How much do you spend a week on groceries?

[mckenzygirl]

Many of us are feeling the squeeze at the supermarket these day, and all of us are feeling it at the gas pump. The government continues to deny inflation, but I see the results of it in my grocery bill and my gas tank.


So how do you reduce your grocery bill as low as it can go?
Please share your tips!

[Pharmer Phil]

depends on whats goin' on
the pantry is full, so are the cupboards, the basement is bustin with canned goods, about all we buy, is milk, coffee, and meat, and the meat we buy at managers specials, and usually spend about 60 bucks for the month.
but we are fortunate, just two mouths to feed

[Tonnymonk]

For my family of four(five if you count the dog) we spend roughly 100 every 2 weeks(200 a month) on food and neccessities(sp). We did grow a fall garden and get a few things from our neighbor(he loves us ), but that's for meats, veggies, and the works. I buy meat in bulk, stock up when there is a good sale and don't buy "junk" foods like chips and cookies. Trying to cut the budget by growing most of our own....

[colorado]

I started buying once a month. Changed from local supermarket to Walmart. There is not much choce in stores around here. I did it. Yes, I have cut down on costs. This year so far for food I have paid like $40 for the 2 months. That figure $20 a month, I had Xmas turkey left overs and I have a pantry stocked oaky. Just me to feed. If I run short I can run up to local supermarket for it. I have not this time. I bake bread this winter. If I bake or cook more eggs I can run short and have to buy a dozen. If I use up something I replace it. I like soup and beans. Some month are sure going to be more. I plan to go get groceries in March. I go to city to pay bills and shop anyway. Trying to cut down going. Weather has been bad and been staying home. I want some meat in my soups and beans. Just plain home cooking. Cat food ends up on the food bill but I took it off to figured this time and T Paper. Probably most months even if I try would be double this. Not buying by the week has helped me I think. And not buying the goodies they stick out in front of you as you go in. No boxed cereals. I use powdered milk and canned milk. It just costs to eat. Even beans are getting high priced.

[Christy]

tonya wait till your kids become teens , or i should say bottomless pits we have 5 in our fam, we try to stay within 100. a week but always go over,
the only time i can reduse our bill is when hunting seasons in n our freezers full of deer, n even that dont last long.
our food bill is are biggest bill

[mckenzygirl]

OK, here's the thing.
See I'm like starting over in stocking up the pantry, and cupboards.

Since we took a chance at the "Travel Nursing" thing, and lost big time on money in that job area.
I didn't have a garden, so no canned goods from the garden in the basement.

Oh and we used up our venison we had in the freezer of last falls deer. (Small)
And I didn't raise chickens so no free range chickens in my freezer either, nor do we have chickens for eggs. So see we really are starting over from scratch. It really S*cks!


Then we are in a major paying off our debt. I mean we cut up every one of our credit cards, and now we pay only with cash for everything.

So that means we have created a very stricked and tight budget for groceries, gas, traveling to O-town, and to Duluth or anywhere for that matter.

I make a list for groceries and I stick to it, No extras. No Coffee! it's too expensive for us right now.
I make a menu for the week.
Here is my menu for this week for a family of 3, sometimes 4.


Monday

Breakfast:
Pancakes; Syrup; Orange Juice; Milk; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Dumplings; Milk

Supper:
Pinto Beans; Onions; Hoecakes; Peas; Iced Tea
Cinnamon Toast; Milk for Child, Tea for Adults

Tuesday

Breakfast:
Oatmeal; Toast, Butter & Jelly; Orange Juice; Milk; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwiches; Green Beans; Carrot Sticks; Milk

Supper:
Bean Burritos with Homemade Refried Beans & Homemade Tortillas; Fried Onions;
Plain Muffins with Jelly; Milk & Tea

Wednesday

Breakfast:
French Toast; Syrup; Orange Juice; Milk; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Batter Bread; Butter; Banana, Spinach; Milk

Supper:Creamed Tuna & Peas over Rice; Garlic Toast;
Peanut Butter Tortillas; Milk & Tea

Thursday

Breakfast:
Hot Rice in Milk; Toast, Butter & Jelly; Orange Juice; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwiches; Sliced Pears, Carrot Sticks; Milk

Supper:
Black Bean Soup with Carrots, Celery & Onions; Cornmeal Muffins; Milk & Tea

Friday

Breakfast:
Oatmeal Pancakes; Syrup; Orange Juice; Milk; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Leftover Black Bean Soup; Biscuits; Milk

Supper:
Hot Dog & Veggie Stir Fry (Veggies: Cabbage, carrots, and green beans)over Rice;
Peanut Butter Tortillas; Milk & Tea

Saturday
Breakfast:
Hot Rice in Milk; Toast, Butter & Jelly; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Ramen Noodles with Carrots; Celery & Onions; Oatmeal Muffins; Milk

Supper:
Butter Beans; Scalloped Tomatoes; Garlic Toast; Iced Tea
Biscuits & Jelly; Milk & Tea

Sunday
Breakfast:
Pancakes; Syrup; Orange Juice; Milk; Hot Tea

Lunch:
Lentil Chili; Corn Bread; Baked Custard

Supper:
Corn Fritters; Steamed Carrots;
Macaroni & Cheese;
Milk & Tea



I try to not use meat 2 weeks out of the month. Which really helps on the grocery budget. On the weeks I don't cook meat, we spend about $50.00 a week
On the weeks we do use meat, we spend about $100 a week.
When I use beans and lentils I buy the kind you have to soak .
Yes! Beans have gone up in price.
We don't buy cold cereal, we only buy Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Rice. I make my own Syrup. And I want to make my own yogurt and Curds and whey which you can use in other dishes like Lasagna. I have learned to make something like "Cream Cheese" from yogurt, which by the way is really good.
We now live like nobody else so we can get out from under our debt, so later we can live like nobody else.
It's tough...........I miss the coffee greatly!
We don't o out to eat at all.
So please keep the tips on saving coming...We need all the help we can get!
;)Thanks!

[Tonnymonk]

I also buy just about everything store brand(Diapers, bread, wipes, veggies-frozen, you name it). I don't buy any pre-packaged foods. Here's a great link for ya, Micky!

Budget tips

And one more-

Long, but a good read

Hope this helps!

[Christy]

good sites tonya. i use to keep couponds but the store or generic brands are usaly cheaper without a coupond, than a name brand with a coupond

i have a sams club membership card but hardly ever go. buying in bulk aint cheap. it seems a shame to buy a huge amount of somthing n not have any money left for anything else. i only go when i have extra money to spend so i wonder if im realy saving? pluse its like 40 somthing bucks to renew your card every year,

i like to go shopping at the cheap discount food store like save-a-lot, they just toss the boxes of food n stuff on the shelves instead of stocking, kinds like a warehouse, but ya do save money there, all cheap brands then ill go to a regular store for things i cant get there, n its on the way home so no extra travling.

my aunt use to drive from store to store for sales, never made sence to me cause all she did was spend more gas money

[Christy]

n for our other ways to cut down, i got rid of the creit cards n got a western union pre paid creit card, if i need to use it i just upload money on it, no intrest fees, no late fees, n no spending more than i have

we got rid of cable long time ago, kids are more active without it, ya cant get cable out here were we live now just satalight n we havent gottin it, also just a regular phone line, we got rid of the long distance n all the other fancy stuff, that saved us a bunch,
i also try to make sure all the lights are off when not in use, n other eletrical stuff. in summertime, clothes get hung out to dry instead of using the dryer.

[mckenzygirl]

Thanks for the links Tonya, I booked marked them.

Christy, good ideas too! I also have a Sam's club membership.

We buy the TP there, diapers,(Which by the way I will be potty training Maria this week! She should be potty trained in 3 days! The big Start day is Wed. Cross your fingers that she will catch on!) when I don't have to buy diapers, we will have an extra $60 a month, which will b rolled over on to a bill that we are "attacking" to pay off.

I will have to check out the store brands to see what the difference is.
We only have 1 grocery store in town, and the meat isn't that great. Lots of it is spoiled right in the meat case! So I buy my meat at the food co-op in Duluth, when I go there for other items. I only go to Duluth once a month if even that. Where I use to go once a week!

I also use powder dry milk when I need milk for cooking. I buy a big 20 quart box. It last me for awhile.
Keep the tips coming! I am enjoying reading all of them!

[Tonnymonk]

Micky- Here is a link to another forum(Southern Spirit Hunters) where we were discussing the same thing....

Kitchen link

[mckenzygirl]

Oh thank-you Tonya for the forum link.
And I also found how to make Ricotta cheese and Curds and whey. I had posted another thread, looking for this!
Wow You have made my day!

[abirdseyeview]

One sure way to cut back is to do away with the disposable stuff. Its been awhile, but as I look back to the number of diapers we washed having raised four kids and looking at the cost of those disposable things it makes for mega savings. Better for the earth as well.
Check this out:

Glass Bottle ------- Approximately 1 Million Years
Plastic 6-Pack Collar ------- 450 Years
Aluminum Can ------- 200 – 500 Years
Plastic Jug ------- 70 Years
Rubber Boot Sole ------- 50 – 80 Years
Steel Cans ------- 50 Years
Leather ------- Up To 50 Years
Nylon Fabric ------- 30 – 40 Years
Plastic Film Canister ------- 20 – 30 Years
Painted Wooden Stake ------- 13 Years
Degradable Plastic Bag ------- 10 – 20 Years

[glow=green,2,300]Disposable Diapers -----10 – 20 Years[/glow]
Wool Clothing ------- One – Five Years
Cigarette Butt ------- One – Five Years
Cotton Rag ------- One – Five Months
Orange Peel/Banana Peel ------- Two – Five Weeks
Piece Of Paper ------- Two – Four Weeks
Traffic Tickets ------- Two – Four Weeks*
Rolled Newspaper ------- Two – Six Weeks
Candy Wrapper ------- One – Three Months
Rope ------- Three – 14 Months

*So, just leave the ticket on the windshield; the problem will disappear in two to four weeks.

[Deleted]

Well, we cut way down for awhile........we would just go to a phrind's, negibor's or phamily members house and eat there......that did'nt las vert long though

[abirdseyeview]

Cavey said:

"...we would just go to a phrind's, negibor's or phamily members house and eat there..."[/quote]

Ya Cavey, the missus and I tried that for awhile. You're right it's short lived.

[Laura]

First what is a hoecake??
I love rice..I could eat it daily..but Phil had lotsa rice growing up.
Mac & Cheese..I love it too..

[mckenzygirl]

Oh you guys are smartypants in my book!

Yes, I know the disposable diapers are a bad thing. My bad!

I did use cloth diapers on Maria before we left for WA.
But while on the trip out there we used disposables and she must of got use to them, cuz when I put a cloth diaper back on her she wanted it off, guess I shoulda potty trained her then, but I didn't think it was a good time cuz our lives were so mixed up, stressful etc.

I use cloth napkins, I use cloth bags when I go to the grocery store. I hang dry all my clothes except towels.
I have those silly looking light bulbs. I recycle, reuse, and reduce.

Our church has soup on Friday nights now so we go "out" to eat on Friday nights now.
I don't have family near me, so that won't work. oh my kids are here, but ah..... I'll pass on what they eat, I'd rather go hungry!

We'd go visit Phil and Laura, but they live near O-town, and that would be traveling. Which we are doing much of.

[Laura]

Hey if you come see us we will make you a cake & a nice hot cuppa coffee...

[mckenzygirl]

Laura,
I'll post the recipe in the Kitchen for ya.

It's very tempting........the cuppa coffee that is!
Haven't had coffee for 10 days now

[Christy]

great link tonya!!! i need to get into the kitchen topics more often

good luck potty training maria!! i know that will save you a bunch!! its crazy how much dipears cost! it was like war world three getting bb trained, we had tug of wars over dipears, she usaly won i had to completly stop buying them to get her trained,

wow 10 days! coffee is one thing i cant go without, i can go without food before i can coffee, my hubs will go get some at the gas station n pay for a overpriced lil can before dealing with me n no coffee, im a true witch without it,

i love rice! rice n bread n whatever else can make a little bit of hamburg in to a nice sized meatloaf

[bscamo]

Our food budget is sooooo tight , I have to sneak around at night and steal food from the neighbors' dogs....(Only the smaller ones)...

abev......where do you get your degradable plastic bags ?

My grocery bags start falling apart as soon as I start to carry them into the house.

[Deleted]

It's so bad here, we go to KFC just to lick other people's finger's

[Compost Pharmer]

Guess that explains why my finners are always clean. Thanks Cavey. Saves on water and soap.

[mckenzygirl]

We are a bit off topic eh ?

[Deleted]

Yes, we are and i'm sorry.........sometimes i just can't help maself.

[Deleted]

I guess we spend about 50 to 60 per week for us 3, but my daughter and SIL, with grands kids come over 3 or 4 days a week and have supper with us, so i guess we get away fairly cheap.

[mckenzygirl]

It's ok cavey, I just thought I needed to redirect us back to the topic. I did have a good laugh though
Call me a party pooper!
hhhhmmmm isn't there a song called that..........

[bscamo]

Sorry Micky , but most times here (our house) , humor is the main course. Guess I'll go eat some .

That's how we survive. If we don't pay some of our monthly bills , we might be able to squeeze out about $100 for food.........per month. We have had to use the "food banks" in our area. At least we don't have to live in a cardboard box !

That having been said , I'll throw in some free advice for those of you working. Find and get some good disability ins. ! I didn't and now we have to do our best to get by on Social Security Disability.

[peachfly]

10 days without coffee...AGHHHHH! my condolences...

i probably spend more on food than most of you...there are 2 of us and i spend about $130 a week...BECAUSE, DH has some health issues that i take very seriously (coronary artery disease and prostate cancer) and i watch every bite that he puts in his mouth...i monitor cholesterol, saturated fat, salt...he can't go b4 i do, so i feed him as much organic stuff as i can...lots of fresh stuff even when it's not in season...almost no packaged anything...i mill organic wheat and make our bread...his urologist said that he thought the growth hormones in meat were responsible for the significant increase in prostate cancer...organic meat or even free range meat is really expensive...

we don't do much of anything in the way of entertainment, travel except to see the kids, or clothes so all of my spare money goes into trying to keep up healthy...

[Tonnymonk]

Thought I would bump this one on up since times are rough....any suggestions on saving??