How do you do SB and save $$?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
How do you do SB and save $$?
20
Fri, 09-05-2008 - 7:38pm

Hi all!


I am back again after a LOOOONG hiatus from this board and SB in general.  I have the Getting Started thread up so that I can study up on the changes since I did SB (back in 2003-2004, and I remember when cl-cathy205 became a CL!).  In the meantime my biggest diet success/failure was Nutrisystem-- I lost 29.5 pounds in early 2006 (down to 151.5), gained a few back before my wedding in October 2006, and over the past two years or so have gained back all but literally a couple of pounds.  I kept going back on Nutrisystem, then off when I got bored (usually within a couple of weeks), and so on and so forth.  My brother and sister-in-law are doing SB again (they did it quite successfully before they had their twins this past February), and I started thinking about it again.  I remembered that on SB I could actually eat like a human being (and share meals, eat out, etc.) rather than what I did on Nutrisystem, which was feel like an alien because my husband and I could not eat together, nor could we eat out at all, pretty much, at least not without a serious amount of research beforehand.


So I'm back :)


Anyway, to get more to the point, the economy sucks.  My household is far from immune, so we are trying to keep our expenses down as much as possible.


I remember that SB required a lot of "special" foods and cost quite a bit more than my cheap, unhealthy convenience food.  Not that Nutrisystem was cheap, but times were better when I was on it.


Besides the obvious shopping around/coupon cutting/etc., how do you all keep your grocery bills down while on SB?  What foods provide the most bang for your buck?


TIA!


Becca


179/179/135

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:07am

Thanks for the advice about a steamer...

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:16am

I am with you-- I *hate* cooking.

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:19am

Thanks, Joy!


Yes, there are LOTS of farmer's markets around here.

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:22am

At our house outside of Atlanta, which is still for sale, I have basil, peppermint, lemon grass, and rosemary.

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:24am

Hi there!


Hehe, Shop-Rite.

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:25am

Thanks, Michelle-- glad to know they can be re-used!


Becca

Becca

On the Beach Since September 8, 2008

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-02-2008
Sat, 09-06-2008 - 10:36am

I hear you on the Whole Foods prices. I've only gone once and I wasn't that happy when I left after seeing what I spent and what I got. I will probably go back to pick up some Spelt Pretzels though.

I don't cook during the week. I cook a bunch of chicken on either Saturday or Sunday and eat throughout the week. This weekend I'm going to make an actual chicken dish and some plain chicken along with a few other things.








Past Races:
-Boston Run to Remember Half Marathon, 5/29/11 (2:35:11, no training!)
-Corporate Run, 3.5 miles 6/2/11 (36:38, 4 days after running the half!)
-BAA 10k, 6/26/11 (1:04:52, wanted to be under an hour...)
-Tavern to Tavern
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2007
Mon, 09-08-2008 - 12:33am

I use Whole Foods mainly for bulk foods, which are very budget friendly, even there.

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2005
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 7:58pm

I just went shopping yesterday and spent less than $20 on quite a bit of stuff. I went to a discount supermarket (sort of like Food 4 Less - if you know what those are) and Walmart and bought:

3 jello packets
3- small bags of nuts
4- bags of frozen veggies (like cauliflower in cheese sauce - the lf and low cal. variety)
1- bag of vegetable stir fry
1-box of veggie patties
1- box of grilled fish
4- yogurts

It does not really seem like a lot, but it can make about 7 meals for me, snacks, and dessert.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 9:45pm
I think you did really well and if you're a smart shopper you can make it work.
Photobucket

Pages