This week I was taking care of an errand in the center of town and when I passed a vegetable store, went in to check out their prices. The prices were good enough for me to fill up a shopping cart and I’ll definitely go back.

Frugality lesson 1: keep your eyes open for new shopping sources

While I was there I noticed a box of overripe avocados and was curious if they were being sold for a reduced price. In response, the produce guy asked me if I wanted them and told me he’d load them into my car when I was ready to leave.  That was a nice bonus for a question that took a half a minute to ask!

Frugality lesson 2: don’t be afraid to ask about discounted produce.

I peeled and blended up all the avocados that afternoon, added some lemon juice, olive oil and salt, and froze them in two cup containers. I got sixteen cups of avocado puree from the free avocados. Since earlier this year I bought frozen avocado puree, I knew it would defrost well.

I also made some meals for my husband to take to work. He doesn’t eat grains, so basically his meals are vegetables and protein. He’s not demanding about his food and would be okay with boiled chicken and vegetables every day but he works hard and he deserves to have a nice meal to eat. He didn’t want to add to my work, but I don’t see it like that – to me it’s a chance to send love in a physical form.

This week I made him a stir fry with strips of chicken breast, onions, peppers, mushrooms and fennel; chicken saute (diced chicken breast) with avocado and steamed zucchini with carrots;  roast chicken quarters with a  vegetable medley of roasted mushrooms, zucchini and eggplant.

Here’s my shopping list for this week – this covers three meals a day for 9 of us, with the exception of ds6, who gets lunch at school.

Produce – 233.40:

• apples, 13.20 kg x 3.80 – 50.08
• avocados, 2.4 kg x 5.90 – 14.16
• cabbage, 1.80 x 2.90 – 5.26
• cabbage, 3.37 x 1.90 – 6.39
• carrots, 2.6 kg x 2.90 – 7.53
• clementines, 2.69 kg x 3.90 – 10.47
• cucumbers, 3.8 kg x 2.90 – 11.02
• coconuts (2) – 10
• eggplant, 3.77 kg x 2.90 – 10.98
• fennel, 2.9 x 4.90 – 14.21
• kohlrabi, 2.31 x 3.90 – 9.01
• peppers, orange, 2.50 kg x 3.80 – 9.58
• peppers, yellow, 2 kg x 3.80 – 7.68
• persimmons, 2.08 kg x 8.90 – 18.47
• potatoes, 4.2 kg x 2.80 – 11.73
• tomatoes, 5 kg x 3.90 – 19.32
• turnips, 1.10 kg x 3.90 – 4.29
• zucchini, dk green, 3.085 kg x 4.90 – 15.12
• zucchini, lt green, 2.06 kg x 3.90 – 8.01

Refrigerator/freezer items – 481.19:

• cottage cheese, 9% , 200 grams (1) – 5.70
• cottage cheese, 5%, 375 grams (6) – 36
• hard cheese, 1 kg (2 x 25) – 50
• butter, 200 grams (4 x 7.40) – 29.60
• gluten free rolls ( 4 pkg x 4.90) – 19.60
• hot dogs 1.6 kg – 29.90
• milk, 4 liters – 18
• frozen green beans, 1 kg (2 x 9.90)- 19.80
• whole chicken, 13.6 kg x 11.90 –  161.84
• chicken quarters, 5 kg x 14.90 – 74.50
• chicken breast, 6.10 kg x 19.90 – 121.39

Staples – 244.33:

• whole oats (750 grams x 6) – 35.40
• polenta (1 kg x 10.90) – 43.60
• cornflakes, 1.5 kg (1) – 19.90
• tomato paste (2 x 6.90) – 13.80
• rice cakes (1 – 4 pk) – 14.90
• gluten free flour mix (3 kg) – 10
• marshmallows (2 x 1.90) – 3.80
• peanuts – 24.13
• chocolate – 8.50
• chocolate – 18
• dried unsweetened coconut pieces (snack) – 18.40
• extra virgin olive oil, 750 ml (2 x 21.90) – 43.80

Non-food items – 46.90:

• garbage bags (2 rolls of 25 bags x 4.90)- 9.80
• olive oil for lighting menorah, 1 liter – 11.90
• Chanuka candles, 8 x 1.90 – 15.20
• dish soap – 10

This week’s total for food comes to 958.92; together with the non-food items it tallies up to 1005.82 shekels. I asked my husband to go out for a couple of items; his additional discretionary purchases pushed my budget beyond the 1000 I wanted to stick to. He said I should write a post about the dangers of sending husbands shopping. 🙂

If you don’t see something on my list, either I didn’t need it or I already have it in my pantry/fridge/freezer. Each week part of my purchases are for food that gets used up that week and food that goes towards stocking up when prices are good.

Avivah