Welcome back, dear readers! If you’ve been following our journey, you know we’ve just returned from a delightful three-week summer holiday. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and we found ourselves facing an empty pantry and an empty fridge We did have a full freezer, as I had ensured before we went away that we were well stocked with bread, at least. This determined mama is here to share how we embraced the challenge of restocking our essentials while keeping to our $100 Grocery budget.
Why have a $100 Grocery Budget?
If you have been reading my “Grocery Haul” posts, you will have gathered that I am VERY keen to stick to a weekly grocery budget of $100. In 2023, with interest rates increasing and inflation worsening, I am keener than ever to keep this up. Here’s why:
- Financial Discipline: A $100 grocery budget instills financial discipline, encouraging mindful spending and preventing unnecessary impulse purchases.
- Healthier Food Choices: A limited budget often leads to more conscious food choices, prioritizing essential and healthier items over indulgent or processed snacks.
- Reduced Food Waste: A constrained budget encourages meal planning and thoughtful consumption, minimizing the chances of food spoilage and reducing overall food waste.
- Creativity in Cooking: A limited budget sparks creativity in the kitchen, prompting the use of affordable and versatile ingredients to craft delicious and budget-friendly meals.
- Focus on Essentials: Having a $100 grocery budget ensures a focus on purchasing essential items, avoiding unnecessary splurges on non-essential or luxury items.
- Empowers Smart Shopping: A $100 budget encourages strategic and value-driven shopping, promoting the identification of sales, discounts, and bulk purchases for maximum savings.
- Encourages Meal Planning: A set budget encourages the practice of meal planning, helping to organize shopping lists, avoid last-minute purchases, and optimize resources.
- Adapting to Economic Changes: In times of economic uncertainty or inflation, a $100 grocery budget allows for better adaptation to changes in the cost of living while maintaining financial stability.
- Teaching Financial Responsibility: Having a budget, even for groceries, teaches valuable financial responsibility and budgeting skills, which can be applied to other aspects of life.
What Our $100 Grocery Budget Got Us:
No meat, cheese, or eggs were purchased this week, as we were desperately low on nappies and laundry powder, so funds were allocated to that. Our $100 Grocery Haul Breakdown was as follows:
Proteins:
- Yoghurt. We ate the last of our yoghurt supply before we went on holiday, so I needed to buy more yoghurt to start 2023’s supply.
- Milk (most of which will be turned into the aforementioned yoghurt).
- Red lentils. Such an inexpensive and nutrient-dense form of protein. One 500g packet will do 4 or 5 meals for our family. It is a staple in the $100/week food shop!
- No meat, cheese or eggs this week, as we needed to get nappies and laundry powder.
Carbohydrates:
- Carrots. Also a staple in the $100/week food shop. We actually never cook them, but eat them raw for snacks. Since fruit is so expensive, and carrots are still relatively cheap, this has become our main snack food.
- Flour. This white gold has increased SO much in price in the last few months, but even so, it is still a really inexpensive meal builder. $8 gives us 10 loaves of bread, which is about 3 weeks’ worth of lunches. I can’t sniff at that!
- Dates. Such an awesome sweetener for baking. I love making my Sourdough Date Loaf using these.
Fats:
- Coconut. I can wax lyrical about coconut. Naturally sweet, and so cheap, it can be substituted for flour in cookies, slices and cakes.
Non-Starchy Items:
- Tomato passata. I never like to be without this stuff, so I stocked up this week. If you get the tomato passata, there is no need to get tomato paste (as it reduces into a lovely, rich paste).
Other Essentials:
- Nappies: as I mentioned earlier, we were running low, so I had to get a fair amount for both boys. My eldest has just dropped his midday nap (now that he is three), and this has significantly reduced the number of nappies he needs. Praise the Lord! The other one still goes through a few, though!
- Laundry Powder: this is probably a quarterly cost, which is a good thing, since it takes up a tenth of the grocery shop! We had a LOT of washing to do when we got back home, so which is why I had to get onto the grocery shop straight away!
A Week’s Menu Under $100:
- Breakfasts: Oats with Honey and Yoghurt – because mornings should start with a smile.
- Lunches: Toast with Peanut Butter and Honey, Empanadas with Mexican Bean Mix – a flavor fiesta on a budget!
- Dinners: Fried Rice, Lentil Bolognaise on Rice – turning simple ingredients into family feasts.
- Snacks: Raw Carrots, and Date Caramel Slice – satisfying cravings without breaking the bank.
Long-Term Strategies for a $100 Grocery Budget:
- Prioritize Purchases: Prioritizing purchases involves considering the frequency of restocking essential items like cleaning supplies, flour, legumes, honey, oil, and margarine. By identifying big-cost items that need only monthly or even less frequent purchase, such as nappies, we optimize our budget.
- Capitalizing on Special Offers: Capitalizing on special offers for non-perishable items and bulk purchases helps extend the lifespan of pantry staples. Being strategic about when to buy items like flour, legumes, honey, oil, and margarine—waiting for them to come on special—ensures that we maintain quality while adhering to our budget.
- “Make Do” Mentality: Adopting a “Make Do” mentality involves ensuring a supply of versatile ingredients like rice, lentils, flour and tomato passata. This means that whatever happens, we are able to create nourishing meals even when specific items must be temporarily omitted due to budget constraints. It’s about creatively using what we have to meet our family’s dietary needs.
Interesting in Grocery Budgeting? Check out my other articles:
Conclusion
Our journey of thriving on a $100 grocery budget every week is not just about being frugal; it’s about infusing joy into every meal. The budget may be modest, but the smiles around our table are priceless. I love the challenge of making a little go a long way, and this $100 Grocery budget forces me to be creative, resourceful, and optimistic. As we continue navigating the twists and turns of grocery prices and economic waves, one thing remains constant – our commitment to spreading joy and nourishing our family’s hearts and bellies. Cheers to joyful grocery adventures!
