Let's Reduce Our Grocery Bill!

justGina · 02-28-2002, 01:12 AM

Shall we post the amount spent on groceries the previous month and try to lower it each month?

We've spent about $400 dollars on groceries this month. I'm aiming to lower it by at least $25 in March.

How low can YOU go?

mustang80 · 02-28-2002, 06:34 AM

I'm averaging 50% savings off my bill with coupons. I'm spending the same amount, about $250.00 or so, but I have twice the food!

justGina · 02-28-2002, 11:04 AM

That's great, mustang.

I could do better if I could get ahold of coupons here without having to pay for 'em.

aylasmommy · 02-28-2002, 12:21 PM

Ok I finally added up all my receipts.. I have spent 103$ dollars so far this month. This includes ,toilet paper, diapers, formula, wipes, makeup, cat food and bathroom stuff besides the food and beverages. I didnt include eating out though since it's the only form of entertainment we splurge on.
I might go make a last shopping trip today..But I would only spend around 8 -10 dollars
I think next month I'll aim for keeping my total in the two digits..even if it's 99$..i would love to be in the two digit range.
But i'd like to aim for 90$

COUNTRYBUMPKIN · 02-28-2002, 01:18 PM

Well I spent just under 300.00 for everything(Paper etc.....) I saved just over 200.00 using coupons and in store savings. Also will be getting 75.00 back between Walgreens and Rite aid rebates! I still would like to lower it to 250.00 a month for our family of 4 and 2 pets

Megareader · 03-01-2002, 10:46 AM

We spent just under $400 for February, did a ton of stocking up though so that is part of it. March? Well, I hope to have it closer to $325.

pat123123 · 03-01-2002, 11:18 AM

I'll play. I won't include pet food (we feed a rather large and assorted batch of critters) as it would badly throw the figures out of whack. I will include hygiene/personal care items and paper items (but not computer items).

I will keep the pantry stocked at the same time so it won't be running down....

MicheleMomof3 · 03-04-2002, 09:32 AM

We are feeding 4 adults, 3 kids and 4 cats. Last month we did out of this world cause we only shopped at Sams. We spent $190 last month. That included food,cleaning supplies, HBA and diapers ( I have WIC for DD's formula). This month Ive done some coupon shopping and I have spent $100 so far.But we also paid for a huge family get together (yesterday) for DD's 4th birthday so I think we are doing great so far. We go shopping again on the 14th and I will go to Sams only. Mostly cause I need to get Dd's diapers.
I have a question......what do you think saves you more coupons or cooking from scratch?
~Michele~

BTW: Our cats seem to have 2 new friends now,lol So lets make that 6 cats. But we feed them table scraps after reading some horrible things about cat food.

justGina · 03-04-2002, 10:21 AM

$45 so far for March...

aylasmommy · 03-04-2002, 10:58 AM

21$ so far for March for me...

To answer Michelle..about the coupons vs. cooking from scratch..
In the past it has cost me more to cook from scratch then just using coupons...
This month I am going to try both methods. I love cooking but since we don't have a dishwasher it was making sooo much more work for myself and with the baby constantly demanding my attention it was hectic..so now that she is more entertained by getting into trouble (

) I have started cooking more from scratch..Although my first efforts failed me! I was draining some pasta and it all fell out into my yucky sink

I've also been really sick the past week so I haven't had the energy to find the coupons like I used to..and my last shopping trip was to a store that doesn't double..

I bought 3 dozen eggs, two loaves of bread and 5 grapefruits for 4.75. This in an area where ONE dozen eggs in normally 2.30$ Yikes! So paying less than 5 dollars for all those groceries was amazing! We could have easily paid 12.40 at any other store for the same items!
But I haven't tried cooking from scratch yet by just using the loss leader method so I really don't know for sure which is cheaper for me.

MicheleMomof3 · 03-04-2002, 11:12 AM

I dont have double or triple coupons so its always tough for me to get real savings from coupons. So I have been using coupons now on things we buy normally without a sale. It works better that way.
I save alot of money from cooking from scratch. An example would be yellow rice, its $.75 a box. My family loves this so I have to make 3 boxes per meal. I got a recipe to make it from scratch. Instead of $2.25 a meal its costing me about $.60 a meal with more servings as well.
I think it would cost more to cook from scratch too if you dont have a well stocked pantry. I have a good one Im working on it being bigger.
But back to your post, I know what you mean about not having a dishwasher (Ive never owned one!) and babies. I have a 10 yo boy, 4yo girl and 7 month old girl. Plus besdies Dh and I , I feed 2 "adopted" single males from our family. Dishes stack up easily. Dh and I made a deal, I cook, he washes them. Plus he is so much faster than I am. We are currently saving for a dishwasher. Its getting to be a hassle not to have an empty sink (especially since 7 m. Dd and 4 yo Dd have started taking their baths in there lol). I think if you just start with one recipe. Perfect it and then move to another it wont be so overwhelming. I started with making cookies. I make simple sugar cookies. But I make like 10 dozen at a time. I cook 2 dozen then freeze the others in raw form in small little balls. I form the balls,put them on a cookie sheet, place them in the freezer to flash freeze them then put them in a ziplock bag.Makes it so much easier!
HTH!
~Michele~

pat123123 · 03-04-2002, 12:45 PM

We are at $8.50 so far. Wouldn't be that high, but we went out of town for a day and I didn't have time to cook first. OK, so I didn't MAKE time to cook first, instead I stopped at the grocery and got some easy to carry along stuff.

As far as coupons vs. cooking from Scratch. Cooking from scratch saves me far more than coupons. Coupons are generally for rather unhealthy stuff (salt, sugar, fried, fatty, etc). By cooking from scratch we can spend $30-35 a week (keeping our pantry maintained at that price level) and eat much healthier food.

CountryMom · 03-04-2002, 05:35 PM

We are a family of 5 and average $200 a month for food, meals out, cat food/litter, diapers and everything else. I'm not sure we could go a lot lower than that. I do want to limit our impulse purchases, convience food and meals out.

I go in couponing spurts. I'm not in one right now. We are soooo stocked up on canned stuff, juice and other coupon finds. So now I am in an Aldi's spurt. Gotta love .89 bagged salads and .29 cucumbers.

MANDERS · 03-06-2002, 12:22 AM

WE spent about $250 for the 4 of us.We usually spend about $200 but I did a lot of stocking up on health items and baby food.I was making hm baby food,but ds weight dropped from 50th percentile to 40th,so I got kinda scared and thought I wasn't measuring calories enough.He won't be on baby food for long though and after coupons it ended up costing me about .15 a jar.I hope to get it back down to $200 this month.I go to the store thurs or friday,so I will post this weeks total then.

MicheleMomof3 · 03-06-2002, 12:35 AM

I was just curious about something you posted Amanda. You said that you werent figuring the calories right for your son. My daughter is about 3 months younger than your son. I never worry about calories, especially at this age. My daughters doctor told me to feed her as much as she wants as long as she has her mouth open like a baby bird. When she becomes disinterested then dont push it. I was wondering, does your son have a special diet ?
~Michele~