Grocery Store Madness

Yup - bill went through the roof. I guess that's why they say it's hard for lower income people to eat healthy - it can be expensive!! Haven't figured out a solution yet though. Still working on it!

That is one thing I have really noticed. I watch the sales big time especially when it comes to meats and I have started buying whole cuts of meat and breaking them down myself. It is cheaper to be your own butcher sometimes. I also go to places like Big Lots and the Dollar stores to get my canned goods. Add the money saved there to your fresh food budget.

yep, my weekly bill went up by about $30. if i can get my butt up on the weekend, i'm going to try shopping the farmers markets we have here. i like the idea of supporting local farmers, and it can be cheaper than the grocery store. other than that, i have no idea. still trying to figure it out too...

I agree. I'm finding I'm going to the grocery store more often for produce. This summer I'm gonna try to grow some of my own veggies in back yard. Wish me luck!!

I went shopping for myself and my two daughters and I thought I would see a little bill since it contained NO snacks, and it came to $179.00. Holy Cow!! I shop for one week now, calclulating only what I know we will eat (so there is no waste at the end of the week) and getting only what we need (which is sometimes something on sale and may not be something we want). My absolute biggest savings probably comes from preparing only a serving for each person at meal time and having NO leftovers as they usually go into the fridge for a week and into the trash on trash day. Also, I make several nonmeat meals a week, even though we are not vegetarian, and I make stew or soup or chili as often as my kids will eat it. I avoid bottled water and high calorie "dressings" like A-1.

Too bad the industry isn't caught on to this yet. They do not make it easy. You can get a coupon for all the high calorie, quick things, but you seldom see one for fresh food.

Exactly!!!! gardening is so much fun and being able to eat the things your grow yourself is rewarding. I can't wait, here in Washington the Farmers Markets are about to start up again. It maybe a little more money, but the wonderful food you get is completely worth it. I'm an everyday or every other day grocery shopper. I think it saves me money. I opened a seperate account primarily for grocery food!!!! It helps me budget my spending!!!! :flowerforyou: Yipppeee for spring!!! I still love prepackaged food though, but I have started going to Dinners Ready and having my meals prepared for me! All I have to do is throw it in the oven most times!!! :drinker:

Thats a really good idea. I should put all the money I spent eating out everyday, sometimes twice a day. Then maybe at the end of the month I can really feel like I have accomplished something...SAVING!!!

Good health is cheaper than poor health. If that is the case there is a definite conspiracy to keep us fat! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

The biggest thing that I do to try to reduce my grocery bill is stock up whenever it is really cheap and seperate and freeze whatever we don't use that week. Ground turkey, big pork loins and boneless chicken thighs are the meats I always look out for. Frozen veggies, canned veggies, pasta sauce, micro popcorn, fudgepops and yogurt are also things I look for. If I find low cal bread, tortillas or cheese on sale I will buy extra and freeze some. I try to only buy veggies that are on sale this way I get a lot of variety and don't always have the same thing every week. I don't think my bill has gone up too much because we rarely ever eat out anymore.