Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks again everyone. DH is lactose intolerant, so we were drinking Lactaid for a while (it tastes the same to me). Then I went on this kick about a year ago where I was anti-dairy (I read this book about the evils of dairy farming/dairy in general). I've since then relaxed a little bit, but we've both grown to love almond milk, and it seems to be really good for you/ even better than cow's milk in some ways. But yet, it is a little more expensive. I DO drink a ton of water, but we use the almond milk in cereal, our coffee, some recipes, breakfast foods, etc- things we can't replace with water.

I like the idea of making meals in the crock pot, doubling it, and saving half in the freezer as a second meal to pull out. I find sometimes I'll make chili, then stick the leftovers the the fridge, and we eat a little bit of it the next day for lunch, and then some goes to waste (we get chili'd out).
Any other cheap-y meals that I can do this with? We like just about anything, and do enjoy vegetarian meals as well. My only issue is fish- I can't stand it. DH LOVES it, so I'll occasionally tolerate it- maybe have a couple bites if he makes a meal.

Another question- you know how you can buy canned beans, or dried beans in the bag- what is a better value?

I think you can stick with Almond milk. I've been making it myself (recipes online but it's basically blended almonds and water) and found that was cheaper for me. But it does go bad more quickly... though it sounds like you drink it consistently enough than shouldn't be a problem.

For beans I usually keep some cans in the pantry in case I need them at the last minute but buying dried beans and cooking them is so much more tasty to me and I it's not complicated. It does take time, though. So if I'm planning on a bean dish I'll usually just cook them myself (crock pot is good for this). If I have a bunch extra I'll freeze them in smaller amounts for another meal (same with chili, we get chili'd out too!) If we need a last minute meal I'll sometimes use a can (I don't like the BPA that lines the cans, though).
I'd recommend experimenting with some Indian food, especially with garbanzo beans and spinach. Tons of recipes online and they're easy once you have some of the spices (which I'd recommend getting in bulk from a health food store or Whole Foods... biggest scam in the world are those little jars of spices that cost $3 each when they're full of 15 cents worth of spices that are usually old).

One other thing, are there any ethnic grocery stores around you? I love shopping at the Asian and Latino shopping markets nearby. Usually lots of fresh produce that's very cheap (and very non-organic). Might be worth checking out.

OP here. Thanks again everyone. DH is lactose intolerant, so we were drinking Lactaid for a while (it tastes the same to me). Then I went on this kick about a year ago where I was anti-dairy (I read this book about the evils of dairy farming/dairy in general). I've since then relaxed a little bit, but we've both grown to love almond milk, and it seems to be really good for you/ even better than cow's milk in some ways. But yet, it is a little more expensive. I DO drink a ton of water, but we use the almond milk in cereal, our coffee, some recipes, breakfast foods, etc- things we can't replace with water.

I like the idea of making meals in the crock pot, doubling it, and saving half in the freezer as a second meal to pull out. I find sometimes I'll make chili, then stick the leftovers the the fridge, and we eat a little bit of it the next day for lunch, and then some goes to waste (we get chili'd out).
Any other cheap-y meals that I can do this with? We like just about anything, and do enjoy vegetarian meals as well. My only issue is fish- I can't stand it. DH LOVES it, so I'll occasionally tolerate it- maybe have a couple bites if he makes a meal.

Another question- you know how you can buy canned beans, or dried beans in the bag- what is a better value?

Skip the almond milk. Drink more water.

Almond milk. *shudder.*

Do you have an Aldi near you? Everything on your list (even Almond milk) can be purchased there. I save south by shopping at aldi. Even if you have to drive a few extra miles, it's worth it. If no aldi , what about bottom dollar? The are a subsidiary of hannaford.

I agree OP that it can be frustrating that most of the healthier food out there can be so expensive. I would love the luxury of eating organic things, but honest to God, I would be broke as a joke if all I bought was organic.

Some tips on saving $$ on groceries:

1). Almond Milk. Do you and your hubby drink this type of milk because you are fans of the flavor or are either one of you "lactose intolerant?"
I ask this because these types of milks {I.e., Almond, Soy, Sun, etc.} cost usually twice as much. If it is about taste alone, you might want to switch to regular milk.

2). Cereal. Many of the generic cereals on the market now are pretty good. Not ALL, but many. Also, it is cheaper to buy bagged cereal vs. boxed cereal.

3). Instead of CVS, I advise you to purchase your toiletries at ideally Walmart or if you don't live near one, Target. Drug store prices are pretty overpriced for many toiletries and the best prices are found at either Walmart or Target. Plus, both accept manufacturers coupons as well.

4). I agree....going to the Supermarket 2x month should be the maximum if you want to stay within your budget. The more you go, the more you $pend. Plain & simple.

5). I know this may sound cliche....but it really is the truth. NEVER EVER go grocery shopping while hungry or thirsty. I am sure I don't need to explain why. LOL.

Target is definitely the best plan for toiletries and tp/paper towels/ziplock bags, etc. They frequently have sales and will do a "buy 2 get a $5 gift card" promotion on TP and other goods. Makes sense to stock up. Get a Target card if you can for 5% extra savings there.

This will sound kooky, but you can switch to baking soda and vinegar for shampoo and conditioner -- not only is it MEGA cheap, it's also way less toxic than cheap shampoo/conditioners. I've been doing this for a while and my hair looks awesome AND I don't have eczema anymore (AND like I mentioned...it's mega cheap)

Frozen veggies are a great cheap way to get lots of green in your diet. Beans are also a good choice. A good and healthy meal template is beans + greens + starch (so, chic peas, broccoli rabe, and pasta; red beans, celery + onions, rice; peas and asparagus risotto; etc). That's good for a lot of savings there. Also, "ethnic" food tends to be cheaper than American food because American food is heavily meat-based whereas there's lots of great food out there that features meat only as a seasoning (ma po tofu, eggplant and black bean sauce, pad thai, etc). This can be tricky to do without some main ingredients in your pantry, but if you can get those ingredients (bean paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, etc) they last forever and make LOTS of tasty meals.

Good luck!

Jesus 14:30. Calm down.

Thing is a lot of $$$-saving tips will end up costing lots of time ... achieve balance.

There are two of us and I spend $100 a week. Groceries are hella expensive! I just bought spaghetti items and some milk and bread, a couple of yougurts and cheese and it was like $50 at safeway.

Frozen veggies are a suitable alternative. One or two fresh items to supplement. They will be fine.

OP already said they are paycheck to paycheck.

this diet is very unhealthy.

u need fresh produce! totally agree with 14:01.

WHY DO YOU HAVE SUCH A LOW BUDGET ON FOOD, ISN'T YOUR HEALTH IMPORTANT TO YOU?

can you cut back on shopping, vacation, etc.?

Bags of oranges are cheap and last forever in the fridge.

You need fresh fruit or vegetables. I would cut a lot of things out but those are a must in my world.

We eat lots of veggies w/ meals. As for fruit, we eat bananas and apples- I usually buy 1 banana bunch and 5 apples. I guess that would be an issue too. Apples do tend to last though.

Watermelon is cheap in season, I think