Reducing the grocery bill question?

[PRICEPLUS]

Can you save more by eliminating things, buying generics, or using coupons.

I think that by eliminating cakes,cookies, and other such items the food budget can be helped a lot more than by the other methods. The other methods help save money too but I think elimination saves the most. Am I off base here?

[baselle]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

I don't think that you are off base at all. It'll also save your weight, too!

[robex]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

I agree with you. I do buy lots of generics, but eliminating the non essentials is the best money saver. I usually go grocery shopping without dh and kids--the results at the check out show a huge difference!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

hmm I think it would help dramatically, and since my house is out of choclolte chips I am gonna say it is the HARDEST! I WANT CHOCOLATE!!!

[jodi]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

In my experience, buying generics has saved me the most (especially at places like Aldis). I have eliminated virtually all prepared foods (cakes, cookies, doughnuts, crackers, etc.) from my grocery list as a result of going on the South Beach diet - and my grocery bill has skyrocketed because I have replaced them with fresh fruits and veggies and whole grain products, which are so much more expensive than highly processed foods. But it's worth the extra money to see those pounds slip away and know that I will be so much more healthier for it. I rarely use coupons because they tend to be for prepared food, and I cook nearly every meal from scratch.

[shadon]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

I've found the same thing as jodi m. DH has been on a very low carb, high protein diet for the past few months and it's a battle to keep to our grocery bill under budget because of the extra fruit and veg (plus potato, rice and pasta is off the menu and these things are super cheap and you get a lot of meals from them).

I shop for most of what I can at Aldi, it's sooo cheap, especially for the kids lunch items (compared to name brands at the regular supermarkets). I think elimination is the key money saver, though. My girls are on Summer school holidays and on Monday they left to spend 3 weeks with their Dad. I went grocery shopping yesterday and came in at $77.xx under budget for the week because I didn't have to buy all those lunchbox snacks, extra milk, extra fruit, etc.

[Ima saver]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

Do you notice that food that is low fat, no sugar seems to cost a lot more than it's counterpart? I am on a diet too and we are avoiding sugar. sugarfree food seems to cost a lot more.

[LittleGopher]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

Eliminating certain items (readymade and processed for the most part) has helped us a lot. I cook mostly from scratch too, as others have mentioned. I do use generics and store brands on a lot of foods in those inner aisles. Coupons only occasionally - store brands are cheaper where I shop and we try to use less processed foods (I too am trying out the South Beach diet with great success thus far, and fresh is the word!). I try to go alone and I make a list and try to stick to it (not fanatical, if there's a great buy on something we use, I'll get it.) I plan meals for the week, keep a stocked pantry, freezer and frig. Well, let's just say we will never starve. We can, and have, lived off of what we have for a month, when an unexpected money event happens, etc. (Of course, that was before South Beach- frozen vegies, I guess, for me.)

[locolorenzo24]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

I'm going to try to live off the meat/etc pantry stuff for a few weeks, maybe not hit the grocery store right away....except for snacks and drinks....Meal-wise, I should be set for a while...
I shop one store for meat, another for pantry, another for produce.
Also, I go to the store that lets you bag your own groceries and they usually are cheaper with better sales. I see a special on something I'm low on or something I usually get I stock up....A 6-pack of PS 94%FF popcorn usually runs 3.65, it was 1.86 last week!! (I bought 4 boxes!)
I need to start keeping coupons in my car....I keep forgetting to take them with me!

[chrysnblue]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

Why is it that the good stuff, ie fruits and veggies are sooo expensive? I cook from scratch too, with a family of four I have to get creative in meals, little ones are so picky! I rarely buy processed foods or snacks, usually the only things are cereal and crackers. I make cookies, cakes, waffles, etc from scratch with the kids. Sweets are treats an usually once every other month. As a little project we've started a little garden for easy to grow veggies that cost a bit more. The benefit we use organic seeds and soil, no chemicals. We don't have an organics section with a lot of choices near me. Plus the kids love it!

[Ima saver]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

I hate to say it , but I eat most of my dinners out, so I don't buy a lot of groceries. I did finally convinced my husband to give up his 6 bags of potato chips every week. Now he just has peanuts or pretzels. I brand the store brand pretzels for 97 cents. He has lost 35 pounds and I have saved money.

[katwoman]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

The key to all of this is consistency.

If you're going to coupon, it has to be consistent.

If you're going to do generics...be consistent.



I think the real problem is that everyone wants to find a way to save money on grocery, but can't figure out a way to start. Here's how I started: figure out what it is you like to eat daily/weekly. For me, I have to have cereal in the house so I cut out the cereal coups I like and waited for sales to use them. Do you know that since last year I haven't had to buy any more UNLESS it was the absolute cheapest price I had ever seen and was never likely to see again. As of this day, I can go another year on my stockpile!

The same thing can be done for soda and canned goods. Even frozen items like Lean Cuisine, ice cream, etc. This takes some dedication, but the payoff is definately there.

[PRICEPLUS]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

I thinl consistancy has a great dela to do with reducing the bills!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

you don't notice stale cereal? Some people don't, but I do, I have to have it fresh.

[katwoman]

Re: Reducing the grocery bill question?

you don't notice stale cereal? Some people don't, but I do, I have to have it fresh.

Honestly, no. I keep them in a colder room and since I like a lot of texture, I use a mixture of at least 4 different cereals in one bowl.

Really, I can't tell if there is a difference.