Weekly spend at the grocery store - Family of 4? And a vent...

[Anonymous]

We average under $200 a week for our family of five. I mostly shop at Costco or Harris Teeter. For the most part, I only buy Harris Teeter or Kirkland brand because I feel that the quality is just as good as name brands for a whole lot less. We have a non-meat meal at least a couple times a week. Try to buy fruits and vegetables in season as they are much higher quality and much cheaper. My kids know that we won't be eating a fresh strawberry until the spring! We buy plain yogurt in large containers. The kids often take a plastic container of yogurt sweetened with some jam or honey for lunch. I strongly agree with those who have said that making meals from scratch with non-processed food is much less expensive than buying ready made meals.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone! Great suggestions. We're in DC, so we go to Safeway or WholeFoods, but easily can do Harris Teeter. I noticed that Harris Teeter has double coupons sometimes, so maybe I'll make the effort on double coupon day. I also like the food suggestions; I forgot about quiche, and I love it. My kids won't eat it, but they could have leftovers on a night when I made quiche. My latest money saving tip is that I made my own stck. My kids love rotisserie chicken, and I can throw the bones into the crock pot. We were buying so much stock and then throwing it out. Now I can freeze it. My husband's view is that if we want to save money, then we should cut out the bigger things and not worry about groceries (he doesn't want to feel guilty when he buys a good cheese and crackers), but I'm sick of wasting food and, honestly, it just seems ridiculous to spend $400 a month on groceries. I am now convinced that I can do better. I am going to start the list approach immediately, and I'm going to make a quiche tomorrow night.

Thank you!!!

[Anonymous]

OP, I kind of feel the same way as your husband. I've cut out so many other things, I don't want to cut out quality food. But if I can pay less for the same quality food, that's money in my pocket. I just haven't had the time to focus on it, so I guess in a way I am paying for my free time (of which I have precious little).

[Anonymous]

I shop Aldi in Takoma Park. There's one near Prince Georges Plaza and I think there is one in the Safeway plaza near Capitol Hill. To the poster who says Aldi grosses you out, I wish I could invite you to my house to see how we eat. I think you would be surprised!

[Anonymous]

We've cut back on grocery money simply by instituting the rule that I don't cook or shop if there are 3 day old leftovers in the fridge. Leftovers must be eaten first. It means we eat some odd meals (DH has leftover chicken, DS has leftover pizza, I scrounge around for something with veggies) but it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:someone explain to me why everyone says processed foods are more expensive. Poor people tend to buy them b/c they are actaully cheaper than buying raw fruits, veggies and meats. I find that buying whole foods is WAY more expensive than buying frozen meals or processed, pre=packaged foods. Where are people shopping that meats, fruits and veggies are CHEAPER than a box of frozen mac and cheese, etc?

You are comparing two different things. Prepackaged stuff is generally more expensive than if you purchased individual ingredients and made them from scratch. One serving of homemade mac and cheese is far cheaper than one serving of boxed mac and cheese.

But buying all the ingredients is WAY more expensive. You might make more if made from scratch, but by the time my family gets around to eating it all, they are sick of it or it's not good anymore and I have to throw it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:someone explain to me why everyone says processed foods are more expensive. Poor people tend to buy them b/c they are actaully cheaper than buying raw fruits, veggies and meats. I find that buying whole foods is WAY more expensive than buying frozen meals or processed, pre=packaged foods. Where are people shopping that meats, fruits and veggies are CHEAPER than a box of frozen mac and cheese, etc?

Then why do poor people always buy processed foods b/c it's cheaper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've cut back on grocery money simply by instituting the rule that I don't cook or shop if there are 3 day old leftovers in the fridge. Leftovers must be eaten first. It means we eat some odd meals (DH has leftover chicken, DS has leftover pizza, I scrounge around for something with veggies) but it works.

We do the same exact thing. Last night, I was eating ham salad, my husband was finishing off a taco casserole thing, and my daughter had tomato soup and leftover peas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone! Great suggestions. We're in DC, so we go to Safeway or WholeFoods, but easily can do Harris Teeter. I noticed that Harris Teeter has double coupons sometimes, so maybe I'll make the effort on double coupon day. I also like the food suggestions; I forgot about quiche, and I love it. My kids won't eat it, but they could have leftovers on a night when I made quiche. My latest money saving tip is that I made my own stck. My kids love rotisserie chicken, and I can throw the bones into the crock pot. We were buying so much stock and then throwing it out. Now I can freeze it. My husband's view is that if we want to save money, then we should cut out the bigger things and not worry about groceries (he doesn't want to feel guilty when he buys a good cheese and crackers), but I'm sick of wasting food and, honestly, it just seems ridiculous to spend $400 a month on groceries. I am now convinced that I can do better. I am going to start the list approach immediately, and I'm going to make a quiche tomorrow night.

Thank you!!!

Honey if that's all your spending for a family, you are doing amazingly well! I have never heard of someone paying that little for groceries for a family EVER!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've cut back on grocery money simply by instituting the rule that I don't cook or shop if there are 3 day old leftovers in the fridge. Leftovers must be eaten first. It means we eat some odd meals (DH has leftover chicken, DS has leftover pizza, I scrounge around for something with veggies) but it works.

We do the same exact thing. Last night, I was eating ham salad, my husband was finishing off a taco casserole thing, and my daughter had tomato soup and leftover peas.

PS Eating this way kind of helps if you are a tad bit OCD. To me, it's kind of like a game, to use up what is in the fridge, and keep it organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone! Great suggestions. We're in DC, so we go to Safeway or WholeFoods, but easily can do Harris Teeter. I noticed that Harris Teeter has double coupons sometimes, so maybe I'll make the effort on double coupon day. I also like the food suggestions; I forgot about quiche, and I love it. My kids won't eat it, but they could have leftovers on a night when I made quiche. My latest money saving tip is that I made my own stck. My kids love rotisserie chicken, and I can throw the bones into the crock pot. We were buying so much stock and then throwing it out. Now I can freeze it. My husband's view is that if we want to save money, then we should cut out the bigger things and not worry about groceries (he doesn't want to feel guilty when he buys a good cheese and crackers), but I'm sick of wasting food and, honestly, it just seems ridiculous to spend $400 a month on groceries. I am now convinced that I can do better. I am going to start the list approach immediately, and I'm going to make a quiche tomorrow night.

Thank you!!!

Honey if that's all your spending for a family, you are doing amazingly well! I have never heard of someone paying that little for groceries for a family EVER!

[Anonymous]

I save $$ by shopping at Super Walmart. Much cheaper than Giant and I can get other items there than going to 2+ stores. Target has good prices too. I would not allow the Nanny to buy grocery items. If she wants something that the kids ran out of tell her to make a list and you'll try to get it next time you are at the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those like the PP who shops at Whole Foods -- our purchases are organic/free-range/gluten-free, few packaged foods except snacks for my kids, never soda (I have health issues that require as clean a diet as possible.) We try to buy as much as possible at Trader Joe's, with other stuff from MOM's, Whole Foods, or the organic section at Wegman's. Where do you do most of your shopping, and how much do you spend? I am trying to figure out a way to reduce our grocery bills without really changing what we purchase.

Don't shop at Whole Foods unless you are going in for something special.

There prices are just that much higher than everyone else, with the possible exception of Safeway.

[Anonymous]

We live a few blocks from whole foods and value their approach to food and community. So I do almost all of our shopping there. We are a family of five (kids from 5-10) and I spend about $200/week on average. I find that their 365generic brands are much cheaper than Safeway, for example. My other tip is Don't send your husband to shop unless he's completely on board with the budget. Mine shopped a few weeks ago and spent $300!! Had to have extra beer, good chocolate, a couple of steaks, etc...yikes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:someone explain to me why everyone says processed foods are more expensive. Poor people tend to buy them b/c they are actaully cheaper than buying raw fruits, veggies and meats. I find that buying whole foods is WAY more expensive than buying frozen meals or processed, pre=packaged foods. Where are people shopping that meats, fruits and veggies are CHEAPER than a box of frozen mac and cheese, etc?

You are comparing two different things. Prepackaged stuff is generally more expensive than if you purchased individual ingredients and made them from scratch. One serving of homemade mac and cheese is far cheaper than one serving of boxed mac and cheese.

But buying all the ingredients is WAY more expensive. You might make more if made from scratch, but by the time my family gets around to eating it all, they are sick of it or it's not good anymore and I have to throw it out.

You can buy 2 boxes of mac and cheese for about a little more than a dollar (cheapest brand). To buy macaroni, milk, cheese, butter to make it from scratch is far more expensive.