This week on the Thrifty Series 2012, we are looking at ways different families buy groceries to feed their families.
Please visit the other members of The Frugal Five:
Claudia
Elaine
Jen
Diane
Please visit the other members of The Frugal Five:
Claudia
Elaine
Jen
Diane
I am one of those compulsive people that buy pretty much the same thing every time I go to the grocery store. The same thing for breakfast every morning. Cereal with fruit. And then I normally have two cups of coffee.
For lunch I eat my main meal of the day. And for supper I eat oatmeal or yogurt, and then usually a bowl of cereal with a banana before I go to bed.
For a single person, buying groceries just means me and the two dogs. I try to find their food on sale, and stock up a few weeks.
They also like to snack on those Quaker cereal biscuits, so I get that for them. And buy more than one when they're having a sale at the grocery store or Target.
They also like to snack on those Quaker cereal biscuits, so I get that for them. And buy more than one when they're having a sale at the grocery store or Target.
I rarely have coupons. I don't get the newspaper. And I'm so bad about losing things I somehow doubt they'd make it to the store!
My weekly groceries are just what I need. Which is usually fruit and fresh produce. About once every ten days I spend more time in the store and buy more staples.
Sometimes I eat the breakfast TV dinners for lunch. They are cheap and filling. And have some cranberry juice with it. In the mid-morning or afternoon, I will have yogurt.
About twice per month I will buy enough to make a big meal, and then eat part of it the rest of the week. And freeze the rest for later.
When I buy roast, I eat some at one meal. Then I cut the rest up and freeze it for barbecue sandwiches or stew. Then I usually freeze some of the stew!
I don't have the problems of feeding a big family, so my buying is quite simplified.
I don't buy much in bulk. I simply don't have room for it.
One tip I find useful is to stack my food in my shallow kitchen cabinets. (I don't have a pantry.) This means nothing gets shoved to the back. I can see right away what I have and what I need.
I buy generic brands as well as regular brands.
I guess my main tip is not to go to the grocery store for just a few little things very often. Because those few little things often somehow turn into a basket full.
Also I have learned the hard way not to go shopping for groceries when I'm hungry, or haven't had my breakfast or lunch. A recipe for disaster!
33 comments:
I am single like you so I limit my trips, like you say or the next thing you know that basket is full. I also planted a garden last year and still have potatoes, garlic and onions. I've found that on Sunday's I make a crock pot soup. Since I go to work everyday it provides lunches for the week. Or you could say I'm lazy and this is quick. Sending hugs!!
I am "double", but my counterpart is not a picky eater. He is happy with cereal and a banana in the morning. (I have 1/2 of the banana). We eat again around 1:30 or 2:00--often a crock pot meal with a meat based on what is on sale that week.
Later in the evening, we may enjoy a fruit smoothie or snack on some almonds or baby carrots, etc.
We basically "eat to live" here -- as opposed to "live to eat"...
Great advice.
I cook for just us two, so we live on leftovers and love them! I made herb roasted chicken Tuesday night, and last night made yummy chicken salad with the leftovers. (I'll finish the rest off with some crackers today for lunch!)
I like you open cabinets a lot, but your plates are too cute not to display!
Blessings to you Brenda,
Leslie
I need to pay attention to this post, Brenda! First you eat so healthy. I wish I could stick to a regimen like that. I also buy what I need as I go. I shop for me and the two birds, and they eat quite a bit (they waste a lot too) and they love fresh produce. I gave up my Costco membership, and once or twice a year I go with a friend to stock up on certain items like toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. xo
Good morning Brenda and thank you for your posting re: grocery shopping. I would be a card-carrying member of "grocery shoppers anonymous" as my pantry shelves are FULL to bursting on any given day. It is in my blood and, unfortunately, I have passed this "condition" onto at least one of my grown children . I am a sucker for any sale and have been known to have 8 jars of peanut butter on the shelf at one time, even allowing the natural peanut butter (BEST in the world from Trader Joe's) to expire (definitely NOT thrifty living :( ) But I am working on it. Usually, I make a shopping list and stick to it. If I "have to" run to the market, I try to use the hand-held basket or small cart. I believe this condition has a name, but I don't yet know what it is......! Thank you for your inspiration, I'm glad you are here :) (doesn't a yogurt sound good?) !!!
Dr. Oz was on the today show this morning with the 10 most important things to have in your pantry. YOu can get the list online. It was interesting. Tomato paste and sauce, frozen vegetables and organic milk.
You do eat healthy. My mom says it is so hard to cook for one. She will grill (85 and in Ohio) chicken, salmon, burgers and then freeze the extras.
Bless your heart for posting today with all you have on your mind. I am thinking about you and saying prayers.
OH, and I am having a really nice giveaway. A skeleton key necklace from Shabby Apple. Stop over and sign up......who knows that key may hold the answer to your future....wouldn't that be nice.
Hi Brenda..I just love the way you eat so healthy and I enjoy reading your posts every day...I am gonna try to do like you do as I am over weight and could afford to lose some weight..I admire you so much and I am hoping you are feeling much better today...I also love your spider plants they are beautiful and one of my favorites~looking forward to your next post...Take care Brenda and enjoy your day today!! Love you girlfriend...Carol
Amen to not shopping when your hungry! I had to remind my hubby of that a few times...it sunk in so that is NOT a problem any more...thank goodness! We only buy the local small town paper so we seldom have coupons but similar to you Brenda..I wouldn't loose them when I had them...I'd FORGET them. THEM and the dang 5 cloth grocery bags we bought to stop all the plastic bags we were accumulating. Anyway...we're going to try again to remember the bags..wish us luck ;) Hope your day is a good one.
Maura :)
You do eat healthy, no junk food? Way to go...It's hard to cook for one, if you make too much then you are stuck eating it forever, and grocery deals are geared towards bulk buying.
Great tips, and hey, look I remembered to post the correct subject. LOL.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
As you know Brenda, I do use coupons. I only shop every two weeks and on most trips I get at least $30 or more off my bill with coupons. I also make weekly dinner menus and this has cut down greatly on buying "staples" I thought I was out of. I just buy what I need for my dinner menus, and try to have a coupon for each item I'm going to buy. If it's an item I'm going to buy any way, why not get your coupon amount off the price. I'm not one of those coupon people you see on TV. I just have one small coupon holder for grocery items and one for cleaners, pets, and non-grocery items. It's very simple really. Any one that would like some tips to get started, can email me. For two of us, we eat simply for breakfast (cereal or eggs) and lunch (sandwiches or a salad). I also plan my menus to get a second or sometimes third meal out of a meat purchase, such as a whole chicken or roast and buy those on sale.
Hope you are having a good day! Thinking of you!
I've wished for a long time they'd just make a pill that would give total nutrition. The grocery store is a place I dread. in the cart out of the cart back into the cart into the trunk outta the truck into the kitchen, back out- cook- eat clean up the mess.. ugg, the whole thing is just more mess than I wanna deal with lol.. good thing I have someone else to feed or I'd just do 4 cups of yogurt a day - use a plastic spoon and be done with it..
Keeping you in my good wishes..
Sonny
Oh I am the same. I could easily eat a bowl of cereal for dinner but around here I guess that wouldn't fly.
One of the best ways to save on groceries is not to buy anything premade, bottled, packaged or canned. You are paying for someone else to make it, package it and ship it. As a single, the most difficult thing is to have a variety of fresh veggies in the winter. A head of broccoli takes several meals to eat. In the summer I have a garden and freeze as much of the produce as I can. ~ Maureen
Brenda,
I am suggesting you try Aldi's for your grocery shopping. The one in Tulsa near you is at this address:
12572 E 21st St, Tulsa, OK 74129
They have a lot of store brands just like the name brands. They have the best fresh produce. I shop at the one in Owasso and really, really save big. No, I am not being paid to tell you this. It is a great place to save money. I have had to make some adjustments to what I buy but all in all I find what I need.
MellyB
in Owasso
We have to change our habits over the years and do what works at the time! I love shopping at the fruit stands here but it's easy to buy too much! You kitchen is so pretty...you surround yourself with pretty things and colors! ♥♥♥ I hope you're having a better day today, my friend! ♥♥♥
Hi, Brenda! I'm hoping you're doing okay. :-)
Probably no one would be interested in how I spend money for groceries being that I'm in college, but I'd like to share mine, if I may.
For starters, I'm on a 7-day meal plan. It costs around $4000. per academic year. Fortunately, my mom saved all my child support checks in order to pay for this, so that's no money out of my pocket. Of course, having 5 different dining halls on campus, I'm able to eat a variety of foods with a swipe of a card, whether it be healthy or junk food. I usually zero in on the healthy foods, though.
My room-mate and I have a fridge, microwave, a Keurig coffee pot, a Forman grill, toaster, etc. in our room. We have different kinds of snacks like dried fruits, popcorn, peanut butter and jelly, yogurt, lunchables, juice, bottled water, etc. My room-mate and I split those expenses. Sometimes, we pig out on pizza or Chinese food that we have delivered, or we go out to eat off campus.
When I'm working, I eat for free because I'm a shift manager. That really helps me out a LOT because there's no extra expense. Whenever I go home for the weekends, I'm able to snatch snacks and other things from my mom to carry back to the dorm.
I would say all in all, I spend roughly $100-$300 a month on extras that I bring to the dorm, and I pay for that out of my paychecks.
- Amber
I'm a lot like you, Brenda. Cereal (love that Fiber One!) with soy milk every morning. Salad, toast with peanut butter and homemade apple butter for lunch. Soup, casserole, etc. for supper. I am vegetarian but my husband is not, but since I do most of the cooking, we eat what I make.
My downfall is that I love to bake, so I always have sweets around! Chocolate is my vice, but a treat that I allow myself every day.
I do use coupons and I look for sales. I garden and I am still eating raspberries, rhubarb, and tomatoes from last year's garden.
Out here in So Cal I've discovered Fresh n Easy. Their prices are wonderful, but choices are limited! I never used to worry about what the prices were, now I do. I've never been a big coupon user, for some reason they irritate me and I find them very frustrating, but I do use some once in awhile. We use a lot of herbs and I grow those myself. Annette T
I would eat so much differently if I were single. I could just live on veggies and some fish occasionally. Hubby needs his meat, so I have to add that in. I have however, introduced at least one meatless meal per week and I make lots of home made soups. I try to keep everything as fresh and as organic as possible. I find that simple healthful foods fill us up without the excess calories and expense. We are all doing our best to cut costs these days. It's a challenge for sure.
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I buy a lot of junk food when I go to the store hungry. Plus I also can't think of anything I want when I have eaten before going. I almost always have a list. I eat a lot of instant foods like yogurt, cereal, cereal bars - lots of premade foods. Frozen dinners - sometime. I wish I could go in Walmart and come home with plenty and not spend $125 just for me and my dog. Of course that is walmart I'm talking about so...
Frugal tips in a post rich with beautiful images ... love it!
I just read your previous post Brenda and my heart goes out to you. You are one brave lady x
The Internet is a treasure trove for coupons. No need to get the newspaper. I go to Walmart for any brand name products because they are so much cheaper, unbelievably so compared to Safeway. And with those lovely coupons, can always save a $$$$.
You sound like me. I have a few different "regulars" I alternate every few months but I get just what I like and eat it all the time. Sometimes a sale on meat will sneak in something fun but not often and that's ok. I really ONLY like some generics from certain stores. I live in walking distance of a Aldi and I truly love their chicken tenderloins (frozen individually) and their cheese. Milk and eggs are good price too so I can get all I need. I eat Walmarts yogurt every day. LOVE IT. Really have gotten others and don't like them. So I too have a pattern and get just what I need. It works!
Hugs, Lisa
I love going to the grocery store. Now if I would just prepare all the stuff I buy......
I just read your story about the break of of your marriage and I am so sorry for what you have been through. It's heartbreaking. I know that the Lord has many new wonderful things in store for you. You are brave. I love your decorating style and you are a very good writer. I truly wish you the best.
Hugs, Sharon
I've read the comments on this post and I'm surprised that no-one mentioned the coupons you can get on-line. Just google "grocery coupons-Tulsa". Some stores even double coupons. When you can print out coupons right before you go to the store for items you could buy anyway, you can really save money.
XO
You know, it's funny...since the kids moved out, our eating and shopping changed dramatically...and over the last couple of years we eat so differently.
We do shop at Costco, but only for bargains...
Dinner is my favorite meal of the day...where we relax and catch up on the day, which seems to zip by.
We go out to dinner so rarely...last night was one of those nights....
I love the "quieter" lifestyle that has developed...
Thanks for sharing..
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Brenda, I tried to send an email to you but it bounced back.
Love those beautiful plates.
I have a fairly small kitchen, a very small pantry and just one refrigerator I don't "stock up" either. With just DH and I here, we don't need very much at one time. And we are both trying to be healthy. We don't purchase much processed anymore, and we sure don't buy in bulk, so coupons wouldn't do us any good. Fresh veggies and fruit, yogurt, lean meat, etc... trying to be good to ourselves while staying on a strict budget. I love going to the farmers market during the growing season. Have you thought about putting in a veggie garden this summer? I know you had lots of flowers at your last house.
Our grocery market here puts their meats into a discount bin and if you can catch them when they first put it out, you can really get great buys. Mr. Sweet often comes home with a sack of meats that go right into the freezer. Then when we are ready for one, it is thawed and cooked right away. It is a huge savings on our groc bill each month.
Plus, I always ck the discount bakery goods for breads and sweets. Good prices there, too.
I love the tips you shared and I have to tell you I am absolutely inlove with your kitchen!
Robyn
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