2 wks of groceries for 12...then

I made this webpage in 2001 after being asked how I spent under $500/mo to feed my family. I decided to record and keep track of how much I spent and how many meals I could get out of it. I'm hoping to redo this with today's prices and food amounts. Afterall my kids are a LOT bigger now. lol Our financial situation has eased up a bit since this time so I know I buy and spend more.

Link to the shopping trip that started this foodblog. Sept '04 34 meals for under $500.

I visited 3 stores and spents $198.16 all together. This is more then I usually have ($150), but my dh had some overtime. I splurged in a few places. I get some of my things from my stocked pantry. I stock it with sales and extra income (OT or income tax return). This is a winter menu for a family of 12. In the summer we tend to eat out of our garden a lot so it's even cheaper.

* notes prices that I know have increased

Here's the breakdown....click on each name to jump to that store


$102.53 ~ Save-A-Lot
50.38 ~ Wegmans
46.05 ~ Price Chopper

Here's what I bought.... Click here to jump to my menu


Price Chopper
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4 Betty Crocker Brownie Mix $1.69ea...B1G1
9 P&R Elbows and Thin spaghetti...3/$.99
*12 Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes or Puree...2/$1
2 Sunluck Beef Broccoli Seasoning Pkts...$.69ea
4 Quaker Maid Sandwich Steaks...$3.99/12oz pk...B1G1F (substitute for the roast they were out of)
*3.5lbs Boneless skinless Chicken Breasts...$1.59lb
3 Price Chopper Sour Cream...$.88/pint
2 3# bags of Apples...$.1.99 ea (one bag is for Jake's class snack)
2 cucumbers...$.69ea
1.8lbs Green Peppers....$.69lb
8lb bag of Oranges...$4.99
2 rounds rye bread...$1.99ea...B1G1F
1 Deli pk of Chicken Wings...$2.40 (ate in the car LOL


Wegmans
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*2 Half gallon cartons of Wegman's OJ....$.99ea
3 Half gallon jugs of Wegman's Apple Juice...$.99ea
2 2lt Wegman's Soda...$.50ea....$.05 bottle deposit ea
3 bottles Sparkling grape juice...$1.59ea
2 Gallons of 2% milk...$1.89ea
*3 Wegman's Margarine...$.29ea
*16 8oz containers Crowley Yogurt...4/$1
1 12oz pkg Wonton Skins....$1.69
2 cans Bumble Bee crab meat....$1.99ea
1 jar Hormel Dried Beef...$2.50
*1 20pk Wegmans toilet tissue..$8.99
1 box Kleenex Tissues...$.99
2 1lb bag Wegman's Chips...2/$3
*3 1lb pkgs Salad Mix...$.79ea
*2 1lb pkgs Babycut carrots...$.79ea
*2 small celery...2/$1
*2 pkgs grape tomatoes (kids ATE one!)
*1 12oz pkg Mushrooms...$.99


Save-A-Lot
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3 1lb bags Broccoli spears....$.89ea
4 1lb bags Broccoli cuts....$.79ea
*3 lb margarine....$.39ea
*5 lbs ground beef...$.99lb
*2 3# pkgs frozen ground beef...$1.19lb (out of $.99/lb chubs)
*5 Hotdog...$.59ea
17lb Frozen Turkey...$.79/lb
1 Blister pk Pepperoni...$.99
3 boxes fish sticks...40ct...$2.49ea
3 Frozen OJ..$.79ea
2 Vegetable Oil...$1.29ea
1 Canola cooking spray...$1.19
1 BBQ sauce...$1.19
1 sweet relish...$.99
2 Ketchup...$.99ea
1 Brown mustard...$.69
2 Mayo...$.99ea
4 Cream of mushroom soup...$.49ea
2 Gummi Worms...$.79ea
1 Bag blowpop suckers...$.99
1 Jar Hot pepper rings...$1.19
*4 Black Olives....$.79ea
*6 5# bag Flour...$.89ea
3 Stuffing Mix...$.69ea
1 Coffee creamer..$.99
*2 snack crackers...$.99ea
*2 oyster crackers...$.59ea
1 Bag cheese puffs...$.99
1 Bag Corn chips...$.99
*1 Box Gallon zipper bags...$.89
*3 White Bread....3/$1.69
*2 30ct Med Eggs...$1.29ea
*2 5# bag French Fries...$1.99ea
*1 Hash Brown...$1.99
1 Bag Hushpuppies...$.99
*2 Bags mini marshmellows...$.59ea
4.8lbs Bananas...$1.60
*1 bag Lemons...$1.29
1 Head of cabbage...$1.11
1 Bag of Sauerkraut...$.99


MENU ~ back to top

Beef Broccoli Stir Fry (2 boxes QM steak sandwiches, broccoli, 1/2 pk mushroom, gr pepper, carrots(from freezer))
Chinese Noodles

Beef and Gravy served with potatoes and rolls (2 boxes QM steadk sandwiches)

Meatball Sandwiches served on rolls (sauce from pantry), with Salad mix and Corn(pantry)

Spaghetti and meatballs, rolls (sauce from pantry)

Sloppy Joes served on rolls, Salad mix and Green beans(pantry)

Chili served with cornbread

Taco Bake with rice (Burger, salsa(freezer), corn, gr peppers, tomato puree)

Hot Dogs with Sauerkraut, Sweet Peas and potatoes (both pantry)

Hot Dogs with French fries and Corn(pantry)

Hot Dogs and beans (pantry), cornbread

Fish sticks sandwiches with French fries and Green beans(pantry)

Fish stick sandwiches with French Fries and salad

Sweet and Sour Chicken (broccoli, gr pepper, carrots, 1/2 pk mushroom, can pineapple(pantry)
served with chinese noodles

Scrambled Eggs (leftovers added) served with toast, hash browns

Pizza ~ Pepperoni and Garlic (already had cheese in frig), Pasta salad

Pizza ~ Cheese and Garlic , salad mix

Turkey served with Sweet Potatoes (pantry), stuffing, olives

Turkey Sandwiches, served with Corn, Potatoes (boxed pantry)

Turkey and Gravy with rice or potatoes served with rolls

Turkey soup with leftovers (mixed veggies from pantry and leftovers from fridge)

Broccoli soup served with homemade garlic rolls

Tomato soup served with homemade parm rolls.

Scalloped potato (boxed from pantry and mushroom soup) soup served with bread

Alfredo crab noodles (parm cheese from pantry) served with garlic bread and peas (pantry)

Tuna Noodle Casserole (tuna and peas from pantry)

Rye bread rounds with dip (sour cream and dried beef) served with french fries and baby carrots and sparkling grape juice...party dinner

Wonton wrappers for...crab ragoon and mini egg rolls



Breakfasts consist of...Oatmeal, homemade granola, waffles, pancakes, quick bread, toast, yogurt, fruit

Lunch is... some meals above, PBJ, tuna mac salad, boxed mac and cheese, leftovers, soup from pantry

Snacks...brownies, cookies, cakes, fruit, quick bread, candy, chips, popcorn, baby carrots and dip

Drinks....water, OJ, Apple juice, milk, soda, coffee, tea, koolaid

Need to buy before 2wks is up...milk, juice, fresh fruit and veggies