This Month's 2026 Grocery Spending – June

 

This month I tried a new grocery shopping strategy, the 5-4-3-2-1 Method and I found it both challenging and a lot of fun.  What I really liked about it is that it got me to really think, get creative, and find ways to pay as little as possible for the things I needed this month, even if it meant going to different stores.  This is what my list looked like at the beginning of the month.  Because I did not need any proteins this time I substituted two more produce options instead.

My list - I substituted two more produce items since I
didn't need any proteins this month

From Fred Meyer

With one small shop (I was at the Fred Meyer garden center so I made my trip count) to get me started I was able to find some nice apples in the markdown bin so I got 2 bags for $3.00, bananas at 55¢ a pound, two cans of evaporated milk to add to my LTFS for $1.90 using a digital coupon and a FREE bottle of salad dressing I got on special offer and donated.  I also picked up a two pound block of cheese on sale for $4.99.  This entire shop ended up costing me a whopping $10.83!

 

Winco haul

A few days later I stopped into Winco and picked up the rest of the items I had on the list.  A can of pineapple chunks to replace one I had used the previous month, an extra bag of flour, fresh produce and some dairy.  Done!  And super easy!

 

A few fun things from Trader Joes using a gift card

I also treated myself to a gift card shop at Trader Joes and I was thrilled to leave with a full bag and money still left on my card for another visit.  I didn’t add these items to my shopping expense since I didn’t actually spend money here and I was feeling a bit lazy.

 

Cash & Carry

At the end of the month, with the Independence Day holiday coming up as well as some other planned events I had planned to do another 5-4-3-2-1 shop which also included a small Costco haul.  My new list looked similar to the first one, but with a few different items including two proteins this time.  However, after much reflection I realized really I didn’t need anything so I decided to wait.  Instead I popped into U.S. Food Stores (Cash & Carry) and picked up a carton of cream to tide me over.  It was the only item in the house that I was running low on.

 

Dollar Tree

The only nonfood purchase I made was for $2.50 to pickup two packages of toothbrushes at Dollar Tree.  Three count packages for $1.25 each is still quite a bargain and I didn’t want to pass it up.  I added then to my current stock in the linen and won’t likely need to buy anymore toothbrushes until well into 2027, if then.

 

Here are my total expenses for the month of June.  I’m not unhappy about this at all and I think I have an idea of where this is going and how it will lead to more efficient shopping and spending.  I am rather intrigued as to how it will play out if I continue to do this for a little while longer.  What do you think?  If anything it makes for a nice change of pace.  Check back at the end of July to see how well I am doing and if I feel like it is working the way I hope it will.