Grocery oops

[JDAZ11]

Dear god. I usually try for $250/week for two of us. And I usually go over.... Especially if we have people over. Neither of is eats any meal out though. But still... Oops! I guess it's that kombucha - and I do buy organic when it's available and looks better than the conventional....

[houseelf]

We spend $1450/month on average. We eat out less than twice a week AND my kids eat school lunches. I'm impressed with you budgeters!

I have to agree that one teenage boy is like two adults though. Holy Moly. He eats an entire pizza by himself and is listed on his physical as "underweight".

[MrsK]

How is that possible?

I shop at Wal-Mart and I'm aggressive about price matching. If I had time, I'd coupon too. I used to but got bogged down after the baby arrived. I shop the circulars and go with a list. I plan meals based on the sales and stock up when things are on sale. I make freezer meals too. Usually, about 70% of my groceries are price matched. The rest are clearance/sale items or things we need. For instance, if milk is not on sale, I buy it anyway. If I haven't stockpiled canned tomatoes and I need it for a recipe, I buy the store brand.

Here is a typical week:

3 2-liter sodas @ $1 each (I wouldn't but DrK is addicted)
1 loaf Wheat Bread @ $1.69
2 boxes cheerios @ $2.50 each (sometimes it's $2)
1 dozen eggs @ $0.99
10 greek yogurt cups @ $1 each
3 gallons skim milk @ $2.50 each
1 half-gallon bluebell ice cream @ $3.99
3 lb gala apples @ $1.89
3 lb bartlett pears @ $0.99/lb
1 lb red grapes @ $0.98
2 lb bananas @ $0.39/lb
8 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs @ $1.88/lb
2 lb ground turkey @ $2.48/lb
4 boxes freezer zipper bags @ $0.99/each
2 24-oz jars applesauce @ $0.99/each
2 10-count boxes of nature valley granola bars @ $1.79/each
2 16-oz jars unsalted roasted peanuts @ $2.48/each
1lb romaine lettuce @ $0.99
1lb red leaf lettuce @ $0.99
2 lb spaghetti squash @ $0.79/lb
2 lb butternut squash @ $0.79/lb
2 lb acorn squash @ $0.79/lb
3 lb russett potatoes @ $0.33/lb
1 lb cabbage @ $0.33/lb
Celery @ $0.99
1 lb asparagus @ $2.48/lb
3 lb bag yellow onions @ $0.99
1 carton grape tomatoes @ $2.49
3 red peppers @ $0.99/each
1lb broccoli crowns @ $0.99/lb

Then I'd round out the rest of that list with baby food, sandwich rolls, coffee, cheese, beans, canned tomatoes, low sodium broth, tortillas, brown rice, any spices that I'm low on. Dinners that week would probably be things like slow cooker chicken catchatori, enchilada casserole/tacos, omelettes/breakfast casserole, slow cooker Hawaiian chicken, spaghetti (using the squash instead of pasta), stuffed cabbage/cabbage soup, BBQ chicken sandwiches. Breakfasts would be cereal, milk, fruit, yogurt, and/or toast. the kids would eat about 3-5 pieces of fruit daily. Lunches would be sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, hard-boiled eggs, yogurts...I also stock pile things like organic fruit leather, pretzels, cheese sticks when they are on sale. Veggies/salads would be served at every dinner. At the end of the week, left over meats and veggies would be made into soup. We might have to get another gallon or so of milk but at the end of the day, I'd spend about $130 on groceries for the week.

[BonBon]

I usually spend 200-250 a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

MrsK, if those are Walmart prices I'm going to have to check it out. Even Sams Club isnt that cheap, and that's where I stock up.

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[spotty_dog]

I guess this was what I meant when I pointed out that if we're talking about $520 for two parents and two non-teenage kids, it's not THAT little. But if it takes you and your partner 3 or 4 jobs to get to that 200% FPL income, and if you live where there isn't good produce or bulk bins, and if you can't buy in bulk because you can only afford to buy THIS week what you will eat THIS week, then there is no shopping for deals, there's only grabbing what is not very perishable and is quick to prep, and Wendy's for dinner IS going to happen pretty frequently. Plus don't forget to account for COL, the figures I quoted are national averages but I for one live where food costs 106% of average.

Food is kind of my thing, as is supporting my local foodshed (I live IN a historic farmland preserve! Love my local farmers!) So I don't think I'd *want* to get my bill below $6-700 (sans alcohol). But this has been a good kick in the pants to make sure I'm getting value for my money and not throwing money down the drain by buying stuff this week for 40% more than it'll be next week, or buying the $5 a box Annie's chocolate chip bunnies that my kids don't even like, or whatever. I feel good about making changes now that will improve next month's bill!

[MrsK]

Those are not Wal-Mart prices. Those are PRICE MATCHES. So, those are the best prices at Aldi, Spouts, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Price Chopper, CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General, Target, etc. I cherry pick the best from the ads. So, for instance, everyone has apples on sale now but Aldi's deal is the best so that's what I get matched. I go to Wal-Mart because it's one-stop and because their produce is better than Aldi's. I usually save about a third on the cost of groceries. If I used coupons too, I'd do better. Sometimes I do the coupons and I used to be really good at couponing but I've fallen off the wagon. I just don't have time to clip and sort coupons on my schedule. Groceries are usually purchased and brought home during a 90-minute window between K Bro pick up/drop off.

[BonBon]

Ah, okay!!! Thanks for clarifying.

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[spotty_dog]

MrsK, almost every meat and produce item on your list costs literally double here. Exceptions are apples and pears, which are grown in our state and cost about the same as for you. This week I've paid $.99/lb for onions, $1.99/lb for grapes, $.99/lb for cabbage. And that's because cabbage is usually $1.49 and grapes $2.99 or higher so I pounced! I used to have a strict rule never to pay more than $1/lb for fruit or meat but that rule has gone WAY out the window since moving here.

[MrsK]

They normally cost more here too. Since I'm price matching, I'm getting the sale prices. For instance, a 3lb bag of gala apples is usually $3.97 but I'm getting it for $1.89 because Aldi has a sale. Pears are normally $1.47/lb but I'm paying $0.99/lb because Sprouts has a sale. Grapes are usually $1.98 but they are almost always on sale somewhere. A head of romaine lettuce usually costs $2.98; broccoli costs $1.72/lb, 3lb bag of yellow onions costs $2.98. The chicken thighs would normally be $2.38/lb, ground turkey $4.28/lb. Some weeks I go without buying meat because the only kind on sale is processed lunch meats or pork. Then I stock up and freeze meat other weeks. For produce, I exclusively buy what's on sale which generally limits us to seasonal fruits and veggies. I also avoid buying snacks, chips, and desserts. That half-gallon of ice cream is dessert for the week and once it's gone, there is no more dessert.

[spotty_dog]

Yeah, but my point is I'm familiar with most of the stores in my area, I keep up on the circulars, and I haven't seen those prices *anywhere* except at the discount market with really marginal produce and downright scary meat. I will sure be more vigilant now as I start my price book back up!

[PrincessFiona]

I have to say we go through at least double that food .... so I feel slightly better.
You are getting great prices!

[SoonerTexan]

It's amazing to compare the prices between wal mart and any conventional grocery store

[MrsK]

I have to say we go through at least double that food .... so I feel slightly better.
You are getting great prices!

And you have almost twice as many kids, including two kids who are adults.

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[MrsK]

Yeah, but my point is I'm familiar with most of the stores in my area, I keep up on the circulars, and I haven't seen those prices *anywhere* except at the discount market with really marginal produce and downright scary meat. I will sure be more vigilant now as I start my price book back up!

Walmart will match the prices advertised for the discount market too. You can get the low price without settling for scary meat.

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[spotty_dog]

No food at our Walmart, I mean, not beyond Little Debbies snack cakes and one freezer with those hamburger patties that they highlight on the "pink slime" exposes.