More real grocery bills

Well, on a good note, I haven't really been to the grocery store since the beginning of the month! That's probably more because of lack of time as opposed to any real will power.  I have three 'bills' today - one is for Easter, which was a very low key affair at our house this year, one is for a last-class party and the munchies for that, and the last one is the real grocery bill. So I guess I have been to the store, but not for grocery shopping - and I LOVE grocery shopping, so this is a good thing! To be honest though, I did go out for lunch twice last week, after months of good behaviour and packing my lunch. One day was soup from the local awesome soup place, called Spoon Lickins, and the other was a slice of deep dish Hawaiian pizza from the local awesome pizza place called Vinnie's. Both cost less than $5.00, but that's about $9.50 added to my food bill this month.

I spent $44 on Easter candy for my three kids and I. No toys, no bikes, no new wardrobes -- Mr. Bunny is trying to support sustainable holidays and support the very poor people in the world. At least that's what he told me, and I told my kids. I had $50 budgeted for Easter, and I stuck to it. 

My after class party was $14 worth of goodies, and that was too much, really. I just wanted to make sure I got at least one tart of each kind, so I had to buy two packages. My prof's husband made us a chocolate cheesecake though, so the tarts weren't actually needed. I've frozen them and I'll pull them out next time I need some sort of treat somewhere. 

The grocery bill came to $52, and there was some stocking up in there as well. I'll have to figure out what exactly I've come into this challenge with - I've said it before, but I have a very well stocked pantry and freezer. When I separated from my husband I had this media-induced fear of going hungry and I think I've pretty well succeeded in making sure that won't happen!! But I'll save that for another post. $52 for groceries is the important point to remember.

Grocery Bill:

Total: $52

2 hams (bone-in you-gotta-cook-em hams) 99 cents/lb, and $8.00 each
4 cake mixes at 99 cents each
Junk - 4 cans icing at 99 cents each (just a note on these - I have about 4 pounds of icing sugar at home, and I use that to ice my cupcakes and cakes -- we just eat this icing from the can. It's SSOOOO yummy)
Junk - Eggo Waffles (16pk) - $2.99
2 cans of tuna - 99 cents each
Junk - chips - $3.29
Junk - dip - $1.67 (at least it was on sale)
Grapes - 99 cents/lb, just shy of $3.00
Whipping Cream, 1/2 litre -- $1.99
Sesame sticks (3 packs together) - 99 cents
Eggs - $1.99 dozen
Milk - $3.99
Cream cheese (on sale) - $1.67
Perogies - $2.99
English Muffins (12pk) - $2.50

Total of the junk I bought: $11.95
Total minus the junk: $40.05 (if I had to streamline, then I could cut out the junk food for this total)

I put the waffles as junk because I usually make my own waffles, but once in a while I just crave an Eggo waffle! If it's a craving, then it's generally not something I need.

Next post I guess I'll have to figure out what exactly I have stocked around.