Weekly Grocery List; How I Save

[MrsCoolCat]

How do you save? What items do you buy on a weekly basis that are a good price? Let me know because I'm interested in saving and building staples bc splurges are going to happen but a good staple will sustain me quite far!

This is actually one area I'm trying to improve and not cut back on. I watch and subscribe to couponing websites, but tbh I am trying to eat healthier and go organic here and there. Currently, I grocery shop at Aldi, Trader's Joes, Stiles (local Farmer's Market) and sometimes a reg grocery store chain like Publix, Target or Walmart, though I'm trying to rid myself of Walmart. Yes, I shop at multiple places.

I currently buy the following at Aldi: No sugar added almond milk (I think $1.99), organic ck stock ($1.99), org spaghetti sauce ($1.99), org kale in a box (like a salad kit; $2.49), reg 1 dz eggs (price varies, currently $1.39), cheese ($1.99 and up), org canned tomatoes ($1.49), 10oz org honey toasted cereal ($1.99), sometimes whole wheat or honey wheat bread ($1.39 to $1.99 dep on type), and their weekly fruit specials. Currently, they have 2 lbs of green or red grapes for $2.38. They also have whole pineapples for $1.29 this week. Apples are also pretty cheap, but I prefer apple sauce. All else fails I do bananas for .44/lb. I also sometimes buy carbs like couscous, brown rice and whole grain spaghetti and penne. I believe all are under $2. Guac, hummus, frozen veggies, other condiments and snacks like crackers or veggie chips are sometimes in my cart, too.

Trader Joe's is a new "splurge" for me, but some staples include org yogurt ($3.49 and up), org sprouted rye bread (I believe the TJ brand is $3.49; I love it because it freezes), org low fat/reduced blue corn tortilla chips (10oz for $1.99), org canned soups ($1.99 and up), org Kale Spinach Grk Yog Dip ($3.99) and then I usually treat myself to new item(s) to try... I'd be lying if I said I always leave with one item!

I usually buy sweet potatoes, lemons and/or limes and their weekly veggies or fruit specials at the Farmer's Market. I admit I used to go more than I currently do because I've been lazy!

I coupon for condiments and random stuff at Walmart or even CVS such as toilet paper, floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, fem products, vitamins, brand name nut milks, peanut butter, cat food, jams, etc.

[Goldielocks]

Well, nearly everything you mention would be on my splurge list, not my grocery list, except..

Spaghetti sauce ( but I tend to use canned tomatoes to make my own to cut the additives and sugar and cost).

Pasta (dried)

Eggs-  I am not organic shopper, but eggs are one of the very few areas I am thinking about switching... Free range or humane eggs seem to taste better.

We too buy honey but cheerios type cereal, in the big bag, but hey, I have kids, and this is my nod towards their preference.  Otherwise it would be oatmeal for price, or corn flakes, etc.

Bananas.

Fruit in season on sale(grapes?). Grapes are pretty expensive usuallt, per serving.

That is it.  Everything else is a treat or splurge, if you were to ask me.

[Monkey Uncle]

How do you save? What items do you buy on a weekly basis that are a good price? Let me know because I'm interested in saving and building staples bc splurges are going to happen but a good staple will sustain me quite far!

This is actually one area I'm trying to improve and not cut back on. I watch and subscribe to couponing websites, but tbh I am trying to eat healthier and go organic here and there. Currently, I grocery shop at Aldi, Trader's Joes, Stiles (local Farmer's Market) and sometimes a reg grocery store chain like Publix, Target or Walmart, though I'm trying to rid myself of Walmart. Yes, I shop at multiple places.

I currently buy the following at Aldi: No sugar added almond milk (I think $1.99), organic ck stock ($1.99), org spaghetti sauce ($1.99), org kale in a box (like a salad kit; $2.49), reg 1 dz eggs (price varies, currently $1.39), cheese ($1.99 and up), org canned tomatoes ($1.49), 10oz org honey toasted cereal ($1.99), sometimes whole wheat or honey wheat bread ($1.39 to $1.99 dep on type), and their weekly fruit specials. Currently, they have 2 lbs of green or red grapes for $2.38. They also have whole pineapples for $1.29 this week. Apples are also pretty cheap, but I prefer apple sauce. All else fails I do bananas for .44/lb. I also sometimes buy carbs like couscous, brown rice and whole grain spaghetti and penne. I believe all are under $2. Guac, hummus, frozen veggies, other condiments and snacks like crackers or veggie chips are sometimes in my cart, too.

Trader Joe's is a new "splurge" for me, but some staples include org yogurt ($3.49 and up), org sprouted rye bread (I believe the TJ brand is $3.49; I love it because it freezes), org low fat/reduced blue corn tortilla chips (10oz for $1.99), org canned soups ($1.99 and up), org Kale Spinach Grk Yog Dip ($3.99) and then I usually treat myself to new item(s) to try... I'd be lying if I said I always leave with one item!

I usually buy sweet potatoes, lemons and/or limes and their weekly veggies or fruit specials at the Farmer's Market. I admit I used to go more than I currently do because I've been lazy!

I coupon for condiments and random stuff at Walmart or even CVS such as toilet paper, floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, fem products, vitamins, brand name nut milks, peanut butter, cat food, jams, etc.

How much are you spending per month, and how many people are you feeding?  How much do you spend on restaurants/take-out/vending machines/etc.?

[beaster]

I have cut our family food bill literally in half by only buying food that is on sale. We are able to eat wonderfully and spend much less than we used to. It actually had made meal planning a lot easier too- we get creative based on what food we buy (I don't know how I ever cooked before google!) A trip to grocery store is easy- just look for what is on sale and buy if you fancy it. I have also found that the grocery store oftentimes overstock on weekends (depending on the weather) and then have to significantly mark down on Mondays. By going early on Mondays I can stock up on awesome artisanal breads, fancy meats, cheeses I wouldn't normally splurge on.


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[thecornercat]

It's hard to compare without knowing the size of the things you are buying and also without knowing how much you spend. We spend $200 per month for two people, but that includes household expenses, like laundry money, toilet paper, etc. (This varies too -- last month we spent $140.)

We save by working with a fixed pantry and cooking a lot. We vary our meals depending on what produce is on sale or season. We don't coupon, but we do only buy at FreshCo (Canadian -- very great prices) and every now and then at small corner stores, especially in Chinatown.

These are the staples we keep around and I think it's a huge part of what keeps our bills so low. We really love cooking, though. I actually get restless if I haven't diced onions in a while...
 
Dried beans (black beans, garbanzo, etc.)
Dried lentils (brown, green, etc.)
Canned tomatoes (to make pasta sauce)
Dried pasta (whole wheat, no additives)
Eggs
Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, though we want to start making the latter at home)
Grains (oats, a few flours, rice)
Baking goods: brown sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, etc.
Vegetables: carrots, onions, and limes (well, technically a fruit...) always, but the rest depending on what's on sale/in season
Fruit: apples and bananas regularly; everything else, based on what's on sale/in season
Snacks: popcorn kernels, roast chickpeas and rice crackers (no additives)
Spices: We have 40 different kinds, we just refill as needed, from ethnic stores
Coffee Beans & Tea
Condiments: hot sauces, soy sauces, vinegars

Can't think of anything else that we buy on a regular basis... we have started making our own bread and hummus; sometimes we'll buy those, but not really...

[2ndTimer]

Winco:  Bulk beans, rice, tapioca, grits, spices, some fresh and frozen vegetables if I can't find them cheaper at Grocery Outlet or a local fruit market.

Costco:  Bread flour, coffee beans (I can actually get these cheaper at Grocery Outlet but since we buy for the Hub's office and all work stops for discussion if they get a new type of coffee bean we find Costco the cheapest place for consistent quality beans.)
 
Grocery Outlet:  I check every isle because you never know where the deals will be.  The right deal at Grocery Outlet can change our menu for the next six months.  We are currently making all our PBJs with Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce instead of jelly because it was 6 cans/$1.00.  All our camping trips include spiced black olives in poptop cans because they were 3 cans/$1.00.   I pay special attention to their dairy and meat sections because you can pick up some incredible deals on thing like cheese, yogurt and sausage approaching the sell by date.

Local fruit market:  I check whenever, I drive past because they sometimes offer incredible deals on local stuff.  Currently trying to use up a 16lb. cabbage I bought there for 19 cents/lb.

Indian and Chinese markets:  Bulk tea is way cheaper here.  Green at the Chinese and black at the Indian markets.  I also buy spices I can't get at Winco.

[MayDay]

Really depends what your total spend is.  Nothing in your list looks outrageous other than the breakfast cereal (oatmeal way cheaper).  I generally try to limit us to one processed/snack food a week, so I would pick either the cereal or the chips for a given week. 

You could save money in chicken broth and organic canned soup by making both from scratch.  If you are talking about keeping one jar in your desk at work as emergency lunch, that's different than planning to eat a few cans a week on purpose. I freeze homemade soup in wide mouth pint canning jars, and they are perfect for one serving, can be microwaved and eaten straight from the jar.

Grapes are on the dirty dozen so we only buy them organic, which since they are expensive means we only have them once or twice a year.  For organic fruit apples and pears, and bananas are usually cheapest. 

For feminine products, I love love love my diva cup.  One 20$ purchase lasts you for life.  Or if you prefer pads, and can sew, it is quite cheap to sew your own pads from scrap flannel.  To me both of one options are not only cheaper and environmentally friendly, they are also much more comfortable to my lady bits.  But I do realize that with couponing you can get the disposable supplies for nearly free sometimes. 

[MrsCoolCat]

First of all thank you to everyone that responded.
I actually don't have a budget for my monthly grocery bills, so I don't know. If I were to guess I believe about $200s for just me. I'm sure there are months where it may be $180? I would have to check past debit card and ccard transactions.
I eat out about twice a week. I don't do take-out or use the vending machine.
Now you have me curious about how much I spend a month.

How much are you spending per month, and how many people are you feeding?  How much do you spend on restaurants/take-out/vending machines/etc.?
[/quote]

[MrsCoolCat]

I usually try to buy things on sale about 80% of the time.
I'm at work on Mondays.

I have cut our family food bill literally in half by only buying food that is on sale. We are able to eat wonderfully and spend much less than we used to. It actually had made meal planning a lot easier too- we get creative based on what food we buy (I don't know how I ever cooked before google!) A trip to grocery store is easy- just look for what is on sale and buy if you fancy it. I have also found that the grocery store oftentimes overstock on weekends (depending on the weather) and then have to significantly mark down on Mondays. By going early on Mondays I can stock up on awesome artisanal breads, fancy meats, cheeses I wouldn't normally splurge on.


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[MrsCoolCat]

I don't know if I can make a monthly budget. I'd much rather use everything in the pantry, the freezer and fridge, not waste stuff and enjoy my food. I don't limit myself but I also rarely splurge on anything say from Whole Paycheck. I am kind of new to cooking though I can cook. I can bake. I don't make soups. Would like to. Just don't. I did make pho once. Never again bc the mess wasn't worth my trouble.

Really depends what your total spend is.  Nothing in your list looks outrageous other than the breakfast cereal (oatmeal way cheaper).  I generally try to limit us to one processed/snack food a week, so I would pick either the cereal or the chips for a given week. 

You could save money in chicken broth and organic canned soup by making both from scratch.  If you are talking about keeping one jar in your desk at work as emergency lunch, that's different than planning to eat a few cans a week on purpose. I freeze homemade soup in wide mouth pint canning jars, and they are perfect for one serving, can be microwaved and eaten straight from the jar.

Grapes are on the dirty dozen so we only buy them organic, which since they are expensive means we only have them once or twice a year.  For organic fruit apples and pears, and bananas are usually cheapest. 

For feminine products, I love love love my diva cup.  One 20$ purchase lasts you for life.  Or if you prefer pads, and can sew, it is quite cheap to sew your own pads from scrap flannel.  To me both of one options are not only cheaper and environmentally friendly, they are also much more comfortable to my lady bits.  But I do realize that with couponing you can get the disposable supplies for nearly free sometimes.

[MrsCoolCat]

I also want to point out that I've lived in SoFLa, Fort Lauderdale area, all my life. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I made a friend from Austin, TX who said our Whole Paycheck (I mean Foods) is 30% more expensive than theirs. So I have to keep in mind that I don't live in a cheap grocery state. We don't have Winco, Rite Aid, rarely any real Farmers Markets, etc. Heck, we don't even have LOND... (Land of No Doubling for the couponers) and at Publix here you have to actually BOGO. You can't buy only one and get it 1/2 off like GA!

[Goldielocks]

It's hard to compare without knowing the size of the things you are buying and also without knowing how much you spend. We spend $200 per month for two people, but that includes household expenses, like laundry money, toilet paper, etc. (This varies too -- last month we spent $140.)

We save by working with a fixed pantry and cooking a lot. We vary our meals depending on what produce is on sale or season. We don't coupon, but we do only buy at FreshCo (Canadian -- very great prices) and every now and then at small corner stores, especially in Chinatown.

These are the staples we keep around and I think it's a huge part of what keeps our bills so low. We really love cooking, though. I actually get restless if I haven't diced onions in a while...
 
Dried beans (black beans, garbanzo, etc.)
Dried lentils (brown, green, etc.)
Canned tomatoes (to make pasta sauce)
Dried pasta (whole wheat, no additives)
Eggs
Yogurt (Though we'll start making our own soon)
Grains (oats, a few flours, rice)
Cheese
Baking goods: brown sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, etc.
Vegetables: carrots, onions, and limes (well, technically a fruit...) always, but the rest depending on what's on sale/in season
Fruit: apples and bananas regularly; everything else, based on what's on sale/in season
Snacks: popcorn kernels and rice crackers (no additives)
Spices: We have 40 different kinds, we just refill as needed, from ethnic stores

Can't think of anything else that we buy on a regular basis... we have started making our own bread and hummus; sometimes we'll buy those, but not really...

Great list, thanks.  Nice to see some CDN inspiration..  I was at $100 per month but that was single in 1993! 

I willsoak a batch of beans this week.  Yum.

Hmm no dairy except cheese?

[Bob W]

My best tip is to wait for loss leader meats --- recent scores were 80/20 ground beef for $2,  chicken leg quarters,  49 cents, bacon $2 and always find my eggs for $1 dozen.    I don't drive extra as there are 4 groceries between work and home.  When they are loss leading to this degree stock the freezer well!

Other tips --- Oil (grapeseed, olive, never canola or veggie (soy)) is the best calorie per cent bargain. 

If you're into flour, you can stock up for $1 for 4-5 pounds and that makes for an incredibly low cost per calorie.   I'm staying away from wheat but with flour you can make homemade noodles for 20 cents a pound,  dumplings,  biscuits,  bread,  cookies, wraps, pizza dough, thicken soups,  coat your meats etc..   

Meat, oil and flour --- add some veggies and you can work your way towards $1 per day per person.   If you're not into flour you can use potato's or rice for a little more.

[thecornercat]

It's hard to compare without knowing the size of the things you are buying and also without knowing how much you spend. We spend $200 per month for two people, but that includes household expenses, like laundry money, toilet paper, etc. (This varies too -- last month we spent $140.)

We save by working with a fixed pantry and cooking a lot. We vary our meals depending on what produce is on sale or season. We don't coupon, but we do only buy at FreshCo (Canadian -- very great prices) and every now and then at small corner stores, especially in Chinatown.

These are the staples we keep around and I think it's a huge part of what keeps our bills so low. We really love cooking, though. I actually get restless if I haven't diced onions in a while...
 
Dried beans (black beans, garbanzo, etc.)
Dried lentils (brown, green, etc.)
Canned tomatoes (to make pasta sauce)
Dried pasta (whole wheat, no additives)
Eggs
Yogurt (Though we'll start making our own soon)
Grains (oats, a few flours, rice)
Cheese
Baking goods: brown sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, etc.
Vegetables: carrots, onions, and limes (well, technically a fruit...) always, but the rest depending on what's on sale/in season
Fruit: apples and bananas regularly; everything else, based on what's on sale/in season
Snacks: popcorn kernels and rice crackers (no additives)
Spices: We have 40 different kinds, we just refill as needed, from ethnic stores

Can't think of anything else that we buy on a regular basis... we have started making our own bread and hummus; sometimes we'll buy those, but not really...

Hmm no dairy except cheese?

We do get milk; I forgot to include! I've revised the original post to reflect. We also get espresso beans, though I only pay for 1/3 of that cost (my partner is an espresso lover and drinks more than I do), and tea. Also, as an aside, I found it really useful to make a pantry list and think about what makes a pantry complete for me. I am a vegetarian, too--for those wondering about the absence of meat.

[MrsCoolCat]

I think eating less has been helping me with the budget also. I think I overate and def over bought before. I always buy more than one of anything because I hate the idea of having to go back out to the store in that one moment of need, which rarely happens so now I just buy one or as needed, and I hold back from trying something new just because it's new!

[3Mer]

Planning ahead is what's helped.  Trying not to go out to eat, the only exceptions would be when going out with friends.  This has made a huge difference in my monthly budget. 

Also, every other year I buy a 1/4 beef.  The price per pound is way less and the quality is higher.  I have a chest freezer and the meat seems to stay fine for 2 years.  Not sure we will make it the entire 2 years, it will be gone in a year and a half maybe.   The first time I did this my price including processing was $2.22/lb.  Last time was more like $2.60-something a pound.  But the quality was much better.

Also, one key element in saving on food is NOT WASTING.  Eat your leftovers and don't overeat, especially junk foods which are more expensive.