Are there any other monthly grocery shoppers?

[cheles2kids]

I'm wondering about those of you who shop monthly?

Where do you shop, about how much do you spend for how many people, what are your best tips, do you have a large stockpile of staples, or do you have to buy them on a monthly basis as well, were you always a monthly shopper or did you gradually become one, what caused you to decide to only shop monthly?

After spending 1/2 of my grocery budget at Sam's Club yesterday and buying quite a bit of stuff, between what I spent there, at Wal-mart & at SAL, we should have almost enough to get us through the entire month with the exception of a gallon or two of milk and maybe a few loaves of bread.
It got me thinking about how nice it would be to only have to do shopping once a month.

So if your a once a month shopper, I would love to hear some of your stories, suggestions, or advice.

Thanks a bunch!

[Wendy99]

I'm not a once a monther, but would LOVE to be able to do it 2 times a month .. I would love to see the replies here - good topic!

[Emeraldfire]

I'm a once a month shopper(other then produce, bread and milk) I do my shopping the first week of the month for 4 of us and pets. I go to sams, vitamin cottage and walmart. I cook almost completely from scratch and with food, pet supplies, hygiene and household item, I spend about 500.00. This month I managed to get away with about 450.00. I would also love to hear from once a month shoppers.

[mom2matty]

I am not a once a month shopper but I would love to be!! I've gotten to the point where I can go almost 2 weeks without shopping! I'll keep trying though!!

[macemesmum]

I used to be a once a month shopper now its more like once every 6 weeks. I freeze my milk and make most my bread so the only things i have to replenish is fruit as we grow a lot of veges and we have frozen and canned ones stored. I do have a stockpile which is getting me through at the moment as i am trying to save every penny i can. I now tend to buy 4 -5 of things when they are cheap so i actaully never have to do a "shop". I only buy what is on sale and then i buiy enough to last us about 2 months, so some months i may only spend 100 the next i may spend 400. I havent brought meat at the store in about 2 months because i went and spent 150 on meat ages ago and that is still there. I love having a stockpile and couldnt do it without it. I am going to try and go maybe 3 months without going to the store after christmas. But will have to plan for this. For bread I buy a 25 pound bag of flour that was literally milled a week before i buy it (very fresh) from a specialty store and that lasts me for ages to make bread, so i always have fresh bread on hand, and i have a lot of split peas (for soup), pasta, rice and the staples so i can always whip something up. About a year ago i found heinz ketchup for 40cents a bottle on a clearance sale I brought 12 so am only just using the last of it now it saved me about 25.00 and if you can do this with every food item you will save a bunch good luck

[MTS04]

I'm a once a month (or so) shopper. I drink soy milk or almond milk, so I get the shelf stable stuff (until opened). Bread goes in the freezer.
I do however, stop at the farmstand to get fresh fruit every other week.

At the market, it's about $100 a month for the 2 of us and another $10-20 a week at the farm stand. So my total monthly budget is about $120 for the 2 of us.

I became a monthly (or so) shopper because I dislike grocery shopping. If it wasn't for the fact that we'd starve, I'd never shop.

[nodmicks]

I have done it a few times and found it really saved a lot of $$$. However the family sure complained when the fresh produce ran out.

[cheles2kids]

I became a monthly (or so) shopper because I dislike grocery shopping. If it wasn't for the fact that we'd starve, I'd never shop.

This is *the* only reason I'm trying out monthly shopping.
Seriously, I thought I was alone on this shopping thing, but it's great to know there are others out there like me!

[cheles2kids]

I used to be a once a month shopper now its more like once every 6 weeks. I freeze my milk and make most my bread so the only things i have to replenish is fruit as we grow a lot of veges and we have frozen and canned ones stored. I do have a stockpile which is getting me through at the moment as i am trying to save every penny i can. I now tend to buy 4 -5 of things when they are cheap so i actaully never have to do a "shop". I only buy what is on sale and then i buiy enough to last us about 2 months, so some months i may only spend 100 the next i may spend 400. I havent brought meat at the store in about 2 months because i went and spent 150 on meat ages ago and that is still there. I love having a stockpile and couldnt do it without it. I am going to try and go maybe 3 months without going to the store after christmas. But will have to plan for this. For bread I buy a 25 pound bag of flour that was literally milled a week before i buy it (very fresh) from a specialty store and that lasts me for ages to make bread, so i always have fresh bread on hand, and i have a lot of split peas (for soup), pasta, rice and the staples so i can always whip something up. About a year ago i found heinz ketchup for 40cents a bottle on a clearance sale I brought 12 so am only just using the last of it now it saved me about 25.00 and if you can do this with every food item you will save a bunch good luck

Lots of great info. in your reply, thank-you for sharing!!

Well this past weekend was my shopping trip for the month and as for milk & bread, I bought 4 gallons at Sam's and I had part of a gallon already in the fridge, so I drained a bit off of each gallon and added to that one.
After doing that I was able to freeze all 4 gallons, plus I also made a trip to a bread outlet store and bought 4 loaves of bread, a pack of rolls, buns and a couple boxes of those little doughnuts for the kids' lunches and froze most of this as well.

This month will be a learning month for me for sure, to see how many of what we will go through on a monthly basis and I'm sure at some point towards the end of the month I'll have to make a bread & milk trip just to get us through.

Thanks again for your advice!

[cheles2kids]

I am not a once a month shopper but I would love to be!! I've gotten to the point where I can go almost 2 weeks without shopping! I'll keep trying though!!

This is how I was usually shopping, going bi-weekly. Then I realized that trips between shopping trips were becoming more like every 3 weeks, so I thought I'd give this montly thing a try and see how it works.

I *really* think it helps if you do menu planning, that way you'll exactly how many of each item you'll need for all the meals combined. Like my 30 day menu, I know I need at least enough chicken for 6 meals for the entire month, so that way I know when I go shopping for chicken I need to get at least 4 of the family packs, because once broken down and frozen I'll have enough for all 6 meals, does that make sense?

As for milk, I know we usually go through about 1.5 gallons per week, so I probably underestimated my amount this past trip. I probably should have bought 2 more gallons, but we'll see how far into the month I run out and then I'll readjust for the upcoming month.

Right now I think that'll be the easiest routine for me to keep up with. Kinda like keeping a running tally.

[cheles2kids]

I'm a once a month shopper(other then produce, bread and milk) I do my shopping the first week of the month for 4 of us and pets. I go to sams, vitamin cottage and walmart. I cook almost completely from scratch and with food, pet supplies, hygiene and household item, I spend about 500.00. This month I managed to get away with about 450.00. I would also love to hear from once a month shoppers.

I didn't even think about adding in the numbers in my household.
There are basically 4 adults, I have two teenagers, but they eat like adults.
5 large dogs, 1 cat & 1 hamster.

I have to sit down today and add up my reciepts, but I'm pretty sure I've already busted my grocery budget this month.
Or at least pretty close to it, because I will have to buy at least one more big bag of dog food, plus whatever we run out of towards the end of the month.

I too also cook alot from scratch and while having 4 extra bags of flour in the freezer should be enough for the month, I checked on prices of the 50 lb. bags while I was at Sam's.
That way I wouldn't have to buy that but every other month, plus it's a ton cheaper.
Waaay cheaper than what I pay for my SAL flour.

Also the sugar, waaay cheaper than SAL.
I did however get a huge bag of jasmine rice, my families favorite.
I think it was either 30 or 40 lbs. for $16.00, again waaay cheaper than buying it at Wal-mart, unfortunately SAL doesn't carry anything but the regular white rice.

So I can see how shopping monthly AND shopping at Sam's will eventually start cutting my costs drastically.

[cheles2kids]

Another question I would like to pose, for those of you who do shop monthly AND stockpile.
Do you stockpile during your monthly trip or make special purchases throughout the month to add to your stockpile, if you find a really great deal on a certain item?

Because I'm wondering for items such as staples: sugar, rice, flour, butter, etc.
In order to keep your stockpile replinished, do you buy extras during your once a month trip?
Or do you just buy enough for the month and use only that amount and leave your stockpile alone?

Did that make sense?

[Wendy99]

[QUOTE=cheles2kids;972559]

I *really* think it helps if you do menu planning, that way you'll exactly how many of each item you'll need for all the meals combined. Like my 30 day menu, I know I need at least enough chicken for 6 meals for the entire month, so that way I know when I go shopping for chicken I need to get at least 4 of the family packs, because once broken down and frozen I'll have enough for all 6 meals, does that make sense?

QUOTE]

It does make sense. My only problem with menu planning is that I choose not to pay full price for meat ... I always wait until I see 50% off the soon expired meats, buy as much as I can (sometimes there are a lot, sometimes there are only a couple and sometimes none), then I freeze those. I save so much money that way. But I guess if I have the meat ahead I could preplan around that for sure!!

[Cricketlegs]

I shop once a month(keeps down my driving and gas budget) and then pick up stuff as I need it(if I am already going out)

I am all summer on 2 tanks of gas but it is time for a fill up--dang it!

I am learning and getting better at buying staples ans scrath cooking and I tend to be stockpiling without doing it on purpose.

When you don't buy hamburger helper you buy noodles so I have packages of noodles etc and bags of flour and sugar when I already have them but when I went to the grocery I only spent $165 of my $300 budget--there was nothing else I needed even though I had bought things I already had.

Now that is NEW and EXCITING--who knew lol???!!!

I am also making my own cleaners and mixes and have started doing my dhs uniforms for work with my new singer press iron.

I am getting faster--I did 10 button down shirts for my dd in a little over an hour....

the press saves me $100 a month. I have decided to put the extra towards my car payment.

[Momof3girls]

I am also curious about how the stockpiling is done when it is a once a month shopping trip.
I also feel like I would need a trailer!