Week 3 of the grocery budget adventure

So here we are in week three, and my grocery total for the week was... $50!!!

I feel good about that number, and even more so when I know that two of my six meals are enough for a second meal for later.

Here's the menu this week:
- Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, salad
- Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, salad
- chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese
- hamburgers, fresh fruit, french fries
- chicken bruschetta, broccoli, and...
- shrimp oreganato, rice

Desserts this week- fudge brownies and shortbread cookies

On the positive side of things, I feel good being able to feed my family on a budget. We are eating really good food :), and I am not left hungry. Many meals are enough for two rounds, so I know my grocery budget will go even better next month. Also, and maybe most importantly for me, I am able to save money. I know that this will leave extra money for other things (maybe even some "wants" rather than "needs") and I just feel better knowing I am not throwing my money away every month on food.

So here are some things that are frustrating me:
#1- I keep forgetting items on the grocery list! I make this list, and most of the time it is 100% correct. Every once in awhile though, I forget an ingredient. Luckily the store run is easy as I know the one item I need, but it does waste gas and time when I do this. Other times, like today, I knew I needed a roma tomato, but waited until Aldis. Guess who did not carry roma tomatoes this week? Aldis. I had to run into Target for one item (scary!) and it ended up costing me $0.32.

#2- I am still learning what Aldis has and their prices, so sometimes I end up spending more by buying an item somewhere else because I think it may be cheaper there or I go there first and want to buy it in case Aldis does not have it. I think this will get better with time, but for now it kind of stinks. Today, for example, I saw Ritz crackers were on sale for $2.50 at Wal-mart, so I bought them. I go to Aldis, and there they are for $1.79. I know it doesn't seem like much, but when you are budgeting every penny counts- that is the point of budgeting! There are a few other items this has happened to me with- Gala Apples, bread, cheese... but I am hoping this will only be the case for a little longer until I get the hang of things.

#3- The prices of food going up effects Aldis too :(... Today, the milk was $2.19. The past two weeks, I have gotten milk for $1.99 at Aldis. I hope it is only temporary, but something tells me it is not.

Well, that is all for this week- next week will be first full month (four weeks) of menu planning.