grocery bill, OMG!!

[toletiquesbysam]

Quote:
I'm with you!! My kids friends

coming to our house to eat. My mother cooked every meal and was a great baker so maybe that's why it comes naturally.

 

[1acrefarm]

I don't know about now but J&J foods used to have some fair deals. I think they are currently located on Limestone Parkway in the old Winn Dixie building. It has been about 7 years since I have done any grocery shopping around Gainesville though.

 

[key west chick]

I think J&J is still there. I don't get out on that end of town often.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

Quote:
there was a "black market" for baby formula here. I kid you not.
People were stealing it and then selling it to parents that couldnt afford it at the stores.

Why these people didnt apply for WIC(if they are BAD off) is beyond me

My dh does the math on every purchase no matter where we shop. Drives me nuts. But I know we dont "over spend" on much.
I am also happy my horse does well on the cheap grain, $10.50 per 50lbs Not the $15/20/25 and up stuff that I know other people are feeding.

 

[annmarie]

I haven't been able to read everyone's responses, but one suggestion I have is to put less emphasis on specials and coupons, and rather than looking at the price tag, look at the price per unit on items. In my store it's the top left hand corner of the tag thingy they put on the shelves. Don't buy the package that costs the least, but the one that is priced lowest per pound or ounce or however it's being broken down on the tag. It will most likely be the more bulk item. Then be sure to control the desire at home to eat more because there is more. I've stopped buying the little 8 ounce (I think it's 8 ounces!) bars of cheese that I used to buy, but end up rather buying the big 2 pound blocks. Yes, I'm paying a lot more on that visit to the store, but then I'm not buying any cheese for a month or two, and overall, saving a lot of money. By shopping this way, I find that my grocery lists tend to only have about 7 or 8 items per week, rather than the old lists that contained 20 or 30 items, and ultimately, I'm spending a lot less. Also see if there's a food club or buying club in your area, where you can buy some seriouly bulk staples, like rice, pasta, lentils, cooking oils, etc. You can go online to find food clubs. Also, try cooking more from scratch. If you don't already, sit down for an hour and read about breadbaking and get started. I did and I no longer buy any bread products whatsoever. The "art" of breadbaking is really overblown, in my opinion. It just takes a few tries and you'll have it nailed!

Edited to say: Okay, I guess that's more than one suggestion!

 

[Wifezilla]

rather than looking at the price tag, look at the price per unit on items

Learning how to do this can save you a small fortune. Too bad it is usually in itty bitty tiny type and my eyes aren't getting any better!!!

LOL​

 

[Blue Skys]

Some stores are avoiding putting the unit price on the sticker on some items(uh um... Walmart) I just end up doing the math, which takes a little longer but it's worth it in the end.

 

[melissastraka]

I feel your pain. I did the same thing and with a family of 8(yes i have 6 kids) we run over 1500 a month on the slim side. We dont even buy any meat or fish or any of that because we hunt and fish in season. I know how you feel!!!!

 

[cybercat]

Here is my 2 cents on what my hubby and I do. Walmart for frozen veggis big bags last much longer and paper products. Also their deli pizza is real good for $8 and larger than the frozen. Meat we go to local grocery and we buy specials and of steak and pork and chicken big cuts we cut to smaller ouselves. One big cut will give us 5 to 10 smaller way worth it. Also keep an eye on chicken legs instead of breasts they are cheaper and more meat. For drinks we buy a cyrstal light nock off which is cheaper than kool aid and gives one more gallon. Milk we buy at our local BP gas station it is way cheaper than the store. At the store they want 3.88 at the BP it is 3.45. Soda are a once a month and bought either at walmart or BP which as specials all the time. We spend abot $300 a month this way just for the two of us. We do not use coupons but shopping at more than one store like we do saves us money.

I cook at home all week long and make enough per meal for hubby to take to work. Speggetti I buy canned sauce and add to it with peppers and mushrooms and meat, taste better that way and strecths it out. Tuna is bought at walmart big cans in water, makes good meals from it. We do not buy alot of prepackage stuff some rice or noodle side dishes but that is it. Big bag of potatoes and a big bag of pasta and rice. These you can use in alot of way to make those prepackage things. I will make our own mac and cheese which is way better and cheaper than store bought. I get the big blocks of cheese and a thing of velveeta. Eggs we buy buy the 18 count instead of a dozen. When you start putting meal together you will be amazed at how creative you can get with few ingredents. Get some recipes off then net they will help alot. There are many sites that just have then and they are free instead of a cookbook.

Here is a idea for you get a ham and cook it for dinner. Then take some the next day and make mac and cheese and ham dish. Then use some more ham for green beans and ham and what is left you can use for ham sandwhichs and eggs and ham for breakfast. If it has a bone then make ham and pea soup or whatever you like soup and ham wise with it. So one ham just gave you over five different types of meals. Cooking is an art and should not be a chore.

 

[Scoop]

Our family of 5 costs at least $600.00 a month for groceries. One way we try to save is to take road killed deer when we see them. All you have to do is call it in to the game commission and get a license to have it. I buy virtually no beef all year long. We also just started going to a food auction and saved at least 50% off everything we bought. All the food was great. We also bought seeds for the garden already because we know they will sell out fast this year.