grocery bill, OMG!!

[ChickenToes]

Quote:
Cut back on the wine, even though it's torture (I had to do it too). Instead of a Swiffer, get a rag mop ( I use a Libman) that you can use over and over again and then throw in the washing machine to clean it. Use vinegar and water to clean your floors so you don't have to buy a bottle of floor cleaner or new cleaning pads for the Swiffer.

 

[gapeachy]

I cut down on my grocery bill by buying can foods on sale I will buy alot of them and ketchup and condiments if they are on sale stock up....buy alot of pasta and cheaper sauce ....anyway I cut alot of corners.....

 

[poltroon]

I shop with care but it's not just about money, but also good nutrition.

Nearly anything premade in a box or can is full of High Fructose Corn Syrup and other stuff that isn't all that good for you. That's the stuff they have coupons and discounts and promotions for, and I just stay away.

Pick one day a week and dedicate it to making meals from scratch. It may help to go to the library and get some interesting cookbooks or food magazines. It can be fun and creative, and as you get more adept, you'll be able to do meals from scratch every night.

If you have a crock pot, you can put something together fairly easily in the morning and have it for dinner that night. Pressure cookers are also good for making meals quickly. I made a really fabulous Leek & asparagus risotto last night - took about 15 minutes.

Our family goes through a lot of rice, and there's a considerable price break if I buy it in 20lb bags.

 

[TheReidHomestead]

Our store sales flyers all come out on the same day. That day, I sit down and go through each of them, especially taking note of what their loss leaders are and if we will use them. If so, I plan to stock up on just those items.

While going through the sales flyers, I look at what I already have on hand at home, and make a meal plan for the week, trying to use mostly things I already have, and then using the things on sale to supplement. Like last week, bagged salads were a $1.00 each, so those became our fresh veggies for a couple of meals.

You can also buy coupons in bulk on Ebay. I always consult the sale flyers immediately, and if there is something we need to stock up on on sale, I then go to Ebay and look for coupons for it. I usually get them in plenty of time to use during the sale that week.

It may be worth it to get a newspaper subscription for just the Sunday paper, the coupons in there will probably cover the cost of the subscription and more.

 

[sewchick]

I think I should get my dh to teach people how to shop. He is tighter than bark on a tree. I don't think he spends more than 25.00 a week on grocery's if that. He would probably pass out if I did the shopping.

He does the sale thing and buys in bulk at Sam's. Too bad you don't get the paper. Hopefully you get the store sales flier. Dh does some of his best saving with what is on sale each week. He will even wait for stuff to go on sale.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Dang..and I feel bad when I use up $100.00 for groceries for 2 people. Maybe I'm not that bad of a shopper after all?

 

[gapeachy]

the cheapest thing and healthy things you can eat are dried beans and rice and chicken....I cook that but my son dont like it...I can alot of my green beans out of the garden...I agree can food like spam and vienna sausage and ravioli is so bad for you....some people though is all they can afford....I cook alot of rice and it is supper cheap..

 

[briteday]

Another thing I've found is that places like Costco and Sams are not always the cheapest alternative. It may be convenient to pick up certain items in bulk. But I never buy anything that is a name brand so that lets out most canned goods, condiments, and treats. And I won't be sucked into the ready-to-microwave dinners for $8 a piece.

Costco has good deals on milk ($137/gal), I've compared the cost on the big bale of toilet paper and it is cheaper than the mid-line grocery store stuff, same with paper towels. Foster Farms chickens for 99 cents per pound is a bargain here. But their meat is way out of line.

We don't buy soda...Kool-ade, tea, tap water is far cheaper. I don't buy chips, cookies, snacks. If the kids want cookies they have to be industrious enough to bake them. We don't ever eat out. The only "fast food" meal we get is a huge pizza from the Costco cafe on the one day / month that I Costco shop.

No matter where you shop, take a list and stick to it. Ice cream can be a treat around here at the end of the month...IF there's any money left over in the grocery envelope...which means they've scrimped a bit during the month.

That's another thing that has saved my bacon with budgeting...every month we sit down to do bills around the 20th since that's when hubby gets payed...once per month. All of the utilities, mortgage, insrance is on a monthly pay plan where they automatically deduct from our checking. So that is already built into the budget (our utility companies will divide your total yearly useage into 12 equal payments so no ups and downs during the year). Then we have envelopes for allowance, groceries, gas. The budgeted amount goes in there and everyone is responsible for their own gas useage, allowance expenses...I take care of most of the groceries. Envelope is empty? You're done for the month.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

ouch.

We buy in bulk at BJs and also do some shopping at Market Basket.
We have found some things are not cheaper at the BJs. So we swing by the regular store on the way home. I also dont buy fruits or vegies that arent in season locally. And will be planting more veggies this spring.

I think for the three of us we spend around $300 every two months on groceries. My basement is STOCKED! Freezer is FULL

 

[Three_Blessings]

I print coupons off the internet. I go to coupons.com and a few others that I can't recall at the moment. Just google on line grocery coupons and there will be a bunch.