Receipt: $40 / month

Well that completes a month.

This trip came to $20.02 and I managed to get 13 meals, 12 snacks, 12 desserts, and 12 quarts of drink mix. As a bonus I splurged and got "Puffcorn" (a Cheetos/popcorn hybrid), and 2 candy bars. That exceeds my goals assuming I looked around in the parking lot for loose change.

If you've been paying attention, that comes to a total of $38.64 for 24 meals, snacks and desserts including something to drink. That is $1.61/day. At most there are 23 business days in a month so I've beaten my $40/month goal! If you spent $8 at lunch you would have spent $192 over the same time period or even just $5 you would have spent $120. You're welcome. Feel free to send the extra $80 my way :-).

Receipt:
Date: 7/16/2010
Store: Wal-mart Super Center

Great Value Drink Mix - Cherry Limeade 12 quart: $1.98 [Lol the receipt even says "CHRYLM" meaning Crystal Lite Mix]
Maruchan Instant Lunch - Cheddar Cheese: $0.28 [Let me get off to a good start again and I really like the cheddar lunch]
Maruchan Instant Lunch - Spicy Chicken: $0.28 [I want spicy but I know this will be too hot]
Maruchan Instant Lunch - Roast Chicken: $0.28 [3 * $0.28 ~~ $1]
Kit Kat Trial Size 8 pack: $1 [Still on sale, these worked great last time]
M&M Trial Size 8 pack: $1
Twix Trial Size 8 pack: $1 [Hmm, maybe I can make it 12 snacks & desserts and 13 meals to equal a total of 24 this month]
Great Value Crackers - Grilled Cheese: $1.98 [Wanted to try these last time, all we need now are dinners]
Banquet Dinner - Mac & Cheese: $0.88 [Looked tasty]
Banquet Dinner - Chicken Nuggets: $0.88 [Had a craving for these]
Lean Pocket - White Chicken Pizza: $2 [These were very good]
Hot Pocket - Buffalo Chicken SideShot: $2 [Craving wings sauce]
Jose Ole Burritos - Beef, Bean and Green Chilies: $2.98 [8 in a package, 2 per day]
Chester's Puffcorn: $2 [Extra cash, let me splurge]
Whoppers: $0.50 [Splurge]
Reese’s: $0.50 [Splurge]

Subtotal: $19.54
Taxes: $0.48 [stupid 8% tax on candy and drinks]
Total: $20.02 [if this was Price is Right I would have won if I said my showcase was $20]

Receipt Photo:
Some of you probably don't like my stream-of-consciousness commentary so here is just a picture of my receipt

Food Photo:

Receipt: Let's get started!

My shopping trip went remarkably well!  I surprised even myself.

Altogether I came up to $18.62 for a drink, 11 meals and 12 desserts & snacks.  Throw in another meal for $1 and you've got 12 meals for $20 or $1.66/day.

For each shopping trip I'll transcribe my receipt and throw up a picture. As a bonus you also get reasoning behind my purchases. Receipts will follow order I purchased the items in the store.

Receipt
Date: 6/30/2010
Store: Wal-mart Super Center

Maruchan Instant Lunch - Creamy Chicken (i.e. cup of noodles): $0.28 [ok, lets get something cheap for a good start]
Maruchan Instant Lunch - Cheddar Cheese: $0.28 [mmm, cheddar cheese is my favorite, have to stay away from the spicy ones, they were too hot last time]
Maruchan Instant Lunch - Beef: $0.28 [people give ramen a bad rep, I'm not making it into a dinner just a quick and small lunch]
Banquet Spagetti and Popcorn Chicken - $0.88 [ok, let's see what we got in the cheap banquet meals - WTF these don't go together]
Banquet Southwest Rice and Beans - $0.88 [hmm, sounds good]
Lean Pocket - White Chicken Pizza - $2 [2 hotpockets at $2 so $1/meal if I eat just one]
Lean Pocket - Stuffed Chicken Quesadialla - $2 [ooo, I want to try these they got thrown out last time during refridgerator cleanout]
Hershey's Trial Size 8 pack: $1 [ooo on sale (vs 1.64), 2 pieces a day, I'll need at least 3 packages, maybe I can go for 12 meal under $20 since I'm only at $7]
Mounds Trial Size 8 pack: $1
Reeses Fastbreak Trial Size 8 pack: $1
Austin PB&J Crackers 12 pack: $1.98 [ok, snacks now, if I stick with 12 this is perfect, lets hope they aren't gross, alternatives include cheddar, peanut butter, and grilled cheese]
Arizona Sweet Iced Tea - $2.44 [drinks now, you get to keep the container for other drinks as a bonus, each full gallon lasts me about a week]
Hawaiian Punch Singles 8 pack: $1 [drink the tea, replenish with these 0.5 liters x 8 = 4 liters > 1 gallon. Wow, the regular hawaiian punch gallons are $2?]
Hormel Chili Hot: $1.64 [round out the meals to 12]
Hormel Chunky Chili With Beans: $1.64 [ok that's 12 meals [not! I messed up my counting, you can add another chili and come up to $20 though]]

Subtotal: $18.30
Taxes: $0.32 [apparently in NY there is no food tax except on candy and hawaiian punch]
Total: $18.62 [yay!]

Food