Groceries

[jen]

I almost always make out a grocery list for dinners...but really thats because I love to cook so I am always trying new recipes and need an ingredient list.

We are a family of 5 and we spend about $250 to $300 per week on groceries. I don't buy alot of junk food, but some. Lots of fresh fruit, I never, ever buy the cheap grocery store bread, only whole grain...same with Pasta. Each of my kids have some favorites that I buy for them...Bolthouse Berry Blast from produce department, Carnation instant breakfast drinks, Special K fruit crisps, and my oldes LOVES Salsa Lisa.

I dunno...I don't usually scrimp too much on food. Plus, I think if I told hubby he could only have a specific amount of milk or couldn't have a certain treat, he'd just go buy it himself...which is OK, if my hubby told me I couldn't buy some food item, I'd do the same!

[Abigail]

So many people mention Krogers. We don't have a grocery store by that name. When I went to the Kroger web site and typed in my zip it shows be 4 Loaf 'N Jug gas stations. Are they connected somehow to the grocery store? Can I print off coupons from the Kroger website and use them at the Loaf 'N Jug convenience store too?

[WImom]

I'm pretty strict and use tons of coupons but I also write out a two week menu for us and then I have a 2 week menu for the daycare. I also account for how many school cold lunches I'll be making in those two weeks for my own kids and my husband.

I add a few extra things for snacks and that's about it. We spend about $550.00 a month on groceries for our family of four, daycare, dog food and paper products, cleaners, etc.

I think that's pretty good since I do buy mostly organic veggies/fruits.

We buy 4 gallons of milk for two weeks and 2 quart size Lactose free milks for me.

I do hear you about the hiding food. If there is something I know they will all eat quickly I will hide it on a shelf I know they won't look on until I get some first.

[ammama]

With the daycare (only 4 kids a day), we spend about $1000 a month on groceries. Now, I buy mostly organic, locally produced food, which is more expensive, but still, food in Canada is much more than the US. I curb my spending by only buying 2-3 meals of meat, and when that's gone, it's gone. Then it's beans, lentils ect until I buy more. I don't buy junk food, or much prepared food at all, and even still, my grocery bill is through the roof.

[AnythingsPossible]

So many people mention Krogers. We don't have a grocery store by that name. When I went to the Kroger web site and typed in my zip it shows be 4 Loaf 'N Jug gas stations. Are they connected somehow to the grocery store? Can I print off coupons from the Kroger website and use them at the Loaf 'N Jug convenience store too?

Do you have a Smiths Food and Drug? I believe it is the same thing, just a different name. That's what we have here, and it is connected with the loaf and jug.

[cillybean83]

I think Kroger has a lot of great deals, we do most of our shopping at walmart though. When I was living in Chicago we didn't have Kroger, we had Jewel I've heard that Publix has some good deals too, I wish we had one here in west tennessee!

[DBug]

I didn't realize there was such a difference between Canada and the States in grocery costs. I shop primarily at No Frills (bare bones type grocery store) so maybe that's the saving grace, but I spend $150/week on groceries for my family of 5, plus 5 daycare kids (2 meals, 3 snacks). That includes packed lunches for my husband and two school-agers, fresh fruits and veggies and meat with most meals, and about 6 liters of milk (6 gallons?) a week.

I have noticed though, that if I shop at a store like Sobey's or even Zehrs (mid-range price-wise), I will spend $50/week more on the exact same products (even the same brand names!).

I don't clip coupons or anything, but I have had other women ask me how I spend so little and if I'll teach them how to do it too ::. I dunno -- it still seems like alot to me!

[laundrymom]

I make lists, and we pick a night to shop or hubby and I go at 6 on a sat morn. Then hit sams at 7 when they open for businesses. I think I spend a fair amount on food and stuff. About 150-200 per week for everything. I don't use coupons. I will if I ws going to buy it anyway and have one. But don't plan around them. I shop SAMs, walmart meijer Gordons Aldi and savalot I buy most meat from our local butcher. Seafood from marsh. We do eat very well in our house. I am blessed to be able to. I don't drive a nice car or anything but I do splurge on food. Growing up we went without alot. I hated feeling like I never was full. I make sure now that there is left overs at every meal and my kids have never been to bed without supper. That was my main goal when I became a parent. Food and toilet paper. Always well stocked of both. I only own one pair of jeans and one pair of shoes I can wear in winter but the freezer is full.

[Little People]

I make lists, and we pick a night to shop or hubby and I go at 6 on a sat morn. Then hit sams at 7 when they open for businesses. I think I spend a fair amount on food and stuff. About 150-200 per week for everything. I don't use coupons. I will if I ws going to buy it anyway and have one. But don't plan around them. I shop SAMs, walmart meijer Gordons Aldi and savalot I buy most meat from our local butcher. Seafood from marsh. We do eat very well in our house. I am blessed to be able to. I don't drive a nice car or anything but I do splurge on food. Growing up we went without alot. I hated feeling like I never was full. I make sure now that there is left overs at every meal and my kids have never been to bed without supper. That was my main goal when I became a parent. Food and toilet paper. Always well stocked of both. I only own one pair of jeans and one pair of shoes I can wear in winter but the freezer is full.

We spend about 120.00 to 150.00 a week. My DH grew up like you and he likes his food.

[dEHmom]

To be honest, I have no idea what I spend a week on groceries!

I used to go with a credit card, buy whatever I wanted or felt like we needed, and just charged it! It was always like 200/week or so. But some weeks we didn't go at all.

Now, we go daily almost. Some days we order in pizza, usually dinners are around 20 bucks a night, some 40. So on average I'd say about 150/week? Usually one or more nights out of the week someone brings us supper so no cost to us. Like when mom comes during the week she buys, supper either orders or buys and then cooks it.

We started doing the daily shop. I have some stuff in freezer like lasagna's etc, for the just in case days (if I'm sick or something). But I just found we bought all this food before, and never wanted it/felt like it, had nothing to go with it, or something, and then we ended up throwing away freezer burnt stuff or stuff that went bad.

It's also easier because sometimes we plan on chicken tonight, but then just really dont' feel like it, so we can go and get steaks instead, or porkchops.

I bargain hunt for everything though. If I know it's 1 dollar at walmart instead of 1.50 at safeway I'll go to walmart too.
I always clip coupons, but never bring them.

I always make lists, and never bring them, or forget to look at them.

[jessrlee]

I plan my meals so I make a profit from the food program. I make a lot of stretcher meals, soups, stews, etc. I try to plan for breakfast to be .50 a person, snack .20, lunch/dinner 1.00. For example:

Today we are having chicken tortilla soup:

■2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts ($1)
■1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
■1-½ teaspoon Cumin
■1 teaspoon Chili Powder
■½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
■½ teaspoons Salt
■1 cup Diced Onion (.50)
■¼ cups Diced Green Bell Pepper (frozen from garden)
■¼ cups Red Bell Pepper (frozen from garden)
■3 cloves Garlic, Minced
■1 can Rotel Tomatoes And Green Chilies (.75)
■32 ounces, fluid Low Sodium Chicken Stock (bullion .50)
■3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste (.25)
■4 cups Hot Water
■2 cans Black Beans, Drained (1.00)
■3 Tablespoons Cornmeal Or Masa
■5 whole Corn Tortillas, Cut Into Uniform Strips Around 2 To 3 Inches (1.50)

spices, oil, etc. (1.00)

Total cost of soup 6.50
8 dck = 17.68
fruit and milk = $4

so profit will be $7.18

Stock up on basics, take up baking, and garden!

[dEHmom]

How in the world do you figure out the cost for each thing?

Do you just add up the cost of all the supplies/ingredients and then divide it by serving? I wouldn't even be able to figure out the spices and such, i'd just leave them out totally I guess.

Seems so confusing. My tax guy does $5/child/day. His wife has run daycare in their home for like 15 yrs or so. Never had any troubles.

[safechner]

I am very strict on my grocery budget how much should I spend but sometimes, I give up if I spend over budget. Every Sunday afternoon, I write out my dinner menu for the week then I go out to buy groceries myself with no husband and no kids. I need a break for an hour or so so I enjoy being myself. I spend between $500 to $600 a month for four of us and two daycare kids. The daycare kids don't eat breakfast here which it saves my money. I feed them three snacks and one lunch per day. It is so much easier for me since I packed the lunch for my kids for school everyday. I only give my daughter money for buying lunch at school maybe once or twice a month. She never complain about it. My oldest daughter don't have cafeteria in her private school so I have to pack the lunch for her everyday. My husband have to leave at 5am so I give him a box of 5 breakfast bars and some fruits for snacks. My kids and I only eat the breakfast here at 7am before I send them to school. I only eat lean cruise or salad for lunch and two snacks. Whatever I cook the dinner and leftover so I pack it for my husband so he can eat his lunch everyday. If there is no leftover then he can eat at subway or any healthier foods around $5 buck that is where closest to his work.

We don't buy any junk foods but we only buy some ice cream for summer only. If my husband and girls eat it all by two days or more for one big ice cream then it is too bad for them so they have to wait for another month to buy the ice cream again. I dont eat the ice cream. I know this sounds mean but I like the way so they can deal with it.

[jessrlee]

How in the world do you figure out the cost for each thing?

Do you just add up the cost of all the supplies/ingredients and then divide it by serving? I wouldn't even be able to figure out the spices and such, i'd just leave them out totally I guess.

Seems so confusing. My tax guy does $5/child/day. His wife has run daycare in their home for like 15 yrs or so. Never had any troubles.

No, I put in prices to make a point. I know how much the items I buy are, so when I find a recipe I can mentally figure out if it works for me or not. I just wanted to point out that the more home cooking you do, with the right recipes you can save tons of money or make a profit!