I'm trying to purge our freezer and use up some stuff so I'm not spending money on groceries when I don't have to this week. So far we've polished off some take out pizza from New Years (that I froze) and Chalupa. I've tried a grocery budget in the past and let it slide after a couple of months. I REALLY want to try it again. I remember how free it felt to not feel like I as spending too much at one time because I knew that there was set total amount I couldn't go over. Not sure how that "free" feeling faded to the point that I gave up doing it.
I also want to try meal planning. Again, I tried it before and gave up after a couple lame attempts. I think my excuse was, "Well, but sometimes we go to Costco spare of the moment for dinner...or sometimes I have more leftovers than I thought so I don't need to use the ingredients I bought for Wednesday's meal". I know these are stupid excuses and that good planning would only help me spend less.
I've tried googleing the average that a family of four spends per month, but have yet to find it. I know this number varies as some families go organic (which would obviously up the overall bills). I know I could probably track our spending for a month, then go from there, but I'm a little impatient and want to start something NOW. :)
Any advice? Tips on how you do it????
5 comments:
I try to plan my menu and grocery shop on the weekend. I sometimes plan my menu around things I already have or things on sale at Staters. I have a binder of recipes and recipes I want to try. I'll sometimes look through it for things to make, or Pinterest. If I don't menu plan then I definitely spend more on groceries. Simple menus are usually much cheaper than things with more ingredients. I will sometimes make something that I know will have leftovers and then plan that into the week too.
As for a budget, we do have a number we try to stick to. If I entertain, I usually go over my budget.
That's a whole other sticky thing for me, Jessica. How would one ever factor in having someone over for dinner or bringing a meal to someone into a budget? I guess maybe you just don't count those things and only count what YOUR family eats????
We commissary shop so I only shop once every 2 weeks! So I sort of meal plan like I keep everything on hand to make enough meals for the 2 weeks I just don't plan the day too much in advance. I know Monday is burritos and either saturday or Sunday is pizza(we make our own no take out)other than that I plan as I go. As far as fresh veggies go I bring them home and prep them so they last longer! You can dice and freeze onions, and a few other things we just purchase frozen. Like the normandy veggies from costco, the berry mix and whole strawberries. We also get lunch meat at costco and freeze one or two of them to make them last.
Our budget is roughly $600-700 a month and that includes lunches that are packed and dinner for my hubby on school nights. Our eating out budget is minimal we allow for 1-2 meals out as a family a pay period. That also includes cleaning supplies and laundry and such as we buy it all at the commissary. I also coupon(no not like the crazies on tv!) but I clip and use only items that we truly use like mixes, meats(foster farms coupins were in last sunday's paper)cleaning supplies and just what we normally use. A lot of people get lured in by try this its new coupons but its not usually budget friendly.
When you make some of the fancier recipes on line and in magazines it gets expensive on the bill I look for recipes that use things we have or we like with lower calories. I also crockpot a lot!(with sports thats a must) I use www.skinnytaste.com, www.thecrockpotblog.com and food company websites I get weekly emails with recipes and monthly coupons.
You always want to leave a small cushion in your budget for guests, for taking meals to friends or trying something new jsut try not to go over that cushion or coupon to make the money even out. For example yesterday I did my 2 weeks(I just have to hit staters for a good deal on juice and cuties)and I spent $283(I cleared out all of our old meats at the beginning of the year so its high to replenish my stock)but I used $26 in coupons.
You can also stock up on shelf stable items when they are on sale so that you don't have to buy those later on. Like during the holidays cookie mix was on sale and I had a coupon that made them 0.89 each. So I bought 8 of them I am using them this Sunday to make cookies for church. I get BBQ sauce and ketchup durring summer they are cheapest then so you are not buying them at full price in the winter.
Its all about finding what works for your family and making it work. It took me a while to make our system to now where its running super smooth!
You've already got some great advice here, but to add in what we do...
I meal plan for a month, shop every two weeks for meals, but still have to go to the grocery store on the off weeks for staples like milk, bread, and eggs.
Our budget is $600/month including Kyle's lunches, girls' lunches, snacks, breakfasts, and dinners. And, I have noticed that groceries are way more expensive here than they were in CA, especially fresh produce. =P
If we have people come over, I may switch to a fancier meal, but keep to something that is on the meal plan. If I volunteer to take a meal, I just make double of whatever the meal is the night before I plan to go.
Hope that helps.
And, I've been meaning to ask you, what are the amazing healthy muffins you make for Cam's lunch? I am looking to add more variety to Ava's lunches for preschool and they have a no peanut rule =P, so I'm struggling to think outside of turkey sandwiches. Any tips??
Wow! You got some great advice here! I'M inspired too!
For the meals you take to people, maybe you could put that in a separate category--like "ministry expenses"--so it wouldn't confuse your grocery budget.
--Mom
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