Gonna have to start taking a calculator shopping!

[ghmerrill]

Went to do our monthly shopping for groceries... Couple bags of flour, a dozen cans of each-green beans, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce.....other odds and ends canned goods.... Cheese....... Couple whole chickens, hamburger, some canadian bacon. Did by some junk- fish sticks (two 12 pk boxes) one box of 12 egg rolls (my fave! ) some juice....... It was two carts moderately full.....


$608!

I just about died. Normally we get about $400, there was a bit extra this time, but DANG! flour was $3 per 25 lbs bag HIGHER than last month. I'm sure other things were too.

Broke the bank this month, no more shopping! no chips or ice cream, that's for sure!

[Ravenlost]

Take some coupons too. With coupons you could have saved $200 of that.

[Melissa]

I try to spend less than $50 a week. I keep track in my head and I am usually just under. I shop with cash so I try to be really close!

[SquashNut]

We average $1.50 every 6 weeks with 2 people, 2 dogs and our pantry. Rabbit food is $50 a month. But most monthes we sell about $50 worth of rabbits.

Sold enough garlic to finance my garden this year including canning lids, I found 36 doz at a yard sale.

[TxHorseMom]

We spend about $200 a week in groceries! NOT including dog food, cat food, horse, cow and pig feed. I have found that shopping at the big bulk stores doesn't help me save money. I'll shop for 10 items and spend $200, and still need stuff.

[Ravenlost]

I spend about $200 every one to two weeks (I try to skip a week as often as possible) for 2 people, 18 dogs and 8 cats. That $200 is AFTER my coupons are deducted. I normally save 30 percent or more with coupons.

[Win07_351]

I've been taking a calculator shopping for years. I keep a running total and I'm able to stay at my budget.

[HilltopDaisy]

I about fainted tonight with an $82 total, which will last me at least 2 weeks, and I bought extra because I'm having company this week; I can't imagine spending $600 on groceries. I'd love to see you unload that stuff and put it away. I wish you could scan the receipt, just cause I'm nosy :-)...

I don't use coupons at all, but I buy "loss leaders", especially the BOGO. I know they mark them up some but it's still usually a better deal.

I enjoy grocery shopping. I try not to go more than once a week, and I try to stick to my list. I don't have a lot of money to waste, and I really try to eat healthy. I hate throwing food out (but I have critters, so nothing ever goes to waste).

[Ravenlost]

Originally Posted by HilltopDaisy

...I buy "loss leaders", especially the BOGO. I know they mark them up some but it's still usually a better deal...

And ESPECIALLY if you have a coupon for the BOGO!

[ghmerrill]

We have a bunch of critters too......all young and not producing yet, so lots of feed, not much grocery relief. Right now, the feed store gets around $350 a month too.

Our groceries feed 6, plus some meals delivered to a couple elderly folks. We have tried couponing, but getting the time(60 mile round trip) and money (being self employed means sometimes the money is less than prompt! ) together with a needed coupon is very hit and miss. We generally shop wall mart, and for the most part get their store brand due to price. HOWEVER I will never buy their store brand green beans again! DISGUSTING! flour, butter, crackers, peanut butter, etc, all is their brand.


If I could find that reciept, I would scan it, but dont know where she put it! She gets a bit frustrated at me during the shopping, and when we are putting stuff away...... I do the cooking mostly, so I get the groceries that I'm going to cook with, and I put stuff away where it makes sense to me, since I have to find it again!

Our shopping trip means getting grandma to watch the kids, cause there is no room for them in car too, and it takes a good chunk of time after sorting and putting stuff away!

[oth47]

Aldi went up 20 cents per 5lb on flour this past week.

[JJFarmer]

I have to add in the livestock/poultry feed since they produce the majority of our groceries. I think the only dairy products we buy is cheddar cheese and that should end too this next month when my cheese is finally aged enough. We've even got the handle on making our own butter (the best butter EVER). We buy a lot of drink mix though (tang is a favorite) and the staples, flour, sugar, molasses, etc.

[radiofish]

To the OP, you may want to add that there are "No Sales Taxes In Oregon".
I live 90 miles South of the Border, and have been known to make the trip up the coast for major purchases over the state line in Brookings at Fred Meyers or further over in Grants Pass with a wider variety of stores, for that very reason.

Well that and to have someone else pump the gas into my vehicle, since apparently the State of Oregon doesn't trust folks to handle a gas pump.

I want to know where to find coupons, for 25 pound bags of flour....

[Mid Tn Mama]

GHMerrill: Grocery prices certainly HAVE gone up in the past couple years. I shoot for making meals that average to 1.00 per person per meal. To do that, I only buy meat and vegetables and pasta when they are on sale. Then I fill the pantry. Last year I bought a case of tomato sauce for .70/can. Lasted me about half a year having one can/week in recipes.

If something isn't in season, we aren't eating it. Right now we have harvested a lot of cabbage and collards so we are having cole slaw and salads made of shredded tender collard leaves. In the fall, it will be lettuce salads that we grow.

Cheese is used sparingly in recipes and never as a full snack. Dogs and cats get the cheapest dog/cat food stretched with leftovers, cornmeal, dirty eggs I don't feel like cleaning, veg that is going soft, etc...

I save bruised fruit in the freezer and when the bag is full, cook some tough meat, onions, the frozen fruit I saved and a bit of curry. Served over rice--delicious and nutritious.

I use clean rags instead of paper towel and clean kitchen towels/cloth napkins instead of paper. Fruit is only bought t in season. In the winter, when fruit can be high, we often eat canned fruit I canned myself or that I bought on sale and stockpiled.

Please join us on the tightwad tips thread and read the archives to get good ideas for your food budget. Also, if you tell us how many of you there are, we can help with ideas.

[Ravenlost]

Most coupons for flour say "5 lbs. and up" making them good on 25 lb. bags of flour.

[Tracy Rimmer]

You got two carts full of store-bought groceries for $600?

I'm actually impressed.

[Ann-NWIowa]

If you check prices, its sometimes less expensive to buy 5 5# bags of flour rather than a 25# bag.

I've been suffering from sticker shock at Aldis lately. I know their prices are keeping pace with increased costs to them and they're still cheaper than regular stores, but still $65 doesn't go nearly as far as it did 6 months ago. I've been making an effort to take advantage of the regular stores loss leaders. I went to one store last week to get 69¢ a dozen eggs limit 2 dozen. I bought only the eggs. Since I work in town I'm there every day M-F so no extra gas to do the shopping while I'm there.

[lenii]

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Most coupons for flour say "5 lbs. and up" making them good on 25 lb. bags of flour.

Is it an in store coupon????

[Melissa]

I sometimes see flour coupons around Christmas- baking season. I shop at Kroger they send out coupons based on your purchases so I get flour coupons there, just have to watch for a sale and then use the coupon. I only use whole wheat or unbleached white, so don't buy at Aldi's. If you go to Hodson Mills you can sign up for some coupons there also.

[DamnearaFarm]

I buy my flour at Sams- eight bucks for 25lbs.