A look into my Buggy

So a few weeks back I mentioned a Dave Ramsey video in which he mentions you will spend less when you use cash because you "feel" the pain of the money leaving your possession.  If you haven't read it, you can get to it HERE.

Anyway, as a result of using cash and watching what I spend, I will end up being done with my monthly grocery shopping and will have spent almost $100 dollars less than normal.  This means my budget for this month so far will be $300.  In case I don't bore you enough, here is my grocery list.

20- Half Gallon Jugs of Milk-  Kroger had these 10/$10.  Aside from making yogurt or Icecream, I mix the milk for drinking half and half with water.  ***not recommended for children under 2***
10- 16 oz containers of Sour Cream-These were on sale for .79 ea.  I use these not just for topping dishes or potatoes, but for making home made Ranch Dressing.  I bought the ones with the latest expiration date and unless in current use, they remain sealed and upside down in my fridge.
7 lbs American Cheese
6 lbs Cheddar Cheese
6 lbs Mozzarella Cheese
1 Parmesan Cheese- My sons love it on Pizza
1 Lb Pepper Jack Cheese
28 lbs Sugar
5- Dz Eggs-  One of our hens was brooding so egg production fell off.  Kroger had these on sale for $1.25.  I also had a coupon for 1 dz free.
25 lbs Bread Flour
10lbs  Whole Wheat Flour
3lbs Wheat Germ
2- Ham's for .99lb
4 lbs Boneless Chicken Breast
1 bunch Green Leaf lettuce- Spinach is starting to come in so hopefully this is thelast lettuce to buy for a bit.
1- Coffee 33.oz
1- 60 oz Powdered Coffee Creamer
8- 48oz bottles of Oil
14 lbs Tortilla Chips
3.5 lbs Pretzels
53 lbs Potatoes
6 lbs Onions
3-Lg Bell Peppers
2- Fresh Broccoli Crowns
Curry Spice
Ketchup- the large can at Sams.  When I open the can to use, I re-seal the ketchup in canning jars by putting them in a water bath canner for a few minutes.  I leave one jar in the fridge for use.
16 lbs Salt
Worcestershire Sauce
3- 32 oz bottles lemon juice
1 Gal Mayo
-2 Celery bunches
4 lbs Baby Carrots
-5 12 oz pkg Choc Chips
21- bars Soap
12- Tooth Paste
12- rolls Bathroom Tissue
2- Shampoo
5- Laundry Soap
3- Bleach
1- Amonia
1- Dish soap
1- Dog Food - 55 lb bag
Cat Litter- 42 lb bag.


Not an overly exciting list I grant you.  This is just this month.  My list varies depending on what needs replacing at the time and what is on sale.  Now before you say "GOOD GRIEF WOMAN!  How much flours, oils, etc do you need?"  Please be aware that I shop for the month.  I keep a pantry, and I make from scratch a lot of what we eat.  What I don't buy, but we still have anyway are Ice Cream, Ranch Dressing, Pancake Syrup, Pizza, Cookies (mostly Choc Chip), Granola, Wheat Thin type Crackers, Yogurt, Choc Syrup, Lemonade, Hamburger buns, Loaf Bread, French Bread( pretty much uh Breads!).  In the past I have succumbed to the  lure of store bought cookies, chips, breads, but I am striving to do those things myself more often than not.  I recently cut out potato chips because it takes a lot of chips to satisfy a young mans appetite and that is a large expense.  If we have chips it will be a special thing and I will make them( that's the plan anyway).  Mostly we have oven fries.  It is a rare sale that is good enough to ever see canned veggies on my grocery list.  It happens, but not often.  I would need to get the cans at least 3/$1 to warrant it.  There is a method to my madness.  Every penny I save can go toward the repair of Dh truck, the pay off of our last credit card, extra on the mortgage, or to savings.  I know Dave Ramsey says you need to eat beans and rice and rice and beans, but I don't know if I am prepared to go that far.  But as long as I am able, I will cook and/or shop this way.