I've been montoring our grocery expenses to in order to reduce them.
My problem is that I buy things that are on sale but aren't on my list. It totally blows out my budget when I stock up on $20 worth of an item because they are $1.50 off. The food doesn't get wasted but the budget doesn't like it when there are specials that I stumble across.
Same here so this year, since I'm so stocked up . . . I'm trying to cut way back on sale/stock up items and have a white board up on the basement door where I record every purchase. For 2013 I spent $6,141.00 or $118/week for 2 scrawny old adults that eat like hogs. $2,300.00 of that was for organic meat from a local farmer & Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon (pm me for the source if you're interested, I'm all for promoting this small business). $1,500 - $2,000 or so of the $6,100 is shared with family & neighbors. I'll keep sharing but seriously have to STOP freezer & pantry hoarding.
So far for 2014 . . .
January $412.00 (but $290 of that was 25#'s organic raisins, 25#'s walnuts. 10#'s organic honey, 4.5#'s organic oat bran, a 32 oz jug of molasses)
February $264.00 (but local grocery store had fresh asparagus & broccoli for .99/#, Chicken of the Sea Tuna for .49/can, 1-1/2 dozen eggs at $1.19/carton)
March (so far) $10. For milk, bananas & some kale. I know, we're only one week into March. With all we have stashed in the pantry & freezer I want to keep March at that $10/week for just milk & bananas tho. Same for April and possibly May. Just milk and produce.
DH eats so many bananas . . . wish we could grow a banana tree.
Can you set aside in your budget for unforseen stock up items? Since ya just never know . . .
$1.50 off of $20.00 = about 8%. So 8 cents/dollar. Adds up.
My goal for 2014 is $75.00/week.