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.
Grocery Bill
Hey Ladies... I'm sitting at work trying to plan the meals I want to make this week and I got to thinking about my grocery bill. I think I spend waaaaaay too much on groceries. I go to the store every 2 to 2.5 weeks with coupons in hand (only for stuff I need... no coupons "just because" so I won't be tempted to buy something I don't typically buy). I buy my meat at Sedanos because it is sooooo much cheaper than Publix and I can get it cut exactly how I want from the butcher. I'll buy generic brands when possible and I buy stuff on sale. So how is it that I spend close to (and sometimes more than) $200 each trip! For two people! Is this normal?! I just started following a blog called the Grocery Cart Challenge where she spends $60 a week to feed a family of 6 all 7 days of the week. What am I doing wrong?! She shops at at food outlets. Do we even have those in Miami (besides the Entenmans one)? I feel like groceries in Gainesville (where I went to college) were so much cheaper than at the Publix stores in Brickell (where I live now). My sis and I would spend $75-$100 and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in G'Ville. Now I spend $200... I blame DH and his huge appetite... Yet he doesn't gain weight... Damn him LOL!
Please share your own grocery shopping habits 
(Sorry this was long)
Re: Grocery Bill
He's my fairytale, a dream when I'm not sleeping.
<a href="http://s279.photobucket.com/albums/kk121/behapybride/?action=viewI feel EXACTLY the same as you. We spend $200 like it's nothing! I also use coupons when I can, but thats rare and doesn't help that much. I think for us, a lot of the cost is that we buy a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. Those are expensive items and can add up, the produce section is out of control.
Something that really really helps is shopping at Costco. Their chicken is organic and free range and they pack two breasts together to make it easy to store and cook. They also have good seafood and then of course all the paper goods and other stuff, even tomato sauce. We get as much as we can at Costco and then the rest at Publix or Whole Foods.
HTH
I can competely relate!!! I spend $200 if not more for DH and I. We were actually talking about how much we spend on groceries this weekend! We buy most things at Costco and the rest at Publix. I have started to do a shopping list to keep from purchasing any unnecessary items, it has helped a bit, but is still pretty high.
Lauren I was wondering what is the link to the blog you mentioned (Grocery Cart Challenge)?
Im with you girls! What I have noticed is trying to buy food for one week versus 2 weeks the reason is 1.) the bill is a lot less and 2.)I hate to throw away food and most of the time since its only the us two we do not eat alll the food and it goes bad.
Another thing that I have been doing is whenever publix has the buy one get one free thing I go during lunch and but what we need, especially the cereals.
Oh and and I buy all of our snacks, granola bars, coffee, garbage bags and cleaning products at target... Its a lot cheaper. Last week I saved $45 in coupons and sales (Whatever items have coupons target has them on sale that week.. its great!!)
I think you save more money when you have a larger family to feed and pack lunches, when its only two people in one house you really do not save too much money.
My Blog: One Project at a Time Blog
My Chart
CP 05/09
BFP on 7/26/09 - M/C 8/13/09 @ 7 Wks
BFP on 10/28/09 - M/C 11/9/09 @ 5 Wks 2 Days
1/25/10 - RPL results everything normal but have low Progesterone
BFP on 06/09/10 - EDD 02/20/2011
I food shop for 4, and that includes a baby, and I spend about $70 a week. I cut coupons, print coupons, use competitor coupons. I'll ink you to a site that helps me TONS every week at Publix. Did you know Publix takes competitors coupons like Winn Dixie and Albertsons? The publix I go to takes Whole Foods and Sedanos too!
http://www.southernsavers.com/category/publix/
I hear ya girly, groceries can seriously add up! For DH and I, I've been able to keep food costs to about $50-75 a week after learning a few tricks without coupons. I know there are a lot of blogs out there that can probably give you even better tips, but there are a few I've picked up that have helped me.
First, I keep my pantry and fridge well stocked with essentials like spices, cooking wines, chicken broth, you know, all those little things that add up when you want to make a recipe. When I see these things on sale, I load up (non-perishable things) so that when I need it, it's there.
I buy certain things in bulk. Since its just the two of us and we don't have a lot of storage, there are only certain things I buy in bulk. Paper towels, toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, etc. I also get those big bags of frozen chicken breast. Since meat costs add up, if you keep these in the freezer, it will last you a while, and you know you always have chicken in the freezer for a quick meal.
I plan my meals every week. When you do this, try to make at least two things a week that you know you will have left overs. Like a lasagna, casseroles, etc. We eat the left overs for dinner the next night or DH eats it for lunch sometimes 2 days after that. Eating left overs saves us money on lunch and it saves me a night of cooking if we eat it for dinner the next day.
Pack our lunches. This goes without saying...its saves $.
Last, I stock up on sodas only when they are on sale. For juices or teas, I buy those powder mixes that last forever and just keep making a pitcher.
I hope this helps, I know its a little daunting. I'm still learning and in other areas I just need to indulge in certain things.