Rose City Receipts: Portland Mom Balances Busy Schedule with $300 Weekly Grocery Budget

In partnership with

Hi, reader,

Welcome to Rose City Receipts, a new feature of Stumptown Savings where Portlanders take us inside their grocery shopping and meal planning strategies. Portland’s food scene is legendary, but figuring out how to enjoy it without breaking the bank can feel like an unsolvable mystery. With food costs on the rise, Rose City Receipts aims to inspire and motivate by showing you how one of your neighbors is making it work.

Today, we hear from a friend of Stumptown Savings, Kirsten C of Rose City Park. She walks us through how she feeds her family of four while managing her time efficiently. For Kirsten, this week was all about saving time as she juggled birthday parties, a work dinner, and other obligations while also having to feed her family of four. Kirsten, take it away!

Meet Our Shopper

Who are you? Kirsten C., strategy and operations consultant
Where do you live? Rose City Park
What’s your weekly grocery budget (roughly)?: $300 (+$200 for eating out)
How many people are you shopping for?: 4 (two adults, two kids under 12)
What are your favorite stores?: New Seasons, Trader Joe's, Amazon Fresh (begrudgingly)
What’s your top priority when it comes to grocery shopping?: Convenience/time-saving

Kirsten C.'s Shopping Philosophy

Do one shop at one store per week, rotating between Amazon Fresh delivery (most convenient when time is short), Trader Joe’s (best bang for buck for what we like to eat), and New Seasons (when produce quality matters and for specific items we can’t get elsewhere).

Kirsten C.’s Grocery Diary

This was a weird, complex week (but all weeks are in their own way) with a kid’s birthday party, hosting a work dinner party, and a kid’s birthday proper. This meant lots of extra shopping and cooking/eating on the weekends, balanced with super simple meals and eating out the rest of the week. 

Weekly total: $790.35 (with $172.77 reimbursed)
Eating out total: $282.49
Groceries total: $507.86 (with $172.77 reimbursed)
Most-expensive line item: Two whole chickens for $45.66
Least-expensive line item: Free school lunches
Number of grocery trips: 3
Number of meals out: 7
Stores visited: 3

Evening of Friday, May 2

Made a grocery list and meal plan for the coming week, which involved a packed weekend. I usually make a meal plan just for dinners and anything notable. Other meals are cobbled together based on staples we always have and whatever is left over.

Ordered some groceries from New Seasons via Amazon online. This was unusual because it was just groceries for one meal: hosting a one-off workplace dinner party for 9 on Sunday. We hosted and cooked, and the firm covered the grocery bill :) 

Notable purchases: 

• Two whole chickens $4.99/lb

• 16 oz organic super greens $7.99 feels like a good deal

For dinner, we had a potluck at a friend’s. I brought a soba noodle salad made with ingredients I had on hand.

Friday total: $172.77, but it was all reimbursed

Saturday, May 3

The plan has already gone awry. I had intended to do a big weekly shop in the morning, but that didn’t happen. Instead, my son and I went out to lunch for sandwiches at Hi Top ($40) before his baseball game, while my husband and daughter were off all day at the Oregon Writing Festival (with stops at Dutch Bros $10.65 on the way there and Taco Bell $17.01 on the way home). 

4 p.m. rolled around and I needed whipping cream for birthday cupcakes, and we didn’t have anything for dinner. I ran to Whole Foods to get the whipping cream, a sushi roll, and a frozen pizza, and picked up a few random staples while I was there.

I spent a lot of time and brain power debating whether to get the 2 for $7 6 oz. organic raspberries, or the same quantity of conventional for $6.29. Went with organic. Stocked up on: 

• Rao’s marinara on sale for $6.38

• Dozen cage-free white eggs were $5.39

• Value pack of chicken breasts and thighs (both at $5.49/lb.)

• Lemon hummus — one of the few 365 things I always get when I’m there.

• Sliced peperoncini — my current favorite condiment 

• Bought myself a sushi roll ($10.99) for dinner and grabbed a frozen pizza for the kids ($6.49)

Then it was meal prep time. I made cupcakes for tomorrow’s birthday party, and cake layers that I stuck in the freezer for our family celebration on Friday. Seasoned the chickens for the work party.

Saturday total: $100.56 groceries, $67.66 eating out

Sunday, May 4

Hosted an 11th birthday scavenger hunt party and served the cupcakes, then hosted the work party for dinner. It was a full day of cooking fun.

Lost of meal prep throughout the day. In the morning, made the spicy citrusy olives for dinner. During the birthday scavenger hunt, I frosted the cupcakes and roasted the chickens for dinner. After the birthday party, I cleaned up all the cupcake crumbs, and prepped the rest of dinner.

The work dinner party menu consisted of:

• Slow-Roasted Oregano Chicken with Buttered Tomatoes from Alison Roman’s Nothing Fancy

• Perfect herby salad from Nothing Fancy (similar linked)

• Persian-ish rice from Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

• Crusty bread

• Butcher & Bee’s whipped feta with cucumber and potato chips

• Citrusy olives from Alison Roman’s Nothing Fancy

• Birthday party chocolate cupcakes with raspberries, plus some ginger cookies I had in the freezer because we didn’t quite have enough cupcakes leftover :) 

Sunday total: $0

Monday, May 5

It’s the work week. Weekday breakfasts are always cereal, oatmeal, or eggs and greens. Everyone in our family is in charge of their own lunch. My husband and I scrounged up lunch at home this week. My kids always eat lunch at school. PPS started providing free lunch for everyone this year and it’s been a game changer. I told my kids they could either pack their own lunch, or get the school's hot lunch. Guess what they chose? Mornings are less hectic without lunches to pack, and I don’t have to plan or shop for their lunches, argue with them about what’s for lunch, or experience the sense of defeat composting a handful of uneaten baby carrots every afternoon. 

I had planned to do a big shop on Saturday, but here we are. I braved the 5 p.m. crowds at Trader Joe’s to get groceries for the week, plus restocked a bunch of Trader Joe’s-specific essentials.

Restocked our TJs must-haves:

• Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix (aka “Favorite Rice” because we eat this all the time) x 6

• PB Pretzels x 2

• Seaweed 6 pack

• Spaghetti x 3

• Indian food packs x 15 for quick and easy at-home workday lunches

• Frozen gyoza that my kid adores

• Oatmeal

• Cauliflower gnocchi for when I just need to feed myself

Food for the week:

• Snacks & fresh veggies

• Ground chicken $5.99/lb

• Fun drinks and frozen croissants for breakfast on my daughter’s actual birthday 

Plus a few Impulse buys:

• Sunscreen — is the body invisible gel new? Or just new to me? Gotta try it.

• Ube mochi pancake mix – purple pancakes are a must

For dinner, we had smoothies and avocado toast.

Monday total: $234.53

Tuesday, May 6

Had planned to make tacos with the ground chicken, but ended up getting takeout from Tacovore to eat at my kid’s baseball game and I stuck the chicken in the freezer for another time. The Aguas fresca was a delight on an unusually hot day!

Tuesday total: $60.12 (out)

Wednesday, May 7

Went out with a longtime friend, and treated her to La Bonita for her birthday. The rest of the family had pasta with Rao’s at home and hopefully a vegetable! 

Wednesday total: $37.50 (out)

Thursday, May 8

I was out and about in the morning and didn’t have time to make myself breakfast so I stopped by Starbucks for a latte and egg bites. In the afternoon, my son and I stopped at McDonalds for a treat after a baseball lesson. I made myself some TJs gnocchi and a salad for dinner, while the rest of the family ate at grandma’s. 

Thursday total: $20.66 (out)

Friday, May 9

It’s my daughter’s birthday! Our tradition is that you get to pick out all the food for the day on your birthday. She requested bacon, eggs, pancakes, and fruit for breakfast which was fine by me. I threw in some TJs frozen croissants and sparkling limeade, too. For dinner, we had takeout from Sabaing Thai, and I served the cake she requested, a spin on the Baking Show cake: chocolate layers with whipped cream in the center and raspberries on top. It turned out really well! 

Monday total: $96.55 (takeout)

🔍 Kirsten’s Shopping Tip

My life runs the most smoothly when I’m planning out dinners and doing one weekly shop. I made myself a custom grocery list that works great for us. Our weekly staples are pre-printed, so it’s easy to scan and see what we need. I plan out our meals on the bottom half according to what’s going on that day, who will be at home, and the weather. Then I check off or write in whatever groceries are needed in the top, organized by where they are at the grocery store. Fridays are almost always “leftovers or go out” depending on what’s left in the fridge and cupboard. The whole things folds up into a tidy square so I can focus section by section while I’m shopping.

Our dinners are never a perfect match with the plan, but I save a lot of time only going to the store once and it helps minimize food waste and mental load to know generally what we are eating for dinner. 

🍽️ From Kirsten’s Table

Kirsten's recipe links look fantastic. What a thoughtful menu - from citrusy olives to slow-roasted chicken, all expertly curated. The Persian-ish rice with tahdig especially caught my eye.

My Persian wife introduced me to tahdig — that perfectly crispy bottom layer of rice that's notoriously difficult to master. After many failed attempts, I finally bought a Persian rice cooker. It spits out perfect tahdig every time.

If you're interested in trying it yourself, Samin Nosrat (of "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat" fame and Persian heritage) offers a simplified tahdig recipe that delivers perfect results without the usual challenges.

📓 Bryan’s Take

Kirsten’s week sounds hectic, but also widely productive. Basically two birthday parties, a baseball game, a work party, a potluck, and visiting grandma! I’m exhausted just thinking about it all. I like how she planned ahead — using her smart grocery list template and a meal plan — and made good use of her precious downtime to prep. That work dinner party sounds DELICIOUS! I’m going to give her grocery list template a try. You can download a blank version here.

Thanks for sharing a snapshot of your grocery shopping and meal planning, Kirsten! 

Want to be featured in Rose City Receipts? Email [email protected] and share your grocery shopping approach!

Level Up Your Portland Grocery Game

Become a Stumptown Savers Club member and gain exclusive access to insider store guides, seasonal produce tips, and in-depth strategies that help you shop smarter and eat better — all while supporting local. Right now, you can lock in our Grand Opening Special at just $37.50 for a full year of premium Stumptown Savings content.

Think of it as your secret recipe for outsmarting high prices at every market run. Hungry for more deals and local insights? Join the Savers Club today and start transforming the way you shop in Portland.

Happy saving!

Bryan M. Vance,
Founder/Publisher,
Stumptown Savings