- Potatoes
- Pasta
I mostly went back the next day because I knew the 1kg blocks of cheese were going on sale to $8. Also because the antiperspirant I had been using was driving me up the freaking wall. It was a hypoallergenic one that irritated my sinuses more than a regular one. Go figure. While I was there I saw some lemon aioli on sale (which I tried last night and is delicious), as well as the sandwich bags we forgot and more lip balm because it was half price and I am forever forgetting where I put mine.
I also went to the egg farm last night on my way home. Which means I bought three dozen extra large (extra fresh!) eggs for $9. Bar-gain! Love the egg farm.
I wanted to do a smallish shop because I have rego, electricity and some vet bills over the next month… just to give myself a bit more of a buffer. So I’m probably not going to shop at the veggie shop like I normally would. I might pick up one or two things but otherwise we might have a bit of a carrots, frozen peas & corn veggie fortnight.
Do you work the catalogue special days to your advantage?
I do try to pay attention to specials and buy up when I see something is heavily reduced. But I admit to often missing out as I don’t end up doing my shops until the end of the specials week. Need to be more organised!
I often shop right at the end of the specials week – it’s frustrating when they’ve started taking the tags off the shelves!
I need to do my fortnightly shop over the weekend and I’m hoping it’s a smaller one too as the last one was big with lots of re-stocking of items that will now last us for a while. I don’t normally go back and grab bargains as I try to do it in one go and I’m consciously trying to reduce the “in-between” shops but I love it when there are great specials on when i am there!
Normally I do try to do it all in one because every time you go, it really costs more! I also made a trip for one thing I forgot and really needed (paracetamol) Friday night on my way home from work and somehow spent about $25. Still, overall I do pretty well so one week of slipping is isn’t the end of the world.
I hear you. I used to do a weekly shop but I was still going back and forth a bit and the money just goes!! We are two people on a limited (read: pension & some super) budget but we like to eat quality. Not big eaters either. I am trialling a fortnightly shop and with less money in the hope I can stick to a budget. Some more meal planning is needed too.
I struggle with meal planning because I don’t like to choose my food in advance.