Grocery shopping experiment

ellelitellelit · **Grocery shopping experiment**

so i had an idea for a grocery shopping experiment. usually i spend 150 every 2 weeks just on me. sometimes less depending on if i dont need tp, laundry soap garbage bags etc. well i had a lump sum of money come last month, and i thought i would try spending 300 is for the whole month, and see if that works out better.

well, i shopped like crazy, got all of the stuff for my month menu and all of the household stuff i was out of. now, i'm through week 2, and i still have enoguh food to last me for a month lol. so as it looks now, it seems like this will last me for 6 weeks, if not more... just wondering if anyone shops big and sees how long they can make it stretch?

edited for 7am grammar issues lol.

supanerdstef · 11-26-2007, 10:36 AM

We only have $200 for a month for a family of 5 and Im pretty able to staywithin that budget. Some times it lasts longer. but thats only if i get things on a MAJOR sale.

SAHMto3boys · 11-26-2007, 11:22 AM

$200 for a family of 5??? How is that possible???

We are a family of 4 eaters! (our 5th is only 3 months old) We spend about $150 a week!

I haven't really wanted to do a big monthly trip mainly because that requires coming up with a monthly menu! I'm still working on the weekly ones! I am planning on creating weekly menu plans that I can just switch around, so it's possible I'll decide to do the monthly trip when I'm ready!

I do imagine you can save some money just by buying in bulk, etc! If I can get my menu's planned the I would be a lot more efficient! I did buy a lot of meat at the last meat sale so I am stocked, but since I have NO idea what I'd make for the month I don't think I'll be trying your grocery shopping experiment this month - maybe next month!!

I'm interested to hear how it goes! Do you have the monthly menu planned??? Do you have to go back weekly to buy milk & fruit? Or will you be staying out of the stores for good?

supanerdstef · 11-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Oh its very possible.Not easy but very possible. I buy things when they are on major sale in bulk. like right now I have about 20+ boxes of stuffing that i got for .39 cents each- a ton of augrate (SP) potatoes for like .39 cents each. I was able to stock up on the snacks when Target had a sale on Chips and i got fritos and cheetos for .50 cents each. I get all of my personal items for cheap with coupons because i get them on sale with coupons (like the last ones i bought for .29 cents) I buy my hamburger and chicken at sams I cannot remember the cost of chicken. but the hamburger is 17 or so for 10lbs. and i break that into 9 meals. I eat mostly veggies so we save alot on me not eat much meat (i dont care for it alot) asfor fresh foods most of it is frozen. like frozen veggies- and some frozen fruits. We make alot of casseroles- which makes it even cheaper.
i dont know if this would really affect my costs or not but My kids are 6, 5 and 4 years old.

araefinn · 11-26-2007, 12:26 PM

WOW, I could never do $200 per month for five people. My older boys eat a lot (meals and snacking) plus my dh eats enough for two people. I agree that stocking up on things like meat when it is on sale is one way to save money. I have never got hamburger from Sam's because I am not a huge fan of Walmart's. But I do know that if you buy it by the case, it is roughly $112 for 80 lbs of hamburger. This was about a month ago, so I do not know what the price is now. But I thought that was a decent price. I do buy my boneless skinless chicken breasts at Sam's-Tyson brand. But I wonder if Sam's also does that by the case. I know that they also do some other meats by the case, I just can not remember what. I too stock up on as many boxed/frozen items when they are on sale and I use coupons as much as I can. I just know I could not do $200 especially where on milk alone we go thru 12-15 gallons of milk!

supanerdstef · 11-26-2007, 12:35 PM

I didnt factor in the milk- even thouh technically i should have. we pay for milk (we consider that a touch up food bc its bought so often) generally from either the money i get for occasionally babysitting or if i sell something online. so its not directly taken from the grocery budget of our check.

tango · 11-26-2007, 03:24 PM

I am also impressed that you spend only $200 a month. Right now I spend about $75-100 a week for just DH and myself bc we have a one month old and I do not factor her formula into this. And we have not gone out to dinner (except on my b-day) since she was born. My fridge looks so empty bc we only eat what I have bought for the week. Dh spends about $20 a week on food at work and I bring my lunch. It takes alot of discipline to plan meals for the week, especially working full time. When I stockpile, I forget what I have!

lms · 11-26-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supanerdstef

We only have $200 for a month for a family of 5 and Im pretty able to staywithin that budget. Some times it lasts longer. but thats only if i get things on a MAJOR sale.

Wow that is great!! We are a family of Four and I'm trying to spend only $200 to $250 month. (last month I spend $350.00 did not plan meals) I just planned my meal for this week. I went to the market to buy some of the things I need and I spend $68.00 and I did get every thing I need. I will probably spend another $35.00 for this week. I think I will have left overs for each meal so I will freeze them for next week. I probably will not spend as much next week. We will see.
I have two small boys 5 and 6 years old and the do not eat alot, my husband is the bigest eater, so I think for right now I will be able to spend $200 -$250 a month.

ember15 · 11-26-2007, 05:47 PM

Grocerys we tend to spend quite a bit for only 3 but still end up spending more but then I end up having non editables in my grocery cart so about $50 a week and a monthly costco trip but the costco trip factors in things like diappers, pet food, and sometimes clothing and gifts Still we do ok if we can stay away from the real danger area for us and that is Eating out!

SAHMto3boys · 11-26-2007, 07:41 PM

For those of you feeding your families on such tiny budgets, do you include non-food items? TP, etc?? What kind of meals do you cook? Meatless? Or do you ONLY buy when on sale, etc???

I'm so impressed!!!