Umm.. I actually did this over the weekend and intended to post on Sunday- but well- I got busy 🙂 So better late than never right!
I spent $58 or so but I don’t include diapers in the weekly budget so this was actually pretty close to $50.
So I spent $11.37 at Safeway:
Lay’s Chips $1.77- used $1/1 coupon
Snyder’s Pretzels $1.89- Used $1/1 coupon
4 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs .99- Used (2) $1/2 coupons
10 lbs Potatoes $2.99
Free Maries Potato Dressing with Purchase of Potatoes
2 Mushrooms at $3.00
4 Sun Rype Fruit Strips- .33 ea used BOGO coupons (tuck these in your purse for when the little angels are tired of shopping! Two saved me at CVS yesterday!)
Raley’s/Bel Air $15.68
4 Cheez Its- Buy 2 Get 2 Free, used (2) .75 coupons- so $4.48 for 4
Hot Dog Buns- Free with Purchase
2 Ronzoni Pasta $1.50 each- used (2) $1 coupons and a .75 off Raleys coupon (more on this program later- it is AWESOME!)
2 Goldfish Crackers $1.67- Used (2) .55/1 peelies
Watermelon $3.57
Mission Tortilla Chips $1.49- used .75/1 coupon
French Bread $1.99
4 Ball park Franks .99 each- used (2) .75/2 coupons
CVS: $3.12 (this doesn’t include my second trip to CVS for the clearance diapers)
2 Gillette Body Wash- used $4/2 and a BOGO coupon- got $8 ECB back!
Huggies Megas clearance at $8.99- Used (2) $3/1 coupons
Nivea for Men $3.99- Used $3/1 coupon
Also used $4/20 CVS coupon, $7 in ECBs and I think that BOGO coupon took off $4.99 for the Gillette rather than $4. Got $8 ECBs plus another $5 for the Nivea back.
Costco: $27.25
Organic Grape Tomatoes $5.49
Huge jar of Sun Dried Tomatoes $7.49
2 Sharp Cheddar $4.89
Milk 2 Gallons $4.49
Target: lost my receipt maybe .50 or so
2 Listerine at 1.98- Used $2/1 coupons
Armor All $2.46- used $2 coupon
This time of year is pool parties, BBQs, sports events etc.. around here so I usually like to stock up on extra snack foods so that I can feed masses in minutes. (Hence a million hot dogs. Those are easy for when we have lots of little ones underfoot.)
And here is the menu plan:
MONDAY: BBQ and Pool Party
TUESDAY: Homemade Pizza with Sun Dried Tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta, red peppers
WEDNESDAY: BBQ Grilled Chicken, Watermelon, Green Salad
THURSDAY: Grilled Burgers with Steamed Broccoli and Sweet Potato Fries (I do a version of this burger– the asiago frico is so delicious!)
FRIDAY: Salsa Chicken and Grilled Corn with Queso and Lime
SATURDAY: Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches with Salad
SUNDAY: Panzanella Salad with mozzarella, tomato etc..
And you guys?? How did you do this week? I have been getting lots of requests for weekly budget tips and menu plans for those with larger families and I would really LOVE to hear from those of you that would be willing to share how much you spend weekly.
I really enjoy your blog and appreciate your hard work. I started couponing a year ago. I have a family of five with two teenagers and a 10 yr old. So, while we are out of the diaper stage, we have other grocery expenses to compensate (they are all girls…think of the health and beauty I have to buy!) It used to be nothing for me to spend between $750.00 and $800.00 a month on groceries. Yikes! I cry thinking about it. Now my monthly budget is $350.00! But, when I get a rebate, I cash it and put it in my grocery budget so I can spend a little more. I am always excited because it feels like a bonus check! Thanks again for all you do.
Renee I do the same thing. At this point I haven’t needed to spend the rebate checks because I am usually pretty close to $50- so in reality my budget probably does include diapers. I cash tons of rebate checks every month 🙂
I didnt know you could use the $4/2 Gillette Bodywash Q with the B1G1F Gillette Bodywash Q. It doesnt beep at CVS?
Well a reader suggested it in the comments- seriously you guys are smarter than I am- and I decided to try it. I wasn’t sure it would work because BOGO coupons have been a hassle lately but it did work.
We are a family of 4 with 2 in diapers. We used to have a monthly budget of $400, but since I started to coupon seriously (Jan of this year), I’ve been able to cut it down to $300 each month and I usually come in at $50 under that. I shop weekly for whatever good deals are available and whatever I KNOW I need, but I shop monthly for other things like bulk produce. This method works well for us… when the budget resets every 4 weeks, that’s when we stock up at Costco on the things that are cheaper there (even after coupons) and then it’s little stuff throughout the month.
I too used to spend $800-900/month on groceries! Yikes! Granted, I do have FIVE children, 3 of them being hungry boys, & I also have a baby in diapers/formula. My current weekly budget is $100, that INCLUDES diapers & formula! It makes me so proud to say that.:)I must say though, I couldn’t have done this budget cut w/o you and your wonderful website. Thankyouthankyouthankyou. You have financially saved me & my family. Really.Thank you, from the bottom of my heart…and pocketbook.:)
Which one did you hand first? The $4/2 or the B1G1F? Thanks!!! 🙂
I noticed that you make homemade Pizza….that is a HUGE budget saver in my house! I purchase the frozen pre-made pizza dough balls from Sam’s Club. You have to order ahead of time & they come in a HUGE HEAVY box. 20 of them cost $16.88 at my store. You order them from the refreshment/pizza/hot dog place in the store. Definetely a great time saver for me. They come individually packaged & already frozen. Just thaw in the fridge overnight, spread them out & put on the toppings. Ta-Dah! Pizza for $3-$4 depending on toppings.
We have “Pizza Night” once a week in our home….it can be BBQ Chicken Pizza, White Sause Pizza, Pepperoni Balls, Calzones, Pepperoni Twists, ect—-you get the picture, as long as it’s made from the pizza dough. 🙂
I have a family of 8…we have 6 kids. Our monthly food budget is $600. This includes dining out/ordering in, milk, drinks, lunches for the hubby & kids, and of course wine! I have been able to accomplish this with monthly menu planning & using coupons.
I am curious what you guys consider groceries. I have a family of two (my husband and I) and we alot $375 for groceries, hair care, and all household cleaning stuff. Generally we can use some of the money at the end of the month for eating out though!
Let’s see. I think I did the BOGO first. I was fully prepared to pay $4 and get $8 back though so either way it is a win.
Malisa,
Personally I consider everything groceries. I exclude diapers and until last week formula. I also exclude stamps. Otherwise, dog foods, cleaning items, all health care etc.. everything to make the house run really.
I think when you have done the coupon thing for awhile you just have so much of things that were free it gets easier to shave the budget. Like I basically have a ton of shaving cream, laundry soap, cleaners etc.. so I can sit and wait for prices to be dirt cheap before I need to buy if I even buy them at all. Like body wash I refuse to buy even if it is free unless I can make money from it. They all go in the donation bin since I have seriously 10 right now. Ridiculous.
Our family averages about $70 to $72 per week for groceries and personal care items, or just under $300 monthly for a family of four that includes two teens (one is technically a preteen, but he eats at least as much as his teenage sister). For us, this total includes all groceries and personal care items (contact lens supplies, cleaning supplies, etc.). I don’t include pet food or supplies, however. Our cat is older and has a prescription diet, so I leave that out. I almost exclusively buy organic milk, and always buy certain produce organic (lettuce, berries, potatoes, grapes, among others). I also use milder or more green cleaners (and make some of my own cleaning solutions). Some of our choices add to our expenses, but we are still able to save a fair amount by shopping sales, buying in season, and using coupons.
Oh my gosh what a great idea! I heard of doing that at pizzerias but I never thought of calling Costco and their pizza is amazing. Such a good idea I will check that out 🙂
Well Charlene I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, THANK YOU!! I actually wasn’t sure of how much we were spending on average but I do know it was always more than we could afford. I’ll guess and say we spent about $200 -250 dollars a WEEK on groceries and we were struggling to pay bills ! Were a family of 5!! (ridiculous) Anywhoo, I cant say I have any tips because I pretty much get all my tips from you and your site , other than I stick to paying cash rather than my debit or cc because I tend to just swipe away ,OH and if I have any money left over in my grocery budget I put the extra cash into my entertainment budget for the month. I can proudly say that my weekly budget now is at $65 a week!! (AMAZING)
Hi, do you thnk it matters what time during your transaction you give your coupons at safeway? I shopped there last night and not only did none of my cellfire or shortcuts coupons come off, but they did not give me the 8 or more prices when I was buying over 20 of the mix & match items…
I have extra coupons for the Sun-Rype snacks if anyone is interested! I have 2 of each & they’re printed in b&w exp 6/16/10. (2) BOGOF Sun-Rype 100% FruitSource 1.3 bars, (2) BOGOF Sun-Rype Squiggles 100% Fruit Twist .63oz singles, (2) BOGOF Sun-Rype Fruit Strip .5oz singles, (2) $1.50/1 6oz Sun-Rype 100% FruitSource Mini Bites. Email me @ kellyburton81 AT yahoo dot com if you’re interested in them 🙂
Becca I have no idea since neither companies coupons came off I am inclined to think there is something wrong with your club card. I usually scan my card before i start handing over coupons.
Am I happy to see this post!!!….Was wondering if all was well on your end as I did not see the post on Saturday.It is always a thrill to see what you managed with 50 dollars a week. By the way, could you please let us know how you got the Raley’s 75 cents Ronzoni coupon…
It takes ages to do that post Ruth- sounds silly but I tend to procrastinate and then I don’t make the time to recap it all 🙂 Anyhoo- I will get the Raley’s bit posted ASAP. I have to work through a few more things so Sunday at the very latest.
When I say “groceries” I mean all food, health and beauty, cleaning etc. I do include OTC when I have to buy them (we do have a flexible spending account for our medical expenses, but thie year we are running low). We have a seperate small budget for eating out though.