I’m documenting what I’m buying each week and how much everything costs. This post covers the second 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.
As a recap, I spent $256.67 for the first 8 days of July. I made 2 shopping trips between July 9th and 13th: one to Ralph’s and one to our discount grocery store.
What We Bought
Ralphs ($138.57 Spent)
I’m annoyed, because a $9 off coupon should have applied, but it didn’t. I’m going to have to go into the store and see what can be done about it.
What we bought:
- Cheerios ($6.99, even with a $1.50 off coupon. What? I just can’t.)
- 4 Lays Potato Chips ($1.99 each after coupons)
- 2 Gluten Free Oreos ($3.99 each)
- Kroger frozen stir fry veggies ($2.99)
- Butter ($3.99)
- Chobani Yogurt ($6.49 after a $0.50 off coupon)
- Gluten Free soy sauce ($5.49)
- Bubly sparkling water (3 for $11, plus $1.20 CRV total)
- Sliced onions ($2.02)
- 3.21 pounds of green cabbage ($2.78)
- Veggie Tray ($5.07)
- Kroger tomato medley ($5)
- Kroger broccoli florets ($5)
- 5 pounds Kroger potatoes ($4.19)
- Kroger brussels sprouts ($3.49)
- 3 pounds of Kroger apples ($5)
- 2.35 pounds of cherries ($7.03 AFTER $9.45 in coupons – INSANITY)
- 4 gluten free rice crackers ($1.99 each)
- Gluten free bread ($5.49)
- Discounted 3 pound Chuck Roast ($9.34)
- Aloe Vera Gel ($9.49 – Mr. FF forgot to put sunscreen on his legs. ‘Twas not pretty.)
- Discounted Turkey Hot Links ($2.91)
- 2 Discounted Brats ($2.96 and $2.99)
- Pistachios ($1.99)
Thoughts: WTF. These prices are getting crazy. I spent $138.57, but that was after $49.30 in sales and coupons. Even after you take out the crap food (chips, crackers, cookies), it’s still $108. I can’t be the only one who thinks that is legit insane. And it’s only going to get worse with all of the kidnappings of farm workers and produce rotting in the fields.
Discount Grocery Store ($55.83 Spent)
- Hippeas ($5.99)
- Lucky Charms ($4.99)
- Kind Gluten Free Granola ($4.99)
- Nature’s Bakery snack ($0.99)
- Pamela’s Oat Cranberry Bars ($5.98 for both)
- Parchment Paper ($2.99)
- Cough Drops ($2.99)
- Gluten Free Tortillas ($10.58 for both)
- Gluten Free Bagels ($5.99)
- Brie ($2.99)
- Salami ($6.99)
I’d really love for our family to not have celiac.
Second Week of July Totals
I spent $194.40 for the second week of July. Add that to week one total of $256.67, that brings our first half of July total to $451.07. I don’t even feel like I got that much?!? I’m not alone, right? RIGHT?!?
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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