Cutting down my groceries expenses

[ashleyr409]

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.

We also have leftover but not enough for the next day to feed the whole family of 5.

 

[ashleyr409]

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!

I never do what you said about the peanut butter. I think i will just buy the cheaper now because I don't want to spend the extra $2 even though what you say makes perfect sense.

 

[Marionnette]

We also have leftover but not enough for the next day to feed the whole family of 5.

Who says that it needs to be consumed by the entire family? Or the very next day? Or even in the same form that it was originally served?

An extra grilled chicken breast can be used to top off a couple of lunchtime salads. Roasted potatoes can become hash browns for breakfast. Leftover vegetables can go into a casserole or soup. There are plenty of ways to serve up leftovers and no one but you would know that this was their second time up at the plate.

The idea is to avoid tossing leftover food into the trash. Throwing food away is akin to tossing your hard-earned money in the dumpster.

 

[ashleyr409]

Who says that it needs to be consumed by the entire family? Or the very next day? Or even in the same form that it was originally served?

An extra grilled chicken breast can be used to top off a couple of lunchtime salads. Roasted potatoes can become hash browns for breakfast. Leftover vegetables can go into a casserole or soup. There are plenty of ways to serve up leftovers and no one but you would know that this was their second time up at the plate.

The idea is to avoid tossing leftover food into the trash. Throwing food away is akin to tossing your hard-earned money in the dumpster.

That is a great idea. I have to put more thought into what I am doing.

 

[robinb]

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!

I just googled "Flipp App" and I think I love you! Thank you. That's perfect! We no longer get the Wednesday paper with all the ads and it's such a chore to go to each website to see what's on sale. One grocery store is missing, but that's OK!

 

[yoopermom]

It's a good idea to keep a spreadsheet for awhile to track what you're buying and the price you're paying. What you'll come to see is that sale prices are cyclical. Hot Pockets are a good example (my DH eats one every a.m., so sue me ...), I know that my local grocery store has them on "sale" for 2/4 every 6-8 weeks like clockwork, but then every 3 months or so they have a huge sale where they go to 3/5. So when they're 3/5 I'll buy enough for the next few months (helps that we have two huge chest freezers!).

Also, all staples have a "season", so baking goods will be cheapest right before the holidays, buy enough for the next year. I buy six turkeys at Thanksgiving when they're dirt cheap since we'll eat one every two months (and I'll turn that one bird into six meals before we're done, so cheap!). Summer's the time to stock up on ketchup/mustard/etc, I'll buy enough for the next year.

And here's two tricky things to wrap your head around: meals don't have to be "new" or "exciting". I grew up working class poor, and Mondays were spaghetti, Tuesdays were chicken, Wednesdays were breakfast for supper, etc, etc. Small amount of protein, lots of "filler" veg, carb, in season side dishes. Second, and related: home isn't a restaurant, eat what's offered, or go make pb and j.

Good luck to you, but make it a family venture, and it will be doable!
Terri

 

[ashleyr409]

It's a good idea to keep a spreadsheet for awhile to track what you're buying and the price you're paying. What you'll come to see is that sale prices are cyclical. Hot Pockets are a good example (my DH eats one every a.m., so sue me ...), I know that my local grocery store has them on "sale" for 2/4 every 6-8 weeks like clockwork, but then every 3 months or so they have a huge sale where they go to 3/5. So when they're 3/5 I'll buy enough for the next few months (helps that we have two huge chest freezers!).

Also, all staples have a "season", so baking goods will be cheapest right before the holidays, buy enough for the next year. I buy six turkeys at Thanksgiving when they're dirt cheap since we'll eat one every two months (and I'll turn that one bird into six meals before we're done, so cheap!). Summer's the time to stock up on ketchup/mustard/etc, I'll buy enough for the next year.

And here's two tricky things to wrap your head around: meals don't have to be "new" or "exciting". I grew up working class poor, and Mondays were spaghetti, Tuesdays were chicken, Wednesdays were breakfast for supper, etc, etc. Small amount of protein, lots of "filler" veg, carb, in season side dishes. Second, and related: home isn't a restaurant, eat what's offered, or go make pb and j.

Good luck to you, but make it a family venture, and it will be doable!
Terri

Thank you for the advice!! I will work on a spreadsheet. Thanks again

 

[KarenAylwood]

I almost forgot all the rebate apps too- I use savingstar, ibotta, mobisave and checkout51. I also pick up deals at Target using Cartwheel (there you can combine a sale, cartwheel, target coupon and manufacturer coupon!). There are a lot of grocery stores (most) doing digital coupons too. Kroger has been doing this for a long time, Food Lion just got on the bandwagon and most others do too. You go online and click to add them to your shopper card and they take them off automatically at checkout.

I never do what you said about the peanut butter. I think i will just buy the cheaper now because I don't want to spend the extra $2 even though what you say makes perfect sense.

The key is to think long term. If it's a staple that we use a lot and/or I don't get coupons on much, I ALWAYS buy the one with the lowest price per ounce- for example white vinegar, sugar, salt, peanut butter, etc. The key is not only to think short term (what am I spending this week) but also think long term without going overboard. I try to pay as little as I can per unit for the things I buy. You need to keep an eye on that because many things that seem like they're a deal because they are in bulk aren't necessarily a deal. We use spreadable butter constantly (OK, DH does) so I'm buying it all the time and rarely have coupons for it. For some reason the smaller package is less per ounce than the larger package. It's key to know these things if you're thinking about spending. I'd literally be throwing away money if I bought the larger container.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I didn't read everything, but do you have kids at home? Is it more snacks? Or more in food?

For me and DH we shop and stock up at Costco. It lasts a long time for certain things. I cut out buying boxed things. And cook with fresh. I have an area in the store for meat that is usually around 30-50 off meats. And I usually find a lot of meat. I find pork, chicken, steaks, sometimes roasts, ribs. So that saves a lot right there.

You can stock up on pastas and make things like ziti and make extra and freeze it at as well.

If your going through snacks you find a lot of recipe's for cheap on pinterest. I just love that site for so many things.

There are a few coupon trains for trading coupons. I only buy cereals for us once in a while as they can get expensive.

There is a a thread on the budget board that has a thread for eating at home. There are some good stuff on there as well. I bet you could get some great ideas from that as well.

 

[kj2mom]

I don't think I saw this mentioned but I have two teenagers who keep me on the go (single mom). I do grocery shopping weekly after looking over our schedule. At first I would have them buy a frozen meal/pizza to heat up quick on nights we needed to head out quickly I learned while easy and convenient, they are pricey and honestly my children would prefer a home cooked meal. So, on a busy week I will make time to cook a random meal that will keep in the fridge for reheating. It is not leftovers, it is a full meal with the intention of several dinners. Usually it is spaghetti and meatballs or macaroni and cheese w/hot dogs or things along those lines. While it stinks to sometimes be making two dinners on one night, it does help the budget because I am not spending on frozen items and typically we get two dinners out of whatever I prepare early.

 

[MomToOne]

You have a lot going on - school, work, being a Mom. This isn't very budget-boardy, but maybe a higher grocery budget is just where you need to be in life right now. If buying prepared items such as hot pockets and the like are saving you from going out to a restaurant/hitting a drive thru, then they may very well be cost-effective for your situation. Life is a balancing act after all.

But that said, one thing to look at is the store(s) you are shopping at. I've found that one store in my area is remarkably cheaper than all the other stores. It's not as 'pretty', doesn't carry as large a variety and requires a longer drive, but I estimate I save 20-30% over the stores closer to my house. Their regular prices are as good or better than many store's sale prices. So as you have time, try a few different markets than the ones you usually shop at and see what their prices are like.

 

[amyy]

Lots of great suggestions.

Sometimes it helps me to just write down what I am spending and realize what I could purchase differently. I keep saying I am going to do a spreadsheet but never do. I try to put everything into an app (Xpense Tracker is the one I use) and it allows me to just take a picture of the receipt to refer to later.

Now my new thing is to write down all I throw away or at least take a photo of it to put in an album only I can view. I do good and them horrible with throwing food away/money in the trash.

Bring a certain amount of cash to the store or in an envelope for the week. When that is gone it is oatmeal or peanut butter sandwiches.

I get our meat at a little butcher shop. This week ground chuck or ground round is 3.49 a pound which is a good deal for our area.

Sometimes I just season the meat, add rice and whatever veggies are on hand. I often make my own taco seasoned meat. It can be eaten for supper or with a side of eggs fro breakfast. The other day I had a leftover chicken breast for breakfast. Not my favorite but it was protein and I wasn't throwing money away.

Just find 4 or 5 staple recipes that are easy to start. I think it can be easy to get overwhelmed with finding the right recipes, trying to cut too much etc. Just start with some small change.

This is a great cookbook on a budget and it is free to download. Eat Well on $4 a Day.
http://www.leannebrown.com

100 Days of Real Food is one of my favorite sites.
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/start-here/

 

[tvguy]

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.

Exactly. DON'T make a hard and fast list. Plan you meals around what is on sale. Buy the cheapest brand of everything. Not sure where in Texas you live. My wife's nephews used to work in the grocery industry in the Beaumont area and I always found prices low there. A 2 liter bottle of soda that is $1.49 here is 89 cents in Texas, and a 3 liter bottle, that we don't see very often here in California was .99 cents.

 

[mickeymad]

I'm in education so I get paid once a month. We grocery shop 3 out of 4 weeks and have a leftover week the last week of the month. We make it a game (egg sandwiches for dinner?) and save about $150 that week! Also it clears out the stuff last to eat rather than throwing it out because it expires. We did it because we read Americans throw out 33% of the food they buy. But...the money savings was icing on the cake!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

If you spend a lot on perishables I recommend joining a CSA, farm stand shopping, and/or a meat share.

I save a lot of money from late spring to early fall by doing this. Depending on location/weather, some CSAs can be available during the fall and winter months as well.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yeah, that is a lot of money to be spending each week. I will echo what a lot of posters have said--meal plan (around the sale flyers is best) stock up on things you use a lot when they are on sale, buy generics, hit up an Aldi's or Costco (Costco is great to buy in big quantities and divide up). Avoid pre-packaged anything. Don't buy fruit that is already cut up (unless it is on sale), buy whole and chop it up.

Also--take cash out of the bank and use that for your shopping. It will hold you more accountable to how much you are spending, and will really make you think about everything you toss in your cart.

 

[Canooknic]

I just googled "Flipp App" and I think I love you! Thank you. That's perfect! We no longer get the Wednesday paper with all the ads and it's such a chore to go to each website to see what's on sale. One grocery store is missing, but that's OK!

I find it really handy when we 'need' something. E.g. One of my munchkins has fallen in love with cooking (thank you Masterchef Junior!!) and wanted to do fish so I searched and found where salmon was on sale.
It's great for gifts too with places like BestBuy etc on the flyers!

 

[crisi]

Learn how to stretch a chicken or a pork butt. The idea is that you roast a few chickens (or a pork but, or a huge roast - whatever is on sale) and you turn it into different things over several days.

Chicken can start as chicken - you'll want two for a family, but you'll have leftovers with two. When its cool, pull ALL the remaining meat off the bones. Use the meat for chicken tacos or chicken chili or a chicken casserole. Put the carcuss into a stock pot, turn it into stock, remove the bones and add vetables and rice and have chicken and rice soup

Right now I have a small pork butt in the crockpot. It will make pulled pork sandwiches, pork chili and pork tacos - or maybe something asian - before its done.

Learn to cook soup. Soup is economical and is a good way to use up leftovers.

Frozen vegetables are cheaper than fresh. Bake bread on the weekends - its much cheaper to bake a few loaves - and learn how to make quickbreads like biscuits. There is a good no knead bread recipe that is really easy and great with soup. Potatoes, beets and squash are good filler vegetables.

Have one night of breakfast for dinner every week - that's either omlettes or a hash or pancakes (ham and sausage are cheaper than bacon - turkey bacon is cheap and better for you - but not nearly as good).

Don't let kids snack their way through summer. Feed them three meals and show them where the brownie and cake mix are if they are old enough. My snack bill went way down when I could buy cheap boxes of brownies on sale and then my daughter would bake them. Also - airpopper and popcorn. You can spend the gross national product of Camaroon in goldfish crackers, chips, and packaged cookies during the summer. Just don't buy it.

 

[SGMCO]

We buy all of our meat and fish/seafood at Costco. This saves alot because this can be the bases of all our meals, which is usually the more expensive part of the meal.
I planted a garden and I grow as much as I can in the summer, I even grow some veggies indoors in winter, saves money and better tasting than store bought.
I freeze extra veggies, I grow Winter squash which last almost the whole winter (love butternut).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I now shop at primarily Costco, Aldi and Walmart.

If you happen to have Costco near you you might check it out. I do believe they still do a free day pass so you can see if you would want to spend the $55 for the normal membership. One of my favorite buys is chicken at Costco. I haven't checked chicken strips much but I know the chicken breast is about $2.99 per lb. The packages there for chicken breast is 8 (or 10 can't remember) heat sealed pouches which contain 2 chicken breasts in each pouch. What's great about it is you can easily freeze them (as they are heat sealed) and then tear off (as each pouch is easily tearable) what you need and defrost them overnight in the fridge. We also buy their toilet paper (which is actually Costco's #1 seller) and their select-a-size paper towels. If you like organic Costco also has more organic choices than Whole Foods does (at least they did a few months ago though I'm sure store to store inventory can vary). Only word of caution on Costco is knowing what items your family would actually consume/use in mostly bulk packaging. Initial cost at Costco could be a sticker shock but if the items bought last you longer in the long run I would call that a win.

Aldi is awesome as well.

Growing up my family wasn't brand loyal on most things but I hadn't really thought about generic/off brands until I had to start buying stuff for myself. I remember when the biggest lightbulb went off was when I was in Walmart needing Nyquil. I just happened to look at the Equate (Walmart's brand) and compared it to Nyquil's brand.....the exact same active ingredients were listed on both but Equate was half the price of Nyquil. If you aren't brand specific you can free yourself up to looking into the generic/off brands and honestly there are many times at least for me when comparing the nutrient values of each that the generic/off brand comes out ahead.

As others have mentioned Pinterest is awesome for getting good ideas but I also use Food Network's website and app for saving recipes.

You might also check out Pillsbury.com . You can join for free and look up recipes there too. And they have manufacturing coupons (for much more than just food) that you can "clip" and print out to use.