Grocery Shopping

Okay, My favorite day of the month is the day we get our groceries.

Today and every 1st Thursday of the month we have to go get food for our family.

We can not shop here in the town.

We have a Safeway, a WalMart, and Grocery Outlet (to me it is like a "thrift store" grocery store, too long of a story to explain), we also have a IGA grocery store that has probably been her since the town was established. They are way expensive and over priced.

I mean you probably can save money here. I am just not patient enough to figure it out.

So we clean out the van, we load up the coolers and head an hour and a half away to Reno.

They have everything you need.

If we need to hit Target, or Church book store, or scout store, any shopping that does not require getting food, we hit first.

But today Sam's club was first. (because it is the furthest from where we came in.)

Here is my Sam's club list:

1 chicken nuggets
Chicken patties
Waffles -
1 Vanilla wafers -
1 Cheez-its
Fishy Crackers -
1 Club crackers -

1 Chex Mix
1 Fruit snacks -
1 Pizza -
3 cases of Water -
4 big boxes Cereal -
2 Hamburger -
1 Ham (every other month)
1 Hot dogs -
3 Eggs - flat -

10 gallons Milk
2 Bacon -
1 Granola Bars
1 Fiber one bars
1 Oatmeal
Oreos -
Cup a noodle soup
Laundry soap -
2 Shredded cheese -
Paper cups -
Ziplock bags
Scrapbook tape

And sometimes it varies. Every other month I need paper plates, and cleaning wipes. And a few things I can't remember.

This month's budget for Sam's was $350. We went over by $18. And only because we bought Emma a dress.

Then we get gas at Sam's. Because today it was $2.07 a gallon. (here where we live, the cheapest is $2.20).
Next is lunch. Today we ate at Sam's: a drink and 2 slices of pizza is about $3 each. Emma had a hot dog. Well half of a hot dog, they were huge.

And then to Winco.

Here is my Winco list:

2 Potatoes -
4 Pretzels - (bag of pretzel sticks)
4 Frozen Chicken
2 Gram crackers

6 Green beans -
6 canned corn
1 mayo
4 Tomato sauce -

4 Tomato paste -
2 Canned tomatoes
1 black beans
1 Chick peas
Taco sauce packet
2 Italian season packet

6 Pears
6 peaches
2 Apples sauce
6 Spaghetti O’s
6 Beef stock
6 Chicken broth
Cream of celery
6 Cream of Chicken
6 Cream of Mushroom
4 Spaghetti sauce
2 Cork screw
Large Egg noodles
Spaghetti noodles
2 Brownie mix
2 White cake mix
1 Sugar
1 Flour
1 Powdered sugar
Chocolate chips
2 Oil
Onion salt
Salt
Real Vanilla
Quick oats
3 fruit snacks Emma
2 Beef sausage
4 Cream cheese
Slice cheese
Breakfast sausage
2 Tub of butter
6 Margarine
2 Sour cream
6 butter
Tator tots
French Fries
3 Frozen Corn
10 Juice
2 Tortillas
Total budget today was - 200.00. But we went over by $18. I know...not bad.

Okay, so there was of course a few things that I didn't get on my list and a few things that were not on my list that I bought. Does that happen to you?

All this food, added to what we already have in our pantry and a small budget for fresh veggies and fruit, (which is not worth traveling and hour and a half to get in Reno, I just get it at Safeway here in town).

This all has to last a month. What we don't use and what I always buy is added to our food storage. I mean, our pantry is our food storage. (I could go on and on about that)

Our budget has been shortened by a pay reduction thanks to the stupid Governor of California.

It is working out okay.

Then we hit Wendy's for a treat. A frosty.

We have been doing this for 3 years now and it is a tradition to go to Wendy's.

I even put it in the budget.

My favorite part is when I get all the food put away and I can look in my cupboards and see all the food. It is nice not to feel like Old Mother Hubbard. It is also nice not having to go to the store once a week to replenish. I also do a dinner menu for the month. It helps me make my grocery list.

These are pictures of my pantry or pantries. They are not together because of lack of a good space.

This above is our snack pantry.

You have to ask to eat the food in here and some of it is for school lunches.

This above is our main pantry.

This is where most of the food goes.

This above is the water Jeff has to take to work. He can't drink the water where he works. (he refills them sometimes) and we recycle the rest.

This above is our 2nd refrigerator.

We store our milk, bread, cheese, eggs and lunch meat.

Above we have a ton of Deer meat someone gave us. Gag me.

This is the stuff I forgot I had already and bought more anyway.

Food storage!!!!

Above is more extras.
This above is our beloved freezer.
Juice frozen veggies, chicken, meat, (more deer meat, gag!) and waffles and stuff.

Jeff said today as he looked at all our new food, "It feel like a grocery store." and I agree. But just with the stuff we buy.

If you have any questions or if you think I am insane.

Leave a comment. I would love to read them.