One of my favorite shopping sites, my nearest fruit stand
I've got no embarrassment admitting that one of my favorite activities is grocery shopping. I'm not a big fan of the run of the mill grocery trip in Manhattan, but once I leave the island I'm happy visiting just about any grocery store. I'm an enormous fan of big suburban stores with dozens of varieties of just about everything, and I love visiting groceries when I'm in other countries, and discovering what people buy and eat around the world.
Last week I was visiting a large suburban grocery in Connecticut with my friend, Lucy. after we had checked out we were talking about how prices were lower outside of Manhattan and speculating on how much we'd saved. At that moment a lightbulb went off in my head. I realized for all of my budgeting and somewhat careful spending I have no idea what I spend for groceries in any given month. None, I'm more than a little embarrassed to admit. I'd had my own apartment and grocery shopping since since August 1972 and I had never tracked what I spent. I had a number in mind for what I thought I should spend, one hundred dollars.
In 2022 in New York City this seems like a ridiculously low number, but I have no data to know if it's laughingly low or feasible. Standing outside the Shoprite in Brookfield, CT I decided that this would be the month when I get a handle on my grocery spending. I'm not going to try and spend the least amount possible. I'm just going to track what I do spend to both be more mindful and have a baseline number. Maybe I'm prudent already. I use coupons, shop sales and look for store brands, but maybe I'm tossing money around as though it was water, an expression my mother used to use.
I started tracking on Tuesday, February 1. I'm pretty well supplied from my shopping last week, including coffee and yogurt, big budget items in my life. But I was out of almond milk, tuna fish (which I forgot in Connecticut) and chick peas. Those items and a few other things came to $12.73. This afternoon in anticipation of the ice storm tomorrow I bought cherries at the fruit stand ($5.00) and a few last minute things at the grocery ($7.90).
Do you have a grocery budget and if so, do you stay within your budget? That's the Buttercupland question for #GroceryFebruary.
I hope everyone who has been impacted (is that a word?) by this latest storm is keeping safe. Two friends have been in touch to remind me that it's going to be icy out tomorrow and suspend my walking until it's safe again. I appreciate the reminder and I'm staying safe and snug at home with hot cocoa and my $.99 bag of mini-marshmallows until it looks clear enough to go out again.
13 comments
Hello, Buttercup. My husband does most of the grocery shopping now that he is retired, and I have no idea what he spends usually, but I we generally have a goal of keeping out grocery bill under $100 for the week. Sometimes, we are well under that, and sometimes well over. I think it's a good idea to have a budget, but tracking every expenditure can get tedious - I know, we did it for a number of years. Now that things aren't as tight as a few years back, we are more "ballpark budgeters." I love your inspiration to keep an eye on expenditures and be a little more frugal. With prices going up so much, it can't hurt. Glad you are staying in for a few days with all the ice and snow. See you again soon.
I don't think I have ever met anyone who likes grocery shopping. You are unique. At the moment we are shopping on line as Omicron is running wild here at the moment. That is fun because you never know if they might substitute something if it is not available.
I'd pay a lot for those black cherries! 😃 A budget is good and all, but I'd throw it out for fruit.
We have to eat; in fact we enjoy what we eat, so I spend what we need to spend on decent food. I do look for specials, however.
I am surprised that you've never tracked what you spend on groceries. I'm curious to see if you are surprised after tracking this month. I don't follow a budget for groceries these days, but I did for many years. I do menu plan according to what I have on hand and what's on sale each week. I also stock up on any really good sales on things I use on a regular basis. Have a great weekend!
I also love grocery shopping, I am a grocery store geek, a find-a-new-store-NERD. I live in central NY state, love Aldi, Wegmans, Price Chopper, Tops...I'm vacationing in Florida, and have been to Publix twice this week:). When I visit my son in California, it's Sprouts! Safeway! My daughter in Oregon: Fred Meyer, WinCo! My Virginia son: Food Lion! So I get it...but shh, I also am not sure how much I spend...only 4 kids left at home, so not as much as I used to, that's for sure, and I always bargain shop.
Della
Looking forward to your results. K
I have a budget for groceries - - but don't actually check to see iff I stay within the parameters. I have thought about doing that - - - so will need to consider it - - - thanks to your reminder.
Do you break down the budget for food groceries and non-food items?
My problem with shopping is how much hoarding has taken place since COVID. People are "scared" the stores will run out of something so they overstock at home. I used to shop for things on a semi-regular schedule - - but now you can't guarantee something will be there.
Stay warm and safe!
So funny you did a post about this. I know we have been spending way too much on groceries for just the two of us. As of the first of the year, I have been aware of how much we spend and I have been sticking to a list so I don't buy a bunch of extras. xo Diana
Groceries are much more expensive here than they were. I spend more now than I used to to feed my whole family. And now i t is just me. I spend more than I should and it's a big part of my spending. I try to stock up when there is a sale but still I spend too much. Glad you decided to stay in. Ice is nothing to fool around with for sure !
You're so like my late father! Regardless where in the world he'd travel, he loved visiting the local grocery stores.
Tracking our grocery spending's something I need to get a handle on. Tom's much better at spotting a bargain, and thankfully will keep me in check!
Oh, I miss WinCo--loved the bulk food section! Lived in Washington State until 2019, then retired to Alabama. WinCo was my once or twice a month stop, as it was about 25 miles away. Fred Meyer was my weekly stop in town. Here it's pretty much Walmart (about 25% of my grocery shopping), Aldi (about 75% of my groceries), and Publix (way too expensive!). And yes, I enjoy grocery shopping, too!
Oh, I love grocery shopping! Budget? A rather fluid one where groceries are concerned. I’ve worked hard to reign in some of my impulse buys during the month of January, and it has worked rather well. We’ve become more aware of organic items, and they are always pricier. Take care!
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