This fortnight was rush rush rush as I was meal planning. I had no idea if we would come out of lockdown or if school would be going back. Also, given that the last couple of times I have done an online order the time slots have been booked out a couple of days ahead, I wanted to be sure I could get in early to ensure I secured the day I wanted to do my pickup! Even though I was rush rush I DID MEAL PLAN PROPERLY as always :)
It turned out that after I had put my order in I found that lockdown was ending and school was going back on Wednesday, So once I was out doing my actual groceries I had to get a few extra things for the school lunch box that I was out of. So I ended up going into Aldi and getting extra things there too.
Where the budget was concerned I knew I would be going over for sure but had considered my reward $$$ that I could use and also the Coles 10% off offer to bring my actual out of pocket spend down. Without the discount or rewards $$$ I actually would of spent just over $290 !!!!
My NORMAL rule for setting a grocery budget is $70 per adult (persons aged 14yrs+ because we all know that teenagers eat as much as adults at this point!) and $50 per child (under 14yrs) in the household is the main grocery shop budget for a fortnight. I feel no matter where you are living in Australia - city, country or coastal states - it's a fair $ goal for your budget. For us that is $240 for the main shop in the first week. I then have a flat $70 for the top up shop in the second week of the fortnight. I base that off what ever I set per adult. So in total that is NORMALLY $310 for the fortnight for my family of 4.
Keeping all this mind my budget for my main shop is this week is $240. I’m currently estimating that I will spend around $250 out of pocket with my back to school lunch box needs - $290+ if I didn't have the discount etc. So be sure to watch the matching grocery haul to see if I stay under budget !
Some tools I used to do my meal planning were:
(VIP's use the shop code found on the private Facebook Group to download FREE)
- 7pk Monthly Meal Planner + Shop Your Pantry Meal Ideas + 40 Dinner Theme Night Idea's + Blank Family Favorite Meals Sheet - INSTANT DOWNLOAD
- A Easy Grocery Calculator - INSTANT DOWNLOAD
- 2pk Grocery List Budget + Grocery & Meal Planning Wish List - INSTANT DOWNLOAD
- Lunch Box Meal Planner - INSTANT DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE
- Daily Meal Planner For The Busy - INSTANT DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE
Print out these using the VIP shop code found on the Facebook Group!
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So that is where I'm at this week. Be sure to check out the matching grocery haul vlog if you want to see what I got and how I went with staying within my budget.