It’s Thrifty Living time again. This week we’re discussing saving money on groceries. I don’t know about you but I’ve often checked out at the supermarket and been totally shocked by the amount of money due. It adds up so quickly.
There are two of us here. And two dogs. The dogs are on prescription diets and that food is expensive. Nothing we can do about that. (I consider dog food part of our grocery list and these dogs apparently like the expensive stuff!)
I’m a vegetarian. Don eats a basically vegetarian diet. We don’t buy meat and that is a savings. We try to eat very healthily. Surprisingly, eating healthy foods, especially organic foods, can be very expensive. Don’t get me going on that one. It simply amazes me that eating food that is free of pesticides is more expensive. Go figure. So, while I try to buy organic when I can, when money is tight I will often go for regular produce. But, on the whole, we try to avoid processed foods. We eat a lot of fruit, vegetables, rice and soy products.
Our grocery buying is not done in one store. We use our local supermarket, our health food store and Trader Joe’s – as well as our local farm stands in the summer. In the supermarket, I will often buy their brand of various items because they are less expensive. They have a pretty good health/organic food section, as well. I find the prices of a the supermarket just down the road to be better than those of a major supermarket chain in the neighboring college town which is about 9 miles away. So, besides being closer (thus saving gas) our local market saves us money at the cash register.
Every two or three weeks we go to Trader Joe’s, which is an hour away from us. I know that many of you do not have a TJ’s nearby. I hope you get one someday. Their selection is amazing and the prices are significantly lower than anywhere else. We are able to get an amazing amount of healthy food for half again as much as we would pay anywhere else. (Plus, they have fabulous fresh flowers!)
Certain food items are purchased at the health food store. Fortunately, our local store has an ongoing program that keeps a running tally of the amount of money spent by each customer (we all have account numbers) and when we reach a certain amount – say $200.00 – we get $25.00 off on our next purchase. Money saved.
In the summer we try to buy fresh fruit and vegetables at local farm stands. We have a lot of farms in our area. We support our local farmers and also know that the food we are buying is fresh and healthy. And cheaper, since it’s grown locally and we don’t have to pay for packaging and transportation costs.
I try to buy everything I need at once, because I know that quick trips to the store add up. Sometimes, though, we need something that we don’t have on hand and off to the market we go.
I must admit I am not a coupon person. I’d like to be, but I always forget to use them. And most of the coupons I see are for items I’m not interested in purchasing. But if you are a coupon user, more power to you!
I also don’t buy in bulk from Costco or BJ’s or any of those wholesale clubs. We have limited storage space here at the cottage. I’ve learned that I usually don’t have enough space to store those things and I end up losing money.
We eat at home 99% of the time. Cooking at home is cheaper. Eating out is expensive.
This spring will be the first spring in over four years that I haven’t been far away from my home working on a coaching job. I do have a job in CT, but I will be able to come home for a couple of days each week. I plan on putting in a vegetable garden. Just a starter garden, but my hope is to have some fresh vegetables grown here at MHC that we can use daily. That will also be a money saver!
Share your tips with us!
Please stop by and visit the rest of the Frugal Five, Brenda, Elaine, Jen and Diane, for their money saving ideas.
Thanks for the tips today. I do not buy in bulk, as we have very limited storage. If we eat meat, it is normally fish or chicken. We have been doing a lot of stir-fry lately and that is saving the pennies. Can’t wait for summer so we can get more fresh fruit and veggies!
I do love your blog!
Hugs…
I joined your blog and love it.
We have a new farm that I posted on my blog one post down and everything is fresh and even the meat,we also love trader Joe’s. Thank you for the money saver’s.
I put you under my favorites!!!!
I love being frugal, but have my family eat healthy is very big for me.
Tricia
Those are all great tips, Claudia! I belong to a market share and get wonderful local produce, dairy (milk, cheese, eggs) and a loaf of artisan bread each week for about $13. The bread and dairy alone would come to that much at a regular store. The produce varies by season, and I like knowing that I’m supporting local farmers, dairies, and bakeries. There’s also a TJs about 8 miles away and it’s always worth the trip! Their prices and quality are fantastic.
I eat much the same as you but the retired-guy likes his meat. He cooks it, though. Bonus! The picture of Don made me laugh because every time I take a pic of the retired-guy, he says “Are you nuts?” Ha, ha!
Isn’t it amazing how much we spend just trying to be fed? It seems the prices go up so much faster than our income. Some days, just a fav food is our big treat!
I’m going to do veggies in the garden this year for the first time. Since it will be small and our soil is too heavy, I’m going to try container gardening.
What a wonderful post! It’s funny because your ad for amazon on the side bar is showing Green bags! I guess they know I’m here! heehee! I didn’t know you were a vegetarian! Organic is definitely the best way to buy produce and so nutrtious! Good points! ♥♥♥
Hi. While we try to be frugal, we also are working on having a low-salt, low-sugar, and low-bad-fat diet, to prevent the health problems that have plagued some other family members. It is weird how having this healthier diet means buying some items that are more expensive than the junk food. No coupons for carrots, it seems. But we sure feel better eating healthier, and we’ve lost a few pounds, and that means we will save money on medical bills!
Oh, and I do grow a vegetable garden. This year, I am going to work more on growing herbs, particularly for making teas. My husband loves peppermint tea, and we go through those small boxes of Celestial Seasonings or Bigelow teas in no time. I hope to cut back on that expense a bit.
Hi Claudia! Interesting post! I’ve been looking forward to this one. It’s unbelievable how the price of food has increased. I don’t know how large families survive!
I buy a big order once a week and I usually go back for little items, like when I run out of lettuce, bananas, or tomatoes, things that cannot be stored too long. I don’t have much storage space so I can’t buy too much. I never keep more than two breads on hand. One out and one in the freezer.
I buy lots of vegetables because I love salads and I have one with lunch and dinner. (I think I’m addicted to salads). I always have the same one but never get tired of it. I put lettuce, green peppers, green onions, tomatoes, celery, and the eternal olives which I slice. For a long time now, I’ve been having Signature Kraft Balsamic Vinaigrette with it. It’s my favourite! (Not the low fat one, the regular one. The low fat has more sodium in it and I watch my sodium intake). I’m just mentioning this in case you want to try it.
I try to always have fresh strawberries and blueberries on hand because I like to have them with Activia yogurt for dessert. I’m so lucky in that I have a wonderful produce store not far away and they offer competitive prices on their fruit and vegetables. Also, I love their meat.
I’ve so gotten away from pastries now. I can’t even look at them. I like to make fresh vegetable soup. If I happen to have a fresh soup on hand, I won’t have the salad because then it’s just too much vegetables. I eat chicken, turkey, and all sorts of fish.
I very seldom eat red meat because of my blood pressure which is down to normal at the moment because I’m very careful. When I make hamburgers or anything that I would normally use ground beef in, I substitute ground turkey. At first, I missed my ground beef so much, but now I’m so over it.
I find we can save a lot of money if we don’t waste. Like buying too much vegetables to save a trip and not being able to eat them quickly enough. Especially when a person is alone.
I always shop when I’m not hungry and I bring a list.
Breakfast: Once in a while, I’ll have a fried or boiled egg with 2 toast. Lately, my appetite has diminished a bit. So, I’ll just have one toast. Jam with toast and a banana. Half a grapefruit with toast and jam. Once in a while, peanut butter spread on toast with sliced Granny Smith apples.
Lunch: Either a bowl of homemade vegetable soup, a tomato sandwich with mayonnaise, grated goat cheese, and lettuce. Sometimes, I’ll have fries with the sandwich. These fries are special in that they don’t contain much fat. They are McCain Super Quick 5 minute fries. In fifty-six pieces, there are only 8 grams of fat and I never eat that much. There is 0.5 grams of saturated and no trans. Other sandwiches that I’ll have are egg salad, chicken or turkey. Depends what I have on hand.Sometimes I’ll have a turkey hamburger which I make with regular bread which I toast.
For dinner, I have a big meal like potatoes and chicken, turkey, fish, and always a big salad. Dessert is always yogurt and fruit.
I am so jealous that you have a Trader Joe’s. I live in south Texas and we do not have one. In fact Trader Joe’s wanted to come into our city only a few months ago and our local HUGE supermarket chain – who shall remain nameless – went to the city council and stopped Trader Joe’s from coming in! To say that I am furious over this is an understatement. Trust me when I say that is a soapbox you do not want to hear me on.
My husband and I too are vegetarian. I have many health issues that require that I control it with my diet. So organic is really the only way for me to go. I can’t shop at our local market – the one that I hate for they carry hardly nothing that is organic – so I must drive across town to the one and only Whole Foods. I go about twice a month and stock up and yes it can be expensive. But I buy their brand and it isn’t so bad. We also shop at a local farmers market not far from our house. With our mild weather we can pretty much shop year round at the farmers market.
Thanks so much for the tips! Have a blessed day,
Belinda
Hard to believe, I know but we Americans spend less of a percentage of our income on food than any other country.
I love Trader Joes but it is about 30 minutes away..closer to work but going the opposite way to home.
It gripes me no end that Organics cost more!!! I shop similarly. I go to fresh & easy, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and the get my non foods such as cleaning supplies and paper products at Walmart or Target. Then we do a Sam’s run for larger bulk shopping once or twice a month. We are trying to reduce meat consumption, and stay away from processd foods, and do more whole foods eating and plant base eating. There is a fabulous food documentary we watched recently called Forks over Knives…it is fascinating…truly.
Happy day!
Kris
Don’t know what I love most. Photos of that kitchen island or photos of that Don! Very good tips. Would love to visit a Trader Joe’s some day.
Brenda
I’ve been reading the comments of discomfort for organic costing more. It is true that organic costs more but there are many reasons that it does. For one famers who grow organic do not receive subsidies as conventional farmers. Also the startup costs for being an organic farmer are much larger and they have a longer time span of turning a profit. Plus organic farms require more labor and management than conventional farms and they are almost always smaller. Therefore the reasons of the costs being higher.
It was a shock to me when I began going all organic some eight years ago. But over time I’ve come to realize that the extra far outweighs the costs for me. I know its not the same for everyone. I had no choice with my health on going organic. My health is highly affected by my diet and there just wasn’t another choice for me.
I will say that you can stills buy organic and not break the bank. Buying organic from a local farmer is MUCH less expensive than buying organic produce at your local market, sometimes half the costs. Places like Whole Foods and Sprouts have their own brands that are still organic and are much cheaper.
And the best of all is that we spend so much less on medical expenses in eating the way that we do. My husband and I are hardly ever sick…haven’t had a cold or the flu in over five years. I hardly ever have to go to the doctor. Our cholesterol and blood pressure are down and we feel so much better!
So if you can at least try it could very well be worth your effort in the end.
Belinda
I love Trader Joe’s. It’s not close but we go once a month or so. I also like Aldi and buy their store brands at a big savings. I don’t have lots of room for bulk buying either but try to keep my pantry stocked. I am hoping to find a local fruit/vegie stand this year also.
Claudia, I am going to have to dig up my passport and make a trip to the US to see this Trader Joe’s. It sounds like a wonderful place, and I remember coworkers talking about it when we lived on the coast.
We didn’t have room for many extra items either, and you know, shopping at Costco is expensive, and you always end up buying stuff that you never will eat.
Great tips,
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I love our local farmers market. And prefer to support them and I like knowing where the food comes from. You should try canning your vegetables. Consider investing in a canner. I bought mine 15 years ago($98) and it’s great. Strawberry jam in the spring, vegetables and in the summer, etc.. There is so much you can do when canning.
Great tips! We are very close to being vegetarians — just a little fish and chicken every so often. We mainly eat lots of vegetables, beans, rice and fruit and buy organic whenever possible, no matter the cost. Like you, since we eat in and cook fresh meals every day, we actually end up saving money by not purchasing any ready-made foods.
Lastly, I don’t eat any processed sugar. That means no desserts! I know that sounds crazy. But I tend to crave sweets, so by going cold turkey, my cravings are completely gone. And what I do eat tastes extra-yummy!
Hi Claudia! I left a comment on Brenda’s blog about how I save on my grocery bill. Like you, when I have extra monthly expenses, it’s the only place in the budget I can shave money off of. I do use coupons, and anyone interested in getting started can email me. I’m not one of those super duper coupon queens like on TV. I thought your post yesterday was lovely!! Oh, and we are finally suppose to be getting a Trader Joe’s here in San Antonio…Yeah!
We adore TJ’s and the quality of their produce, frozen food and the prices are remarkable. We are ninety miles from ours but Joe’s brother lives there so we take a cooler and stock up. Joe wrote to them and requested that they open a store in Augusta, Ga. which is the second largest city in Georgia. They did reply and now we get their amusing ads in the mail. Not eating out is a huge way to save money and we do not eat out very much. I do coupon but only for something I know I need and not for processed food.
I love TJ’s too. Ours is close so we are lucky. I think the theme of eating at home is essential to save on food. I know friends who spend a $100 a week going out. Can you imagine?
I watch for organic on markdown at the grocery store. You have to eat it or freeze it right away, of course. I do the same with “free from” organic meat. Since last summer, I have bought almost nothing premade, boxed or canned and you’d be amazed how much $ that saves! ~ Maureen
I am a bit of a health nut. I try to buy organic whenever I can and we don’t eat processed foods either. Like you, our local co-op gives us cash back which cuts our costs. We are not vegetarians, although I could easily be one, hubby can’t quite make that leap ~ yet. It has become challenging to stay organic because of the expense, but I stretch the dollar with lots of brown rice and dried beans bought in bulk. Don’t get me started on GMO’s or Monsanto. Bentley eats organic too, but fortunately he’s so little that it does not cost too much to feed him.
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Great tips Claudia. I find it difficult to keep the food bill down right now with teens and their friends! Plus I’ve always tried to keep the choices healthy. I do buy items on sale and try to do my errands in one trip. I think we might go to the same Trader Joe’s. I love that store, but it’s far-I stop there if I go to the mall nearby.
There is a local market that has great produce prices-I go there once a week. Now I’m wondering which health food store gives you the cash back?
-Lynn
Great post, Claudia. I generally shop once a week, but I am flexible based on where I am shopping.
We have a Trader Joe’s nearby, and I love it. Great choices and good prices.
I do purchase some items that I normally would not because of my mother. She will not cook, but wants frozen dinners. I try as often as possible to fix a plate for her to counter her frozen dinner fixation. I guess when you get older you have your quirks.
Ah heck, I have my quirks, too.
I am ALWAYS amazed by how much money I spend on groceries. I’m not a big shopper but groceries are my weekness-mMy mom calls it “groceries anonymous”.
I also don’t eat meat and have a garden that I freeze and can stuff from for the off season… I shop at Whole Foods though so that pretty much destroys any savings :)
Great post and it is wonderful that the mainstream grocery stores have organic. Our Whole Foods and Trader Joes are not close to us….we are planning a trip soon…I hope.
To your question on why organic costs more is mostly because feeding plants organically rather then synthetically costs more and so are organic pest repellents. Often the organic don’t work as well so the yield is less. We’re looking into Aquaponics and I’m so excited about that.
I live in Ct so I welcome you to our little state. Hope you enjoy your stay.
x
Carole
With two kids ( one being a teen that is hungry all the time!) and a Hubby and dog our grocery bill can get out of hand really quickly. I try to do oragnic and its hard. I coupon and look out for weekly sales that I can store up and put in our little pantry. so far I do save by also going to different stores. Trader Joes is awesome. I love whle foods too but they are a bit expensive.
Blessings, Joanne
Organic food is more expensive because it’s not subsidized by the government like conventional agriculture. If you had to pay what it actually costs a farmer it would all be expensive.
I started gardening in order to provide organic food for my family so putting in a garden is a good idea.
I miss TJ’s, though we still lived 2 hours from the nearest. But when we were down to the Valley we’d stock up (and then head to In N Out burger next door!)
We have definitely save money on not eating out. And knowing we’re eating healthier is the added benefit.
I too shop at Trader Joe’s and pop there during my lunch hour while at work. I have a few favourite items I get. The other place I shop is Aldi’s, good no brand items. Aldis’s is owned by the same people who own Trader Joe’s a German Company. Aldis is no frills but I do not like huge stores, so only occasionally shop at them. Also do not buy bulk. Do shop local produce when in season. We have managed on $50.00 a week for three people for the past two years. Hubby unempoyed and we have a 17 year old son. Plus 2 cats. It can be done. Cook at home from scratch, do not hardly ever eat out.
I love your down to earth take on the economy and life as it is today.
Christy
Lil Bit Brit
Hi Claudia,
We don’t eat red meat much; most chicken and fish. We haven’t tried a tofu that I can say we really like. Can you recommend one?
S
xo
I don’t use coupons either, they are always for junk food or processed food. I like real food. ‘
I love your kitchen!
Claudia, again a very informational post. Wish we had TJ here, but we do not. I’ve visited them in CA and find that I can’t do a complete grocery trip there, but their specialty items cannot be beat (and their flowers!). We have a very good grocery store here, Publix, that is very good about offering $5 off coupons every couple of weeks and BOGOs (Buy one, get one free) of sensible items that just about anyone can use. We are not vegetarians, so I buy meat at Costco in bulk as well as toilet paper, paper towels, coffee. I go to a local produce store for fabulously priced veggies. I am not organic, but I understand that many communities have organic co-ops for a fee each month. My SIL belongs to one in Phoenix. She takes her empty laundry basket once a week to the co-op. It is loaded with whatever is available that week and she works her menu around that. I think that is such a great idea and she is very pleased with what she gets with this system. Ann
Great tips. I love fresh and cannot wait for our spring crops to come in. I try to buy local as much as possible and there is a big movement here so we are very lucky.
How long have you been vegetarian?
What made you decide etc? That would be a great post if I did not miss one already.
Don looks so familiar. I need to see if I remember him from any shows.
Have a great evening!
Another in the kitchen video would be fun…I lOVE your kitchen and watching yall groove in it!
I have Celiac Disease so I can’t eat gluten. Gluten-free products are really expensive. A loaf of bread about 1/3 the size of a normal loaf is $5. Once I got a loaf that had an air bubble that made the slices 1/2 smaller. There is only one kind of bread that I like. I made some homemade bread from a GF mix. It looked like and tasted like concrete. It’s just my husband and I for evenings (I babysit during the day) so he eats my food…..so that makes it more $….but I am not going to make different meals for both of us.
I make alot of soup in the colder months.
Dr. Oz had a special on The Today Show about the 100 foods we should put in our grocery carts. He said organic milk, frozen fruits and veggies, canned tomato paste and sauce, and beans. It was nteresting. You can download the list from The Today Show or on his site.
Thanks for all the tips……and everyones comments.
TJ’s rocks! I love them and yes the only place to buy flowers. I don’t get them often but you cannot beat the quality or the price! I am not a coupon user either. But I did get a good hint. Wal Mart will take say a Scott papertowel coupon for Scott toilet tissue. Some others like Proctor and Gamble you can get the P&G product you need with the coupon. But usually I would buy something I do not need if I used one. The grocery stores wil on occasion give out ones that really do work for what I buy regularly and you get them when you get to the store. Just easy.
Hugs, Lisa
I can’t wait for out Trader Joes to open. The building is going up. :)
I really look forward to summer and all of the fresh produce that we get at the local farmer’s markets. We also grow a few vegetables in pots as we don’t really have space for a garden. I agree about the coupons. They don’t usually have them for the products I buy, but I shop at Krogers a lot and they have great specials.
Great tips. Thanks so much for sharing.
Laura
I don’t buy food in bulk at all. Last year, my tomato crop yield was 5-6 that’s a new record! High record unfortunately. but those tomatoes were darn good. My good crop was due to the upside down planter. Otherwise, my crop averages about 2 per year. sigh. i can smell them now.
So glad you will get to be home this summer and plant a garden! I know you will love that!! We try to be really frugal with our food budget too. I love going to the farmers market during the growing season, and I’d like to join a CSA. Need to find out more about that.
Your shopping is much as mine is. I am a strict vegatarian , no dairy, and shop every Saturday year around at our local Farmers Market. I save there as all the organic produce I need is only 1.00 each! I buy very little at regular supermarkets,when I do go in a supermarket I stay away from the middle and only browse the organic produce, buy tofu, tea and the occassional wheat product. I am shocked at what people buy at supermarkets with no regard to their health. I usually supplement my vegatables with soy products or bulk proteins and beans from the health food store or from Trader Joes’s. I agree that Organics should be the same or less in price. We have a CSA but its more then the Farmers Market prices and not as fresh. To me if it is healthy eating then any price is worth it. As you said we are not eating junk food or meat so we always have a great savings compared to most people. Eaings smart and organic is key for me. I have not been sick in over 20 years.