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mommy4ever
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We have a new expense this year, so I want to tweak our budget. The easiest place to tweak is the food budget. Realistically, if I can plan things right, and avoid any take out or eating out other than b'days, then I more than make up for it. However, we enjoy a night out here and there, so I don't know that I can eliminate all of it.
In snooping online, I found a neat blog. The family claims they eat healthy on $2/person a day. I wonder if that could really be done? Our grocery costs here are HIGH. Milk would cost .31 per serving. With the kids, it would over 1/2 of the $2. So I am not sure $2 is realistic for here. But I am curious what we are eating per day.
The author stated they needed to trim the budget. He started by walking through the store, finding out how much per serving, anything would cost. He started with cereal.
Based on what I spend in a month, I'm at about $3.50-5/person a day. I think I'm going to figure out our costs more accurately. And see where I can cut.
I know the kids like different things. Breakfast is an expensive meal over all. DD15 isn't a breakfast person. BUT, I am working on her eating. She would eat pancakes in the morning, if fresh. I discovered that you can keep pancake batter in the fridge  It takes about 5 minutes to heat a pan and make 2 pancakes in the morning. Add a side of fruit and/or poached egg. A reasonable breakfast, for pretty cheap. Pancakes are .10/serving or the same for 1 home made waffle. Egg .22, fruit would be be more expensive .25 to .50 depending on type.
Ds likes his cereal, he's 18 and his serving size is double. Cost would range between .26 for double serving of honeynut and .31 for milk.
While the younger girls have milk .31 with either pancake .10 or toast(.08) with pb(.03). If it's cereal it will range from .13 to .25 for the cereal and .16 for milk, plus what they drink.
Now I'm off to figure out costs of lunch. Yes, I'm a numbers geek...lol. But I'm seeing already, that if the kids have hot breakfasts instead of cereal, there's a good savings. I wish I had a recent receipt for oatmeal, pretty sure, if made from bulk, there is another good savings too.
I did figure out there is a savings for growing your own vegetables too. I am making salsa. Tomato plants were started from seed and given to me. I use rain water, and the fertilizer I did use, was given to me as well. The cost per 1/2 cup serving is .12 vs. .40 of the store bought. Makes sense to me!
I am thinking ahead to next year, there will be root vegetables and more variety than this year.
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Chris V
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My goodness, you have really got it figured! Good for you about being so proactive about trimming the budget. And excellent about growing your own food. Not only will it help the family budget, but it will enrich your life and that of your children too! We are planning our garden for next year since we just recently built and moved into our house, there isn't any budget for landscaping and we're just trying to get a feel for where we want things and how best to layout the yard (sun/shade exposure, access to and from house, etc.).
As for trimming our grocery budget? That was an unexpected bonus - we had twins and by necessity my husband started doing all the shopping. ... voila...money saved. 
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mommy4ever
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Chris V wrote:
My goodness, you have really got it figured! Good for you about being so proactive about trimming the budget. And excellent about growing your own food. Not only will it help the family budget, but it will enrich your life and that of your children too! We are planning our garden for next year since we just recently built and moved into our house, there isn't any budget for landscaping and we're just trying to get a feel for where we want things and how best to layout the yard (sun/shade exposure, access to and from house, etc.).
As for trimming our grocery budget? That was an unexpected bonus - we had twins and by necessity my husband started doing all the shopping. ... voila...money saved. |
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I don't grow anything in the ground. Too many mature trees, while they are beautiful, they take everything from the soil. Everything is in some kind of container. Next year I have several really big planters to use. They were containers that contained a molasses vitamin supplement for cattle. For $5, you can't go wrong. They are like a 1/2 barrel for volume, so root plans should do amazing in there.
I'm not sure the solution is having twins, Congrats, btw, I'd LOVE it, but dh would die of shock. LOL. I wish I could get him in the grocery store, but if he did it, I'm pretty sure it would all be instant foods. Not for me..lol.
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CrunchyMom
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My dh is pretty good about shopping the list, but how much he buys is directly proportionate to how long we've been run out or how much he's missed an item.  So, I put onions on the list, knowing that BJs has organic onions , and he buys three bags!!! I try not to complain since it is such a help, but it makes it hard to budget accurately!
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stellamaris
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CrunchyMom wrote:
| So, I put onions on the list, knowing that BJs has organic onions , and he buys three bags!!! I try not to complain since it is such a help, but it makes it hard to budget accurately |
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Same here!! I think he thinks we have six refrigerators, lol!
True story: When we were first married, I sent dh out to get a carton of yogurt. It took forever, and when he came home, I asked him what took so long. He replied, "Well, it was difficult to find a carton; I had to ask the manager." Then, he produced a CASE of yogurt, lol!!
I had to appreciate all the trouble he went to to fulfill (what he thought was) my request, though. What a sweet guy! We still laugh about that one!
Seriously, food prices have gotten terrible here. I need to do some kind of breakdown like you did, mommy4ever. One thing I am working on very hard is to use everything up before it spoils. I read that 40% of the food budget gets thrown away uneaten! Yikes! So, especially now as the weather cools off, lots of soups from scraps and bones are planned here. I try to slice and freeze fruit before it goes bad, too. The only cereal we regularly eat is oatmeal, which I get from a co-op, so that's not too expensive.
Wish I had some great solution for you other than shop the loss leaders and try to get to know your local farmers. Produce is getting nearly as expensive as meat these days.
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Chris V
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stellamaris wrote:
Produce is getting nearly as expensive as meat these days.
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Oh my goodness...meat! Last year was the first year (in years) that my husband got neither elk nor deer during hunting season. We ended up buying a cow , and then another quarter cow just to get us through til this season. We ran out about May or June and have been buying meat from the grocery store  ... So expensive!
Hunting season is right around the corner ... he's got more time on his hands this year, though he's reluctant to leave me with all the kids for too long. But I'm encouraging him to go. His elk harvest this year will be worth it.
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JodieLyn
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Lindsay.. at least it was onions.. you can chop and freeze those (no other prep necessary).
To budget for shopping like that you might consider keeping a portion of your grocery budget for "stocking up" which is great if you find a deal on meat or butter that you can freeze (or onions).. it gives you some money outside the regular budget to buy more than just what you need this week. AND it'll save you money in your regular grocery budget later when you're not needing to buy it not on sale then.
You might also look at WHAT you're serving and what you think is necessary and look at it again. Is having a glass of milk with every meal necessary for instance? Is eating eggs really bad for you? Basically just question everything you do just because "they" say so.
And yes pricing meals is very eye opening.. I grew up thinking that for instance toaster waffles was SO expensive.. hmmm lots of things more expensive for breakfast than that especially dry cereal.. so that's part of challenging your assumptions.
Also you mentioned that you have a child who doesn't care much for breakfast.. consider non-traditional meals for breakfast too.. a bean burrito? a pb&j sandwich? leftover mac and cheese? Some non-traditional foods at breakfast could be better for you than some traditional choices.
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pumpkinmom
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mommy4ever wrote:
| In snooping online, I found a neat blog. The family claims they eat healthy on $2/person a day. I wonder if that could really be done? |
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Honestly, I don't think it is realistic at all. If so, I bet she has put so much time into meal planning that it has taken over her life. We have cut WAY back on processed foods and that saves a lot. On of our biggest snack cost was microwave popcorn. I now get it from a local Mennonite bulk food store and pop it on the stove. This has probably saved us $15 a month! Microwave popcorn is expensive. Now we pay $2 a month for popcorn. Find a few items like that and you got it. Milk is expensive and therefore we don't drink much of it. Have everyone cut back on milk and drink much cheaper water.
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mommy4ever
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I wish we had a hunter here, but not sure how it would do, as none of the kids have had wild meat. I grew up on it, and I do believe it's an acquired taste.
I know there is too much waste :( I have been putting more effort to try to plan leftovers. Roast one night, beef 'dip' the next. Roast chicken, then chicken soup. I'm working on it. Part of the left over challenge is ds18 is working full time, and I never know if he's having supper with us. I need better communication from him, I guess. I have been freezing leftovers. DS likes the casseroles for his lunch, so at least it's not waste.
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margarita
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I know this is going to sound ridiculous....
But we've reduced our grocery budget a bit by no longer buying bread. I don't bake it either. Three kids are gluten-free and it wouldn't be fair to bake bread near their noses; and I've yet to see a good recipe for home baked GF bread.
The bread we were buying (no soy oil, not too much sugar, etc.) was up to $5.39/24-oz loaf, and the gluten-free bread is $5/12-oz loaf. Ridiculous. We're making do with corn wraps for the GF kids and wheat wraps for us, if we eat sandwiches at all; making muffins or pancakes for breakfast sometimes, buying some cereal at Big Lots (Rice Krispies, gluten-free, for $1.99/box with last year's Christmas motifs on it). More rice with meals.
Who ever would have thought that bread would become a luxury? (I'm buying it about once a month now for a special treat, 2 loaves wheat and 2-3 loaves GF).
Personally I would like to get rid of our cat. She has gastro problems and it's costing us about $120/month to feed her fresh meat or one very expensive pre-made cat food that she tolerates. Removing her would make a HUGE difference in our grocery and overall budgets.
And I second the "non-traditional" breakfast choice too, for your one kid. My oldest typically eats leftover dinner (cold!) for breakfast every day, and she's the healthiest looking one of us. And our dinners are the one meal I always make from scratch, so hopefully save some money there.
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stellamaris
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One great thing that has worked here for leftovers is to use them as lunch. I had a hard time breaking out of the "sandwich" rut, but some sliced up leftover meat, rice, vegies, stew, slaw, soup all work great for lunch. Sometimes I just put out all the leftovers for lunch and we each pick what we want from the little containers of assorted leftovers  .
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Chris V
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stellamaris wrote:
One great thing that has worked here for leftovers is to use them as lunch. I had a hard time breaking out of the "sandwich" rut, but some sliced up leftover meat, rice, vegies, stew, slaw, soup all work great for lunch. Sometimes I just put out all the leftovers for lunch and we each pick what we want from the little containers of assorted leftovers .
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My husband is the left-over champion. He takes all our left-overs for his lunch at work nearly everyday. ....and though this is great (!) ... it sometimes gets annoying because some nights I don't want to cook and would rather have left-overs!
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margarita
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stellamaris wrote:
Sometimes I just put out all the leftovers for lunch and we each pick what we want from the little containers of assorted leftovers .
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We do that for lunch a lot too, and sometimes I do the same thing for dinner. If it's dinner, I call it, "Choose Your Own Adventure."
I just did a quick breakdown and it looks like we spend about $5.60/day/person. That's not cool. That does include the cat though... and I include detergent, toothbrushes, toilet paper, batteries etc. Whatever I buy at the grocery store = "grocery" in the budget.
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MarilynW
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This is such a relevant thread - I just heard on the news that grocery prices could rise 40% because of the drought.
The problem I have is the time v money one. I could cut costs by making more - but then time is also very scarce - so I have to figure it out carefully. I don't coupon because it takes too much time and I don't tend to shop the kinds of item that have coupons.
I think that the no wasting thing is huge - we plan meals a month in advance and this helps eliminate waste. I also clean the refrigerator out when doing my weekly shopping list - and keep an updated freezer inventory - both help with eliminating waste or buying what we do not need.
The 5dollardinner site is quite good.
One of my personal things this week is to try and use dry beans rather than canned - I am staring at a pack of dry black beans and am about to google how to soak and cook them!!
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Chris V
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Has anyone read An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace ? This has been on my to-read list for awhile.
Here is a short description:
Reviving the inspiring message of M. F. K. Fisher’s How to Cook a Wolf— written in 1942 during wartime shortages—An Everlasting Meal shows that cooking is the path to better eating.
Through the insightful essays in An Everlasting Meal, Tamar Adler issues a rallying cry to home cooks.
In chapters about boiling water, cooking eggs and beans, and summoning respectable meals from empty cupboards, Tamar weaves philosophy and instruction into approachable lessons on instinctive cooking. Tamar shows how to make the most of everything you buy, demonstrating what the world’s great chefs know: that great meals rely on the bones and peels and ends of meals before them.
She explains how to smarten up simple food and gives advice for fixing dishes gone awry. She recommends turning to neglected onions, celery, and potatoes for inexpensive meals that taste full of fresh vegetables, and cooking meat and fish resourcefully.
By wresting cooking from doctrine and doldrums, Tamar encourages readers to begin from wherever they are, with whatever they have. An Everlasting Meal is elegant testimony to the value of cooking and an empowering, indispensable tool for eaters today.
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stellamaris
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ChrisV wrote:
Has anyone read An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace ? This has been on my to-read list for awhile.
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So the money I'm trying to save in food can now be spent on new BOOKS, ! This looks great, Chris!
MarilynW wrote:
One of my personal things this week is to try and use dry beans rather than canned - I am staring at a pack of dry black beans and am about to google how to soak and cook them!!
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I use dried beans here. I think the best way to soak them is overnight; but, you can bring them to a boil, cover the pot, and then let then sit for an hour to quick soak. Don't keep beans a really long time (like over a year) or they get too dry to soften.
I like to cook them in water with a little chicken broth (homemade) and a clove or two of garlic and some salt. Makes them a bit more flavorful. My favorite variety is the little white beans. We use them in soup, on taco salad, and just plain with some chili/cumin/pepper seasoning. Also, you can puree them with garlic, parsley, cumin, salt, and pepper for a tasty bean dip.
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mommy4ever
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Chris, thanks for the recommendation, I put a hold on one on the library.
Marilyn, i completely forgot about the 5dollardinner site. I'm going to spend some time tonight and compare pricing.
I do plan meals, but it never works out quite right. Right now, from our supper last night over 1/2 sits in the fridge. the kids didn't eat it. A little frustration. But, the left over mash potatoes will become cinnamon buns. The left over corn frozen for soup, the leftover meatloaf broken up then simmered in broth, and then I'll thicken it(add left over gravy) to serve over toasted buns for supper tonight, with a green salad, fresh cucumbers.
I'm thinking I'll look at some of the family favorite meals, and see what they cost to make. We do have a few ways to cut costs at least a little. I can get 50 lbs of potatoes for $6, potatoes are preferred over pasta and rice. I have some vegetables from my garden, I have canned salsa, and planning on a few quarts of diced tomatoes. I have made jams, frozen berries, frozen rhubarb and cut apples. I will have celery, pumpkins and zucchinis to freeze as well. I am watching Freecycle for garden surplus give aways. I missed the raspberries, I was way when she called me to come pick. Next year my own strawberry patch should produce enough to freeze a little. I hope to get a honeyberry shrub and an evans cherry tree. I know, a couple years before real production but I do love them both. This year our apples are ruined. They are rotting on the tree due to horrible hail damage, thankfully, we had a bumper crop and still have in the freezer.
Next year I am planning on more veggies.
I am going to have to watch milk consumption, the kids went through over a gallon yesterday. I know over 1/2 of that was 1 child. She isn't eating much, she needs to cut her milk back and eat more. Everyone else is reasonable.
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mommy4ever
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Beans, that's another pet peeve of mine. NO ONE EATS THEM. Well, I like them and dd15 likes them. But no one else.
I need to think on this. DD15 isn't eating great,she snubs meat often. She eats some chicken, but chicken here is premium costs, it's ridiculously priced. So we don't get it often. Any thoughts or ideas for alternatives? Even 2 of us having something other than meat everyday would help cut costs back.
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JodieLyn
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On beans.. I'm pretty sure we have whole threads here devoted to how to cook them (personally i never remember to soak so I don't.. just cook with lots of water) BUT my point was.. if you want to use dry beans plan ahead and cook in large batches the you can portion them into the fridge (for meals coming up quick) or into freezer bags for meals further out. So that you only have the time commitment once and then you can grab and use just like canned beans.
Also as far as the time commitment.. I cook them in an electric roaster, it holds 6lbs of pinto beans.. and in the heat I can put it on the patio.. but other than checking it periodically for water, I don't have to be as watchful as on the stove and I can run out of the house for stuff while it's cooking too.
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MarilynW
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JodieLyn wrote:
On beans.. I'm pretty sure we have whole threads here devoted to how to cook them (personally i never remember to soak so I don't.. just cook with lots of water) BUT my point was.. if you want to use dry beans plan ahead and cook in large batches the you can portion them into the fridge (for meals coming up quick) or into freezer bags for meals further out. So that you only have the time commitment once and then you can grab and use just like canned beans.
Also as far as the time commitment.. I cook them in an electric roaster, it holds 6lbs of pinto beans.. and in the heat I can put it on the patio.. but other than checking it periodically for water, I don't have to be as watchful as on the stove and I can run out of the house for stuff while it's cooking too. |
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Can you cook beans in a slow cooker?
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Tweaking the grocery budget
