Cutting down my groceries expenses

[ashleyr409]

I just can't keep my groceries bill down. It's seems to always be more than what I expect. Especially now that it is summer time and the kids are home more. I was hoping if I can get some advice on how to cut this back. I have a family of 5. I have cut down on everything that I needed too.(cell phone, cable, buying things just because). My mom always told me that i am the worst at shopping for food.

Thanks in advance!!

Also any recipes will be a big help as well.

 

[verleniahall]

What are you spending currently per week (or pay period)?

 

[ashleyr409]

What are you spending currently per week (or pay period)?

$300.00 a week during summer. Maybe $225.00 week during school.

 

[ELSA711]

Yikes! That's a lot IMO
We shop for about 130.00 per week for my family of 5. I only shop sale items and use coupons for all sale items that I purchase on top of sale price.
What does your current weekly list consist of?

 

[Canooknic]

I go through flyers (or the Flipp app - not sure if that's just a Canada thing) and see what store has the best deals that I can make meals with and then I write a list - if I don't have a list I spend soooo much more!! 2 weeks ago we had a really busy week & weekend so I stopped at the store on my way home (without a list) and spent almost $100 more than usual and didn't have enough for a week of meals
If (for example) carrots are on sale I'll use them for a couple of meals and any leftovers are used to make carrot cake muffins that the kids have for snacks.

It's all about planning, I've been doing it for a couple of years now and the flyer/list is a maximum 10 minute job now, I usually do it while I'm waiting for my morning coffee to brew on a Friday morning!

 

[happily single]

Maybe if you post what you are buying and where you shop? Aldi's is great for stocking up on staples like sugar, milk, eggs, butter, maple syrup and even cereal, granola bars, taco fixings (cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning) and cookies

I will admit to "stopping by" the market at least 3x a week. However, I realized how much that increases my food budget, so now I tell the kids (11,17 and 19) that I am only going shopping once and if they eat everything on Day 1 they are going to be very hungry the rest of the week!

 

[ashleyr409]

I wish I can spend $130 a week. I shop at HEB i live in Texas. I honestly don't know how to coupon. I also make a grocery list for the week. It takes me all day to make my list on Monday and I am still over budget. I try to budget for $150.00 a week and that doesn't work. Also this amount is just food not toiletries that's a different list and different budget amount and I am a little lost on that too. Saturday and Sunday counts a big meals cause the kids are home most of the day and they eat breakfast, lunch and supper. During the week its just breakfast and supper.

I buy the normal things I think...

Ground meat, chicken, sausage, steak, bread, snacks, juice, water, eggs, breakfast food, cereal, oatmeal, pizza, lunchable, hot pockets. everything on this list I buy once a week.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I just moved from California to Georgia. And, of course, I'm finding grocery prices (AT GROCERY STORES) more reasonable than California. In California I would only buy sale items at the grocery stores (Nob Hill and Safeway) and everything else mostly at Target and Walmart. It was a real price difference in California. However, Kroger and Publix here in Georgia are very competitive with Walmart and Target and most times Kroger's prices are better. I still try to stick to mostly sales items at grocery stores and I downloaded Krogers app which really helps. I decided to buy meat at Costco (like I did in California). Just not liking the meat departments in the local grocery stores here. Even my 11 year old daughter commented the meat tasted funny.

 

[Sagginit]

I would look at your highest cost items and then try to find ways to save on them. I know cereal can be very expensive, you can switch to generic in those big bags to save money or stock up when it is on sale with coupons. Meat can be another huge cost, I personally don't buy steak on a regular basis, its a health concern for my husband and not cost effective. I stock up on chicken, fish, shrimp, and ground turkey when it is on sale. Lunchables and hot pockets are convenient but considering what you get not always cost effective. You can easily make your own lunchable meals by using bento style boxes and cutting up meat into small squares. Pizza is cheaper if you buy crusts and ingredients on their own vs. a whole pizza. You sound overwhelmed too so I would start small with one or two changes. Also there is this myth that you can't get basics on sale. Eggs for example will turn up on sale at a great price every so often. My local store had them 99cents a dozen so I got two. I will use this as a chance to bake some items in the next 1-2 weeks vs buying (for example we will have cake for dessert using a box mix I got on clearance instead of ice cream). Truthfully they don't taste as good as high quality ones, so I also buy cage free organic, but at Trader Joes who has a better price.

There was a recent thread on here about rotating grocery stores and how many you visit in a week. You might want to look at other stores in the area and keep your receipts so you can compare prices. What I do is rotate where I shop but stick to one store per week. So at Walmart I stock up on things not on sale elsewhere but at a low price there, I go to the Acme one week and get things on sale for cheap (such as the eggs or fruit they have featured on sale) but avoid pantry items as the full prices are very high, Target is middle of the line- never too expensive but rarely anything dirt cheap unless there are coupons involved.

As for couponing there are websites that do the work for you. This is how I learned how to coupon, I used to check the forums for lists of deals with coupon matchups. Once I learned the ropes I found it took too much time but now I go it on my own.

 

[MariMama]

$300.00 a week during summer. Maybe $225.00 week during school.

Holy moly!

 

[ashleyr409]

I would look at your highest cost items and then try to find ways to save on them. I know cereal can be very expensive, you can switch to generic in those big bags to save money or stock up when it is on sale with coupons. Meat can be another huge cost, I personally don't buy steak on a regular basis, its a health concern for my husband and not cost effective. I stock up on chicken, fish, shrimp, and ground turkey when it is on sale. Lunchables and hot pockets are convenient but considering what you get not always cost effective. You can easily make your own lunchable meals by using bento style boxes and cutting up meat into small squares. Pizza is cheaper if you buy crusts and ingredients on their own vs. a whole pizza. You sound overwhelmed too so I would start small with one or two changes. Also there is this myth that you can't get basics on sale. Eggs for example will turn up on sale at a great price every so often. My local store had them 99cents a dozen so I got two. I will use this as a chance to bake some items in the next 1-2 weeks vs buying (for example we will have cake for dessert using a box mix I got on clearance instead of ice cream). Truthfully they don't taste as good as high quality ones, so I also buy cage free organic, but at Trader Joes who has a better price.

There was a recent thread on here about rotating grocery stores and how many you visit in a week. You might want to look at other stores in the area and keep your receipts so you can compare prices. What I do is rotate where I shop but stick to one store per week. So at Walmart I stock up on things not on sale elsewhere but at a low price there, I go to the Acme one week and get things on sale for cheap (such as the eggs or fruit they have featured on sale) but avoid pantry items as the full prices are very high, Target is middle of the line- never too expensive but rarely anything dirt cheap unless there are coupons involved.

As for couponing there are websites that do the work for you. This is how I learned how to coupon, I used to check the forums for lists of deals with coupon matchups. Once I learned the ropes I found it took too much time but now I go it on my own.

Thank you so much for the advice. I am very overwhelmed. I am going to try and take it slow. I know has a lot to do with time. I am a full time student and I have a full time job and sometimes getting hot pockets, lunchable and pizza is easy cause I have a busy day. I will try my very best cause I really need to save money. Thank you again

 

[Sadie22]

You can save over time by not thinking just a week at a time. Buy items on sale, enough to stock up until the next sale. Use a home freezer and pantry. Cook meals or items to make meals ahead of time in bulk and keep in the freezer so there are always multiple choices ready to pull out and eat. Rotate the stock and don't waste.

 

[Marionnette]

I just can't keep my groceries bill down. It's seems to always be more than what I expect. Especially now that it is summer time and the kids are home more. I was hoping if I can get some advice on how to cut this back. I have a family of 5. I have cut down on everything that I needed too.(cell phone, cable, buying things just because). My mom always told me that i am the worst at shopping for food.

Thanks in advance!!

Also any recipes will be a big help as well.

Food always cost me more money when the kids were in school because I was buying lunchmeat, individually packaged snacks and bottled water. It was always cheaper when they were home in the summer because I could control costs by preparing their lunches from scratch.

My biggest cost-saver is to eliminate that bottled water and other bottled beverages. Buy a Brita pitcher and refillable water bottles instead.

Cook as much from scratch as you can. Hot Pockets, frozen pizzas and Lunchables shouldn't be on the shopping list if you're trying to cut back on costs. You can make your own versions of those things and not only save money, but make them from healthier ingredients.

Homemade Rice Krispies Treats, a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and store-brand Popsicles were the kids' summer treats.

Pre-cut fruit would be a no-no. Steak would be once a month, not weekly. Ground meat is more expensive than boneless chicken breasts around here and the chicken is healthier. Even pork is cheaper than beef. However, I realize that Texas prices may be quite different from Philadelphia prices.

Learn to love meatless meals. Rice and beans aren't just for people on a Dave Ramsey debt program! Substitute one meatless dinner during the week and you'll see some savings.

How much food are you throwing out due to spoilage? Plan your shopping so that you only buy what you will actually consume. Start saving recipes on allrecipes .com or foodnetwork .com, especially the ones that have common ingredients. It makes it easier to change things up if you find yourself in a rut.

 

[HM]

Face it, it is getting more and more expensive to shop for groceries.

I try to buy only on sale, but its not always possible. I look to see what is on sale and plan my meal around that sale staple.

I buy a lot of store brand items to save money and mostly have found them to be a great substitute.

I shop more than once a week. I find that if I do a week's shopping, that things don't get used fast enough and perishables go bad before I get to them. I can save a lot by only buying what I need for a few days.

Stock up on things you use a lot when they are on special.

 

[Sagginit]

Thank you so much for the advice. I am very overwhelmed. I am going to try and take it slow. I know has a lot to do with time. I am a full time student and I have a full time job and sometimes getting hot pockets, lunchable and pizza is easy cause I have a busy day. I will try my very best cause I really need to save money. Thank you again

Time totally is a factor, that is when you have to decide what works for you and how you can save without eating up all your free time. I work in the city so am out of my apartment most days for 11-12 hours straight. I really only have 2-3 hours at night to eat, do chores, and get ready for the next work day. Some things that are cheap can be time effective. For ex. I got a rice cooker for $15 at Big Lots years ago, it lets me cook the starch/carb for dinner with almost no effort and plain rice can be very cheap when bought in bulk. Frozen vegetables are in constant rotation, I have no time to clean and prep fresh a few times a week. I found the super Walmart has bigger bags for lower prices, so I get a few there. The small steamable bags are very expensive when not on sale. Dinner typically ends up an easy to cook carb/starch (rice, pasta, french fries, premade mashed potatoes when they are on sale), frozen vegetables that are steamed plain, and then a chicken/fish dish that I spend my actual time cooking. I use different seasonings and sauces to mix it up.

Weekends is when I make things with more steps like baked ziti, chili, soups, shepards pie, meatballs etc. They get made in larger batches so I can freeze some or eat it for a few days at the start of the week. If time is an issue you also should look into meal planning. There are some people that make giant batches of food one Sunday a month and then freeze it for the rest of the month. We do and will resort to frozen food if time is an issue but even then I try to always get what is on sale (Target has lots of frozen food on sale plus Cartwheel).

Fruit is often bananas, apples, grapes etc. Again buying melons and cutting them up in something I don't always have time for even if they are the cheapest thing on sale.

I would also say your older two children can totally help in the kitchen to save you time if they are not already. I started cooking when I was about 10 and this is a frequent tip I see given to families with little time that eat out (I swear every time Real Simple does a feature on families trying to save $ they suggest that).

 

[DISbot]

Thank you so much for the advice. I am very overwhelmed. I am going to try and take it slow. I know has a lot to do with time. I am a full time student and I have a full time job and sometimes getting hot pockets, lunchable and pizza is easy cause I have a busy day. I will try my very best cause I really need to save money. Thank you again

Check out the Eat at Home Posts - these have recipes and ideas for planning.

Being that busy the crockpot is a wonderful thing, that can make multiple meals for the week (or to freeze).

With a 10 and 12 year old, you could teach them how to make home-made lunchables, sandwiches, salads, etc. Then you can cut costs by buying separate items, and start teaching them how to care for themselves (and their younger sibling).

Also - a lot of people save by going "meatless" one day.

 

[powellrj]

I feel your pain. I LOVE the grocery store and could spend all day. I have a system that is pretty much an all day affair. We go on my DHs day off and visit different towns to get different items at different stores. We live in a smaller town and things are limited, so going to the grocery store is an adventure and part of our entertainment. I don't drive and have to use my ECV when I shop so that limits me going on my own. I know I need to cut back, but I seem to be having a hard time doing it.

Sorry that I have no advice, I only wanted to say you aren't alone!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I was unemployed for most of last year so I spent a lot of time researching ways to cut expenses. I started couponing which I had time to do, but now that I'm back working my time is limited but I still coupon. I print coupons from coupons.com (actually swagbucks through coupons.com) and only print the ones I have a good chance of using each month. I keep them in a little zipper pouch in my purse and they are divided into sections (food, dairy, household goods, paper, etc). Each week I check the sale flyer and shop based on that. If cereal is on a great sale (learn to spot what a good sale is on your staples) and I've got coupons then I buy as much as I can. I bought 10 boxes of cereal the other week for a fraction of what I would have paid if I bought it each week. I have a spot where I keep a stockpile of things- I haven't bought shampoo or conditioner in probably a year if not more. Paper goods never go bad- if I see a good sale, I buy as much as I can.

I eat whatever I can for lunch- leftovers, soup I got on sale, hot pockets even if I got a good sale on them. There was one months ago when lean pockets were incredibly cheap so I got a ton of them and keep them on hand if I have no leftovers. Learn what you can freeze- when lunchmeat is on sale I buy a bunch and freeze them in 1/2 pound packages. DH doesn't notice the difference when it's thawed. He eats ham and cheese sandwiches exclusively at work. My 3 year old eats raisin bread all the time- when it's on sale and I have a coupon I get what I can and then freeze. English muffins freeze well too. When meat is on sale I buy it and freeze it. I asked for a deep freezer for Christmas this year and LOVE it for stockpiling things. You just need to keep on top of what you have so things don't go bad.

Check the price per unit. Say a jar of peanut butter is $3 but a larger one (double the size) is $5. I may have to pay $2 more that time than I was planning on if I needed pb, but I get twice as much and pay less per oz.

Meal plan. Ensure you're only buying what you'll use.

If you're not on pinterest, join. I have multiple boards I keep up with- recipes to try, successful recipes, slow cooker, instant pot, etc. When I try something new I change it to put it on the "successful recipes" board. Then I've got some easy go to recipes. Also if I want a budget friendly recipe you can search for that- tons of ideas out there.

Start cooking whole chickens. They are often $5 or less a piece here and you can get so much meat out of them and do different things with it (chicken salad, put in a pasta dish, etc). I use a crock pot a lot and now have an instant pot which I've only used once but was impressed with- 35 minutes to cook a delicious whole chicken after work? Yes please!

 

[TwoMisfits]

Thank you so much for the advice. I am very overwhelmed. I am going to try and take it slow. I know has a lot to do with time. I am a full time student and I have a full time job and sometimes getting hot pockets, lunchable and pizza is easy cause I have a busy day. I will try my very best cause I really need to save money. Thank you again

Don't try to drop from $300 to $150 at once...you'll be setting yourself up to fail. Try to take 10% off for a month and see how you do.

Rethink "easy." I TOTALLY understand needing to have easy dinners when you have about 5 minutes to pull it together. The good news is that it's summer and summer cuisine can be served cold or can be very produce-focused. Precooking bacon slices and pre-poaching chicken open up a world of possibilities for not much money (BLTs, Club Sandwiches, Caesar Salads, Sesame Noodles with Chicken, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Chicken Quesadillas, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, etc), especially if you buy those products on sale and freeze them til you need them. Plan fresh sides with the on sale produce your kids eat (ie - don't buy veg they hate just b/c they are cheap) - nothing faster than rinsing strawberries/blueberries/grapes/peaches/pears and serving as is. And for produce that needs prep, like cutting a watermelon or pineapple, chop it all at once and plan for 2-3 meals with it. But keep 1-2 of your "easy must haves" b/c if you cut it all out, you'll be eating out and then you'll have saved $5 and spent $40...

Rethink your "must haves". If you need lunchables, see if you can buy a block of cheese, a block of precooked ham or pepperoni, and a packet of crackers and make them up yourself. It takes about 15 minutes of chopping and ziplocking once to make enough for 8 lunches...

Kids eat all day - have something they like that is healthy-ish and let them snack on it at will...right now, I keep 9lbs of apples in the house each week for anytime snacking and they disappear. On top of the weekly apples, I also do a daily snack like a bag of popcorn, a lb of baby carrots and ranch, a box of popsicles (and I've made homemade popsicles with leftover watermelon and sugar), 2 dozen homemade oatmeal raisin cookies, a tray of homemade rice krispie treats with peanut butter mixed in, a tray of Jello Jigglers, a batch of fruit muffins, etc...I'm sure the kids being around always hungry and looking for snacks doesn't help the budget, so let them know what the snack of the day/week is that they can have at will. And that way they aren't eating all the food in the house.

 

[QVCshopper]

You're right, you are really high. I'm a family of five also, with very similar aged kids (4, 10, and 11) in SE PA, and I spend $100 per week, sometimes even less. But, I do go to a few stores (usually Acme for their sales, Trader Joes for snacks, and Wegmans for their store products). I coupon and buy reduced meat or bulk meat and divide. I only buy name brand items that are on sale, and I only buy fruit and veggies in season or frozen. I bet if you try, you can save a ton!