Grocery oops

[MDPhDWife]

This is the referral code for Shopmium. They give you a free Lindt Candy bar for being referred.

GHCGHGRE

[spotty_dog]

Wow, I didn't know those programs existed!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I want coupons for vegetables. Does berry cart do that?

[spotty_dog]

You can look at the current rebates on the site. It's all processed stuff, although a couple of the things are brands my mom uses and she has a smart phone so I might pass the referral code on to her!

I think the only way to save on produce is to keep a price book and pounce on deals. Sometimes CSAs are a savings, sometimes they're a premium.

[BonBon]

I try to plan out our meals (it's a pita) but find it really helps cut down on waste. If I don't plan ahead, I'll buy weird stuff and then not make it because I don't know what to do with it. (Thank goodness kelp noodles last a while, because I still don't know what to do with those!)

Because I like to make vats of soup and freeze it, I buy large quantities of ingredients so that saves a lot too.

[spotty_dog]

I try to plan out our meals (it's a pita) but find it really helps cut down on waste. If I don't plan ahead, I'll buy weird stuff and then not make it because I don't know what to do with it. (Thank goodness kelp noodles last a while, because I still don't know what to do with those!)

Because I like to make vats of soup and freeze it, I buy large quantities of ingredients so that saves a lot too.

Thank goodness for soup weather! This is actually part of the change in cooking habits for this month that I mentioned. I'm doing soups and other batch cooking, getting it together at least in time to start the crockpot for dinner after soccer, etc. Remarkably little wastage; I'm finding ways to throw veggies or leftovers into everything!

[ladymoreta]

It is so true about the expense of eating healthy! We have added about $50-100 to our groceries per week since starting South Beach. Families close to the poverty line could never eat like this. It's just not feasible for them, and that is really sad. (Not just this particular diet, but any that's this heavy in fresh produce, lean meats, and seafood.)

[spotty_dog]

Well, someone close to the poverty line would struggle to feed themselves at all. That line is set really low. But folks around the 200% mark tend to find that things are pretty tight and they go paycheck to paycheck. That's around $48k for a family of four. Spending 13% of income, which was about what the middle 20% of households spent in 2011, would be $520 per month in food at home. I submit that one *could* eat well on $520. But it requires having grocery stores available, and time to shop and cook. Fast food and subsidized prepared food (aka. heavy in cheap corn and soy) is a much *easier* way to get enough calories for 4 people on $520.

[MrsK]

Am I reading that right? A family of four can't eat healthy on $520/mo worth of groceries? Because I spend $520/mo.

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[spotty_dog]

Yep, and when I'm careful I can get my spending in that range. But it requires coupons, grocery stores within striking distance that actually have produce, having the flexibility to time your shopping to match the deals, etc. The USDA says that according to how people actually eat, if you adjust their purchases enough to conform with the official Food Pyramid guidelines, the lowest 20% of American families (with two kids aged 6-8 and 9-11) would be paying $650/month to eat entirely at home. The top 20% with two younger kids would be spending about $1196 with current food prices.

[migirl]

^^^ I was thinking the same thing, MrsK. We're a family of 5, and I spent about $550 a month on groceries. And my cart is mostly produce, meats, dairy, etc. ... We eat pretty healthfully and I cook every night of the week except one weekend dinner.

[MrsK]

^^^ I was thinking the same thing, MrsK. We're a family of 5, and I spent about $550 a month on groceries. And my cart is mostly produce, meats, dairy, etc. ... We eat pretty healthfully and I cook every night of the week except one weekend dinner.

Me too. And I feel like we buy a lot of groceries. As in, my fridge, freezer, and pantry are fully stocked weekly and I sometimes run out of space. All 5 of us eat breakfast and dinner at home nearly every day. The boys and I pack lunches 4x weekly. (Friday is a half day at school so I treat them to a lunch out which usually costs about $17). The boys eat 2 snacks every day too. And don't let their ages fool you. The K Bros regularly eat more than I do and DrK eats more than a whole family.

I always feel like our family spends A LOT of money on groceries. Like we are so fortunate to have more than most.

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[PrincessFiona]

How is that possible? I spend $300-350/week on groceries for a family of 7 and the cupboards are constantly empty!
Maybe it's because I have 2 teenage boys along with Thomas? The little ones do eat less.
No really though, I buy fresh apples and they are gone in 1 day. Bananas? 2 days....
We go through more than a gallon of milk a day.
And my kids are all thin.

[ladymoreta]

I'm with you, Kris. My monthly budget is $1200 for groceries, and we go over if we do any entertaining that month. I ration bananas to one per kid per day, but that will be over when the kids can start reaching them. I think cutting out most carbs is a big part of the costs, as bread and pasta are good fillers, and they're much cheaper than the eggs, meat, produce, cheese, yogurt, etc that I've replaced them with. I still give bread and pasta to the kids, or there's no telling what I'd be spending!

[SoonerTexan]

$500 is my goal
Budget for groceries. We probably spend more like $800