$300 Grocery Experiment: week 1 financial

 If you're just tuning in, check out this post explaining the experiment and this post sharing my plans for this week.

This week has been challenging. When I first came up with the idea to do this series with a $75 budget, I thought it would be a piece of cake, but I forgot to consider how expensive getting a pantry started is. What I really hope to show through this series is how quickly a bit of sacrifice can turn in to a way to constantly save money.

Here's the break down of this week's budget:

Basic pantry staples: $18.35

• sugar (4 lb) $1.49 @ Aldi
• baking soda $.49 @ Aldi
• baking powder $.99 @ Aldi
• salt $.39 @ Aldi
• cinnamon $.99 @ Aldi
• nutmeg $1.69 @ Aldi
• cumin $.99 @ Aldi
• chili powder $.99 @ Aldi
• rice (3lb) $1.49 @ Aldi
• flour (5lb) $ 1.29 @ Aldi
• oatmeal (16oz) $1.59 @ Kroger
• yeast (active dry 3 pk) $.99 @ Kroger
• bouillon $1.69 @ Aldi
• oil $2.29 @ Aldi
• brown sugar $.99 @ Aldi

These are items that I don't like to be without. I have a small stash of all but the spices and continually replenish as needed. For the purposes of this experiment, I calculated the yeast and bouillon from different packages than I typically buy, due to store and price restrictions. I usually buy a higher quality bouillon from Kroger, but I've used the Aldi stuff in the past and the taste is fine. I also buy 2 or more pounds of yeast at a time from GFS and store it in my freezer. One package will last me a year or more and it costs less than $5 dollars.

Other items I usually to keep on hand: $28.01

• 16oz peanut butter $1.69 @ Aldi
• 2 9oz boxes off-brand cheerios $.99 each @ Aldi (special sale price)
• tomato sauce $.25@ Aldi
• dozen eggs $1.59 @ Aldi
• 3 lb bag onions $.99 @ Aldi
• frozen ravioli $2.99
• real bacon bits $1.49 @ Aldi
• cream cheese $.99 @ Aldi
• canned pumpkin $.89 @ Aldi
• 20 oz raisins $2.89 @ Aldi
• natural strawberry jam $2.59 @ Kroger
• butter (1lb) $3.79 @ Aldi
• canned tomatoes $.50 @ Kroger
• 3 cans beans $.50 each @ Kroger
• spaghetti noodles $.89 @ Aldi
• pasta sauce $.99 @ Aldi
• 12 oz frozen peas and carrots $1 @ Kroger
• 12 oz frozen peas $1 @ Kroger

I rarely pay this much for butter. I stock up when it's on sale and put it in my freezer. However, all of the canned goods prices are at stock-up prices.

What I would have purchased had this been a normal week: $25.86

• 2 gal milk $2.79 each @ Aldi
• 2 3lb bags apples $2.49 each @ Aldi
• 3.99lb bananas $.55/lb @ Kroger
• celery $1.25 @ Kroger
• 2 lb grapes $1.98 @ Aldi
• pineapple $1 @ Kroger
• bag mini sweet peppers $4.99 @ Kroger
• 1 lb carrots $.79 @ Kroger
• 1 bunch green onions $.49 @ Kroger
• 10 lb bag potatoes $1.99 @ Aldi
• 1 tomato on the vine $.62 @ Kroger

These are the items I either need to buy every week or don't buy unless I need them. I lucked out on the milk prices, since they've regularly been over $3 recently. The mini bag of peppers should last beyond this week unless Wyatt really gets to snacking on them, so even though $5 is a little ridiculous for peppers, they'll last longer than buying single peppers at $1.50 each.

What I couldn't get this week:
 I have to make a few adjustments to my recipes this week. My fried rice will need to be made without soy sauce, my enchilada will skip the olives and be made with a very basic homemade enchilada sauce.

How I made a few things work:
I chose the spices this week for their ability to go in multiple recipes. Each on will be used mulitple times this week and in the weeks to come.