Sunday: Pork Chops, mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans
Monday: Take Out Pizza. We all just wanted pizza, over ordered, and now we will have a leftover night (moved Tacos to Tuesday)
Tuesday: Tacos/burritos/bowls with Spanish rice, black beans, and corn (moved soup to Friday)
Wednesday: Leftover night (with tacos, and pizza, no fuss leftovers)
Thursday: Hamburgers and homemade French fries
Friday: Made soup, but we didn't eat it. Instead, DH had leftover burgers, and I made a weird flat bread sort of thing as two wraps needed to be used, cous cous, and sweet potato chunks.
Saturday: Clean out the fridge soup, with drop biscuits. I'll make the chicken parcels tonight instead.
The pizza night sort of took away my cravings for take out and gave me two nights break form planning and cooking. I'm a bit more motivated to get back to staying with out own kitchen. For the week I'm thinking:
Sunday: Chicken parcels, mashed potatos green beans
Monday: Crock pot pasta loaded with vegetables
Tuesday: Curry for DD2 and me, leftover for DH with a side of more vegetables
Wednesday: Pork loin, steamed carrots, roated buttered potatos
Thursday: Pork fried rice with vegetables, egg rolls, cabbage salad
Friday: Salisbury steak or meatballs and gravy with mashed potatoes
Saturday: Hot dogs and chilli
Grocery needs for the week for our house are below. I don't have my MIL's list yet, but I wil shop seperately. It was too stressful for me to try and get her very specifc list, while I have a more flexible list. My list is moslty fresh stuff this week as I did a big shop this past Tuesday and have quite a bit in the freezer now. Still, it is long and I wonder how we go through so much food. Well, each of us are eating at least two piece of fruit a day, so right there accounts for over three dozen pieces of fruit! This is still most likely over $75 worth of gorceries as it adds up so fast. But it's moslty healthy stuff to keep us healthy and that's the name of the game right now. There might be a treat or two, but I made peanut butter oatmeal cookies on Friday, and half the batch are in the freezer.
Apples
bananas
Clementines
lettuce
spinach
zuchini
tomatoes
potatoes
sweet potatoes
canned tomatoes
Assorted cheeseBread
Chicken
bagels
cream cheese
cereal
CA blend vegetables
egg rolls
cabbage or cole slaw mix
Tortillas
milk
juice
crackers
eggs
I don't know anyone, well I guess a few that were very organized stock shoppers, that aren't spending more than normal on groceries. I hope it translates into liveable income for farmers and other parts of the food system that keep us fed. I feel though for those that didn't have spare resources before trying to stretch their grocery budgt even farther. Thank you to those that continue to help in your communities with free grocery options, meals, and other basic needs.
eggs
I don't know anyone, well I guess a few that were very organized stock shoppers, that aren't spending more than normal on groceries. I hope it translates into liveable income for farmers and other parts of the food system that keep us fed. I feel though for those that didn't have spare resources before trying to stretch their grocery budgt even farther. Thank you to those that continue to help in your communities with free grocery options, meals, and other basic needs.
We are definitely spending more on groceries. We have more stock in our fridge, pantry & freezers, and are also not shopping for deals (I don't think they even exist right now?) & are also just making more meals vs getting a few a day for free at work.
ReplyDeleteWe are not going back anytime soon. We work at a large company, at a headquarters that is quite tightly spread, and has all open floor plans with 22" desks. Social distancing will be next to impossible. I've thought a lot about how we might get back to work, but i think it won't be everyone again until the fall (or later) as they work through all of that. Schools are also closed through the end of the year, so parents don't have many good options either. About half of the summer camps we've used before have also proactively closed already.
With no comparison shopping, and getting in, getting out, I am sure that is part of my increased pending. No Aldi shopping either for a month as I stopped on my way home as in another town. The Stay at Home order expires MAy 4th, but with guidance that those that can continue to work form home keep doing so, and if the business is non-essential with public facing employees (think retail non-food) they should continue to stay closed. We shall see.
DeleteThere's no sign of it ending here SAM, and my daughter is very keen to get back to the office rather than working from the desk in her bedroom. She needs the separation I think. My grocery bill has definitely increased as I'm no longer able to shop around like I did. I now do it all at one store, and yesterday I ordered it online, and collected it in the car park at the supermarket today. It worked very well, and I'll continue with it. I'm unable to get a home delivery, so this is the next best thing. We eat such a lot of fruit and veg, particularly salad items, apples and bananas. I'm still shopping for my mother, but there's no gratitude, and just complaints about what I haven't been able to get. I'm sad to say that she's not a very nice person.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to thinks-stay at home expires, but still trying to keep as many people home as possible, and school buildings closed for remainder of year here.
DeleteI think you're right about the cost of grocery shopping. I'm not aware that prices have gone up but maybe I'm buying just a little extra "just in case". Still, it won't go to waste.
ReplyDeleteIt might just be that I am sopping in more expensive stores and definitely am not looking for bargains. We still are doing well on no food waste.
DeleteI think the life of the paper coupon has ended. It is becoming harder to find deals, no multiple stores. Just go to the store and make the decision and get home as fast as you can. I've bypassed a few things on my list due to high prices. And we've also bought several "I've survived the store experience" treats in the form of cheesecake :) We aren't eating out as much (takeout once this month for $24) so basically we are saving around $80 from that. Our other shopping has been quite limited so saving money there too. Higher food costs is the new fact of life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the sentiments of the coupon. I was on our store's website last night to see what coupons could be loaded to my shoppers card and there was maybe 1/4 of what they used to offer and most were for things like shampoos and pet items.
DeleteThe stores we have in town that I go to for myself and MIL have a card swipe, so if they happen to have a special, we'll get that price, but no coupons to deal with. I'd rather get in and out fast now.
DeleteWhat is a chicken packet?
ReplyDeleteI really worry about people who cannot buy for their children who are home from public schools. I have all I need and all I want, but there are people who cannot get what they want, much less what they need. Well, I am talking food. I do have unmet needs and wants, but I will live and complain...lol...thinking about chairs to sit in yard.
I think it is too soon to open, but I don't make those decisions. However, I can continue to be careful.
I linked a recipe a few weeks ago-basically chicken, sauce, and veg wrapped in a puff pastry-but I'll use crescent roll dough. It is hard to interpret the data, but I am fairly on top of things, and worry it may be premature.
DeleteNo going back anytime soon here in Washington State. You mention farmers, which brings me to mind of the produce stands here, stocked by local farmers. I wonder what the restrictions on them will be--we're getting close to opening season. I would imagine they are essential. I doubt, however, that the weekly Farmer's Market will be allowed.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder if, for some people, the increase in grocery spending isn't offset by the decrease in spending on eating out? I know my family is certainly seeing a decrease in that spending.
Last night we were busy outside, so dinner was a quick ziti with meat sauce. Tonight's plan is for a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad. DH found some quick sale salad kits at the store when he was picking up a prescription, so salads will be on the menu for the next few days. I really wanted roasted carrots, but as we don't have any, I will go without. Tomorrow's plan is slow cooker chicken tortilla soup for with the leftovers, and I will also make a batch of slow cooker bean dip for DD. Yesterday, I took out several packages of cream cheese in the freezer, which I bought for $1/each around Christmas. I put those together with some aging Bevita breakfast biscuits, and baked a marble cheesecake yesterday afternoon. It was supposed to be for today's dessert, but last night I figured I had better sample a slice before serving!
No doubt increased groceries is most likely off set by not spending as much on meals out, gas, etc. Still, if people have reduced wages, eating out would be cut anyway. I'm just surprised, though I shouldn't be, when I hear the total. I wonder about markets and roadside stands as well.
DeleteI actually went grocery shopping this morning for the first time in 6 weeks. (Bill has been going.) My biggest issue was that our Kroger is in the middle of a remodel so everything was moved around. (They had started it before all this stuff started.) I had a list and was able to get everything on it and some extras that were needed to fill out our freezer. I didn't really see any great deals or closeouts like I used to be able to find but I guess that is the norm now. I also only noticed a few price hikes (pop was expensive for example) but most things were similar in prices from before. I do know that several items got put in my cart to fill out our freezer and pantry.
ReplyDeleteIf pop gets high-I'll have to go back to not drinking it. It has been m vice since this all started.
DeleteI think I have spent more as Hubs has to have many fresh things for his diet and I just don't look for sales as I want to get in and out quickly.
ReplyDeleteMost of our food is produce, so I guess that's a good thing
DeleteI was told yesterday we are spending more on groceries but we are also spending a lot less on eating out and lots less on gasoline.
ReplyDeleteSame with us-though when calculating our monthly spending. I thought, hey, we are doing OK, but then I forgot one major cost per month. My heart sank. The remains will not go far after our expenses.
DeleteI feel like there are no real deals here and I am not working my shopping system which includes paying attention to my price book and working coupons and deals. I just want to get through this time period. Plus I spent a lot at a going out of business sale at my favorite Amish scratch and dent. I hope it balances out my spending later in the year.
ReplyDeleteI think once things open up, deals will be few, other than any out of season stuff, but I then think people will be slow to spend as most everyone I know will be trying to build back reserves from either job loss or earning decrease, helping family, and retirement account losses. I know where I spend will be very focused. Eating well and healthy will be a priority, new and latest fashion, not so much (and never has been.)
DeleteI don’t even look at the ads anymore. I’ve been going to Walmart every two weeks for the majority of the shopping and then down the road to Aldi for certain things we prefer from there or stuff that was out of stock at Walmart. We are spending a little bit more but I’m not overly concerned about it. Our stay at home order runs through May 8. A few businesses will be allowed to reopen then and I’m not sure about my retail job. We are capable of doing curbside and ship from store so I would hope that we would open in only that capacity if we have to open at all.. It’s out of my hands and I honestly try not to think about it because it makes my anxiety go through the roof. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteWe are told to keep working from home if we can, though as I am in management, may need to have days in the office to take care of things that a physical present need. I expect our other spending decreases will off set groceries, so like you,not worried about it. I hope you and your family are getting by OK with you not working, or working less. Staying mentally healthy is just as important.
Deletewe are spending more on groceries, there are less sale items and definitely an increase in prices, some of that is related to the bushfires as well. We are shopping at a smaller store instead of the supermarket and it is slightly more expensive, but a lot less people.
ReplyDeleteI have not stepped foot in Walmart in over a month-too many people, even if they were spaced out, and it makes me anxious too. 'd rather shop in a smaller store, in and out.I miss some of the things I got at Aldi though, but since it is 12 miles away and a store is close to me and my MIL, I haven't gone out of town.
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