Groceries...how much and what?

[JoiseyMom]

Inspired by another thread. I honestly am not sure how much I spend in groceries per month..but for the four of us it is more then 668.00 per month.

Now, I buy fresh veggies and frozen, I buy organic with some items. I don't use lots of coupons anymore since I don't buy alot of boxed processed foods that most coupons cover. I shop at Wegman's, Shoprite, Sams and Costco. If an item contains High Fructose Corn Syrup..or partially hydrogenated oils..it does not come home with me.

We eat alot of meat/protein, I make steak (all different types), ground beef, chicken cutlets, pork chops (center cut pork loin), spare ribs, fish (once in a while...,not big on seafood). I will buy london broils on sale for 1.99 or less a pound, my ground beef the same, and chicken cutlets etc.. So for most meat/proteins I buy the price is under 2.00/lb. I do spend more on some cuts..but not as much as I do others. But if a package of nice rib steaks are under 20.00, I will buy that and prepare it for dinner..it is cheaper then take out!

What do you guys purchase and feed your family?? It seems like some of you have low grocery bills, so I am curious what you feed your your families.

Let's all be nice please!!

 

[thebeesknees]

I spend about $400-$450 a month for a family of 5. We do a lot of chicken, ground turkey and fish, since we can buy the large packages at Sam's. I only buy beef if I can get it for less than $1.50/lb., so we only have that maybe twice a month. I try to do one vegetarian dish per week, as well. We eat whatever fresh fruit or vegetables are on sale that week, and I stock up when I hit a good sale/coupon combo for non-perishables. I found a website that has recipes for making your own cream soup mix (as well as taco seasoning, etc.) and that has saved me a ton over the years, since a lot of recipes will call for that. I try to cook from scratch as much as possible, and we do a lot of casseroles because I can stretch 1/2 lb. of meat to feed all of us. I sit down with the circulars and my coupons on Sunday and make a shopping list of what is on sale, what I have coupons for, and then make a menu for the next 2 weeks using those items and things I already have. I try really hard to stick to the list. Also, I will send my DH to the store with the list because he is more apt than I am to stick to it and not buy impulse items! Since I've been making my menus ahead of time this way, I have been able to bring my grocery budget down. I know I could probably cut the budget further if I had to, but we are comfortable at this budget and don't feel like we are deprived. We enjoy the foods we like, eat in a healthy manner, and are able to splurge once in awhile without breaking the bank.

 

[erinmomof2]

We have a family of four and we spend about $300 a month now. This is up from previously since my daughter and I have Celiac Disease and are on a gluten free diet. I shop at Meijer, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods. For meat we eat a lot of chicken breast and extra lean ground beef. I try to eat healthy and only buy the exrtra lean ground beef, which on sale is $4.00 a pound, but most often is $5.00 a pound. I think meat is what costs the most in our budget. I think we eat pretty healthy for $300 a month. I buy mostly frozen veggies, and only fresh fruit. I buy items on sale and use coupons when I can, but that isn't too often now that our family eats gluten free.

I buy special GF items at Trader Joes and Whole Foods. Items like rice and quinoa pasta, gluten free brownies (a special treat for the kids), GF cereal, ect. We always have enough to eat, infact my pantry is more stocked than most people I know despite spending less than them. I think just watching the sales and shopping accordingly is the best trick. And if you can use coupons even better. I think now I only use about $5-$10 a week in coupons, but even that's something. I take all the money I save and put it in my Disney fund!