Grocery Budgeting Question

[Thrifty Ray]

I am working at chipping away at our grocery budget and have a question. When you budget, do you break down how much money you have for different categories of food? In other words, do you plan a weekly budget for meat, dairy, frozen, household....or is this overkill?

I am using coupons more now, trying to find doubles when I can.

I buy our meats at two different stores...Costco (italian sausage and hamburger) and Winco (chicken breast and most other meat) to save as much $ as possible.

Most of our other groceries are from Winco. However, if I see a good loss leader advertized, I will visit other stores...while there, I usually puruse the isles looking for unadvertised specials. (I do not impulse shop on these adventures however). But I do not track how much I spend on meat, how much on dairy, etc...I just shoot for spending less than "X" for all combined.

I was just curious if others break their budgets down ...or do you use a more 'overall grocery' budget?

[cercis]

I don't break it down by category, but I do make sure it's only food. I don't include any cleaning products or paper goods I might buy at the grocery store.

I never thought about breaking it down by category. That's something to consider. I know Amy D talked about getting the cheapest form of protein possible, so it's something I consider, but not heavily.

[cicy33]

I don't break it down and I do add in paper products to my numbers. I don't have a budget per se. I just spend carefully to get the most for my money. If a sale comes up that I have a coupon for that will really save money in the long run and I have the money I will buy it.

[Ima saver]

I don't break it down either. I use to have a strick budget and I would write it all down as I was shopping, so I would not go over my budget. Now, that I am not poor anymore, I make a list of what I need, but if I see something that I use all the time, and it is for sale, then I stock up. I stocked up on sprite when it was for sale, and didn't have to buy any for about two months.

[cicy33]

Ima: that is me too. When money is too tight then I don't buy but if I have some and the sale is good I go for it! Helps for the future you know?

[pschale]

I stock up when things are on sale. For instance, flour, sugar and other baking things are on the beat sales around Thanksgiving and Christmas so I will buy enough of these items to last til the next year's sales.

[Ima saver]

That is true. I found a great sale on toilet paper and I bet I do not have to buy anymore for the rest of the year. I am going to keep track of it, when I start using it. (Good thing I have a big bathroom with lots of storage space)

[katwoman]

When you start to do this be prepared for a little discouraging fact - you will wind up spending more money in the initial stages. Here's why: when you do find that meat item (say, sausage) really cheap, you'll be buying more of it to stock up. Over time your overall outlay will be less, but the early stages will leave you short. That's why it's a good idea to tackle only a few items when you begin to stockpile. Amy D found this to be true for her situation as well. Stockpiling is gonna take some money, honey.

If you really need to bring the costs down right away Aldi, Walmart, warehouse clubs and bread outlet stores are your best bets.

[lrjohnson]

I live in an area with WinCo-they have great prices for many foods. I'm not sure that people in all areas know about WinCo. They don't beat every price everywhere (The breasd thrift store and grocery outlet do better on bread, and some frozen and canned goods), and other store's loss leaders are great, but WinCo is good for main grocery runs. Especially for those of us who don't have an Aldi's, and don't have or won't go to a Wamart.

I don't budget per category, I do a "grocery only" budget. I don't include toothpaste, dish detergent, etc = only edibles. Last month I spent $85.27 for myself. I budgeted way more (because on my Minimum Wage Challenge I don't get to go out to eat much) but spent less without trying. That even included $16 of club soda, an acknowledged luxury.

If I broke it down, the only way I could see doing it is "luxury food" versus "nutrition food." For example, I do a lot of protein from non-meat, so meat wouldn't be a good category, but then "protein" wouldn't work either-sometimes I get sausage as a flavoring, not as meat. But if I did basic versus luxury, I could aim to reduce luxury.

[pschale]

I have a very large pantry in my home and am putting shelves in one of my closets to store more stuff. I buy everything that I can on sale, from food to toilet paper to oil for the cars.

[Thrifty Ray]

I have been doing some stocking up...and was spending more than my budget each week....however, I am starting to see the benefits as I now have some weeks where groceries are just milk, bread, fruits and veggies because I have everything else...I am going to table the idea of breaking things down any further....and just continue to have some weeks that are higher, while others will are lower...and budget accordingly. I sure appreciate everyones input!!!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Originally Posted by Thrifty Ray

I am working at chipping away at our grocery budget and have a question. When you budget, do you break down how much money you have for different categories of food? In other words, do you plan a weekly budget for meat, dairy, frozen, household....or is this overkill?

...... But I do not track how much I spend on meat, how much on dairy, etc...I just shoot for spending less than "X" for all combined.

I was just curious if others break their budgets down ...or do you use a more 'overall grocery' budget?

I remember my mother doing it that way, but I don’t for food. I put altogether unless I want to track what spending in certain area for while. I have two food area , 1. food –out 2. food eaten or made at home. And these are separate Non-food items, pets, household, garden & junk food stuff, which I am tracking at the moment. For the things that I buy at the supermarket!

My pets have they own little amount to spend and I challenge myself to keep it below this.

[starving_student]

Reduce or give up meat.

[Ima saver]

I am on a low carb diet, so about the only thing I eat is meat!! I try to buy stuff when it is on sale, that dictates what we have for supper.

[pschale]

There are 2 diabetics in my house and another one with high cholesterol so I am having to try to fix meals that are good for 2 different diets. I need ideas!!

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by pschale

There are 2 diabetics in my house and another one with high cholesterol so I am having to try to fix meals that are good for 2 different diets. I need ideas!!

You may want to start a new thread for this question...More users will see it and be able to help that way!! Let me know if you need help to do it.

[starving_student]

Both will be served well by a vegetarian diet.

[Tree0164]

I have a budget of $300-$350 a month. I do not break it down by category but includes paper good and cleaning supplies from the supermarket. I stock up on meat when it is on sale and discounted.

[NoWayNovember]

I don't divide it up by type of food. I love sticking to a budget, but I just don't have the patience to divide it up that way.

My grocery budget doesn't include cleaning supplies since I make my own, and only occasionally laundry detergent. I spent $34.00 yesterday for 2 people for 7 days.

[flash]

I don't break it up. Keep the budget for "the grocery store".

Don't include Rx, but aspirin, etc., it's much easier to budget by the store, not the item. And EASY is a big part of sticking to a budget.

Several people have posted before that they keep a separate budget for "stockpiling". I've got a stockpile already, so I use one budget. It's actually helping, as I have to remember to USE the stockpile, and not just keep buying more when they have another sale!