Grocery spending yikes

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2008
Grocery spending yikes
6
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 10:10am

Well, the good news is that I fed stuff into Microsoft Money.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 10:30am

I hear you! I noticed the other day that my grocery spending was crazy so I'm trying to figure out how to reduce it while still eating somewhat healthy. Since I ran out of funds two weeks ago, I spent $10 and stocked up on KD and Ramden noodles, lol. I had beans and peas and such to these, and have a freezer full of frozen things that I am slowly whittling away at. Once I get paid next week I am doing a big shop and stocking up on veggies and fruits so that I can eat healthy!


Good luck to you! I feel your pain!


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."



Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2007
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 12:26pm

I used to be really bad with grocery shopping for 3 people but ever since I stared cutting out a majority of the brand name items and purchasing certain items (like meats and chicken) and stocking up only when items were at the rock bottom lowest prices, have I been able to save between $50 and $75 a week.

<a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/debt/wsT5Uqy/"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/wsT5Uqy/debt.png"></a>

Avatar for meandmypea
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 12:39pm

Up until a couple of months ago, we routinely spent $900/month on groceries as a family of 5. We've cut it down to $470/month, and we're not living on rice and beans.

If we can do it, I'm sure you can too. I was able to pay off a CC today from the money we have saved in groceries.

Bridget



Bridget
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2007
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 3:26pm

It's so true! I used to go into the grocery store and just grab what I thought I needed or looked good, and was spending about $500-$600 for two of us per month. Now, I sit down and budget meals for the week (we both pack a lunch, eat dinners at home 99% of the time). I try to plan cheap meals like stir fry, pasta etc. more, whereas I used to just get a craving for something expensive and buy it - nice cheeses, ice creams, frozen foods, etc.

I have cut my grocery spending to about $300 per month, and we haven't suffered a bit! I also think it helps that I buy less junky stuff overall - before, when I would spend a lot extra on that type of food, I think we would just eat it because it was there, not because we were actually hungry.

Other tips have been: buying big bags of spinach and steaming them for everything from pasta to quiche, shopping at a nearby store that has a lot of dry foodstuffs for insanely low prices, and putting more thought into making meals that stretch further.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2008
Thu, 09-11-2008 - 10:30pm

What is "KD"?

Mary Jo


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2006
Fri, 09-12-2008 - 3:53pm

Hi Larkspur66,

I had an almost identical experience...and I thought I was already cutting corners. Obviously, I have to do better. For me, groceries (this includes some personal care products, hair products, etc) was $820 for four people, two of whom are kids, drugstore was $200, and eating out was $115. This does not include some addition small grocery runs by my husband. Like you, we have some guests on weekends, so it's not only us, but it's mostly us.

Add to that the school supplies and back-to-school clothes shopping... yuck.

I will be working hard to change some of this.

Recreating Myself