Groceries in September

Two products I bought last week that I really like and that squirrel cracks me up. 

I always tell myself I'll keep track of how much I spend on food and I almost never do. I have discovered that if I'm going to track spending on anything, I have to do it in September or in February. Those are the only months where I'm any good at it. Everything else involves a holiday, a birthday, or a move -- in my experience anyway. 

Our groceries and basic household items are all wrapped together. It just makes SENSE to me and I asked someone with a large platform once about "paper towels", "dishwasher detergent", even "dog treats", and she's like "nope!"  and I'm all confused. Like, diapers or pull-ups? Where that does go in the budget if you buy them at Walmart? Are people not buying these things at the grocery store? If anything, buying a Truly Free box every two months cuts down on these weekly expenses for sure, because I'm not buying cleaning products. So I've tried to add up and then subtract what's random in each grocery shopping order or trip, compared to just food. That way, I can get an exact cost on just food. 

FUN FACT: I meal plan every week. Last week, I had my plan ready, was getting ready to order from Walmart, and Scott tells me he's "going carnivore". He was totally planning on cooking for himself but I was like "where is the point in that?" so I revamped some things last minute. He does make occasional stops at the store himself but I don't track that because I don't have control over it, you know? We do not even come close to tracking every dollar (I know several out there who track every penny), so solid, evidence-based estimates are good enough for me when it comes to food shopping. 

Mostly I just want to prove that I'm spending less on food than I think I'm spending and also that I'm using what I'm buying (the reason for the meal-planning). We're still in the stage of life where it's a capital E-Emergency if we run out of milk or bananas with a three year-old, so I usually end up at the store twice a week, no matter my best laid plans. 

9/2 Walmart $150

9/4 Kroger $43 (they have things I can't find at Walmart so sometimes I go in to fill the gaps)

9/8 Walmart $121

No date Walmart $86

9/9 Kroger $8 (this was for lettuce and something else I needed for dinner that night)

9/14 Commissary $171-30 (household expenses: see below) = $141 (I don't remember if this includes tipping. Probably not.)

I know that benedryl has red 40. It's really just to have on hand for bee stings. And I tried a travel size of micellar water. I don't know how I feel about it. I watched an Instagram dermatologist talk about how Dove is actually great for your skin and a perfectly find soap option. I have reactions (super itchy) from most mainstream body washes, so I always end up using the kids' so I'm going back to Dove for now. I used to use it all the time. 

9/17 Walmart $99

9/22 Aldi $41 (fruit and snacks for the week...Aldi is the place to go for that. This included a treat for a friend and a bag of candy)

9/26 Walmart $229- $29 (household expenses..see below) = $200 (this was the "i'm going carnivore" meal-plan)

The shaving cream and play-doh is for school purposes. Sutton's starting to learn letters this week. 

So even if I added back in general household products and needs, it safe to say that I spent less than $1,000 on groceries for a family of four in September. I know my kids are little-ish but our fruit and cracker expenses are insane. Sutton is a picky eater so we permanently stay stocked up on her staples. Wells will eat anything but as soon as she has something he has to have it too so we go through the same things very quickly every week. I don't "stock up" on certain items because I know as soon as I buy extra, they will decide they're not eating any of it. 

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Alright now you can try this in October!