I’m documenting what I’m buying each week and how much everything costs. This post covers the first week of July. I’m going to switch over to tracking monthly, with weekly check-ins.
My 2025 Shopping Rules
I went into detail on what my new shopping rules will be in this post and this post, but in short, my initial goal was to keep purchases for food and household goods to $190 per week with 2 caveats. Then it was to keep purchases for food to $190 per week. I totally blew that budget in June. If I blow the budget again in July, I guess I’ll have to adjust it upwards again? I’ll have to check and see where we are in terms of the USDA food spending guide.
The caveats: We make most of our meat and seafood purchases from Butcher Box throughout the year. We also make sporadic larger bulk purchases from Azure Standard to save money over what we can buy in the grocery store. I currently contribute $350 per month in a separate fund for these purchases.
With all of that out of the way, here’s what we bought this week.
What We Bought
Costco ($214.00 Spent)
This week I bought my groceries from Costco. I also had a secret shopping mission in Costco, for which I’ll be paid $10. I did not offset my purchases by this $10.
I totally spaced out on taking pictures, so I don’t have any. But, I do have the receipt, so here’s everything we got with prices.
What we bought:
- Waterloo Sparkling Water ($7.49 p.us $1.20 CRV)
- 3 Celsius Energy Drinks ($17.99 plus $0.90 CRV each)
- 1 Alani Nu Energy Drinks ($22.59 plus $0.90)
- Kirkland Organic Lactose Free Milk – 3 half gallons ($12.79)
- Watermelon ($5.89)
- Half Gallon of Half & Half ($4.64)
- 5 pounds of organic yellow onions ($4.99)
- 2 pounds of organic broccoli ($4.99)
- Asparagus ($6.69)
- 1.5 pounds of mini cucumbers ($5.99)
- Bananas ($1.49)
- Blackberries ($3.99)
- Raspberries ($3.99)
- Sliced Cheese ($7.49)
- 6 pack of romaine lettuce ($4.46)
- Strawberry goat cheese ($6.79)
- A huge thing of cottage cheese – 3 pounds? ($5.29)
- 32 ounces of Kirkland Greek Yogurt ($6.99)
- 6 pack of avocados ($8.59)
- Antipasti ($12.99)
- Donut Peaches (12 pack) ($6.99)
Thoughts: I spent $80 on energy drinks for my (young adult) kids. These should last for about 5 weeks. They are each limited to 1 per day. Yes, I know they’re awful. No, I don’t like them, nor do I have to buy them. I’m trying really hard not to let the squeeze impact my kids.
The sparkling water is primarily for me, although everyone drinks them. These will be the first things to go if necessary.
Secret Shopping ($11.69 Spent)
I had another secret shopping trip where I got a bottle of wine for free. I also picked up some gluten free hamburger buns for grilling out on the 4th. So, this is for the buns. $11.69 for 8 gluten free hamburger buns. F*cking nuts. I will also be paid $5 for the time it took me to conduct the shop (10 minutes in the store, 5 minutes writing and submitting the report). I did not count this $5 anywhere.
My Local Discount Grocery Store ($5.98 spent)
We got 2 boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios for my son.
Secret Shopping ($0 spent)
I had another Secret Shopping gig, so Miss FF and I went to a bakery and got 3 gluten free cupcakes and a gluten free peanut butter cookie sandwich. They were absolutely delicious. With a small tip, the total was $25, which will be fully reimbursed.
Coffee Treats ($25 spent)
We took advantage of some 4th of July deals at a local coffee shop. We were able to get coffees twice.
First Week of July Totals
I spent $256.67 for the first 8 days of July, including a holiday (which we honestly didn’t feel like celebrating given what is happening here). So we just grilled burgers for ourselves, got a couple of treats, and spent quality time as a family at the beach.
What’s your grocery strategy right now? Are you cutting back, swapping brands, or just crying in the produce aisle? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear how you’re surviving this mess!
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Frugal Forward 
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