Kristen B’s Kroger Trip 1/15/20

Last week, I asked if you ever just let yourself go nuts in the grocery store.

As of this trip, my answer is YES.

Welcome back to my great grocery experiment, where I try and determine what this year’s grocery budget will be based on the money I spend every week in January.

Last week, I was so stressed out. Buying things full price was sending me into a savings shame spiral. This week I had one goal: let the stress go.

It was surprisingly easy to stop second guessing myself. I simply paid no attention to prices and sang songs to the Teacup, while leisurely tossing things in the cart. Can you guess where this is going?

You guys, I spent so much money. Like, I almost gagged when the cashier told me how much. If I had been drinking a beverage, I would have done a spit take.

We’re not going to beat around the bush here. No cute stories and big reveal. I spent $134.37.

$134.37. One hundred thirty four dollars and thirty seven cents.

I did a little research and turns out this is the most I have spent in a single grocery trip since we started this series almost three years ago. So…congratulations to me?

(Side note, holler at me if you’ve been around since the days when my grocery budget was $60. $60!!!! I couldn’t believe it when I read it. Were we ever that innocent?)

What did I spend all this money on? At first glance it looks like a normal trip. Some cereal here, some canned tomatoes there. Sure, okay, I got some pricey spices. And yes, I got the organic lunchables because my child has been harassing me about lunchables and all the cool kids in her Kindergarten class eat lunchables. (Side note, lunchables are kind of a racket, no? It’s just lunch. But small.)

I got some chicken, nbd. I got some turkey, which, slightly big deal but it comes out to $3 a pound, so I’m not losing sleep over it. And yes, I did get a variety of cheeses because if there was ever any time to get all the cheeses, the time is when there is no budget. Look at these beauties. I will not apologize for the cheese!

Let’s just dive in, because I’m dying to see how the bill actually got this high. I’ll give some commentary along the way.

• Avocados (2)-$1.98.
• Bananas, 2 lb-$1.18.
• Blueberries, pint (2)-$5.
• Blue Cheese-$4.20.
• Clementines, 3lb-$3.99.
• Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 9 lb-$17.91.
• Honey Bunches of Oats (2)-$3.989. B6S3, though I have to say, they were not as well priced as last week’s B6S3, which was $1.49.
• Kroger Cream Cheese (2)-$1.79.
• Kroger Ground Turkey, 3lb-$8.99.
• McCormack Organic Chili Pepper (3)-$13.18. So, yes, this is pricey. BUT! It comes down to $4.30 each, which is HALF of the normal price for one ($8.59) so I had to take advantage of this deal.
• Monterey Jack-$4.61.
• Parrano Gouda-$5.04.
• Parmasean Reggiano-$3.60.
• Private Selection Ice Cream, .5 gal-$3.99.
• Private Selection Pepperoni, .5 lb-$4.27. Okay, so this is a confusing issue. The last few weeks, I have been ordering Boar’s Head Pepperoni, but it says Private Selection on my receipt. Is this merely a tag error or am I getting the wrong pepperoni? Not that this necessarily affects my budget this trip, it’s just another mystery to add to the list of grocery mysteries. “Grocery Mysteries” sounds like show on Hallmark and I would watch the stuffing out of it.
• Private Selection Sourdough Rolls-$1.99.
• Private Selection Wildflower Turkey, .5 lb-$3.97.
• Private Selection Wheat Bread-$1.99.
• Red Gold Canned Tomato (7)-$3.43. $.49 a piece with B6S3.
• Red Leaf Lettuce, .54 lb-$.91.
• Silk Almond Milk (2)-$3.98. B6S3!
• Simple Truth Baby Food Packets (8)-$8.
• Simple Truth Lunch Kits (3)-$7.47. Okay, I got these because I was like, “Tra la la la, I have a Digital Coupon for $.50 that I can use up to five times, so I’ll let her try them. They came down to $2.49 a piece. Total racket. For $7.47 I can buy her the turkey, the teddy grahams and the cheese…just like I have been doing! Seriously you guys, her lunch is already a lunchable. With better potions and more reusable containers.  I’ve been CONNED. By my own child.
• Simple Truth Organic Pasta (4)-$3.16. Only $.79 each with a *Digital Coupon*.
• Simple Truth Genoa Snacks (2)-$2.78. This one was a waaaaaste of money. The Glass Slipper has been beginning for them, they were on Manager’s Special, and I was feeling footloose and budget free, so why not? I’ll tell you why not. She took one bite, didn’t like them, and then pawned the cheese parts off on the Teacup, who has like 3 teeth so wasn’t into it at all.
• Starbucks Coffee-$5.99.
• Strawberries, 3lb-$5.
• Sweet Onions, 1.54 lb-$1.99.
• Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, Ibotta ($.10 Off Any Item, $25 Off Honey Bunches of Oats 5x), CoinOut

                                      Total Budget: 1 Million Dollars

                                      Total Spent: $134.37

                                      Total Saved: $33.19

                                      Week 1 Total: $105. 42

                                      Week 2 Total: $93.33.

                                     Current Average: $120.69

It makes sense where all the money went. It’s not so much that I got high quantities as much as I got a wide variety of items. Okay, but for real, I need to check myself before I wreck myself. There is no way Mr. B will let us do $120 a week. As much as it pains me to say, maybe less cheese next week.

Good thing we’ve still got two weeks left of the experiment! What’s the most you’ve ever spent in one grocery trip? Tell me down below!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!