Anyone Feel Like They are Spending WAYYYYYY Too Much on Groceries?

[serendipity]

It's just DH and myself. We're spending about $600+ on groceries. We do eat all three meals at home, every day, but I feel like we're getting robbed. We try to eat healthy meals all day, new recipes nightly. Last week we made pulled pork, eat this/not that enchiladas, sausage and peppers, shrimp pepperoncini, eat this/not that philly cheesesteaks, stuffed peppers. and chicken marsala. How do we lower our costs?

 

[SaraJayne]

It's just DH and myself. We're spending about $600+ on groceries. We do eat all three meals at home, every day, but I feel like we're getting robbed. We try to eat healthy meals all day, new recipes nightly. Last week we made pulled pork, eat this/not that enchiladas, sausage and peppers, shrimp pepperoncini, eat this/not that philly cheesesteaks, stuffed peppers. and chicken marsala. How do we lower our costs?

That's a lot of meat. I lower our costs (for family of 4 incl one teenage boy ) by alternating meat meals with meatless.

We do have a freezer full of venison, elk and fish, so we use those, especially on weeks when the grocery budget is a bit leaner.

I plan our meals around what's on sale at the store and what coupons the grocery store is offering.

Good luck!

 

[figment3258]

Since u eat all ur meals at home try to put togethr a monthly menu and shop when items are on sale and stock up when they do go on sale, also maybe if you belong to a bjs or sams club u could but in bulk.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I feel the same way - we're spending a similar amount in my house for me and DBF! I love to cook, and we grill and barbecue often; but even then, my typical lunch is a lean cuisine pizza or their chicken alfredo, or a big heaping bowl of broccoli with olive oil and fresh shredded parm. So how do we spend so much!? I don't know either.

We really need to do the "week of eating out of your freezer and cabinets" idea. Like, now.

 

[bettymae1121]

It's just DH and myself. We're spending about $600+ on groceries. We do eat all three meals at home, every day, but I feel like we're getting robbed. We try to eat healthy meals all day, new recipes nightly. Last week we made pulled pork, eat this/not that enchiladas, sausage and peppers, shrimp pepperoncini, eat this/not that philly cheesesteaks, stuffed peppers. and chicken marsala. How do we lower our costs?

Well, at $600 a month, divide that by 30 days in a month, then divide again by 3 meals a day, then by 2 for two people, and that's only 3.33 per meal per person on average, that's not that bad. But there are some ways to cut that down. As others have said, you can cut your meat consumption to save some money. Also cheese is expensive, if you cut back/out on cheese that could save some $$$ as well. Also for cheese, if you buy pre-shreded, start buying it in blocks and shred your own, it's usually cheaper (and I find pre-shreded dosen't melt as well).

Getting back to meat, I find roasting a whole chicken to be a good way to go. I marinate it in home made itailian dressing overnight, then roast it and get two meals plus enough for one or two chicken salad sandwiches out of it. The chicken costs $5 and the dressing marinade is made from what I have on hand in my pantry/fridge.

Pizza dough is easy and cheap to make from scratch (especially if you own a stand mixer, no hand kneeding needed!) and makes a great meatless meal as well.

If you have the space and inclination, you can try growing some of your own veggies to cut down on produce costs in the summer/fall (and even winter if you can freeze/can some of it). If you can't/don't want to do that, look for farmer's markets in your area. They may be cheaper, and the quality is usually much better.

For breakfast, if you eat cold boxed cereal, switch to steel cut oatmeal, it's cheaper and better for you. I add flavor by putting in dried fruit (usually apples) and adding a sprinkly of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey. Yum!!! I make it in my lil' dipper crock pot overnight (just enough for me) so the dried apples get nice and soft, but if you want to make it for two you can do it in a small crockpot too.

Just for reference, DH and I spend about $400 to $500 a month on groceries (depend on how much wine we buy....) for the two of us, so you aren't that far out of wack. With a bit of tweeking you should be able to get it down some.

 

[jjsmom]

I would suggest meatless at least twice a week. How about a veggie pasta, or a pot of bean soup on a rainy day? Also I don't know which region you're from but I have an idea for a FREE source of meat. Charter fishing docks if you live near the coast. Many times the fisherman have too much for their needs (especially true for "head" or party boats). It doesn't hurt to ask and usually theres someone at the docks who will clean it for tips (still way cheaper than grocery meat). The best time to check is between 3-5 pm. If you know someone who fishes, let them know you'll be happy to take their surpluss.
In addition to the suggestions above:

1) buy ground beef in bulk on sale, then freeze in 1/2 - 3/4 lb. portions. Any recipe that calls for 1 lb. of beef does just fine with a smaller amount.

2) when making tacos/enchiladas, cut the meat by 1/2 and mix with refried beans. Less messy!
3)During Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, turkeys and hams are deeply discounted. By one to cook and another to freeze. Later on, cook the second one and have a huge dinner, then sliced leftovers, then bits and pieces for a casserole, then bones for a pot of soup.

3) July 4, Memorial Day, Labor day Watch for bargains on Chicken, Ribs, and Ground Beef and do the same.

good luck!

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We cut the amount of meat we eat and that made a HUGE difference. For example, I use to put a 1 lb of hamburger in our spaghetti. Now I use a 1/2 pound of hamburger so I have enough for 2 meals.

I am also a big coupon clipper and stock up when I can get the basics for practically nothing (deodorant, pasta sauce, soup, dish soap, etc).

 

[VAN]

It's just DH and myself. We're spending about $600+ on groceries. We do eat all three meals at home, every day, but I feel like we're getting robbed.

Please don't feel like you are getting robbed. If you think about the rise in energy costs (gas, oil, etc) you might begin to understand why the food costs more. Think about it ... the farmers have to run equipment to cultivate and harvest the food. Someone needs to show up at the fields with a truck to haul the produce/food to the processor/packager. Equipment is run to package and/or process the food. A truck/plane/etc arrives to transport the food to a distribution center. A truck arrives to transport the food to your local market. The market pays for heating/electric for the market.

So, just considering the increase in energy costs alone, you can see why there is a need to raise the prices of food. Don't feel robbed ... but do write to your representatives in Washington to encourage them to enact policies that will bring down the cost of energy.

Have you thought about putting in a garden?

 

[angierae]

Are you buying stuff when it's on sale? I only buy cheese when it's on sale and then freeze, I buy meat in the "family packs" when it goes on sale and then split it up into portions suitable for a meal for my family, etc.

Whatever fruit is on sale that week is what we eat, etc. Do you eat your dinner leftovers for lunch the next day?

Those are some of the things we do to keep down costs. We also have at least one "fend for yourself" night a week because of everyone's schedules.

Also, check around at your different grocery stores. It's amazing how one store will sell something (regular price!) at $3.79 and another one will have it for $2.25. Depends on their deals with the manufacturers/distributors.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I would look at portion sizes. Most people serve twice the appropriate protein sizes.

 

[DawnM]

Yikes. We pay that much for all 5 of us to eat and I have boys.

We do some couponing, particularly for toiletries. That helps.

We buy during half price sales or loss leader sales, etc......

Last week split chicken breast was .99 pound. I got 18 pounds and froze it.

Produce and Dairy comes from Costco.

We buy very little pre-made foods unless I have a free coupon and then we may splurge every now and then.

Salad, brown rice, grilled chicken makes a very nice meal and can be served for about $1 per person if you buy most of it on sale.

Make your own dressings, marinades, sauce mixes, etc....and you will not only save a bundle, but save the MSG and additives too.

Dawn

 

[amylynne01]

If you completely ignore coupons (because not everyone wants to do coupons), you can save just by meal planning. Make a meal plan based on what's on sale that week and what you already have at hom. So if you chicken is one sale, then you have chicken 3 times that week, and buy more for the freezer for when chicken is not on sale. When I menu plan, I find that I spend less, I use more of what I have, and it's easier than having to think about every meal every day.

What about lower cost meals like grilled cheese and soup, omelets and bacon, or chicken drumsticks in the crock pot? Going meatless at least once a week will help as well.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Farmers markets are great in some areas.

We also eat a lot of mideastern meals. More beans and rice, less meat. Quinoa is a huge favorite here, packs a protein punch, is inexpensive and kicks butt as a base for a Mediterranean stew.

 

[rileyreese]

I spend that much a month for my family too but there are 6 of us. That number does include 2 small children and none of my kids are huge eaters but I budget $150 a week for food, either groceries or eating out and that amount also has to buy diapers and dog food. I buy only meats on sale and freeze any I don't need and try to get as much other stuff on sale as I can!

 

[Promomx2]

I noticed yesterday at Martins that fig newtons were $4 a package. When did they go up? I do't remember paying that for them last month.

 

[proud_canadian]

Wow that is expensive. I am in Canada, but I spend around 60-80 per week including toiletries and food per week for 4 of us. For lunches though we keep it simple, soup, sandwiches, frozen dinners, etc. Breakfast is not a big ordeal either except for weekends, mid-week it is just cereal or oatmeal or frozen waffles. I'm not sure what you're making, but maybe have cheaper lunches/breakfasts and then splurge on dinners. Also, snack items can add up. Try coupons and watch fliers for sales.

 

[meredith1]

Oh my yes. I'm spending 120.00 per WEEK alone in formula for my twins. Yes, everything is amazingly expensive.

 

[tinker&belle]

Oh my yes. I'm spending 120.00 per WEEK alone in formula for my twins. Yes, everything is amazingly expensive.

I don't know if that is somewhere you are looking to cut costs, but I switched both dds at some point to store brand and both did well.

 

[meredith1]

I don't know if that is somewhere you are looking to cut costs, but I switched both dds at some point to store brand and both did well.

Oh trust me I would go that route but, they were preemies and have to be on the Similac Neosure. They are ten months on Friday and all I keep thinking is two more months, two more months and we go to cow's milk!!!!

 

[bettymae1121]

Just a quick note, grocery prices vary WIDELY across the US, a dollar amount that can feed 5 in one region would only feed 3 in another, so don't let some of the "I can feed 10 people for $50 a week" posts get you down too much, you may just be in a higher-than-average market.