Grocery Bill

**Marie78** · 06-08-2008, 09:58 AM

Does anyone else notice their grocery bill hovers within $5 of the same amount each week? Even with coupons, buying store brand items, and stocking up on sales (when you find sales, it's getting more difficult lately).

I try to put it in perspective for myself each week: My bill reflects: breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks/desserts for two each week. It also includes household items, HBA, TP, Cat food/litter when we need these items. We have added more fresh fruits and veggies to our diets along with other healthier choices that just tend to cost more than the fattening unhealthy snacks!

I still find it difficult to look at my bill, it's not that high, but it bothers me knowing that last year or two years ago at this time it was around $25 -$30 less a week, because the food just wasn't as expensive.

**Wendy99** · 06-08-2008, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Marie78

We have added more fresh fruits and veggies to our diets along with other healthier choices that just tend to cost more than the fattening unhealthy snacks!

Oh I totally agree, it seems to cost more buying the healthier choices. We stopped buying prepackaged food all together (for now - seeing how long we can keep this up), which reminds me I need to make bread today for lunches next week. But our bill is still pretty high so I have some more to figure out. I know the prices of flour and sugar have gone way up here. The costs of pears is pretty expensive and some of the other fruits as well. The ones that stay affordable here are apples, bananas and grapes. But we get sick of the same old same old.

**earthymom** · 06-08-2008, 10:40 AM

I totally agree that it is becoming more difficult to eat healthily cheaply. A garden really helps. I don't know how much it actually costs me to grow a tomato, but it feels close to "free".

Over the years I have collected a number of what my family calls "third world gourmet" recipes. My "frugal" kids started it. One of the dd's came home from school to announce that many people in the world live on less than $1 a day. Long and short, we decided to make Saturdays our "dollar day" and try to make the family dinner for $1 or less. (Now-a-days I'm not sure I could do it unless most of the ingredients came from the garden.) Over the years we found lots of international recipes at the library which use inexpensive ingredients to make some pretty fabulous dishes. Most of them are meatless or near meatless which helps keep the cost down.

**C@rol** · 06-08-2008, 10:44 AM

I too, definitely agree. No matter what corners I cut and try to add more veggies and beans to the menu the bill still comes out just about the same. smh

**shoiji** · 06-08-2008, 11:44 AM

I agree with the eating healthier seems to cost more. I keep on telling myself that in the long run it is better for me. Meaning when I am in my 60's-70's. Sure you can never tell what is going to happen in the future, but all the additives and hydrogenated stuff in processed foods I can't help thinking add up to serious health problems in the long run.

**Budgetbryan** · 06-08-2008, 01:55 PM

I like to menu plan and buy just what I need and stock up on meat when it's BOGO. We never buy anything processed and make everything that can be homemade. Costco helps with bulk raw ingredients.

**IntlMom** · 06-08-2008, 02:44 PM

Just wanted to agree with you. It seems that I'm at nearly the same amount each week, no matter what happens. If there's a week where I don;t need as much, so the bill COULD be lower, that is inevitably the week that I need some expensive product that kind of evens it all out.......which is good, I suppose.

**Starlight9803** · 06-08-2008, 02:50 PM

I agree with the bill staying nearly the same. It seems even if I have a great stockpile of meat or some other more expensive thing, I end up running low on something else, and by the time I purchase that (or stock up on some great deal) I'm right there at my budget mark again. I guess I should be content with staying within my budget, but sometimes it feels like you're getting no where when the bill never really lowers, you know?

**Marie78** · 06-08-2008, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Starlight9803

I agree with the bill staying nearly the same. It seems even if I have a great stockpile of meat or some other more expensive thing, I end up running low on something else, and by the time I purchase that (or stock up on some great deal) I'm right there at my budget mark again. I guess I should be content with staying within my budget, but sometimes it feels like you're getting no where when the bill never really lowers, you know?

This is how it's felt lately for me too. I also feel I should be content with staying within the same range, it's frustrating though, especially when you think back to last year's weekly grocery average at this time.

**mcphlips** · 06-08-2008, 04:54 PM

I was just talking to DH about this! I can't get my grocery bill down below 100.00 a week for 4 of us. We do buy a lot of produce..trying to get in out 5 a day for each of us. I will be very greatful when my garden comes in!