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melanie
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So, our grocery bill is now the most expensive bill we have...even more than our mortgage!  I spent $350 this week for two weeks worth of groceries. That doesn't include a run I'll have to make for more milk and probably some more fruit and salad. That's nuts, right? Our family isn't *that* big, and I have two little ones that don't eat much! We don't buy organic except for the eggs we get from a friend. I don't know if our bill is really so crazy high or if it just feels that way because of a relatively quick increase in our family size/decrease in our income. Six years ago we had one child and two incomes.  But I have talked to a few people and it seems like our bill is bigger than average. What am I doing wrong? Anything that has made a big difference to your bill?
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Christine
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I recently wrote about how I reduced our grocery spending by $100 to $250 a month on my blog, http://catholicmemories.blogspot.com/2009/11/grocery-budget- challenge.html. One of the keys for me has been visiting Costco bi-weekly, instead of weekly (my sister gave me this advice). I know that Erin has cut her grocery bill, too. It is possible.
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Christine
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MNMommy
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We spend around $600/month for groceries (includes cleaning supplies, diapers, personal care, pets, etc).
I already make most things (other than bread and pasta) from scratch. Couponing isn't a viable option in my TinyTown, so now I'm working on stock piling food when it's on sale.
I'm also trying to find cheaper alternatives to what we do eat. Dh loves choc chip, oatmeal, coconut cookies and we used to have them all the time. Now I'm trying to rotate between the expensive version with choc chips and coconut and the cheaper version with just oatmeal. I used to buy new gallon bottled water, but now I'm buying refills. I'm convinced that every little bit adds up.
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Jennifer
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melanie
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Thanks, Christine, I'll go check that out!
I think, part of it, even though I have two littles, the rest of us eat a lot. My two oldest ones eat at least as much as an adult. And my dh is a bit, urm,,picky. Some of the changes I have tried to make he hasn't appreciated. He doesn't like too many meatless meals, that kind of thing, and he snacks a lot. I used to make homemade snacks, muffins and cookies and such, and I still do sometimes, but he eats them up so fast, lol. I can cut off the kids, but I can't do that with him. So I started buying some cheapie snacks like pretzels and graham crackers and such, and it seemed to slow down consumption since the snacks weren't as good. He's also my biggest milk drinker.
I can probably get it down to $300 every two weeks without straining much. This trip I had to buy most of the Thanksgiving dinner stuff, so that inflated the bill some, but honestly, it seems like there's always something "extra"...school/craft supplies to get, a birthday to shop for, etc.
I've been reading a blog lately written by a couponer, and I'm amazed by what they can do, but I don't think I could do the same. It seems overwhelming in practice, but also because we don't have stores here that double/triple coupons and have these rewards programs that they rely on. Almost always it is cheaper for me to buy a generic than use a coupon for a name brand.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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Angel
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A few years ago there was a long thread about what everyone spent on groceries every month... but I can't seem to find it now. Maybe our wonderful moderators can help me out? 
If you do a search, you'll find lots of threads on grocery expenses, though. But I wish I could find that particular one!
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Angela
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melanie
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Great post Christine, thanks!
I recently had to cut back the kids on milk consumption too, and start limiting them to a piece of fruit a day, that's funny. :) One of my big problems right now is my black-hole 9yo boy. He is *always* hungry. Or wanting to eat, anyway. Not looking forward to feeding him as a teenager. :) We go through some big dinners too, the boy and my husband always eat seconds of everything, and the meat gets expensive. One mom told me that she makes homemade bread (or breadmaker bread) or rolls or something for each meal to encourage filling up on that instead of getting more chicken or whatever.
I'm crazy jealous that you found turkey so cheaply! :)
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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stefoodie
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Angel wrote:
| A few years ago there was a long thread about what everyone spent on groceries every month... but I can't seem to find it now. Maybe our wonderful moderators can help me out? |
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Is this the one you want? food budget
here's another
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Paula in MN
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Melanie, do you garden? Having our own vegetables and berries helps immensely. We also hunt and fish, so I really don't need to buy any meat products either.
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 Paula
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juststartn
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I am in a similar boat.
I stock up on what I can when I can, which helps. We had a garden this summer, which has helped some. I've started cooking more from scratch over the last few years, and I've cut back the meat I put into things (going from 1 lb to 3/4 lbs).
I have always 'rationed' the milk--we already go through up to 12 gallons in a 2 wk period (I get milk every two weeks, and butter once a month).
One thing I do is soup. I make a BIG batch of soup--vegetable beef. One quart of homemade/canned country tomato soup, 3/4lbs grd beef, a can each of carrots, peas, green beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Chunk up as many potatoes as you can, and toss those in. Fill up the quart jar from the soup with hot water, drop in two beef bouillon cubes, salt and pepper to taste. Easy. Make some homemade bread or rolls, as one other poster suggested, and let them fill up on that.
As far as "snacks"--homemade bread. I've got a 5 minute artisan bread recipe that my 9 yr old can mix up. Seriously. She uses my kitchen aid, and does it herself. I'll do the splitting and shaping, and baking, but she does the rest. Seriously, a slab of homemade bread, with some peanut butter on it--protein. Carbs. Filler. A good thing.
Maybe getting your son involved in preparing his own food/snacks, would be one way of getting him further involved, esp in seeing what it takes to make these snacks he inhales, lol. Then maybe he can make his own snacks, etc.
Celery. Carrots (get the full-sized ones, and cut them down). Seriously. Nutritious, easy, and not too expensive.
I'm mean, though, and we don't do snacks. Period. Mealtime is for eating. We will very very rarely have some popcorn of an evening, from the stove-top popper (popcorn is also cheap, btw). But during the day, no way. If someone tells me they are hungry, well, eat more at the next meal. And here, have a glass of water. A lot of time when people say that they are hungry, they are really thirsty. And *that* needs to be addressed prior to putting food down them.
HTH
Rachel
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melanie
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Oh Rachel, no snacks? My kids are so spoiled, lol...
I need to limit them more, for sure, or make them more plain and therefore less appealing maybe.
We do garden, on a small scale,,,a few tomato plants, some lettuce, squash, beans, peas...I'd like to do more. It's hard, we have a huge back yard with lots of trouble for little people to find and no fence, so that makes it hard to find time to garden, I can only do it when I have someone to watch little people. This past summer I got a "puppy yard" to put my toddler in, and she loved it, lol. I could keep it near the garden and work while she played, usually with some pans of water and a few toys. Also, my in-laws are giving us a very generous Christmas gift this year, and we are going to use it to finish our backyard privacy fence and to rent a dumpster to clean all the junk out of the outbuildings. That will make the backyard much safer...and the kids can get a puppy in the spring! Hmmm...how will I keep him out of the garden?
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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juststartn
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Put up a run for the dog. Or fence off half the yard for garden, and half for the dog...lol.
I'm mean, I told you! My mom's only way to keep *her* food budget down, was to absolutely refuse snacks (she had three hard-core soccer playing teenaged dds at one point--two on varsity, one on jv...you can imagine the food we could/did consume!).
While I hate to advise using starches to stretch the budget...well, when we make Mexican, I add beans to the meat, and more beans to the homemade rice (which is so cheap and easy to make, I wonder why I never did it?). Dried beans are cheap and easy and full of protein (just make sure to soak overnight, and drain/rinse at least twice)...navy bean soup, with a big ham bone in it...cornbread on the side. Black bean soup, with torillas.
Soup is such a great stretcher, too. Especially if you make it flavorful, serve it with a bready side...and then have a dessert item (something I *do* do).
Rachel
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JodieLyn
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Melanie, one way to limit snacks without having to draw a line for anyone is to have specific times you make/buy snacks. Say.. on grocery shopping day you buy 2 bags of pretzals.. when they're gone they're gone until the next grocery shopping day. And same thing with homemade snacks.. you make enough for everyone to have one a day for the next week.. if they eat them all that day.. they have to wait until the next week for more etc.
Also on reducing meat.. even a bit will help. Like I get the boneless skinless chicken breasts (buy on sale and it's usually a better deal than bone-in when you consider the number of servings you can get) But then when I go to make fried chicken.. if I left the pieces whole.. dh and I and the older kids would each take one. But I've found that if I cut them into 3-4 pieces each.. that we're more likely to stop after eating 2-3 pieces for instance where if the whole piece were on our plates we'd eat that. So while it may only save a bit on what each person eats.. it may mean that I can feed everyone with one less breast for the meal.. but no one feels like I've cut back on the meat.
Also on dishes where the meat is mixed in.. a lot of times the problem lies in the flavor.. a bit of bullion added in, maybe a bit of butter or olive oil (if the lack of fat seems to be part of the problem) and/or spices.. like I can use a lot less sausage in sausage gravy if I add the spices that are in the sausage to the gravy. Also chop your meat into smaller pieces.. you can get meat in every bite with less meat if the pieces are also smaller.
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JodieLyn
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Couple more thoughts.. I do buy things for my dh to have that the kids can't have.. mostly for his lunches as he takes those. But that helps because then everyone isn't helping eat dad's snacks.
And remember when you see people talking about their low grocery budgets that the only things included are likely actual food. Not craft supplies, not laundry soap, not diapers not toilet paper or paper towels etc.
There are also ways to help reduce costs in the soaps and paper products.. usually simply by not using disposable things.. like have rags for cleaning up messes vs paper towels.. and using less laundry soap per load (experiement, I can usually use half of the recommended amount and still get clean clothes)
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cornomama4
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Melanie, I was thinking about your question while I was at the store today. I realized that I buy fewer impulse/snack items when I'm shopping without the older kids. I only had the 2 and 3yo today, and didn't buy anything that wasn't "needed".
My one saving staple is to buy large amounts of nonperishables when they are on a really good sale. And if I have coupons for that item, even better. I'll buy 36 cans of peaches when they go down to $1 (usually $1.68) or 20 boxes of spaghetti when it's $.50 I hate to pay a price for something that I know was much cheaper a week or 2 ago. Today I stocked up on:
8 boxes frosted miniwheats $1.88 usually 2.90
12 boxes Nutrigrain bars $1.65 usually 2.50-3.49!!
16 cans peaches $1.10
5 packs of brats and Italian saugsage #3.49 usually $5.99
6 frozen pizza, $2.99 each usually 5.99 each
Now don't get the idea we eat this junk all the time! I get the pizzas for busy nights, when before we'd order pizza. The snack bars are limited to 1 a day, usually during evening milking time...buys me some content littles for a bit while they watch a show.
I also hit the day-old bread rack and scored 3 loaves of Italian bread for french toast....$.49 each!
For me, in this season, some prepared foods really help. I'd love to make everything, and I do make most things from scratch, but I'm spending a lot more time on the farm chores than I was prepared for! It will be easier in a year or 2 when the kids are older, but for now I have to do what works. We have our own milk and eggs now, and soon will have our own beef, but it's not like that stuff is free either!
Happy shopping and sorry for all the details...I'm procrastinating going to the barn 
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juststartn
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Oh definitely save on the cleaners!!! I have gone to two bottles of cleaners--one with straight rubbing alcohol for things like mirrors and glassware, and vinegar/water in another. That cuts through grease, etc. both work as disinfectants (although if anyone is ill, I use the rubbing alcohol). Vinegar in the washer with the clothes, as a rinse aid, vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser in the dishwasher. I make my own laundry detergent (and it does very well as a dish detergent, a toilet bowl/sink/tub scrub, too). I found a way to cut down on how many times I have to scrub the sides of my tub/shower surround--I get it really clean, once. Then I spray on Turtle Wax. NOT the bottom, just the sides. Wipe it in, and presto, clean tub, and it *stays* that way!!! For MONTHS! I use vinegar on my floors, baking soda and vinegar to clean drains, baking soda as a scrub...my cleaner bill has dropped through the floor.
Now, if I could only convince the boys to potty train...sigh.
We've cut out the papertowels almost completely, went to using cheap washcloths from the dollar store. Dh cut back his coffee drinking to only on weekends.
I'm trying to think what else we've done...hmmmmm...
Rachel
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Paula in MN
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juststartn wrote:
| Oh definitely save on the cleaners!!! I have gone to two bottles of cleaners--one with straight rubbing alcohol for things like mirrors and glassware, and vinegar/water in another. That cuts through grease, etc. both work as disinfectants (although if anyone is ill, I use the rubbing alcohol). Vinegar in the washer with the clothes, as a rinse aid, vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser in the dishwasher. I make my own laundry detergent (and it does very well as a dish detergent, a toilet bowl/sink/tub scrub, too). I found a way to cut down on how many times I have to scrub the sides of my tub/shower surround--I get it really clean, once. Then I spray on Turtle Wax. NOT the bottom, just the sides. Wipe it in, and presto, clean tub, and it *stays* that way!!! For MONTHS! I use vinegar on my floors, baking soda and vinegar to clean drains, baking soda as a scrub...my cleaner bill has dropped through the floor. |
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I have never used anything other than store bought cleaners, so this is a real eye-opener for me.
You use straight rubbing alcohol on mirrors and windows? You don't need to dilute it at all?
What are you replacing with the vinegar/water solution?
I love the Turtle Wax idea as cleaning the bathtub ranks right up there with dusting.
All I have ever used is toilet bowl cleaner, windex, laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap, tub & sink cleaner, 409 wall cleaner, magic erasers, pine sol, pledge, easy off.
If I can make my own products, I will. I'm just confused as to what replaces what!
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melanie
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I recently started making my own laundry soap too..it's amazing! The kids love to help and think it's really cool fun, lol...and it lasts forever and is so cheap. I didn't know you could put it in the dishwasher though...how much do you use in there? We also rarely use paper towels. I have to hide them though, or they are the first thing everyone goes for still,,,my husband likes them especially. But he doesn't clean much, .
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stefoodie
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Paula in MN wrote:
All I have ever used is toilet bowl cleaner, windex, laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap, tub & sink cleaner, 409 wall cleaner, magic erasers, pine sol, pledge, easy off.
If I can make my own products, I will. I'm just confused as to what replaces what! |
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I've made some replacers, but I do think we need a thread for recipes! Off to start one.
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melanie
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We make our own "windex", half vinegar half water mixed in a spray bottle. We use it on glass too and it seems to work fine, but we use coffee filters when cleaning glass instead of a rag. It is our general "cleaner", I like for the kids to use it since it's safe. I use bakign soda for scrubbing toilets and tubs and such, although every so often I do need to break out something stronger it seems. Maybe we have hard water? We started all of this more for health reasons in the beginning...we have some asthmatics and such and I was trying to clean the air up.
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Melanie
homeschooling Maria (13yo), Kain (10yo), Jack (5yo), Tess (2yo), and our newest blessing, Henry Robert, born 4/23!
slightlycrunchycatholic.blogspot.com
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juststartn
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vinegar and water can replace just about everything. Really. It is a great degreaser, so it is ideal in the kitchen. Vinegar does have some antibacterial properties, but when mixed with water, well, not so much . I use to clean things like the boys' crib mattresses (they like to strip naked, so you can deduce what *that* means). I can use it to clean seriously, just about anything.
The only thing to be careful with, with the alcohol, is to make sure to not let it get under the frames of your mirrors, cause it can eat away at the silvering over time. It dries quickly and streak free.
Vinegar can also replace your floor cleaner, for the kitchens and bathrooms. Just pour in a half cup (or more, depending on how full you fill your sink, lol), and scrub away. Since I sic my 7 yr old on the kitchen floor and the entryway tile as a "spot cleaner" (she likes it, so I don't argue with that! LOL), with the vinegar/water spray bottle and a washcloth. It (the vinegar water) also cleans cabinet fronts and appliance fronts well (our appliances are white, as are the cabinets, so any streaking wouldn't show.
A great place for finding recipes for homemade cleaners and what not, is www.tipnut.com. That's where I found my homemade laundry soap recipe. WONDERFUL stuff. I can use it to scrub the floor too, if I do the floors after I make the soap (cause I've already got a sink full of soapy water from rinsing out the pot/grater/spoons I used to make the laundry soap). It does a fine job, too.
If you have built up soap scum, I recommend soaking your tubs in that homemade laundry soap. Really gets the stuff off. Just fill the tub as high as you can with hot water, but put a scoop or two of the soap in there as it is filling. Let it soak as long as you can. Go in and scrub it a bit, and it generally comes right off (depending on how bad the build-up is, of course).
I've had people tell me that they could *never* make their own (fill in the blank). Well, it saves me money, and since I'm home anyway, why not use my time wisely? Plus, we have a septic system, and I'm none too keen about dumping various cleaners down the drains. I can use the laundry soap just about everywhere, and not worry about the effect on the system. Vinegar and rubbing alcohol do have a smell, but it dissipates pretty quickly, and given the price difference between storebought cleaners (which are mostly water anyway), and the homemade kind, welllllll...I'll just pocket the change, thank you very much!
My laundry detergent recipe is the first one on the "10 Homemade Laundry Detergent" recipes page on tipnut. I make a double batch, and it almost fills my 5 gallon bucket, that I keep in the laundry room. :-) Especially if you have some young strapping young people to help grate soap, it is easy to do...
Rachel
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: grocery expenses
