Grocery Bill/Habits

[Iron Past]

I just got back from grocery shopping and was curious what other people spend and their habits at the grocery store (I don't think there's a been a thread for this, couldn't find one, anyway).

I have a few rules when I shop for food, and most of them start with my meal list; I always make a meal list for the week. First, we only eat meat two or three times a week, for a couple reasons: 1) It's not exceptionally to eat alot of (red) meat, and 2) Meat's expensive (the healthier, the more costly :mad:). Also, when making my list, top priority goes to meals that I already most of the ingredients for.

I only plan for one meal per week (usually) that requires me to buy a number of ingredients (for 'homemade' or 'from scratch' meals), and since I rarely use all the ingredients, it ends up playing into the previous rule. Depending on how much it looks like I'm spending, I might pick up a few snacks or ice cream, etc. Lastly, I make a list and keep to the list. The only time I buy something not on the list is when I run across something I legitimately for got to put on there. Oh, and the most important rule, I never, ever shop hungry.

All in all, I average about $70-$75 a week for me, my wife and our 2yo, many times $10 or $15 less, and that includes having to occasionally buy things like diapers ($20), razors ($15), or any number of other items like detergent and soap. How about you?

[Stmfuller]

we shop bi-weekly and have a $200 budget.
We shop based on sales and create our lists that way.
then, we shop at one store getting everything we need.
I'd fucking kill to drop $100 off my bill every month though...good for you!

[Johan]

We go to the store, buy willy-nilly, come home, eat it, and go back for more. Actually, we spend under $500 a month on ALL our groceries and eating out. For eight people. Some months, we're in the sub-$400 range. No food stamps required, either! :D

Edit: That's for food, not all the other crap people often buy at grocers. Food. How do we do it? We buy bulk grains and make our own bread. We use cloth diapers. We don't buy steaks and fancier foods. We don't eat out often. We're careful.

[Chris_D]

I never make a paper list.
I usually keep a mental list of things I've run out of and have to buy but I always try to buy non perishables in bulk on special so it's normally only a small number of things.
I buy whatever is on special and construct my meals around that.
I shop once a week, usually on Mondays which is 10% off day.
I usually spend around 3000-4000 yen.
I'll try to make trips to discount stores that fit within my schedule to get certain things cheaper. Usually toiletries and milk.
I usually can't resist picking up at least one snack!

[zarathstra]

I have a bunch of tried and true recipes that I make over and over, with some experimenting here and there. I make a list of ingredients I'm low on as I notice them, and try to stick to the list once I get to the store. I also try to check out this site: http://southernsavers.com/ before I go in case there are printable coupons I can use on the items I plan to buy.

I rarely spend more than 80-100 bucks a month on groceries for myself, sometimes less depending on sales.

[rein]

Lately my weekly shopping list has been screwed up. It has included a 12 pack of Cokes, 5 or 6 Lean Cuisines, 2 boxes 100 calorie snacks, soups and other lunch foods, and a "week end" meal. I've got to get out of this funk and start cooking again. My daughter will be spending more time at home next week so I will probably return to something a little healthier.

[Thanasimos]

I go into a store knowing exactly what I want.

I leave the store with it. Lately, it's almost always a single 2 liter bottle of soda, which will last me over a week and may or may not be replaced right away when I'm out.

[squirrelTactics]

I walk up and down every isle, starving, and purchase anything that seems appealing with reckless abandon.

[zarathstra]

I walk up and down every isle, starving, and purchase anything that seems appealing with reckless abandon.

Your screen name suits you :)

[Drayven]

We have a grocery store around here where you can browse everything they have online, add it to your basket and schedule to pick it up. They charge $6.95 for that. We've found that it actually saves us money because I have a bad habit of picking up random things that I don't need, I'm terrible at impulse buys and this really cuts down on them. And it saves time :)

[Stmfuller]

We have a grocery store around here where you can browse everything they have online, add it to your basket and schedule to pick it up. They charge $6.95 for that. We've found that it actually saves us money because I have a bad habit of picking up random things that I don't need, I'm terrible at impulse buys and this really cuts down on them. And it saves time :)

that must be new to the area, my wife and I lived in Ypsilanti from 1998-2005. Had something like that been around we'd have been on it like white on rice.

Damn, I miss that area. I taught piano out in Saline, went to the festivals in Detroit and used to work on the blockbuster on Washtenaw (now a starbucks :( )

[Spacetronaut]

I walk up and down every isle, starving, and purchase anything that seems appealing with reckless abandon.

I do this. It's surprisingly expensive.

[Stmfuller]

Edit: That's for food, not all the other crap people often buy at grocers. Food. How do we do it? We buy bulk grains and make our own bread. We use cloth diapers. We don't buy steaks and fancier foods. We don't eat out often. We're careful.and they draw 2 names out of a hat every night. The people names that come out, don't eat.
Seriously, we spend as much for half as many people...you either must not eat anything or eat a lot of spam.

[Matthias]

I am constantly trying to think of simple meals that I can make in my dorm (aka don't require anything but a microwave and as little prep as possible). I mostly stick to purchasing staples such as bread, lunchmeat, cheese, milk, and juice. I'll generally keep things such as granola bars and pop-tarts on hand for those mornings when I wake up 10 minutes before class. I will buy the cheapest version of any item I can without getting into the unhealthy/tastes-crappy range. I get fresh fruits, but always buy the cheapest stuff available. I generally spend about $50-60 per trip, and a single trip can last me a month if my parents and I have prepared frozen meals at home. Though I hate going for a month, because I run out of milk within 2 weeks, and I really don't like not having milk around.

[Johan]

and they draw 2 names out of a hat every night. The people names that come out, don't eat.
Seriously, we spend as much for half as many people...you either must not eat anything or eat a lot of spam.

I can't remember the last time I had spam. Years? I do, however, remember I like the stuff. :)

* We don't buy a lot of meats. Chicken, in bulk, on sale. We de-skin and de-bone it ourselves, and freeze it in one-cup baggie or bags of two legs at a time, for easy instant use in meals. Turkey, ground, in bulk. No steaks or beef. Sometimes we'll have deer meat. We have hunters in our family!
* We buy 50# bags of grain and make our own bread.
* We buy rice in 25# bags.
* We own two full chest freezers, and freeze items, so when they're cheap, we stock up. When milk goes on sale, we'll buy ten or more gallons, take some off the top of each one in a pitcher (it expands as it freezes), and freeze the containers.
* We're in a vegetable co-op for bulk vegetable purchases. We'll get onions or peppers by the box, slice and dice them, bag them, and freeze them in place. Easy future use for cooking (frozen onions are not good raw. Don't go there. Cook them).
* When we eat out, it's inexpensive. We'll go to CiCi's Pizza (http://www.cicispizza.com/Default_noflash.asp) because it's an all-you-can-eat value for our kids. My wife and I will go to Olive Garden for the soup and salad lunch. Good eats, and inexpensive for what you get.
* I rarely buy sandwich meats. They're expensive.
* We buy generic. I don't give a rip about "Dr. Pepper" when I can get "Dr. Perky" or "Dr. Thunder" for .15 cents a can or less.
* I haven't bought a lunch at work (school cafeteria) in literally my ENTIRE CAREER (I'm 41). :) I bring my lunch every day. Cheaper.
* Our kids don't eat crappy snack foods in between meals. They eat at meals, they eat what we give them, and they're not picky because we don't let them be picky. I tell them their mother is not a made-to-order chef. Take it or leave it. Usually? They take it. :)

There's lots more. We use cloth diapers instead of disposable, to save money. We don't have cable/satellite television. We only have one cellphone. We have little debt to speak of (mortgage and a small car loan. Nothing more).

We eat pretty well, all things considered. And I still get my beers, too! And I have money for gaming!

But not as much as I'd like...:(

Edit: You know, the more I think about it, if not for wanting electricity and my electronic gadgets, I might be able to fit in with the Amish! :D

[Thanasimos]

* We own two full chest freezers, and freeze items, so when they're cheap, we stock up. When milk goes on sale, we'll buy ten or more gallons, take some off the top of each one in a pitcher (it expands as it freezes), and freeze the containers.

I just want to know; did you find that out the hard way? Share the gory details, please.

[Johan]

I just want to know; did you find that out the hard way? Share the gory details, please.

The first time we froze milk, quite a while ago, we didn't think of 'expansion' and one of our containers leaked as it defrosted, because the plastic jug had cracked slightly.

Quite uninteresting, actually! :o

[Bingley Joe]

We have a grocery store around here where you can browse everything they have online, add it to your basket and schedule to pick it up. They charge $6.95 for that. We've found that it actually saves us money because I have a bad habit of picking up random things that I don't need, I'm terrible at impulse buys and this really cuts down on them. And it saves time :)

We have exactly the same thing, only once you place your order, they bring it right to your door and you just pay by debit/credit card. Fucking rocks. We use it for almost everything non-perishable or pre-packaged, since lots of that stuff is also heavy (canned goods, etc.).

Produce, meats, and other items that are best chosen with care, we grab from the local markets around here, which are all within a quick walk.


The first time we froze milk, quite a while ago, we didn't think of 'expansion' and one of our containers leaked as it defrosted, because the plastic jug had cracked slightly.

Quite uninteresting, actually! :o

Ahhh yet another benefit to our 'wacky' Canadian plastic milk bags :)

[Everyone vs Dinosaurs]

1. Buy a bagel

2. Buy a soda

3. Eat bagel and drink soda


Maybe I should shop.

[Aggort]

we shop bi-weekly and have a $200 budget.
We shop based on sales and create our lists that way.
then, we shop at one store getting everything we need.
I'd fucking kill to drop $100 off my bill every month though...good for you!

Your and mine plan sound so identical it's scary. Being just me and my girlfriend we can usually spend $75 the first week we go and $25 the next. The only time we spend more is if a sale on shampoo or paper towels. We try to do the least amount of random shopping possible as we found we'd pick things we really didn't need. In December we didn't have to spend a penny since so many sales in November were food related and we have been well stocked on shampoo and such since then as well.

[That Darn Kat]

I walk up and down every isle, starving, and purchase anything that seems appealing with reckless abandon.

I have to wonder if you're joking while admitting this is actually how I shop for food. :(

[Stmfuller]

The first time we froze milk, quite a while ago, we didn't think of 'expansion' and one of our containers leaked as it defrosted, because the plastic jug had cracked slightly.

Quite uninteresting, actually! :o

how long does defrosted milk keep?

[Johan]

how long does defrosted milk keep?

I'm not quite sure. We go through a gallon pretty quickly, so I've never had to worry about it.

[zarathstra]

I'm a big fan of store brands myself. The only national brand I buy consistently is Coke, since I've never found a store brand cola that tasted quite right. Sometimes if I have a really awesome coupon or I find something in the bargain I'll end up with a national brand, but its rare.

[TurboKinny]

I buy bread products, cheese, yummy veggies, peanut butter, and eggs almost every time I go to the store (about once a week). About once I month, I also buy several pounds of ground beef, chicken, and some bratwurst, portion out the meaty stuff, and freeze it. Oh, and beer. In all, I spend about $100 a month at the grocery store.

[civil]

The missus and I eat vegan at home (though she's full-on omnivore outside of home). Like Johan, we buy everything as staples then make the stuff as we go. We don't plan meals in advance, usually just look at what we've got left and let 'er rip. Lots of grains, veggies, tofu, fruit, rice, beans, etc.

Personally, I can't stand pre-packaged foods anymore. Nothing frozen, no canned soups, etc. It just seems full of extra shit to me. It's also better to make it yourself with a partner and enjoy your work together. Since I cut back on the sauce our liquor bill is pretty small too; mostly a bottle or two of wine a week.

Our bill is slightly more expensive because we try and buy organic/local when we can. It adds up, but a few bucks here and there are worth it to us. Again, like Johan we're going to subscribe to a veggie co-op in the next couple of weeks, which'll be about $100/month for that alone. I'd say our average bill is around $275/month.

[Chris_D]

Yeah I also prefer to not pre-plan and buy whatever is cheap. That works out well because it usually leads me to nearly always buy in season which is usually fresher and tastes better anyway.

[roboninja]

We have a grocery store around here where you can browse everything they have online, add it to your basket and schedule to pick it up. They charge $6.95 for that. We've found that it actually saves us money because I have a bad habit of picking up random things that I don't need, I'm terrible at impulse buys and this really cuts down on them. And it saves time :)

I use a similar service, but it is $11.95, and they deliver to your door. Makes it much easier for me, as not having a car makes grocery shopping a tremendous pain. If the transit system here was better (and not currently on strike), it would not be so bad. Unfortunately, the online grocery store does not have the great specials of some of the cheaper stores in the area (like Food Basics), so I end up paying more.

[Stmfuller]

how'd ya'll find the co ops in the first place?

[Johan]

how'd ya'll find the co ops in the first place?

Networking (ask around). Contact your local farmer's market (stop by there one day) and ask them. They can give you contacts as well. You could also ask at your local health food store (or stop by and read the bulletin boards there).

[Stmfuller]

Sorry about all the questions, trying to get our budget down has been really important lately.
I'm very interested in lowering our food bill...it had ballooned out to $500+/month at one point. We've gotten it lower (not by choice), but man if I could do what some of you are doing...

[Johan]

Sorry about all the questions, trying to get our budget down has been really important lately.
I'm very interested in lowering our food bill...it had ballooned out to $500+/month at one point. We've gotten it lower (not by choice), but man if I could do what some of you are doing...

You might also want to look for a grocery store called Aldi. (http://aldi.us/us/html/service/store_locator_ENU_HTML.htm?WT.z_src=main) Their selection is quite limited, but they are inexpensive compared to typical grocery stores. If one is near you, check it out.

Also, consider a membership at Sam's, Costco, or BJ's. The cost is easily offset by the savings, IF you are careful. They sell a lot of name-brand items, but in bulk. I get beer at Sam's, toilet paper by the giganti-box, laundry and dishwasher detergent in big buckets, and the like.