Week Four was a little difficult, with a combination of factors contributing to a bit of a relapse. I also visited the Farmer’s Market and specialty stores.
Food purchases for June 22-28:
This week, I visited two different Farmer’s Markets in search of deals and locally grown produce. Here is what I found:
Bread ($5): Freshly baked by local bakers, this was a present for James.
Basil plant ($4): Showcased in Dried Herbs vs. Fresh Herbs. The amount of basil on the plant is the equivalent of two $1.99 packages from the grocery store, but every time I buy basil it goes bad before I can use it. The perfect solution is to invest in a plant that (hopefully) will stay alive long enough to use the basil.
Peaches ($3): This year, the stands at the Farmer’s Market have started marking where the produce was grown. The peaches, for example, were from Georgia. Michigan farmers will have more produce to sell in July and August.
Cherries ($3): From California, just like the grocery store.
Zucchini ($2): Five for $2 is a pretty good deal, and the farmer said his zucchini will be ready to cut next week. Hopefully, that means buying local for the rest of the summer (because you cannot have summer without zucchini).
Above: Zucchini from the Farmer’s Market, waiting patiently to become part of a delicious dish.
After my first stop to the Farmer’s Market, my second stop was the Fresh Market. The Fresh Market is one of my favorite stores, even though I do not shop there regularly. It is always great for picking up inexpensive spices and pantry staples.
Sea salt ($0.95): The Fresh Market has the best selection of spices for the cheapest prices. While salt is generally inexpensive, the other spices are sold for about the same amount.
Tri-color orzo ($4.99):On sale from $6.99, a combination of plain, sun-dried tomato, and spinach flavors. Speaking of tri-color…
Tri-color couscous ($6.49):One of my favorite products, I needed to restock. The price seems extravagant, but for over 5 cups of dried couscous, it is not a bad deal.
Another great find this week came from a surprising place. While visiting a discount store out of town, I discovered one of my favorite products (on sale!):
Smoked paprika ($2.99): One sale from $4, this smoked paprika is imported from Spain and is twice the size of a grocery store container sold for the sale price.
Most of my other grocery shopping was for normal items, with a few good deals:
Olive oil ($8.61): High quality extra-virgin olive oil on sale from $11.49.
Lipton tea ($2.39): Two packages, both $2.39 marked down from $2.99, of cold brew iced tea (one box of single size tea bags and one box of pitcher sized tea bags).
Above: A refreshing glass of orange pekoe iced tea from Lipton, perfect for hot summer days.
Total grocery bill: $82.47
Higher than usual, which leads me to wonder about price comparison from the farmer’s markets versus the grocery store. There were also some “gourmet” purchases from the specialty stores. My non-coupon savings, however, was $14.13. At least I was saving money somewhere.
On-the-Go Food Purchases: $61.91
Bombay Cuisine ($52.26): A special occasion dinner at an Indian cuisine restaurant (paid for both James and myself). This was three course with appetizer, main dishes, and dessert.
The rest of the food purchases were mostly at coffee shops, and once again I have a feeling I am missing receipts and this total should be higher. The purchases I made out of town are not included, because they will be reimbursed by my employer. Here are the totals for 28 days:
Four week food total: $323.74
Average daily total: $11.56
Unfortunately, my average daily total has exceeded my $10 goal. I am hopeful, however, that given another week I can bring that average back down. The project was set to end on June 30, but I am finishing out the week at least through July 4. I still have recipes and “lessons” to post as well, so hopefully I can bring the daily average back down under $10.
Above: Pork chops, on sale for a bargain of $2.19 for 3, with Spicy Paprika Rub.
Food Waste: Minimal
Not much to report here, most of my grocery shopping was later in the week. The only casualties were a package of ground chicken with freezer burn that was over 3 months old and a cucumber that tasted funny despite being purchased this week.
For next week: Continue the project until the July 4th weekend, in hopes of bringing down the daily average below $10, less eating out and more cooking with items already in the pantry or refrigerator. My grocery shopping schedule is a bit off, so I may not need to purchase much next week as I finish up things bought late this week. I will attempt to go “back to basics” and drastically cut my spending for the next few days.
