Tuesday, September 22, 2020
So, we have been empty nesters for a bit over a month. If you are new here I have twin boys who just started their freshman year of college. Just like we went from zero to two kids we also went from two kids to zero. Wah! It is still surreal that it all happened so fast!
During March through August I felt like I spent soooo much money at the grocery and I know I am not the only one that felt that way, right? I was doing so much more cooking than normal and we were eating almost all of our meals at home. My grocery bill was $1000-$1200 a month I think (I must admit I did not track it very well)! So, after we packed the boys up, I set a goal to only spend $500 a month with just the two of us here.
Here is how I did from August 15-September 15:
Kroger $170 – I really do not know what happened. It was my first time shopping in person instead of doing Kroger pick up. I found new products and I was buying some things for my first care package to drop off for the boys. Plus, I had run out of a lot of staple items or had put off buying things until after we got the boys situated.
Kroger $70 – the next week I just filled in and did not need as much
Trader Joe’s – $60
Kroger $140 but only paid $40 – had rewards checks – yippee!
Fresh Market $25 – just needed/wanted a few things
Kroger $90 – but had $41.10 in coupons (more rewards checks and a valuable coupon) – so only spent $48.90.
Kroger $25
Paul’s Fruit Market $20
Grand Total for first empty nest month = $458.90
I was really happy and proud! But, honestly, I think I should be able to spend even less once I figure out what we really need in a week. I have not done really well with meal planning because I am busy with school.
Shopping now: a little tiny can of beans. Womp, womp. So sad and small in my palm.
I have never seen my fridge so empty. It was a good time to clean it out. I am also still really working hard on less food waste. We did not need two gallons of milk. I had a coupon to get a free box of cereal with two gallon of milk purchase. Bad idea.
A couple of meals we have eaten lately:
tortilla soup with little grilled ham and cheese on sourdough
oven baked cajun tilapia, corn, asparagus, half a baked potato.
Strawberry salad – grilled chicken, spinach, goat cheese, strawberries, sunflower seeds
I am hoping to do more soups soon.
What have you been eating lately?
Do you think your grocery bill went up during the pandemic?
Thanks for reading!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I bet it’s so different shopping for two. Great job staying under budget! I spend about $150 a week + probably $100 at Trader Joe’s at some point in the month. I had a $15 off coupon for $150 the other day. I love those 🙂
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It really is! By the time I get used to it they will be home for semester break. I love coupons if I can remember to use them! The rewards checks from our Kroger credit card are the best! We get about $80 every four months.
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The prices have all seemed to go up and with the boys home we are already spending more. It is also driving me crazy that things are sold out so quickly and a few things I can’t find. When the boys leave I’ll have to adjust to shopping for 2 all over again!
xo,
Kellyann
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When do your boys move? I guess you are saving money/they are saving on housing? I agree! Prices have gone up and certain stock is low or out!
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Your grocery bill must have declined enormously without two hungry teenage boys at home! My biggest difference without 19-year-old is that we have a lot of milk in the fridge and no glasses in the dishwasher…!
Today we’re having tacos, yesterday we had thin sliced beef with potato gratin (German for you I guess?) and bearnaise. In cabin we grill a lot: hot dogs, burgers, pork chops… Now I’m hungry!
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My boys are not huge eaters. They are pretty skinny. They are big snackers like my hub, though. Awww – your big girls likes her milk! Sounds like a good week of meals for you! Germans love their potatoes and so do I!
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Since we’ve always eaten all 3 meals at home I don’t feel like what we were buying changed drastically but our bill did as prices around here skyrocketed! All of a sudden though these past few weeks we’ve noticed that we are going through a lot more food… I can’t even make it a full week with our groceries anymore. I don’t know if they’ve all got a growth spurt going on or what but I was just remarking that our fridge is really empty and we just did groceries on Thursday!
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I wonder how much your bill went up? I am interested in things like that! Your boys may be growing or maybe we eat more as the weather cools? I feel that way, too. My fridge is already empty from my Sunday trip!
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