Grocery Shopping & Grocery Budget?

Question

How do you handle your grocery's for a month? I subscribe to Rachel Ray and Taste of Home Magazines.. and always find great recipes that don't call for many more ingrediants than we have stocked in the pantry. We have $300 dollars a month for groceries, for a family of 5. (alothough many nights we end up feeding more- when family memebers stop by) I was only going to the grocery store 1 time a month- but that isn't working because the fruit/veggies dont stay fresh.. so i need to start going more a month. How do you plan it? Do you go once a week? once every 2 weeks? Once a month? Also- how do you plan meals and stick to your budget. I find that when i come up with meals for everynight of the week every month- that not matter how cheap i try and keep it- the money and groceries only covers dinners- and then we end up skimping on lunches- no big deal during the week while kids are in school- but on weekends it's more of an issue. So what are some ideas/tips for me?

Answer 1

Wow, my hubby and I are amazed when we can keep the grocery bill at around $300. And there's only the two of us!

Anyway. I shop about 5 times a week, but only with a list. And I keep a running grocery list. I only buy what's on the list, and when I look at it I can go "Do I really need those chicken wings today?" I use coupons when I can, I buy ground beef in bulk, I buy store brands (canned goods are all the same anyway), and when the bread is a 2 for 1, I buy 2 and freeze one. I buy blocks of cheese and grate it myself and freeze it. Much cheaper than bagged cheese. I make my own tortillas and some breads. And dried peas and beans are super cheap. And buy a huge bag of rice. And a ton of pasta. And frozen veggies are such a life-saver. About the only thing I go to the store for is dairy and fresh veggies. Once you have your pantry stocked in one or two trips, then all you have to shop for is perishables the rest of the month.

Answer 2

I shop weekly. Generally it works out to 2 large shopping trips, and two smaller ones to pick up produce and other perishables (bread, milk, etc). I am NOT a loyal shopper. Whomever has the most on-sale items I need, gets my business that week. I spend about an hour each week (while watching TV, usually) perusing the grocery ads, clipping coupons, and planning general menus for the week. Some of my strategies are: - Shop at least once a month at a store that doubles my coupons (don't take the kids with you on this trip!) - Look for coupons that will improve sale prices at the store - Buy in bulk. For example, if boneless chicken breast is less than $1.50 a pound, I'll buy extra and freeze it. - Lettuce/salad is a great way to use up leftovers, and can stretch out those lunches you run short on. Same thing with pasta. Both are cheap and help you make the most of what you've got. - Top Ramen is around $.15 a package, and you can put ANYTHING in it - this helps me when I don't have a lot of time, or not much left in the grocery fund. You can throw in leftovers, frozen vegetables, just about anything. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Many grocery stores have really great sales on meat and poultry. They do that to lure in the regular shopping business. These sales are usually cheaper than discount markets (e.g. Sam's or Costco). You can keep an eye on store flyers, stock up on meats when they are on sale, then freeze them.

When planning your weekly meals, plan around the sale meats you have stocked in the freezer, or have sale flyers in hand. Then you'll never have to buy meats at regular prices.

I agree that it's pretty impossible to shop once a month. If you want fresh veggies, you have to go at least weekly.

Consider using more frozen veggies. They are often less expensive (especially when on sale) and sometimes better quality than fresh because they are frozen soon after picking.

Plan a few meals with an eye towards economy. Pasta with just a bit of meat; chicken and rice dishes that stretch a small amount of chicken but still pack plenty of flavor. Use leftover meat in pasta casseroles. These dishes also make good lunch leftovers.

Answer 4

Your budget of $3600 annually for a family of five is well below the 1998 average of a $6463 budget for a family of four. You could buy dry canned goods,staples and meats monthly at a discount or warehouse type store and freeze the meat. A weekly trip to a store is needed for perishable items like milk,eggs,cheese,fresh fruits and veggies.I stop on the way home from work so not to waste gas on another trip. When my kids were little and the food budget was slim,we ate whatever was on sale. The flyers at the front of the store showed me what was being featured that week. I always cooked with left-overs in mind and froze them for lunches even if it was just one portion.

Answer 5

Well, depending on how you would like to shop, you can try a weekly shopping just until you get the hang of things as far as knowing a bi-weekly to monthly budget on the type of foods you would buy to feed the family (including extra for unexpected guests!).

First: Try to set up a weekly meal that isn't always heavy!! Day 1 can be a nice meal while Day 2 is light yet hardy!! It will definitely help you financially!!!

Second: Set up a list of meals you would like to have for the week. For example: Day 1: Spaghetti pasta w/baked to crisp buttered french bread - Day 2: Hamburger Helper - Day 3: Teriyaki Chicken & Rice - Day 4: Noodles(e.g. Top Ramen or Maruachan) or Campbells soups (Chicken Noodle, Chicken & Rice, Garlic Potato, etc...) - Day 5: Tater Tot Casserole - Day 6: Beef Roast w/veggies - Day 7: Chicken Cacciatore

Third: You would want to get all the ingredients you need for your weekly meal at THE lowest prices at a well priced store. For example: I shop at Winco. Great prices & more for my buck. TIP: try not to buy name brand ingredients. The store brands taste just the same and sometimes even better and isn't so harsh on your pocket!!

Now let's do an example list of ingredients w/estimated prices for a single meal @ Winco!!

Day 1: Spaghetti pasta w/buttered french bread
* 1 lg-store brand pasta (reg.,thin or angel hair noodles) @ about $.89
* 1-3 lb. ground beef @ $5.00 (Depending on percentage of fat . Lower percentage, the more costly).
* 2-3 lb. bottle ragu @ $3.90 each/$7.80 total (assorted variety & bigger vs. typical 1 lb bottles).
* 1 onion @ $.48/lb
* 2 french bread @ $.98 ea./$1.96 total
* 1 box butter (Imperial) $.50 ea.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.89 - 1 spaghetti noodles
5.00 - 1 ground beef
7.80 - 2 spaghetti sauce
.16 - 1 single onion (estimated price)
1.96 - 2 french breads
.50 - 1 box butter
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$16.31- Total Cost On 1 Family Meal of 5!!

Great budgeting, Great meal!!

Answer 6

for the main grocery like meat ,chicken,oil ,flour etc i go once a month but i have to buy milk ,bread and salads every week.
i try to make every thing like pizzas ,lasagnia at home.
on weekends we skip lunch and eat heavy breakfast.