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S/O - groceries on $50 a week
Ok, here's my shopping list. Know that prices vary by region.
I found I save a LOT of money buying only what is in season produce wise. This is easy since ds and I both eat a lot of different fruits and vegis ... and we live in CA where a lot of good fruits and vegis are grown.
I only buy organic if it makes sense. For example, I don't buy organic bananas. The peels protect the fruit that you eat from pesticides. I don't buy organic milk. I buy hormone free milk.
DS and I don't eat a lot of red meat. I buy ground turkey and chicken breasts. That's about all I eat for meat. DS is in a Peanut butter and jelly phase so that is what he asks for every day for lunch. DS is only 5 so I cook for 2 people, but he doesn't really eat a grown-up portion size. I take what we don't eat for dinner one night as my lunch the next.
Here's a typical shopping list:
1 bag frozen chicken breasts ($6)
1 lb ground turkey ($4 -- I split it in half and put in two zip loc freezer bags when I get home)
2 lbs apples ($3)
6 bananas ($1.50)
1 bag baby carrots ($2)
1 bell pepper ($1)
1 crate berries ($2.50 - that's our limit so we pick which ever berries are in that range)
1 bag frozen mixed vegis ($1.50)
1 box cereal ($3 -- that's our limit so we pick which kind we like that is on sale)
1 bag brown rice ($2.50)
1 lb pasta ($1)
1 can of plain tomato sauce ($1)
1 can salsa ($3)
1 half gallon of milk ($1.50)
1 pack of string cheese ($3)
1 pack go-gurt ($3)
1 12 pack of diet coke ($4 - my splurge!)
1 box Eggo Multigrain blueberry waffles ($2.50)
1 sm bottle add water and shake pancake batter ($2)
1 box instant oatmeal ($2)
1 "treat" ($3 -- sometimes it is granola bars, cookies, etc.)
Total: $53
The diet coke, go-gurts, waffles, oatmeal, rice, chicken is enough to last for two weeks. On the opposite weeks I will stock up on juice boxes, peanut butter, jelly butter, bread, butter.
Sometimes if the frozen chicken corn dogs or taquitos or pot stickers are on sale (one is just about every week), I will get some of those and that can be a quick weekend lunch.
Make sense?
Re: S/O - groceries on $50 a week
BTW, I found that making my list and then assigning a dollar amount to each item helped me stay within my budget. I knew ahead of time how much "extra" I had that week and that was my splurge money (like I'd buy ice cream or good cheese or something like that).
I started doing this when ex moved out because I really wanted to keep ds in our house to minimize change for him and I also wanted to keep him in his same preschool. I didn't get any child support, so I had to figure out how to do that on my own. Rent and preschool took up about 73% of my take-home pay. That meant a very strict budget for everything else.
I am happy to report that between my new job (that came with a nice raise and a shorter commute) and now my new living situation, my budget does not have to be anywhere near as tight starting this month! Woohoo!
And tomorrow I am buying myself a really nice purse that I've been eyeing to congratulate myself for successfully getting through the two most financially challenging years of my life
I budget about $50 per week on groceries, as well. It's just me and I really like cooking, so I think I tend to buy more ingredients per recipe. I am also gluten free, so the bread, for example, is $6 per loaf.
I think the key to saving money on groceries is to know what you want to buy and how much you can spend on everything. I also like to shop with cash because I can't go above a certain price...
Good point. I always buy more when I'm hungry.
I am lurking here, but COUPONS, COUPONS, and MORE COUPONS!!! I get coupons from the Sunday paper, they are $1 at the Dollar Tree. I match the coupons with the items on sale. I kid you not, since doing it I have saved over $50.00 a week on groceries. Yes it takes about an hour a week to do it but when you are on a tight budget it is worth it. I am not sure if your local store double coupons, mine does. I got a year worth of body was for $.99 a bottle I got 20 of them. Just something to think about on saving money.
PS I lurk here to give family and friends advice, you ladies and gent are amazing.
Yes, coupons. For realz.
I bought $233 (regular price) worth of stuff this week for $87. I have enough toilet paper, hair color, and quick go-to foods (frozen pizzas, Hamburger Helper, etc.) to last me a solid YEAR. Ishityounot. Hell, I got 11 boxes of Hamburger Helper for $7. And not the store brand. I got 7 Sublime Mousse haircolors for $20. That will last for nearly 2 years! And if it goes bad before then, well, I technically only really "paid" for 2 boxes, as they're $10 each.
If you have access to a waffle iron or have things to make pancakes here's a couple of really good recipes. You can add berries or chocolate chips or whatever you want to them too.
Pancakes:
1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 egg beaten
3/4 c. milk
3 tbsp melted butter or margarine
1/4 c. berries, chocolate chips, m&ms or nuts (optional)
Stir everything together and pour on hot pan or griddle, flip when bubbles appear. (Premix all dry ingredients and store in an airtight container, add wet ingredients just before making if in a rush)
Waffles:
2 c. milk
3 tbsp. butter or margarine
1 tsp. sugar
2 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs
Scald milk. Add butter/margarine and sugar. Cool. Sift dry ingredients and add. Beat yolks of eggs and add. Stir thoroughly. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Bake in waffle iron until golden.
Caramel Apple Oatmeal
Make oatmeal according to directions on package (quick oats, steelcut oats whole oats)
Peel and chop 1-2 whole apples (depending on number of people)
place in frying pan with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1-2 whole cloves or a dash of ground cloves, sprinkle of cinnamon and dash of nutmeg.
Saute until apples are tender and caramelized.
Serve with splash of milk and apples and sauce on top of oatmeal.
Should make 2 large bowls