Grocery Shopping Day

So I really do plan to take a picture of my groceries but I usually forget until after all of the groceries are put away. Anyway. Today I worked late and didn't plan anything for dinner, but when I did get off work, I was starving and Russ hadn't eaten. I was planning on picking up some groceries anyway so I picked up some stuff at the store for dinner tonight. Lasagna, Garlic bread and salad (which I was going to get stuff for salad anyway.) I went with lasagna because I could microwave it in ten minutes so it'd be quick and Russ and I both agreed to it.  I went to get the Stoffers microwaveable lasagna, you know that little box but it was 7.99! So I said no to that. But then I saw Claim Jumpers lasagna. It was a smaller box, which was actually better for Russ and me because then we'd eat less and save on calories. That was only 3.50. Less than 1/2 the price. I also got the pre-frozen New York Texas Garlic bread that was 2.69 and I had a .50Q. So I grilled two of those for dinner tonight and we'll have more for later dinners. I also bought:

Toaster Strudels 1.66
Toaster Strudels 2.50- .55Q
FiberOne yogurts 2.00-1.00Q
2 healthy choice meals 1.67 ea -1.00Q= 1.17 ea
Soup at Hand Soup 1.50- .50Q
Chicken drumsticks 3.76 (can't remember who many lbs this is, I'm pretty sure it was 1.19/lb)
Romaine lettuce 1.00
2 Roma tomatoes .48
Orange .79
Pear .46
Total: 24.09
Total savings: 14.32

I don't think I did too bad. I did go over budget by just over a dollar, but I did buy dinner that I didn't plan on, and I think we're set grocery wise (except for produce) for the next three weeks.


Here's why I don't think I did too bad. Like I mentioned, I work at a grocery store and I was checking this ladies groceries today. She mentioned to be something about this is what's for dinner tonight.  Here's what she bought:
French bread 1.99
Rotisserie Chicken 7.99
Salad bar 12.51
Total: 23.82

Really? Gayle at the Grocery cart challenge was just taking about paying for convenience when buying packaged salad. At Harmons where I work we do have a great (very overpriced) salad bar that can make a great lunch option every now and then and I mean every now and then. But I would never buy it as a side dish to dinner. Ok, my salad tonight wasn't as fancy. I didn't get all the trimming like she did, but really it's salad. It can only get so fancy. Our salad consisted of: Romaine, tomato, green onion, cucumber, and banana peppers.
The lettuce was 1.00 but I literally used 2 leaves, and there's like what 20? that's .10
The tomato was .12
the green onion was maybe .20
The cucumber: .20
and the peppers were not even .50.
Total:  1.12
And I'm pretty sure I rounded up. Okay and that doesn't include dressing. Add another .50 for dressing and it's still $10.00 cheaper than her salad!! Yes I had to chop up the veggies and tear the lettuce. I did that while the lasagna cooked. How could it have been easier?

AND the chicken. 8.00 for a chicken. I got a roasting chicken the other day for 3.49. Yeah,I'll have to add in the cost of the seasonings, but it's sooo minimal I won't even do that math. Plus it's not like its too hard to cook. I'm going to plop it in my lovely crock pot and go on with my merry way.