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Post by **Angie** on Sept 27, 2014 18:36:43 GMT
groceries WITHOUT couponing??? Or wasting gas money driving to a bunch of stores around town....
Dh may be losing his job in January and I want to figure out how to stretch our grocery budget now. I'd like to be able to buy the supplies for our meals and possibly a few items each week to store. I'd really like to be able to make full meals that we can just freeze and use later.
I spend about $150 each week on groceries (3 people, supplies for 5-6 dinners, 5-6 breakfasts, snacks, cat and dog food, cat litter). Dh is a meat-and-potatoes guy, ds would never eat a vegetable if he could help it. Ds hates tomato-based sauces.
I usually shop at WalMart for boxed and canned goods, Giant Eagle for meat and fresh veggies/fruits. I go to one and stop on the way home at the other. I'd rather not have to drive an extra 15-20 minutes one way to hit any other places.
And then, what should I start to stock up on?
Would it be worth looking up one of the stock-piling blogs (not the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it even if it feels like it ones, kwim?) and start following their directions?
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Post by SabrinaM on Sept 27, 2014 18:46:44 GMT
We just moved to a different state and coupon deals are few and far between.
We're habitual eaters in that we eat the same dozen or so meals in rotation. I started keeping track (in a notepad app in my phone) of the sale prices of the more $$ items or items we go through the most. It doesn't take long to recognize rock bottom sale prices when they appear in the store ad. I have two stores I frequent for different items.
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stellalou
Junior Member
Refupea #389
Posts: 75
Jun 25, 2014 23:42:56 GMT
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Post by stellalou on Sept 27, 2014 18:53:59 GMT
I make lists before shopping, and plan out meals- including lunches and breakfasts. I make homemade cookies and muffins instead of buying prepackaged snacks.
Every six months we buy a quarter cow- it is a lard spend up front but saves us tons of money in the long run.
I shop at Aldi a lot.
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Post by lorieann13 on Sept 27, 2014 18:54:03 GMT
We are a family of 4. Dd has celiac and allergy to soy, nuts, and dairy. Ds is on medical formula so I buy 6 arrowhead waters a week for him.
I do 2 meatless meals a week. This can be in the form of black bean tostadas with mexican rice, vegetable soup, potato soup, pasta with garden salad, breakfast dinner, bcr burritos with corn bread, taco salad bowls.
We only eat chicken and fish, oh and well ground turkey. I stock up when chicken is on sale. Chicken tighs for .99 a pound. I can get 3 meals for about $4. Chicken breasts $8 can get me 3 meals.
I do a few fall/winter beef meals like Sauerbraten but only when it is on super sale. And that always gives 2 meals.
I try to fix at least 2x a week a dinner that will also give 3 lunches for the next day.
I don't buy boxed food, except for gf muffin and pancake mix. Too hard to make right.
Everything is made from scratch.
I buy what is in season for fruits/veggies. I freeze my own fresh blueberries and strawberries. Sometimes peaches too.
Way cheaper than frozen bags.
I would get baking items when on sale - flour, sugar, etc. Also stocks, rice, even canned soups which starting soon can go 4 for $5. Serve that with a salad or grilled cheese and you're good to go. (I can no longer do that)
I would also keep a log (I do this) to see a pattern where you live for sales.
I cut out cereals as they are pricey. Eggs with fruit, or frozen homemade waffles/pancakes, oatmeal for dh.
No sodas. Just water and coconut milk for dd. Lemonade if its on sale.
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Post by anxiousmom on Sept 27, 2014 19:06:27 GMT
I having to be very careful with money also and groceries are the worst ever money suck. For me, what has really been working is making sure that we several vegetarian meals a week. It works for us, my family is okay with it. When the boys get tired of not having meat, they go to their dad's who feeds them lots of meat. LOL
Publix, where I shop, also has a new program that will allow you to digitally "clip" a coupon and associate it with your phone number. They recreate the coupons that are typically in all the circulars, and you just check off the ones you want to use. When you check out, you enter your phone number and it automatically applies those discounts to your totals. Takes about five minutes to clip and then you just enter a phone number at checkout.
I buy a lot of generic foods, Publix has amazing generics-some I like more than the name brand that they are based on.
How is your family with casseroles? Those stretch the budget too.
Meat is never a central focus for our meals. I rarely make, say chicken, as a dish unto itself. I tend to combine it with something else. For example, instead of making chicken enchiladas, I make chicken, black bean and other veggies (like corn and onions) enchaladas. I do that a lot. The kids don't even notice that they aren't really eating a lot of actual meat, but are getting plenty of protein from other sources as well.
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Post by Linda on Sept 27, 2014 19:20:36 GMT
I spend about what you do but I'm feeding 5 - 2 of whom are diabetic (me and DH) so cheap fillers such as bread, pasta, rice are limited for us.
Cook from scratch - it's cheaper and healthier.
Breakfast - I buy cereal, oatmeal and the big box of frozen waffles. The waffles would be the first to go if I needed to cut back. Cereal - I typically buy based on cost - we get the store brand usually, I'll occasionally pick up Kelloggs if they are on sale because I like getting the free books for Annabelle. $3/box is my max for cereal and I better be getting a big box for that price. I eat eggs for breakfast almost everyday and so does DS.
lunch - my youngest eats school lunch, my middle takes a lunchmeat/cheese sandwich and an apple every day, the oldest and DH eat leftovers and I either have eggs, lunchmeat and cheese or leftovers depending on what's available. I buy 2 loaves of bread each week - one that my middle child will eat (usually potato) and one that's lower in carb (typically melba thin rye) for me - a packet of swiss cheese slices (2.18 for 10 slices) and 1-2 packets of lunch meat (2.50/packet). I keep Peanut butter on hand and also home-canned jam but PBJ isn't a family favourite here so it's more a oops, no leftovers today thing.
Dinner - I buy meat on sale and we don't have it every night - my DH isn't one to complain about food so I'm lucky there. I have a rota of recipes and I try and balance more expensive ones (roast on Sunday usually- with whatever is on sale or marked down - pork, beef, whole chicken, corned beef...) with less expensive ones. We generally have 2 meatless and 1 fish dinner every week. Breakfast for dinner is always fun.
snacks - I don't buy snacks - I do bake now and then but I'm trying to get my family into the habit of snacking on apples, carrots/dressing, airpopped popcorn, hardboiled eggs instead. We only do dessert for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions
beverages - milk (and I shop around because milk at WM is 4.40/gal for storebrand and the convenience store is selling the brand name for 3.99) - it's used for cooking and at meals, we aim to meet but not exceed the rda (I don't drink milk but the rest do). Water is the beverage of choice here as well as homemade iced tea and hot tea. Soda is for special occasions not everyday.
I stock up on stuff that I know we use (meat, fish, shredded cheese especially) when it goes on sale.
But overall - you need to look at what YOU eat and find ways to make it cheaper or buy it cheaper. Because it's not a bargain if you buy/make it and no one will eat it, ya know.
If you post a week's worth of meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what you typically buy for snacks/drinks - I know I'll be happy to make suggestions and I'm sure other refupeas will too.
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Post by anxiousmom on Sept 27, 2014 19:28:17 GMT
I forgot one other thing...I stock up on buy-one get-one items that we use a lot of. I have a kid who loves pasta. LOVES it. When pasta is buy one-get one I buy enough pasta to make Italy happy.
I check out the BOGO items and if there is something that we don't always buy but like, I will plan a meal around that item.
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Post by GamGam on Sept 27, 2014 19:36:56 GMT
When my children were young, I would mix up a half gallon of powdered skim milk, and then combine it with equal amount of whole milk. When this was refrigerated overnight, the taste was so close to 2% milk that they drank it with no complaining about the taste. Saved quite a lot on milk.
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Post by **Angie** on Sept 27, 2014 19:50:48 GMT
Thanks, everyone. Dh is not dealing well with this, so when I get a chance, I'll come back and reply some more....
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Post by birukitty on Sept 27, 2014 20:02:07 GMT
Go vegan! We save a TON of money now that we've gone vegan since March of this year. A ton! I am always surprised by how little our grocery bill is every single time I check out and I only shop at two stores in town-Trader Joe's (where I buy very little) and Whole Foods (where I buy almost everything we eat, including the ground turkey meat I use to make my homemade cat food).
DH and I decided to go vegan after watching "Forks over Knives" the documentary on Netflix. Shortly thereafter the son of the doctor in the film, an author with two books Rip Esselstyn "The Engine 2 Diet" and "My Beef with Meat" came to our local Whole Foods to give a free lecture. He travels all around the country to various Whole Foods giving these lectures.
It's an idea. Watch the video. You'll learn what meat, and diary does to your body and why you want to avoid it. I can say I've never felt better in my life. My total cholesterol dropped from 259 to 187 and that was after only 2 months after being on the diet. Even my doctor was shocked! I'm not obese, but I am overweight. I'm 5 foot, 3 inches and weigh 153. I want to lose 25 more pounds to get me to 128. That's the perfect weight for me. I've been there before. I don't have high blood pressure or cholesterol. I wear a size L now, leaning really close to a medium.
Anyway, the diet isn't a diet just for awhile, it's a diet for life. You asked how to save money on groceries-this is how to do it. We eat the freshest and the healthiest we've eaten in years and we feel wonderful. DH has lost 20 pounds! He was very close to being diabetic. I haven't lost a pound. Not one. But, I am hypothyroid, and in the middle of menopause. I figure most women gain 20 pounds in menopause and I haven't gained 1 yet, so I'm ahead of the curve. I also don't exercise. I want to exercise badly, and will very soon. My doctor just started treating me for adrenal fatigue that was making me so exhausted taking a shower was a chore-I am now feeling a lot better thanks to the new supplements. I could tell a difference in the first 2 days so I know they are working and will be able to exercise soon.
Anyway, just an idea. Watch the documentary and see what you think. You will save a lot of money at least.
Debbie in MD.
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Post by birukitty on Sept 27, 2014 20:06:30 GMT
PS I know how you are feeling. DH was out of work for 8 months. He is in IT. It was really, really difficult. He's been at his new job now for about 2 months, and we are feeling very blessed and lucky. Please tell your DH not to take it personally. It is happening to everyone and everywhere. Please tell him to sign up for unemployment right away. DH was too proud too and wouldn't do it for 3 months-until I bickered and yelled at him to do it. Now he tells me I was right. He is good about doing that-letting me know when I was right.
I wish the best for you and your husband. It is tough on the whole family, but especially on our husbands. I will pray for you and your family that he finds a new job soon.
Debbie in MD.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 27, 2014 20:29:33 GMT
The grocery stores around here will price match with competitor stores, all you have to do is bring in the other store's ad and the cashier will make the price adjustment. I know you said no coupons, but if a grocery store in your area does double coupons it might be worth starting. One of the stores here does double coupons on Wednesdays or something, so if you typically buy things that coupons are out there for it can quickly make it worthwhile to change your habits a little bit.
If you do a quick search on Pinterest for freezer meals or crock pot meals you will come up with a lot of ideas. Some of them you cook and/or prep once and have enough stuff stockpiled for a week or more of dinners which saves you time and money! If you are cooking or prepping meals in bulk like this and you don't like couponing anyway, it might serve you well to get a membership and shop at Costco or Sam's where you can buy in bulk too. Since you're freezing it all right away you don't have to worry about fresh food going bad before you get around to eating it all.
I hope your family's situation turns around quickly! At least you have a little bit of advance notice, it's always worse when you suddenly find yourself out of work unexpectedly.
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Post by Zee on Sept 27, 2014 20:32:36 GMT
DO you have an Aldi? I trusted shopping there at first because when I was a kid, it was the bitter end to shop there. Dirty stores and gross food. It's not like that at all anymore, at least the ones I've been in recently! I can buy almost every single thing I need on my list other than a few specialty items, and I save a ton of money. At least 40% I'd guess.
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Post by SabrinaM on Sept 27, 2014 20:57:20 GMT
Cooking from scratch- yes!! So much cheaper and healthier. It's really how I learned to cook. I don't buy frozen dinners or boxed meals other than the very occasional frozen french fries or pizza. My daughter eats a can of soup once a week. Other than that, I find prepacked foods to be too salty.
I need a lot of protein due to my bariatric surgery (DS) so protein is a main part of our meal. One night a week I do eggs for dinner. Another night is "fend for yourself:" grilled cheese, soup, bowl of cereal etc.
I don't buy prepackaged cookies/snacks. Once a week I make a large batch of cookies/brownies and freeze them in baggies for lunch snacks.
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 0:25:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2014 21:12:29 GMT
do you use the walmart "savings catcher" app? I already have a gift card for $4 and I've only been using it 2 weeks.
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Post by penny on Sept 27, 2014 21:12:53 GMT
Sending good vibes your way... I do what another Pea mentioned - use half meat and half beans for recipes... For things like taco meat, you don't even have to worry about hiding it because beans don't seem out of place... If meant is on sale I'll use the 1lb called for and can double the amount just by adding a large can of beans... If meat isn't on sale and I want to make 'tacos', then it's a big can of beans, can of corn, some onion, maybe peppers if they're around and need to be cooked up... Roasting veg helps too... Sometimes you just need to get a different flavour from the 'same old'... If I'm making the meatless tacos for example, I put the corn in the pan first so it gets toasted/blackened - not a huge deal, but does change up the flavour... The easier way for me to save money, is to stop buying things to drink... Juice, pop, milk, etc... It just goes so fast... I don't mink powdered milk so that's an option for me, otherwise I buy whatever milk is on sale and skip the juice/pop stuff... Avoiding snack foods, or those individually wrapped serving type foods has helped too... I can make a huge bowl of jello or pudding for way less than buying the individual cups - the investment in small Tupperware containers pays off pretty fast if you find you use a lot of 'individual' things... Also works for things like applesauce, fruit ups, etc... Sometimes it's just looking at what you have differently... Old bread works great to make your own croutons, so why not have a 'gourmet' salad night - all as an excuse to use up that bread... I'll make extra of some plain things too... If ground meat is on sale, I'll make up extra meatloaves, slice them, then freeze them... You can eat it as meatloaf, but I've also used them as a 'burger', chopped them up and mixed them with onions, mushrooms, spices, and a cheap jar of spaghetti sauce for a quick/last minute pasta dinner... (Actually, it's now how I make spaghetti sauce because I get compliments on it... Who'd have guessed...lol) If you can - and it's cheaper (sometimes the cost of the ingredients can make buying something plain and fancying it up yourself cheaper), make batches if things like spaghetti sauce, chilli, stews, etc and freeze them... Depending on the time of year, it's often cheaper for me to buy a basic, on sale spaghetti sauce and add more veg and spice to it... But my mom waits until she can get all the stuff on sale and does up a huge all homemade batch then... For snacks, I stick to popcorn... There are a bunch of flavouring recipes online so if you wanted to get fancy, you can change it up too... Simple things - I always think back to the kind of stuff my grandma would make because in her era budget was definitely front and center... So rice crispy treats (she's sometimes fancy those up with a thin spread of pb on top and a drizzle of chocolate)... She would also make these no-bake cookies that had oats, pb, cocoa, and sugar(?) in them... Jello and pudding would go into popsicle molds and be frozen... She does a chocolate mint pudding popsicle that is amazing I find I use more rice when I'm trying to save more... And I tend to shop for staples and basics, and make them interesting with spices, rather than buying more unique ingredients or sauces... Around here, root veg can be found pretty cheap so learning how to use them more helps... Different ways to boil, roast, bake, sauté potatoes, carrots, parsnips, rutabagas... And making both hot and cold dishes from them - potato salad, carrot slaw, roasted parsnips, rutabaga and carrot mash... I think roast or grilled root veg might work for your dh and ds - a lot of them can pass for 'potato-like'... As for meats, learning about which cuts are cheaper and finding the best ways to cook them will go a long way... Some of those cheaper cuts only seem to cook up well one way - but that's where different spices could help add some variety... If you find that there's something that you guys 'need', then consider spending a bit of money now if it means being able to save later... A chest freezer, a slow cooker, etc... You have some time to scope out the sales, see if you can find one second hand, etc... For cat food, I called Royal Canin and asked them how long I could safely store there foods in the freezer and how they recommended doing it... My cat has a tender tummy so switching to a cheaper brand wasn't something I wanted to do... They made a few suggestions and now I can stock up on larger/more bags/cans and still know it's safe... As for kitty litter, I clean the letterbox daily... It's a clumping litter and I find that if I clean it even every other day, enough digging has been done that some clumps break apart... Those little bits don't clean out easily and so it's dirtier faster... Once a day makes a difference that I notice... I also hoard the stuff when it's on sale - I'll buy up a years worth (12 containers)... The containers stack easy in a corner of my basement - I save about 55% and I also don't have to think about shopping for it for a year...lol A friend buys litter from a farm supply type place... It comes in huge bags - like kennel size bags, that she pours into a big Rubbermaid bin and then pulls from there... It's too far away did me to be practical, but if it's an option... Making things like jams, salsa, pickles, etc can help too... Not the most organized post, but hopefully there's a few idea that help...
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Post by **Angie** on Sept 27, 2014 22:43:17 GMT
I just wanted to say that I really appreciate everyone's help. I just have a second to skim your posts, but I've already gotten some ideas.
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Post by lucyg on Sept 27, 2014 22:44:46 GMT
I find something as simple as shopping the weekly sales helps a lot. You don't have to plan anything more than a week in advance, just check the flyer to see what's on sale this week. You can always buy extra meat on sale and freeze it, too, or extra packaged items if they're a really good buy. There's one specific kind of toilet paper I like and it's normally $10.49/pkg at my (overpriced) supermarket. It's on sale for $6.99 this week and I bought as many as I could cram into my cart. Plus I got another $1.50 off one package because the store knows I buy that brand and they gave me a custom coupon for it. I don't ever want to have to pay $10.49 for toilet paper just because I didn't buy enough when it was on sale. The other thing that helps me save money is not letting things go to waste. Still working on that one! I buy too much produce and end up throwing half of it away. Or letting meat sit too long in the fridge till it goes bad. If I buy more fruit than I need at Costco because it's just as cheap as a smaller amount at the supermarket, but it's more than we can reasonably expect to use, I try to pass some along to a friend or neighbor so it doesn't go to waste. That may not save me money, but on the other hand, I don't garden, and my friends and neighbors bring me their tomatoes, lemons, zucchini, etc. Ground beef and sausage can be cooked in bulk and portioned into baggies for the freezer. A whole chicken or parts can be roasted, boiled, nuked or whatever and the meat pulled off the bones for future use. Then you can make chicken stock virtually free from the bones and a few aging vegetables. It speeds up dinner making when you have some meat already cooked, too. My extended family loves my New Mexican rice and refried beans, and we sometimes eat those together (plus salad or zucchini) as a meatless meal. I put a lot of cheese in the beans, but otherwise it's a really basic, cheap, healthy, and super-delicious meal. Eggs, especially if you can get them on sale, or in bulk at Costco, are another cheap, easy, tasty source of protein. You can make soup from practically whatever is in the fridge and pantry, and that "free" homemade chicken stock or purchased broth. (I also make stock from the ham bone after Easter and it makes fantastic split pea soup with a little of the leftover ham, too. Or the broth leftover from cooking corned beef.)
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Post by lorieann13 on Sept 27, 2014 22:55:44 GMT
Spreaking of potatoes, I can get a 10 pound bag of russet potatoes for 2.98-3.49. I use those potatoes for mashed potatoes, steak fries, baked potatoes, breakfast potatoes, and a hash. I usually get 6-7 sides from that one bag.
Also you can sub in half potatoes and half turnips for mashed root veggies. A little sweeter and very creamy. You can also do it with carrots too.
Green beans can be fixed a lot of yummy ways.
I would start now on incorporating more veggies to get everyone used to them and see which ones are a hit, which way they liked them cooked...
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 0:25:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2014 23:01:03 GMT
When my children were young, I would mix up a half gallon of powdered skim milk, and then combine it with equal amount of whole milk. When this was refrigerated overnight, the taste was so close to 2% milk that they drank it with no complaining about the taste. Saved quite a lot on milk.
i can respect this "tip" if the situation is truly dire, but having lived this as a kid (and yes, it was a dire situation for a family of 6 on a pastors wages) we told my mom it was "so close"...in truth it was nasty and turned me off from milk until I was in my 30s. Now I drink whole milk when I drink it...and that's not often. I have no ability to tolerate skim milk. What's the point? Just have water. (Rant over.)
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
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Post by georgiapea on Sept 27, 2014 23:12:32 GMT
Another reminder to run all your Walmart receipts through Savings Catcher for the rebates. I'm up to $8.76 in about 3 weeks.
Feline Pine has become our kitty litter. It absorbs the urine odor fantastically, and the poops can be scooped out daily. It doesn't clump but the peed on areas break down to sawdust and there are zero stinky clumps stuck to the bottom of the litter box. I feel it's more economical than clumping gray litter.
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Post by penny on Sept 27, 2014 23:23:36 GMT
When my children were young, I would mix up a half gallon of powdered skim milk, and then combine it with equal amount of whole milk. When this was refrigerated overnight, the taste was so close to 2% milk that they drank it with no complaining about the taste. Saved quite a lot on milk.
i can respect this "tip" if the situation is truly dire, but having lived this as a kid (and yes, it was a dire situation for a family of 6 on a pastors wages) we told my mom it was "so close"...in truth it was nasty and turned me off from milk until I was in my 30s. Now I drink whole milk when I drink it...and that's not often. I have no ability to tolerate skim milk. What's the point? Just have water. (Rant over.) I think that's important... It's important that you can still find ways of enjoying foods and having some treats... After Christmas/New Years we stock up on those boxes of frozen hors d'oeuvres during the sales... Some of those, veggies and dip, some popcorn and we've got a movie night that doesn't feel cheap at all... And I agree with the poster who mentioned started to incorporate more veggies now... Sweet potatoes fries maybe... Roast carrots are sweet, so they might be easy to sell too... Start with something that isn't too different or that they don't mind, and try different ways of cooking it... If they like it different ways, you can pick one of their favourites and substitute/add in a new veg... Sell it as "just like X that you like"...
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Post by lucyg on Sept 27, 2014 23:24:39 GMT
When my children were young, I would mix up a half gallon of powdered skim milk, and then combine it with equal amount of whole milk. When this was refrigerated overnight, the taste was so close to 2% milk that they drank it with no complaining about the taste. Saved quite a lot on milk.
i can respect this "tip" if the situation is truly dire, but having lived this as a kid (and yes, it was a dire situation for a family of 6 on a pastors wages) we told my mom it was "so close"...in truth it was nasty and turned me off from milk until I was in my 30s. Now I drink whole milk when I drink it...and that's not often. I have no ability to tolerate skim milk. What's the point? Just have water. (Rant over.) LOL. My ex-SIL's biggest complaint about her childhood was that her mom served powdered milk, lumps and all. And these were not people who struggled financially. She was positively traumatized. I'm actually wondering how much it would save to mix powdered nonfat milk with whole milk to get something equivalent to 2%. You're spending more for whole milk than you would for 2% and then you have to pay for the powdered milk to cut it with. So the end savings are what? maybe pretty negligible? I don't know, I'm just guessing. GamGam, question ... how much money did you save doing this?
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Post by BeckyTech on Sept 27, 2014 23:36:12 GMT
Do you have a Food Saver? If not, you might want to consider a purchase of one. If you are a member of Sam's or Costco, you can buy those huge blocks of cheese, cut and repackage them, and keep them nice and fresh over time. I also think those green bags really helps keep produce fresh longer. Do you have a Target nearby? When I compare the prices of some things I buy at Target and Walmart, they are often the same. Add in the 5% discount of having a Target Red Card (I have a debit card, but you can get a credit card) and throw in some coupons that are on the Target site, and add those to sales and you can have some very significant savings. They even have coupons for fresh fruits and veggies sometimes. If a Target is not nearby, then never mind. But Walmart has the same thing. It doesn't take long to scan the electronic coupons, see if you are interested in anything and print them out. It also doesn't take much time to scan I Heart the Mart to make sure you don't miss the really great deals available at Walmart that week. (He even includes recipes as well as links to coupons you can print.)
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Post by rumplesnat on Sept 27, 2014 23:37:32 GMT
What are your other grocery store options? I highly recommend Aldi's if you have one close by. My dad was a grocery store manager for over 40 years and since he retired, he works part time as a price checker for all of the local stores. Out of our local major chains of Wegmans, Tops and Giant Eagle, Giant Eagle is always the most expensive by leaps and bounds. Every single time. Even with their sales and gas discount, they are still more expensive in the long run.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Sept 28, 2014 0:30:24 GMT
i can respect this "tip" if the situation is truly dire, but having lived this as a kid (and yes, it was a dire situation for a family of 6 on a pastors wages) we told my mom it was "so close"...in truth it was nasty and turned me off from milk until I was in my 30s. Now I drink whole milk when I drink it...and that's not often. I have no ability to tolerate skim milk. What's the point? Just have water. (Rant over.) LOL. My ex-SIL's biggest complaint about her childhood was that her mom served powdered milk, lumps and all. And these were not people who struggled financially. She was positively traumatized. I'm actually wondering how much it would save to mix powdered nonfat milk with whole milk to get something equivalent to 2%. You're spending more for whole milk than you would for 2% and then you have to pay for the powdered milk to cut it with. So the end savings are what? maybe pretty negligible? I don't know, I'm just guessing. GamGam, question ... how much money did you save doing this? This is exactly why I don't drink milk now as well. It was so gross and never quite got as cold as regular milk.
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Post by bianca42 on Sept 28, 2014 0:41:54 GMT
While the powdered milk may be gross to drink, it's not bad to cook with.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2014 0:48:12 GMT
Price matching saves us quite a bit of money. It takes about half an hour to go through the flyers and make lists and get everything organized, but I think it's worth it.
I don't do it, but there are blogs and information out there about tracking sales on basic supplies (canned beans, toilet paper, etc) so you can figure out how much you need to buy at a sale price to stock up until the next sale.
REALLY pay attention to the per-unit price!! The biggest box is NOT always the cheapest!! More and more we are finding that the biggest package is actually more expensive per unit than smaller packages at regular price.
Check portion size and figure out how to stretch more expensive ingredients. Sure, maybe DH could eat half a chicken at each dinner, but is it really necessary? No. Especially for more expensive ingredients, take a look at recommended portions. Maybe other dishes (like a pasta, or stir-fry) would portion out meat and make it feel like more, while eating a more reasonable portion.
Not sure if you buy pre-packaged/pre-made foods, but figuring out how to make your own replacements is really not that hard and can save a lot of money. Stuff like snacks, frozen sandwiches, etc can be made much less expensively by making your own. Portion, wrap, and freeze.
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Post by melanell on Sept 28, 2014 2:03:28 GMT
I *used* to coupon, but stopped after my 2nd son was born. Which I realize is probably bad timing, but that's how it worked out. I do still sue target coupons, though. I do shop at more than one store each week, but that is because there are several all within a one mile loop, so I can hit them one after another and not spend a ton of extra gas and mileage to go to all of them. It's so much easier to do that now that DS [HASH]2 is in preschool some mornings. I absolutely save money by doing that. I can tell you that any week that I do not hit that loop and I just shop at the one closest store, I spend considerably more money. Meal planning also saves us money. And again, by a considerable amount. Because if we don't plan, then wind up back at the closest store over and over again, buying things at the highest prices and likely grabbing extras, too. Not wasting food is probably the biggest place we can still save money. We lose food more than ever now because we have a new larger fridge and food just gets out of sight out of mind in there. I keep trying different methods of storing things in there and I hope eventually we'll find the winning arrangement. We cook as much at home as we can. We try to buy as little convenience and prepackaged food as we can. (I admit that now that my kids are packing their own lunches, I have been buying more individually packaged items such as yogurt and applesauce, but I hope to slowly transition them both to our own containers full of those items instead.)
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Post by ceepea on Sept 28, 2014 2:18:38 GMT
I am carefully watching this thread. I cannot help you as I am probably the worst grocery shopper ever. I buy for 4 people, all adults the youngest is 18. Well maybe the 18 year old is my problem, but my grocery bill every single week is over 300.00!!!! I spend between 20-30 dollars on yoghurt alone. Me and my 2 kids have about 2 cups each a week. The boys are milk drinkers and we go through 3 gallons a week. No one but me will even look at a bean.
Love all the great ideas!!
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