Saving Money and Losing Weight

jnhu72
jnhu72 Posts: 558 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
What's your tricks and tips to save money while getting healthy? . One of the biggest things that got me at the grocery store , was convenience foods like Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones. Something I just started doing last week to save money is that I made a couple meals that I like and portioned them into containers and froze them, so I had my own healthy frozen meals. I made 2 that are very close to the Amy's Light and Lean brand that cost about $4.00 a dinner and mine worked out to about $1.00 for each meal. So not only do I save money, but I make them healthier by adding extra veggies.

Replies

  • letmebeda1_wechange
    letmebeda1_wechange Posts: 480 Member
    I love making soup for the week to have for lunch. and i cook on the weekend for the week to have things available and stop the impulses.
  • swilk627
    swilk627 Posts: 245 Member
    We have a deep freeze
    BEST investment we've made for our house! So when things are on sale - like frozen veggies and chicken, I stock up and freeze meal-sized portions. When I make healthy soups, I freeze half. I make homemade chicken nuggets (so my daughter can be like her friends and eat nuggets) that are FULL of veggies (squash, zucchini, carrots) and freeze them.

    So, my tips are buying in bulk when it's on sale and freezing and then also using coupons.
  • Fairysoul
    Fairysoul Posts: 1,361 Member
    I get a free newspaper in the mail with sales going on at all the nearby grocery stores, I write down what I normally buy that is on sale and get those like the fresh produce and such (not the packaged foods), I spent $130 for a family of 4 for one weeks worth of food, that includes lunches for us all!
  • Psychoanalytic
    Psychoanalytic Posts: 261
    I don't think you could pay me to eat that pre-packaged junk. (Of course no offense to anyone who does.)
    I purchase things as they're on sale. I also buy mostly fresh fruit and veggies....even if that means that I might have to go to the store a couple of times in one week. (So that I only buy what we NEED and that fresh stuff doesn't go to waste.)
  • Redbirdz83
    Redbirdz83 Posts: 153 Member
    I have found going to the store with a list and after you have eaten has helped. I like shopping at Aldi.
  • shanellev
    shanellev Posts: 19 Member
    Come join me on the 90 day challenge- body by vi

    You have a shake for breakfast and lunch which i find saves alot. i used to eat out for breakfast and lunch or go by healthy food for those meals and felt like i was spending alot more by eating healthy. I find that im saving alot more having these and feel healthier and fuller. it takes all the vitamins and nutrients out of the food you eat and puts it into a delicios shake. some of them taste like cake or smoothies etc. they taste amazing i feel like im cheating when i eat them and then im only really spending money on my dinner. its working for me....2 weeks down and i have lost 13 pounds.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I go to the store more often than most people, and I only buy what is on sale. So, I really watch prices of fruits and veggies and meats, and just sort of figure out what to makes with the sale items. If you shop smart, you can shop for fairly cheap. Of course, I firmly believe that eating healthy far more expensive than eating crap food. But, that's life I guess.

    One thing I do is I buy soups, rice, and dry beans, because at least once a month, I completely run out of money and can't go to the store, and so I have to just rely what is in my cupboards for a few days or week. So, I try to stock up on staple items so I don't starve. I have actually come close to starving and had to stop working out, because that just makes you more hungry. Sad but true. My life blows.
  • Lesliecs
    Lesliecs Posts: 930 Member
    I've saved tons of money on lunch food. Where I used to go out everyday and buy lunch, now I usually take leftovers from whatever I had for dinner. Saves me throwing away the leftovers and spending the money on eating out. I always keep stuff to make salads in the frige and packages of Laughing Cow cheese on hand for those days I don't want to take leftovers.

    I used to buy the frozen meals..... but they are very expensive and most are so full of sodium I don't want to eat them anyway, so I save there too!
  • crudd123
    crudd123 Posts: 244 Member
    Do you have an Aldi grocery store in your area? They have a Fit and Active brand on some foods that is lower calories! They are really cheap too and have everything a regular grocery store has but lots cheaper. A gallon of milk is 1.99. Also the Fit and Active Fudge bars compare to weight watcher fudge bars which are 5 dollar a box but Aldi is 2.99. Check them out! They are great!
  • AirCircleI
    AirCircleI Posts: 334 Member
    I cycle everywhere instead of paying for public transport (saves £130 a month)

    I don't buy my lunches out anymore (saves about £100 a month)

    I drink MUCH less alcohol (saves about £100 a month)

    I keep restaurants to a minimum, about once a week (saves about £100 a month)

    My grocery bill has gone up by maybe an extra £50 a month, and I spend £120 a month on bootcamp 3 days a week but overall there is a big savings.

    If I had smartened up a few years ago I could have had a down payment on a house by now. Oh well. Better late than never.
  • TinnedTuna
    TinnedTuna Posts: 208 Member
    I found it hard to be healthy on a very tight budget,
    but as i've gone alone i find i'm only buying fresh things to last a few days and nothing that comes in a packet.
    It was hard to make the change from the Ready meals but worth it and it's cheaper.
  • EBFNP
    EBFNP Posts: 529 Member
    I go to the public market to buy fruits, and its generally cheaper than the grocery store. As for other groceries, well its difficult..I spend nearly 200 dollars on food a month. The food I eat is never on sale or is generally expensive like chicken breast, salmon, turkey burgers. Generally I try to not eat out especially when I am at work. I pack my lunch and make sure to eat or take breakfast with me everyday. Dinner is always a problem on the weekend because I hate cooking on Friday/Sat, so I sometimes do take-out then.
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