How do you do grocery budget????

**leeleeaub** · 01-31-2006, 03:29 PM

Hello, This would be of the greatest help in the world to me. I currently spend 600.00 a month on groceries, household items and cigarettes. I would LOVE to be able to make it 1/2 of this or more but how on earth do you do it? I would appreciate any and all help that I could get. Thanks, Lee

**canadian gardener** · 01-31-2006, 03:39 PM

Hi Lee, first of all welcome!

Glad you could join us.

Ok take it slow and easy at first. We all get easily overwhelmed when trying something new, and it's helpful to give yourself permission to take time to grow and make one thing a habit before tackling the next peice of the puzzle.

I'd say keep the 80 20 rule in mind. Don't try to be perfect at any of this. If you coupon, get the biggest bang for the buck, by figuring out the coupons that net you the most gain, and do those faithfully. Ignore the small stuff for now.

If you want to start menu planning, then do a loose and relaxed plan with a bit of flex room.

I did some mega posts on that over in OAMC, and in the Homestead Gardens our sister site, but for now why not make a simple list of the meals you serve this week and next.

That is the start of a 2 week plan. You start with what you are used to eating.

Then make small changes. If you normally order in chicken twice a week, try to make oven fried chicken one day and maybe a crockpot chicken recipe (chikn and biscuits????) the second time.

If you like to go for pizza then try making a crust out of biscuit dough, and topping with some pizza sauce and fixings.

Later you can learn the finer points of pizza dough making, but for now if popn fresh himself helps you contain the cost of pizza, then use a conveniance product from the grocery store. Ditto jarred pizza sauce.

Later you can fine tune.

Make menu
figure out the fixings you need to make those meals and don't be too hard on yourself. If you aren't used to cooking lots, conveniannce food may not be THE cheapest, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than take out.

Make a list using those fixings. Buy it on pay day.

Post a list of those meals you have fixings for.

Cross them off when you get up in the morning and choose one.

Try to choose dinner before 9 am (9pm the night before if you are a night owl or want it defrosted for the crockpot already).

The closer it gets to supper hour the less choice you have and that cost per meal goes up.

HUGS AND hope that helps.

**canadian gardener** · 01-31-2006, 03:42 PM

another thing I always say is find the cheapest store overall, and make that your base of operations.

For me that store charges 4 cents a bag, but lets me pack the groceries out all naked in the cart. (superstore here in BC)

It's not always the cleanest and the produce is definitely seconds but it comes in at about 25 % less than the other store and about 35% less than the Safeway (the most expensive in my city)

By shopping there FIRST I rake in the biggest general savings. I then go pick off the flyer specials from the other stores.

But not if it costs more in gas than you gain by saving on a case of tomatoes or toilet paper.

I have 3 stores all close to each other, and the Costco nearby. Another one I hit once a month on my way out to visit a friend (I combine the trip) when they have their once a month 1.49 day and do a lot of good bargains.

So check your flyers, and know your prices and make the cheapest store your main base of operations where you buy all but the few specials you plan to get elsewhere.

Oh and how to tell?

Make a short list of about 25 items you normally would buy.
Milk
Eggs
Flour
Sugar
Coffee
sack of oranges 5 lb size
bunch of broccoli
frozen oj
frozen peas
toilet paper
dish liquid

that sort of thing.

Price it out in each of your local grocery stores. Then add them up.

The cheapest store wins and will net you the most passive savings. You don't have to work to get those savings, just shop at that store for most of your list.

**QuilterMom** · 01-31-2006, 03:44 PM

You could always try to aim for a certain $ amount per person in your household.

Example: $50/person x a household of 4 = $200 budget; $75/person x a household of 4 = $300 budget, etc.

**tbs727** · 01-31-2006, 03:44 PM

How many people do you feed? Do you have animals?

That is really what it comes down to.

Heres what I do. I keep a perpetual pantry. I don't like to meal plan. I just don't like it and I know I won't do it, so I can't rely on that to save money.

I started my pantry list by making a list of regular things I buy. Then I made a list of things I know how to make (I'm no great cook) such as breakfast, grilled cheese and soup, etc. I made a list of those ingredients and added that to my pantry list. I now have a pantry list that will make about 25 meals. When I look at new recipes I look to see if the basic ingredients are what I already keep on hand. If so, then I add them to the meal list.

In the morning before I go to work, I look at my meal list. I pick something that sounds good and I thaw whatever meat I need for the meal that night. Because I stock enough of everything, I know I can make whatever I want on my meal list.

I'm not sure this makes sense, but I hope it helps. I'm sure many of the other ladies will be a great help.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-31-2006, 03:46 PM

Well 1 thing that would save you a ton of money and improve your health is to stop smoking.

As for the grocery budget, I have found that a limit really helps me. If you can kick the cigs, then figure out how much you spend on food and household items without the cigs. Then cut it by an amount. Say you spend $400 on those items. Decide that this month you are going to spend $375 or $350. Pull the cash out of the bank when you get paid. And then spend no more than that amount.

You can either just spend until you reach your limit and hope it is the end of the month (I have done this LOL). Or you can divide up the money by how many weeks are in the month. Then take only $100 with you to the store and follow the great tips you got from canadien gardner to watch where you spend your money.

Can you tell I am the type of person that needs the limits of only the cash in hand? I could spend double what my budget is if I let myself go. Having a limit in hand and in my mind helps me to pay more attention to my choices and shop wisely.

If you get coupons, I get a ton of health and beauty and household items free by watching the sales and using coupons. I have had to learn to be less brand specific though. Which is a good thing usually.

Welcome to the board!

Jennifer

**QuilterMom** · 01-31-2006, 03:46 PM

Ack! I hit enter too soon and can't edit my above post.

What works for me is to shop the loss leaders heavily and then make my menu plan according to what I have on hand in my pantry and freezer rather than shopping according to a pre-made menu plan.

**canadian gardener** · 01-31-2006, 03:55 PM

We will all have great ideas. But only pick and try the ones you are up for.

Quitting smoking may save a bundle but it's very hard, and I don't know if you want to battle that and learn to bring the grocery costs down at the same time.

Pick your battles. If it's doable, do it. If it isn't shrug your shoulders and pick the battles you know you can win.

Later as you gain confidence thru winning more and more of your grocery battles, you may want to tackle harder stuff.

As Tiffany mentioned menu planning my style doesn't work for her, so she has a method that works for her.

There is no one "right way" to do any of this.

I fail at couponing, I'm the worst. Never do em if I can help it. Just not my thing. But lots of ladies make couponing a cornerstone of saving for them.

I'm good at cooking from scratch, and I love playing around in the kitchen. I like experimenting and trying out new things so I'm a good one for no name products. I like to try them and see.

We are all different.

Remember these are just a bunch of ideas that you can pick and choose and tailor to you from ladies who have similar struggles and can empathize.

HUGS!!!!!!

**leeleeaub** · 01-31-2006, 03:58 PM

I shop for me and my husband only. We have one dog. We usually have pizza or chinese only once a month. I cannot drive anymore and my husband has to take me to the grocery store. We go once every 2 weeks. I had been shopping at Shnucks and it seemed really expensive so last week I shopped at shop and save and it seemed a lot cheaper.
Do you make your menus out ahead of time? I cook 2 meal a day and pack my husbands lunch. He has to have a hot breakfast he doesn't believe in cereal lol. For lunch I usually send him a sandwich, chips, and cookies and diet (generic) soda. For supper I always cook a meat and 2 veggies and usually homemade rolls or cornbread. I cook dessert 2 times a week it lasts a week for 2 people.
I so know we both need to quit smoking we did for 5 months but he got under a lot of pressure with his new job and that along with my disability got me back started. We buy the generic brand and monthly costs for smokes is around 50.00.
We have one dog a rescued doberman she is 3 and eats 3 cups of nutro dog food a day. I did not figure her food into the 600.00 I mentioned above.
I am wondering am I just cooking items that are too expensive or what? I clip coupons out of the Sunday paper and only get items I need or will use in recipes. I never buy an item just because I have a coupon.
Does anyone have a sample menu of what they cook in a typical week?
I so would love to save money and have more than 150-200 left over at the end of the month.
Groceries are the only way I can cut back. I figured everything else is bare bills that must be paid. Thanks again

**canadian gardener** · 01-31-2006, 04:09 PM

I think you are doing a LOT of things RIGHT!!!!

Like the hot cereal you make dh in the morning! Saves a BUNDLE. Way to go.

And not driving as much. Saves a ton of gas money (and the environment, 2 for 1!)

and cooking yourself, not eating out too often. Twice a month is not a big amount to go out.

Dh gets paid every 2 weeks, that is when i shop but we try to go out on payday to celebrate. there is a nice fish and chip place near us, very cheap where we go.

Let me think about the rest and see.

**leeleeaub** · 01-31-2006, 04:12 PM

Thanks for all the help. I too love to make up new recipes. One of my problems is I love to fix cakes, pies, candies, breads, casseroles all from scratch and some of the recipes I know can be pretty expensive but, I don't do this on a regular basis.
I have tried buying the cheaper ground beef but it is so gristly and has so much fat that I think it is cheaper in the long run to buy the ground round or the ground black angus but I may be mistaken.
I try to not have too many ground beef dishes like 2 times a week. Then I have pork chops or a pork roast, round steak, rump roast, salmon crocquettes. I think maybe I just need to get some new recipes and use some less expensive items in them. I really wish I knew what I was doing wrong.
I see people feeding a family of 5 for a month on what I spend in 2 weeks and it makes me sick

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-31-2006, 04:14 PM

Have you tried to plan your menu around the sales flyers? Not just what sounds good at the moment? Also, I do menu plan, but I don't typically asign days to my menu. Does that make sense? I can't tell you what I am going to feel like eating in 2 weeks LOL. So I have a list really of the meals I plan to make over the next week or 2. Then on the day of I decided what to make. It isn't so restrictive that way.

Our menu for this week is the following

Sunday was bacon roasted chicken with rice/gravy, cranberry sauce and carrot sticks

Mon - was spagetti with meat sauce, crescent rolls and salad

Tonight we are having chicken apple sausages with rice pilaf, some sort of frozen veggie and tomatoes

Tom we are having leftovers as it is a crazy night for us

Later this week we will have

hashbrown casserole and salad, tomatoes

homemade pizza and salad

And friday is a fend for yourself night for dh and kids, I will be gone.

For lunches dh takes leftovers usually, or soup, with fruit and cookies.

The kids seem to rotate betwee PB&J, ramen, mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, and hotdogs. They also have fruit or veggies with it. I eat sandwiches or frozen pizzas or bagels with egg or cheese.

For breakfast we do a lot of muffins and quick breads. I make homemade sausage biscuits, or scrambled eggs. We have cereal some but mostly for snacks. WE eat a lot of snacks with 4 little ones. They are always hungry. They snack on string cheese, pretzles, animal crackers, granola bars, cereal, muffins, etc.

We have organic milk delivered for $50 a month and we spend around $350 on the rest of our groceries. I think I could do better, but we have some allergies to deal with so have to buy some special foods for dd.

Good luck! I know it is hard to quit smoking, I smoked in high school and college, so I know. I just also know it will save you money. But everyone has their bad habits right?

Jennifer

**canadian gardener** · 01-31-2006, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by leeleeaub

Do you make your menus out ahead of time?

I cook 2 meal a day and pack my husbands lunch. He has to have a hot breakfast he doesn't believe in cereal lol. For lunch I usually send him a sandwich, chips, and cookies and diet (generic) soda. For supper I always cook a meat and 2 veggies and usually homemade rolls or cornbread. I cook dessert 2 times a week it lasts a week for 2 people.

I am wondering am I just cooking items that are too expensive or what? I clip coupons out of the Sunday paper and only get items I need or will use in recipes. I never buy an item just because I have a coupon.

Does anyone have a sample menu of what they cook in a typical week?

I so would love to save money and have more than 150-200 left over at the end of the month.
Groceries are the only way I can cut back. I figured everything else is bare bills that must be paid. Thanks again

to answer the first ?
yes, I do make menus out ahead. But they are more a loose list of meals-- supper only and they come from my pantry (I "shop" my pantry for stuff I keep buying and topping up on sale bargains) or the sale flyer specials.

Years ago Tina (Strawberry) taught me to make a list and then pick one each morning depending on what I felt like making or eating that day. It brought flexibility back into menu planning for me and made it a do able system.

so yes I make a list of suppers and make a list of the fixings I need for them. I have kind of a running list of breakfast and lunch things that I keep on hand, so eggs are on that list, milk, bread and so forth.

I keep a list by the fridge with a pen, and I write down pantry stuff I'm running low on.

I kind of look for a special on those as I shop on payday. If no special happens, I roll it over till next payday.

My aim is to fill my freezer and pantry with food on specials, so I eat on sale price mostly.

You mention that you tried out a lower priced in general grocery store. Good. That will help.

Now you asked about changes. Dh's lunch. Can you make the cookies? Can he have less expensive snack than chips ie do you rebag from a big bulk bag? as for pop, do you get the pop in case lots on sale? That can help. Switching from the pop and chips will help more, but taking it slower may help especially if your dh is used to things the way they are.

Small changes such as pre bagging snack packs of chips using sandwich bags or plastic tupperware or rubbermaid containers might be easier for dh than no chips at all. HM cookies, and maybe water might be ok.

You sound like the choices for dinners are very nutritious. 2 veg, don't cut back on veg. Meats, well some are more expensive than others, would having a vegetarian meal one night a week work? That saves. Soup night is another option.

You might want to try no name or store brands if they are cheaper than the brand you normally buy with coupon.

**canadian gardener** · 01-31-2006, 04:37 PM

Menus:

Ok this week for dh and I (we are empty nesters now) and dieting hard so desserts aren't on the menu.

Friday was pork chops that I got a deal on. I cut up a few pork loins that were cheap a month or two back. I made roasts (one tonite actually) and chops and stir fry and cubes out of them and froze them. I served them with broccoli and salad. I frequently serve double helpings or more of the veggie so it covers 1/2 the plate or more. We ate a whole head of broccoli between us and our dd who came to dinner. One chop each. Then a bowl of salad each.

Saturday dh had been craving hot dogs so I made them for dinner. Dh and I split a lb of asparagus cooked between us. Celebrating spring! Used up a couple of cucumbers that I'd gotten a deal on the previous week. Feild cukes peeled and quartered.

Sunday was roast breast of chicken and another 1/2 lb of asparagus each. Did I mention we were celebrating spring? (asparagus was on special!) Tomatoes, one each. also a special bargain. Leftovers for lunches.

Monday (yesterday) was a whole salmon baked (the leftovers are for lunches and tomorrows dinner) and a huge bok choy cabbage stir fried with a bit of onion and red pepper and some rice stick noodles. Leftovers for tomorrow.

I'm doing a roast of pork (that I cut out of the loin) with garlic, olive oil and rosemary tonite and I think I may do salad, and perhaps corn but I've not decided yet. Leftovers from that will be sandwich meat.

Wednesday Leftover salmon meal.

Thursday something with beef. I'm thinking ground beef, but not sure what else. I bought a huge amount of gr. beef at 99 cents a lb a while back which is a good deal here in Canada, and I repacked that so something from that.

Friday will be a clean out the fridge night. Soup and whatever I find that goes into the soup and cheese biscuits to round it all out.

Here are the meals for next week:
NOT by day.
Roast beef one time
LO rst beef
HM pizza
chicken legs
Italian wedding soup (sausage and spinach and orzo)
once more a clean out the fridge night then friday is payday.

This is a very short payday, I had 150 to last 2 weeks so most of what we are eating in meat, is coming from my freezer without me topping it up with other specials available this pay day.

Running a pantry and a freezer saves me a lot of money that way.