Month End Budget for June Groceries and Eating Out

I normally have a monthly budget of $160 for groceries and $40 for eating out so during this time we decided to go with $200 for groceries and skipped eating out.  Prices have gone up so much so it was much needed.  Also without the ability to shop sales and use coupons to get the lowest price, there is an increase in the amount things cost.  In addition, we are getting more treats because we are stuck at home so we are all getting something a little special to enjoy and look forward to.

We have been trying to go to once a month grocery shopping which has been an adjustment but I think that this month was getting way closer to accomplishing.  I went out to the store on three different days stretched in the month so I wasn't out too often but I had a few different stores to go to in order to get the things we normally use. 

Harris Teeter $34.84

I went to the store because I saw some sales that I couldn't pass up and I decided to  grab Turkey Hill ice cream because my son loves it.  I got cereal with the printable coupon and sale.  I got two containers of eggs.  I got key lime yogurt.  I grabbed a bunch of tropical punch and grape Kool Aid.

Aldi $8.31

I went to the Aldi that was close to the Harris Teeter but the stock was horrible and the costs were so much higher so I decided to drive all the way to the other Aldi to get the other items while I was still out.  I did get two sugar and two flour and one bag of pepperoni.

Aldi $24.91

I went to my second Aldi of the day and grabbed the last items that I needed. I got two more flour but they were out of sugar.  I got two bags of pretzels and my son's favorite Ranch chips.  I got a container of oats and bottle of oil to add to the stockpile.

Walmart $45.51

I decided to order online for grocery pick up at Walmart for a few things that I haven't been able to get at other stores.  Super great because I got my son's favorite granola bars which I haven't been able to find for months. I got the Kool Aid flavor that is discontinued at a bunch of other stores and is my son and husband's favorite.  I also got another pack of ice pops because we were out.  I got a 25 lb bag of sugar which I built up my muscles with pouring into my container.  Sadly, they took the flour out of the order so I didn't get any flour.

Wegman's $31.34

Since we were in the area, I went to get ground beef.  I think that I was so surprised that they had only 90/10 ground beef and the price was super high that I didn't even stop to think that I also needed to get bread flour or the flour that I didn't get at Walmart so I only got meat in this purchase which we made into 7 meals to enjoy for the next month. I did remember that we were almost out of lettuce so I grabbed a head when I was walking through produce.

Lidl $67.64+ $2.95

I was ready with my once a month list of all of things that I needed to get and I was on the hunt for everything that I could find.  I was super excited to get most of the things that I wanted and needed while going through the store.  My new list to try to shop once a month really helped.  I had all of the items and amounts listed and got to find most of them. I got two dozen eggs, bacon, 7 mozzarella cheese, 3 large cheddar cheese, celery, turkey lunch meat, blueberries, 2 ketchup, can of pineapple, jar of salsa and carrots.  I bought a lot of treats including 4 tortilla chips, Lidl Oreos, box of brownie mix, vanilla wafers, Crispy Rice, 3 bags of marshmallows, 2 bags of ice pops.  My husband and son decided that Lidl Cran Grape juice was good enough so I got 6 of them to last through July.

I had to go back across the street because I needed the cream and there was a bigger and cheaper container there so I went back and also grabbed another bag of marshmallows because I got a second package of Crispy Rice at Aldi so I needed them to make more Rice Krispie Treats!!  I am sure that you can't see everything in this because I piled it in the garage before cleaning it off and bringing it in the house.

Aldi $50.58

I went to Aldi second to get the items that were left on the list.  There was a sign for the potatoes to get them cheaper then they have normally been so I grabbed three bags but the cashier had to override the price.  I got white rice because my son isn't loving the Wegman's rice we got last time.  I got zucchini which was done by pound instead of by package this time which was a little of a surprise.  I got a package of bacon because more is always better.  I got and two more dozen eggs and three mozzarella because they were cheaper at Aldi.  I got three packages of pepperoni because we have been using lots of them with pizza and more.  I got another package of Crispy Rice so that we could make more treats.  I got two bags of pretzels and three bags of Ranch chips.  I got one salsa and one Cran Grape to do a taste test against Lidl brand.  I got one gallon skim milk and one half gallon whole milk.  I got an extra bag of Chicken Fries which is my son's favorite.

Giant $10.02

I stopped at the store to get the corn on the cob for 10/$2 which is a favorite and a few deals that I found online.  I saved the coupons on my card and I decided to get Cheerios and Oat Crunch Cheerios which were on sale for $1.99 and there was an electronic coupon for $1/2.  I got the Juicy Juice juice boxes which were on sale for $2.50 and there was $1 electronic coupon and I two $1 coupons from the newspaper so it was $1 for each one.  I also got 2 Gerber bananas even though they weren't on sale and I didn't have a coupon because we were out of them.

Lidl $3.97

I had to go back because the Aldi receipt rang up incorrectly so we had tried the Vanilla Wafers so I went back to get three boxes.

Total Retail $529.45
 Total Savings $249.38
Total Rebates $1.10
Total OOP $278.87

I know that I was way over budget this month but we have a ton of things in the house so we are really set for a little bit even though I spent $78.87 over budget.  We are only low on ice cream, milk and lunch meat so I will have to go to the store to get those things and a few more I am sure.  My son also wants apple juice so adding that to the list.  It has been a tough few months for the budget with everything going on.  I think that I have finally adjusted to shopping less and it is an interesting new way even if it does cost a little more.  

Although those expenses have gone up, most other expenses have gone down.  I just filled up my car with gas for the first time since March for almost 4 months on the same tank of gas.  I normally fill up every 6 weeks so this is obviously a lot less.  We are doing a lot of walking around and only going out a few times a month.  We are also getting all our haircuts at home instead of going out.  How are your expenses and spending going?