Please join us for a new feature on The Peaceful Mom: Save Money On Groceries. Starting next week, I will be giving you one easy tip each weekthat you can implement to save money on your grocery bill so you can spend it on other priorities.
To get things started, please leave a comment about YOUR biggest grocery budget busters and I’ll address some of them in future posts.
My biggest grocery budget buster is the constant battle as I maneuver the store… a battle between convenience, price, and health. Sometimes the more convenient thing is cheaper but less healthy. Sometimes the healthier thing is less convenient AND more expensive. But if I don’t have some convenience items, we’ll end up in the drive-thru more often than I’d like. But then I get upset because my cart looks like junk. So then I toss in healthy stuff and pay less attention to the cost. It’s a vicious cycle!!
try adding healthy foods with convenient foods, like stouffers lasagna is easy, i make mine in the microwave, and add a salad and some fruit and maybe a slice of garlic bread. i understand what you are saying because we have to eat healthier but the reason why convenient foods are so unhealthy is because they add stuff to make them last longer. and as i say that, this comes to mind “if its going to last that long on the shelf, how long is it going to “last” in my body” meaning how long is all the additaves and sugar, and fats, etc, going to stay in your body?
My biggest buster is going to the store with a list that only exists in my head versus having it written down. I spend a lot more money without my list.
thats my problem, and even with a list, you go through the store and you see all the deals they have that wasn’t in the sale ad. so it throws you off, at least for me it does.
Me too! Especially because my fiance doesn’t eat a lot of greens so it’s hard to have things that only I eat without it going bad before I can eat it all. Plus, I HATE leftovers. I don’t want to stock pile but I do want to save big!
When I make a recipe that I know we wont eat all of it or wont eat for lunch the next day, I prepare ahead of time to freeze half. So for casseroles or lasagna or such, I line the pan with foil and use that and a freezer bag to wrap up the extra. Usually my husband and 2 kids and I eat about half of a normal casserole recipe, so it works out perfect!
I do go and try to purchase only what is on my list. And I do my best to only buy what’s on sale… if I need it and it can wait a week or two until I’m desperate and they it goes on sale, then I did myself a favor.
But YES produce is ridiculously expensive. (did you know that asparagus NOT on sale is almost $8/lb!) So, I buy what’s on sale and get creative. My family is used to not having many of the same recipes twice (unless it’s the hugest hit!) and being creative… pinterest is the best!
I definitely need help in this area! I have read through SO many different lists of “tips and tricks”, and we’ve been moving away from processed foods to more “scratch” cooking, etc. One tip that I keep seeing and that we’ve been trying to implement more is the “Have meatless meals at least once a week, because meat is expensive”… um… I don’t know if my area is unique, but the price of veggies is nuts!! lol Obviously, we need vegetables at every meal and not just on meatless nights, but they definitely put me over budget most weeks :/
Meatless meals could be beans, pasta, eggs, potatoes. Beans could be chili, soup, quesadillas. Pasta – mac & cheese, raviolis, tortellini. How about soup or breakfast for dinner? There’s lots of ideas out there. And as for vegetables, try and stick with what’s in season.
We do great with making a menu and doing the shopping, but preparing ahead and not just grabbing convenience foods when we are tired trips up our budget.
freeze indavidual servings of whatever you are making. and lable them. that way if anyone in your family wants something different they can reheat what you made. i try making a menu but i am so bad at taking meat out to thaw.
i got caught in the job crunch when the economy went south in 2009. i need to stay within our budget. i don’t need snacks, but i seem to ruin my budget buying them. (pita crackers, goldfish, wheat crackers, yogurt, cookie dough (with coupons) ….maybe that’s the way the snack companies reel me in…with their coupons.
This could not be more timely, as my husband I have just committed to a true tithe to our church, and therefore have to be more conscious of our spending! Our biggest budget buster is that 3 of us are gluten intolerant. While we try to eat foods that are naturally gluten free, like rice or corn, bread and bread products are hard to go without and are really expensive. The bread you can make at home cant be used for sandwiches etc… because it is too crumbly and thick. Thankfully gluten free pastas have come down in price. I think anyone working with food allergies will struggle with costs also.
Our biggest budget breaker is meat (dinners). Having meatless dinners is not an option in our house. I’m feeding four people,two of them teens. Also,I have to make extra for my husband to be able to take leftovers for work. My grocery bill is my second biggest expense next to my mortgage! And I’m very limited in shopping as I live in the country and we only have one vehicle. Add in some very picky eaters and UGH!! lol
Suzy D, that is exactly my problem, too! I hardly check coupons anymore, they are most often for convenience foods I won’t purchase. Finding the foods that are the best for my family at a price I can afford to pay is the hard spot for me.
in my sunday paper there was a coupon for “save $2 off chicken when you purchase 2 of the following products listed” if you use coupons check out some of the clipping services. and some charge only 10 cents a coupon. so you can buy as many as you need or want.
As part of the 2013 Sequestration, our already small food budget is set to get 20% smaller. We spend under $400 a month for a family of five. Our biggest budget buster is that we do not buy anything with coupons as we face corn allergies and several additive allergies as well. Finding coupons for real food (no processed) is hard. I can’t say i know where to look. I make menus and shop once a month, but would like tolearn how sales rotate, so I can just shop for loss-leader items when they pop up and cook from my “stores” rather than the once a month shopping. I love cooking, but loathe shopping!
some stores put out sale ads once a week. so thats what i make my menu around. and if the coupons i have dont match any of the sale ads but expire later in the month i will hold off on buying an item unless its 10/$10. and i live in michigan so we have a meijer, i want to say about 1 time a month they have a 10/$10 get the 11th item free sale. and sometimes they have angel soft toilet paper (reg roll 4 pack) in that deal and i can get a save 25cents coupon.
I clip coupons, I make a list, I normally stay on budget…my issue is preparing. I work full time, I’m always rushing, although I may have my grocery list on my phone or in my head, coupons in the car (I go through them quickly before entering the grocery store) I just can’t make the most out of my grocery trips. We have a family of 5, 6 in October…and I want to make the most of my grocery trips, stay within my budget, and get the best deal out of my coupons. HELP!
preparing the food? i live in a small apartment with the standard sized fridge/freezer. i have a family of almost 5 (due may 2nd). make a double batch when you cook something and freeze it. my boyfriend loves stuffed peppers and stuffed shells. i just dont have the room to freeze extra meals. i wish i could afford the electric bill to put a chest freezer in here.
Not to prepare food, just preparing for the grocery trip…and I guess preparing meals. I always feel rushed, I clip coupons, but my trips to the grocery store always feel rushed and I never really have time to go through them.
Last night we had leftovers from Monday and Tuesday, that worked out great for me, but no matter how much I think I “prepare” when it comes to grocery (shopping, clipping, or purchases) I’m never quite prepared at all.
i seen this on extreme couponing and im not sure if your store will do it, but ask for a list of every item they have in the store and what aisle it is in. then make your list by aisle like writing down aisle 1: and everything you need to get from that aisle. i feel rushed too when i shop because i have a 3 year old that is in the “i want” stage and a 9 month old that will throw his bottle on the floor and im only 5 foot so i cant see over the car seat. lol. i am due with my 3rd and final son on may 2nd. so i need to get better organized with things around the house and making trips to the store.
My entire family of 5 is gluten intolerant. We don’t buy many specialty gfree products, but my eats eat A LOT of food. They aren’t even teenagers yet and can easily eat as much as an adult and are always hungry.
My kiddos eat a ton to and I can’t imagine what its going to be like when they are teens ugh! My daughter is gluten intolerant and I’m finding it very expensive for just one person. Any tips on how to save some money? All the recipes I’m finding have multiple ingredients that are very expensive to make. With a family of 6 that is just not feasible for us because both my husband and I work part time and we both attend college.
My biggest grocery bill is trying to find things gluten free that my daughter can eat at a reasonable cost. All the things I find are super expensive and I’m finding I’m leaving the store paying almost $200 a week and that is not anywhere near our budget. We are a family of 6 and I can’t spend no more than $125 a week because we are running out of our tax return quickly. So I am looking forward to your blog post and tips on ways to help save me some money.
I have 3 big problems. One, sometimes I need a break from cooking and we end up eating out. Huge budget buster. Two, sometimes I forget to pull out the meal and then have nothing for dinner since no meat is defrosted. Do people keep bagged meals in their freezer for this or are they better at remembering? Three, what to do when we will be away from home for dinner. Lunch meat is very expensive so what do people eat?
We love ham. I got a whole boneless ham on sale and had the butcher slice it in 3 different thicknesses. I divided them into meal size freezer bags. Saved a ton!
My issue is finding more crockpot recipes for vege meals–everything has meat in it and I can’t eat meat. Or it is really heavy on the pasta. It seems like when the reality coupon shows came out the matchups with the coupons and sales became non existent–so I rarely use coupons anymore either which is sad because while it lasted I saved a tremendous amount of money. I buy whole foods–grow my own veges and we eat what is one sale–it is finding good crockpot recipes or one pot recipes that is the issue. Oh and something that will feed 6–not just 2 or maybe 4 if you’re lucky–
I tend to buy a lot of snacks, but if I don’t, I get hungry in the afternoon and go to the vending machine (which is even more expensive). To fix it, I try to buy big packs and separate it in the ziplock bags, which saves some money. I also bake some muffins or such, since it’s cheaper and healthier than bought snacks
milk (whole, 2% and soy) and fresh produce – with young kids these are a huge part of their diets/calories. I know if you offer kids good food they won’t starve themselves but I also hate food battles so I always try to have at least one fruit and milk at every meal (so there is no “I’m hungry” crys right before bed) While I only shop once a week with a list and a meal plan, we stop by sometimes two more times a week for extra fruit and milk (there is only so much room in our freg). Okay so that is way more than one problem – but milk and produce are our budget busters;)
I don’t know about the state, but in Canada we have Bulk Barn. Everything is in bulk. It saves a lot of money buying in bulk. Also, for a meat substitute they sell TVP (textured vegetable protein) which, compared to non-dehydrated meat substitutes at $5.60/lb, the TVP is about $.50/lb. Huge savings!
My problem is that I always make too much food (which means I buy too much food). My husband hates leftovers, so then I end up throwing it out. Even if I reuse it or dress it up or do something else with it, leftovers have a way of always tasting exactly the same.
i hate leftovers too. and so does my boyfriend. i try to save them and heat them up for my 3 year old son but they just sit there taking up room and i end up tossing them out days later. when making tacos i make twice as much and freeze for a later use. in my food and nutrtion class we learned that you can freeze peanut butter sandwhiches and thaw them out in 10 minutes, a huge plus for parents who send their kids to school with a sack lunch. just take it out and put it in their bag, and its ready to eat by lunch time. chicken breast is a good thing to cook double of too. because you can use that however you want. its a very versatile meat as well as hamburger. also use the ziplock perfect portion bags. when i buy these im going to get marinade and let the meat soak it up and freeze it, that way you can have something different for everyone. and use snack baggies, when you buy chips, open them up and divide them up and toss the baggies back in the chip bag (a must for me since my son loves chips) he can reach into the bag and get out enough for him without having to put his hand in the bag of chips getting germs all over the rest (my boyfriend hates that and wont eat the chips if my son puts his hand in them) plus its an easy grab for when you take a long road trip, just grab a couple and there you have it. also dont buy extra food to make extra food. buy some filling snacks or i like the indavidual burritos because if your husband gets hungry again, he can make one or 2 of those and they usually cost $1 or less for each.
I try to shop meat sales on the last day of the sale cycle. I often find that the managers have over ordered and have extra to get rid of, so they mark it down considerably. I bought split chicken breasts for 70 cents / lb this will because of this!
That’s what I like to do too. I’ve found that our local Walmart puts some of their meats on clearance on Sunday nights. That’s when I like to buy my meats. I’m thinking I need to find out when our Ingles (grocery store chain) puts their meats on clearance.
My biggest budget buster is meat. I have a husband that is a meat and potatoes guy so he needs a meat at every meal. Buying organic and healthy is so expensive. That’s why there are so many overweight people (including myself). Its so much cheaper to go through a drive through than the grocery store! Something is definitely wrong with that!!
Lori
Lori, another thought about meat that just occurred to me: we have local farmers who like to sell either a half side of beef (processed to your liking) or maybe even a fourth. I’m checking into this, especially the ones who grow their cows on organic feed. I don’t know, maybe it is cheaper this way? I have to do the figures on it. My hubby is a meat and potatoes guy too. Hubby also loves venison (not my favourite, but oh well, less fatty than beef) so he’s asking around for someone who would hunt one for him and have it processed – the fee isn’t too bad I think, depending on the size of the deer. Just some thoughts.
I know farmers at the farmers market that sell meat offered to sell the cow whole or half you probably can get fourth. It’s a marked difference in price when you buy bulk straight from the farm. they may also offer venison with only charging the processing fee if they hunt on their land.
I fee like I make the same thing over and over and over again. Like Meatloaf, pot pies, spaghetti, and baked pasta dishes. Meat costs kill us. I was recently diagnosed with Crohns so I have to change our diet competely. I can handly light dairy products but recipes with loads of dairy and stuff just aggrivate my tummy But i LOVE CHEESE. I mean I can not explain my love for it. the cheesyier the better. OH and we are not big veggie eaters (well I stink at making them yummy at least)
So excited about this series!!! A big saver I’ve started implementing recently is price-matching. I love how I can save so much on healthy produce! One of my biggest wasters of money is wasting food. I hate seeing so much food in the trash, I know it’s such a 1st world problem!
I have switched over to a Paleo/Primal Diet which has caused havoc in my usual routine. Tips on saving on fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats would be helpful.
if you have a save-a-lot go there, mine doesn’t have a huge section on fresh meat, but they have coupons on some of the meats that the cashier takes off at check out. and even though winter is ending, go to farmers markets for fresh fruits and veggies, it is much cheaper than the stores because they don’t pay for shipping. i can get green peppers at the local farmers market for 40cents each, where as the stores even when the peppers are in season are never less than $1 each. so buy what you can during the summer/fall at the farmers market and can or freeze some of it for the winter/early spring. or plant your own garden. i get snap (food stamps) and it covers the seeds and im not sure if i can get a plant thats already started to grow.
We have a Save a Lot in my area but I find I get better prices at Winn Dixie taking advantage of BOGO sales. There is a bountiful baskets here in Louisiana but it’s a 4 hour drive (one way) and the savings would be exhausted in gas alone. I find the farmer’s markets and roadside vendors are just expensive as grocery stores because there are no real CSA farms in the area. That being said I was able to get turnips real cheap this weekend and I love turnips as my potato substitute.
I just blew my budget at the grocery store yesterday because I was thinking about my kids’ spring break starting this week. So I bought a bunch of easy lunch and snack items that I normally would NEVER buy.
I’m curious as to how farmers market prices compare to grocery store prices, as far as produce goes. I always hear people say that the farmers market is cheaper, but I would really like some concrete numbers to compare (although I know that prices will vary from region to region, any example would be nice.) The ones near me are still out of the way and drain my gas tank, so I really need to weigh the pros and cons. Thank you!
I don”t have a farmer”s market nearby, but in our previous city the prices at the farmer”s market were usually lower by a minimum of 25%, up to 75% if you shopped late in the day when the farmers wanted to get rid of their stock for the day. I currently shop at a local Hispanic market where I pay about 50% off Walmart prices. For example, $1.49 for a pint of grape tomatoes, 25 to 33 cents each for cucumbers and peppers, 50 cents each for Haas avocados. Unfortunately you do have to compare actual prices in your area and shop different places to see what they have to offer.
I shop at our farmer’s market early so I don’t get any good deals but I get first pick … I never thought of shopping later…I might try that.
Here in Missouri, I get tomatoes for $1.50/lb, berries for $2.50 (at the store, they can be only $2 on sale but not nearly as good), and baked goods for $5-$10 (a bit more than pre-made in the store but so fresh, much healthier, and definitely tastier).
I don’t think it’s “cheaper” but it’s a nice break from the waxy and questionable produce I dig through at grocery and big-box retailers.
Hope that helps
That’s a pretty good idea – never thought to check Hispanic markets. We live within a reasonable driving distance to a hugely populated Hispanic area with lots of shops. Might have to check it out.
My issue for my family of six (an ever-changing number in an active foster family) and I also run an in-home daycare is simply sticking to it. Life is not predictable and it takes only a random fever or an unexpected appointment to set our schedule, lists, menu and budget off by $10, $20, even $100 for the week. I have good intentions with my organizing (everything is planned and shopped for on Sunday) but I need help preparing for “emergencies” when making a home-cooked meal is impossible and eating out costs so much!
i know that feeling all too well. having 2 sons, a disabled boyfriend that has 3 daughters with an ex, and being pregnant, i fail to keep a schedual because something messes it up. my days are bascially the same unless i need to make an apt. i take care of my boyfriend so my schedual is pretty open as far as making an apt. its just the fact my boyfriends daughters have this issue with me making anything for them to eat. they act like im trying to poison them or something, which im not. so when they come here my boyfriend orders pizza to be deliverd. their mom has a habit of saying shes bringing them over so i am unprepared for them being here. i try to keep frozen pizza on hand but we only have a small freezer. i guess buying the stuff to make homemade pizza would be better and easier to store. make homemade meals and freeze them using the disposiable tin foil pans. i get them for $1 each at the store, easy clean up. without the girls being here i have to feed 3 people, my son eats anything except chinese food. and hes 3. and my boyfriend eats dinner and a late snack thats it. so when you make a roasted chicken, make 2 (buying a whole chicken and cutting it up is cheaper because i can buy a whole bird for under $5 and get 2 meals out of 1 bird) cut up a chicken and boil noodles and toss with a can of cream of chicken or whatever sauce your family likes, toss in a disposiable tin foil pan and freeze. then when you have an “oh my gosh whats for dinner” moment take it out and reheat in the oven. ta-da. serve veggies and a salad on the side.
I want to eat low car high protein but there are two other adults and two toddlers in the house who don’t eat the way I want to. It is hard to stay on budget and make everyone happy.
#2 – We get our meat from Zaycon (no, I’m not posting an affiliate link). The chicken is about 1/3 of what it costs in the store. Excellent cuts that taste great and have no added hormones.
# 3 – Our family won’t do leftovers — but they do eat “rollovers”. We have spaghetti the day after tacos, so any taco meat gets added to the spaghetti. Lot of meals can do this.
#4 – Breakfast for dinner. Once a week, we try to have breakfast for dinner. It’s a lot less expensive.
#5 – Build your stockpile. If you don’t have a lot of money, it can be done a little at a time. Mustard on sale for half off? Get a year’s worth. Those pennies add up.
btw, sticking to a strict list can hurt you in the long run. If you have your coupons with you and come across a sale, forgo the list.
For us, our biggest issue is the convenience vs. non-processed/homemade food deal. I don’t use coupons because I know me – I won’t stick to them plus they’re mostly to lure you into using a more expensive convenience food that maybe you don’t use on a regular basis. I work full time but have summers off and this year we’re going to grow (I hope!) a nice sized garden so we can have veggies. I order in bulk – our church does a huge grain order once a year. I do try to make our bread and cook as much as I can from scratch on good days. I have fibromyalgia and when I’m having a good day I try to cook more and freeze meals for the days when I am in a lot of pain. Our goal is to become completely debt free asap.
Family of 5 on a tight budget. Everyone on different schedules and my kids (2 college boys and a teenage girl) want quick. Produce is high, my freezer is small, and my picky eaters don’t eat leftovers! UGH!
I have two biggest problems, and the 1st is laziness–I want to have everything I need and get it ready for supper within 1/2 hour. I don’t plan meals as I should since I often don’t feel like making what I planned, and therefore the wrong/no meat is defrosted. So I stand in front of the fridge, searching for what I know is not there, too tempted to just go out.
Problem #2 is coupons. I clip and clip, and see coupons for what I don’t use/need. I don’t keep the coupons for what i don’t use, and, when I remember to use the ones I have, they’ve expired. Coupons just don’t seem worth the effort to me, here in southern California. No one doubles them, there is always a limit of “one product per coupon” and Costco doesn’t accept them anyway.
I hope we can all gain some success in cutting the grocery bills, especially since that seems the only place where there is any room to cut back any more than we already have.
I know what you mean about coupons Charmaine. I only occasionally use one for a non-food item or sometimes for gluten free products. I still keep my budget under $125 without the coupons by using the tips that I am sharing on the blog, so there is hope. You can do it!
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My biggest grocery budget buster is the constant battle as I maneuver the store… a battle between convenience, price, and health. Sometimes the more convenient thing is cheaper but less healthy. Sometimes the healthier thing is less convenient AND more expensive. But if I don’t have some convenience items, we’ll end up in the drive-thru more often than I’d like. But then I get upset because my cart looks like junk. So then I toss in healthy stuff and pay less attention to the cost. It’s a vicious cycle!!
try adding healthy foods with convenient foods, like stouffers lasagna is easy, i make mine in the microwave, and add a salad and some fruit and maybe a slice of garlic bread. i understand what you are saying because we have to eat healthier but the reason why convenient foods are so unhealthy is because they add stuff to make them last longer. and as i say that, this comes to mind “if its going to last that long on the shelf, how long is it going to “last” in my body” meaning how long is all the additaves and sugar, and fats, etc, going to stay in your body?
My biggest buster is going to the store with a list that only exists in my head versus having it written down. I spend a lot more money without my list.
thats my problem, and even with a list, you go through the store and you see all the deals they have that wasn’t in the sale ad. so it throws you off, at least for me it does.
I have problems with using up produce (lettuce, apples) and leftovers before they go bad.
Me too! Especially because my fiance doesn’t eat a lot of greens so it’s hard to have things that only I eat without it going bad before I can eat it all. Plus, I HATE leftovers. I don’t want to stock pile but I do want to save big!
When I make a recipe that I know we wont eat all of it or wont eat for lunch the next day, I prepare ahead of time to freeze half. So for casseroles or lasagna or such, I line the pan with foil and use that and a freezer bag to wrap up the extra. Usually my husband and 2 kids and I eat about half of a normal casserole recipe, so it works out perfect!
I do go and try to purchase only what is on my list. And I do my best to only buy what’s on sale… if I need it and it can wait a week or two until I’m desperate and they it goes on sale, then I did myself a favor.
But YES produce is ridiculously expensive. (did you know that asparagus NOT on sale is almost $8/lb!) So, I buy what’s on sale and get creative. My family is used to not having many of the same recipes twice (unless it’s the hugest hit!) and being creative… pinterest is the best!
I definitely need help in this area! I have read through SO many different lists of “tips and tricks”, and we’ve been moving away from processed foods to more “scratch” cooking, etc. One tip that I keep seeing and that we’ve been trying to implement more is the “Have meatless meals at least once a week, because meat is expensive”… um… I don’t know if my area is unique, but the price of veggies is nuts!! lol Obviously, we need vegetables at every meal and not just on meatless nights, but they definitely put me over budget most weeks :/
Meatless meals could be beans, pasta, eggs, potatoes. Beans could be chili, soup, quesadillas. Pasta – mac & cheese, raviolis, tortellini. How about soup or breakfast for dinner? There’s lots of ideas out there. And as for vegetables, try and stick with what’s in season.
How to buy organic and stay in a budget.
Un advertised deals. Stores dont always put all of their sales in the paper. So when I.go.shopping I get more than I need cause I see a good deal.
We do great with making a menu and doing the shopping, but preparing ahead and not just grabbing convenience foods when we are tired trips up our budget.
freeze indavidual servings of whatever you are making. and lable them. that way if anyone in your family wants something different they can reheat what you made. i try making a menu but i am so bad at taking meat out to thaw.
We don’t eat meat, so at least no worries there lol.
i got caught in the job crunch when the economy went south in 2009. i need to stay within our budget. i don’t need snacks, but i seem to ruin my budget buying them. (pita crackers, goldfish, wheat crackers, yogurt, cookie dough (with coupons) ….maybe that’s the way the snack companies reel me in…with their coupons.
This could not be more timely, as my husband I have just committed to a true tithe to our church, and therefore have to be more conscious of our spending! Our biggest budget buster is that 3 of us are gluten intolerant. While we try to eat foods that are naturally gluten free, like rice or corn, bread and bread products are hard to go without and are really expensive. The bread you can make at home cant be used for sandwiches etc… because it is too crumbly and thick. Thankfully gluten free pastas have come down in price. I think anyone working with food allergies will struggle with costs also.
Our biggest budget breaker is meat (dinners). Having meatless dinners is not an option in our house. I’m feeding four people,two of them teens. Also,I have to make extra for my husband to be able to take leftovers for work. My grocery bill is my second biggest expense next to my mortgage! And I’m very limited in shopping as I live in the country and we only have one vehicle. Add in some very picky eaters and UGH!! lol
Suzy D, that is exactly my problem, too! I hardly check coupons anymore, they are most often for convenience foods I won’t purchase. Finding the foods that are the best for my family at a price I can afford to pay is the hard spot for me.
in my sunday paper there was a coupon for “save $2 off chicken when you purchase 2 of the following products listed” if you use coupons check out some of the clipping services. and some charge only 10 cents a coupon. so you can buy as many as you need or want.
As part of the 2013 Sequestration, our already small food budget is set to get 20% smaller. We spend under $400 a month for a family of five. Our biggest budget buster is that we do not buy anything with coupons as we face corn allergies and several additive allergies as well. Finding coupons for real food (no processed) is hard. I can’t say i know where to look. I make menus and shop once a month, but would like tolearn how sales rotate, so I can just shop for loss-leader items when they pop up and cook from my “stores” rather than the once a month shopping. I love cooking, but loathe shopping!
some stores put out sale ads once a week. so thats what i make my menu around. and if the coupons i have dont match any of the sale ads but expire later in the month i will hold off on buying an item unless its 10/$10. and i live in michigan so we have a meijer, i want to say about 1 time a month they have a 10/$10 get the 11th item free sale. and sometimes they have angel soft toilet paper (reg roll 4 pack) in that deal and i can get a save 25cents coupon.
My biggest budget buster is planning menus that are healthy and affordable, without being boring.
I clip coupons, I make a list, I normally stay on budget…my issue is preparing. I work full time, I’m always rushing, although I may have my grocery list on my phone or in my head, coupons in the car (I go through them quickly before entering the grocery store) I just can’t make the most out of my grocery trips. We have a family of 5, 6 in October…and I want to make the most of my grocery trips, stay within my budget, and get the best deal out of my coupons. HELP!
preparing the food? i live in a small apartment with the standard sized fridge/freezer. i have a family of almost 5 (due may 2nd). make a double batch when you cook something and freeze it. my boyfriend loves stuffed peppers and stuffed shells. i just dont have the room to freeze extra meals. i wish i could afford the electric bill to put a chest freezer in here.
Not to prepare food, just preparing for the grocery trip…and I guess preparing meals. I always feel rushed, I clip coupons, but my trips to the grocery store always feel rushed and I never really have time to go through them.
Last night we had leftovers from Monday and Tuesday, that worked out great for me, but no matter how much I think I “prepare” when it comes to grocery (shopping, clipping, or purchases) I’m never quite prepared at all.
i seen this on extreme couponing and im not sure if your store will do it, but ask for a list of every item they have in the store and what aisle it is in. then make your list by aisle like writing down aisle 1: and everything you need to get from that aisle. i feel rushed too when i shop because i have a 3 year old that is in the “i want” stage and a 9 month old that will throw his bottle on the floor and im only 5 foot so i cant see over the car seat. lol. i am due with my 3rd and final son on may 2nd. so i need to get better organized with things around the house and making trips to the store.
My entire family of 5 is gluten intolerant. We don’t buy many specialty gfree products, but my eats eat A LOT of food. They aren’t even teenagers yet and can easily eat as much as an adult and are always hungry.
My kiddos eat a ton to and I can’t imagine what its going to be like when they are teens ugh! My daughter is gluten intolerant and I’m finding it very expensive for just one person. Any tips on how to save some money? All the recipes I’m finding have multiple ingredients that are very expensive to make. With a family of 6 that is just not feasible for us because both my husband and I work part time and we both attend college.
My biggest grocery bill is trying to find things gluten free that my daughter can eat at a reasonable cost. All the things I find are super expensive and I’m finding I’m leaving the store paying almost $200 a week and that is not anywhere near our budget. We are a family of 6 and I can’t spend no more than $125 a week because we are running out of our tax return quickly. So I am looking forward to your blog post and tips on ways to help save me some money.
I have 3 big problems. One, sometimes I need a break from cooking and we end up eating out. Huge budget buster. Two, sometimes I forget to pull out the meal and then have nothing for dinner since no meat is defrosted. Do people keep bagged meals in their freezer for this or are they better at remembering? Three, what to do when we will be away from home for dinner. Lunch meat is very expensive so what do people eat?
We love ham. I got a whole boneless ham on sale and had the butcher slice it in 3 different thicknesses. I divided them into meal size freezer bags. Saved a ton!
My issue is finding more crockpot recipes for vege meals–everything has meat in it and I can’t eat meat. Or it is really heavy on the pasta. It seems like when the reality coupon shows came out the matchups with the coupons and sales became non existent–so I rarely use coupons anymore either which is sad because while it lasted I saved a tremendous amount of money. I buy whole foods–grow my own veges and we eat what is one sale–it is finding good crockpot recipes or one pot recipes that is the issue. Oh and something that will feed 6–not just 2 or maybe 4 if you’re lucky–
I tend to buy a lot of snacks, but if I don’t, I get hungry in the afternoon and go to the vending machine (which is even more expensive). To fix it, I try to buy big packs and separate it in the ziplock bags, which saves some money. I also bake some muffins or such, since it’s cheaper and healthier than bought snacks
milk (whole, 2% and soy) and fresh produce – with young kids these are a huge part of their diets/calories. I know if you offer kids good food they won’t starve themselves but I also hate food battles so I always try to have at least one fruit and milk at every meal (so there is no “I’m hungry” crys right before bed) While I only shop once a week with a list and a meal plan, we stop by sometimes two more times a week for extra fruit and milk (there is only so much room in our freg). Okay so that is way more than one problem – but milk and produce are our budget busters;)
I don’t know about the state, but in Canada we have Bulk Barn. Everything is in bulk. It saves a lot of money buying in bulk. Also, for a meat substitute they sell TVP (textured vegetable protein) which, compared to non-dehydrated meat substitutes at $5.60/lb, the TVP is about $.50/lb. Huge savings!
My problem is that I always make too much food (which means I buy too much food). My husband hates leftovers, so then I end up throwing it out. Even if I reuse it or dress it up or do something else with it, leftovers have a way of always tasting exactly the same.
i hate leftovers too. and so does my boyfriend. i try to save them and heat them up for my 3 year old son but they just sit there taking up room and i end up tossing them out days later. when making tacos i make twice as much and freeze for a later use. in my food and nutrtion class we learned that you can freeze peanut butter sandwhiches and thaw them out in 10 minutes, a huge plus for parents who send their kids to school with a sack lunch. just take it out and put it in their bag, and its ready to eat by lunch time. chicken breast is a good thing to cook double of too. because you can use that however you want. its a very versatile meat as well as hamburger. also use the ziplock perfect portion bags. when i buy these im going to get marinade and let the meat soak it up and freeze it, that way you can have something different for everyone. and use snack baggies, when you buy chips, open them up and divide them up and toss the baggies back in the chip bag (a must for me since my son loves chips) he can reach into the bag and get out enough for him without having to put his hand in the bag of chips getting germs all over the rest (my boyfriend hates that and wont eat the chips if my son puts his hand in them) plus its an easy grab for when you take a long road trip, just grab a couple and there you have it. also dont buy extra food to make extra food. buy some filling snacks or i like the indavidual burritos because if your husband gets hungry again, he can make one or 2 of those and they usually cost $1 or less for each.
I try to shop meat sales on the last day of the sale cycle. I often find that the managers have over ordered and have extra to get rid of, so they mark it down considerably. I bought split chicken breasts for 70 cents / lb this will because of this!
That’s what I like to do too. I’ve found that our local Walmart puts some of their meats on clearance on Sunday nights. That’s when I like to buy my meats. I’m thinking I need to find out when our Ingles (grocery store chain) puts their meats on clearance.
My biggest budget buster is meat. I have a husband that is a meat and potatoes guy so he needs a meat at every meal. Buying organic and healthy is so expensive. That’s why there are so many overweight people (including myself). Its so much cheaper to go through a drive through than the grocery store! Something is definitely wrong with that!!
Lori
Lori, another thought about meat that just occurred to me: we have local farmers who like to sell either a half side of beef (processed to your liking) or maybe even a fourth. I’m checking into this, especially the ones who grow their cows on organic feed. I don’t know, maybe it is cheaper this way? I have to do the figures on it. My hubby is a meat and potatoes guy too. Hubby also loves venison (not my favourite, but oh well, less fatty than beef) so he’s asking around for someone who would hunt one for him and have it processed – the fee isn’t too bad I think, depending on the size of the deer. Just some thoughts.
I know farmers at the farmers market that sell meat offered to sell the cow whole or half you probably can get fourth. It’s a marked difference in price when you buy bulk straight from the farm. they may also offer venison with only charging the processing fee if they hunt on their land.
Great tip Katie! It is much cheaper to buy a half or quarter cow, but you do need some freezer space.
I fee like I make the same thing over and over and over again. Like Meatloaf, pot pies, spaghetti, and baked pasta dishes. Meat costs kill us. I was recently diagnosed with Crohns so I have to change our diet competely. I can handly light dairy products but recipes with loads of dairy and stuff just aggrivate my tummy
But i LOVE CHEESE. I mean I can not explain my love for it. the cheesyier the better. OH and we are not big veggie eaters (well I stink at making them yummy at least)
Whole Foods has dairy free cheese and it taste like dairy cheese. It is about $4.50 for a 9 oz package of shredded cheese.
So excited about this series!!! A big saver I’ve started implementing recently is price-matching. I love how I can save so much on healthy produce! One of my biggest wasters of money is wasting food. I hate seeing so much food in the trash, I know it’s such a 1st world problem!
My best saving tip is to use half recommendations.
Eg:-If it says ‘use a capful of washing detergent’ only use half- et voila, it lasts twice as long. Sugar in baking, half it.
when baking things it needs to be exact other wise it doesnt come out right, unless you cut the whole reciepe in half.
Francesca, I’ve found that my clothes clean just as well with half. I’m going to experiment with other “halves” to see how that turns out too.
I have switched over to a Paleo/Primal Diet which has caused havoc in my usual routine. Tips on saving on fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats would be helpful.
if you have a save-a-lot go there, mine doesn’t have a huge section on fresh meat, but they have coupons on some of the meats that the cashier takes off at check out. and even though winter is ending, go to farmers markets for fresh fruits and veggies, it is much cheaper than the stores because they don’t pay for shipping. i can get green peppers at the local farmers market for 40cents each, where as the stores even when the peppers are in season are never less than $1 each. so buy what you can during the summer/fall at the farmers market and can or freeze some of it for the winter/early spring. or plant your own garden. i get snap (food stamps) and it covers the seeds and im not sure if i can get a plant thats already started to grow.
We have a Save a Lot in my area but I find I get better prices at Winn Dixie taking advantage of BOGO sales. There is a bountiful baskets here in Louisiana but it’s a 4 hour drive (one way) and the savings would be exhausted in gas alone. I find the farmer’s markets and roadside vendors are just expensive as grocery stores because there are no real CSA farms in the area. That being said I was able to get turnips real cheap this weekend and I love turnips as my potato substitute.
I just blew my budget at the grocery store yesterday because I was thinking about my kids’ spring break starting this week. So I bought a bunch of easy lunch and snack items that I normally would NEVER buy.
It’s difficult sometimes to keep the budget when schedules change. At least your kids will have something to eat this week.
I’m curious as to how farmers market prices compare to grocery store prices, as far as produce goes. I always hear people say that the farmers market is cheaper, but I would really like some concrete numbers to compare (although I know that prices will vary from region to region, any example would be nice.) The ones near me are still out of the way and drain my gas tank, so I really need to weigh the pros and cons. Thank you!
I don”t have a farmer”s market nearby, but in our previous city the prices at the farmer”s market were usually lower by a minimum of 25%, up to 75% if you shopped late in the day when the farmers wanted to get rid of their stock for the day. I currently shop at a local Hispanic market where I pay about 50% off Walmart prices. For example, $1.49 for a pint of grape tomatoes, 25 to 33 cents each for cucumbers and peppers, 50 cents each for Haas avocados. Unfortunately you do have to compare actual prices in your area and shop different places to see what they have to offer.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you
You are very welcome Savanah!
I shop at our farmer’s market early so I don’t get any good deals but I get first pick … I never thought of shopping later…I might try that.
Here in Missouri, I get tomatoes for $1.50/lb, berries for $2.50 (at the store, they can be only $2 on sale but not nearly as good), and baked goods for $5-$10 (a bit more than pre-made in the store but so fresh, much healthier, and definitely tastier).
I don’t think it’s “cheaper” but it’s a nice break from the waxy and questionable produce I dig through at grocery and big-box retailers.
Hope that helps
That’s a pretty good idea – never thought to check Hispanic markets. We live within a reasonable driving distance to a hugely populated Hispanic area with lots of shops. Might have to check it out.
My issue for my family of six (an ever-changing number in an active foster family) and I also run an in-home daycare is simply sticking to it. Life is not predictable and it takes only a random fever or an unexpected appointment to set our schedule, lists, menu and budget off by $10, $20, even $100 for the week. I have good intentions with my organizing (everything is planned and shopped for on Sunday) but I need help preparing for “emergencies” when making a home-cooked meal is impossible and eating out costs so much!
i know that feeling all too well. having 2 sons, a disabled boyfriend that has 3 daughters with an ex, and being pregnant, i fail to keep a schedual because something messes it up. my days are bascially the same unless i need to make an apt. i take care of my boyfriend so my schedual is pretty open as far as making an apt. its just the fact my boyfriends daughters have this issue with me making anything for them to eat. they act like im trying to poison them or something, which im not. so when they come here my boyfriend orders pizza to be deliverd. their mom has a habit of saying shes bringing them over so i am unprepared for them being here. i try to keep frozen pizza on hand but we only have a small freezer. i guess buying the stuff to make homemade pizza would be better and easier to store. make homemade meals and freeze them using the disposiable tin foil pans. i get them for $1 each at the store, easy clean up. without the girls being here i have to feed 3 people, my son eats anything except chinese food. and hes 3. and my boyfriend eats dinner and a late snack thats it. so when you make a roasted chicken, make 2 (buying a whole chicken and cutting it up is cheaper because i can buy a whole bird for under $5 and get 2 meals out of 1 bird) cut up a chicken and boil noodles and toss with a can of cream of chicken or whatever sauce your family likes, toss in a disposiable tin foil pan and freeze. then when you have an “oh my gosh whats for dinner” moment take it out and reheat in the oven. ta-da. serve veggies and a salad on the side.
I want to eat low car high protein but there are two other adults and two toddlers in the house who don’t eat the way I want to. It is hard to stay on budget and make everyone happy.
#1 – It’s not a bargain if they won’t eat it.
#2 – We get our meat from Zaycon (no, I’m not posting an affiliate link). The chicken is about 1/3 of what it costs in the store. Excellent cuts that taste great and have no added hormones.
# 3 – Our family won’t do leftovers — but they do eat “rollovers”. We have spaghetti the day after tacos, so any taco meat gets added to the spaghetti. Lot of meals can do this.
#4 – Breakfast for dinner. Once a week, we try to have breakfast for dinner. It’s a lot less expensive.
#5 – Build your stockpile. If you don’t have a lot of money, it can be done a little at a time. Mustard on sale for half off? Get a year’s worth. Those pennies add up.
btw, sticking to a strict list can hurt you in the long run. If you have your coupons with you and come across a sale, forgo the list.
Great ideas Julie! Thanks!
For us, our biggest issue is the convenience vs. non-processed/homemade food deal. I don’t use coupons because I know me – I won’t stick to them plus they’re mostly to lure you into using a more expensive convenience food that maybe you don’t use on a regular basis. I work full time but have summers off and this year we’re going to grow (I hope!) a nice sized garden so we can have veggies. I order in bulk – our church does a huge grain order once a year. I do try to make our bread and cook as much as I can from scratch on good days. I have fibromyalgia and when I’m having a good day I try to cook more and freeze meals for the days when I am in a lot of pain. Our goal is to become completely debt free asap.
Julie, those were some great ideas!
Family of 5 on a tight budget. Everyone on different schedules and my kids (2 college boys and a teenage girl) want quick. Produce is high, my freezer is small, and my picky eaters don’t eat leftovers! UGH!
I have two biggest problems, and the 1st is laziness–I want to have everything I need and get it ready for supper within 1/2 hour. I don’t plan meals as I should since I often don’t feel like making what I planned, and therefore the wrong/no meat is defrosted. So I stand in front of the fridge, searching for what I know is not there, too tempted to just go out.
Problem #2 is coupons. I clip and clip, and see coupons for what I don’t use/need. I don’t keep the coupons for what i don’t use, and, when I remember to use the ones I have, they’ve expired. Coupons just don’t seem worth the effort to me, here in southern California. No one doubles them, there is always a limit of “one product per coupon” and Costco doesn’t accept them anyway.
I hope we can all gain some success in cutting the grocery bills, especially since that seems the only place where there is any room to cut back any more than we already have.
I know what you mean about coupons Charmaine. I only occasionally use one for a non-food item or sometimes for gluten free products. I still keep my budget under $125 without the coupons by using the tips that I am sharing on the blog, so there is hope. You can do it!