A quick post/question for you...
What is a reasonable amount to spend on groceries each month? It seems like my family spends an ungodly amount on food and household items. We have 2 boys who seem to always be hungry (ages 13 and 10) and when they have friends over a couple of times each month which adds a small amount to the bill. I also have my household goods in my grocery budget as well too (things like toilet paper, light bulbs, shampoo, soap, etc.) I'm embarrassed to say it but in 2011 we spent just over $13,000 in Food/Household items.
Anyway - I'm sitting here at my desk wrapping up our 2011 books and starting to work on the 2012 budget. I don't want to budget $13,000 on Groceries in 2012 just because that's what we spent in 2011. So, I'm wondering what my readers spend on average for Food/Household items each month.
Please share if you're willing! And, if you do, please let me know if you have children at home too (and how many...)! Much thanks!
Showing posts with label Food/Grocery Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food/Grocery Budget. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
the way we do lunches
Most days of the week my boys take their lunches to school. My oldest takes his everyday right now because he's saving the money that would've been spent on cafeteria food to put towards his school field trip. And my youngest takes his lunch about 3-4 times a week.
I had been buying all the fixings for their lunches on Sunday and then by mid-week, the kids would have eaten for a snack the cookies or chips or yogurts that were intended for lunch! So...in an effort to "save" the food for lunch kits, we started packing all of their lunches on Sunday.
This is our "new way" of doing it!
After I get home from the store I'll separate the fruit, chips, pretzels, desserts, etc. into individual baggies. I then lay everything out like an assembly line. Each boy gets 5 giant baggies (or however many lunches they're taking) and picks 1 chip/pretzel item, 1 dairy item, 1 fruit, and a drink. Their names go on the outside of the baggies and they're stored in the refrigerator. Each morning I'll make them a sandwich (although they've been on a tortilla roll up kick lately!), grab their baggie and pack up the lunch kit.
It's been a great way for me to save money on lunches and snacks. Whatever is unused for lunches they can have as a snack, but once it's gone, it's gone and won't get replenished until the weekend.
What have you found that helps you make the snacks last longer in the pantry?
I had been buying all the fixings for their lunches on Sunday and then by mid-week, the kids would have eaten for a snack the cookies or chips or yogurts that were intended for lunch! So...in an effort to "save" the food for lunch kits, we started packing all of their lunches on Sunday.
This is our "new way" of doing it!
After I get home from the store I'll separate the fruit, chips, pretzels, desserts, etc. into individual baggies. I then lay everything out like an assembly line. Each boy gets 5 giant baggies (or however many lunches they're taking) and picks 1 chip/pretzel item, 1 dairy item, 1 fruit, and a drink. Their names go on the outside of the baggies and they're stored in the refrigerator. Each morning I'll make them a sandwich (although they've been on a tortilla roll up kick lately!), grab their baggie and pack up the lunch kit.
It's been a great way for me to save money on lunches and snacks. Whatever is unused for lunches they can have as a snack, but once it's gone, it's gone and won't get replenished until the weekend.
What have you found that helps you make the snacks last longer in the pantry?
Thursday, August 11, 2011
what do you mean you can't find the waffles?
Son: Do we have any waffles, Mom?
Me: Yes...They're in the freezer!
Son: Where?
Me: Right there...in the freezer! Behind the ice cream...
Son: I don't see them!
Me: Not that ice cream...the ice cream on the next to bottom shelf!
ughhhh...
This may have motivated me a bit to clean out my freezer, inventory it and reorganize. There is no reason for my freezer to look like this! In our basement we have a refrigerator/freezer that is identical to this one along with a deep freezer.
Yesterday I spent inventorying everything that we have in the different freezers and then organizing it all very neatly into the basement freezers. One freezer for meats and the other is for veggies and breads. My plan is to have the kitchen freezer hold only what we'll eat within a week's time.
The good news is I have a ton of frozen meats and fish. Ground beef, pork, turkey, fish, wild game, chicken...you name it and we probably have it! This will definitely help me this month in keeping our food bill lowered. I'm going to sit down with my list today and plan our meals using what we already have.
Any recipe ideas for ground pork? I have 2 pounds that I bought by mistake one day.
Friday, February 11, 2011
homemade breakfasts
I've never considered myself a "baker"...mainly because I'm too tempted to eat actual homemade baked treats versus store-bought ones that I get for my boys.
But, this month I'm being much more conscientious about what I'm spending my money on at the grocery store. Earlier in the week we had nothing in the house for breakfast that my kids would want to eat, so I whipped up a batch of muffins. (I only made 6 so there were none left to tempt me!) When I saw how quickly I could make breakfast AND just how inexpensive it is compared to frozen waffles and pancakes or pop tarts, I have been trying to do it each morning. Yesterday I made homemade waffles and bacon for the boys. This morning I surprised my husband with breakfast tacos! We had a couple of corn tortillas left in the refrigerator so I scrambled some eggs, added cheese and voila! he had a yummy breakfast treat.
I know that realistically I won't be able to make them a homemade breakfast every single morning, but for now it's working out fine. And...my husband asked me "Why couldn't you make us breakfast every morning?!?"
The pressure's on...
But, this month I'm being much more conscientious about what I'm spending my money on at the grocery store. Earlier in the week we had nothing in the house for breakfast that my kids would want to eat, so I whipped up a batch of muffins. (I only made 6 so there were none left to tempt me!) When I saw how quickly I could make breakfast AND just how inexpensive it is compared to frozen waffles and pancakes or pop tarts, I have been trying to do it each morning. Yesterday I made homemade waffles and bacon for the boys. This morning I surprised my husband with breakfast tacos! We had a couple of corn tortillas left in the refrigerator so I scrambled some eggs, added cheese and voila! he had a yummy breakfast treat.
I know that realistically I won't be able to make them a homemade breakfast every single morning, but for now it's working out fine. And...my husband asked me "Why couldn't you make us breakfast every morning?!?"
The pressure's on...
Sunday, April 25, 2010
it's usually never as bad as I think it's going to be
April has been such an off month for me on so many levels. My main computer is seriously acting up and isn't saving any documents. So, in order to update my spending/budget spreadsheets I have to go use the basement computer which is s....l....o....w....e....r.... than Christmas. My spending this month has been much like my eating. I'm trying to keep all in moderation, but really couldn't tell you how many dollars I'm spending or how many calories I'm eating.
One of the things I didn't do this month is get cash out of the bank at the beginning of April to put in our envelopes. I like to spend cash on things like groceries, eating out, my fun money, entertainment, etc. Things that if not watched closely, could quickly get out of hand and add up.
This has been in the back, front and all over my mind for the entire month. Yes, I know I'm in total control of this situation, but I keep wanting it just to go away. To turn the calendar over to May and to start fresh. Since I haven't been using cash, I've been putting everything on my American Express card (to be paid off at the end of the month). Well, last night I had a "nightmare". The American Express bill came and it was, to be perfectly honest, more than $10,000. In my dream my stomach was in knots. How could I let this happen? I'd assured my husband that I wouldn't need to ask for any money to be transferred from savings to checking in order to pay for day-to-day expenses. I'd given him my word that what was in savings would go (100%) towards meeting our financial goals...not towards pizza delivery! And not only did the American Express bill come with a $10,000 balance, but also we received our electric bill and it had a $900 balance! Ugggg....what a way to spend a night's sleep!
Well....it's past lunch now and I just sat down to the computer to look at the real life damage at American Express. And what a relief! I don't have an outstanding balance of $10,000!! In fact, it's not even close. To be perfectly honest, (eyeballing it...) it looks like we have been spending just slightly more than what we would if we were on the cash-system this month. So, while I'm thankful that it's not as bad as it was in my dream, it makes me realize that when I let up from monitoring our spending, I worry about it. I worry about it big time. I'm thankful also that in less than a week I'll be able to turn the calendar over to May and start the month with my cash and a "clean slate".
One of the things I didn't do this month is get cash out of the bank at the beginning of April to put in our envelopes. I like to spend cash on things like groceries, eating out, my fun money, entertainment, etc. Things that if not watched closely, could quickly get out of hand and add up.
This has been in the back, front and all over my mind for the entire month. Yes, I know I'm in total control of this situation, but I keep wanting it just to go away. To turn the calendar over to May and to start fresh. Since I haven't been using cash, I've been putting everything on my American Express card (to be paid off at the end of the month). Well, last night I had a "nightmare". The American Express bill came and it was, to be perfectly honest, more than $10,000. In my dream my stomach was in knots. How could I let this happen? I'd assured my husband that I wouldn't need to ask for any money to be transferred from savings to checking in order to pay for day-to-day expenses. I'd given him my word that what was in savings would go (100%) towards meeting our financial goals...not towards pizza delivery! And not only did the American Express bill come with a $10,000 balance, but also we received our electric bill and it had a $900 balance! Ugggg....what a way to spend a night's sleep!
Well....it's past lunch now and I just sat down to the computer to look at the real life damage at American Express. And what a relief! I don't have an outstanding balance of $10,000!! In fact, it's not even close. To be perfectly honest, (eyeballing it...) it looks like we have been spending just slightly more than what we would if we were on the cash-system this month. So, while I'm thankful that it's not as bad as it was in my dream, it makes me realize that when I let up from monitoring our spending, I worry about it. I worry about it big time. I'm thankful also that in less than a week I'll be able to turn the calendar over to May and start the month with my cash and a "clean slate".
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
what is the grocery game?
I talk about the grocery game almost every week and I've always assumed that everyone knows what The Grocery Game is. But maybe not, so I'll explain.
Through The Grocery Game's website I have access to what’s called Teri's List. Teri's List is "a weekly publication of the lowest-priced products at your supermarket or drugstore matched with manufacturers' coupons and specials - advertised and unadvertised. Teri does all the hard work and research, and presents it to you in a straightforward format".
This is what I do and how I save money on groceries and household items.
Each Sunday, I get the coupons out of the newspaper and put them in a file folder, and label it with that Sunday's date. I don't clip any of them and I put them all (Redplum, Smart Source, etc.) in the same folder.
Then, I go to Terri's List (on the website) and check prices for the grocery stores where I shop (Publix and Kroger). Publix's list comes out on Sunday and the prices are good from Sunday-Wednesday. My Kroger list comes out Monday morning and these prices are good from Monday-Saturday. (Depending on where you live, the dates could be different.)
So, then what? I glance through Teri’s List first focusing on GREEN line items. If something is listed in green, then it will be free based on the sale price and the coupons you have for that item. I almost always purchase the green items. Even if I don't need the items, I get them anyway and donate them to the Food Bank and food drives.
Next are the BLUE items. If something is listed in blue, that means it's going to be about a cheap as you'll find it in that particular store...it's hit a "rock bottom" price. I look through the blue items to see what we're always using and needing. These are my "stockpiling" items -- things like toothpaste, toilet paper, Kleenex, cleaning/laundry detergents, and our favorite foods (cereals, snack items, canned/frozen vegetables, pasta, sauces, etc.). I look for these items and check off what we need.
The last thing I do is look at the BLACK items. These are things that are on sale and are a good price, but things that unless you NEED immediately, that you shouldn't buy. Black lined items will be cheaper in the future and if you can wait to buy them, then you ought to wait.
After I've "checked" my items on the list, I print the list and it will show only the items that I've checked. Then, I start clipping the coupons. Teri's List shows where to find the coupons (what date they were published) and I look through my file box, find the folder with the correct date on it, search for the right coupons and clip them. Then I'm ready to go to the store and SAVE$$!
To be honest, this takes me about an hour each week to browse the list and cut my coupons. BUT, the savings are great and it's definitely worth my time. And, if you have a responsible child, it might be a great way for him or her to make a couple of dollars by searching for and clipping the coupons for you!
So how much money do I save by doing this? Here is what I’ve saved so far this year:
JANUARY
Out of pocket = $746
Saved = $391
Savings = 34%
FEBRUARY
Out of pocket = $426
Saved = $282
Savings = 40%
MARCH (thru 3/15)
Out of pocket = $264
Saved = $183
Savings = 41%
Now, there is a fee associated with using the website. You can try it for free for a week, and after that it turns into a paid subscription. I pay $15 every 8 weeks for a 2-store membership. It’s only $10 for a 1-store membership.
So...that in a nutshell, is The Grocery Game. It can sound confusing, but it really isn't. If you are already playing The Grocery Game, I’d love to hear from you and to know how much you save on average!
Through The Grocery Game's website I have access to what’s called Teri's List. Teri's List is "a weekly publication of the lowest-priced products at your supermarket or drugstore matched with manufacturers' coupons and specials - advertised and unadvertised. Teri does all the hard work and research, and presents it to you in a straightforward format".
This is what I do and how I save money on groceries and household items.
Each Sunday, I get the coupons out of the newspaper and put them in a file folder, and label it with that Sunday's date. I don't clip any of them and I put them all (Redplum, Smart Source, etc.) in the same folder.
Then, I go to Terri's List (on the website) and check prices for the grocery stores where I shop (Publix and Kroger). Publix's list comes out on Sunday and the prices are good from Sunday-Wednesday. My Kroger list comes out Monday morning and these prices are good from Monday-Saturday. (Depending on where you live, the dates could be different.)
So, then what? I glance through Teri’s List first focusing on GREEN line items. If something is listed in green, then it will be free based on the sale price and the coupons you have for that item. I almost always purchase the green items. Even if I don't need the items, I get them anyway and donate them to the Food Bank and food drives.
Next are the BLUE items. If something is listed in blue, that means it's going to be about a cheap as you'll find it in that particular store...it's hit a "rock bottom" price. I look through the blue items to see what we're always using and needing. These are my "stockpiling" items -- things like toothpaste, toilet paper, Kleenex, cleaning/laundry detergents, and our favorite foods (cereals, snack items, canned/frozen vegetables, pasta, sauces, etc.). I look for these items and check off what we need.
The last thing I do is look at the BLACK items. These are things that are on sale and are a good price, but things that unless you NEED immediately, that you shouldn't buy. Black lined items will be cheaper in the future and if you can wait to buy them, then you ought to wait.
After I've "checked" my items on the list, I print the list and it will show only the items that I've checked. Then, I start clipping the coupons. Teri's List shows where to find the coupons (what date they were published) and I look through my file box, find the folder with the correct date on it, search for the right coupons and clip them. Then I'm ready to go to the store and SAVE$$!
To be honest, this takes me about an hour each week to browse the list and cut my coupons. BUT, the savings are great and it's definitely worth my time. And, if you have a responsible child, it might be a great way for him or her to make a couple of dollars by searching for and clipping the coupons for you!
So how much money do I save by doing this? Here is what I’ve saved so far this year:
JANUARY
Out of pocket = $746
Saved = $391
Savings = 34%
FEBRUARY
Out of pocket = $426
Saved = $282
Savings = 40%
MARCH (thru 3/15)
Out of pocket = $264
Saved = $183
Savings = 41%
Now, there is a fee associated with using the website. You can try it for free for a week, and after that it turns into a paid subscription. I pay $15 every 8 weeks for a 2-store membership. It’s only $10 for a 1-store membership.
So...that in a nutshell, is The Grocery Game. It can sound confusing, but it really isn't. If you are already playing The Grocery Game, I’d love to hear from you and to know how much you save on average!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
this week's grocery game
I'm finally getting my stockpile to the point where when I run out of something I have a replacement handy on the shelf. It's nice being able to go to the store and get things simply to stock-up and then add in a few needs along the way.
One thing I'm not going to need for a long time is LAUNDRY DETERGENT! I have stockpiled enough for about 9 months! I keep waiting on dishwashing detergent sales and coupons...that's something I'll be in need of soon.
This week I had to buy a few things for dinners, but most of our ingredients I already had in the pantry. Everything else I purchased is for stockpiling.
I made 2 grocery trips: one to Publix and one to Kroger. I spent $81.14 and SAVED $92.02! Woo Hoo!!! I love it when I save more than I spend. I think I MAY actually end the month under my $400 budget. Still have a few days to go, so I'm not ready to report the numbers yet.
Here's all that I got for $81.14:
Free or almost free items:
toothbrush - FREE
All laundry detergent - $0.49
Candles - each $0.17
One thing I'm not going to need for a long time is LAUNDRY DETERGENT! I have stockpiled enough for about 9 months! I keep waiting on dishwashing detergent sales and coupons...that's something I'll be in need of soon.
This week I had to buy a few things for dinners, but most of our ingredients I already had in the pantry. Everything else I purchased is for stockpiling.
I made 2 grocery trips: one to Publix and one to Kroger. I spent $81.14 and SAVED $92.02! Woo Hoo!!! I love it when I save more than I spend. I think I MAY actually end the month under my $400 budget. Still have a few days to go, so I'm not ready to report the numbers yet.
Here's all that I got for $81.14:
Free or almost free items:
toothbrush - FREE
All laundry detergent - $0.49
Candles - each $0.17
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
this week's grocery game
Today and yesterday I did my coupon shopping. Because my youngest was at home, he got to witness first hand how much money coupons actually save. When we went to our 3rd store (to get the Rain Checks I mentioned yesterday), he said, let me guess, "We're coming here because you have coupons." Well I did get my rain checks and it was painless. The cashier at the Customer Service desk knew exactly which item I was asking for and wrote out the rain check for me without any problems. I have a month to redeem it.
So here's what I got for my 2 coupon trips...
And this is what I spent...
Out of pocket - $63.65
Saved - $65.02
Most of what I got is going to stockpiling. The fruit and some of the snacks are needed for this week. Everything else goes on the shelf for a while! The only other trip I'll need to make to the store is on Friday or Saturday morning for our Valentine's meal.
So here's what I got for my 2 coupon trips...
And this is what I spent...
Out of pocket - $63.65
Saved - $65.02
Most of what I got is going to stockpiling. The fruit and some of the snacks are needed for this week. Everything else goes on the shelf for a while! The only other trip I'll need to make to the store is on Friday or Saturday morning for our Valentine's meal.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
grocery store rain checks
Did you know that some (not sure if all do or not) grocery stores give rain checks to you for items on sale that are out of stock? I went to Publix today to do my coupon shopping. I wanted to get Trix yogurt, Wisk, and French's Mustard. All were on sale for Buy One Get One free, plus I have coupons. They were out of stock on these things and I mentioned to the cashier that there were just a few things I wanted that they'd run out of. I was really surprised when he told me I could go and get a rain check. I didn't have time to do it today because my son (who's home sick) was waiting for me out in the car. But, I'm definitely going back tomorrow to get the rain checks, and will always ask for them in the future. It seems the more I coupons shop with sales, the more I see almost free or free items out of stock.
With my coupons, I plan to spend $1.04 for a 6pk of yogurt, $0 for the mustard, and $4.00 for the 100-oz Wisk. So, $5.04 plus any tax. Without the sales price and coupons, I would spend almost $15!!!
I'm so glad to learn that I can get rain checks. I also shop at Kroger and wonder if they have the same policy. I'll find out soon!
Tomorrow I'm doing my Kroger stockpiling and will let you know how much I spent for the week's grocery trips!
With my coupons, I plan to spend $1.04 for a 6pk of yogurt, $0 for the mustard, and $4.00 for the 100-oz Wisk. So, $5.04 plus any tax. Without the sales price and coupons, I would spend almost $15!!!
I'm so glad to learn that I can get rain checks. I also shop at Kroger and wonder if they have the same policy. I'll find out soon!
Tomorrow I'm doing my Kroger stockpiling and will let you know how much I spent for the week's grocery trips!
Monday, August 4, 2008
tracking my spending
I know how to budget and I actually love (truly love!!) doing it. I enjoy being in control of the money and where and how it's spent. My downfall has always been (1)keeping track of actual expenses and (2)saying NO to things...especially day-to-day things...that are not on the budget. Food has always been a big expense in our family and a large part of that is the fact that we drive thru places to pick up quick meals or to simply get a drink while we're out and about. For this month, I've budgeted $950 for food. This includes food from the grocery store AND food that we get from restaurants and/or drive thru's. I'm not sure if it's a great sign, that I'm only into the month by 7 days and have already spent almost 40% of my budget. I went to the grocery store today and tried to stock up on groceries for the next 4 days. So, for the rest of the month, I'll really be watching how I spend money on food. School starts a week from today and I'm hoping with the boys being out of the house for most of the day, that we'll save on snack food. Also, I'll have more time to concentrate of menu planning and cutting coupons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)