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XP: Grocery budget
Hey ladies. How do you do your grocery shopping? Based on what's on sale? What's in season? Do you buy in bulk at all? Do you coupon? Do one big trip a month, or grab a few things every couple days?
I am trying to lower our grocery budget. It is just DH and myself. We spent roughly $500 per month on groceries and household items (tp, candles, cleaning supplies, etc.). I have tried the "two huge shopping trips per month" as well as the "buy whatever we need every few days" and they both seem to cost about the same. I have also tried couponing, but end up spending a ton of money on things we don't need "just becuase I have a coupon." We have a Costco card, so I buy a lot of things there. It usually adds up to about $110 per month- I get fruits/veggies, rice, bread, and ziploc baggies there.
I try to buy store brand items when I can, so that saves some money.
Since I am supposed to eat mostly red meat(due to health issues), we spend a lot of money on meat. I try freezing it, but it always tastes gross. We hate the texture of frozen meat and poultry! It always seems to be chewy or tough. We eat a lot of fruits and veggies, and they can get expensive, even if we buy in bulk. Or they will go bad before we can eat it all, since it's just the two of us...
Do you have any tips on how we can bring our grocery costs down? Let me know if you need any more information.
Thanks in advance!
Re: XP: Grocery budget
Have you tried buying your meat in bulk from a farmer and having it frozen directly? Or, what about ordering your cuts from Iowa Steak or Omaha Steak?
DH and I just did this with Iowa Steak. They were running a deal and we got $800 worth of various beef cuts for $409. It comes already flash frozen and there is a 2 year guarantee on it if it ever develops freezer burn, they replace it for you.
Honestly, it's the best meat we've ever had. It's all USDA Choice 1 and buying in bulk makes it come to about $4 per cut.
@MrNibbles
Thanks everyone for your input.
I usually buy meat at my local supermarket (Publix). I look for the biggest pack of what I need, then have the butcher there cut it into smaller portions for me. Then I'll get home and transfer the meat into ziploc bags(freezer safe). Sometimes I'll take the meat out of the original packaging, sometimes I won't. I haven't seen a "real" butcher shop anywhere close to my home...
I have not tried the Omaha steaks- sometimes DH's grandfather will mail us some, which is always a nice treat! I might have to look into ordering some for us. I just can't imagine spending $400 on meat at one time! About how long does that last for you, MommyLiberty? Do you just get red meat from them, or do you get fish and poultry too? We have had fish, chicken, burgers, and steaks from them..
I have severe anemia and a hormone deficiency. I do take supplements, but they were not enough to bring my hormone and iron levels up on their own, so I need to eat red meat at least three times a week (but my Dr would like me to eat it almost daily). I have a lot of recipes that involve ground beef, but they are not very healthy. They are very heavy or greasy (think lasagna, spaghetti, and sloppy joes). That is a different post entirely, though!
Thanks again!!