Military Nesties
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
This is ridiculous
So, H and I have been trying to eat out less since we were eating out all the time! The problem is, groceries are so freaking expensive. Like today I really wanted a sub. I went to Harris Teeter to get turkey, roast beef, cheese, sub rolls and an onion. Enough of each of those for about 3 subs. My total? Like $30. I could have gone to Subway and only spent $5 for a footlong. Even if I got 3 of them it would have been half the price of what it cost to get it at the grocery store.
What's the point of eating at home if it actually costs considerably more?
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Re: This is ridiculous
67/200
Deli counter. I even got the less expensive Harris Teeter brand instead of the Boar's Head.
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It's not just deli meat! Everything is expensive!
No one understands me!
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Over the long term, eating at home, with homemade food, will work out as less expensive.
But, there will always be some examples of specific meals that are just plain old cheaper to get outside the home (ie: this sub vs. subway... although I could argue it's not really comparing like to like items, because a homemade sub would likely be much healthier and tastier).
And, when you start cooking primarily at home, you have what I'd call "start-up costs" - a basic set of spices, herbs, condiments, pantry goods, etc. When I first moved out of my parents' house, my mom made me up all these little teeny jars of spices out of her set of spices, so that I wouldn't have to go buy all of them at once. By doing that, she saved me a _lot_ of initial costs. (yeah, a couple tbsp of some spices don't go far, but on others, it can really last, and by doing this, it spaced out the need to purchase those spices to when I ran out of the starter amount she gave me)
Haha, ok, ok! Groceries are expensive for sure, especially if you are trying to eat healthy. BUT, I think when you do the math, eating at home < eating out. We spend about $400/month on groceries and eat out about twice a month. I promise it evens out in the end, keep at it! Try planning your meals out a week ahead of time so you're not making too many trips to the store or buying things you don't really need.
I understand. I am constantly tell H the same thing. I went and got fruits to make smoothies and to have healthy snacks. Just under $50 ON JUST FRUITS AND VEGETABLES! That doesn't include meat or pantry staple items.
Eating healthy is just expensive.
I found that produce was one of the cheapest things for us but we were also in California. Is that why? I'm assuming it is because produce is waaaaay more expensive in Pennsylvania.
Food is stupid expensive down here. And we don't really eat grains, so our cart is full of meats, veggies, and fruits, which get expensive. We also don't eat 'cheap' - for example, organic fresh made almond butter rather than generic peanut butter adds up quick!
Typically we budget $150/week for the two of us for all groceries and meals out. In Miami, that's not much, but it works for us because we plan out our meals the weekend before and try to make sure we use all (or nearly all) the ingredients we buy. Only going to use half that box of beef stock for the chili? Then we're going to make something else with it later that week!That said, if I go out and try to buy all the ingredients for sandwiches, for example, I also agree it would be about $30 for sub-par stuff. Sometimes there's a reason for Subway.
We spend a considerable amount of money at the deli...that's why I've essentially cut it out of our grocery list.
We bought 2 weeks worth of groceries for 3 people and spent $170 and have eaten almost every meal at home. For 42 meals I think it was $2.30 per person per meal. I'm sure if I worked harder I could get it even cheaper.
Where are you located right now that groceries are so expensive?
I do most of my shopping at the commissary, it saves us a lot of money. The grocery stores out here cost more like Farm Fresh and HT. I only go to FF if there are last minute things that I need. I also try to plan our meals ahead of time and always make a list before shopping. Unlike others, I don't really use coupons. I've been wanting to and I do try, they just don't work out for us. I never need the things that coupons are for! H and I probably spend between $100-$150 every 2 weeks for groceries, there are times we would hit around $200, and when I hit less than $100, I get giddy because it's a very good day! Haha
We used to eat out a lot, and that cost a lot of money. Eating at home have been saving us a lot of money, we do still eat out about once a week though. We love food too much.
Meal plan meal plan meal plan!! And stick to it.
Are you participating in the recipe exchange? This should help you some work on at home meals. I've found several "freeze ahead" crockpot meals that make two gallon sized bags and feed us for dinner and lunch the next day. I'll go find the links and post them for you. And shop the sales at your local grocery store and see if you can find coupons that match the sales. Safeway here does this and it helps tremendously.
There are a lot of things you can buy when they are on sale and freeze. Lunch meat is one of them. I buy lunch meat when its on sale and stick it in the freezer. Its easy to pull it out when we need it. Buy chicken and package it in portions that you would normally eat and then freeze it. But ground beef in bulk and portion it and freeze it.
I could save a lot more than I do currently if I planned things out a little better before I went to the store, but every little bit helps. Also I can't remember if it was someone on here or another board but I copied their idea of their grocery list. Make your list, put 4 extra blank lines on the bottom of the list. Those last four spots are your "free stuff" its 4 things that weren't on your list but you decided you needed. Don't get more than 4 things like that.
ETA: Oh and try shopping your local farmers market. I find that to be a lot cheaper on fresh fruits and veggies. And we get meat there from time to time and its organic and local and super cheap!
I totally agree with this. But It's about 230-250 for a two week supply of food for 4, and doesn't include the multiple trip to the store to get more milk. But we don't eat lots of pasta either. Normally just lean meat and TONS of fruits and veggies. We planted our own garden so that has cut back on the amount of veggies I have to buy!!
Was just lurking and wanted to add in that it may seem expensive now but wait till later when you get medical bills from unhealthy eating. It will cost a lot more than buying the expensive healthy food.
Not when you have Tricare! Ba-doom-ding!
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mary ftw
I changed my name