[USER]

I’ve been working really hard at sticking to my grocery budget and last month we came in slightly under budget. With the prices on fresh produce dropping, I’m feeling really hopeful about sticking to budget again for May!

My goal was to eat less processed food last year and we did well but produce was pricey but we shipped sales and made it work.

We will be eating healthier even if something isn’t on sale.

Win win! Our budget is $500 a month and this week I only spent $63!

[Kiersten]

Nice! We buy mostly whole/natural foods as well. I did buy three discount meats today in addition to what was on my list but didn’t even feel like I bought super much and spent 150$.

My volunteering used to end right around when discounted produce would be finishing up, but now I’m scheduled two hours earlier and it doesn’t feel worth a second trip (I live in the mountains so everything is a drive) so I don’t often get the discounted produce I used to.

Oh well

[Linda]

Great job. I’m learning the great importance of doing a menu.

I used to just go and get things then try to figure out what to cook

[Marianne]

I spend at least 300 to 350 a week for 4 of us. It’s getting harder and harder ugh!

[Francess]

I would suggest you put your extra money for your food budget away without spending it. with rising and falling prices you may need that further throughout the year.

eggs in my area are ranging from 2.00 for a dozen to 6.50.

produce of course as the warmer months begin will be less expensive.

[Darla]

I was dx T2 diabetic last year so I revamped our entire meal plan for a family of 4 adults and kept my $400/mo budget (NE OHIO). We eat dinner out 1x per week for about $50 which is half of my weekly grocery budget.

The processed food is almost eliminated and I shop the perimeter for 97% of our food.

I do eat Dave’s Killer Bread for toast in the morning. I buy rice for our daughters and my husband requested 1 pasta meal per month.

Through blood sugar testing, my pasta portion size is 1/2 c cooked pasta and 1/4 c cooked rice.
Replacing processed foods with appropriately portioned foods has not affected our budget.

We eat less but it’s because we are eating the right portion sizes of the right foods.

By eating more lean protein, we aren’t reaching for the chips and sugary snacks because we feel full.

We’ve eliminated 100 of sugary drinks.
Our 2 daughters and I drink water. The oldest daughter and my husband drink coffee. My husband will also brew unsweetened iced tea.

No more Gatorade, juices, and soda. Gone! We don’t miss them either.
Beef has been the most expensive increase in our area so we eat more chicken and fish now than beef.

I spent about a month researching new meals for us and created 3 ring binders so that we could have something different each night for 30 days using a balance of beef, chicken, and fish for entrees.

I had coddled 3 finicky eaters for almost 3 decades and when I was dx with diabetes, I told all 3 that you are either with me or you cook for yourself.

Collectively, we have lost more than 70 pounds in 15 months and my diabetes is controlled by eating healthy. At this time, I remain unmedicated.

Changing how I think, changed how we eat, and how we shop.

[Michele]

Stock up on sale items that are long lasting or put that $ aside to buy a half a cow and save even more.

Pay down any credit cards are even make a extra payment on your mortgage.

Pay off your car, build an emergency fund with the extra.

[Char]

Even though our prices are great on fresh vegetables in Florida, my local produce store always has a buggy of markdown vegetables which are still pretty good!

We get large bags of apples and such for just $1.

If we don’t eat them, they make cheap snacks for my chickens.

[Chelsea]

Great job! My husband and I have the same budget. Some months are easier than others.

We typically do a big Costco haul at the beginning of the month, then supplement with produce and such from Aldi/Kroger/Walmart.

[Norma]

One of the easiest ways is to stick to the least expensive vegetables. They are potatoes, e, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and cabbage.

I always list rice and beans (canned and dried) in that list also.

If you use those as a base for your sides or in some cases, your main dishes, you can buy, and enjoy a few of the more expensive vegetables.

[Julie]

Now is the time to buy produce and preserve. Whether by freezing, dehydrating, or canning, it’s what gets our family through sad-produce winters.

[Denise]

My frugal habit for produce… freeze anything leftover from the week before for that next weeks smoothies and soups.

Take stock and keep track of what you have, buy less if you ended up freezing a lot.

[Author]

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