Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

So, we're closing on our new house next week which marks the end of our lives in the city and our big move to life in the suburbs. I will also be going back to work (as soon as I get a job). With all this is going to come a drastic change in how I grocery shop (among other things).

I realized that I really don't know how to food shop as silly as that sounds. I'm used to walking to the store every single day and picking up what I need for dinner that night. And not just to the grocery store, I stop at the bakery for bread, the butcher for meat, the green grocer for vegetables and then the supermarket for non-perishable. This fits with my life now since everything is within a block or two walking of my apt. BUT, it obviously will not work with the life I'm about to have once I start working (and driving). I'm not going to have time to pick up DS from daycare, first drive to the supermarket and then home and then make dinner...by the time I do all that it'll be too late. I have no idea how to get in the car and grocery shop for like, a weeks worth of food. I don't even know if that's how long you shop for......

So, please tell me what you do so I can make this transition easy and not starve my family. Some of these probably seem so second nature to alot of you, but it's all new to me.

Do you go once a week, more often, less often?

When do you find it easiest to go (day/time) if you work all day M-F?

How much do you usually budget/spend per trip (it's me DH and DS who eats table food with us)?

Is it worth it to join a Costco/BJs/Sam's Club type place? Do you really save money? What do you find cheaper to buy there as opposed to the supermarket?

How do you handle fresh vegetables not going bad if they sit in the fridge all week or do you buy all frozen? If you do buy fresh, how many meals/days worth of fresh veggies do you get per shopping trip?

Do you plan all your meals in advance? Do you prep meals ahead of time so all you have to do is heat when you get home?

Do you cut coupons out of the paper or are there special coupon sites that you recommend?

Any question you could answer would be so helpful!!!! TIA

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

You'll get the hang of it.

For me personally, here is what I do:

Sam's Club once every two months (best prices for us for baby supplies & meats). All meats get divided up in freezer bags and put in the freezer along with the big bags of veggies

Peapod (stressing I'm not a fan of their produce) once every 2 weeks (for dairy, pasta, breads, etc. Now I am getting produce through Peapod for convience but can't wait till my farm stand opens soon!!!

Once the weather gets nice, I then get my produce from a local farm stand in Holbrook. SO CHEAP, fresh, great prices & lasts!! I go weekly and spend about $10 if that.


I can't go full on shopping once a week. I work (commute) to NYC M-F and have DS all weekend since DH works nights.

I also pick up non-perishable stuff when I'm out at places like Walmart or Target. Great prices at these places.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I do Peapod once a week (home delivery) I actually love their produce.
I spend on average about $130 per week. Somtimes less when I don't need meat. (do not use a butcher..way too expensive).

I dont' plan meals but when I shop I have meals in my head that I can cook.

Go thru your kitchen..look at what you need for the week. Put it on a list and stick to the list. you will forget stuff but after a while you will have your staples every week.. ex: milk eggs bread etc.

I don't have sam's club bj thing.. I don't have a need to buy in bulk yet.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I usually go once every two weeks, but have to stop a couple times to pick some stuff up. Best thing for me is to figure out what we are eating for the week and then make a list based on that.

We go to Costco about once every month I would say.

Milk is way cheaper there, especially since my boys drink organic milk. We buy meat there but just seperate it inot portions before freezing. We buy frozen raviolis and chicken nuggets and chicken breasts. We also buy juice boxes, gatorade, fruit2o cases, snacks, stuff that doens't go bad. Fruit wise I don't buy much except bananas and strawberries. Everything else seems to go bad to fast for us. They do sell these bags now that are supposed to keep stuff fresher longer, my bro swears by them. Paper items are good prices there too.

I also try to get as much as I can at Target on my lunch since they have a food section there, and I cna't get everything but anything I get is cheaper then the supermarket usually.

We go on the weekend all 4 of us. It takes longer but we get more accomplished and I don't have to hear DH complain that I didn't get him anything to eat.

I totally forgot about peapod too, I used to do that all the time, but lately I have no time to do a list online. I don't buy produce there either since it is usually by the piece which is weird for me, and it is not always what I would pick out. But I love having the stuff carried into my kitchen for me and only having to put it away. I have them deliver before I leave in the am.

Message edited 4/22/2010 4:06:13 PM.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

did you guys go to Jersey??

I used to do the SAME thing!! but you are right, it is too time consuming working ft and having the baby.

we try to take full advantage of the farms in the vicinity of our home in terms of produce. but we have a GREAT supermarket (Hannaford) up by our house that has a ton of organic fruits/veggies and also meats and other products.

I look at the circular, generally buy 4 meats and a fish, and stock up my larder based on what I decide to make with them (rice, grains, pasta etc)

we go once a week, usually on Sunday. they even have some organic bakery items (baguettes, whole grain boules) which I buy and freeze. reheating in the oven is a breeze.

I find my life is a lot easier this way and I actually spend LESS money.

good luck!!!

ETA:

for fresh veggies, I don't buy later than Wednesday, and I try to cook the more perishable first (leafy greens like spinach and kale before heartier veg like zucchini and broccoli rabe)

I do a quick stop by the super on lunch thurs if I need anything (though the prewashed salads generally stay the 5 days I buy for so I usually reserve salads for the later part of the week.) tomatoes are also pretty hearty, as are avocado if you don't get them too ripe.

there are also food storage containers that keep them fresher than just storing in the crisper.

we generally go Sunday NIGHT. it is less crowded. Saturday afternoon is a NIGHTMARE. especially when we are in the city and go to Fairway instead.

we don't do any type of "club". there aren't enough of us and I don't like a lot of food build up...it makes me nauseous

I generally don't prep ahead, but since it's warmer out I do A LOT of salad dinners and will probably grill up a lot of meats/fish on Sunday and freeze it for easy weekday throw ins.

I DO make sauce/meatballs in advance but I will probably aim for more of that next winter. I am just really getting my groove as well.

we spend, organics and all, anywhere bet. 85-$150 per week depending on what we need.

we are also starting a veggie garden which will hopefully trim our food budget significantly, since i only use fresh veg. really excited about this!!! that may be something you look to in the future.

congrats again!

Message edited 4/22/2010 4:16:13 PM.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I clip coupons that interest me, look online at my local grocery store's weekly specials and figure out what I am going to make for dinner that week from there. I make a list and go to the store or order online. I rarely buy items that are not on sale or I do not have a coupon for.

I would say that a good start is to plan out your meals for the week and make a grocery list. Freeze any meat you will not be using in the next two days or so.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I am a meal planner.

I go to Trader Joes with 3 meals in mind.

We are leftover people, so 3 meals equals 6 nights of dinner.

i try and plan it out correctly...if we are having chicken pot pie with carrots and celery in it, i will try and use carrots and celery in other 2 meals...like lentil soup and lettuce wraps.

so that was chicken, ground turkey for wraps, and pork for lentil soup. same veggies used in all 3.

If I see meat that i normally buy on sale, I will buy a ton of it then and there and freeze it. Then work my meals around discounted meat.

Produce, we eat fresh first, then frozen towards end of the week. I think that frozen spinach is the best bang for your buck. I feel like if I wilt down fresh, I go through so much. So frozen spinach, artichokes, sweet potatoes fries...things like that are end of week.

beans, beans, beans. I am not from a bean family, but married into one. I stretch one pot of chili by adding in black beans and chili beans, makes it healthier as well. lentil soup is our staple. rice and beans with a veggie and chicken legs.

eggs at night are a great money saver as well.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

eta: we also started a garden, loving it already. fresh basil in my yard makes me happy.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

J, my Leo takes the leftovers for lunch haha. so I make a lot, and it's still gone by dinner the next night. but it saves on lunch costs.....just not on work load.

ETA: I agree on the eggs.

I "splurge" and by D'Artagnan chorizo. fried eggs and chorizo, black beans, tortillas and rice. avocado salad. heaven. and so easy.

and costs about $6 to make

Message edited 4/22/2010 4:25:15 PM.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Posted by Ophelia

J, my Leo takes the leftovers for lunch haha. so I make a lot, and it's still gone by dinner the next night. but it saves on lunch costs.....just not on work load.

ETA: I agree on the eggs.

I "splurge" and by D'Artagnan chorizo. fried eggs and chorizo, black beans, tortillas and rice. avocado salad. heaven. and so easy.

and costs about $6 to make

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I go shopping once a week. I usually try to go sometime on sunday..if DH is up early then I try to go really early cause it is less crowded.

DH is a very picky eater so we basically eat the same meals every single week.

I always have those meals in my mind when I go shopping...but I would also look to see what is on sale and make meals based on those items.

I go to Walmart once a week as well and buy the most stuff I can there because it is generally less expensive than the grocery store. I buy my milk there as well.

We belong to BJs (my ILs added me onto their account so we only pay $20 per year). We get diapers, wipes, formula, razors, deodorant, paper products, formula, milk on weeks we go, bottled water, chopped meat and chicken cutlets. We go about once every three weeks or once a month We portion out the meat before we freeze them.

I don't really clip coupons I just check the circular weekly to see what's on sale and try to get as much stuff at BJs and Walmart.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

This is EXCELLENT ladies!!! Thanks so much!

I have a question about freezing...it seems most of you buy meat in bulk and then portion and freeze. How long is it good for in a regular freezer (we won't have a separate deep freezer, at least not yet)?

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I shop on a $80 budget..I buy coldcuts, chicken, one steak, some chopped meat, stock up on dry good when on sale-then off to milk bread eggs and a few boxes of snacks. This may seem weird but i DO NOT buy paper towel..maybe a roll if im making chicken cutlets and wat them to pat dry...I use handtowels for drying hands and rags for cleaning...helps mother earth and my wallet too!!!

Forgot about fruit and veggies...those too!!

Message edited 4/22/2010 4:39:19 PM.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Posted by Ophelia


I "splurge" and by D'Artagnan chorizo. fried eggs and chorizo, black beans, tortillas and rice. avocado salad. heaven. and so easy.

and costs about $6 to make

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I can tell you how to shop but not on a budget...LOL
I think meal planning is the biggest key. I try to plan 4-5 meals a week. We do leftovers and salads for lunch. Sometimes I'll buy meat for sandwiches but only if I can get to Whole Foods to get nitrate free, organic cold cuts.
I stock up when meat is on sale and freeze it. I believe meat is good for 6 months in a freezer. Someone may want to check me on that. Maybe it's longer.
I do use coupons as well and try to plan around stuff I have that is perishable and I haven't used instead of letting it go to waste. I am much more waste concious now, especially that I buy all organic (hence me being now help on the budget). But I do try to save however I can by coupons and shopping sales, etc. I just look for the sales on the items I am willing to buy and not the crap that is always cheap.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Like PPs have said, the key for me is meal planning. I keep a Word template where I list what I plan to cook for the week and the places I need to go to get ingredients. I only go grocery shopping once a week.

I buy organic and all natural foods mainly and spend about $90 - $120 per week (me, DH, a toddler, and DD- I make her baby food).

I find it worth it to join BJs, particularly for organic milk and diapers. I also buy certain foods in bulk there and freeze them.

I plan my meals such that anything requiring fresh herbs/veggies or seafood is cooked within the first few days of my shopping trip.

I do the bulk of my cooking over the weekend so that I don't have to cook much, if any, during the weekdays. Whenever I do cook, it's in bulk so that I can freeze leftovers.

When planning my meals, I plan based on what's on sale at the supermarket, clipped coupons, any favorite meals I have saved in my recipe binder, or anything that looks interesting on the Foods & Recipes board.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

did you move to jersey????

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Do you go once a week, more often, less often?
When do you find it easiest to go (day/time) if you work all day M-F?

We go once a week on Sunday. We try to go in the late afternoon or evening when they aren't as busy.

How much do you usually budget/spend per trip (it's me DH and DS who eats table food with us)?

We used to spend $25 a week, but now we spent $50 a week. We have a 5 month old and we eat at home now.

Is it worth it to join a Costco/BJs/Sam's Club type place? Do you really save money? What do you find cheaper to buy there as opposed to the supermarket?

We buy all our paper goods at BJs. We also buy meat there (steaks sometimes and the frozen chicken breasts).

How do you handle fresh vegetables not going bad if they sit in the fridge all week or do you buy all frozen? If you do buy fresh, how many meals/days worth of fresh veggies do you get per shopping trip?

We don't buy too many fresh fruits and veggies, we tend to use frozen.

Do you plan all your meals in advance? Do you prep meals ahead of time so all you have to do is heat when you get home?

I am trying to do a monthly meal plan, but it isn't really working for us. I don't prep anything ahead of time. We try not to make really complicated dishes on weeknights so as not to have to eat too late.

Do you cut coupons out of the paper or are there special coupon sites that you recommend?

We cut coupons out of the newspaper.

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

I agree with all above posters

We live in Brooklyn so we still do our "specialty" shopping (e.g. fruit store, bread, pasta)

BUT we do most of it on weekend at Fairway

I would also reference the Food/Recipe board--i have found lots of food shopping/recipe advice on there

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!

Re: Grocery shopping on a budget gurus PLEASE come in, I need serious help!!!