If you’re new here, I practice the Buy Ahead Principle — which means that what we buy each week is often for future weeks. We stock up on the best deals and markdowns each week and that means that we then have a variety of items from previous shopping trips to use to plan a menu from.
With the increase in grocery prices, I’ve decided to raise our grocery budget to $100 a week because I’ve not been having enough wiggle room to stock up like I’d want to. This amount will still challenge me to be creative while also giving me enough breathing room to stock up and continue to practice the Buy Ahead Principle.
In addition to practicing the Buy Ahead Principle, I Reverse Meal Plan. This means that I plan based upon what we have on hand plus what good sales/markdowns I found at the stores. (Read more about Reverse Meal-Planning here.)
{Follow me on Instagram stories for real-time videos on what I’m buying if you don’t want to have to wait for me to get the post written up for the blog!}
Here’s what I bought for $85 this week at Kroger…
I was excited about this sale on raspberries and blackberries.
Kellogg’s cereal was $1.79 + there is a $1/2 digital coupon on the Kellogg’s rewards site! Also, you can get a free book with free shipping for every Kellogg’s product you buy (up to 10 free books!)
Gala apples were on sale for $2.99 for a 3/lb bag. Eggs were $2.79/dozen — which, sadly, I now consider a good deal! Kroger sausage (links and patties) are $1.99 with the digital coupon (you can get up to 5 at this price).
The Kraft String Cheese is $2.79/package with the digital coupon (you can get up to 5 packages).
Apple juice is $1.29/bottle with the digital coupon (you can get up to 5 at that price).
We’ll either use the extra $15 left in the budget on a good deal that comes up or roll it to next week.
Our Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts —Pumpkin Bread, Cereal, Scrambled Eggs, Oatmeal, Baked Oatmeal
Lunches (the older kids have lunch at school) — Sliced Peppers, String cheese, Yogurt, Toast, Hard-Boiled Eggs, Fruit, Leftovers
Snacks — Popcorn, Fruit, String Cheese, Frozen Pizza, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Dinners
Thursday: Cereal (hey, just keeping it real — this was on Thursday night after I went shopping!)
Friday: Tailgating at the Football Game with friends (our friends provided meat and everyone else brought sides/drinks — we brought tater tots, green beans, and fruit, plus Waterloo for drinks)
Saturday: Chicken Barley Soup, Artisan Bread, Sliced Apples
Sunday: Dinner Out
Monday: Chicken Fried Rice, Homemade Rolls, Fruit
Tuesday: Snack-y Dinner at football game (PB&J sandwiches, String Cheese, Fruit, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins)
Wednesday: Waffles, Bacon, Fruit