For those that have successfully lowered grocery bill

[Anonymous]

1. Aldi. I'd say the bulk of our groceries come from there now. There are certain things I get at certain stores in order to appease the various family member's tastes (specific rolls at Giant, for example).

I prefer Aldi's meat to Giant's, so maybe others complaining about their meat need to try a different Aldi?

Sometimes some of the fruit is pretty bad; but most of the time we are able to get good strawberries, oranges, apples, lettuce, carrots, etc., for half or less than elsewhere. ice cream, milk, eggs, cereal, some baking goods, etc. for way way less than the other grocery stores. And yes, I like specific chocolates there - I have a piece or two most days, it lasts, and costs little more than a regular candy bar that you'd eat in one sitting.

I buy their version of Ritz crackers to make bread crumbs instead of buying those canisters of bread crumbs. Their "bakery" cookies are really good and significantly cheaper than Safeway and Giant bakery. I don't buy store-made cookies regularly anymore; but when I do, Aldi's are a good choice.

2. Stop drinking soda/significantly reduce soda consumption. I only occasionally have a soda now; but unfortunately my spouse continues to have at least one a day. Still, one of us quitting halves our soda costs. We've never been coffee drinkers, so that's not a savings we can make.

3. Reducing processed food snacks. (potato chips, cookies, granola bars)

4. Specific items the family prefers that are not available at Aldi but are cheaper at Target (we don't live close to a WalMart), particularly chocolate covered almonds and the container of yogurt we prefer, usually $1.50-2 less than at Giant or Safeway.

5. Eating out less - mainly by being more prepared with having food at home and not having to just pick something up or carryout.

[Anonymous]

Here is what we have done for years - buy a Costco chicken. Eat it for a couple of days, save the carcass, throw it in instant pot with frozen vegetable inedible parts I save from cooking in a special bag (like onion peels, butts of squash etc). Stock regime for 30 minutes. Throw out the bones and inedible veggies (squeeze them out first) and make soup. It makes an amazing stock.

So you have 2-3 days worth of meat for dinner and then soup stock for $5.

In the meantime, for 2nd part of the week get 1/2 salmon for $30 or, if you eat pork, pork chops at Aldi are good quality and excellent price.
Another really good option is Costco lamb, imported, tends to run about $3 per lamb chop, one is enough for dinner, easy to cook.
We also routinely get chicken thighs with bone, easy to cook, taste great, can also save bones for soup

Use American Express credit card to get 3% back on the grocery bill

Nothing processed, it's not good for you anyway and $$$

Best bread quality / value ratio is in Lidl

ALways look at Whole Foods app and buy what is on sale there, quality cannot be beat.

[Anonymous]

Do not be the person who has to eat out of season produce, like those people who insist their kids will only eat strawberries year-round. Out of season produce tends to be both expensive and not taste as good. Be flexible about eating what is in season and on sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what we have done for years - buy a Costco chicken. Eat it for a couple of days, save the carcass, throw it in instant pot with frozen vegetable inedible parts I save from cooking in a special bag (like onion peels, butts of squash etc). Stock regime for 30 minutes. Throw out the bones and inedible veggies (squeeze them out first) and make soup. It makes an amazing stock.

So you have 2-3 days worth of meat for dinner and then soup stock for $5.

In the meantime, for 2nd part of the week get 1/2 salmon for $30 or, if you eat pork, pork chops at Aldi are good quality and excellent price.
Another really good option is Costco lamb, imported, tends to run about $3 per lamb chop, one is enough for dinner, easy to cook.
We also routinely get chicken thighs with bone, easy to cook, taste great, can also save bones for soup

Use American Express credit card to get 3% back on the grocery bill

Nothing processed, it's not good for you anyway and $$$

Best bread quality / value ratio is in Lidl

ALways look at Whole Foods app and buy what is on sale there, quality cannot be beat.

I feel like Whole Foods quality has gone significantly downhill since Amazon boguht them.

[Anonymous]

If you quit alcohol, soda and desserts, not only you'll cut down your expenses but also become healthier without much effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what we have done for years - buy a Costco chicken. Eat it for a couple of days, save the carcass, throw it in instant pot with frozen vegetable inedible parts I save from cooking in a special bag (like onion peels, butts of squash etc). Stock regime for 30 minutes. Throw out the bones and inedible veggies (squeeze them out first) and make soup. It makes an amazing stock.

So you have 2-3 days worth of meat for dinner and then soup stock for $5.

In the meantime, for 2nd part of the week get 1/2 salmon for $30 or, if you eat pork, pork chops at Aldi are good quality and excellent price.
Another really good option is Costco lamb, imported, tends to run about $3 per lamb chop, one is enough for dinner, easy to cook.
We also routinely get chicken thighs with bone, easy to cook, taste great, can also save bones for soup

Use American Express credit card to get 3% back on the grocery bill

Nothing processed, it's not good for you anyway and $$$

Best bread quality / value ratio is in Lidl

ALways look at Whole Foods app and buy what is on sale there, quality cannot be beat.

I feel like Whole Foods quality has gone significantly downhill since Amazon boguht them.

True, but I find Balducci's unaffordable for our family.

[Anonymous]

Don't buy constructed multi-ingredient food that comes in a box. By staples construct better meals at home for cheaper.

Don't buy "brand names" that advertise on TV.

[Anonymous]

DH and I both quit drinking alcohol and coffee. We were in the habit of having a glass of wine with dinner every night, so 3-4 bottles a week. And a pound of whole bean coffee at $18 per week. By cutting both of those out, we're saving $100 a week.

Less impactful but still meaningful:
- We have also bought a cow share. Importantly, it means really learning how to use every part of the cow, including using the bones to make beef stock. I know so many people who only buy steak and ignore the chuck roast and such.
- Only buy whole chickens and part them out myself. Again, important to use every part.
- Make my own yogurt, really easy in the instant pot
- Once a week I make a bulk grain/bean bowl. Lunches at work are this or dinner leftovers.
- H-Mart for certain vegetables, brown rice, bulk legumes, spices
- Frozen fruit and berries, especially for mixing with yogurt or cottage cheese

[Anonymous]

Ordering grocery pickup has made the biggest difference. Not only is it easy to clip digital coupons but i don’t make any impulse purchases. I only buy what I intend to buy.

[Anonymous]

Switched from Keurig to regular coffee maker - used to spend $65/month on K cups. Now buy Peet's or Mayorga coffee from Costco for around $20/month.

Used to drink Perrier, switched to LaCroix only when on sale at costco or else use sodastream. Cut back significantly too.

Cut back on alcohol and stock up at Total Wine or Costco.