I simply cannot, no matter how hard I try, get my grocery bill............

[SnowWhite607]

under $100 a week! For THREE people! Two adults and a 9 year old who barely eats anything and 2 cats. I hardly bought any meat either (one lb ground beef and 1 pack of 3 chicken breasts).

Granted, everything goes into that budget - toiletries, paper goods, etc. But still......we arent eating filet mignon either!

Should it be this expensive for 3 people, breakfast, lunch (most days) and dinner (6 days a week)?? Any hints or tips for me??

 

[mousiemom]

this is funny... i also me, dh, and 9yr dd, 1 puppy, 1 cat and the average of my weekly grocery bill is $50-$60. I try to buy my meats one week, and our toilet paper, detergent etc. one week. i've learned a lot from this budget board about easy/cheap meals, etc. hey, we have a disney trip to pay off, you do what you have to do right? let me know if you want some easy/cheap meal ideas!!

 

[lisaross]

that does not seem all that high, spcially 3 meals daily! I think all the toileties bring the price way up..have u thoght about joining Costco or someother store similar?

under $100 a week! For THREE people! Two adults and a 9 year old who barely eats anything and 2 cats. I hardly bought any meat either (one lb ground beef and 1 pack of 3 chicken breasts).

Granted, everything goes into that budget - toiletries, paper goods, etc. But still......we arent eating filet mignon either!

Should it be this expensive for 3 people, breakfast, lunch (most days) and dinner (6 days a week)?? Any hints or tips for me??

 

[taylorcpa]

Do you use coupons? You could save lots of $$ using them. Also, look at your store's sales ad and do meal planning based upon what's on sale. For example, if chicken is on sale, you plan a few meals with chicken for that week and then buy some extra to put in the freezer for later. Granted, if you start stockpiling, your grocery bill will not come down for a while but you will get more food. If you want more info, I recommend the grocery game (www.grocerygame.com) - they currently have a free four week trial.

 

[poohfriend77]

I'm right there with you! I can't imagine spending under $100 (DH, me, DD7, DD4) unless we eat out 3-4 times. And I guess that defeats the purpose, huh? DH is a big eater and loves his meat. He would not be happy if I tried to substitute beans for meat in a meal or use two chicken breasts to feed our whole family, like a friend suggested.

It's also frustrating when healthy foods are more expensive than junk food. I just do the best I can, watching sales and using coupons.

 

[puffkin]

You need to start CVSing/Rite Aiding and using coupons to stock up when things are sale. I buy all my toiletries/paper goods/some groceries at CVS/Rite Aid and spend pennies a month. I only buy food at the grocery store and spend about $60 on average a week....1/3 of that being produce and milk which never have coupons. We are a family of 3 and eat most meals at home and brown bag our lunches.

I do not buy my petfood at the grocery store because I feed them a premium brand that is only carried at petstores. I spend about $100/month food for my two cats and beagle at the pet store.

 

[ceecee]

I spend around $80.00 for Dh, myself and 14 yr old DD. This doesn't include dog food bought at PetMart ($50.00 a month for 30 lbs) or any cleaning products (usually get those at Target. I get coffee, TP and paper towels once a month and that bill will be closer to $100. I stock up on things that are on sale and buy a lot of fresh fruit/veg. As for meat, mostly fish and chicken. I use a few coupons but not that many.

 

[jennylyn_b]

This is going to sound crazy but think about joining a Costco or BJ's or bulk club like that if you have one near you. I find I save a lot of money on paper goods and meat when I buy them there. Yes, the upfront cost is more but I found that my trips to the grocery store a much less when I do this. For example, I can get two whole chickens at the bulk store for just under $8 whereas at the grocery store one while chicken is about the same price! Paper goods are also a steal. I can get 36 rolls of toilet paper for the same cost as 12 on sale at the grocery store. Sure, you have to pay a membership fee but for me this is the way to go

 

[Cruise]

It's just DH and I and we're always over $100 without paper products, cat food, etc. I buy those things elsewhere and my grocery bill is still anywhere from $120-$160/week.

I think our main "problem" though is that we get a lot of healthier options now. When we were eating frozen food and junk, our bill was a lot lower. For example, about $30/week of that total is just fruit...that doesn't include vegetables - just fruit. There's also things like a $2.69 can of tuna with no salt added versus a .79 can of tuna that is loaded with sodium. We buy bread with more fiber and whole grains versus a regular loaf of white bread. Meats will include things like salmon, but never ground beef.

It's certainly easier to eat cheaper, but I guess it's just a matter of priorities and budgeting for where you do and don't spend money.

 

[Hannathy]

I don't think that is high at all, especially if that includes animals and paper. may I ask if you aren't having trouble paying your bills why stress so much over a few dollars? Life is too short to waste all the worry and stress over saving what $520 in a year if you managed to pare off $10 a week? Plus do you really want to put that much effort into watching every single thing you buy and eat.
It would be different if you were on here saying I can't get below $200 a week!

Now if you can't pay $100 a week I take back everything I said and I'm sure you can cut back but it may not be pretty.

 

[fers31]

I think our main "problem" though is that we get a lot of healthier options now. When we were eating frozen food and junk, our bill was a lot lower. For example, about $30/week of that total is just fruit...that doesn't include vegetables - just fruit. There's also things like a $2.69 can of tuna with no salt added versus a .79 can of tuna that is loaded with sodium. We buy bread with more fiber and whole grains versus a regular loaf of white bread. Meats will include things like salmon, but never ground beef.

Ok...I have to ask, what fruits are you eating for $30/wk?

 

[delmar411]

well you need to stock up when things are on sale. Enough to last you 8-10wks until the next sale cycle starts. Obviously, stocking up on meats and other perishables requires a large freezer or deep freezer. But dry goods and health/beauty/cleaning items only requires someplace to put them.

 

[sarah4770]

I do not think $100 is a lot of money.
A little over $14 per day
or $5 per day per person
I don't think you can get much lower than that unless you eat food that isn't that good for you.

 

[Cruise]

Ok...I have to ask, what fruits are you eating for $30/wk?

I always get at least one carton of strawberries ($4.99), one of blueberries ($4.99), and one of blackberries ($4.99). Between the two of us, we go through about 10 bananas (DH has at least one a day) so that's another $4.00 or so depending on how big the bananas are. Also about 7 apples - another $3.50-$4.00 again, depending on weight. I'll usually have a couple of pears instead of the apples that DH has, so that's another $2 or so. We'll also just about get through a box of the Clementine cuties each week ($4.99).

When I type it all out, it seems like a lot of fruit, but if you have a bit with breakfast every day (DH crushes up the berries and eats them on oatmeal) and then snacks during the day and after dinner... it just adds up.

We're also hampered by the fact that we live in Los Angeles where the grocery store chains have such a huge impact that they've lobbied local governments to not allow things like Super Walmart (the closest one to me is over 20 miles away and would take more than half an hour to drive to), therefore we're pretty much stuck with traditional grocery store prices on things. Every so often I'll get lucky with a sale or loss leader on some of the fruit, but it's not common.

 

[descovy]

I do clip coupons, but only for things I buy anyways... not do the grocery game/cvs kinda stuff

My biggest budget tip is that I shop and eat the grocery adds. I live in a suburb with 3 different grocery chains all on one street... and a bring a cooler. On a Wednesday afternoon, I can get it all done in 2 hours.

Kroger and HEB have meal deals (buy *this* get these 5 things free) Like buy chicken fajita meat, get tortillas, beans, cheese, sour cream, salsa. So that always makes a fun meal!

I buy meat only when less than $2 lb. If there is a good sale, buy a little extra for the freezer. We often have pork loin, beef roasts, chicken quarters for less than $1/lb when on sale. Boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, I'll pay up to $2 lb if I really need it that week.

Fruits and veggies I buy every week, as long as they are under $1/lb... We eat in season, that means. I will also suppliment with frozen veggies if needed. Often we find salad (sometimes free with meal deals) baby carrots, broccoli, fresh green beans, apples, oranges, bananas. Just got a 10lb bag of grapefruit for $2.50!

Bread, I buy 100% whole grain, but I am not brand loyal. On sale, you can get it for less than $2/loaf (often natures own or sara lee)

Also, I know where my stores keep day old bakery items, ripe fruits/veg, etc... Often you have to eat that stuff in a day or 2, but get a good deal.

Anyway, that is it for us. Toiletries and cleaning supplies I stock up when I have coupons... but get better deals at Target than I do drugstore or grocery. And I'm not buying that stuff every week...

Family of 5 (with stockpile in pantry/freezer) less than $100 a week. Home made is cheaper than processed. Eat healthy but not special restrictions (HFCS, organic, vegan, etc...)

 

[descovy]

Also, if you have any asian grocers near you, they hane *phenominal* prices on produce. I go every one in awhile with my filipino friend (it is 20 miles away) and always come home with oodles of produce cheaper than my neighborhood grocery chains

 

[Kitzka]

We are a family of 3 DH, myself and DD 11. My grocery bill is about $50 a week. If you factor in the $12-15 a week it costs to have my milk and eggs delivered it's about $65. I can be higher when meat is on sale but i tend to purhcase my meat when it is on sale and then i plan my meals based on what is in the house or what is on sale.

We don't eat prepackaged frozen food (with the exception of the brakfast sausage DH eats or the breaded eggplant i like. but we dont get them all the time).

I also buy my crackers, chips and cookies when they are on sale. I tend tio buy 3-5 pacakges for later. they keep for a while.

I don't use too many coupons as most of my weekly bill is fruits and veggies and there aren't too many coupons out there for those.

Lara

 

[Nik's Mom]

Our grocery bill for dh, me, and 2 ds's age 10 and 7 used to be $150 a week. It is now down to about $75 a week.

Do you have an Aldi's near you. Since I've started shopping there, I have saved a ton on groceries. I just spent $48 on six bags of groceries today. That included bread, meat, milk, and lots of fruit and veggies, among other things.

I have also started buying generic brands when I go to other grocery stores. And stock pile when things go on sale! I just started CVSing. That first trip was a little expensive, but now what ever I buy, I use my ecb's to bring down the cost.

 

[hsmamato2]

well,OP you can start buying only fruit fresh veggies that are on sale. If bananas and apples are cheap,that's what we eat that week. If tomatoes and broccoli are cheap,then that's what I buy,and then adapt all snacks and meals to use what I buy.
Do you have an Aldi or Price Rite store near you? we are 4 people and various pets and 100.00 is about the most for a week....now keep in mind, one week it might 35.00 spent,another week 130.00- it depends on what I'm stocking up on for that week,based on need,or even better sales.
So if the chickens I want are on sale,I'll buy 6 of them to freeze. If shredded cheese is cheap,same thing,anything that can be stored to be used I buy in large amounts at good prices.
Also,USE what you buy! For instance, with the right pantry staples,you can stretch one 4 pound chicken for days for dinners.... this week,ds was sick,so I put the whole chicken in the stockpot with onions,garlic,spices- (boiled the 'guts' from the inside,fed to animals later all chopped up)
when it boiled for a while,remove whole chicken from pot,strain till it's broth,return to stove,add a bag of chopped spinach,bag of peas,bag of corn,some rice pasta and about 1/2 cup of the chicken diced fine-
put chicken in fridge till tomorrow....
next night's dinner is something I made up(as usual)
cook pasta,drain,set aside( I use quinoa)
heat about 1/4 c olive oil in a large frypan- add a bag of frozen peas(my kids LOVE peas) and a whole head of garlic,smashed,and a finely chopped onion-sautee till golden,add about 1 1/2 cup of diced chicken to sautee,about 1/2 c red wine,(sautee on high heat now)- then add pasta to pan,toss till warm,add 1/2 c grated parmesan- and serve!
3rd dinner- simple corn chowder,again, 2 bags froz. corn, about 2 cups milk,2 boxes all natural chicken stock,an onion,salt,pepper,and some shredded cheese,and what's left of that old chicken!
another cheap family fave-
That's off the top of my head,3 dinners from a 6.00 chicken for 4 people-
if you keep various staples on hand,like frozen veggies,etc,it's easy to 'stretch' your food budget....
(BTW,the chicken was more $$$ b/c it was free range organic)
I'm a big believer in frozen veggies and fruits too- BTW, couldn't regular tuna be put in a strainer,and rinsed really well under the faucet to remove a lot of sodium? Unless you're truly on a special diet,I'd think that would be helpful,and cheaper.....

 

[deerhart]

Ok...I have to ask, what fruits are you eating for $30/wk?

I spend anywhere from $15-$25 /wk on fruit and this is what I buy

5lbs of banans at $0.59/lb
4lbs of apples at $1 /lb
5 lbs of pears at about $1.50 - $2.00/lb
clementine oranges (usually $6-7)

and yes my boys eat ALL that each week!

The first question is what do you buy each week? Do you buy at rock bottom prices and stock up or just buy when you run out? Are you brand specific or will whatever do? Do you buy generic?

As for non-food groceries, using coupons and places like CVS, walgreens, walmart, kmart, or target will cost you a TON less then buying at the grocery store. Target, Walgreens, and CVS regularly run store coupons (or cash off your next purchase coupons) which can be combined with manf. coupons. So if I go to walgreens and then have colgate on sale for 2 for $5.00 with a $2 register reward off the purchase of two (which means I get a coupon for $2.00 off my next purchase) and I have 2 $0.75 coupons (for $1.50 off). I pay $3.50 out of pocket and get $2.00 off my next purchase for a final price of $1.50 for 2 or $0.75 each (now this only works if you are going to use that $2.00 off coupon).

Target always has coupons for them that you can mix with a manf. coupon. For example, I bought the new bounce dryer bar there. It was on sale, I had a target coupon for $1.00 off and a manf. coupon for $1.00 off so the regular $6.00 item I picked up for $2.00

I have never been a big fan of the warehouse places. Too much stuff seemed to go to waste and the prices really weren't all that better then what I got with diligent shopping and coupons (I stock up when things are rock bottom priced)