A little different twist on the subject of the rising cost of groceries..

[C.Ann]

Although I won't be leaving for the lake until mid-April, I'm trying to plan ahead and pick up non-perishable groceries ahead of time - or things that can be frozen..

From reading here and on the CB, it seems that some items that people typically incorporate into their menu planning have gone so high they are no longer purchasing those items.. (Or at least for the time being..)

So - my question to you is: What less expensive items are you incorporating into your menus as substitutes for the traditional items you would normally purchase?

And if you don't mind sharing, where are you purchasing these items and at what cost?

Right now two of the items I am checking into is powdered eggs (for baking) and dry milk - mostly for baking.. Since it's just me up there, it's better to go that route than to buy these things fresh and have them go to waste before I use them..

Another question.. Are there items that you are purchasing now that you are freezing (because they're on sale) that under normal circumstances you wouldn't freeze for future use?

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.. Trying to limit any food waste to an absolute minimum - while at the same time getting the best deals down here (Aldi's and such) before I get up there and have to spend my savings in gas money instead because the decent stores are so far away..

Oh - and one other thing.. Dson-in-law has been doing all of my grocery shopping for awhile now - since he's at the store doing theirs anyhow - and then I just give him the money for my portion.. I use a ton of evaporated can milk (that's what I use in the coffee I drink all day) and it's currently running 99 cents a can at the traditional supermarkets.. It's always been quite a bit cheaper at Aldi's, but I haven't been there in quite awhile now.. I assume some of their prices have gone up as well, but does anyone know what they're charging for evaporated milk right now? I would like to get several cases before I head north for the season..

TIA for any info you have to share..

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I have been buying a lot more pasta lately. I can get it on sale/coupons for as low as 69 cents/pound. We used to eat more salads and fruit for side dishes, and now it's pasta to help stretch the grocery budget. I know - it's not very healthy of a switch!!!

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

C. Ann,
I can't help you out on Aldi's prices since I don't shop there. But, I wanted to tell you to check sales the week of Easter for evaporated milk. Last year one of the stores here sold it for .69 a can. I really stocked up, bought enough to last about nine months. I can't think WHY it was considered an Easter sale item, but that was the best sale I saw on Carnation milk for the entire year. I also got great buys on English peas and a few other items that you think of people eating for their Easter meals. We don't drink much milk so I always keep evaporated milk for emergencies. I mainly use it for cooking, and also keep some dry milk for times I need a very small amount in a recipe. I'm hoping the store will have Carnation on sale again this Easter so I can stock up again.

 

[PattnFmly]

We are doing a lot more canned fruits and veggies rather than fresh. We just can't seem to eat up the fresh before it starts turning. Canned will keep. And we are doing a lot more meatless, like ravioli and manicotti. I know, more pasta, but with cheese not meat. (I can't eat spaghetti without meat!) LOL!

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

I bought some pre-packaged deli meat with coupons and froze them. When I was ready to eat them, I put them in the refrigerator to thaw.

 

[Colleen27]

Eggs and milk freeze well enough to use for cooking or baking. I wouldn't thaw either one to use on its own because the texture changes a little bit but as one ingredient among many you'd never know the difference.

Milk in the quantities we use takes up too much precious freezer space for me to think about storing, but I do buy eggs in advance. I freeze them in ice cube trays (slightly scrambled, one egg per cube) and toss them into a freezer bag to pull out as needed for baking. I've got a great source for affordable cage-free eggs during the summer but don't get there often during the winter, so I stockpile rather than buying store-bought over the holiday/baking season. If you're looking to do it for budget reasons, watch for a good sale (Kroger has eggs for $1/doz right now) and freeze up a bunch to last a while.

We've been trying to do more meatless meals or meals where meat is a flavoring/minor ingredient rather than the main course. Gumbo or jambalaya, vegetable lasagna, spinach & cheese manicotti, build-your-own pizza (a big hit with my kids), chili with cornbread, pierogi, stir fries with more veggies than meat, etc.

 

[nunzia]

..let me get this right as I've been thinking about doing this..you just break an egg into something, whisk it a bit, then pour it into an ice cube tray then after frozen pop it out and store it in the freezer in something else? That's it? Do you then use it for...what?? Can you scramble it to eat, or do you just thaw it out and use them for baking? Neat idea.

 

[Colleen27]

..let me get this right as I've been thinking about doing this..you just break an egg into something, whisk it a bit, then pour it into an ice cube tray then after frozen pop it out and store it in the freezer in something else? That's it? Do you then use it for...what?? Can you scramble it to eat, or do you just thaw it out and use them for baking? Neat idea.

Yes, that's it. Easy-peasy. I don't use them for cooking plain so I don't know if you'd know the difference between fresh and frozen for scrambled eggs or omelets, but for baking and cooking you can't tell the difference at all. Since we mostly use eggs in recipes and seldom eat just eggs, it works out very nicely to have a frozen stash on hand.

 

[Soben]

Right now two of the items I am checking into is powdered eggs (for baking) and dry milk - mostly for baking.

You can use soy flour to sub for eggs in baking, 1T and 1T water. It works the same as an egg.

 

[ilovejack02]

I am freezing bread these days. The brand we like has jumped dramatically lately . Full price was normally 2.50-2.80ish , now up to 3.00 at Walmart and 3.50 at my local little store. I used to be able to find it on sale for 1.89-1.99. Last week Target had it for 2.19, cheapest I have seen in awhile. I bought 6 loaves, but now thinking I should have bought a few more. I started paying attention, looks like we are going through a loaf in about 4-5 days. DS8 loves peanut butter toast and BLT's . I have tried other brands, but we are never happy . Has to be Nature's own Whole wheat.

Another thing is bacon, If I can find for 2.50 a pack I will load up. I used to not bother, but with DS's new love affair with BLT's , I have too . I will switch brands for bacon, but there are some I won't buy . I freeze all breakfast meats if I find on sale.

 

[crusoe2]

Question on freezing the eggs - how long do they generally keep? We seem to go thru spells of eating lots of them and then I'll end up throwing some out cause they got old before we could use them all. Freezing would be the perfect solution - at least when it comes to having some on hand for baking.

I'm looking for ideas for substitutions too. Unfortunately one of my fave snacks - plain pecans - just got so outrageously expensive that I finally hit my breaking point this week and wouldn't buy them. They have always been kind of expensive but DH and I eat just a few at a time along with some cheese and fruit or maybe a handful alone ever so often. So a 1 pound bag would last for awhile. I've watched the price go up from about $4 a bag to about $6 or so but I'd still buy them. This week that one pound bag was $8.56. I found out that was my breaking point - no pecans this month. I'm now trying to develop a taste for walnuts. They're healthier anyway, right?

 

[leight]

I haven't really cut down on staples in my family-I just watch sales- especially bogo's at Publix(you're in central FL aren't you?check truecouponing.com for local matchups) and I've been stocking up in 6-12 wk worth of sales cycles for non-perishibles.

For evaporated milk I would watch the passover sales- I think that is a staple for the season and stock up then.
I check in at Aldi's for baking supplies, produce and some frozen novelties the kids like. But I drive past most of the stores I shop at to and from work so it is not extra gas to go to several. If you live more in the rural areas away from the stores, it may not be as easy for you.

For meats I've been going to either a local butcher or Albertson's- boneless chicken breasts are avg $1.69 lb and while I have to do some extra work to clean them up I am saving over Publix's $4.99 lb reg price. Same with ground beef- I can get the 85% or 90% lean on sale at albertson's for just under $3 lb so I buy in bulk and freeze in individual serving sizes and have been making my own burger patties and freezing those individually too. A stand alone freezer is a great investment if you have the room!

 

[princessnoelly]

You can use soy flour to sub for eggs in baking, 1T and 1T water. It works the same as an egg.

We do this for my daughter, she has a dairy & egg allergy. It works great! I've also used bananas, applesauce and tofu. If you google Egg substitutes for baking it gives you a bunch!

I bake everything with Soy milk and haven't had any complaints. We buy our soy milk by the case at Costco and it works out to about a $1 a box.

 

[gillenkl]

I buy bread when it's on sale and freeze - last week it was
.79 so I got 4 of those. Also as PP said - I buy bacon on sale - I won't pay over $3 a package but try to stay around $2.50 and buy enough pkgs to last a month at least.

Also my Walgreen's has milk $1 cheaper a gallon than the grocery stores so I buy that there.

I always check the dented cans in the reduced section (usually 50% off) and buy any that are veggies or fruit we eat.

 

[SandrA9810]

Question on freezing the eggs - how long do they generally keep? We seem to go thru spells of eating lots of them and then I'll end up throwing some out cause they got old before we could use them all. Freezing would be the perfect solution - at least when it comes to having some on hand for baking.

I'm looking for ideas for substitutions too. Unfortunately one of my fave snacks - plain pecans - just got so outrageously expensive that I finally hit my breaking point this week and wouldn't buy them. They have always been kind of expensive but DH and I eat just a few at a time along with some cheese and fruit or maybe a handful alone ever so often. So a 1 pound bag would last for awhile. I've watched the price go up from about $4 a bag to about $6 or so but I'd still buy them. This week that one pound bag was $8.56. I found out that was my breaking point - no pecans this month. I'm now trying to develop a taste for walnuts. They're healthier anyway, right?

I get whole pecans for $4 a pound. I found some for $2 once, but they were so awful and soft, I threw them all out. I like walnuts too, and bought them once, but I had the worst time trying to crack them open. I think I still have about 5 or so left that I just gave up on. Occasionally I can find people selling them shelled in small ziploc bags for about $3 a bag, saves me a whole lot of hassle.

 

[kathie859]

We're doing meatless Monday's (I've played around with black beans and brown rice, red beans and rice, navy beans in soup..well, you get the idea)
And pasta dishes. Lots of pasta.

I've also adopted buying meat by the serving. Instead of picking up a package of 5 pork chops, I'll buy one per person. That's helped me manage what a true serving size is. If I buy a whole chicken or roast, I plan a few meals to stretch it.

Another inexpensive protein is frozen fish fillets. My grocery has a 12 pz package of talapia often on sale for a few dollars.

I've alway been a thrifty shopper so it's just another challenge to eat well and not overspend.

 

[C.Ann]

C. Ann,
I can't help you out on Aldi's prices since I don't shop there. But, I wanted to tell you to check sales the week of Easter for evaporated milk. Last year one of the stores here sold it for .69 a can. I really stocked up, bought enough to last about nine months. I can't think WHY it was considered an Easter sale item, but that was the best sale I saw on Carnation milk for the entire year.

That's very interesting - and something I've never noticed before.. I wonder what evaporated milk had to do with food preparations for Easter?? I'll have to keep an eye on that.. Thanks!

I bought some pre-packaged deli meat with coupons and froze them. When I was ready to eat them, I put them in the refrigerator to thaw.

How did they taste after they thawed out? Any that you didn't care for and wouldn't freeze again?

but I do buy eggs in advance. I freeze them in ice cube trays (slightly scrambled, one egg per cube) and toss them into a freezer bag to pull out as needed for baking.

This is a great idea!! What an easy, space-saving way to freeze eggs.. Thanks so much for sharing that!

I haven't really cut down on staples in my family-I just watch sales- especially bogo's at Publix(you're in central FL aren't you?!

No - I'm in upstate New York.. No Kroeger's, Publix, Wegman's, or any of those places.. We do have Aldi's though (which I love); Save A Lot (not much savings there as far as I'm concerned); and two main "major" supermarkets.. Of course they're all quite a long distance from the lake, so it has to be a "stock up" trip in order to offset the cost of gas.. There's one small grocery store in the next town over from the lake - I call it the "Give-Us-All-Your-Money-And-No-One-Gets-Hurt-Grocery-Store" - and will only go there if I absolutely haveto.. It's part of the reason we got into this weekly thing where my Dson-in-law would call me up there on Thursday nights to get my grocery list, buy the stuff while he was doing their weekly groceries (at a much more reasonable "main" supermarket) - then he would bring it up to me when they would come on Friday's to spend the weekend in their travel trailer and I would pay him for whatever was on my list.. The only glitch there is that he will only shop in one store - won't chase down sales (nor do I expect him to) - so I would rather do more of my own shopping when I return to the lake so I can make the "big" trips every now and then over to one of the Aldi's up there; two of the main markets; Walmart; etc..

I've really been scouring my recipes the past couple of weeks - looking for things I can make with staples I already have - and jotting down ideas of inexpensive meals as they pop into my head..

One of the very few things that I am 100% "brand loyal" about is Folgers Classic or Country Roast ground coffee.. It's the only coffee that doesn't make me feel like I have rats in my stomach trying to chew their way out , but it's getting harder and harder to catch it on sale.. If anything, the price just keeps going higher and higher.. I need to find a place where I can get coupons for that (in quantities), because I drink a lot of coffee all day long so it's the one thing that I won't be cutting out of my budget any time soon..

When I have time, I'm also going to start visiting various web sites directly(Folger's; General Mills; Boost; etc.) as someone recently told me that they often offer special coupons (or free samples) via those sites.. Anyone here have experiences with that?

Thanks to all for sharing your info.. That's what we're here for - to help each other out - right?

 

[azdisneylover]

A good place to get coupons is thecouponclippers.com. I enjoy using them for coupons. You pay a handling fee and a shipping fee too.

 

[pat fan]

Last shopping trip my DH agreed to switch from DD's coffee to Folgers. DD's had gone up like $2 a bag and the Folgers was $8 cheaper so he said while he loves DD's, not $8 difference worth.

I think we've given up almost every store bought snack we used to buy! No more store cookies, chips, or crackers (except saltines in case we get sick). I keep going to the cabinet for snacks and there is nothing there. Healthier I guess, but slightly depressing as well

As for eggs, last year we bought chickens! Not sure how cost effective it is, but it's fun, I know the eggs don't have salmonella and when they stop laying, chicken soup!

My DH's did some work on the side so we went to BJ's and just got $100 worth of meat and broke it down into servings for us and Food Savered it and put it in the freezer. We did this a little while ago as well so we should be set on meat for the foreseeable future. Like DH said, food is only going to keep going up with all that's happening in the world, so while we could have saved that $100, he felt it was better spent planning for the future.

I think I will look for some dry milk to keep in the pantry. Good idea!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

A few things I've been trying to do:

1) More meals with cheap veggies -- cabbage, onions, potatoes, carrots, and a little meat alongside.

2) More meals with eggs as the protein -- fried rice (with brown rice and LOTs of frozen veggies added), scrambled eggs on hash browns, french toast.

3) Lentils. My kid seems to really like these. I've heard you can sub them out for ground beef in a lot of things like tacos or chili. Huge difference in price between lentils and ground beef, and healthier too. Does anyone know exactly how to do this?

4) More frozen fruit instead of fresh. My son will happily eat a bowl, or add some to his oatmeal, or mix up a smoothie of them.