"Grocery" budget questions for the EXPERT SHOPPERS...

[SEA333]

Okay....I would like to know.... when you guys buy groceries for these incredible low weekly/amounts..... do they include paper products, dog food, cleaning products, toiletries..you know the OTHER STUFF we buy?? Do you keep FOOD separate? I am curious because WE HAVE ALWAYS SPENT SO MUCH each week at the commissary. We have gotten better but there is room for improvement.


I am NOT one to shop at different stores to get THE BEST DEALS. I am not about running all over the place to buy the things in the sales flyers...but I do use coupons if they are for things we actually use. WE are fortunate to be able to use the commissary and that is saving us money.

My Target run (usually weekly, but sometimes less) includes paper products, shampoo, ziplock bags, garbage bags, soap, etc. I also get most of my "snack" type foods there for the kids' lunches, and boxed cereal. Depending on prices, I will also get some freezer/dairy items. I try to spend no more than $50-$75/week at Target (Ha!! ). Fresh produce, meat, and anything else I need that I didn't get at Target is bought at Mariano's. which is a newly expanding grocery chain here in the Chicago suburbs now that Dominicks (Safeway) went out of business.

Every great once in a while, I will go to SuperWalmart, but I really, really hate going into that store past 7am on a Sunday morning...

I spend between $100-$150 TOTAL between all stores per week, so yes, this includes paper and personal care goods. It gets closer to the $150 mark when we start running out of baggies, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry soap, cat litter, etc, which always seems to happen at the worst time possible at the end of the month AFTER I've paid the mortgage!!

 

[SM101]

I am so bad at budgeting. Newlywed here. We've been living together for about 10 months now (got married in December) but we waste so much money because I have so much trouble for some reason wrapping my head around planning meals.

DH is also a new teacher who hasn't found a permanent position yet, so our income is spotty while he is subbing (I work too, but my income isn't enough for everything) and I never know how much money we will have at any given time, it all depends on how often he gets called out.

In the month of April, we spent $267.96 on groceries (not including cat food) and $250.63 ordering food and/or morning coffees/buying lunch at work.

I know I can almost eliminate the takeout/fast food, but it's still hard having all the money at once to get some decent shopping done some weeks.

Anyone know of a thread with advice for a situation like that? Lol

Biggest waste of money - buying coffees out and buying lunch at work. Make your own coffee and drink before work/top off a to go mug and take with you. Leftovers, salad, sandwich brought from home for lunch, then bring a book to enjoy with all the time you save having to go get lunch.

I know some weeks it feels like it's tough to have the money to shop - so on the weeks where you DO have the money, concentrate on buying staples so that on the tough weeks, you can just eat out of your pantry/freezer, with maybe buying a few bits of fresh produce and milk to supplement.

Things to have: Buy family packs of meat on sale and package in freezer bags to appropriate meal size. Basic meats that are versatile and economical: boneless chicken breast; bone-in chicken thighs; ground beef; pork loin (buy whole and cut down to individual chop size for best price); ground turkey; tilapia. Don't forget things like canned tuna and eggs (omelet night once a week!) for inexpensive proteins.

Keep things in the pantry like pasta, salad dressing, chicken and beef broth, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce.

Try to find a local produce store that sells discounted produce and shop there.

Cook from scratch.

 

[SM101]

I have a long list of grocery stores I go to as well - more often than not, it's because that particular store has consistently low prices on items I buy. I DO include cost of paper products, cleaning products, shampoo/personal items in with the groceries.

Every other month:

Walmart for shampoo/personal products, cleaning products, paper products

Once a month:

Trader Joe's - olive oil and vinegars, specialty cheeses, frozen fish, nuts, dried fruits, honey, almond butter, a few other things. Can't shop here every week as does not have the variety and some items are much more expensive.

Wegmans - consistently low family pack meat prices - for example, boneless chicken breast is always 1.99, chicken thighs are 99 cents a pound, every single day. Also some other products they carry. Can't shop here every week because some of their prices are high plus they have a lot of gourmet splurge items that I try to avoid.

Twice a month:

Regular store for "bigger" grocery shopping and sale items.

Every week: (These stores are all located within about a 5 mile radius)

Produce Junction for fresh fruit, veg, eggs

Regular store if need milk and to pick up loss leader items

2 other grocery stores if good loss leader item that are located where I would be driving past anyway

*I used to do Aldi about once a month, but based on my last 2 visits, I'm dropping that out of rotation.


Overall, I spend about $400 a month on groceries - that includes 3 meals a day for myself and a child (we bring lunch to work/school), plus we have people over (my parents one night a week; a friend or two here and there) regularly. We eat out either lunch or dinner on the weekend one day, depending on plans. Very limited on the junk food and processed food, no soda or juice, tons of fresh produce.

 

[Jedana]

We spend about $600 a month, for 3 of us, 1 dog and 1 cat. That includes all food, dog/cat stuff and paper goods/cleaning supplies. This doesn't include DH's breakfast/lunch---I budget $400 a month for those and gas (lumped together for my convenience).

Some months, the paper/cleaning budget may be higher.
For example, there was a sale on All laundry detergent (the only brand that doesn't break out either DH or myself), buy 1 get 1 free. 5.99 a bottle, and I had 4 $2 off 2 bottles coupons. I bought 8 bottles, spent $16.00. The shampoo/conditioner I prefer was on sale buy 2 packs (of a shampoo/condition 2 bottle pack), get one free, at $7.99 a pack. Bought 3 packs, so $16.00 there. Razor blades--$20 for 8 blades (8 weeks worth) for me; $45 for 8 blades (also 8 weeks worth) for DH. That ate a lot of money that month, but now I don't have to buy those again for 2 more months.

We go through a lot of paper towels--probably 10 rolls a month. But those are a must have, as we need them for DH's dialysis treatments (can't use a reusable towel to dry after handwashing, and can't use bare hands to turn off the water after washing). But I'm not really brand loyal there--I get what's on sale or what I have a coupon for (except I dislike the super cheap ones, those hurt my hands, so I usually get Basic or better).

Also, with DH's medical issues, a lot of boxed/canned foods are off the table. No dried beans, nuts, seeds for him; minimal dairy (if he has pizza, he can't have cereal or milk and cookies); etc. So, we do a lot of fresh---salads, roasted veggies.

Milk is over $4 a gallon, and eggs almost $2 a dozen here. Apples $5 for 3 lbs (unless you catch them on sale--and it's always red delicious on sale, very rarely Granny Smith or Fuji); potatoes $4 for 5 lbs; ground beef--for 80/20--$4.50 lb (and I prefer 85/15 or 90/10, add .50 a lb there)....

 

[hops&dreams]

For our family of 3, I spend $100/week and that includes everything - cleaning supplies, paper products, toiletries (like shampoo, razors, hair products, toothpaste, etc.), and more recently Essential Oils.

While to some that not seem like that "thrifty" of an amount for 3 people, I do shop local most of the time, we eat many organic foods, I go through at least 1 bag of flour each month (equate that to I cook from scratch a lot), and I feed my workplace (14 people) a lunch or dessert at least once a month. I also send in a dessert to DH's work. (I like to bake, and after 10 years, DH just doesn't want to eat it all the time anymore!). I also buy local grassfed meat, fresh, so at least $5/lb for ground beef. And hair products are Organix, so approx. $6/bottle of shampoo or conditioner.

In the seasons, this also includes misc stuff - Flats of flowers and bags of topsoil in the spring, ice melt and maybe a new shovel if needed in the winter. Car wash during the summer, etc.

The only things that don't really come out of the weekly "grocery" money are gas, large gifts (if DD is going to a bday party, I just give her $25-35 from the grocery $ to spend on a gift, but for a bridal shower or something like that, I spend from other budgets), clothing and eating out. Otherwise, it's a regular monthly bill or comes from "grocery money."

Obviously, we watch our spending closely, and most dollars spent are pre-planned. It was hard to get used to at first, but man, am I glad we stuck it out - the reward is SO worth it to us... Because of this, we'll be paying our house off in less than 8 years. In a neighborhood we never thought we'd be able to afford - ha!

 

[kmaria]

Biggest waste of money - buying coffees out and buying lunch at work. Make your own coffee and drink before work/top off a to go mug and take with you. Leftovers, salad, sandwich brought from home for lunch, then bring a book to enjoy with all the time you save having to go get lunch.

I know some weeks it feels like it's tough to have the money to shop - so on the weeks where you DO have the money, concentrate on buying staples so that on the tough weeks, you can just eat out of your pantry/freezer, with maybe buying a few bits of fresh produce and milk to supplement.

Things to have: Buy family packs of meat on sale and package in freezer bags to appropriate meal size. Basic meats that are versatile and economical: boneless chicken breast; bone-in chicken thighs; ground beef; pork loin (buy whole and cut down to individual chop size for best price); ground turkey; tilapia. Don't forget things like canned tuna and eggs (omelet night once a week!) for inexpensive proteins.

Keep things in the pantry like pasta, salad dressing, chicken and beef broth, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce.

Try to find a local produce store that sells discounted produce and shop there.

Cook from scratch.

Thanks for the advice Definitely working on it

 

[North of Mouse]

Okay....I would like to know.... when you guys buy groceries for these incredible low weekly/amounts..... do they include paper products, dog food, cleaning products, toiletries..you know the OTHER STUFF we buy?? Do you keep FOOD separate? I am curious because WE HAVE ALWAYS SPENT SO MUCH each week at the commissary. We have gotten better but there is room for improvement.


I am NOT one to shop at different stores to get THE BEST DEALS. I am not about running all over the place to buy the things in the sales flyers...but I do use coupons if they are for things we actually use. WE are fortunate to be able to use the commissary and that is saving us money.

Well, I 'do' go to different stores for the best prices (within reason) because in this area they are within a mile of each other. I 'do' match sales, coupons, online coupons (store coupons - which we can stack at one store). I also get all my paper goods, cleaning, laundry, etc. at the my 'main' grocery store. I stock up on non perishables, including paper, cleaning, personal goods and get enough to keep my sister in stock also.

I almost 'never' pay full price for anything! We are fortunate to live in a very competitive area and I am a person that 'loves' pencil crunching, LOL

Sometimes I actually have a zero (or close) balance when combining savings.
I AM NOT an 'extreme couponer' - hate the way they do. I DO use coupons to get good deals - I also don't even use a coupon binder to take to the store with me - keep my Q's in order in my handbag.

Anyway I do save lots of money by being 'alert' and watching/matching sales with Sunday coupon inserts. Anyone can do it!

 

[Minnesota!]

We budget $350/month for EVERYTHING. Food, drinks, cleaning supplies, paper products, etc.

Honestly, though, we buy 1 mega pack of napkins at Costco a year (so, what, $15??), and we buy the massive toilet paper packs, too. Lasts us about 6 weeks? No other paper products needed in my household. Only pet is a fish and his food - $4 - lasts a few months. Cleaning supplies - we use vinegar and baking soda...and those are cheap and last a few months. So my portion of that $350 for extra stuff is only....$30 or so, max??

 

[williamson_ja]

I spend $100/week during the school year and $150/ week during summer for myself and 4 kids (including 3 teenagers) for everything including eating out, paper products, cleaners, etc. During the school year, the kids eat lunch and sometimes breakfast at school, so that cuts down on groceries for home. Nothing goes to waste here. We plan and use leftovers all the time. I utilize what I have on hand and then check for sales before making my grocery list and menu for the week. I never shop without a list. We don't coupon because there just are not THAT great of deals around here and I mostly by produce, meat, and store brand products. Not too many coupons for that stuff.

Everyone can stick to a budget. Start with something realistic for you. Then you can try to cut it down further if you need to. There are times that I am way more strict than others. Right now, I am on the super strict, no frills budget while I'm out of work. Good luck.

 

[njmom47]

I feel fortunate because there is a 3 mile stretch of highway near my house that has:
Aldi, Kmart, Super Walmart, Entenmann's outlet, Shoprite, A&P, and Target.

I am a faithful Shoprite shopper. The sales can be really good; they have a digital coupon program (download coupons onto your Price Plus card); they double manufacturer's coupons under $1. My usual spending is $130ish a week, although as a PP said, when we are going to run out of paper goods, trash bags, etc, I will spend more. I also try and get to the store early as they have the "Manager's Special" in the meat case...items that have a "sell-by" date that is close. I take it home and put it in the freezer, or use it that day.
I go to the Entenmann's outlet for bread...$1 a loaf (they have a couple of different brands as well as bagels, hot dog/hamburger rolls) and I stick them in the freezer.
When I'm having a particularly budget-challenged week, I will go to Aldi and buy my staples. I'm not fond of their meats though.
I base my weekly menu on what's on sale, and try and double up with above mentioned ways to save. We have 3 cats and a bunny, so we do have pet expenses.
It also helps to know your prices....then if you're somewhere you don't normally shop, and notice a price difference, you know whether to buy it there or skip it till you get back to your regular store.