Grocery Breakdown: July 2018

We shopped quite a bit in July.  Some of it was replenishing pantry and freezer items from moving.  Some of it was just because we weren’t in a routine yet (normally I shop on Mondays), so we went more often.

As a result, we spent a bit more than I would have liked. But prices are also lower here than they were in Oregon, so even though I felt like we were buying a ton of groceries, we didn’t end up spending as much money as I thought.  I guess that’s a win?

Once we reached the end of the month I felt like our shelves were more back to normal. And we had things like condiments in the fridge and a few extra meals’ worth of meat in the freezer.  You know, things that don’t cost a lot as you buy them bit by bit, but when you’re getting them all at once feel like a big deal.

Here’s the grocery breakdown for July.  I plan to take more pictures next month, but July in Texas is super hot, so once I unloaded groceries they got put away right away.  Melted ice cream is just sad, after all.

July 6 – H-E-B: $29.44

This was on move in day. We needed a few basics plus cleaning supplies.

• Bread (16oz.) $1.49
• Milk (gallon) $2.48
• Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner $3.98
• Broom $4.97
• Dustpan $2.97
• Paper towels $1.69
• Bottled Starbucks coffee $2.46
• Complete Cookie x2 $1.48 each
• Bananas (2.2 lbs.) $0.75
• Bagged Sunflower salad $3.98
• Bagged Poppyseed salad $3.83
• Rewards coupon -$3.00
• Sales tax $0.88

July 6 – Target: $14.95

We were picking up a few other household items that weren’t part of the grocery budget, but these items were. I accidentally left all of my cleaning supplies behind at my sister’s house, so I’m replacing them as I need them.

• Method bathroom cleaner $3.99
• Method glass cleaner $2.99
• Method hand soap dispensers x2 $2.99 each
• Goldfish crackers $1.99 (treat for the kids)

July 7 – Aldi: $80.03

My first trip at my favorite grocery store! I forgot bags and a quarter. Oops.  Still a good shopping trip though.  Prices on pretty much everything are $0.25-$0.75 cheaper than in Oregon. That savings adds up quickly!

• Gluten free bread $3.99
• Butter (1 lb.) $2.33
• Cheese sharp cheddar block x2 $1.69 each
• Eggs (1 dozen) x2 $1.04 each
• Milk (gallon) $1.75
• Orange juice $1.99
• Diapers size 2 (42 ct.) $4.29 – these are fine for day time but not absorbent enough for night time
• Kleenex $0.99
• Toilet paper (12 rolls) $5.89
• Chicken breast x 3.58lbs. $7.13
• Whole chicken $5.42
• Simple Nut granola bars (4 pack) x2 $1.99 each
• Canned crushed tomatoes $0.79
• Canned diced tomatoes x2 $0.45 each
• Canned tomato sauce $0.25
• Chocolate chips (24 oz.) $2.79
• Gluten free rotini pasta (16 oz.) $2.99
• Gluten free spaghetti pasta (16 oz.) $1.89
• Fuji Apples (3 lbs.) $2.79
• Spring mix bagged salad $1.99
• Bananas (3.56 lbs.) $1.35
• Carrots (2 lbs.) $0.99
• Frozen peas (16 oz.) $0.99
• Green peppers (3 pack) $1.49
• Mushrooms (8 oz.) x2 $1.39 each
• Onions (3 lbs.) $1.49
• Oranges (4 lbs.) $3.89
• Russet potatoes (10 lbs.) 2.99
• Bagged spinach $1.49
• Sweet potatoes (2 lbs.) $2.59
• Tomatoes (2 pack) $1.49
• Sales tax $0.92

July 11 – Aldi: $102.95

Finally getting back to normal with a bigger shopping trip. The whole family went along so some extra items jumped in the cart…

• Ice cream $5.85
• Tortilla chips $0.89
• Kleenex x2 $0.99 each
• Milk (gallon) $1.75
• Chicken breast (3.5 lbs.) $7.08
• Apple juice x2 $1.09 each
• Ground turkey (1 lb.) $1.99
• Ground sausage (1 lb.) $1.99
• Yogurt (32 oz.) x2 $1.69 each
• Cheese sharp cheddar (8 oz.) x6 $1.69 each
• Bottled iced coffee x2 $1.19 each
• Canned crushed tomatoes x2 $0.79 each
• Canned diced tomatoes x3 $0.45 each
• Onions (3 lbs.) $1.49
• Sweet potatoes (4 lbs.) $2.59
• Butter (1 lb.) 2.33
• Slivered almonds $2.89
• Cantaloupe $0.89
• Celery $0.89
• Frozen corn (16 oz.) $0.95
• Frozen peas (16 oz.) $0.95
• Bagged Southwest salad $2.49
• Peanut butter (40 oz.) x2 $2.49 each
• Eggs (1 dozen) x2 $1.04 each
• BBQ sauce $.99
• Carrots (2 lbs.) $.89
• Garlic powder $1.19
• Soy sauce $1.29
• Mushrooms (8 oz.) x3 $0.89 each
• Bagged spinach $1.49
• Gluten free rotini pasta $2.99
• Green peppers (3 pack) x2 $1.49 each
• Chocolate donuts $1.89
• Canned green chiles x2 $0.65 each
• Pistachios $4.49
• Roasted nut bars (4 pack) $2.39
• Schogetten chocolate bar $1.49
• Corn tortillas $1.48
• Flour tortillas $1.29
• Bread $1.49
• Canned tomato paste $.39
• Bananas (5.06 lbs.) $1.92
• Orange juice $1.99
• Mini sweet peppers $2.79
• Sales tax $0.48

July 11 – H-E-B: $17.75

And a quick stop to grab the few things Aldi didn’t have.

• Huggies diapers jumbo pack $7.97
• Eggs (1 dozen) free using rewards coupon
• Bob’s Red Mill gluten free flour $3.97
• Frozen broccoli $0.98
• Bagged sweet kale salad $3.83
• Lemon $0.34
• Sales tax: $0.66

July 16 – H-E-B: $44.79 and $111.42 WIC

H-E-B is really conveniently located to our house. So for a quick trip I’ll probably just end up there.  This was a quick trip to pick up lunch supplies for hosting friends and grab a bunch of baby WIC items.

• Flip flops x2 $2 each (the boys needed new ones)
• Sunflower crunch bagged salad mix $3.98
• 8 bakery rolls $1.88
• Single serve yogurts x4 $0.35 each
• Sour cream $.99
• Mustard $0.59
• Bagged candy x3 $3.50 each, B2G1 free
• Chips x2 $1.49 each
• Mayonnaise $2.89
• 100 ct. ziploc sandwich bags $0.89
• Sliced cheese x2 $1.79 each
• 22 oz. honey smoked turkey $6.98
• 22 oz. honey ham $6.98
• Strawberry jam $2.92
• Watermelon $3.98 (WIC)
• Strawberries (2 lbs., half off sticker) $1.68 (WIC)
• Bananas (5.34 lbs.) $1.82 (WIC)
• Bread (16 oz.) $1.58 (WIC)
• Similac Advance formula x5 $16.77 each (WIC)
• Milk (gallon) $2.48 (WIC)
• Baby oatmeal cereal $4.14 (WIC)
• Baby rice cereal $2.09 (WIC)
• 10 jar baby foods $0.98 each (WIC)
• Rewards coupon -$3.00
• Sales tax $0.73

July 15 – Amazon Prime Pantry $18.43

Amazon was running a great deal on a Prime Pantry box for Prime Day, so I signed up for one (and shared all about it on my Current Deals page).

• Honey Nut Cheerios (19.5 oz.) $3.36, free with $40 purchase
• Rice Krispie Treats (16 count) $3.68
• Larabars (10 count) $8.37
• Nature Valley Granola Bars (24 count) $4.95
• Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner 2 pack $6.94 (minus $1.00 coupon on the item)
• Clorox Wipes (2 pack) $8.47 (minus 30% off coupon, which took off $2.54)
• Quilted Northern toilet paper (12 rolls) $6.99 (minus 30% off coupon, which took off $2.10)
• Sales tax $0.67
• Minus $10/$40 Prime Day coupon and $6/5 specific items coupon

July 19 – Amazon $38.96

Because babies need diapers.

• Huggies huge pack (246 size 2 diapers) $38.96

July 22 – Target $16.99

The church we are attending currently is about 40 minutes away.  This time around I brought a bottle but forgot to bring formula.  Oops.

• Similac Advance formula $16.99

July 23 – H-E-B $31.08 and $24.01 WIC

If grocery shopping takes more than a few minutes, my husband starts adding treats to the cart. Ha! Thankfully there wasn’t much room for extras with my cutest grocery helper in there…

• Multigrain Cheerios cereal (18 oz.) $3.18 (WIC)
• Honey Bunches of Oats cereal (18 oz.) $2.74 (WIC)
• Peanut butter (18 oz.) $2.98 (WIC)
• Grape juice (64 oz.) $2.39 (WIC)
• Fake grape juice bears x4 $0.67 total (husband)
• Tomatoes $0.98
• Wheat bread (16 oz.) $1.58 (WIC)
• Butter (1 lb.) $3.24
• Green pepper $0.68
• Eggs (1 dozen) $1.25 (WIC)
• Chocolate chips $1.69
• Milk (gallon) $2.48 (WIC)
• Chocolate ice cream $1.58 free with H-E-B coupon
• Lemon juice $1.89
• Apple juice (64 oz.) $1.19 (WIC)
• Cheese sharp cheddar (16 oz.) $3.42 (WIC)
• Ground turkey (1 lb.) $3.29
• M&Ms $0.78 (husband)
• Mushrooms (8 oz.) $1.38
• Strawberry yogurt (32 oz.) $2.28 (WIC) (I couldn’t find plain unsweetened, which makes no sense to me, since that was the WIC yogurt in Oregon)
• Orange juice $2.98
• Red velvet Oreos $2.98 (husband)
• Whole chicken $5.70
• Spinach $1.38
• Bagged Romaine x2 $1.98 each

July 25 – Aldi $114.63

I got tired of little trips for just a few days so I shopped for the rest of the month. Which really isn’t that long, but my pantry and freezer are finally starting to feel a little less empty. I was aiming for about $100 but my husband came along and added things to the cart again… 🙂

• Watermelon $2.89
• Ground turkey (1 lb.) $1.99
• Chicken breast (3.87 lbs.) $7.72
• Bacon (1 lb.) $3.79
• Ground beef patties (3 lbs.) $8.89
• Brown sugar $1.29
• Salmon $3.79 (husband added to cart)
• Ice cream half gallon $5.85 (husband)
• Eggs x 3 dozen $1.07 each
• Schogetten candy bars x3 $1.49 each
• Dark chocolate candy bar $1.99
• Gluten free pasta x2 $2.99
• Sharp cheddar cheese (8 oz.) x4 $1.69 each
• Mini marshmallows $0.89 (we have some slightly stale Kix that no one wants so I’m going to make cereal bars)
• Bagged salad kits – 2 sweet kale and 2 sunflower crunch $2.49 each
• Butter (1 lb.) x2 $2.36 each
• Gluten free spaghetti $1.89
• Potatoes (10 lbs.) $2.99
• Canned diced tomatoes x3 $0.45 each
• Canned crushed tomatoes $0.79
• Onions (3 lbs.) $1.49
• Frozen peas (16 oz.) $0.95
• Green peppers x3 $1.49
• Multicolored peppers x3 $2.99
• Orange juice x2 $1.99 each
• Bananas (3.6 lbs.) $1.33
• Mushrooms (8 oz.) x3 $1.29 each
• Tomatoes (5) $1.89
• Ice cream (pint) $2.25 (husband)
• Gluten free bread $3.99 (Aldi’s GF bread is similar to Udi’s, which is my favorite, so I’m pleased about that!)
• Pistachios $4.49 (husband)
• Tortillas (20 count) $2.48
• Ketchup $1.69
• Sales tax $0.53

July 27 – Target $17.31

Because pizza night only works if you have any kind of flour and yeast. You’d think knowing that we have pizza pretty much every week would have motivated me to get these things, but nope. You’d be wrong. But now I finally have extras for a little while.

• Yeast jar $4.79
• Bob’s Red Mill gluten free flour (44 oz.) $8.59
• Unbleached all purpose flour (5 lbs.) $1.49
• Hello Panda cookie snacks for kids x2 $2.44

July 29 – H-E-B $22.24 and $23.84 WIC

I realized that we hadn’t gotten the rest of the baby food jars for the month, and we also needed a few things for hosting guests for dinner. And since I was there, I grabbed a few more household things.

• All Free & Clear laundry detergent (128 load) $8.97
• Milk gallon $2.48 (WIC)
• Hamburger buns (12 pack) $1.76
• Sliced colby jack cheese $1.79
• Munchkin bottle brush $4.86 (totally worth the couple extra dollars because it actually reaches to the bottom of my bottles!)
• Dawn dish soap $3.44
• 22 baby jar foods $21.36 (WIC)
• Sales tax $1.42

And the totals are…$549.55 out of pocket and $159.27 WIC.

I feel like we spent a lot more than that, so I’m okay with those numbers. I also know that they could be lower with better planning, and I’m aiming to beat that next month, unless I find some good bulk deals, in which case I will still stock back up on a few things.

I’m curious: are these peeks into my grocery cart interesting to you? Would they be more interesting with more pictures? (That’s totally the plan for next month) I’d love your feedback on this new series.