How are you lowering your grocery budget?

**MANDERS** · 01-08-2003, 01:47 PM

What methods do you use?

I cut coupons and rebate.I only shop loss leaders(with the exception of milk)and use substitutes for things like cold cereal and milk.

**mylittle4** · 01-08-2003, 01:59 PM

I am really working on cutting my grocery budget. I have started a stockpile and I am working on a pricebook.

**simplemom** · 01-08-2003, 02:46 PM

I buy loss leaders in large quantities. For example, this week I bought juice for my boys' lunches. 8 packages of 3 pack juices for $4.00. So I bought 50 packages! This way, I don't run to the store when I miss some. I use 4 juices a day for school.

I decided to do something different this year. I am taking a walk each morning and stopping by to buy the *rapid sale* of veggies and fruits, instead of buying for the week. Today, I bought brocoli for a dollar instead of $1.49 and it was even bigger in the package! I also bought salad for $1.00 instead of $1.49.

I used to buy lots of veggies and fruits for the week and we even ended up spoiling some, sometimes...

I use coupons, also, occasionally. I used to use them ALOT, but it takes lots of time and I rather spend more time walking or cooking...for now...

Lucie

**babynurse** · 01-08-2003, 02:49 PM

Well, first of all, I have to start using up what I have! I mean I have about 20 boxes of pudding and jello alone. I am trying to only buy meat, milk, yogurt, fruit and veggies since I have tons of dried goods and packaged snacks. The problem is, when I am on a diet, I kind of panic if I don't have a VARIETY of food to eat, so this will be difficult for me. I have to reduce my grocery amount because my income is less than half it once was and my rent is doubling in a month. I try to use coupons when I can, but Canada doesn't seem to have many available or the discount stores are cheaper without the coupon anyway!

**cody15650** · 01-08-2003, 03:11 PM

I started by buying store brands & useing up a lot of things that I have a lot of. I also use up leftovers & make them a different way. I want to use up my older food & cans then I will stock pile when I have some extra money.

**aylasmommy** · 01-08-2003, 03:11 PM

I do all of the above, and now I am starting to stop buying cheap perishables if I already have a lot of food

I find that sometimes I can't eat it all, so why should I waste even 20 cents(after using coupons) on something I won't get to eat before it goes bad... (i'm so bad at things like that lol, i'll buy just cuz it's cheap)

I reuse even stuff I get for free like plastic wrap/baggies (unless it was used on raw meat then I don't want to bother)

I guess I just have to really think about if what I'm buying is a need or a want..and eliminate as many wants as I can without feeling too deprived..now with my dh, I will get just about anything for him that is a want, hopefully on sale too

I love doing quadruple plays too..like the unilever rebate they have now...
ex #1)
Sunlight detergent on sale (play #1)
Sunlight detergent rebate for 1.50 from rite aid (play #2)
Sunlight detergent 40 cent coupon used (play #3)
Unilever has a rebate for 1.50 on sunlight detergent (play #4)
I end up getting PAID to buy it

Ex # 2
Wisk detergent on sale at Ralphs for 4.99 (play #1)
Wisk 30 load tabs FREE w/ club coupon and purchase of wisk detergent (play #2)
Wisk .50/1 coupon doubled to a dollar off(play #3)
Unilever rebate for 1.50 back (play #4)
not free still, but only about 2.49 for both things of whisk

I also buy whole milk since 2 out of the three of us drinks it, now I like lowfat milk, so I just dilute the milk for myself which makes it last longer and is cheaper than if I had bought lowfat milk seperatly...at least that's what it seems like to me

My latest discovery to lowering my bill is buying things in bulk especially when it's on sale (granola, oatmeal, almonds etc..) in the whole foods section..

**summercat** · 01-08-2003, 03:33 PM

I use coupons and am in the process of making a stockpile plus I cook things like stew & sloppy joes to freeze for meals later on. I am starting to do rebates but forms are hard to find here.

**CAGmomof2** · 01-08-2003, 04:43 PM

We buy mostly foods that we can cook at home and make several diffrent meals out of.
We mostly now try to cook from Scratch and when we don't cook from scratch we buy loss leaders , we use coupons, we buy when it is on sale, and alot of times we buy Generic.

**AmyBoz** · 01-08-2003, 07:37 PM

I spend the time on a Saturday to carefully check the fliers for the next week. Then, I shop sales using coupons. I buy loss leaders and try to combine them with coupons when possible. I do rebates on products that I use. I have an enormous stockpile in the basement on shelves that I only have to replenish once or twice a year, which leaves me free to buy low the rest of the year.

Mommyof2lildivas · 01-22-2003, 03:38 PM

What is a loss leader? How can I get started on a price book? Thanks for the tips.

**Nelly** · 01-22-2003, 09:57 PM

Mommyof2lildivas,
I'm not exactly sure what a loss leader is, but I think it might be a product that a grocery store advertises and advertises it at such a price that they are losing money on it, but they are doing that to get you into the store hoping that you'll get other stuff.

As far as the price book, I hope this link helps:
http://notebook.organizedhome.com/pr...y/pricebk.html

**Shell** · 01-22-2003, 10:08 PM

Our grocery bill has been a lot lower since I am using up some of my stockpile and that I try to cook from scratch. One thing I also try to do to save money is use up left-overs. If we don't use up our left-overs I freeze it for another time. I also do some canning with my Mom in the summer and use my canned goods in the winter. I just love her canned peaches! MMMMmmmmmm.

**MJsLady** · 01-22-2003, 10:09 PM

a loss leader is an item a store takes a loss on in the hopes that you will buy other high priced goods when you come in to get it
make sense?

**pamy** · 01-23-2003, 09:34 AM

I have also begun to buy mostly loss leaders and stock pile. I didn't think going to several different stores would make much of a difference but it really does. I have reduced my food budget by 50% in the last couple of years. It is still much higher that most of you frugal ladies but it is a work in progress.

**baronmom** · 01-23-2003, 10:41 AM

I do most of my shopping at a discount grocery store. Although they don't have everything that I need all the time, I can get most of my stuff there. Anything else I need I have to go to the regular grocery store. I try to use coupons when at all possible, but I always look to see if it is worth it to use the coupon or if there is a brand that is cheaper. I have been trying to go shopping only 2 times a month, but it hasn't worked out that way all the time. I get my milk at a local dairy. They usually charge less than in the grocery store. (Two gallons for under $5).