Grocery Shopping

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Sun 03 Feb 2008, 6:49 pm

M, sounds like you have a really great grocery plan. Do you work it from a menu or buy whatever's on sale and work your menu from there? $40 per week is awesome, especially if it's all inclusive and not just food!

Donna, I like shopping after working out the menu, it just feels much more organized and helps with 'not forgetting' ingredients. I make my shopping list after filling out a weekly menu which I use for 2 weeks or more. I just multiply the ingredients by how many weeks I want to try to make the menu last, then bulk-cook certain meals and freeze a few for upcoming weeks. I love having those nights practically 'cook-free' Smile

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~ LESS IS MORE ~

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 6:34 am

Donna,
When it comes to the milk: I buy it when it's on sale for $2.89 or less. For instance, the Walgreen's normally has it on sale for $2.69/gallon every couple of weeks. If that is the case, I go and purchase 2 or 3 which lasts hubby 2 weeks. I like milk with my sweets - I dont drink it just to drink it.

This month, yes, I made a monthly schedule of meals to make. I got the calendar from the website listed below. It was very helpful. I was actually still putting on recipes on the calendar about 20 minutes before we left for the grocery store. I was surprised how long it took to figure out a months worth of meals. :-) One good thing with me is that I dont have to cook every day of the week. Todd is home at least 2 days during the week which gives me relief from cooking. :-) He enjoys cooking. With him shopping yesterday, I told him what I needed for recipes, and which items he could use for his concoctions.

http://www.printablecalendar.ca/

Speaking of the shopping with hubby. This was the first time in many many months that we went grocery shopping together, and I wouldnt recommend it! It took me over an hour longer with him there. I know where everything is, and normally just zip around the stores to get what I need. He likes to look.

Also, to get new, easy recipes, try that miserlymoms.com website. I love the ease of the recipes. I also google : 5 ingredient recipes or get the books from the library for new menu items.

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 6:59 am

I am using one of her recipes for tonights dinner,,I will let youknow how it turned out.(referring to miserlymoms.com)

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 7:18 am

Donna,
I just took a look at walgreens.com, and they have milk on sale for $2.69.
Well, I hope they are on sale by you as well.

I'm going before work to pick up 2-3 for the next several weeks.

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 1:07 pm

Well I went yesterday and spent $259.74 for 2 weeks. This included getting stuff needed for the Valentines rice krispie treats. DH and the younger kids were with me so I was rushed. Had I been by myself it probably would have been less.
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Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

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Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 6:43 pm

I waiting to see all the ads tomorrow and my pantry list to go shopping ..
I am planning on spending $350 for everthing this month hopefully I will be able to do it .. we pretty well stocked . I just need the fill in things ...
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2055

Good job Vicki!
I'm sure you'll stick with-in your budget Gayla Smile

I am going to plan a trip soon...I have not gotten anything but milk in about a month...we are needing things Smile

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 7:13 pm

Vicki,,out of the 259.00 ..how many meals did you get ,,and do you plan on eating out any in the next 2 weeks also?Thats one of the things I am taking into fact is how many actual meals we will be home for.We have budgeted 1 meal out each week.(Ordering out or a restraunt)This way we will stop wasting money on food that we already have at home.

In a magazine article I read,,it said to plan your shopping day,,then wait 2 days if possible.This way it will force you to use up the food ,,thaw something or use up things in the pantry.If its possible though.

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 7:42 pm

Donna - I have enough food for at least 14 breakfast, 14 lunches, 14 dinners, snacks every day and then some odds and ends for nights the kids don't like what I am fixing. I also have enough toiletries, cleaning and pet products for 14 days. I don't budget in any meals out as we don't go out unless dh gets some extra money for doing a side job. For example he got a few extra dollars this weekend so we rented a movie, ordered pizza and met for lunch at McDonald's after Church on Sunday. This was a rare treat and throughly enjoyed by all.

I also have enough to make Valentine Rice Krispie treats, Valentine Sugar cookies, and a basket full of sugar free candy for dh.
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Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

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Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Mon 04 Feb 2008, 10:19 pm

Thats excellent Vicki,,thats 42 meals! Plus all the extras,,,Id say you did some very smart shopping!

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2055

I think those nexpected times of eating out is enough....it makes you enjoy it all the more! The kids got all A's so we treated them to McDonlads Smile

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Tue 05 Feb 2008, 10:59 am

This week is my "birthday week" and Todd and I have gone out to celebrate several times by going out to breakfast, and a couple of dinners.

Let me tell you - it killed the budget!
We spent more on dinners and breakfast than almost 2 weeks worth of groceries.

Normally, we only go out to eat one time every other weekend, and the budget is $20. We get our sushi lunch, go to the dollar store to get snacks for the dollar theater, and then see a movie at the dollar theater for $2.50 for the both of us. That makes for a great date for us. Very fulfilling, and less than $20.

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Fri 08 Feb 2008, 12:27 am

well I went to Sav a lot and the UGO and spent $ 48.82 and $59.52 we wont need anything except milk bread and fresh fruit the rest of the month .. I got eggs for $ 1.79 and pintos beans for $.29 a pound and milk was $3.59 a gallon .
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Fri 08 Feb 2008, 10:15 am

Good shopping deals ladies. Gayla your Milk is still cheaper than ours. We are up to $3.86 a gal
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Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

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Subject: Re: Grocery Shopping Fri 08 Feb 2008, 11:08 am

I have to go out shopping this weekend, as the toilet paper we use is on super-sale, plus I have coupons that will be doubled.

We have to use a particular toilet paper so it doesnt clog up the septic.

So... this will put us over budget on "groceries" for this month. However, I will have to take it out of next month's total.

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."