$400 monthly grocery budget for family of 4?

[FQLover]

Oh, those are both good ideas. Thanks!

 

[azdisneylover]

@MrsPete--I just got back from Jimmy Johns because I had remembered your tip about day old bread. Yep, I got 2 12 inch rolls of French Bread for a single buck! I am going to make garlic bread now to go with our baked tortellini. There are just two of us here this weekend. Do you freeze the second baguette as is? Do you prep the garlic bread (but don't bake it) and then freeze it? How do you deal with the excess so that it remains good when you can't use it all at once? Thanks in advance!

Jumping in because I bought two loaves of french bread $1 each at our Frys today. Tomorrow morning I will slice, then spread garlic butter on it, then wrap in plastic wrap, then foil and place in the freezer for a later date. This will be the first time trying this, so, I hope it turns out well.

 

[barkley]

Jumping in because I bought two loaves of french bread $1 each at our Frys today. Tomorrow morning I will slice, then spread garlic butter on it, then wrap in plastic wrap, then foil and place in the freezer for a later date. This will be the first time trying this, so, I hope it turns out well.

it should work just fine. the walmarts near me take their french loaves (same ones they use for garlic bread loaves) and around mid day of the same day they bake them put them on sale for half price (about 50 cents each). they also sell little containers of the garlic butter spread they use to make their garlic loaves (less than $1 and you can easily do 4 full loaves from one container). i grab both-spread and then just wrap and freeze in foil so it's ready to go into the oven. turns out the same as the fresh loaves once baked.

 

[azdisneylover]

it should work just fine. the walmarts near me take their french loaves (same ones they use for garlic bread loaves) and around mid day of the same day they bake them put them on sale for half price (about 50 cents each). they also sell little containers of the garlic butter spread they use to make their garlic loaves (less than $1 and you can easily do 4 full loaves from one container). i grab both-spread and then just wrap and freeze in foil so it's ready to go into the oven. turns out the same as the fresh loaves once baked.

Ooooh, Thanks! I usually make it the same day, but wanted to make one and save one for another meal later in the month.

 

[monica9]

So I looked at my grocery bills for the past month from august 25 until sept 22 and I spent $755! But I included paper towels, paper plates, detergent, a fleece and socks from costco and a huge box of handwarmers for the winter. I am only looking at my checking account so can't see how much I spent on those but I don't count those in my grocery bill since we get plates, paper towels and detergent maybe 3 times per year. I also bought a ton of meat that will last almost two months since I have our new deep freezer and have the space so I'm not sure if this was a good month to compare other months with. I will check again this month but I'm thinking I really spend closer to $675 on groceries this month. My goal is to now get that to $575 this coming month and then see from there if I can get it to $500 without sacrificing health.

 

[monica9]

I have read thru this thread, and I do not remember if anyone has said about knowing the best price of items you use; that the best price is 13 weeks. Stores will put the item on sale with the best price every 13 weeks. This coming Wednesday, we should see (hopefully) so decent sales on items to stock up on, because of Labor Day. I hope we all can find great deals and save a bundle or two.

How do we know when the 13th week starts? Are they going by the calendar year? Is this for every store?

 

[azdisneylover]

How do we know when the 13th week starts? Are they going by the calendar year? Is this for every store?

Each store has their own system. What I did years ago, was a price book on items we regularly used, and noticed when the stores hit their best prices for an item. I have a set price that is the most I will pay for an item and a "stock up all I can" price which is the lowest price every 13 weeks. With the pandemic, I do not know if things will be the same, but I am hoping they will.

 

[DisFan22]

So I looked at my grocery bills for the past month from august 25 until sept 22 and I spent $755! But I included paper towels, paper plates, detergent, a fleece and socks from costco and a huge box of handwarmers for the winter. I am only looking at my checking account so can't see how much I spent on those but I don't count those in my grocery bill since we get plates, paper towels and detergent maybe 3 times per year. I also bought a ton of meat that will last almost two months since I have our new deep freezer and have the space so I'm not sure if this was a good month to compare other months with. I will check again this month but I'm thinking I really spend closer to $675 on groceries this month. My goal is to now get that to $575 this coming month and then see from there if I can get it to $500 without sacrificing health.

One thing I want to say is, you can cut out about 25 - 30% of your grocery budget, by just shopping the drug stores with coupons. I can constantly get Laundry Detergent, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Tooth Paste, Shampoo, Bodywash, etc, etc free or for pennies after coupons. With three kids and a husband, I go through a container of laundry detergent, every week! So, just by using coupons for that, I save close to $30 a month, and I get to use my favorite brand. That's real money, that you can spend on anything else.

If your willing to spend about 30 Minutes or an Hour a week, preparing your shopping trip, you can easily save 50%. But, if you are not willing to pre-plan and go with a strategy, it'll be reflected in your bill.

One thing you should do is take a look at the weekly circular. Instead of deciding what your going to make, based on what you feel for that week, instead, take a look at the grocery store ad, and plan your meals around the sale. This will save you BIG $$$$, even without using coupons. But, if you start using coupons, you will save a whole lot more.

I am able to feed my family of 5 for less than $350 a month. It is certainly possible, and I'm not talking about Ramen Noodles for every meal either. It's just a question, of what your willing to do! I'm a stay-at-home mom, so, I have plenty of time on my hands. Some -- may not be able to put in the same effort. But If I can live in one of the most expensive areas of the country (Long Island, NY) -- and pull it off, so can you!

 

[DisFan22]

So I looked at my grocery bills for the past month from august 25 until sept 22 and I spent $755! But I included paper towels, paper plates

Lastly, do you own a dishwasher? You would be saving money, and the environment by just using regular plates and loading them straight in for easy cleanup.

 

[azdisneylover]

One thing I have noticed lately is on late Monday evenings, early Tuesday mornings (midnight) my grocery stores have their ads on site! I can pull up the ads and see if the deals. This does help a lot for the first Wednesday of the month (I call it old man walking day), since I am in that age group now. I get 10% off my groceries on that day. So, I try to hit Fry's, Bashas, Albertsons and Safeway for the great deals, with any coupons and then 10% off.

Hope everyone can safe lots of money while getting great tasting food.

 

[bearzabout]

In my area, Aldis has great prices. I can fill a cart for under $100 there and I like what I buy from them. They sometimes have amazing chinese style fresh potstickers and their fresh cheese tortellini is great. Their produce prices can be outstanding.

I try not to miss Kroger’s loss leaders in their ads. Along with their digital coupons, I can typically get 40% off their regular prices. For example, 80% lean ground beef is $1.99/lb this week. A few weeks ago, they had ribeye for $5.99/lb. Progresso soups are all 99 cents now. We add a can to the bone broth we make from the $5 chickens at Costco.

Try going to a local market at the end of the day as they are closing and make a deal on their leftover veggies. Last year, I got a bushel of red peppers for $5. They freeze beautifully and I save a ton of money throughout the year by adding frozen peppers instead of fresh to chili, sloppy joes and spaghetti.