We are back from traveling this week and super excited about having guests.  Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.

Ingles Groceries:

• $15.80 at Ingles for 1 loaf Laura Lynn Bread, 1 container Yogurt, 1 bag of Banana’s, 2 bags fresh Spinach, 2 bags Fresh Coleslaw,   1 container fresh Lettuce, 1 package Ground Hamburger, 1 head Cauliflower, 1 container fresh Strawberries, 1 container fresh Beans, and 1 bag Shredded Lettuce (all the items were marked down on clearance for $0.50 to $0.99 or on sale plus I used a couple coupons from the yogurt boxes)

BiLo Groceries:

• $4.48 at BiLo for 1 gallon of Milk and 1 box of PopTarts.  (I brought a reusable bag today so I was able to get a 5 cent discount at BiLo).

Walmart Groceries:

• $21.11 at Walmart for 1 container Vanilla Ice Cream, 1 bag of Hashbrowns, 1 bag English Muffins, 1 bag Mozzarella String Cheese, 1 bag Cheese Twist Sticks, 1 container Sour Cream, 2 containers Whipped Topping, 1 bag Bagels, Oscar Mayer Chicken Combo, Oscar Mayer Combos, 1 box Butter, and 1 bag Potatoes (the Oscar Mayer Combos were free with coupon).

This week I spent $41.39 on groceries.  Even though I was over on my budgeted amount for the week I was able to stock up on several items on clearance plus I had a little extra left over from last week.    I am excited to have my parents, grandparents, and brother visiting this week.  I hope that next week is an even better week and we can come under budget for the week.

It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.