Affording your new lifestyle: tips and tricks for the grocery store!

missiontofitness
missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
edited November 9 in Food and Nutrition
As a college student, I have a pretty tight budget to go on. I've been on this journey for nine months now, and through extreme couponing and smart shopping, I've been able to afford to eat well on a budget! I'm going to divide this up into a few different sections, with photos of how my kitchen and pantry is set up, and how I do what I do. My prices will vary from yours based on our proximities, but I hope this helps people approach the grocery store a bit differently!

For starters, check your local store: I prefer to go to stores with coupon doubling policies, because my coupon value doubles instantly. So if I have a $.50/one coupon for an item, it automatically becomes $1 off that item. Also, check out some extreme couponing for beginners sites for some basic tips and trips to legally hustle your local grocery store. A few coupons add up over time! I've saved $1,400+ so far this year by couponing at my local stores. Couponing also helps to free up your budget, and apply your savings to fresh produce, meat, and other staple items.

Produce:
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So this is the biggest one I've seen here on the site; how to afford produce. Unfortunately, not many coupons exist for produce, so you have to get smart when buying it.

In this image, I have 5lbs of clementines (four are missing...I got hungry between last night and today. :smile:), two bananas, and a mango. I was able to get the box of clementines on sale for $4.99, the bananas for $.39/lb, and the mango for $.99.

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In this second photo, I have a giant container of Olivia's Organics salad mix that I got for $4.99, a head of cauliflower that I got on clearance for $.99 (since it was close to its expiration date), a pound of grapes for $2.99, two giant heads of broccoli for around $2, a giant cucumber for $.50, and some apples and carrots that costed me around $4 total.

The best tip I can give in regards to produce is buy in bulk when you can; a container half the size of my salad mix can be $3, but if I go the next size up, I save $1. Plus, it's motivation to get my greens in! Try to buy in season when you can, and if you notice produce items with a flat price (like my mango for $.99), buy the biggest one you can. My giant mango is the same price as the tinier ones I saw in the bin, so I might as well get a lot of mango for the same price; especially since I can eat half with breakfast, and save the other half for fried rice, or a snack later in the day.

Also, check out your reduced produce section. My cauliflower was a good surprise find, since I have a recipe I love that uses fresh cauliflower and broccoli in it; you can save money on produce just because it has a bruise on it, or because it may be on its way out in 2-3 days! I did also see a coupon for Pom Wonderful pomegranates, for $.50 off of one. These coupons are rare, so take advantage when you can!

For organic produce, I would recommend seeing what items are "okay" to buy non-organic, if you are on a tight budget. I generally see organic bananas only $.10-$.20 more expensive than their non-organic counterparts, so this could be a good item to focus on. If not, plan out your intake for the week, and buy only what you know you can consume within the week. Organic produce can be expensive, so you don't want any to go to waste!

Meat:

Same as above; in my fridge photo, you can see a bulk pack of chicken, and also some steak marinating in the bowl. My local store sells bulk packs of chicken for $1.99/lb if you buy three pounds or more at a time. I generally cook up half a pack at a time for chicken salad, and freeze the rest if I can't use it before the expiration date.

While not for some, I also like to buy meat close to its expiration date. My two NY strip steaks were on clearance for $3 for .54lbs, because the sell by date was two days away. They were originally nearly $12/lb, but were reduced down to $6/lb. I was able to buy two perfectly portioned steaks for $1.50 each.

I also occasionally buy bone-in meats, like the bone-in chicken breast on the bottom shelf. I'm going to be using that for chicken stock for soup, and I got it for $.89/lb at my local store. Buying non-convienence cuts can save you as well. It's some extra time in the kitchen, but you can save several dollars per pound by doing it at home yourself.

Staple Items:
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Now, here's where you can tell I'm an extreme couponer. Here is my pantry!
I keep all of my meal staples and snacks in here.

I got three boxes of Cheerios for around $.70 each with coupons. I see a lot of coupons for Cheerios and other whole grain cereals. I also find a lot of granola coupons as well.
I also got those bags of Ritz chips and Triscuits for $1 a box with a coupon. I was also able to stock up on my pasta, pasta sauces, rice, canned tomatoes, coconut milk, and barley by using coupons and shopping when sales were going on. Stocking up on items when they are rock bottom price can help you save money on staples that you will use regularly.

You can also see above some garlic, onions, red potatoes, and food storage supplies. I like to buy my onion/garlic/potatoes in bulk, since they are cheapest that way. 5lbs of red potatoes only cost me $2.69 where I'm at, while buying them individually can run me $.89/lb, and I spend more buying loose potatoes than the bulk pack they have across the aisle.
Storing them in a cool dry place makes them last forever; mine can last over a month. And with the food storage supplies, there are always coupons floating around online and in the newspaper, so you can get packaging and freezing supplies for deep discounts to store all your bulk purchases in the freezer. ;)

I also have Snapware containers which I store my pastas and rice in; they are perfect for long term storage, and can help free up cabinet space if you have a couple boxes of pasta! Mine can fit 2-3 boxes of pasta perfectly.

I hope this was helpful!
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Replies

  • ryanhorn
    ryanhorn Posts: 355 Member
    As a fellow college student, I have to say I am incredibly jealous of how much food you keep in your pantry and fridge. This is an awesome write up though. A+.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    ryanhorn wrote: »
    As a fellow college student, I have to say I am incredibly jealous of how much food you keep in your pantry and fridge. This is an awesome write up though. A+.

    Thank you! Takes some time, but through trial and error you learn how to stock up with what you can use within a reasonable amount of time, and not spend too much. Hence me being the Queen of Cheerios and hot cocoa right now, haha.
  • cw106
    cw106 Posts: 952 Member
    superb write up.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    cw106 wrote: »
    superb write up.

    Thanks!
  • 0067808
    0067808 Posts: 119 Member
    Hi - as a mum of a college student, I think you're a great role model to others who perhaps have little experience of how to budget or how to eat well on a very limited budget. Don't know what you are studying at college, but if it doesn't turn out you should think seriously about being a nutritionist or home economics teacher - you've got all the basics already in place! Well done, and good luck with your studies.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    cw106 wrote: »
    superb write up.

    I absolutely agree! Not a college student but always nice to see how better to save and create meals I might never have thought of. :) Thanks for taking time to post!
  • lawlifehanna
    lawlifehanna Posts: 90 Member
    Unfortunately I didn't have time to read the whole post, but I'll definitely return for the rest.

    I do have something to say on the organic banana thing though: they're just as full of preservatives as regular ones. Seriously, I used to work in a grocery store and often stocked the shelves in the produce section. I get an allergic reaction from the preservative bananas are boxed in (they come in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box, and inside the plastic bag is liquid preservative), and the organic bananas come in similar boxes, soaked in the same liquid.

    I'm not saying organic bananas aren't better on the inside (I don't know much about growing bananas), but if somebody is planning on avoiding preservatives, organic bananas aren't the way to go. I think it's so messed up that they are soaked in that nasty allergy-inducing liquid (I'm not even a particularly sensitive person when it comes to chemicals) that I just want to spread knowledge on this.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    0067808 wrote: »
    Hi - as a mum of a college student, I think you're a great role model to others who perhaps have little experience of how to budget or how to eat well on a very limited budget. Don't know what you are studying at college, but if it doesn't turn out you should think seriously about being a nutritionist or home economics teacher - you've got all the basics already in place! Well done, and good luck with your studies.

    Why thank you! Just about to finish up my Masters, so it's exciting to save up money during this time! I also teach extreme couponing workshops from time to time as well, so it's been fun to share these tips to other people in my area!

    Thanks for your kind words. :)
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    This is great. My son (a second year college student) has really gotten into cooking. He and his girlfriend pool their food money together and he does the cooking. He lives in a frat house so has no pantry and has to keep everything in his room but plans their meals based on what's on sale. He's quite the champ at breaking down a chicken now! I'm going to have him read this for when he has an apartment next year.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    cardbucfan wrote: »
    This is great. My son (a second year college student) has really gotten into cooking. He and his girlfriend pool their food money together and he does the cooking. He lives in a frat house so has no pantry and has to keep everything in his room but plans their meals based on what's on sale. He's quite the champ at breaking down a chicken now! I'm going to have him read this for when he has an apartment next year.

    I'm glad this will be of help for your son! :smile:
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Great job and a nice clean fridge to boot!
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    Great job and a nice clean fridge to boot!
    Thanks! I've been on a cleaning streak lately!
  • Fantastic!

    I'm jealous of your couponing. We don't do coupons on grocery items in Australia.
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
    Wow - bananas at $0.39/lb. Jealous!
    Great post.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Great post! Husband and I are BOTH college students, while simultaneously saving for a house down payment, so we could definitely use these tips to save wherever we can. :)
  • Slasher09
    Slasher09 Posts: 316 Member
    Some good tips. I actually gave up on couponing. I learned which products were cheaper at Aldi (and worth the savings) and which were cheaper generic at my beloved Wegmans (both of which were cheaper than using brand and coupon). Now that we have a costco, there are a few items that I get cheaper there (Kcups, bacon, cheese). I think the biggest cost savings is making recipes that stretch more expensive items like meat, and I also make my own stock/broth, make my own "cream of" soups, biscuits, breads, etc. We are a family of three and our monthly food budget is lower than $300. I do need to start couponing on the very few brand name items that we do actually use (cascade, bisquick...since my fiancé will only eat bisquick pancakes, swiffer).

    I would say best advice is to log onto what you are actually buying and where it is cheaper. I hate shopping at multiple stores, but it saves me over $70/month to do it that way, well worth the extra mile drive. Here are costs on some of our staples:

    Bananas: 0.39/lb
    frozen veg: 0.89/lb
    Milk: 1.79/gal
    Eggs: 1.99/doz
    Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts: 1.99/lb
    ground beef: 2.99/lb
    Porkchops: 2.99/lb
    Whole roasting chicken: 0.95/lb
    Bread: $3.80 for two full loaves
    32oz greek yogurt: $3.89
    6oz lowfat yogurt cups: $0.39
    16oz shredded cheese: $3.69
    Homemade "cream of" soup comes to about $0.20/can
    Large spring mix container (the equiv of about 6 bags salad) $4.99
  • ineedachange185
    ineedachange185 Posts: 30 Member
    edited December 2014
    These are some good tips. I go to aldis for produce
  • This is a wonderfulpiece thanks sso much for sharing!!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    edited December 2014
    I agree with Slasher09 about Aldi and figuring out which items are best to buy there. I actually don't shop there as much as I did in the past, but still find it a great place for many items that are inexpensive and good quality especially in-season produce.

    For me the best "tip" is to steer clear of gimmicky products, rather than to fill the cabinet with Quest bars and protein shakes...same with certain organic products and gluten free baking etc. Those products have a place, for sure, but for the average household with casual exercisers and no serious allergies/Celiac's, I don't think they're USUALLY necessary as weekly go-to staples. A lot of MFP-ers would have you believe otherwise.

    We don't buy meat. But we save a lot at the Asian/ethnic markets buying spices in bulk and various things like tofu, sauces, rice vinegar, dumplings, some seafood, and certain produce. That really helps.

    Also steering away from convenience items can serve a dual purpose. Frozen or fresh vegetables have less sodium than canned or prepared versions. Dried beans, lentils, and the like can be prepared weekly and enjoyed in many different ways. It does take some planning but to me it's totally worth the savings.

    Greek yogurt in the big 32 oz tub for about $4 is a good weekly buy for us. We use it in some recipes, but typically it makes 4 breakfasts for 2 people. Mixed with some fresh or frozen fruit, quick oats, and ground flaxseed, we like it much better and find it more filling than the little Chobani fruit on the bottom stuff that is one serving at $1-$1.49 each.

    Two of the "nicer" supermarkets in our area regularly discount their Organic Girl offerings which is really nice. I have never paid 4-5 bucks for a salad mix. It's always less than a dollar and super fresh as long as you eat it that day or the next day. Well worth it, especially since we live within walking distance of one of these places. Same goes for the Dole chopped salad kits. I think they're between $3-6 normally and we get them for 98 cents and eat them the same night. They are just close to the expiration date but not expired.

    My husband and I do live in a Midwestern city with a low cost of living, but we do not spend over $200/month on groceries. Usually WAY less, and I feel we eat a pretty colorful and varied diet. We also fit in a lot of treats like homemade baked goods, so we're not talking about $150 of just salad, beans, rice. It can be done!

  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Slasher09 wrote: »
    Some good tips. I actually gave up on couponing. I learned which products were cheaper at Aldi (and worth the savings) and which were cheaper generic at my beloved Wegmans (both of which were cheaper than using brand and coupon). Now that we have a costco, there are a few items that I get cheaper there (Kcups, bacon, cheese). I think the biggest cost savings is making recipes that stretch more expensive items like meat, and I also make my own stock/broth, make my own "cream of" soups, biscuits, breads, etc. We are a family of three and our monthly food budget is lower than $300. I do need to start couponing on the very few brand name items that we do actually use (cascade, bisquick...since my fiancé will only eat bisquick pancakes, swiffer).

    I would say best advice is to log onto what you are actually buying and where it is cheaper. I hate shopping at multiple stores, but it saves me over $70/month to do it that way, well worth the extra mile drive. Here are costs on some of our staples:

    Bananas: 0.39/lb
    frozen veg: 0.89/lb
    Milk: 1.79/gal
    Eggs: 1.99/doz
    Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts: 1.99/lb
    ground beef: 2.99/lb
    Porkchops: 2.99/lb
    Whole roasting chicken: 0.95/lb
    Bread: $3.80 for two full loaves
    32oz greek yogurt: $3.89
    6oz lowfat yogurt cups: $0.39
    16oz shredded cheese: $3.69
    Homemade "cream of" soup comes to about $0.20/can
    Large spring mix container (the equiv of about 6 bags salad) $4.99

    I have seen a lot of those cleaning coupons lately; especially for Swiffer! If you don't already know of it, I highly recommend Smartsource.com and Coupons.com; they rotate out frequently and sometimes have higher value coupons on there.

    I also shop at two stores; luckily they're both right across the street from one another! Another great tip I forgot to include; thanks for the post!
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Great post! Husband and I are BOTH college students, while simultaneously saving for a house down payment, so we could definitely use these tips to save wherever we can. :)

    Glad I could help! You and your hubby should check out this site for some basic tips to get started with couponing, if you're interested!

    http://thekrazycouponlady.com/beginners/

    Also, congrats to both of you for pursuing higher education!
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    I agree with Slasher09 about Aldi and figuring out which items are best to buy there. I actually don't shop there as much as I did in the past, but still find it a great place for many items that are inexpensive and good quality especially in-season produce.

    For me the best "tip" is to steer clear of gimmicky products, rather than to fill the cabinet with Quest bars and protein shakes...same with certain organic products and gluten free baking etc. Those products have a place, for sure, but for the average household with casual exercisers and no serious allergies/Celiac's, I don't think they're USUALLY necessary as weekly go-to staples. A lot of MFP-ers would have you believe otherwise.

    We don't buy meat. But we save a lot at the Asian/ethnic markets buying spices in bulk and various things like tofu, sauces, rice vinegar, dumplings, some seafood, and certain produce. That really helps.

    Also steering away from convenience items can serve a dual purpose. Frozen or fresh vegetables have less sodium than canned or prepared versions. Dried beans, lentils, and the like can be prepared weekly and enjoyed in many different ways. It does take some planning but to me it's totally worth the savings.

    Greek yogurt in the big 32 oz tub for about $4 is a good weekly buy for us. We use it in some recipes, but typically it makes 4 breakfasts for 2 people. Mixed with some fresh or frozen fruit, quick oats, and ground flaxseed, we like it much better and find it more filling than the little Chobani fruit on the bottom stuff that is one serving at $1-$1.49 each.

    Two of the "nicer" supermarkets in our area regularly discount their Organic Girl offerings which is really nice. I have never paid 4-5 bucks for a salad mix. It's always less than a dollar and super fresh as long as you eat it that day or the next day. Well worth it, especially since we live within walking distance of one of these places. Same goes for the Dole chopped salad kits. I think they're between $3-6 normally and we get them for 98 cents and eat them the same night. They are just close to the expiration date but not expired.

    My husband and I do live in a Midwestern city with a low cost of living, but we do not spend over $200/month on groceries. Usually WAY less, and I feel we eat a pretty colorful and varied diet. We also fit in a lot of treats like homemade baked goods, so we're not talking about $150 of just salad, beans, rice. It can be done!

    Primo example! I think we did just get an Aldi in the state where I live, but unfortunately it's not close enough to me. I have heard great things about it though!
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    This is a wonderfulpiece thanks sso much for sharing!!

    You're very welcome!
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    These are some good tips. I go to aldis for produce
    They just built a couple here...you've convinced me to check it out come pay day!! Thanks for the push :) Also all the other ideas everyone is sharing.

  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    These are some good tips. I go to aldis for produce
    They just built a couple here...you've convinced me to check it out come pay day!! Thanks for the push :) Also all the other ideas everyone is sharing.

    Glad this thread was of help! And I'm glad there are so many people on here with their own money saving tips. :)
  • Kenda2427
    Kenda2427 Posts: 1,592 Member
    The price of food in the US is much lower than Canada. I envy the prices I see. The cheapest bananas ever are is .77/lb at Walmart. We spend $150 every week for two people and I bake snacks for hubby's lunch to keep costs down. That being said he doesn't like a lot of generic brands so that doesn't help and couponing isn't that great here, no double coupon days and things like that.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Kenda2427 I feel ya on the couponing thing! The only supermarket in my area that does double coupons is REALLY overpriced normally, so it's very little savings.

    We buy very few brand name food items, so it is pretty rare for me to find coupons on recurring food items and when I do it's usually something pathetic like 30 cents off $2 for sour cream or 50 cents off a $6 item. I do use those coupons but I have never gotten really into couponing since eating healthier. In college (15-20 years ago) I worked in a supermarket and didn't strive for healthy eating so I would be that person bringing home 8 boxes of brownie mix for $1 total and stuff, hugely into couponing.

    I do love the sites like Coupons dot com for other types of products though like cleaning supplies and health/beauty items.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Another hint: don't buy generic without checking the prices! Sometimes, the name brand is cheaper. Not a lot, but sometimes.

    Also, don't assume the bigger quantity is cheaper. It usually is, but not always.

    ...And if you can't do math in your head, bring a calculator. They purposely label things differently to confuse people.

    I detest my local Wal-Mart, but have to go there on occasion. Their food prices are usually much better than the two stores near my house. I cannot stand the place and am willing to pay a little extra to shop somewhere better that is closer to me, but if you're really squeezing those pennies until they scream, you might want to check out their prices.

    I never see Double Coupon Days anymore and am glad to know someone still does it. :)
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    Another hint: don't buy generic without checking the prices! Sometimes, the name brand is cheaper. Not a lot, but sometimes.

    Also, don't assume the bigger quantity is cheaper. It usually is, but not always.

    ...And if you can't do math in your head, bring a calculator. They purposely label things differently to confuse people.

    I detest my local Wal-Mart, but have to go there on occasion. Their food prices are usually much better than the two stores near my house. I cannot stand the place and am willing to pay a little extra to shop somewhere better that is closer to me, but if you're really squeezing those pennies until they scream, you might want to check out their prices.

    I never see Double Coupon Days anymore and am glad to know someone still does it. :)

    Yep! I used to think generic was the way to go, until I found my local store that doubles coupons up to $.99! I've gotten some great deals that way; free rice, $.50 salad dressings, $.17 pasta sauces...you name it.

    I have had some luck there in the past, but the biggest thing is I know people who have had troubles with them. The clerks at my local stores don't know coupon policies or will refuse to take coupons with no grounds. So I try to avoid them for couponing as much as possible, and if I do, only use a couple at a time. I did have an issue with exploding produce there once (aka, one of my bell peppers was liquefied within a couple days of me bringing it home, and it exploded all over my other produce, including my blueberries that went bad in no time at all; so no more produce from there! Can't beat their prices on their staple items, though.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    edited December 2014
    We have ZERO places that double up coupons where I live (or where I grew up for that matter) and no Aldi stores either. Makes me a little jealous honestly! Saw the post up there saying $1.79 for a gallon of milk and I just about choked: a fabulous sale price for 1 gallon where I live is $3.29 for store brand, and they FLY off the shelves when it goes on that markdown. That said I still manage not spending an unreasonable percentage of our income on groceries, it just takes a little extra work - shopping sale ads, Winco and Food For Less and Walmart stores, paying careful attention to prices/price per unit, and not being hung up on brand vs generic (it is exceedingly rare to find brands for cheaper than generic even with coupons).

    Another tip I'd add is to sign up for all the loyalty programs. I know with Kroger stores, they send coupons in the mail based on your buying history, which they know because of your loyalty card use. So because I buy a lot of veggies and salad, I routinely get coupons for $0.45 off per bag for their store brand of bagged salad, and often get a $1.00 off purchase of $4 or more in the Produce Department as well. It *is* rare to get produce coupons but they do come around sometimes! I also regularly get coupons for bacon, Kroger frozen veggies, EVOO and so on. Plus I get fuel points that add up to nice gas discounts pretty fast.

    Oh and don't be afraid to take those register-printed coupons to other stores! Most of the time they are manufacturer coupons and *not* limited to the particular store you got it at, even if it has that store's logo printed on it. I have found our local Walmart honors all competitor coupons, even the register printed ones, as long as they are for a certain amount off (as opposed to a percentage off). So when Target or the Kroger store gives me a great coupon for a brand name item if I really want/need the item I'll take the coupon to Walmart and get it for a slightly cheaper base price there and they honor the coupon too. This is GREAT for consumables like contact lens solution and shampoo.
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