growing and learning

grocery budget woes

groceries

10:42 AM, Friday, January 23, 2009 .. Posted by Anonymous

I just think everything is so much more expensive, I also find myself making several trips to buy more fruit , eggs & milk. Maybe it's just the brands of food you buy, like me , I buy organic milk, so that's like $6,and I have to buy 2-3 gallons a week!

I totally understand....

10:43 AM, Friday, January 23, 2009 .. Posted by CheleLew

Coupons won't work for me either. I too have a good bit of meat in my freezer. One benefit that I do have is being part of our homeschool produce co-op. We pay $20 for a basket of fruit/veggies once a month. Check out this blog entry of the person who is in charge of our co-op to see how much produce we are able to get for our $20 http://boysmyjoys.blogspot.com/2009/01/farmers-market.html And here's the link to the person who actually started the coop and her explanation:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/inspired/462097/

So again, I do feel your pain. I can tell you that last year we spent over $8000 on food -- but that came in the form of the produce coop, Walmart, Bread Beckers for grains, rice, etc Here's my link to some entries about keeping tabs on how much we are spending on food. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/chelelew/Grocery+Cart+Challenge

My family right now is me, my husband and two boys ages 7 and 8. Sometimes they eat a lot and other times they don't, but they sure love to snack. This year I'm making it a policy that my non-food items are NOT on the same receipt as my food items. I don't care how aggravated people in line behind me become or how disagreeable the cashier is when I do this. It will certainly help me keep track of how much money I'm spending.

Not knowing the size of your family of 5, are you making a menu plan and keeping up with it? I've found this has really helped me. This week has been a struggle, but I keep plugging away. Also are you keeping a price book? I haven't really got one, but I'm at least getting a feel for how much I'll be spending when I do shop. Hope some of this helps.
Chele @ homeschoolblogger.com/chelelew

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10:54 AM, Friday, January 23, 2009 .. Posted by melaniedawn

If you are spending only $400 per month, I would call that pretty good; but that much in a week sounds pretty steep to me. But it looks like you are trying to eat the healthier, fresh stuff, which would keep you out of the doctor's office and save you money in the long run.
Melanie

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01:33 PM, Friday, January 23, 2009 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

Is this $400 per month? I am spending about $700 a month....... so for half the family size $400 is not too bad.... how many total in your family?
Remember too that eating healthy may be more $$ but it does pay with NO doctor's visits.... we never go to the doc unless their is staff infection or stiches.......
Blessings,
gloria

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07:53 AM, Saturday, January 24, 2009 .. Posted by takeadeepbreath

You are feeding 5 people for 30 days on 400.00.

400.00 * 5 = 80.00 each
80.00 * 30 =2.66 per person per DAY
2.66 * 3 = .89 A MEAL.

SO, You feed your family for .89 a meal, 3 x a day, each month, on 400.00.
Girl, you are doing well.

Look at this:
1000.00 * 5 = 200.00 each person
200.00 * 30 = 6.65 per person per day
6.65 * 3 = 2.22 per meal

When it's broken down. It costs MY FAMILY 2.22 per person, per meal.
I am ok with that!!

We don't get sick, Praise God, and it is because He provides us plenty of good food to eat!!

Laura