Final Grocery Haul 2024 - Huge Costco Haul and Garden Totals! Biggest Haul EVER! 😳💰

[@JessicaWanders]

This is IT! I add up all the Groceries I've bought this year PLUS the money it cost to plant the garden for a Grand Total for 2024! I did a huge COSTCO MEAT HAUL to restock the freezer after the meltdown and to prepare us for winter **just in time** I haven't done as much stocking up the pantry as I wanted so Pantry Restocking will be on the agenda for 2025! Watch to the end to hear about more plans for 2025 and maybe a livestream?!

[@katv1195]

Freezer disasters weren't in your plans. I would have an annual total with the disaster recovery, and one without the disaster food. For next year perhaps you could assign small grocery savings to an "emergency food fund" until the fund reaches say $300 or so, then you don't need to feel guilty if you need to replace some damaged/expired food.

[@BeckyCreger-vs5ce]

With repackaging your meat, you really need to get a vacuum sealer. I'm 71 years old and live alone. I live on my Social Security check which isn't that much. I buy all of my meat in bulk and repackage it using my seal-a-meal. I save so much money that way. Plus, it can last over 2 years in the freezer without a bit of damage at all to it. I took out a pound of hamburger last week that I had in the freezer for over 3 years. It tasted just as fresh as if I just bought it. I also use my seal-a-meal for flour, rice, instant potatoes, and anything that I buy in bulk. I just make them all my size for cooking. They stay totally fresh.

[@JessicaWanders]

That’s an interesting idea. This grocery shop we used holding the bag under the water so that it pushes all the air out before sealing it and it worked just ‘okay’. I’ve seen those vacuum sealers. I’ve always wondered how much it costs for the bags? Are they about the same price as ziplocks? It’s something to think about. Thank you for your thoughts on it!

[@anetzband1383]

Oh, I can't tell you how good that last average made me feel. It's just about what hubby and I spend per month in US money as we shop as frugally as possible. That's about US $175 , and that's downright super as an average. I do have a lovely amount canned and a well stocked freezer.

[@JessicaWanders]

The garden does make such a huge difference in what you can get stock up on in the pantry and freezer! I think around $250 CAD a month is pretty good really, it was just a big hit to do that much shopping all at once! 😂

[@debbiepowell8172]

Your grocery budget is amazingly frugal and yet you cook some very interesting and imaginative meals. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@JessicaWanders]

Thank you Debbie! I do get so many great suggestions for budget meal ideas from all my amazing viewers! 🧡

[@lonapritchett7786]

You still did great! Most of that food will be consumed in 2025. It will be worth gold when you don't have to get out in the cold to get groceries. Merry Christmas!

[@JessicaWanders]

Thank you Lona 🙂🧡 I hope I can go back to looking for great deals and keep the freezer topped up…but not until after I hibernate! 🐻

[@CircleJSuburbanHomestead]

The freezer replenish shouldn't count against your totals. This wasn't a normal situation. The freezer going down wasn't your fault, I think if you do the totals of what you'd normally do to stock up for winter you might feel better about the situation. Also what a blessing to be able to do a large costco haul. I use to beat myself up about my three big shops a year at Sams however you gotta restock the pantry too. Now I'm just thankful that I can get things stocked back up.

[@JessicaWanders]

You are SO right! It's easy to get down on yourself but honestly, it's a blessing to have the ability to restock. Thanks for the positive perspective!

[@NattyHomeMaker]

That amazing WOW ❤❤❤❤ You did great 👍 It's a lot of hard work and planning but man oh man you saved a lot of money this year. With the freezer incident and the price of food constantly going up, it's impressive Well done 👍✅

[@JessicaWanders]

Thank you! The freezer was a bit of a blow and, boy oh boy, I got a good look at how much prices have gone up when I went to restock it! Next year might be rough!!

[@NattyHomeMaker]

@JessicaWanders I hear you I feel the same. My stomach turns when I see prices go up

[@FlowerNana7]

You did a great job considering the freezer issue. Well done Jessica🎄⛄️Merry Christmas

[@JessicaWanders]

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too! 🎄🧡

[@JAWELSH2008]

We turned 50 this year too!!! Sadly hubby had health issues so no cruises this year. Hopefully back to it next year!

[@JessicaWanders]

Happy 50th year! I celebrated ALL YEAR really! That's too bad about your hubby but I'm glad he's doing better now. Hopefully you both get to cruise again soon!

[@susanchoja6800]

I laughed when you mentioned the cereal as a gift. I just finished packing up a large snack box for my husband as part of his Christmas gifts. It includes two large bags of natures path cornflake ( which are ridiculously expensive) oat milk for the cereal, honey, tortilla chips, Nutella, honey, kashi bars and fig bars which I normally refuse to buy due the very large price increase.. it cost almost as much as his main gift.!

[@JessicaWanders]

What a great idea putting together a snack basket! It’s worth a ton of money these days! That’s so awesome Susan! 👍🏼😄

[@tinaelliott8029]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your family. Great job, and as much as I watch your videos I missed out hearing about the freezer meltdown. So sorry to hear!! Take care and have a wonderful holiday season and happy new year

[@JessicaWanders]

Merry Christmas! 🎄 It was a big blow 😔 but it’ll soon be a New Year and a fresh Grocery Haul Budget! The pantry still needs a good stock up and that will probably be the focus for 2025! It’s great to having you watching Tina 🧡🙂

[@adriennej8730]

YAY! You did great! Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (I know my grocery costs will go up in 2025 with the new administration coming into the U.S. in January. Sadness.)

[@JessicaWanders]

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well Adrienne 🧡🎄 I suspect that the proposed tariffs will cause increased prices on both sides of the order unfortunately 😔 Maybe they’ll be a LOT more lentil recipes in my future 😉

[@adriennej8730]

@@JessicaWanders I like lentils, so I will be joining you. 😀

[@JessicaWanders]

@ Let’s do it! 😃🫘🫛

[@rhondaakey9166]

Your grocery budget is really not bad, considering you lost a freezer full of expensive meat. Here's to a fresh start for the New Year! Have a very restful Christmas and a wonderful New Year, Jessica. I look forward to watching your pantry challenge!

[@JessicaWanders]

Thank you Rhonda! Yup, just turning the page…I’m glad to get it stocked up and I can go back to watching those deals. I’m looking forward to cozy winter fires and watching the snow fly for a couple of months in a full No Spend Pantry Challenge! 😃

[@jackiephillips9042]

I always seem to buy at least $600 at Costco, which is one reason why I no longer shop there. You still did very well for the year though. I am way above that for my yearly shopping.

[@JessicaWanders]

It’s hard to walk out of Costco with a reasonable bill! It’s the reason I haven’t been shopping there too! It was the best deals for meat all at once and they do have good dairy prices but it requires soooo much discipline (that I often don’t have!) 😂 With the prices I’m seeing next year probably won’t be much better. I’m happy to turn the page into Grocery Hauls 2025 though!

[@Larissa-iw5wy]

I miss paying $21 for the chicken three packs 😢 You did well on the restock. So much meat and dairy, good to go for quite a while now!

[@JessicaWanders]

Yes…seems like those prices are the “good old days” now 😭 I’ll be checking out Flashfood a lot more often next year I think!

[@renasinor1471]

Hey there please don't be too hard on yourself cause you aren't going to eat all that before 2025 . I think you rocked the grocery budget. Looking forward to pantry challenge we are doing that also . Happy New year and blessings always to you both 🎉❤ .

[@JessicaWanders]

Thank you Rena! 🧡 It turned out not too bad. The garden definitely helped even though it was a poor year. I’m looking forward to a full NO SPEND pantry challenge too! 👍🏼

[@codependentk2888]

Merry Christmas to you and Mr. Wanders! Don't be too upset over your grocery budget for the year, it's really not that bad. Like you said things happen and you just have to adjust and move on.

[@JessicaWanders]

Merry Christmas codependentk 🎄 New Year -- New Grocery Budget! I’m looking forward to the challenge with the nutty grocery prices…maybe next year we become vegetarian! 🥑 YUM

[@deborahoakey3560]

I think even with the restock you did extremely well. I'm by myself and am still averaging 250,00 a month Trying to get it down to 200.00😊

[@JessicaWanders]

That’s a great budget! The garden does save us a ton of money even though it costs some to put it in. I wish I had kept up with recording the prices because it’s a huge saving. I was aiming for 200 this year with both of us and the garden. 🤷‍♀️ I think that just having the goal and spending mindfully I keep my costs down 👍🏼😎

[@samanthadodd8112]

It's so funny. U did well. Needed the food, and now u have ur meat for the winter.

[@JessicaWanders]

I’m ready to cozy down for the winter and hibernate! lol 🐻 The pantry is pretty low so that will really be my focus next year!

[@boogieman2k1]

The only way a beef roast makes it into our house these days is if it was Club Pack bought via Flashfood

[@JessicaWanders]

Right?? The prices were nuts! I’m seriously considering buying half a cow next year to get some better cuts of beef… 🧐

[@katv1195]

With the garden totals, I would work out the retail cost of the garden food by the kg and guesstimate how much it would have cost you to buy all those veggies. Then acknowledge how much you saved over the year. Your veggie garden cost was less than $10 a week! Veggies cost a lot now

[@JessicaWanders]

It is certainly worth a TON of money! I lost track of comparing the prices when we were harvesting but it’s definitely a money saver (even in years it doesn’t do too well!) That could be the goal of the “How Much Food Can I Grow” next year! Just recording equivalent prices and seeing the total $$$ of produce I can grow. You’re right, vegetable prices are really going up!

[@bevdwyer2509]

I think you should only be replacing the price of the meat you lost not all that you bought…unless it’s the same.

[@JessicaWanders]

Boy Bev, I don’t even think this meat haul covered everything that was lost 😞 but sometimes things just happen and those unfortunate events have to be covered in the budget as well. Onward to 2025 though! Maybe I’ll do some more canning of meat next year to protect it AND get an alarm for the freezer. Lessons learned 🧡🙏🏼