Just Like Toni Basil.

Hokay.

Here's the thing: I am not, nor have I ever been, a bargain shopper when it comes to groceries.  I have never clipped coupons, looked at sales circulars, compared prices, etc.  In fact, if one were to observe my *hem* spending habits, one might conclude that I was only PARTIALLY CONSCIOUS for my shopping trips.  I'm not proud of it but I couldn't tell you the price of the OJ I buy for The Man, or the price of a box of 'bars' that I buy for TLNG, as I don't really PAY ATTENTION.  I just pick what I want off of the shelf and I put it in mah bahsket.  The only price of which I am certain, is the loaf of challah bread that I buy to make french toast (b/c OMG, challah french toast?? Kicks ASS.)

Um. NINE DOLLARS.

No, I'm not joking.  I'll pause to let that sink in.

And I'll even admit that the only reason I KNOW that fact is because The Man came back from a run to the store AGHAST and TOLD me so.

I KNOW.  It's an Upper Middle Class Sob Story (tm: Tess) if you've ever heard one. 

I'm not an excessive spender in general, though.  I don't buy myself expensive things.  I haven't purchased an item of clothing for myself in FOREVER (seriously? I think I might have been pregnant,) and when I do shop for myself, it's usually at Target.  I will say that I buy nice shoes (at Marshall's or whatever.)

I'm getting off point.

What was my point again?

Oh, yeah. Grocery shopping.  I am thinking that it's time to tighten the reigns after [an email from our accountant, telling us that the tax situation looks (quote) UGLY THIS YEAR (end-quote)] some reflection and soul searching.

So, I'm looking at the circulars and [saying HUUUH?] wondering how you budget conscious shoppers do it.

I should say that there are some non-negotiables that I don't mind spending extra for: some organic products etc.  But there's still a LOT of room for fat-trimmage. 

So, tell a New Girl: How do you do it?  The saving money on groceries.

And don't be all wiseacre and smart-ass about the challah.  Until you TRY IT.

And THEN, imagine that this here is ME, taking all your good advice:

Comments

[Yazmena]

What has worked best for my family is making a weekly budget and menu and sticking to it. And if we're under budget one week the money rolls over to the next and then we can treat ourselves to something special. I've also find that if you have a local farmers market that the prices for the produce beat all the prices in our local grocery stores and it tastes better too.

[Brooke]

Wait, what? I had almost same convo with a mom at kids' TaeKwonDo just today! She was telling me where the cheapest places in town to buy milk were and I was all, whaa?? I couldn't tell you how much a jug of 'expensive' milk costs because I need milk. No matter the cost. Not worth debating dollars and cents at the till when at the end of the day, I NEED it. No time to drive around to save .50 for me. Also? I don't think I've commented here before because I am an asshole, but needed to delurk to comment on my grocery shopping habits being exactly the same as yours AND to ask you how you found Tessie??! I lurked around on her blog for a long time and then got the 'sign in' notice on her blog page shortly after the D card was played. I was crushed!! Loove her, but didn't wanna email during crazy time to ask if she would consider letting my stalker self continue to read her blog. I am not that much of an asshole. I have to go read the archives of her new blog now. PS- looove your blog too pal. Will post more often. I hear it makes morning sickness better to have a few comments to read between waves of nausea.

[Somedayme2]

Not to hi-jack things, but can you ladies suggest some cheap easy meals you find that you make a lot for your families? Mine keeps complaining that they are tired of the same old thing. Our constants are Spaghetti, Roast, Chicken (Quesadillas, stuffing casserole, salads, baked) Pizza burgers, pork chops, bbq ribs

We do a lot of rice and green beans as sides...sometimes potatoes.

[Alias Mother]

I also am a champion grocery shopper. I never clip coupons and I only shop at one store (seriously: shopping around? Who has that kind of time?). We spend between $50-$100/week for 2 1/2 people (the toddler counts as 1/2, right?).

The two things that really matter for me have already been mentioned:

1) Take 10 minutes on Sunday and plan your meals, make a list from your plan, shop from the list, and then eat the damn meals you planned. I try to avoid this every week, but, seriously, it really works, takes next to no time, and actually makes life easier later in the week as dinner is already planned.

2) Frozen vegetables. I avoided this until we were desperate, but it's actually better nutritionally and it's cheaper. Way cheaper. I'm sold.

(I'm sorry. I know I don't comment often, but I'm a total frugal living whore and I can't help myself.)

[C.G]

I will be lurking on comments for this post because...

I shop EXACTLY like you do. Its horrible, I'm only feeding two adults and a one year old and I think I spend as much or more then a family of 4 or 5. Gah. So so bad.

[Shutter Bitch]

My only trick is that I buy in bulk. Dog/cat food, paper towels, dishwasher soap, trash bags, all my meats, and even some produce items that we eat a lot of, like apples. Regular trips to the grocery store give me heart attacks because you want me to pay WHAT for HOW MUCH??? It hurts me to spend $50 on one bag at the regular grocery store when I know I'm going to run out in a week or so and have to go back.

And I try to get the normal stuff I buy when it's on sale, and if I'm able, I stock up. Also, store-brand is my friend, unless it's just cheapest of the cheap and not well made. But really, other than macaroni and cheese, there's very little storebrand food that's THAT BAD.

[Laura]

Delurking to give my 2 cents!
1. Don't shop when you're hungry 2. Have a list and stick to it 3. Only buy what you will truly eat/prepare in the time until you shop again (biggest money pit is spoiled vegetables or food that becomes stale)

I think that spluging on the challah is totally acceptable, but if you like baking try making challah. The recipe is simple and very little kneading is required. Allowing the dough to rise is the most time consuming part of the process. If you own a food processor or a large mixer with a dough hook you hardly have to touch the dough until it's time to form the loaf.

[Amanda]

I'll admit, I'm a lot like you. I just know what the final bill totals, and if I'm not within a certain range, I didn't buy enough food, and I'll be back again later in the week.

I clip coupons, but only for brands I already buy. Everyone in my house has food issues ranging from texture to can't have red dye. So once I find a brand we like, I stick with it. When it's on sale, if it's a non perishable, and I have the room to store a few extra, I get them.

Honestly, I don't scrimp on groceries. I'm going to admit right here and now that I spend anywhere from $150-$200 a week on 4 people. I always feel so ashamed because that's way more than I hear other people spending for the same size family. Now that also includes meat for us carnivores. The kids aren't into meat so much unless it comes in the shape of a dino nugget.

I cut corners on other things in our budget to give to the grocery budget. And I'd spend $9 on a loaf of bread once in awhile too if we ate it all and it was THAT good. Some things are just worth it.

[Julie]

Challah bread French toast is delicious.

I get the Sunday paper for the coupons. The ones you can clip, not the stupid circulars and Walgreen's BOGO BS. I cut only those that are for items I regularly buy, and I limit my shopping to the grocery and Target. I do not chase sale items from store to store.

I note which items I regularly buy, and when they're on sale - I buy more. As long as they're not perishable, that is. If they ARE perishable, like produce, then I tell Kyle that's what he's cooking this week. Because I'm bossy like that. (And he honestly doesn't care.)

Also, some groceries are significantly cheaper at Target, whether they're on special or not. Oatmeal, for one.

Finally, buy meat in bulk - like a value package of boneless pork loin chops or chicken breasts - and then take it home, put two chops or breasts each in freezer bags, and throw them in the freezer. Then you've got appropriate portions ready to be thawed when you want to cook them. However, fish is always always always better fresh. Like, that very day.

I don't scrimp at all on what we like, but I look for it each time and buy it when the price is right.

[Swistle]

Here are my two main things:

1. Buy enough of what's on sale to get you through the next time that's on sale.

2. Some other thing I forget.

I don't usually play with coupons, because usually "coupon item minus coupon" is still more expensive than "another brand of same item."

Oh, I remember!

2. Eat a limited number of things because you just happen to like doing that anyway. So instead of having to plan meals around sale items or whatevs, you just have The Things You Always Buy and you buy them extra when they're on sale.

Also:

3. Save money where you don't care. Like, if you like the store-brand whole wheat bread just as much as the brand-brand, get the store-brand. Then if you like the Oreos better than the store-brand sandwich cookies, get the Oreos.

[attiton]

@Angela: If you check back, would you just leave that challah recipe in these here comments?? Thx.

[attiton]

Tips from someone who once wrote an entire database just to track her grocery spending and then called it her "Sick Grocery Scratchpad":

1) Fresh vegetables are BY FAR the most expensive thing at the store, and I don't even mean when you buy organic. I mean AT ALL. So, if you can buy frozen organic, you're better off there.

2) Meat is the second most expensive, but I don't suppose that's a problem chez TNG.

3) Processed foods are third.

[Mr Lady]

First, let me get this out of the way....

Every time you leave a comment on my blog, I blush. I'm a crazy stalker of yours. There, done.

Second, I am the worlds BEST grocery shopper. I could totally do it for you. The trick is not what's on coupons, it's the price by weight. When something you buy a lot of is on sale, compare not the price tag but the price per pound/oz/gram/whatever. Buy what's cheapest of THAT, and if it's a big difference, buy a truckload of it. You can freeze butter and bread and all sorts of things. Same goes for laundry soap, dish soap, Febreeze plugins, etc. Usually, the Brand Stuff goes on really big, cheaper per pound than the generic, once a month or so. Stock up then.

Also, buy bulk. Find a good store that carries quality bulk items. Not like Costco, but like bulk bins of wheat and pasta and oatmeal and spices. Go to Ikea and get some glass jars. You would DIE at how much you pay for packaging.

Just by sale shopping, stocking up when stuff is on sale, and bulk shopping, you can save so much that a $9 loaf of bread is totally okay.

And I'll be over at 10 for breakfast.

[Angela]

Also, because my brain is having difficulty functioning today... we are definitely doing more rice and beans these days. Better for the body, and WAY cheaper than meat. It certainly helps that one of my kids will eat any bean that I can find.

[Angela]

Sadly, I stalk the Super Walmart too, but only for non perishable stuff. Meat and veggies I get at our farmer's market. I second the people that advise a weekly list and sticking to it. It's crazy what finds its way into my cart when I don't have a list. Also, Challah bread is not hard to make. My recipe is super easy and makes four loaves. DEFINITELY wouldn't pay 8 bucks for it. I can email the recipe!

[Emily]

I don't clip coupons - my time is worth more than the savings - but I do plan my meals for the week and then shop at different places for the best deals. For example we go to a grocers shop for fresh fruit & veg and a butcher for meat. We found that they were the same price for better quality and have better "deals" than the supermarket (and so we stock up on whatever's on sale). We also buy own brand on certain products like tinned tomatoes and have actually found that some of them are better than the branded stuff. (DH's best friend worked in a yogurt factory during University one year and watched as yogurt was put into both expensive brand packaging AND cheapo store own brand packaging!)

[mamatulip]

We buy our meat from a butcher, which we have noticed has really been cost efficient. We also are whores for dollar sales...whenever our grocery stores have a dollar sale, we're there like flies on shit.

[The New Girl]

Mama Bub: NO! Not boring. I am LOVING the comments! Lov. ing.

[Mama Bub]

You could go SO FAR with this, but it sounds like you don't want a complete lifestyle change, but rather a little bit of an awareness adjustment. I admit that, until recently, I had NO IDEA how much a gallon of milk cost. And now, I'm a coupon clipping, circular reading fool.

If you want to go really far, you could join The Grocery Game, it's only $1 for the first four weeks and you can sign up for as many stores as you want during those four weeks. This requires coupon clipping though and can be a bit labor intensive.

The best advice I can give is to start watching to circulars and get an idea of what's a good price for certain items. Some things I NEVER buy if they're not on sale, particularly non-perishable items. Also, some produce I buy weekly, no matter the price, some I buy when it's budget appropriate. This week, strawberries were $.99/lb so I bought them. Strawberries won't make the list next week when they're $3.99/lb, but maybe grapes will.

And that's officially the longest and most boring comment EVER.

[Pea]

Being a grad student, but one who likes to eat GOOD FOOD, I've come up with a few tricks to keep the food budget down. The number 1 most important, like Megumi said, is to plan out the week's meals before heading to the grocery store. Then you make a list and stick to it!

I have mixed feelings about clipping coupons. My time is valuable too (though the University doesn't appear to think so) so I don't want to have to go to multiple stores to save that dollar or two on some item. I also agree that coupons tends to be for processed junk anyway. I usually look through coupon books and use them only if it is for something I would buy anyway.

Another good way to go is to buy store brand stuff. Are the Brand-name canned beans better than the store-brand? Maybe. Is it a 75 cents better? Doubtful. I buy store brand on all canned food, pasta, and some dairy (though if you want to go organic, that may not work).

Also, as much as your life and sanity allows, cook from scratch. Boxed and canned processed food is EXPENSIVE! Even if you don't have the luxury of a flexible schedule or love to cook, cooking in big batches and freezing food saves time. You can make one huge pot of marinara or soup and freeze it for later meals. The cost of the raw materials is probably a fraction of the cost of buying pre-packaged. And you only have to spend the time to make it once!

Good luck and I'll look forward to hearing the suggestions others have as well!

[mythoughtsonthat]

Two ugly words: Super Walmart. I know, it sucks to shop there, but I have found the lowest prices ever there. I dream of the day when I can go back to shopping at the regular market (meaning where people don't shop in there pajamas and slippers)

[Alexis]

1. Clip coupons out of every newspaper available - and see if friends and family will give you theirs.
2. Join the grocery store's club card program.
3. Use double coupon days to your advantage.
4. Compare the sales fliers of each of the stores that you might be going to
5. Make a list and stick to it.

[Kayt]

We don't eat organic very often over here because it's rare to find coupons for that stuff. Now, I'm a huge huge huge coupon clipper over here. I am shameless addicted to Hot Coupon World. It has a coupon generator for Target's store coupons, and a link to coupons.com. I have the paper delivered, and spend my lunch on Sunday clipping coupons and matching them up to sales at different stores. Then, I log onto HCW and see if there are any store coupons that match the manufacturer's coupons and/or any sales. Target in particular with issue store coupons that match up with their sales, and once you start collecting coupons for awhile, you'll generally have manufacturer's coupons that match too. For example, I bought Rice Krispy treats for the huz. They were on sale at Target: buy five at $2 each, get a $5 gift card. That essentially makes each box $1. Target had 50 cents off one box of Rice Krispy treats, and I also had $1 off Kellogg's coupons. I saved $1.50 off each box of Rice Krispys, so I essentially made money buying them. I do that a lot with soda and razor blades, too. I'm shameless. I know you're a vegetarian, but Target's meat is really tasty, and they currently have $2 off coupons on steak. Chuck steak counts, and they carry packages that are as cheap as $2.50, so you can pick it up practically free.

[megumi]

I don't clip coupons either - most of the time we find that the coupons are for processed things we don't (or can't due to allergies) really eat. Our tried and true 'trick' is to menu plan for the entire week. We sit down and figure out what we're eating for the week and build a little list off of that and then go to the store and stick with it. We still buy organics and can let go of most of the brands (paper products I have no loyalty). Less food waste, less stuff in cart and you still get to eat what you want to.

Some people look at their circulars and figure out what is on sale and then build appropriate menus (I can't do this, it feels like someone is telling me what I can and can't eat this week, which is what menu planning is but at least that's ME doing the limiting) - but they save oodles doing it.

[Kai]

I need to do this too. I spend WAY TOO MUCH for a single person each month on food.

I am SO with you on the Challah, it definitely does make the best french toast hands down, but I make my own. (I'm single and have spare time, I am in no way suggesting you amazing & busy moms should too!)

[Tess]

I CANNOT force myself to scrimp on groceries. It's just a recipe for Intense Bitterness. That said, I AM willing to save on toiletries and paper/cleaning products and such. I shop for those at the Dollar Store. True story.