Self-improvement: full grocery list with local prices, money management and planning

I said in the previous week that I will get some food prices and products, but I actually had no opportunity till now to go shopping because we are full.
My grocery list contains 55 items only, and we are 46 full.
This post will be periodically updated with fresh data ( price change, item change etc).

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I downloaded discount reward apps from local supermarkets recently, but I still didn't use any coupons, because none of the products is something I would buy. They shuffle garbage for a low price.

Discount apps include:

• DM
• Lidl
• Kaufland
• Konzum
• Catalog app
• Tommy
• MultiPlus card

Any washing gel, shampoos, washing powers, washing liquids, soaps, or any other cosmetic or home necessity is not included in my shopping list, first, it is not food, second, it is bought occasionally.

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I calculate food in USD, because a comparison is easier for me, and everyone else, than in EUR. In fall we will transfer to EUR by the way, so possibly I will change this habit or maybe not.

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Full grocery list

Generic items which I buy depending on which shop or open market agent has a low price are:

• bananas and other fruit - I have bananas every day for breakfast, and other fruit is added depending on my family preferences plus price and availability - usually apples, peach, grapes, strawberry, blackberry etc...- 1kg bananas are $1.4 or less, and all the other fruit is all different price
• ground carob 200g - great for any meal, makes sauces taste better and thicker, also very affordable and cheap, can last very long as goes very little in dishes - $0.84
• celery - I pay $1.4 for a huge tuff which I partially freeze for further usage.
• garlic - 500g for about $1, can last two weeks or even more
• cinnamon, powder - I buy this occasionally
• turmeric, powder - same with this, I occasionally add it to tea
• cucumber, salad - about $0.84 for 1kg, but if the price is abnormal I stick to lettuce, we have more than one species and they are basically all cheaper.
• lettuce - they count per head - so I usually buy a big one for less than a dollar and spend it in 3 days, otherwise, it spoils
• milk 3.2% - this can last for days, as we use it for coffee only and kid occasionally either drink it or eats millet pops ( lectin-free cereal alternative)
• mineral water - $0.56 for 1.5L ... we usually buy this when we go shopping or driving, so it is about 3-5 times per month.
• onion - 1kg for $0.70, and it is pain in the ass because it spoils or sprouts in case you buy it more.
• parsley - is also a pain, because they charge too much for a small handful about $2, deep freeze to use longer, but the taste is nowhere close
• potatoes - I usually buy them at $0.7 and below for 1kg, 10 kg per week
• salt - 1kg lasts forever so it is not on a monthly shopping list
• sugar - 1kg per $0.84, we spend around 2kg per month
• Swiss chard - 5 meals out of 1 package per $1.33 on discount
• lemon - I marinate all sorts of things with this and I spend around 1kg per $1.59. I can use up to 1.5 kg per month.
• bread - we don't eat any grains, but I buy bread every 4 days for my husband, one loaf can reach the price of $1.25
  Cheese and sour cream - occasionally

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I usually find ground coffee in Lidl or Plodine for my husband, for as low as $3.36 for 500g. I buy instant 300g coffee in Lidl and it has a generic price of $5.59 or less at discount. Both things can last up to a month.

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Special starches and seeds I buy in Tvornica Zdrave Hrane, and I buy millet grains from a private seller directly from the farm.

• Coconut flour 500g - $2.67 - can last for a long time, I think I bought the last one-two months ago
• Tapioca Starch 1000g - $4 - Lasts for a month, and there is also a smaller 500g package which is cheaper.
• Flaxseed 500g - $1.67 - Also lasts for a month or a bit less, depending on how much I use it. If I fry things like breaded meat, it lasts less of course I use it instead of bread crumbs, and it is great. I also put it in all sorts of things
• Millet pops - occasionally for kid, 100g is in fact a big package because these are puffy cereal-looking balls - $1.26 - it can give 3 meals, but kid eats it extra rare maybe once in two weeks if she needs a quick fill.
• Ramen glass noodles made of pea starch - you put 3 parts in a pot and it will be noodles forever - I occasionally buy this maybe once/twice a month, and it gives a lot, the trick is to leave it to cool in water after cooking - 50g ( 1/5) extended properly gives enough for 2 meals - 250g for $2.52

Lidl has sales on frozen vegetables occasionally, so I buy big bags of frozen Brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, and leeks for $1.54 each. This can last for two weeks depending on how I cook.
Occasionally I buy tea there, a box $0.5, and ice cream ( a few types there we can eat and smaller boxes in Eurospin that we can also eat)

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Kaufland is very easy - we buy pepper chutney, pickled beetroot, pickled mixed salad, and pickles there. All these things can last a week or longer and they are very affordable.

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EUROspin we use for a few products.

• Ordinary yogurt - cheaper in general than elsewhere, less than $0.28 per piece
• Alcohol vinegar - $0.42 a bottle which lasts a very long time
• Toilet paper - 20 packets at least LOL! - we buy one package and that is it, the price is ok
• Sausages - variety, but many don't use harmful chem so we occasionally buy them here, maybe once a month
• Salsa - this one is great with various dishes. I can use up to 4-6 bottles per month.$1.12 per bottle or something around that price.
• Cocoa, jelly candies, nougat spread, and stick-shaped chocolates - are pretty much the only place where I can find soy-free sweets

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I buy yogurt, Freska Euforija stracciatella, in Kaufland or in Plodine. These are $0.7 per piece, but as my kid can only eat limited products, buying this is acceptable. I buy it occasionally when she wants it.

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We buy meat in Kaufland or Plodine, usually when it is a sale. Price can be very different depending on the type of meat, but because we eat around 400-500 g per day, this is not exactly a problem. I eat meat only 2 times per week, and sometimes my folks can eat more. I calculate 400g per 4 times per week, so we come up with the 6.5kg maximum of meat per month. It is about $22-25 per month. It can be more. We do not eat the same every month.

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I buy butter and Olive oil in Plodine, which occasionally has discounts so I get both items at much lower prices. I usually spend just one stick of butter per month for $1.68, and three bottles of olive per month, $4.19 each.

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We started fishing, so that is not included.

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I don't usually include parrot food in my grocery list but we buy his seeds and whatever else is necessary for him, in the Muller shop.

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So basically this is it. That's all we buy.

My daily task list contains 30 points and it is nicely organized too. I don't waste too much time on any task, and I can manage to complete almost everything daily.
I pretty much put everything I have to do there, even the smallest things so it includes everything from sweeping a floor to writing a blog post.

The budget is kind of OK, and we still have a few repairs on the car. I wish to buy some stuff and I think my microwave is on its last leg.

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