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KackyK
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So my budget is huge....and sometimes I go over and it's big enough I'm too embarrassed  to share with you all. I just went over it with my dh and we saw maybe a few small places where I could change things...but overall I think I do well in that I shop sales, use lots of coupons. And I also go to different local stores depending on sales and what I need exactly.
However on this board and other places people are spending way less than me. I have 7 children, one in diapers, about to have baby#8 in March. We do have meat at least 4 nights a week. But I have always managed to keep the amount I spend on meat to under $6 per night. Which I thought was/is good? Maybe not???
So here is my small theory...I'm wondering if my geographic location is part of this. I don't know how to check as I have never been (really I haven't) to another grocery store in another area. I think when we have traveled maybe we run in for snacks and soda, but not enough to ever compare.
Has anyone ever experienced their grocery bill going up or down depending on where they lived? Was it significant?
We live in NoVA and dh and I are thinking that if say driving to WV once a month would save over $100 or more, then it would be worth it.
This is probably crazy talk...just curious???
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KackyK
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JodieLyn
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oh yes, geographic location does make a huge difference.
Here in OR I can buy 10lb of potatoes on sale for $1.35 but some friends in Nebraska I think it is, can't get them for under $3 for 10lbs. And there's lots of things that way. A friend in tx will be able to get some things at prices I wish I could get but other items I get way cheaper than she does.
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stellamaris
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Here in the coastal (read "resort") regions of Delaware I have been shocked at the steep grocery prices. I sometimes do my grocery shopping when I go back home to VA...it is really expensive here, especially in the summer and especially for items/food that would appeal to tourists. Also, they don't honor sales the big grocery store chains have on such items as sunscreen, beach chairs, etc. So location does indeed matter.
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SusanJ
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We moved from DC (where I shopped primarily in VA) to MN last year and I was amazed at the difference in food prices. Now back to the East Coast things are higher again.
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Maddie
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We lived in NOVA and now MI, huge difference. NOVA's way more expensive. Maybe because so much of the food is grown and raised right here that we don't have to pay the transport fees? MI doesn't have sales tax on food either.
Also, there aren't as many affluent people where we are now, mostly farmer types and they would balk if the prices were too high.
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mom2mpr
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Another vote for geography making grocery bills higher. We moved from CT to VA and saw a huge jump in our bill. And I had to struggle to get decent produce and organic milk on top of it.
We then moved to Ohio and it was a tiny bit better. Though, we live pretty rural and it seems cheaper in summer when we can just stop by the Amish stands and the organic farm down the road for some veggies. I LOVE summer eat's!!!
Anne
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guitarnan
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I am not sure driving to WV will save you much. (I lived in eastern WV for two years, and there was one grocery store for the whole county.) I am assuming you're thinking more of the Martinsburg area? (Believe me, when I lived in the mountains of WV, we drove to the Shenandoah Valley to shop for groceries; the Virginians didn't come to us.)
You have to factor in gas and wear and tear on your car and your brain (LOL!) as well as any savings you might realize. The only way to know, though, is to drive up there and make a price book for the things you buy regularly.
We move often and I am a big believer in price books. I highly recommend checking all the discounters/big grocery stores in your local area for prices on milk, diapers, meat, etc. and recording these prices. Then, when a store puts, say, ground beef on sale you will instantly know if you are saving money.
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DominaCaeli
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When we moved from Sacramento back to the SF Bay Area, we definitely saw a price increase--and that's just two hours away. Some of the deals I see mentioned on blogs are simply not available here, and I *always* comparison shop.
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KackyK
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Thanks! Glad to know I'm not totally crazy and nor necessarily the worst shopper/budgeter either.
Nancy, how do you think NoVA compares to MD? I'm betting probably similar heh?
So frustrating!
This was all brought on when I saw in a People mag my mom had that the McCaughey septuplets had turned 12 and that her grocery budget is $600!!!! To me - this in incredible!
And Jodie, to the 10lb bag of potatoes...yep I'd be happy if I can find 3lbs for that regularly, we can sometimes get 5lbs close to that on sale!
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JodieLyn
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I've figured out that potatoes generally go that cheap about once a year in the fall.. and that I can store them in my garage without them freezing.. put them in a big cardboard box to limit light and I have them "root cellered" and can buy lots when they're cheap and only have to buy them at the higher prices during the warmer months when I can't keep them cool enough.
Also I would also caution against driving for shopping. Of course I have to drive a 15 pass van. So by the time we drive the 260+ mile round trip to the "big city". And pay the $50 (or more now?) membership fee for Costco etc, cost of gas, at least one meal on the road, most of a day to go there..
I think I do better spending that time and gas going every week or more to the stores here and watching sales and the "quick sale" bins and shelves (things that are marked down because the sell by date is that day etc).. stock up when things are on sale with at least enough to get me to the next sale.. which means that the only things I buy not on sale are unexpectedly using more than normal, sales slowing down etc, or things that simply do not go on sale (ok maybe 10 cents lower every 6 months or something like that).
Anyway, the travel expenses and time often eat up the "savings". And most people around here that think they're saving so much, don't calculate the cost of the trip in there. But there are also those that can't stand to be "stuck" out here and "need" a trip to the city, so I suppose they might at least be financing the trip if not saving them more.
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Karen T
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I moved to western MD 2 yrs ago from GA and food is definitely more expensive here. Esp meat, milk, soft drinks (which we've cut drastically down on) and packaged processed foods like cereals. Produce doesn't seem much different.
I've really cut back on meat-buying and try to buy only on sale. Today I was able to find some organic chicken 50% off simply b/c tomorrow is the last sale date, but we'll be having it tomorrow night so it's fine.
I've begun buying my beef from a farmer with pastured animals, and while it's a bit higher up front, I found that it's so lean that when I compared regular ground beef, weighing it before cooking and then after pouring off 1/2 cup of grease, I'm actually saving money with the lean, organic, pastured beef! Also if I buy it in at least 20 lbs at a time I get a price break, even more if I could manage 50 lbs. and it's all packed in 1 lb packages so it's not like I'd have 20 lbs to divvy up myself.
So, look around for possible deals like that close to you (Joel Salatin's Polyface farm is in NoVa isn't it?) esp if you're already buying organic in the store.
Karen T
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hylabrook1
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When we moved from Baltimore to DC, our food costs went up 30% immediately - and this was not from buying start-up things for the new house because we scrupulously brought everything with us. My guess is that the 2 biggest contributors to food costs are where you live and the amount of meat you buy. Of course lots of people don't want to eat less meat, or their families aren't too happy with meatless meals, which is fine. But if you use meat a lot, you have to look to some other part of your food habits that you're more comfortable cutting.
Peace,
Nancy
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Stephanie_Q
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Here in NE we don't have sales tax on food items, either...when my mom comes from CO and fills our fridge she is amazed at how much less she pays for similar items. Oh - and I get 10lb bags of potatoes on sale for $1.99 pretty regularly (or 5lb on sale for $0.99). 
Besides meat, we've talked about how much dairy costs add up...there was a thread a while back on milk. We're not big milk drinkers so that keeps our budget low..though I've had a hankerin' for egg nog since baby was born...
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SusanJ
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I second the price book suggestion. I always start a new one after a move. The first time I made one I'd lived in the same place for a few years and I thought I "just knew" which stores had the best prices but I surprised myself.
You can then be a little more efficient by putting all your useful stores on a one-month rotation, perhaps.
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MelissaClaire
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We live in NoVa and have 5 kids--2 in diapers. I haven't paid for diapers in over 2 years thanks to deals at CVS. This summer my grocery budget for everything--food, toiletries, cleaners, etc. was under $300 each month. Since having a baby in August I haven't been as careful in spending, but it still hasn't gone above $400 a month.
In NoVa we're lucky to have tons of stores with great deals. Safeway has several specials throughout the year where you can get a ton of food for pennies. Shoppers Food has triple coupons fairly regularly and you can't get some great deals there too. I stock up big time when staples are cheap/free.
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guitarnan
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KackyK, I would have to say that it depends where in each state you shop. I live in a lower cost area (not low rent, but solidly middle class instead of upscale) and our gas stations, grocery stores, etc. charge a little less than those just a few miles away. I'm sure NOVA is the same...I have a friend in Sterling and his gas prices are higher, even at Costco, than what I pay.
I am not as sure about NOVA food prices - their Giant Food prices seem similar to ours, but I shop so seldom at any place but a military commissary or Costco that I am not a reliable source.
We are finally getting Aldi stores here and their milk is cheaper...but people who love name brands will hate Aldi...
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KackyK
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Melissa! Under $400!!! Okay I'm such a failure!!! 
Last night for instance I tallied a few things...
My boys, I have 4, include dh 5, eat one apple a day, and sometimes my 4yold dd will have one too. Even with the 89cent peck bags at the store, I'm still buying at least $8 per week in apples. Okay so that right there is over $30, and we've only got apples! And although I do make pancakes and oatmeal for breakfast somedays, I have one that won't eat any of it and has cereal, plus we have cereal on busy mornings. Unfortunately that cost comes to about $40 per month in cereal, yikes! I need to figure out something else there for sure! And then I tallied my eggs. I buy from a farm, $2.05 per dozen I buy 10doz a month...so there is $20.
So right there, I have spent almost $100 and I only have apples, cereal and eggs! See, you can see my issues! Dh says no to compromising on any fresh fruit...we also have bananas, oranges and when they are on super sale, grapes. My boys now crave them...which I suppose is truly a good thing. And we like the health benefits of the farm eggs.
Here's a question that might be a different topic....but when do you plan your menus...after you see the sale flyers? I just finally got myself into the habit of menus but I'm thinking I need to do with it a sale flyer in front of me too maybe?
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LisaR
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Kacky, I'm in Central IL, not super-expensive, but our grocery bill can get quite high.
I, too, have 4 boys and a dh. They all are in sports year round.
They all eat at least 2 whole fruits and 1-2 whole vegetables per day. that is alot fo apples, bananas, red peppers, etc.
oldest ds eats a 32 oz yogurt at one sitting- in the least in one day!
three eggs each for breakfast or lunch is not uncommon.
we eat very simply, but the VOLUME of food consumed is huge!!
we own one fridge, and live 1 mi from ALDI and Kroger, so the fridge is totally stocked full and then empty to nothing but condiments very regularly- seems there is no in between.
I know a family with 9 kids- 7 are girls, and they literally go through 1/2 the food we do!
I buy the sale flyers/discount bins, markdown stuff, etc. then after I get home, I plan/rough sketch out meals from there.
Do you have ALDI? although they've gotten much pricier over the years, they still have some good deals.
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KackyK
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Yes we have ALDI. It's not super close, it's about 6 miles away, so meaning further than my usual stores. I've never ever been.
What are some prime things to buy there and to look for and to stay away from?!
And Lisa...I can see exactly what you are saying with your boys and my boys evolving into them, the oldest ds will be just 13 in two days and the youngest is 7. You are so on about the eggs. Dh thought maybe we could substitute a meat night for an egg night. But if I only spend less than $6 on meat a night with sales, eggs will cost the same at $2 per dozen...and each needing 2-3 to be satisfied!
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guitarnan
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If it's that far, you might do better to watch the loss leader flyers and plan shopping around them.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: help me verify a grocery budget theory
