Reducing the grocery bill question?

[Ima saver]

Our local paper has no coupons, so I just try and take advantage of the store sales. We drink diet sprite, for example, so when it is on sale I try and stock up. I don't ever buy things for dessert because we just don't need it!

[katwoman]

Another great way to reduce your bread bill is to shop at the bread thrift stores.

I prefer whole wheat/whole grain varieties which happen to cost more. Even with coupons the cost was way too much for my tastes. I hit the bakery thrift store and on WED and SUN they offer 12/$12. Add a 13th item and you get another free item from certain bins. Since I go on SUN, I get double punches on the bread card which earns me another 2 free items!

They also have a day for seniors. Don't know what that special is.

I can't say enough about bakery thrift stores!

[Tree0164]

I hit the bread store as well!

Also check out the older produce section in my store it usually towards the back. Lots of fruit like apples there that are still good. I got 3lbs of baby carrots there for 99 cents the other day-will use up some of them for a stew. Got 2 eggplants for 99 cents -making some eggplant parm.

Also alot of times meat is marked down and you get good choices of steak and stew beef for a few dollars off.

If you shop early in the day (before noon) you can get these deals. Ask the clerks when they mark down stuff.

[PRICEPLUS]

We have a Friehoffers bakery near me where you can get bread at discounted prices. When I was younger I would take home the rolls from my job, rather than see them thrown out. We froze the rolls and heated them in the oven when we ready to use them.

[acezz4e_tish]

here we have hostess and on wednesday you get to spin the wheel for ten-50 percent off, 5 dollars or a box of mini muffins or anything of its value, so you always get something. i always check stores for thier special day of the week. when walmart will give out samples, when catos has thier clearance day etc

[shelbylovesmelby]

I agree with the pp about thrift bakery stores. We have a Brownberry outlet that does that same deal but it's 13 for $12.

If you shop @ aldi's go in there the day after a holiday. Sometimes they have things @ BOGO prices or like after 4th of july last year. I got hotdog & hamburger buns, & bread @ .10 ea! I grabbed as many as I thought could fit in my freezer & called my bargain hunting pals & told them too.

My uncle hangs out @ a farmers market & has become friends with alot of farmers. At the end of the selling day he'll help them pack up & as payment they give him produce for FREE for his help. & whatever he can't use he gives to my aunt whom gives her extras to me. I'm not saying everyone can do this but it's nice to get veggies that aren't spoiled for nothing. KWIM?

Jewl-osco has their bakery marked down usually on the Eve of a holiday or by the morning after. I picked up on several deserts for Christmas on Christmas Eve for $1 or so.

Also you best saver as well is to KNOW YOUR PRICES! Generic Store Brand is often times more expensive than something you can buy @ Aldi's or Save-a-lot for half of that.

[flash]

I often buy at the Pepperidge Farm or Hostess outlets. Another thing local bakeries do is either have a "closeout" at the end of the day (great in grad school, when we were out at 11 pm anyway). Our local bakery also has day old sales -- Donuts are 50 cents to a dollar each fresh, but the day old are five dozen for $5. I've purchased and frozen, brought them in to work, etc. They aren't as fresh, though.

My DH and I work out 4 - 5 hours a day, and protein and fresh veggies are the main event. I buy sales, and look for every discount. I also keep a large pantry and freezer stocked with sales and basics. Stockpiling a sale of things we would buy anyway (key point) is one of the best ways to save money. Buying stuff we wouldn't normally buy just because it's on sale is usually a waste for us.

[acezz4e_tish]

i got a gr8 deal today. dite rite is 2.85 for a 12 pk, goodhousekeeping has a 2.oo off coupon this month.

[Ima saver]

First time I have ever stocked up and bought 4 - 12 packs of sprite. $10 for 4 of them, usually about $3.99 each.

[frugalfarmwife]

I shop once a month with a strict list, no varying from it! Then hit the bread store and load up the freezer, on a good day there I can get loaves of the good stuff at 2 for a buck, and I get 4 for a buck on huge uncut sub buns that I use for garlic toast, we eat a LOT of it.

I'm very fortunate in that we have two chest freezers and they are full come fall, between home raised beef and our veggie garden I'm set.

I'm fortunate, our grocery bill is usually under 100 a month this way.

kj

[contrary1]

I can't get my groceries much cheaper but I can use up what I have rather than letting all the leftovers go to green fuzz in the fridge.
I am getting a little better at the leftover game here. What I've started doing is leaving the leftovers out on the counter just a bit longer & having to look at them and think! (instead of mindlessly wandering around the kitchen picking up after a meal).
I decide if I will use the dab of something in the next 2 days.........or if it can be combined with something I'm planning...........OR, it goes in a zip lock for the freezer right then. Labeled & ready for a single serving meal or one of those nights not everyone is at home.
I think, over the long run, this will save...........but I just can't see it yet. I'm not 100% at this either. (getting a new fridge tomorrow so I'm working on clearing and cleaning the old one out....there are some mystery items in it!)

[abowers]

We use coupons only on things we were already planning on buying, and we don't buy cookies, cakes, junk food unless it's for a special occasion. We don't buy soda, but we do buy beer or wine from time to time (Buying it at the store is cheaper than getting it out at a bar or restaurant though!)

Our bills are still a little high, but that's because we are making most to all of our meals at home, and we are buying lots of fruits and veggies to be healthier. I guess the bills aren't too bad, we manage to stretch the food from one shopping for about a week to 10 days, and we have been spending about $80-90 each trip, for 2 people. We try to make meals that will have leftovers, I.e. In the last 2 weeks we've made potato soup, Meatloaf, Lasagna, Chili -- all which we've gotten at least 2-3 meals each out of.