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Hard Times Cooking: A Recommended Book

The book is: Good Recipes for Hard Times by Louise Newton, Houghton Mifflin, 1975, 0395-20721-5.

——–Content removed 8/2022——–

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Way Behind, Still Updating this 1/2022

My wallet is stuffed with grocery receipts for me to post.

I’ll overwrite this post and get caught up, eventually!

Sorry, life overtook me —


2/2022: Trying to do this accounting and finding it very difficult. For one thing, I keep finding receipts that aren’t listed here and for another, there are long gaps between the dates shown. I need to go through our checking account statements and my mileage logs to see if I’m missing any receipts.

APRIL

4/3: Mostly bulk — Ground turkey, ground pork, pastrami, whole chicken, coffee, chicken thighs, parsnip, road food, dried fruit. 6.63+ 6.08+ 4.72+ 4.79+ 5.01+ 6.36+ 8.02+ 12.21+ 12.09+1 2.06+ 3.23+ 2.11

Bulk =$78.52, Grocery = 14.88+ 4.74 = $19.62 Road food = 6.82 + 4.27 + 6.65 = $17.74 (not counted)

4/4: cereal*, marmalade, chocolate*, coffee*, pasta*, frozen veg*, milk $70.32 Savings: sale prices and frequent customer points $14.57

4/4: OJ* $5.76, sale discount $3.22

Nothing for two weeks ? DOUBLE CHECK!

4/9: My mileage log says I went to the market. I don’t have a receipt in my email.

4/15: Cat food, vinegar, chutney, mustard, relish, tabasco $13.46 (I deducted $1.50 of road food)

Monthly GROCERY Total $109.16 UNDER BUDGET $290.84

Monthly BULK Total $78.52

MAY

5/25: (This is marked that I’d done it, but…)Butter $4.39, Milk $3.99, cereal $2.50, nuts $3.99 (road food = $1.59) Total = $16.46 Without the road food, just the groceries = $14.87

5/27: Crackers, hummus $9.27

5/30: Almond milk, milk, ice cream, tomatoes, mangoes*, avocados*, pesto, mozzarella*, cheddar. $45.03

5/31: Flour, water $8.76

Monthly GROCERY Total $76.93 UNDER BUDGET $393.07

JUNE

6/2: Juice, basil, salsa, cilantroi, tamales, lemons & limes $38.05

6/5: Bread, peanut butter $7.88

HB (masks) $9.99

Drinks, ice cream, milk, water, drinks, marmalade $43.89

6/6: Cherry Jam*, marmalade*, drinks $13.04

6/7: Potatoes, onions, prunes, peppers, discount limes*, butter, OJ, coffee, nuts, $40.44

HB $3.49

6/10: Bread, cheese, butter, milk, ice cream, cereal, yogurt. $43.20

6/12: Coffee, tomatoes, lemongrass, milk, raisins, bell pepper $30.25

✓BULK: spices, meats $34.52

6/14: Chips*, water, peas, sausage*, batteries*, cleaning skewers* $36.45

sesame seeds*, cheese*, cilantro, $10.85

Saved $7.64 with discounts and sale prices.

6/15: Apples, limes, lemons, coffee, pnut butter $25.06

6/16: Crackers*, salsa*cheese*, milk, almond milk*, frozen dinner, bread* $23.59

6/18: Foil, onion $2.99

6/19: Celery, jalapenos $9.38

6/20: Kosher salt, cat food, milk, oat milk, almond milk, pasta*, cheese*, eggs*

The Kosher salt really probably belongs in bulk, it will take a year or more to use it, but I had to buy it. I knocked over a bottle of dish soap and our other box is soap filled. Not something I want to eat!

We spent $54.70 and got $11.68 off, between markdowns, sale prices, coupons, etc. ✓The salt was $3.99.

6/23: Water, ice cream*, frozen veggies**, bread*, $29.34 **free

6/24: Tortillas, beans, milk, potato chips $18.13

6/27: Dried fruit, butter, OJ, oat milk, cereal $27.62

6/29: From the farm: 2 bread, 1 coffee, 1 lettuce $20

From the market: nuts, carrots, cheese, ice cream, almond milk,

treats, juice, water $49.07

✓6/30: (birthday dinner) Juice*, cake/lemon bar mix*, seasoning, yogurt, milk, cuke, tomatoes, bell pepper. $49.43

$607.88, including the birthday dinner and bulk salt. Without the salt and birthday dinner, it’s 553.58.

BULK 34.52 + 3.99 = 38.51

HB total 9.99 + 3.49 = 13.48

PARTY $49.33

GROCERY total $506.56 OVER BUDGET $105.56

JULY

7/1: Milk $4.99

7/2: Cereal, soup, peanut butter, jam, salsa, tortillas, tamales. $26.59

7/4: Cat food, milk, melons* $26.05 melons were $6.14 off!

7/6: Citrus*, limes*, ice cream, butter, cheese, milk, peanut butter, dried fruit $43.34

7/10: Seasoning mix/equipment*, milk $8.98

7/13: ✓BULK garlic $10.80 for a dozen organic bulbs. $25 for 3 loaves bread, 1 lb coffee. Both from farm 2.

Cereal*,cat litter*, chocolate*, agave, paper towels*, milk, potatoes, cheese*. * = on sale Spent 70.08 with $10.96 off their “regular” prices.

7/15: Yogurt*, ice cream*, tomatoes, bananas $22.46 * = on sale, also used $4 in rewards savings, a total of $6 off.

7/17: Tortillas, frozen food $18.43

7/18: ✓HB purchase $3.79

7/21: Salt, water, hash browns, OJ*, milk, eggs, frozen food, tomatoes, dried fruit, cheese*, pesto*.$51.81 Saved $4 on the sale items.

7/25: Ice melt*, ice cream*, chicken sausage, apples* $15.85

7/27: Frozen food $8.98 (2 meal’s worth), peppers $2.76, ginger .87, cukes $2.49, sprouts $1.19, ice cream $9.98 (2), milk $3.69, OJ 5.07 (3, frozen), black pepper corns $6.99 (will probably last > 2 years?), cat litter 4.99, cheese cloth 2.99, cleanser 2.38 Total = $4.52 groceries, ✓$6.99 bulk

Bread $10, Coffee $20 from farm. $30 total

The obvious $ savings here: cheaper coffee, bread & ice cream. Baking the bread and making the ice cream would almost certainly be cheaper.

Lost receipt: Pasta*, sugar, jasmine rice* $10.46

7/28: Storage container $5.49, cat food $4.49, water $3, refries $3, seasoned rice $2.88 = $18.86 total Syrup for DIY granola bars $5.99

Total from these 2 days = $106.36, $116.82 sigh!

July groceries $415.27 – 6.99 = 408.28

Found receipt 7/13: Nuts, flour = $10.68

NEW July groceries $415.27 418.96 OVER BUDGET 18.96

Bulk $10.80 + 6.99= 17.79

HB $3.79

AUGUST

8/2: Crackers*, water, miljk, tomatoes $24.14

8/3: Yogurt, hummus, bulk spices, mushrooms, deli meat $20.02

8/8: cat litter*, frozen food, OJ, kind bars $35.51 (DH did the shopping.)

8/8L=: butter, milk, cheese* $28.95

8/11: Crackers* 2 $2.38, Cereal $11.98, Candy* $0.64, Water* $2.38, frozen potartoes $3.99, milk $4.99, produce $6.13, sale produce $2.99, dried fruit $7.49, 2 fancy cheese* $8.00 . Total $51.27

8/12: Chicken burgers (frozen), nuts, refries, mac and cheese (froz), peppers (froz), salsa, tortillas, peaches $46.84 Frozen OJ, 6 eggs $5.86

Meat ($1 off) $2.50

8/14: Cat food*, butter, coffee $19.27

8/15: Rolled oats(2 lb) $4.69, 2 jams $4.99. Milk $4.99.

8/17:Went to 3 farms. One I didn’t buy anything, just picked up our share. The other two I did purchase food.

Farm 1: 2 bags coffee $20

Farm 2: (BULK = $72.) Regular food — markdowns: bread $6.99 (3 loaves), corn (10 ears) $7.90, other produce $4.93 . (Neighbor bought $20.00 worth of BULK too.)

8/20: Bakery outlet $5.68

8/21:Yogurt* $3.98, HB $19.76 (w/senior disc.)

8/23: Cheese $3.99, burritos $3.49, salsa $2.99.

8/24: Ice cream $7.98

8/27: Salt, crackers*, vinegars* = $18.03 (markdowns/sales/coupons were $5.40)

Grocery total $300.32

HB $19.76

Bulk $72.00

8/29:Crackers*, muffin mix*, cheese*= $6.36 (took out road food, newspaper, and a return)

Found Receipt 8/31: BULK meat $65.25, BULK other $9.34 Total BULK spent $74.59

NEW Bulk $72.00 + 74.59 = $146.59

HB $19.76

SEPTEMBER

9/02: Cheese $4.49

9/04 Berries, milk, OJ, water* $19.74 (Road food $0.50)

9/5: Crackers *, cheese*, $13.55 (also bought $9 in newspapers)

9/09: garlic .89, butter $8.78, yogurt 3.99, Calif Blend (coffee?) $6.99, marmalade $6.99, cat food 8.98,= $32.22

9/12: cereal (2) $7.99*, snack ?, $1.19*, eggs $3.99, yogurt $4.99, ice cream $5.99, cheese$3.99 $28.14

9/14: Frozen chicken pies $8.98, lemons $1.99, milk & cheese $20.43, frozen veggies $5.97, rice $8.99, soup base $4.99, bread $4.99, canned beans $4.39, water $3. $63.23 total

9/16: Chocolate $2.79*, sugar $3.49, limes $3, pesto $4.79* = $14.07 (Road food $1.99, Bulk $22.48*)

9/18: Bread, cheese, milk, cold cuts $28.44

9/20 Ham $5* on sale. $3 lottery winner, net paid $2

9/22: Oatmeal*, granola*, dry buttermilk, eggs, milk $25.93

9/24: Grains*, foil, bread* = $12.97

9/28: Seasoning mix, candy, crackers, curry sauce mix $25.25 (new int’l market trip)

9/30: Milk, veggies*, nuts, bacon*, soap $38.60 BULK $31.61

OCTOBER

10/1: Chocolate, vinegar, onion, evap. milk, yogurt, hand soap, apple cider, $1 glass bottle deposit. $29.50

10/2: Mustard seed. $3.99

10/5 Dairy (unknown, receipt got wet, unreadable) $4.39, 3.69, 2.99, 2.99. Magazine $12.99, water 4@.75, $30.05

10/12: Bread, cheese, eggs, milk, cider, jam. $26.76

10/14: Frozen dinner, cat litter $20.97 .

10/16: Chips, water, corn chips, chocolate, pizzas*, juice, milk, ice cream, oat milk. $52.59 (We had company.)

10/17: Soup mix*, crackers*, newspapers. $12.47 The newspapers were $9, so the groceries were $3.47.

10/18: Cookies, granola bars, maple syrup, jams, 10 pieces, $31.22

10/18: Crackers*, canned beans, pasta, cat food, oats, yogurt, milk, celery. $34.93

10/19: Cider, mushrooms, butter, cereal, water, $27.24

10/22: Ice cream*, eggs* $7.98 .

10/26: Apples $3.24, Ham, chese*, yogurt, milk, flour*soap, cat food*, juice*, sugar, cookies*, crackers* $48.84

10/28: (BULK) Onions (50#/$70), Sweet Potatoes (40#/$45) , 2 Carrots (#25/ $76), Potatoes (50#/$45), receipt total = $238.

10/28 (other): road food $3.49, misc veggies $27.44, bread* $11.69 . Total spent $42.62

10/28 (again, from the cheapest market): ice cream, milk $8.68

A neighbor bought sweet potatoes and 2nd carrots. (-$83) total spent by us = $155.00 .

10/31: Baking cups, 2 ? (KTS SSLT B, whatever that is) I figured it out. Kate’s Salted Butter!*, milk, eggs, newspapers, bacon. $35.95. The newspapers were $9 so the groceries were $26.95 .

NOVEMBER

11/1: Mayo, chocolate, grains, vinegar $12.38 . Generated a gift card for $12.38, so net purchase was $0

11/2: 2 bottles of oil, 3 pkg dried fruit, bananas. $27.99

11/4: Cheese*, ice cream, milk, frozen peas. $23.85

11/7: Pasta*cat litter, canned corn*, panko crumbs, crackers, cat food, peanut butter*, cereal*, yogurt, ice cream. One newspaper $6. $105.02 .

Returned immediately a box of spaghetti. Why did I get that? I do NOT need spaghetti. Return = $1.49. Total less newspaper and return $97.53 .

11/9: 2 celery, bananas, lemon, yogurt, butter, milk, marinade, lemon juice. $29.44

11/10:pumpkin pie, ice cream, canned pineapple and organic (?) $26.67

11/13: Cheese spread, crackers $7.99 Olive oil, maple syrup, cereal, chocolate (paid for with $12.38 gift card) out of pocket $0.78

11/14: Grapeseed oil*, Sesame oil*, granola bars*, rice vinegar*, spice tea*, honey*, cider vinegar*, salad dressing*, agave*, wheat germ, coffee cake*, lemons, dried fruit*. Two newspapers $9.

One $2.50 coupon. The rest was last markdowns. Frequent customer discounts $37.65, store discounts $3.65, coupon $2.50. Total saved $43.83. Total spent $58.03 – $9 (newspapers) = $49.03

11/15: grain, herb tea (bulk), nuts, yeast, misc. seeds $14.32

11/15: Cheese, frozen food, rice = $17.55

11/17: ice cream, cheeses, milk, yogurt, cat food, $31.92

11/18: wonton wrappers, eggs, raisins = $10.49

11/19: eggnog*, cider*, apples, pears* = $14.00

11/21: Seasoning*, flour*, chocolate chips*, pasta*, grated cheese*, milk*, newspapers, cleaner*, apples, cheese* = $61.14 , newspapers = $9. Actual grocery total $52.14

11/22: butter, salt, lunch meat $29.65

11/23: Milk, chutney, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower = $18.23

11/28: seasoning*, candy*, crackers*,milk, cleaning products*,batteries*, cider, apples, newspapers, cold cuts, cheese* $64.97, newspapers $9. Remaining groceries $55.97

11/29: Christmas presents (food) $25.47 I won’t count this as part of the regular groceries btw.

11/29: Crackers*, eggnog*, cheese* = $17.55

11/29: Frozen food, tortillas, salsa $17.63

DECEMBER

12/4: Cat food, milk, eggs. $14.77

12/4: Bulk meat $55.19, cider, produce $10.61, HBA $17.07 dried fruit/juice $11.34

12/5: Rice*, baked beans, cat food*, crackers* $16.34

12/10: Mushrooms, basil, ginger, lemons, butter, cheese, milk, cat food, vanilla*, tea, salt. $42.31

12/12: Chutney*, rice mix, syrup, yogurt, ice cream, lard*, newspapers. $38.49 The chutney was $1.20 off, the lard $5.25 off. The newspapers $9. Spent $38.49 – $9 = $29.49 . I have 3 rewards available, so I need to claim those too.

12/13: Jam $2.79*.

12/14: coffee, tortillas, cider $16.71

12/16: Christmas present food $11.90

12/30: chicken* 8.39, milk $5.49, rolls $3.29, pears* $1.80, apples $2.94, 2 pepper jack* $9.98, 21 supreme cheese* $7.98, 2 cheddar* $10.00. Total 49.87, saved 10.93

12/31: Crackers,(2 types, 1 on sale), bacon*, produce. $26.73 (Saved $1) 2 quantity sea salt* $6