First shopping trip!

This is what $55 worth of groceries look like!

Everyone has a Costco* card right? Or at least a friend that does? Costco is a great place for someone on a budget, within reason. This means that it’s fairly unreasonable to think that I can eat 48 packs of Top Ramen even if it only costs like, $8. So let’s avoid that.

What is a steal though is the whole chicken at $1.19 a pound. The convenient part of this is that I don’t have to wait around for a local grocery store to have a sale (but let’s be real, when a whole chicken is <$1/lb, buy buy buy!). Additionally drumsticks, thighs, breasts, etc. tend to cost more (especially the boneless, skinless variety) because you are paying for the labor that goes into butchering the chicken. Convenient yes but nice on a budget no. Whole chickens cost less because mostly it just involves bagging the chicken and selling it.

• ·         Two whole chickens at $1.19/lb for $13.04, or about 11 pounds of chicken.

Next I went to Berkeley Bowl (http://www.berkeleybowl.com/) which is a local chain that specializes in local and/or organic foods. The produce at Berkeley Bowl is exceptionally inexpensive however meat and pre-packaged goods tend to be overpriced. I’m planning on going produce heavy in part because of this (and because it's healthy!)

Produce:

• ·         Two grapefruit @ $.49 each=$.98
• ·         1.72 lbs of Valencia oranges@ $0.69/lb=$1.19
• ·         Bargain produce (zucchini, small eggplants, squash) for $1.39
• ·         Bargain pineapple for $1.39
• ·         1.47 lbs of Fuji apples at $.89/lb=$1.31
• ·         2.8 lbs of bananas @ $0.69/lb= $1.93
• ·         0.4 lbs of spinach @ $4.50= $1.80
• ·         0.71 lbs of brown mushrooms @ $2.39/lb= $1.70
• ·         A head of green leaf lettuce= $0.39
• ·         0.95 lbs of Roma tomatoes @ $1.29/lb= $1.23
• ·         0.2 lbs of white garlic at $2.39/lb= $0.48
• ·         1.21 lbs of yellow onions @$0.49/lb= $0.59
• ·         1 lb of carrots for $0.59
• ·         5 lbs of russet potatoes =$1.09

Protein

• ·         0.495 lbs of regular ground beef at $4.19/lb= @2.07
• ·         2 dozen eggs at $2.79/dozen= $5.58

Dairy

• ·         0.5 lbs of cream cheese=$2.62
• ·         Skim milk mozzarella=$2.84
• ·         ½ gallon of 1% milk= $2.39

Other

• ·         Pot sticker skins=$1.99
• ·         0.71 lbs of polenta @ $1.69/lb= $1.20
• ·         0.02 lbs Italian seasoning @ $8/lb=$0.16
• ·         0.01 lbs of New Mexico chili powder @$8/lb=$0.08
• ·         Bisquick baking mix (40 oz)= $4.29
• This item may stick out a little bit but I think that it'll make sense once the recipes start popping up. I call this a "staple" or "main character" item. At least for this week.
• ·         Cream of Mushroom Soup= $1.69
• ·         Tomato sauce= $0.99

Total: $55(exactly, no rounding occurred! Kind of amazing, right?)

*Names of places/brands are only used for reference points. The owners of such brand names retain all right, title, and interest in and to their respective brands. No manufacturers or brand name owners have endorsed this blog or any recipe unless otherwise noted. 

** I also bought more oil to replenish my supply but I'm not including everyday staples like oil, salt, pepper, water in my cooking budget