[Suzann]

Groceries: Family of two, husband and myself. In our early 60’s. Both work full time. Two furbabies-their food, treats, etc. are NOT part of my grocery budget.

Challenge for the month of March is to not spend more than $125.00 a week.

We were poor while raising our children and we tend to buy more than we need for the week because we can.

I am trying to get us back to only buying what we actually need for the week. I do make a meal plan weekly and do Walmart delivery so that I don’t go into the store.

Any advice?

[Lisa]

We are retired. Spend about $600 month but that includes household cleaning products, and food and treats for 2 German Shepherds.

I try to do 3 weeks of no spending on food every 3 or 4 months and the 4 week would be milk and fresh produce keeping that month’s spending to less than $100 and ensuring we are using up stuff from freezer and pantry.

[Janet]

Check out ads for other local stores. I saved over $35 on a little over $100 order and yesterday at our local Kroger simply by using their add and my digital coupons.

And I got double gas points which hells at the pump, as well as rewards points which bonuses quarterly to apply to my credit card, usually $30-60, depending on how much I’ve spent over the quarter.

On a yearly basis my account tells me I’ve saved roughly $1000 by using coupons and special deals, and probably 2-300 on gas over a year.

[Brenda]

I shop at Albertsons and Smith’s. I check sales first, add digital and paper coupons and use my points at Albertsons. Shopping for 2 adults.

Almost all meals eaten at home and “groceries” includes household cleaning products, paper goods, etc.

I spend between $400-$450 month and my savings is at least 40% of the bill.

This week I spent $99, saved $83.

[Marianne]

Family of 4 here.. 1 worker 1 retired both kids are teens.
We Spend about 250 a week!

[Jude]

Check the sales and what’s in your pantry. Build meals, snacks and your shopping list from there.

Buying more because it’s on sale is fine IF you have a plan for it and it won’t go bad.

[April]

Remember since you both grew up in a different time some of those long ago meals though cheap are comfort foods.

When I started cutting back I was amazed that my husband was every bit appreciative to the old dishes vs fancy home meals.

You can do it

[Shlomo]

Here are some shopping ideas.
Buy store brands and other small no-name brands as much as you can. They are almost always cheaper and usually of very good quality.

Hot tip: They are usually hidden away on the top or bottom shelves. The most expensive items will always be at eye level.

Eat leftovers! Or make smaller portions. When you throw away food, you are throwing away money.

If you have kids (or adults) in your household who never finish what is on their plate, put less on their plate next time.

If they want more, they can always have seconds.

We once hated leftovers and let them go bad in our fridge. Now we pack them away straight into single serve containers and eat them for lunch at work.

Track the sales at your local supermarkets and learn which stores have better prices on which products.

We follow our local chains on Facebook and watch for new sales.

Alternate where you shop to get the best prices.

Buy enough of the cheaper products to last until the next time you buy from that store.

[Lisa]

Eliminate food waste. We can live off of that spend in a VhCOL area for 2 each week easily. We don’t buy processed food and buy in bulk from local businesses.

We see that as investing in our health too because we can’t afford to have health issues.

[Marisa]

We got freezer containers and any left overs we put in these freezer containers for a single serving meal. We raised 4 children and it is hard to buy just for 2.

I seriously cannot eat Chili for 3 days.

As an example, my husband make a ground turkey stir fry. We had it Saturday night, he had left overs Sunday nite and he will take my portion to work today. I made a sandwich last nite.

If we would have been gone, I would have frozen those two extra portions for supper.

We try to plan out a week in advance our meals, so I don’t end up throwing out left overs. It still does occasionally happen.

[Roxanne]

I’ve been doing that for years. We spend about 300.00 tops a month for 3 of us, sometimes 4 of us. We make almost everything from scratch and home cook.

We make our own breads, sushi, and we can and preserve so much.

Having a garden helps plus buying from farm stands directly and orchards.

My pantry stays stocked since I can buy only what’s on sale rather than doing a full shopping.

My refrigerator freezer is full as well with frozen fruits and vegetables.

[Lisa]

We are 68 & 59. He works from home, while I take care of our home. We spend $150 a week.

[Roostie]

Follow your meals served when you were poor with a little tweaking
Pork loin bogo one loin should make you meals for several days

Mai meal
Sandwiches
Stew

[Marsha]

$125 for two these days isn’t too bad. My husband and I are retired and on a fixed income. We spend this much some weeks.

Lots of weeks we spend less by: eating less meat, lots of bean soups, and lentil meals saves money; I always make more than we eat and freeze two person portions.

This gives a break not only in effort, but money wise; make what you can yourself. I make my own hummus, yogurt, salad dressings, bread, cook from scratch and almost never eat out.

We mostly drink water. Don’t shop hungry, always make a list and stick to it, but have an eye out for things on sale.

Stock up then. When you are eating meat, don’t consume too large a helping. It’s better for you too. Hope this helps some, but you are doing pretty well.

Good food is not cheap. Oh, one more thing. I buy steel cut oats and 7 grain hot cereal in twenty-five lb. bags.

This is what we eat for breakfast and I think it saves money and for sure, good quality food.

[Annette]

That’s about what we spend. Plus, we have our little greatgrandson (18 months) for 3 full days a week. We eat well. I shop the ads and sales.

Cook in bulk om.aloy an freeze meals for later as we travel 1.5 hrs each way to Dr’s.

Several times a.month.

[Linda]

Two of us retired, and that’s what I spend. We shop the sales at a few stores weekly, and we use the store apps to get extra savings.

I don’t buy a lot of cleaning products. I keep that basic.

I haven’t had to increase our food budget at all even with the higher prices.

I plan our meals around what’s on sale.

[Dorrie]

We are exactly the same. Both early 60s. I too shoot for 125 a week. One thing that helps me is I make one large meal for Sunday dinner that can be used for another meal during the week, say Wednesday or Thursday dinner.

Some examples are a large hotdish, chili or spaghetti.

[Karen]

Always “shop your pantry” first. It cuts down on what you need at the store that week.

Even if it’s a simple meal of sandwiches or pancakes, saving the cost of one meal from already purchased food will add up over the month.

[Eva]

That’s about what we spend. I home cook & don’t eat out. Just buy the basics. & buy what meats on sale & meal plan around that.

I do buy the chicken thighs at Costco and they lost a whole month What’s helped some this month is I spent half the monthly food budget in the beginning of month so didn’t go to store as often because I tend to buy more than what I need because it’s what I usually buy and on sale.

We have 6 dogs so that includes the meat I buy to mix in with their kibble

[Mindy]

Both of us are retired, same age, and we’re down basically to one meal a day for him and one meal a day plus snacks for me.

We’re also small eaters too.

We weren’t always this way though.

[Leszlie]

I save by doing as much from-scratch cooking as I can (challenging when working full time, though).

Also store brands and shopping at budget groceries has helped my bottom line quite a bit.

Major brands are costing a LOT more than lesser brands, currently.

[Marilyn]

80 and 77 we spend $150 a week. Both retired, its one if our luxuries in this unstable economy to still purchase what we like.

I do meal plan some. I do check my pantry and freezer before shopping.

I also make our dogs food which is included in weekly budget which is $30 every two weeks.

[Author]

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