Total Frugal Flop on Groceries...

**peanut** · 08-14-2008, 11:08 PM

I went tonight to stock up on stuff for sale and stuff we were out of. Nothing more, nothing less.

To start with, the shelves were mostly empty. And the prices have been jacked waaaay up.

Organic flour (which I didn't need) was up $1.50 more for 5 lbs. at $6.49. I walked on by.

Maple syrup (1L) was up from $9.99 to $15.99. I needed some.

Strawberries were cheap ($2..88/2lb.) BUT very moldy. I didn't buy any.

I couldn't find any oranges other than organic, and I won't pay that price these days. I didn't buy oranges.

I did find some organic gala apples for $5.98/5 lbs. Most apples otherwise were $1.28/lb. May as well get the organics then.

There were a few batches of red seedless grapes left at $1.48/lb. In winter these go over $1.99/lb. I'll freeze these and keep stocking up if they go cheaper.

There were no 2L cartons of 1% or 2% milk on the shelf. There was some lactose-free 1% and 2% milk - for $4.88/2L. I opted to buy a gallon jug of regular milk for $3.68, thinking if I throw out half of it, I'm still ahead. Instead of buying ice-cream (DH's fav dessert), I picked up some pudding mixes to make with the milk.

Pork chops were fatty and expensive...think over $10/lb. for boneless loin chops. I walked away from them and told DH later we wouldn't be eating pork this week.

I stopped by the used-to-be expensive meats...like smokies, figured out the cost per meal and realized they were actually cheaper than pork or chicken right now. At $5.99 for 11 smokies, that's 2 -3 meals, depending how many are eating with us. I already have the buns - I bought them on sale at the Discount Bakery.

Lean ground beef was on for $1.78/lb. Normally it's well over $2/lb. I picked up 5 lbs. I could use more, but I was getting a bit worried about how much everything would add up to. I still needed to pick up some cleaners. I've tried homemade ones and they haven't worked for me. It's time to pull out the heavy arsenal.

Peanut butter - the natural kind - hasn't budged in price yet. I picked up a litre of that for $3.48.

They didn't have any small or medium eggs - just large and extra-large, and specialty eggs. The large were $2.07/doz...or something like that...maybe $2.04. Sigh...

I noticed the 10kg bags of sugar were $9.99. It looks like a big sale. Funny, last time I bought big bags of sugar, I got them for $6.99... Those days are gone it looks like.

and this is the cheap grocery store in town folks...sigh...

Jean

**missmanny** · 08-14-2008, 11:15 PM

I feel your pain,

everything is going up here is Oz as well.

My bill rmeains the same after every shop, but I am just buying less and less so much for my stockpile as small as it was to begin with.

On the plus side I am learning to cook lots of diferent cheaper meals that we have never had before.

Also I now buy our produce at the local farmers market - this lowered our produce bill from nearly $75 bi weekly - $25 bi weekly and I get at least 75% more then I got before so we are eating much healthier for much less.

If you have one in your local area I would definately give them a try. I was so happily surprised.

**peanut** · 08-14-2008, 11:18 PM

Oh, I'm so jealous. Our Farmer's Market is 3 to 4 times more expensive than the grocery store I shop at, and 2 times more expensive than the local organic grocers. Fruit doesn't grow easily or well in our climate. Too cold and the season is too short.

Jean

**Ms. Clear** · 08-14-2008, 11:20 PM

Ours was pretty typical--$67 for the week. However, they rang up THREE soymilks instead of the TWO that I bought. Didn't realize till I got home. So that was an extra $2.

More things have gone up though. Generic old-fashioned oatmeal was $2, up from $1.50. Single sheet TP was up to 50 cents a roll, it used to be 40.

**IntlMom** · 08-14-2008, 11:45 PM

we all understand........
***sigh***

**Cricketlegs** · 08-14-2008, 11:57 PM

I have noticed the more I cook scratch the less I have to buy and the less I spend.

I only spent $165 of my $300 budget because I had so much and I even stocked up on my dry goods.

Funny, everyone said scratch was cheaper but it really hit home this month just how much cheaper it really is!

**Lwood** · 08-15-2008, 06:29 AM

I am ashamed at how wasteful we once were. now I find myself cooking from scratch and using nearly everything. Maybe not for the meal I am making-but for something else...when my veggies started wilting...I boiled them in chicken stock I had leftover and saved in the freezer from a crockpot chicken...and I used the chicken leftovers to make a chicken pot pie. Made 2 of them and tossed them in the freezer.

I really try now to think about creative ways to use leftovers and things that are going bad (but not there yet) in the fridge!

groceries are so spendy now.....

**nodmicks** · 08-15-2008, 08:19 AM

Sorry Peanut. They sure are rising. I don't buy this but yesterday noticed that generic mac and cheese was $1. Just a while ago it was 50 cents.

I also agree the healthier we eat the bigger the bill!

**zenmama** · 08-15-2008, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Cricketlegs

I have noticed the more I cook scratch the less I have to buy and the less I spend.

I only spent $165 of my $300 budget because I had so much and I even stocked up on my dry goods.

Funny, everyone said scratch was cheaper but it really hit home this month just how much cheaper it really is!

Your convincing me Cricketlegs.

I'm going to try to cook snacks as much as I can from scratch. This is the only convenience item we buy cuz all 4 of us pack a lunch, so muffins, granola bars, canned fruit salad, get used up in big quantities. I spend at least 20-25$/wk on this. This weekend I plan on making blueberry muffins and maybe carrot muffins for the freezer...

**mommy4ever** · 08-15-2008, 09:23 AM

I totally agree!

Bananas are up from.37 to .67 a lb.

Apples from .97 to $1.67
oranges - well, can't even find any in weeks now, so they'll be a luxury item I'm sure.

milk is up .70/gallon

EVERYTHING Is up, I guess.

I have started cooking froms scratch even more. I was about 80%, using some soups and mac'n cheese at lunches for convenience. Those days are now passed too.

This week I've made soups from scratch. And ironically, all but 1 kiddo here(my youngest) eats them no problem, it used to be a problem. I start the soup during morning nap, it's done after nap, but I let it cool, it's prefect temp for the little ones at lunchtime. It feeds us all and some for a couple days later. Yesterday was red lentil soup. Monday was chicken rice veggie soup. It was very cheap. Lentils are $2 for 6 cups. I used 1 cup. I have organic carrots, and onion, garlic. Some seasonings, and it was good to go. The chicken soup used one thigh(use thigh instead of breasts, cheaper and higher in iron for us anemics..lol). simmered chicken with celery, carrots, garlic and some broth. Added rice about 1/2 before serving. Everyone left the table satisfied.

I've started cooking more from a recipe book than I have in the past. They are easy recipes, a few packaged items, but the recipes consistency use the same things, so my curry paste is not just for one recipe but about 15 in that book, the spices are used for many, even though I did have to buy them initially, we love them, and use them alot.

When I started from her books, it was a little more pricey, but now that I have most of her "basic staples" grocerys for 6 for a week have consistently been on target, under $100 even with purchasing chicken(pricey in canada), pork (again can be pricey) and SEAFOOD! (not on teh coast so pricey_) My fridge isn't over flowing with produce etc anymore and going to waste. It's all carefully planned. Fresh veggies early on after shopping, frozen for later.

I am much happier with my grocery bill, and the kids are experiencing lots and lots of new dishes.

Peanut, check out Fixing Dinner on the foodnetwork it's on at 7:30 am MST here in Canada. She's an Alberta gal with some great ideas.