My new grocery budget challenge

Hello friends

So my new challenge that Charlie gave me is to only spend $600 total for the month on groceries. We are taking Financial Peace University and are trying to crack down on all spending.
Like I said in the previous post, we were spending $150 a week plus $200 a month for meat. $800 total.
One of the things I am trying is to plan two weeks of meals at a time. We did pretty well in February and ended up spending about $650 for the month. Went a little bit over when I found my favorite chicken marked down. >happy dance<

A few things you should know before you read the rest of this post.
1. I love markdowns. We have been shopping at the same stores for multiple years so I know the patterns of when and what they mark down. I found some A-mazing meat deals this week. That is not normal. I know some people do not like buying close date meat. I normally throw it in the freezer to freeze or in the crock pot to cook. I am also known to change our plan based on markdowns.
2. Other than planned events, I don't have a set date on each meal.
3. We keep a stock pile of rice, pasta, canned beans, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and broths.
4. My current strategy is spend $225-$250 on weeks 1 & 3, then use the leftover $50-75 on weeks 2 & 4 on produce, bread and milk.

I don't have the receipts or menu from February or the first half of this month because I went in a paper cleaning binge last week. But here is the plan and current total for the second half of the month...


Plan

• stroganoff and green beans
• pizza w/friends- bring salad
• lasagna & salad
• goodbye party for friends (snacks)
• egg roll in a bowl
• bacon, chicken & rice casserole w/ broccoli
• (Bible study) spaghetti
• (small group) taco soup
• chicken tikka masala
• chicken & broccoli alfredo
• brats and hot dogs w/ fries and fruit
• whoop whoop soup
• light chicken parmesan
• salisbury steak, potatoes & green beans
• chicken pot pie
• (Bible study) spaghetti
• (small group) ground beef or chicken & chips and salsa

Lunches and snacks

• chicken strips
• lunch tortillas (lunch meat + cheese)
• chicken noodle soup
• Ramen
• chicken, tuna or egg salad sandwiches
• boiled eggs
• fresh fruits and veggies
• cottage cheese
• salad
• mac & cheese
• leftovers
• yogurt
• lil' smokies
• quesadillas
• toast & jelly
• homemade muffins
• oven baked smoked sausage & veggies

Breakfast

• eggs
• sausage
• cereal & milk
• yogurt
• oatmeal
• homemade muffins
• fruit
• sauteed veggies

Bakers
ground pork X  3 lbs     ($2.99/lb)
Cracker Barrel lunch meat  X 2   (BOGO free, reg. $4.49ea )
mushrooms (reg. 2.50, markdown $1.50 each)
Silk cashew milk ($2.99)
yellow squash (markdown 99c)
carrots ($1.59)
Two good yogurt (reg. $1.29, markdown 79c + 50c off coupon)
hot dog buns (reg. $2.50, markdown $1.29)
$2.00 off produce coupon
= $22.97

Target
ground beef 93% X 8  ($4.79/lb + various markdown coupons)
Foster Farms chicken breasts and tenderloins X 4 (3 $8.99/lb + 1 $7.99, bogo 50% off + 2 $1 & 2 $1.25 off coupons)
Hillshire beef smoked sausage X 2 (clearance $1.10ea)
= $33.48 

Aldi
eggs X 2  (79c ea.)
organic quick brown rice ($2.59)
lil smoked sausages (89c ea.)
large can pinto beans (99c)
roma tomatoes  ($1.19/lb)
uncured beef hot dogs ($2.69)
Kerrygold butter >my guilty pleasure< ($2.85)
green onions (99c)
green grapes (1.8 lbs @ $1.19/lb = $2.18)
mandarins (3lb $2.39)
cabbage (89c ea.)
bananas (1.9 lbs @ 44c/lb = 85c)
canned black beans (59c ea)
canned cannellini beans (59c ea)
organic chicken breasts 2/lb (reg. 8.48 markdown 1/2 price)
= $29.40

Total- $85.85 (of $250 alloted for 2nd half of month)

Still need...
cucumber
frozen broccoli
frozen spinach
breakfast sausage
salsa X 3
chips
produce, milk and bread for week #2