Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

For $80 this week i will name what I remember what was on our food list:

Bleach, Laundry Detergent, Garlic, Romain Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes, 1lb of American Cheese, Body Wash, Conditioner, Toilet Paper (20 or 24 pack), Paper Towels think its 12 pack, grapes, milk, eggs, Chiobani (sp) yogurt 10, diet soda 2 liters, Seltzer (i only drink seltzer and water), Coffee (whatever was on sale), dh got canned mac and cheese because he likes that garbage along with 2 pints of ice cream.

Meat: pork loin stuffed with cheese and spinach (discounted) it was one serving, pork chops value pack, chick breast with bone value pack (4 breasts), chicken thighs i think its like 12 pack, Veal chops (but a lesser cut) 2 of them for dh since i don't eat veal and that might of been it.

What came out of our garden: tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and string beans.

Next week we might use $60-$80 again and take $20-$30 to out to eat for the first time in two months.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

We are a family of two and spend about $40-$60 per week in food shopping. I shop mostly at Trader Joes which I think saves alot of money and then purchase all my produce from Best Yet. I occasionally pick up some things from Whole Foods too, we buy some organic stuff too.

I've never spent even close to $100 in a week on food shopping in the 2.5 years we've been married. I'm sure it will change in the future. I look for sales on everyday products and stock up when things are on sale and I shop at Best Yet on days when I know they put meats on sale and we vacuum seal and freeze them. I think that helps alot.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

For the people posting about organic meats. My parents eat organic meats exclusively (where DH & I eat most but not all) and my mom buys all of her meat from Grassland meats online, she says it has saved her a ton of money.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I can do it. I'll have to this week

Breakfast - eggs. cereal. etc. that's easy and cheap.

Lunch - cold cuts, egg salad, tuna, green salad from home.
This week - turkey, whole wheat bread, lettuce, tomato for lunch. $12 for the week.
By the end of the week, I cant even look at a turkey sandwich. LOL
DH has ham sandwiches this week.

Dinner - I buy something I can make 2 meals out of.
Last night ..... Steak, potatoes, broccoli.
Enough left over for tonight. I will either eat it that way or make it into steak sandwiches with garlic bread & mozz cheese.

Last week, I bought a whole cut up chicken $8, corn on the cob $2.
BBQ it for dinner. Plenty left over the next night.
-Brought it for lunch with a garden salad.
- Made chicken salad out of it for DH to bring to work.

Buy a family package of hamburger meat. Use one night for hamburgers. Next night use the other 1/2 for meatballs and spaghetti, stuffed peppers, beef stroganoff, tacos, etc.

I think the $$ comes down to the dinners every week. If I can get a meat that is on sale & have it work for 2 nights that is HUGE.


The best way to save on grocery bill every week... I try to avoid DH going to the store alone. He comes home with a bunch of stuff we didnt need.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I spend, at the most, $180 for 2 weeks worth of groceries, so we spend less than $90 a week on groceries. That number includes paper towels, toiletries, cleaning supplies, lunch for me every day (DH buys sometimes), foil, those sorts of things. It does not include going out to eat.

I make a very, very detailed list, and I buy only what I will need for those 2 weeks. I plan out all of the dinners. When I first started grocery shopping for myself, I'd buy stuff that I "thought" we should have. I don't do that. If we don't need 12 boxes of pasta, I don't buy 12 boxes of pasta.

I don't shop bulk sales unless we need that item in bulk for the next 2 weeks. My theory is this: if every time something is priced 10 for 10 and I buy 10 of them and don't need them and they wind up going bad before I use them, I'm spending an extra $10 each week that I wouldn't have spend otherwise.

I use Peapod, so that I can see how much I have spent so far and know what my total is before I have to pay. I really never go over that $180, but the 1 or 2 times that I have, I go back in and decide if there is anything that I really don't need.

I don't always buy the cheapest item, but a decent amount of times I do. For example, I taste a big difference between Heinz ketchup and store brand, so I buy Heinz. I taste no difference between brand name butter and store butter, so I buy store butter.

I think A LOT of it is about buying only what you will eat. I'm not saying the bare minimum-- we have snacks, and we always have plenty of foods; I'm just saying only buy what you need. I never use coupons and I rarely shop sales; I just buy only what we need.

It's just the 2 of us now though. I def expect that this number will go up when we have kids!

As for what we eat, it constantly rotates. I rarely make the same thing twice because I love trying new things in the kitchen. An example of some recent/planned meals though: linguini with mushrooms, artichoke hearts and garlic in a light butter sauce, Porterhouse steaks, turkey tacos, and oven cooked ribs- so just normal stuff!

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

For coupons, have you looked into Recyclebank.com? You register an account, get points for recycling and can redeem the points for coupons for Kashi, EarthBound Farms and a few other organic brands.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I don't. I only buy organic foods and I am not going to cut back on a healthy diet. What goes in my body is too huge a priority to me.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Posted by lilqtny

Posted by MrsRivera

It is completely and totally possible. On average, I spend 60-70 bucks a week. And we are a family of 4.

First, it is IMPERATIVE that you shop with a list. I don't just mean your typical "milk eggs butter" list. Before I shop for the week, I plan out all of our dinners. This way I am ONLY buying what is necessary for those meals. Dot forget to check to see what you already have, so you don't buy doubles.

Second' shop the deals before you go. I alternate between 3 supermarkets depending on who has the best sales. My list has the item, how much it is on sale, and how much it will cost after a coupon.

Aligning coupons with sale items is a win-win and gets you the item for free or very cheap.

Last but not least, you HAVE to set a budget and STICK TO IT!! I Have a separate debit card for groceries, gas and whatever else I might need to buy (including diapers and wipes!). I add $1000 to the account the 1st of every month. Once that money is gone, it's gone! That gives me the motivation to stick to my goal and cut discretionary spending.

The top reason we spend so much on groceries is because we haphazardly throw things into our carts! Every time you put something into the cart, keep a running tally of how much you have spent (you can write it down--I do it in my head). It's impossible to overspend that way.

So to those of you that said it's not possible--I am living proof that it is

Agreed. I spend less than $100 a week and don't always go every week. It is just my husband and I though. I also do not buy any snack foods and avoid processed or already prepared foods.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

I agree and unfortunately I won't buy non organic, especially meat and dairy. Not willing to pump me or my kids full or hormones and antibiotics. So I guess that's the price I pay.

For me no it doesn't include paper or cleaning. I usually get my cleaning stuff at Target (Mrs. Meyer's, Method and 7th Gen). Paper products we get at Costco. I can never walk out of that place under $200.
______________________________________

to your statement about not pumping your kids with hormones and antibiotics !

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

There is me(21wks pg), dh and 19mon dd. We spend $200 every 2wks and that includes not just food but household items as well. We make a lot of our own stuff. Beer, laundry soap, baby wipes, bread, and muffins. We buy our fruit and veggies at the Farmer's Market or local road side stands, and we buy meats that are on sale at the local meat market.

Next year we are joining a local CSA, and buying a 1/2 a cow to share with my parents. All organic, antibiotic, hormone, free. It's money up front, but in th elong run WELL worth it.

At the end of this month we'll can our own tomatoes for sauce, and cooking, we'll buy 4 dozen ears of corn, parboil and cut it off the cob and freeze in baggies fo rthe year. We'll do the same with grn beans, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, and fruits. SOme of the money saving is just planning ahead and preserving your own food. That really helps us and we get to control what we're eating. Our goal is for the pantry next summer at this time to be 90% our own food and our freezers to be full of meat, fruits, veggoes, and our own homemade tv dinners.


Edited to add we also use coupons for things like toilet paper, paper towels, air wick candles and so on. We also make our own laundry soap and LOVE it. It's the Duggar's recipe. I don't want to sacrifice good quality food for my family because of the price and it ain't cheap.....I just plan ahead and make what I can to off set the cost. Like I also said coupons can help a ot with household items. For me not so much on food since I don't find many for "whole" foods. We rarely buy processed meals or products anymore. ALso go to the producta website. Many offer coupons. Horizon milk, greek yogurt and so on.

Message edited 8/1/2011 12:31:48 PM.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

It impossible for us too.

I try but it NEVER happens.
But what i started doing over the summer is going 1x per week. Int he past we would say do "big" foodshopping once a month and spend abour $400 (which ok equals about 100 a week) but we were still finding ourselves going to the store MULTIPLE times during the month anyway and spending then another 50-100 on those trips.

So now I plan much more and try and goevery thurs or fri to plan for the next week. Even if i go in for a "few" things I very easily spend 100 (and thats a good day). Most of the time it is 130-160 for me, DH and my DD.


1-2 x a month tho I stock up on meat from another store so that adds more too.

And then 1-2x a month I go to Trader Joes for things I like there.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

My budget is $100 but I go over it every single week.
I have a family of 4 and since we have been eating healthier, I have been spending less and there are less coupons out there for healthy, fresh food.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

It’s just my husband and I, and I almost always spend closer to $50-$75. We eat breakfast and dinner at home virtually every day, and both pack lunches virtually every day as well. I use coupons when I can but it’s rare – as someone said, those are usually for the pre-packaged items and we don’t buy a lot of those. I do sit with the circular every week and we plan based on sales. We buy family packs of meat when they are on the best sales and freeze the rest. Most chicken cutlets these days are so huge and both DH and I can get dinner out of one chicken cutlet (and side dishes of course). We also don’t tend to make too many complex dinners – that’s when the ingredients really start to add up. We don’t buy tons of snacks or processed food at all. In a typical week, we’ll have produce, deli meat and cheese (for DH’s lunches), maybe a family pack of meat if it’s on sale that week, maybe cereal/rice/etc if it’s on sale that week, milk, OJ, eggs (if needed), and makings for lunches for me (typically I make some kind of soup on Sunday and eat it all week).

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

We are a family of 4, 2 adults, 1 20-month old, and one 6-week old.

We spend less than $100 per week at the grocery store, but we also buy all our meats, paper goods, baby supplies (diapers/wipes) elsewhere. So if you asked me how much I spend on groceries, I will say around $30-50, but that's because I am not counting all those other places that I shop once a month or so. We alternate between Stop and Shop and Shoprite every week.

At the grocery store, I will pick up sandwich meat, bread, cereal, milk blueberries, tomatoes, bananas (those last three are for DS), some type of fruit for DH and I, anything I have a coupon for, and some type of ice cream.

We buy our meat from Omaha Steaks, Kansas City Steaks, BJs, or Uncle Giuseppe's. Sometimes we will buy meat at Stop and Shop to make for dinner that night.

Baby supplies come from Amazon or Diapers.com.

Paper goods from BJs. Also frozen chicken and meatballs for DS.

We aren't huge protein eaters, we will split one piece of chicken between the two of us and same thing with bigger cuts of steak.

Message edited 8/1/2011 3:17:51 PM.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

my husband eats 1 1/2 or 2 chicken cutlets or sometimes 3 chick thighs per meal (lunch/dinner) we go through tons of protein.

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries

Re: OK People....How do you spend less than $100 a week on groceries