I received a question by email last week from a reader that I thought I should clear up. She asked whether our grocery costs include toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc. The answer is usually no. I find that prices at the grocery store for these items are typically a lot higher than I can get them at Target or CVS.

Sometimes I’ll pick something up at the grocery store if it’s a great deal or if I really need it and I’m too pressed for time to make a trip to another store. For the most part our grocery costs include only food items.

Our total this week was $51. We’ve been struggling with higher prices lately as I’ve begun purchasing snacks like yogurt and fruit to tide me over between lunch and dinner since I’m going to the gym every day after work now. The snacks have made my workout a lot easier and more productive, but the snack foods have taken a toll on our grocery budget.

Here’s our menu plan for the week:

Saturday: Ravioli with marinara sauce and garlic bread
Sunday: Broccoli cheddar soup (a knock-off of the Panera version. It’s delicious!)
Monday: Leftovers/sandwiches
Tuesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce
Wednesday: Bean and cheese burritos
Thursday: Homemade pizza
Friday: Dinner in Washington DC!

Now head over to OrgJunkie for more menu plans. Have a great week!