I don’t want to be glum. I want to be a positive person. But looking at these numbers is making me feel defeated and it’s only one week into the month.
Mr Crumbs gave me a brand new blender for my birthday and we use it to make smoothies daily. But a by-product of these awesome smoothies is the bill for the produce that goes into the blender.
Mr. Crumbs and I are trying to eat more fruits and vegetables. One night a week is a meatless dinner and we typically drink smoothies for breakfast. Fruits are the first choice given for a kid’s snack and we often serve two vegetables at dinner instead of the traditional one. I’ve even been known to triple the vegetables in stir-frys.
If 50% of what we eat is going to be fruits and vegetables, then 50% of my budget needs to be allocated for fruits and vegetables.
That was the reality that hit when I started adding up the numbers this week. It’s the end of week 1 and I’m dangerously close to blowing the budget already.
Safeway – $7
Safeway had 3lb flat of strawberries on sale for $5 last week. I sent Mr. Crumbs to the store with my Safeway card, had him buy two flats and I saved $3 for purchasing $10 worth of produce (a coupon that I loaded to my Safeway card). This makes each pound only $1.16, which beats any other price around.
Trader Joe’s – $47.19
We’re making our own ice cream this week and also needed to replenish a few staples for our pantry.
Here’s a breakdown of the prices:
Bananas x12 – 2.28
12oz Baby Spinach – 1.99
Mango & Yogurt Gummies – 1.99 (treat for the kids)
Coconut Milk x3 – 2.97
Almond Milk x2 – 3.38
Sunflower Seeds – 1.99
Coconut Oil x2 – 11.98
Chocolate Syrup – 3.49 (a hefty price, but a huge treat)
Half & Half – 1.79
Heavy Cream – 2.69
Cream Cheese x2 – 3.38
Half Gallon Milk – 1.99
Plain Yogurt – 2.99
Buttermilk – 1.29
Kefir – 2.99
Great Deals: bananas, spinach, coconut milk, almond milk, sunflower seeds, coconut oil, buttermilk
Decent Deals: heavy cream, cream cheese, milk, yogurt
No So Great Deals: half & half (I’ll probably get that at Costco next time), chocolate syrup
I have no doubt that everything we bought will be consumed. The bananas, spinach and mango gummies have already been devoured. The kefir, yogurt, half & half and buttermilk are halfway gone. The milk and cream are going into ice cream this weekend. Are we wasting food? Not at all! But I’m hoping that in the end, the cost of “making our own” outweighs store-bought. The test will be whether or not Mr. Crumbs runs out to buy a jug of Breyer’s…
Safeway – $34.67
Remember that $3 coupon on my Safeway card? Well it can be used every day, so we went back to Safeway and bought all of our smaller random produce items there to save a little bit more. I also saw a personalized price of $1.99/lb of all natural, skinless, boneless chicken breast… OH YEAH BABY! I stocked up and bought three packages (all they had out) since this is HALF the price we normally pay.
Chicken breast – 36.78
Cucumbers x2 – 1.58
Zucchini – .79
Corn x6 – 1
Eggplant – .99
Yellow onions – 2.52
Yellow squash – .98
Celery – 2.97
Walnuts – 4.99
The chicken breasts definitely ate up a significant part of my budget, especially since I hadn’t planned on buying any at all this month. The upside is that we ended up with almost twice as much meat for the same price we’d pay at Costco (our go-to store when there’s not a sale). I had a personalized price on walnuts and just about everything else as well. Notice most of these items are produce…
Costco – $112.34
Still more produce and stocking up again on pantry staples. We were too early in the day for free samples this time. 
15lb oranges – 7.99
Lemons – 5.79
Canned pineapple – 9.79
Peanut butter – 11.99
Wheat thins – 6.79
Stacy’s Pita chips – 3.79 (these are FANTASTIC and an AMAZING price)
Fresh mozzarella cheese x2 – 13.98
Grape tomatoes – 4.99
Tortilla chips – 3.59
Sweet mini peppers – 3.59
Dried mango/cherries – 7.99
Pesto – 7.99
Craisins – 4.79 (another AMAZING price)
Great Deals: oranges, pita chips, craisins
Decent Deals: lemons, peanut butter, cheese, tomatoes, peppers, pesto, tortilla chips
Not So Great Deals: pineapple
I was not happy with the price of pineapple. It took us MONTHS to go through the last 8 cans… that was until we started smoothie-mania. If we keep adding this fruit to our smoothies, I’m going to have to find an alternate fruit. The wheat thins are a donation for church. The peanut butter and pesto will last us well beyond this month. The pita chips are almost gone (oops) but everything else should come close to getting us through the entire month. I’d REALLY like to get another package (or two) of Craisins since Costco as a $3 coupon in their circular, but I’m going to have to weigh my wants vs. needs first.
Dollar Tree – $3.10
Straws, frozen spinach, frozen broccoli and lemon juice. Short and sweet and saved me a trip to Target (where I’m almost certain I’d end up spending more… and probably not on things we needed).
Grocery Outlet – $24.72
I think I bought the biggest watermelon on the face of the earth this week.
Pretend you don’t see the dirty microwave. Isn’t that sucker huge?! I got sucked into other produce deals while there too:
Spinach – 1.99 (we’d already gone through the bag from TJ)
Pepitas x2– 5.98
Watermelon – 3.99
Green bell pepper x2 – 1
Mango x4 – 2
Blueberries – 4.99
Velveeta – 2.49 (must-have for the Girl’s birthday dinner!)
Cantaloupe – .99
Limeade – 1.29
Pineapple – 1.99
Great Deals: pepitas, watermelon, bell pepper, mango, cantaloupe, limeade
Decent Deals: spinach, blueberries, velveeta, pineapple
Not So Great Deals: none
I can’t skimp on the macaroni and cheese, but this block of processed goodness will last us a couple months since we don’t use much. We’re trying limeade as a frugal alternative to margarita mix (since one jug of that costs close to $5 at Target). Safeway was my go-to for pepitas at only $4.99/lb, but they aren’t carrying them anymore so GO wins with my next lowest price. Trader Joe’s has the best price on spinach and the next time I go I’ll pick up two packages there. The rest is produce, average priced in my opinion.
Safeway – $7.65
I made a super quick stop to exchange some produce and totally got sucked into the s’mores display. Seriously. I picked up the new produce to exchange, walked past the chocolate and marshmallows (with both kids diligently following behind me) and after picking up a package of hot dog buns (I know, not the best idea, but dinner dogs were switched to lunch dogs at the last minute) I immediately marched back to the display and gave the 6-pack of chocolate to the Girl and the marshmallows to the Boy while carrying the graham crackers myself. At least I used a tear-pad coupon for $1 off when I buy all three, right?
I’m such a sucker, lol.
Total – $236.67
Ok. So it’s not as bad as I originally thought. Here’s what I’m thinking. The produce we have on hand should get us through next week, including our smoothie mania. The “maybe” items I had on my list will simply have to wait until next month. Since we’re well stocked on meat, the only items we’d really need to replenish would be some dairy and more produce. If I can hold off on making those purchases until next weekend, I should be able to stay in the black. And if I can’t wait, I can drown my sorrows in s’mores!
How are you counting crumbs this week?
Have you compared to see if some produce is cheaper frozen in bulk? Berries especially can sometimes be bought in large frozen bags for smoothie making and baking purchases. You could also try homemade baked pita chips, but again, you’d have to see if it is actually cheaper. This is a big homemade ice cream time of year for us too.
In our region, fresh berries are cheaper right now than frozen. We’re paying around $1.20/lb, but I know that the large frozen bags in bulk aren’t much more. We’re taking advantage of the fresh for snacking and treats and such while we can, and then we’ll switch over to frozen when the season is over. I’ve haven’t tried homemade pita chips, but you’ve given me some great ideas to consider!
i would like to share a recipe that i use alot of,and i see that you purchase this item but it can be made and saves money also, buttermilk… buttermilk recipe: 1/4cup buttermilk,3 3/4cups milk, pour buttermilk in a glass quart jar then top off with your milk, screw on lid tightly and shake for 1 minute.place jar in a warm place (not in direct sun )for 12 to 24 hours until thickened . refrigerate when thick . use within 2 weeks always remember to save the 1/4 cup to make the next batch
i also make homemade chocolate syrup. I really love visiting your site it gives me lots of ideas of saving money, so i hope i have given you a little help in saving money also THANKS AGAIN FOR A WONDERFUL SITE
Thanks for sharing Nancy! So by combining a small amount of buttermilk to regular milk, it causes the entire batch to turn to buttermilk? I hadn’t heard of that before. Thanks for being a loyal reader, and thanks for giving me some ideas to consider on keeping my budget low!
I too suggest buying frozen fruit in bulk! Or with the canned pineapple, does costco have a bigger size? At sam’s they have a huge can, which I freeze in smaller containers in our freezer- much cheaper than buying the smaller cans. We keep fruit to a minimum for sugar reasons but it definitely is expensive! Also, fresh kale or fresh spinach (you can tear off the stem parts and its cheaper than baby spinach) can be frozen (raw, not cooked) and thrown into smoothies very easily- just in case you might not use up a bag before it goes bad.
You know, I never looked for one giant can of pineapple! Thank you for the tip on spinach – we can’t quite go through a big bag fast enough, so that would be ideal. With a second notion on the frozen bag, I’m gonna have to make it a point to look next time I’m at Costco!
If you have a Cost Less near you, they have boneless skinless chicken breast on sale this week for $1.48 per pound. I’ll be stocking up again next week after our budget resets. I don’t know waht part of California you’re in, but we have quite a few of these stores down here in the Central Valley.
Hi Carolyn! Nope, no Cost Less near us. We’re on the coast of Central Cali. I’d have chicken out of my ears for $1.48/lb!!
You could increase (I’m not encouraging this !!) your budget by a little bit if all the fresh produce is causing you to go over… Not ideal, but you’re better off eating healthy and spending a little bit more for good & healthy food, than “fake” food with poor nutrition.
It looks like most of the items on your list were great (healthy) choices. The only thing that looks suspicious is the wheat thins which you mentioned were for church, the chips, and chocolate syrup (which can last a long time)…
Why all the mozzarella cheese?
Thanks for the updates ! I love watching the grocery budget saga unfold !!!
Thanks Mary Katherine! Mr. Crumbs and I have talked about it, but I think we’re going to see how the month pans out first and see how far we can stretch our budget. The pita chips and chocolate syrup are definitely splurge items, but we only live once, right?
The cheese is for pizza night – 4 nights and two of them with company – and the fresh mozzarella is much better for you and better tasting. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if we end up needing more though Thanks for the encouragement and being a loyal reader!
I get super bummed out about my money sometimes. My BF is always there to point out the good things that are going on around us, though. Like the fantastic smoothies you’re consuming! Hang in there and enjoy, although I KNOW it’s harder than it sounds.
I think I’m my own worst enemy… gone are the days of free food with the Extreme Couponing and tightening of the reigns. Of course we’ve changed our diet as well – for the better – but you’re absolutely right about looking on the positive side. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the smoothies every morning and wouldn’t trade those for cheap cereal anyday!
I know what you mean – the sticker shock at the beginning of the month is almost always a killer! Buying produce seconds is the only thing that’s helped us with the obscene amount of produce we consume – or getting them free at the end of the day from local produce stands. Do you have any nearby where you could try that?
Ah, yes we do. We have a local farmers market every Sunday and another that’s about 7 miles away that’s open every day. I’m scoping out local today – they tend to be expensive, but perhaps they’ll have “second hand” bags available for less. I’ll look at the other one later in the week after we’ve eaten down what’s in the house a bit. Thanks for the suggestion! Maybe there’s a plug for my sinking ship afterall, lol.