How do you keep your grocery bill down
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How do you keep your grocery bill down
| Mon, 12-14-2009 - 9:41pm |
Hello!
I was wondering what were some tricks of the trades for keeping your grocery bill down? Do you have certain meals that you cook every week

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One thing I do is that I make chili, soups, things like that to use up leftovers in big batches. It cost about the same and then I freeze the extra portions for additional meals - they make great lunches, and quick dinners on nights I work. Another item that goes without saying is to use up all leftovers. Throwing food away is an expensive habit. Even if it's only 1 small scoop of corn left, I save it in a baggie, toss it in with other veggies to have mixed vegetables. I also use small portion leftovers to make pot pies, sheppard pies, etc. I do bake from scratch (not so much bread) but all our snacks and that does make a difference, plus my kids really enjoy helping to make cookies or cakes. My family hunts so we usually have a fair amount of meat in the freezer. I do however, have to buy chicken/pork items, so I try to make them go further by slicing chicken breast lengthwise down the middle, making two thin ones. It helps control portion size, as well as cost. I make alot of pasta because I can make a couple servings of meat (or again, use leftovers) feed my family of 5 healthy appetites.
Angel
Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)
Angel
Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)
Liz
student loan paid off 2010
Bathroom remodel loan paid off 2013
Pending Car loan to be paid by the end of 2014!!!!!
I recently found a website that matches up what you are looking for with coupons. It's web address is www.afullcup.com. It was initially kind of hard for me to understand because I've never been a coupon user, but now I have it down. It also may be hard for you to find coupons for organic items, but I am able to coordinate my super markets sale flyer and then search for coupons that match what they have on sale. Last week I bought $229 dollars worth of groceries for $137 dollars. I was pretty happy about that.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are expensive! I shop what's in season and on sale. Last week the California Navel Oranges were on sale for $4.88 per bag and I think there's about 10 oranges in a bag. I bought 2 bags and all we do is eat oranges constantly. I will say that I haven't been sick this year since I started this habit. I probably eat about 3 oranges a day and I feel great! In the fall, we eat tons and tons of apples because they are really cheap and in the spring and summer we start in on the watermelons and peaches. YUM!!!!! But again, hard to find organic fruit on sale! I used to try to eat only organic food, but I was finding it pretty costly. There is so many conflicting information about whether to eat organic or not. I didn't know what to think! Then I read a book called 'Eat to Live' by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. He recommends a 'Nutritarian' lifestyle. Eat as many nutrients as you possibly can! He talked a little about organic and said that if you are eating enough fruits and vegetables, the nutrients you are getting will counteract the small effects that your body may feel from pesticides. I had to let the organic go in order to feed my large family well. Maybe someday I'll be able to go back to organic foods, but as of now...I have to think bulk nutrition that is cost effective.
Also, I use a lot of frozen fruits which are very reasonably priced. I usually buy 2 packs of frozen berries for $5 dollars. I microwave the berries and put them on pancakes, I make syrups and breakfast shakes with them. Here's a simple recipe I did just this morning.
1 cup soymilk (I used unsweetened SILK)
1 package frozen berries (I used a mix of berries)
1 banana
1 tbs flaxseed
Yummy!
Good post, thanks for starting it.
I cook from scratch and that saves a lot.
Angel
Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)
I really like the idea of a weekly update for meal ideas. Might I suggest including not only cost but nutrition information if available? I know I don't have nutrition content on alot of my recipes, but I have been using an online calorie counter to try and figure as close as I can. Mainly just trying to watch fat/calories/sodium. Also, just a suggestion for left-overs, I re-package, so usually dh doesn't even know he's eating them! For the life of him, poor guy can't figure out why he can never find the mixed vegetables in our pantry, I just smile and say we must be out. I think it is great that you pack lunches for everyone, I usually cheat. We usually pack dh's lunch out of dinner the night before, if it's something he liked well enough to eat twice in a row like that
Angel
Wife to Wayne, Mommy to Tyler (15), Nickolas (3) and Noah (1)
Another IVillage board to check out is the Frugal kitchen board. they have loads of recipes, and posters will sometimes say they are real short on cash, and list what foods they have and others will come up with suggestions on what to make.
Oh I like the idea of a weekly food update too! I get so bored with what I usually make....ideas would be welcome that are low cost. It will probably just make me hungry but whatever LOL.
I buy generic brands that I cook with. For example I buy generic cream of soups. If you add your own spices you can't tell the difference in taste anyway.
We fight over left overs to take for lunch here so I am getting better at making more at each meal. Left overs are a real treat the next day warmed up.
Usually just cereal at my place for breakfast. I gave up buying pop tarts, too much sugar and too expensive, same with the waffels. We don't usually have a lot of time to cook something for breakfast, sometimes on the weekend as a treat.
Sounds like a lot of you ladies
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