Sunday, July 15, 2007
Attention Shoppers: Prepare for an Increase
Posted in The Summer Kitchen
I am just curious as to how much you all spend weekly/monthly on groceries and where you shop. My favorite grocery closed and now I'm stuck with Super Walmart. I HATE it!
I have noticed an increase in my bill, and yet no more to show for it. It's not just because of WM, because it was creeping up at my other place as well. Like everything, food prices are going up. Dairy prices are getting outrageous! I paid almost $4.00 a gallon for milk today, and that wasn't the "name brand" which was $5.00! I had heard that it will be going up another dollar by December. Cheese was also higher, as well as butter, but luckily, I stocked up while they were less expensive and froze some.
Right now, I average little over $300.00 every two weeks on groceries. This is without buying convenience foods, junk food, pop/soda, bread or laundry detergent. This does include meat (pork and beef) from a local butcher until we have our own again. I just can't bring myself to buy it from Walmart. We have our own chicken and eggs, so I don't have to buy those.
Our garden was a disaster this year (the drought and having to shut down the water to the area where it is situated) so I have been buying from local farm markets in addition, but it hasn't added up to much. It could just be that I have three growing boys who seem to be hungry most of the time, but I see families who have more children that we do, with a smaller grocery expense.
So, I am wondering how my bill compares to yours. I'm not sure how much more I can do considering that I make most things myself already! I can and freeze things. I plan meals and keep staples in stock at all times. Our pantry is never bare, but fresh ingredients are the problem. I don't use coupons, BUT, we don't take the paper to get them and I never see any for the things that we use anyway.
I told my husband that if milk keeps rising, I'm getting a goat! He said he'd rather pay the $5.00 a gallon. (He's no fan of goats and I've been working on him for years trying to get him to warm up to the idea.) I know there are meals that are cheap, but I don't want to load up on a lot of carbs or serve foods with little nutritional value. My family enjoys variety, but will pretty much eat anything.
I don't want to complain about spending money on groceries, I am always grateful that I'm able to. I just want to do the best that I possibly can for my family and prepare for the future increase in prices.
So tell me, am I the only one who notices an increase? Are you preparing for winter and a possible hike in prices? Do you have some money saving tips that I've missed? I would appreciate any input.
Comments
Sunday, July 15, 2007 - LOL
Posted by LivingSimple
We have the dairy goats and think they are bred so we WILL be using goats milk....LOL...Did you hubby have a bad experience with goats or something? Mine are sweet as can be and we don't have nay trouble out of them....As far as your grocery bill...there are 3 in our family I spend about 500.00 monthly, not including toletries etc..I think for your family you are doing pretty good considering you have 3 boys. I despise wal-mart for a number of reasons and do not buy my groceries there, we shop at our local grocery or Aldies, yes, I pay more at our local grocery but its worth it to me to not shop at wal-mart...LOL...Can't wait to see what tips you get...I need some myself!
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Sunday, July 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Kitty
I would make my menu for a two week period and shop for that two weeks. (dh gets paid every two weeks). But then I noticed I would run back and forth to the store for forgotten items or milk and bread ect, and end up spending more than I should have.
I then decided to try a monthly menu but shop weekly for that week. It is working out much better for me that way. I am spending about $100 on Sat or Sun and then about $20 to $25 during the week. So I'd say about $500 for the month for 5 people is what I spend. I have come way down this past year on that amount.
During the winter my dh works the sugarcane grinding season here is south La. He works 7 days a week for over three months. The money is wonderful with over time made. So the winter months is the time that I am able to stock up my shelves, pantry, closets, and freezer(s).
And as for the milk it's $4.48 for the walmart brand here already.....uuugggg
Kitty
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Sunday, July 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by farmgal35
I spent about 150.00 every two weeks. I could get by with a lot less if I could get my kids and hubby to eat a lot more of ole time country cookin. But you know how that goes junk food. Everyone can expect to see dairy products go up because of the price of corn and grains. Farmers are having to rise their prices. The price of corn is going to be high because of the shortage. Well I am not sure if that is how I should say it. We raise corn to feed our livestock and we wasn`t sure if we was even going to beable to get seed corn. I have been looking a ways to cut way back.
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Sunday, July 15, 2007 - ugh
Posted by Anonymous
The grocery budget is really becoming a concern to me as well. I spend about what you do (family of 5 with 3 growing boys including 2 teens) ....I don't buy convenience foods or bread either, and I buy very little meat because we have some beef in the freezer. I do buy organic milk and some organic veggies. My back gives me problems so I have to be very careful about gardening,etc. We do have our own eggs. We don't have a Superwalmart, but I really don't care for walmart anyway. I have an Aldi which is cheap and good for some staples and another grocery store that is more expensive. Coupons aren't much use as they are mostly for convenience foods and no one around here doubles coupons. I know there are people that get away with spending less but I'm not sure how they do it. I'm not willing to buy everything at Aldi's. So I'm not much help but I do sympathize. My boys are just going to keep eating more so I'm not sure what the answer is.
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Sunday, July 15, 2007 - ps
Posted by Anonymous
ps. that was from me here at Weathertop FArm.
Also regarding goats, we have friends who have dairy goats and when that milk is fresh and cold you can't beat it.
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Sunday, July 15, 2007 - don't ask how much we spend! Yikes!
Posted by blessedmomof10
Amy,
Have you considered a cow?? There is SO much you can do with cow's milk!!! Cheeses, sour cream, ice cream <wink> !!!
We spend tons on groceries and I make everything from scratch! Don't ask how much we spend....about 1,000 each month for our family of 12. I am thankful we eat healthy and the kids, thankfully are hardly ever sick.
But, yes the groceries bill is discouraging to say the least! :(
Gloria
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Monday, July 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Hello I live in WA. I spend $100 a week for groceries. But not meat or household produces and that is getting harder. I use o spend $50. I shop a combo of places depending on my needs. Costco, trader Joes (but it is an hour away so it is once every 2 months), grocery outlet, local gourmet grocery store (that has a big bulk section). I just discovered that Fred Myer has organic milk for $4.99. Clarice at Storybook Woods
http://storybookwoods.typepad.com/storybook_woods/
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Monday, July 16, 2007 - Grocery money
Posted by mvose1051
I think that I must live in a really inexpensive location. We live in NE Indiana. I have 2 adults, 2 children 14 & 10, & 2 cats that I feed on $60 a week. This includes all household products, cat food & litter, detergents, toiletries, etc. This does not include meat though. I take out $100 every 3 months for that & that's enough. I don't can unless I get stuff for free b/c I don't have a garden. I have been known to freeze milk when I get it at a good price. I have NEVER paid over $2.79 for a gallon of milk. I usually get it for $2 a gallon. Have you looked into www.lainesletters.com? She is awesome at saving money! Here is another website: http://lobchatter.blogspot.com. She has lots of budgeting ideas as well.
Blessings,
Miki
Edited by mvose1051 on Monday, July 16, 2007 at 08:37
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by PONDERthePATH
I don't have an exact amount we spend each month, but I thought I would throw out a few suggestions. We buy some of our food through a food in bulk through a food co-op. You might be able to find one near you at www.coopdirectory.org. We get our veggies from a local organic farm. We pay a monthly fee and pick up a box of veggies each week. The downside is that we get whatever is in season that week, but we have also learned to eat many new veggies. I did start making my own laundry detergent and I have really loved it! I know that has saved us a pretty penny, as we tend to go through lots of laundry. I used the recipe from http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm. It's very easy to make as well. As for milk, we get raw milk for $7 a gallon. I know it cost more, but it is so rich and filling that we drink so much less. I would say we cut our milk drinking in half.
Blessings,
Jasmine
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Lizziebee
Our bill has gone up quite a bit since last year. Vegetables are terribly expensive, as is meat. I think the reason for this is the higher gas prices. It makes the prices of transportation, etc., go up for the farmer, who has to pass it along to the markets, who pass it along to us. Very sad, and is why I am intent on learning how to garden, can, etc.
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - I hadn't heard of those price raises...
Posted by www.homeschoolblogger.com/threelittleladies
Have you considered getting a cow instead of goats? How about a couple of steer from an auction in the spring and butcher them in the fall? Or get them from a local rancher whom you trust?
Carol
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Thursday, July 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Oh my yes, the food bills just keep rising over the past two years - it might just make me lose my appitite. :) Well, for our family of 4 (2 petite daughters ages 10, 13), we spent over $800 in the last month (I know because I just answered the same question at another blog last week and check my checkbook). That is at Super Walmart too + going across the street to another grocery for fruit/veg/meat. That includes everything though - toiletries, cleaning stuff, etc., but I don't buy much junk any more. DH had to sacrifice his Pop Tarts. :) And like you, we will be canning & preserving as much as we can, but with the draught, I'm not expecting much either. I don't budget or use coupons, but I'm sure becoming more conscience of what I put in the cart and what I can bake myself or do without. Food + gas prices = AUGH! Sorry I don't have any money saving tips - I'm in the same boat as you.
PlainJane
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