I went shopping a couple days ago and spent around $80. I’m trying to just go shopping every 2 weeks, as this helps with not wasting my time and me not buying too much junk food. I still go shopping in between these weeks for milk, fruits, vegetable and bread of course and spend around $20.
Anyways, this grocery challenge for our budget is still going really good. This will put our monthly grocery budget to around $200 a month! Now if only we didn’t eat out so much! The BF still gets fast food nearly everyday because he just wakes up and either eats something at his work or needs to eat something on the go. I’m terrified to calculate our eating out amount right now, but I guess I have to soon.
I haven’t been making food EVERYDAY, but for the most part I am cooking. I’m trying to come up with new meals everyday, and it is difficult.
How has your grocery shopping been going?
Michelle P says
I know, I always forget stuff! I've been better with making a list now though.
Live Simply- Live We says
We are around 270, but i include all hba, and home goods in that category.
Holly says
We've been doing really well. You read about the great find I got the other day. I'm still trying to find some really good winter meals. We're trying to get down to shopping every two weeks too. But…I always forget something!! haha
Newlymeds says
Good for you and cooking! I do the same thing and stalk up doing big grocery shopping twice a month and get a few little things every week.
~Carla~ says
Our grocery costs right now are very low because we have so much food in the house… I'm not really shopping this week for much, will need fresh veggies, but that's about it. 🙂
Michelle P says
Thanks Newlymeds! And Carla, that's what I need this week also.
Allison says
I need to work on getting my budget down. We spend around $350 a month on groceries but eat at home most week nights & some weekends. Meal planning has really helped me. I go shopping every week. Maybe shopping every 2 weeks will help. Thanks for the idea!
Elle Sees says
i'm cutting out red meat, since i've had food poisoning 6xs this yr. and i plan on going meatless on mondays.
Eric Finlay says
I haven't been keeping track this month, it's been really bad for eating out (lunches on campus). Got a killer deal on some ground beef two days ago, so that's a plus.
Alex M says
I've been doing more "periodic" shopping — going to the store when I need to. But I still base it on one bigger trip. IMO, two big things to strive for: 1. eat everything you buy. 2. Make up ingredients ahead so you can pull a meal together fast. If you made up/baked a small pan of eggs and cheese with sausage or bacon, your BF could cut out as square each morning, nuke it and have it over toast. That's cheaper and healthier than fast food.I also have to make sure I provide a fast food alternative for breakfast and lunch. My guy gets lazy too!
working.for.money says
Was doing some work in the driveway today. Van pulled up in front of the house and driver asked if I wanted to buy steaks. Said he had extra and would get rid of them "at a loss" for $3 a cut. Figure I'd wait to next grocery trip to get my protein.
Lisa says
Sometimes it is hard to always cook at home. But menu planning does help. You will feel better when you do actually add up the eating out costs. At least you will know.
Jane says
I have much better control of my grocery spending these days – I'm trying to only go every two weeks also and sticking to my list. In between just the necessities, bread, milk, salad. So far so good.
Tanner says
My shopping has been spotty, to say the least. I am trying to push it for shopping every 3 weeks and it is going poorly. As for the BF, have you tried looking at some to-go things he can just grab before he heads to work? Like breakfast burritos (they freeze wonderfully and defrost in 2-3min!) or muffins and pre-made sandwiches. Eating fast food is not only expensive, but unhealthy, so perhaps it would be worthwhile to look into to-go foods you can make and save on.
Stephanie says
Awesome job keeping the grocery bill low! But yeah, the eating out calculations could make or break the food budget. 😉 We've barely been going out to eat, so our grocery bill was pretty high in November, I think close to $350. But I guess that's not bad since I think we only went out to dinner once or twice the whole month!We need to be better about planning meals for the whole week. We'll think of two or three things we want to make, get stuff for that, and then just improvise the other nights. One thing I really want to do is start making soup, chili, etc. in bulk and freeze it. It's cheap and makes for quick, easy (and healthy!) meals when paired with grilled cheese (for soup) or a baked potato (for chili) when we're busy and don't have time to make a full meal from scratch.
Michelle P says
To reply to some of you all in one comment, I have thought about making him sandwiches to go but honestly I'm lazy also. But I will have to do this eventually. The girl at the fast food place he always goes to asked him why he goes there everyday.
lowcarbhighstyle says
We just picked up our 1/4 of a grass fed cow this past weekend, so I think that will help keep our grocery bill for the next year down some. Fortunately our friends with a large freezer are letting us keep it there! I also plan on making a big pot of chicken and spinach soup tonight that will be my lunches at work for awhile so I can stop eating out at lunchtime.