[Saving in So Cal]

A few months ago, I was at $75 a week for 3 (DD is a toddler), not including sundries and paper goods. Now, I am about $75 for everying, with food accounting for about $50. I use most of the methods listed here, but primarily rely on couponing and modest stockpiling to keep on budget.

The only things I buy at Walmart, super or otherwise, are water and sundries for which I don't have a coupon. In my experience, they are the cheapest on these things. On food items, they tend to only be a cent or two cheaper and I can almost always do better buying loss leaders or buying at a store that doubles coupons.

Other changes I've made include reducing the amount of store bought snack foods I buy and using more store brands. I also started baking bread in the breadmaker I got for Christmas and using my crockpot more.

Of course, we're far from perfect and grocery store spending doesn't tell the whole food story. My husband still does fastfood for lunch and I drink soda, which is a waste from both a monetary and health standpoint. We'll tackle these things, too -- one step at a time.