$26.09 left to spend in April

Yesterday, I spent a total of $43.91 of my $70.00 grocery budget for April. I had to get the shopping out of the way because I will be w/out my vehicle for a good part of the next two weeks as it will be in the shop for repairs. These repairs ($775) are a big part of why I have skimmed so much on the grocery spending for March and April. While I'm obvioulsy not happy about having to pay out $775, I'm stoked that I will not have to touch my savings to pay for it. I get so discouraged when I have to pull anything from savings. I've worked so hard to build an emergency fund, and each time I just get it up to $1000, life throws me a curve ball and I'm pulling from my emergency fund to cover it. Not this time, though!

Anyway, back to my Friday shopping trip. This is the loot (pic doesn't include the items I spent $1.44 on earlier in the day).

I shopped at Ray's Apple Market, Dillons, Walgreens, and Walmart. I utilized as many coupons that I could that would net me free items (Del Monte canned vegetables, Farmland Bologna) and free w/overage items (Glucerna cereal = $2 overage, Knox Gelatin = $5.36 overage, Diet Pepsi = $5 overage). I chose store or off brand where it made sense to do so (that loaf of wheat bread was 49 cents and the 15 lbs of Russet Potatoes were $2.48 at Ray's). And I could have done better. I didn't need two bottles of Snuggle or four bottles of Softsoap, but I have this compulsion to stockpile items I use when I get a great deal on them. It's something I just can't kick. I'm sure many of you can relate.

All in all, I'm very happy with what I got for the amount I spent. I have $26.09 left for the month of April, which doesn't sound like a lot. But considering what I already have stockpiled, all I really will need to buy are the basics like milk, bread, and produce...so I think it's doable.