Yes I know how astronomical the price would be but has anyone ever done this to save on gas, time, etc? How much did you save? Would you do it again? How much did you spend?

When dh and I first met and married, we always did our grocery shopping like this. We would buy everything in bulk and we had/have 3 freezers so it was no problem. We would go by and pick up milk and eggs and other pershible stuff as needed.

Now that I am off on wed I go every 2 weeds. I told dh last week that now that summer is here I want to start going every month again.

Honestly I don't have the exact figures, but I do know that I spend more now than I did then. I know that prices have went up a lot, but it didn't seem like i wasted as much. Because I knew that I had to make it last, and now I just know that I will be going back so i am not as careful about wasting.

I only get paid the first of the month so I do as much shopping as I can that first week and load up for the month. I go back to the store for bread, milk and other dairy, and good meat deals. I find it saves because I'm less likely to wander the aisles shopping, and then mysteriously food I don't really need ends up in my cart.

I REALLY want to try this! I've been thinking about it for a while and trying to watch how much we go through in a month. There are certain things we NEED monthly - like oatmeal (we all eat it every morning) toilet paper, paper towels, etc. I've been trying to keep track so I can get a really good list.

I'm planning to go price Sams to see if it would be any cheaper. I would LOVE to go once a month to Sam's for our BIG shopping trip and then maybe 2 weeks later a quick trip to Wal Mart for the parishables. I'd LOVE to get away with only 2 trips to the grocery store a month.

I'm interested to see what others say - those who do it... do they save money? I'm REALLY excited to try this!!!

__________________
Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

It didn't really work for me. First I like to cherry pick the sales and those come out weekly and second it is just too much for me. I like doing a big shopping trip about one every other week. So about twice a month.

I've been wanting to try this.

I do it all the time. I spend about $300. I hit Aldi's, Sam's and HyVee all in one day.

__________________
~Happiness is a large family~

I don't think this would work for me. I like fresh veggies and bread. I know if I go in the store for that I will buy the sale items too. So in the long run it would cost me more. I would love to have the will power some of you have to do this. Do you do the once a month cooking as well?

__________________
Want to save some green? Join a coupon train.

It works for us! Since the twins have been born, this is pretty much how we shop. We do bulk shopping at Sam's once a month...get everything we need from dairy to meats, veggies, fruits, cleaning, paper products, snacks, rice, potatoes, pretty much everything. The only time we go back to the store is to buy fresh milk and bread which ends up being about once or twice a month.
A lot of the time, we go shopping on a Friday or Saturday and I make up a bunch of meals to put in the fridge (if we'll use it with in a matter of a few days) or to freeze and take out for later.
We are a family of 7. DH, myself, 6 yr. old, 4 year old, 10 month old and twins who will be 5 months soon...we ALWAYS spend less than $400 a month on all of our grocieries, paper products, formula (10 month old drinks it, not the twins), cleaning products, diapers (we need A LOT of diapers!!!)

Before the twins were born, there were months that I was spending just under $300. Lately I've been buying a few more "convieniance" foods that are easy prep, so that adds a little to the money spent. I think now that they are getting older, it will be easier for me to go back to the 'natural' all from scratch meals I was making before.

I save lots of money by shopping once a month. it works for us. It saves us time (we spend about 1 1/2 hours shopping once a month, where before when I'd shop once a week, I'd be at the store for 1 hour once a week), it saves us money (it has saved us up to $150 a MONTH!!!! PLUS, we're paying less for gas) and it saves my sanity. I am more prepared, I have meals for the month planned out and ready to go, so there's no stress about what to make for dinner.

I am a big fan of once a month shopping!

__________________
One happy wife and mommy!!!

OK, Me&My2girls... I'm impressed!

Do you have a monthly menu? Do you change it up every month or just keep it the same? Or do you just buy a bunch and figure out what to make with it as you go?

As for Sam's... Do you find you get good savings there over Wal Mart? I've been thinking of doing this for a while now, just haven't come up with a good menu plan yet. Can't get over that hurdle.

As for the cooking day and freezing... what types of dinners are you making??? If YOU can do it on less than $400, surely I can... right? We only have 3 kids... 2 are still in diapers but none using formula. (yet - this could change since my youngest is in the 1st%ile and they had me supplement with ds2 when he was at less than 1%.)

Oh, do you guys buy any drinks?? We go through about 8 2-liters a week. What about breakfast. DH & I generally eat Oatmeal and the boys LOVE Oatmeal Bars. We go through about 2 boxes of Oatmeal & 3 boxes of Oatmeal To-Go Bars a week. I'm wondering if this is where I need to think about cooking from scratch!!!

__________________
Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13