What's in the Bag! Grocery Shopping

 I live in San Francisco Bay Area and currently am single. I make around $60k a year and I don't have a car. As I tried to budget my groceries I found some interesting things that just are maybe just special to me. 

One, I did use to shop more at Dollar Tree  where I would get mostly toilet paper, candy and some spices. Two, I did shop at Grocery Outlet because I lived close to it but, I usually only bought pastas, soups, bread. Third, this year I have started shopping at Trader Joes again because of proximity and I do live very close to a Whole Foods and Safeway but, I don't frequent as often. 

When I get a deal on food delivery from my credit card I will purchase from FoodMaxx  In reviewing the first six months of 2025 my grocery bill fluctuated between $100 to $140 a week which is a lot of food. I would also be purchasing items for lunch like a Friday lunch was special. 

I reviewed what I would eat. My morning is instant oatmeal and coffee mainstay then at lunch it would be a sandwich either cheese and bologna or peanut butter and jelly, dinner was a vegetable and turkey meat or pasta and turkey meat. I had low amount of fruit usually the cut up fruit or can of mixed fruit. I loved to have pineapple, mandarin oranges and cranberry sauce mixed together. I rarely had cottage cheese. 

Recently, my diet has changed a bit to include more cottage cheese and additive powders whether collagen or protein. I got an air fryer and am using that once a week to make the meal for the week ahead usually chicken and rice. 

I have cut out Coca Cola to a once in a while though my migraine headaches are giving me grief I have not purchased Coca Cola in a large quantity in a long time. I do miss it but late last year I noticed something had changed and I have my own theories on that. 

That being said, I think my inflation of groceries is because I have such a selection and my budget of $100 a month is too strict especially because that will have unintentional consequence of me feeling I have to eat out. Now I could try a meal kit but, I know that I would not be able to maximize the meal kit that is about $13 - $15 a meal like Factor for their higher end. Equally, you have to purchase at least 7 meals that is $105 that is the same amount I spent at Trader Joes recently 

I got one blue stilton cheese, cottage cheese, 3 packages of chicken, a dozen eggs, brownies, fruit, bag of kale, two large apples, blackberries, two boxes of ready rice (3pk each), prosecco in a can, coffee, 2 containers of mirepoix, cut watermelon, yogurt, but no paper products or beef. 

I ended up going to Grocery Outlet and spending another $43 dollars on odds and ends like more cheese, more lettuce, cubed ham, tuna, chili and odd snacks. Making my grocery haul close to $150 for one week. 

Now I have been able to make a decent number of meals out of the haul but, that didn't change that some of the food is going in the freezer to be used for future meals. 

While my eating habits have changed there is still the cost of the food. The food has changed but the prices are still hovering around $10 a meal and when I get a burrito or a fancy salad its $20 and I usually get a coke with it. 

So, how to eat now ? As I look forward the remaining of the year, I am going to keep the oatmeal and coffee and the simple tuna / pasta / chicken / rice combo in hopes of keeping the costs the same. As November starts its going to be a rush to the end of the year and I do think I will go back to the baked potato meal for dinner ( its so good sincerely ) so that leaves the Big Dinner out till Thanksgiving and even then I am not sure I would want more than bits and nibbles . Also, I have it on my calendar to try to do 75 Hard which maybe more financial than actual weight loss journey