I saw toward the end of the thread on foodstamps that someone had serious questions on whether it was possible to feed my family of five on a grocery budget of $75 per week.

I was shocked that they were shocked! Aren't we all couponers (or didn't we at least start out as couponers to come upon these boards? )

The reason that $75 is very do-able for us is that we stockpile toiletries (I keep an endless supply of bathroom tissue, toothpaste, paper towels, laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, etc - ALL bought with coupons and on sale).

We garden, we cut coupons, we shop sales, and we eat food in season. We all eat healthy fresh food, and can EASILY do it on $75. We eat fish and chicken, no red meat (not sure that's relevant, but I thought I should include that info). In tougher times I've been able to keep my spending lower than that, and when we want to buy "above and beyond" we do that, too.

I'm sure there are plenty of MC'ers on our boards who can easily manage the same (or better) grocery spending, and still eat well.

So what about everyone else?

I just went last Wednesday, and spent $151.xx after $30.xx in coupons (no doubles). This is for 2 - 3 weeks, with fillins of milk and bread.

I could have done better,but, I felt like buying some Havarti cheese. I didn't even look at the price, I just knew I wanted it, and wanted to get out of the store. Got home, and do you know, that stuff was $9.99 a POUND. I got about half a pound. HOLY COW!!!! I bought one 12pk of soda. We're not big soda drinkers. I bought meat, vegs, fruit, etc. This amount also included tp, cat food, and some other non foods, that would not be covered by food stamps (this springs from the FS thread, right?).

I, too, think $75 a week is very doable. In fact, funny thing is, I had recently vowed to spend only $75 (or as close to it as possible) a week on groceries. I say we should challenge ourselves and really put the pedal to the metal and see how well you can do.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

We are a family of 5. My DH, myself, 18 yr old DS, 11 yr old DS and 9 yr old DD. I absolutely feed my family for 75.00 or less all the time. I have never spent more then that. I plan, use coupons, and shop the sale ads. I would say most weeks I easliy spend less then 75 on groceries.

Jen

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Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
SJCC STREAKS FOOTBALL!!
CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL!

We're a family of 4 and I think we average less than $75 a week. Occassionally we go over, but I didn't go to the store last week. Sometimes I go a couple times a week, but usually spend about $25-$30.

I try to buy most everything (except meat & produce) at WalMart. It's a lot cheaper.

Lately, I've been buying meat when they have the big meat sales. Tonight we're not even having meat, but beans in a salad. I think it's very doable, too.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

We just upped our monthly budget to $350. It was $300, but things (with or without coupons) are too expensive here. I live in Northern Va. Everything here is more expensive.

Family of 5 - 2 adults, one 13 (5'9", 165), one 8 year old and one 5 year old. We don't have superwalmarts here, no bakery outlets or 2nd hand stores. A few stores will double under $.50, but usually on stuff we don't buy. I rely on Dollar Tree, Costco, Bottom Dollar and I get all my meats on clearance from Giant.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I'm not sure what I spend but it is a lot more then $75 a week. Now does this include non food items and pet food? I have a family of 5 with a ds 21, ds 12, and dd 11. I buy on sale and use coupons but I am not good at planning ahead. Can anyone give me some menu suggestions for dinners? How about some meatless dinners too? Thank you for any help you can give me.

Coupons, sales, stockpiling, and a planned course of action are a definite to feed a family of 5 on $75 a week. It can be done on less than that.

For example of coupons/sales/stockpiling, yesterday I did a very small run and got:

1 32oz jar of Helman's mayo
2 100pk Lipton t-bags
2 1lb tubs margarine
6 22.0z cans Bush bbq beans
1 jar mustard
4 suave shampoos/conditioners
8 cans cat food
8 bags cat treats

ALL for $5.72 Full price would have been $32+

We also buy most of our meats from a small grocery/butcher shoppe. I mostly use the big stores for the sale stuff I have coupons for or when they are having a good sale on meats or shrimp.

i usually spend from 75.00-100.00 depending on what i have to buy.
if we are out of milk chicken im only talking food though i bought clenaing supplies last week and spent 40.00 just on that.but it will last a long long time as i usually use baking soda and vin. and occasionally use mr clean or lysol when someones been sick or has a cold.
i have a 8yr old and a soon to be 5 yr old they eat school lunches and like to have 1 snakc when they get home.
i dont like to buy junk food but do cause i remember having little debbie cakes when i was younger and so i do the same for my children but they are limited to 1 a day other than that its fresh fruit when i can get it on sale and i buy what ever is on sale i will not buy strawberries when they are 4.00 for a small package ill wait till they are 1.98 regardless of how many times im begged i use coupons and buy on sale i wish krogers would have thier dollar double but its been awhile since they had one here.walmart is the cheapest but ill get alot of stuff from bilo and kroger if i have coupons that can double up to 0.50 instead of pricematching.its not bad going between the 3 stores as the zoning committee here has put everything on one rd lol

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i'M THE TYPE

OF GIRL WHO WILL BUST OUT

LAUGHING ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

did they double your coupons and which store
i see some stuff on your list i need to go pick up lol
also do you seem to find the butcher is cheaper on meats?

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i'M THE TYPE

OF GIRL WHO WILL BUST OUT

LAUGHING ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Yep, $75 is easy if you do it right. What I spend varies because I don't shop weekly

Assuming 4 weeks in a month, you spend $300 a month

I get our meat delivered once every 6 months and pay $158 a month for that
Milk is delivered once a week for $60 or so a month

So milk and meat is roughly $218 a month. Then you have $82 to spend on the rest. I stockpile, coupon, shop sales, buy in bulk when it's feasible to do so, buy at Amazon's grocery store because a lot of the items I use all the time are much cheaper. Then it also saves me the sales tax and gas money because it's delivered to my door for free

So I can spend $500 in one month and then $200 or less a few months because of the stockpile. It's all how you manage it

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

They double but not multiples, but most of my coupons were $1 off of course at Martin's/Giant + they had 4 $1 doubler coupons in their ad.

I find that the prices are much better on meat at the small grocery stores than the chains. The same pack of 5/6 chicken breasts would be $7-9 at the bigger store. I pay $3.00-$4.50 depending on sale prices and I will buy for the month if its in the $3 range. Lately I've been buying these round steaks for around $3 and 1 steak is big enough for 2 servings Plus I like the fact that its local meats(I'm afraid of Walmart meat)LOL

Another thing that has really helped us cut the grocery bill is portion control and using up those left overs.

I may buy a $7 pack of 2 steaks, but, that will feed alll five of us, with a little left over, which I throw into scrambled eggs for DH the next morning. We don't eat a lot of steak, it is not good for you, or the planet.

Ok - I am doing something VERY wrong...

There are normally five of us...

I spend $70 A WEEK on MILK and BREAD alone.

I easily spend $200 every two weeks that doesn't include milk, bread or eggs (I get those at a different store and more frequently.)

Where are you ladies getting these coupons? We used to get the paper, but the coupons were no better than the generic, or were for things we didn't use. I shop sales...I plan meals...we use leftovers...where am I going so wrong?

Ending comments...

I live 45 minn away from "stores". I buy milk and bread from a farm stand (picture the cows) more often since I need it more often and the savings of going to the bigger stores would be eatten up byt he gas used getting there. I have been told, and I guess I should check that kids up until 8 need three glasses of milk a day - which is what I give them. They are good water drinkers - and would drink more. DH and I don't drink milk. The bread I buy is only for sandwiches, one for each me and the three kdis, each Mon - Fri for lunch. I have a huge pantry, so I can stock dry goods to no end, but only the little freezer in my fridge, which is usually full with stuff for the next two weeks, so I can't really freexe much more than our meats.

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saraedawson@yahoo.com

Mommy to Jake, Alexis, Abigail and Joshua, Wife to Matt

I get our milk delivered by a local dairy but for the 4 of us we use 1.5 gallons a week. If I need it for anything other than drinking or cereal, we use powered milk (much cheaper and I can't tell the difference). My kids like to drink water so they get milk with cereal and then milk in their lunches and water when they get home. I either make bread homemade (I make a boule about 3 times a week so that is super cheap and SO GOOD. I get our sandwich bread at a Orawheat outlet down the road. Bread that sells for $3-$4 a loaf sells for 3/$4 there plus they have a punch card and freebies. Bring in your own sack and get a freebie. I freeze it. I got enough bread for the month but 2 Enterman's desserts for $7 the other day.

Is there a way you could cut down and/or sub out your milk and bread? Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day (I got it at Amazon) has been a lifesaver for me. I would occassionally splurge on those $4 bagettes or boules at Whole Foods or Panera and now I make my own easily (which I never thought I could do!)

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Just wondering why steak isn't good for the planet?


There's only 2 of us and I probably spend maybe $50 a week on groceries. I watch the sales and use coupons. Some things I don't/can't compromise on but that's not to big of a issue. I guess it helps the budget that I only cook 2 days a week but I always make extras so the DH can have left overs.

I bow in the AWESOMENESS of all of you ladies!

Wow-wow-wow - y'all really do great!

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This is what I got today for $95 (from Giant, CVS, & Costco):

5 count pkg loratadine (for my allergies)
Toothbrush
8 count Scott paper towels
3 50 oz bottles detergent
Allergy eye drops
3 gallons milk
1 qt half & half
Veggie tray
3 dozen eggs
2 lbs monterey jack cheese
Bakery rolls (6 count)
2 pkgs bagels
2 boxes hamburger helper
3 pkgs Lipton noodle sides
1.8 lbs chuck steak
1.53 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
.84 lb beef stew meat
5.86 lbs pork chops
2.48 lbs cube steak
2 lbs ground turkey Italian style (no clue what this tastes like, lol)
1.46 lbs top round

I still have $20 to use up tomorrow for the last few things, and I don't remember all I bought w/ the $40 I used @ Bottom Dollar last week. But my normal grocery amount for 5 people (2 adults, one HUGE growing 13 year old, 8 year old and a 5 year old) is $350/month or $87.50/week. That includes paper goods and cleaning supplies. But since we were talking about it last week, I thought I'd post my amounts today. I only had one coupon for the lipton. The meat was on clearance of course.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I envy you ladies I really do. I spend in one week what you all do in a month. But in my defense I am feeding my family and my in laws as well as they are older and don't cook anymore. That also includes pet food and non food items.

My DH family is very strange they will not eat left overs at all no way, now how. So I have to cook a brand new meal each day. DH father lives by the old rules and you must have meat, veggie and starch with dinner and they can't be mixed. Only thing I get away with mixing is shepards pie. I have tried many times to get them to eat different things but it is not worth the mumbling I get. Nights they go out to dinner DH and I will eat whatever we can find. I am lucky he is not quite as picky as his dad though he will not eat any meal with cheese. His parents are also diabetic so I try to serve fresh cooked veggies and light starches which add to my food bill as canned veggies sometimes have things that raise their sugar.

On the bright side though his parents have been very good to us and have helped us in so many ways the least I can do is put up with cooking for them and helping them anyway I can.

I quit couponing a year or two ago, I found the coupons to be mostly for convenience items. I dont buy any mixes like hamburger helper or frozen dinners, most of our vegetables are home grown. I make fried rice and pilaf from a 50 lb bag of rice I buy and I go thru a 25 lb sack of unbleached flour every three to four weeks. But I dont buy cake mix, bread, rolls, or snacks. I make cookies, brownies, and home made pretzels (mall style) for pennies. I am planning what I am taking and preparing beforehand for our camping trip this weekend, I will be baking rolls, bread, premaking pancake mix (I will store in the fridge), Catt's home made brownies, M and M cookies, and a Tandy Cake. We are also taking healthy foods too (carrot sticks, apples, watermelon and raisins), we will be having a bunch of people and kids coming and going.
Also making potato salad (I bought lots last week when I was getting them for 1.69 for ten lbs), and maybe pasta salad. I have chicken frozen in the marinade I bought for 1.29 lb for boneless skinless breasts (I had to buy 40 lbs to get this price, but we use it all the time)
I guess the secret is to stockpile staples, then you can make whatever you want.
I spent over $100 in that warehouse store last week, but got enough of some items (cheese, chicken etc) to last until the fall.
This week, I need milk...I might also pick up a big bag of chopped romaine at Sams for 3.59. I always make sure I have enough money to take advantage of a deal, but if I dont come accross any this week, thats all I will be buying, so its hard to figure...One time, at WM, I came accross Nathan's Kielbasa and nathan's small smoked links for $1 a lb. I bought 25. They dont expire until the end of July so they are in the extra fridge)...we take these camping, so when we get closer to July I will freeze whatever we have left...Also use these to make jambalaya from my 50 lb bag of rice. I dont buy baked beans, I buy dry beans and make them from bacon, molasses, and tomato sauce (make a huge batch and freeze for extra meals, this is one item I am going to try to can in my pressure canner)
I guess the secret is to shop to stock your house, not make specific meals. I can make almost anything, or come up with a pretty good substitute.
So my freezer has tons of chicken (40 lbs boneless skinless and several bags of parts)
1 whole chicken (oven stuffer)
several hams
25 or so lbs of hamburger, some precooked and crumbled for quick tacos
7 or 8 lbs butter bought on sale cheaply
the kielbasi in the fridge
a pkg or two of steaks and beef cubes left over from our last steer purchase
8 or so lbs of Kunzler hot dogs (these are pretty good Pa Dutch ones
3 lbs scrapple (gross, I know, but I love the stuff and it was on sale)
ten lbs bacon
ten or so lbs italian sausage
a few bags of venison steaks
Bags of trout we caught and bags of other panfish, like perch, my family caught as a hobby
huge box of tilapia
various other stuff, like ice cream and my veggies

edited to add...I dont buy paper towels. I was raised without them, and never bought them before. I use rags for dirty stuff to be thrown away, and have cloths to clean up spills etc that I wash. The only paper goods I buy are TP and napkins (cheapest I can find, usually holiday print target napkins)Also, in January, I was in Dollar Tree, and they had Clear Eyes allergy eye drops (made in USA, I checked)...I bought two, one for home one for camper, as I knew we would be needing them and they dont expire for a few years.
When I yardsale, I try to look ahead at what I will be needingfor next year (I already have some back to school shopping done, (shirts and hoodies) ...I have a list of what size sneakers I have on hand and how many pairs. Everything goes into the washer and out in the sun to dry. I got myself four ladies sz 16 (ashamed to admit that) like new Old Navy jean shorts for 25 cents a pair last week. I hope to lose weight (and know realistically I probably wont) so a 1 dollar investment isnt a big dealand if I dont, I have nice new shorts for the summer.

Brenda, 2 questions. Are you close enough to me that I can come over for pretzels? What is Tandy cake?

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I spend about $30-$50 a week (depending on sales) for a family of 3. That is mostly spent on meat and fresh veggies or some fruit. Other stuff we use double coupons and get alot for free, like we don't pay for things like shampoo, soap, lotion, mustard, dog treats, sausage, chips/snacks, most of that I can get free all of the time using double coupons. Other things I wait for a sale and stock up, one of our stores periodically has a 10lb meat sale, you have to buy 10lbs. in order to get the sale price the most recent meat items that have been cheap were pork ribs $1 a lb, pork steak $1 a lb. then with current coupons I have been getting bacon for .50 a lb, sausage totally free, and ham steaks and slices for .88 a lb. Normally we are not huge pork eaters, but since we can get that really cheap right now, that is what we will eat. I have 120 lbs of cheap/free pork in my freezer. Then I will supplement that with chicken and beef when it goes on sale. With the recent rising cost of food, we have gone to one meatless meal a week, like baked potatoes and salad or something like that, or having "breakfast for dinner" eggs and bacon, or eggs and sausage one night a week. We all take our lunches, DH takes leftovers or whatever I can get for free or cheap using coupons (luckily he is not a picky eater), DD takes a lunch to school 4 days a week and buys one day a week. When I was working I took my lunch everyday, usually leftovers or a sandwich. We buy a gallon of milk a week, we are not huge milk drinkers. This does not include pet food. We have an apple tree, peach tree and 3 Mulberry bushes, so we don't have to buy fruit when those are ripe. This year we are growing our own strawberries, tomatoes, blueberries, potatoes, green beans to supplement our budget fresh fruit and veggies. Usually I give away extra apples and peaches or let them rot on the ground, but this year since I am not working I will be freezing the extras, making applesauce, that type thing.

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

Nicole, I know you are in VA now, we went to Jamestown area last year for one of our vacations (stayed at a state park for about $15 a night ) If you ever come up north, let me know and I will fill you up with lots of home canned goodies.
A "Tandy cake" is a spin off orf a regional favorite. If anyone has ever had tasty cakes (I think they might be a PA thing,) they make tandy cakes, butterscotch krimpets, jelly filled krimpets, little pies and lots of other stuff twinkie and Dolly madison cant even compare to tasty cakes...
A tandycake is a small round yellow cake (you get three in a package, all the better to wolf down), topped with a thin layer of peanut butter, dunked in chocolate.
Heaven

Here is my recipe for a home version

Tandy Cake (use a 10x 15 jelly roll pan, it will be a thin cake) preheat 350 degrees
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
2 tsp margarine

beat these together well
sift together and mix into the wet ingredients
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder

grease jelly roll pan, pour in the cake and bake at 350 for 20-25 mins, until cake springs lightly back.
While still hot, spread 1 1/4 cup peanut butter, then top with chocolate chips. you can put the cake back in the oven to melt the chips (I use about a bag and a half). Spread with a butter knife, and allow to chocolate to harden, and cut in squares.
Dont even bother making this unless you want to use an entire gallon of milk lol
enjoy

OMG Brenda. Rick is going to LOOOOVE you. I'm going to make this for him tomorrow. Thank you!

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

My weekly/monthy grocery bill varies. I buy according to sales, stocking up when I can. Usually we go to Save-A-lot store and stock up on can vegetables ( cases of the veg. we like), any other stuff that is canned/jar food.

I buy the marked-down meat or the "on-sale" meat of the week in large amounts. If a store runs hamburger, chicken breast on a real good deal..we usually order 100 lbs. of more at a time. I have a large chest freezer. (Also have a generator..in case power goes out for any long period of time).

I also use coupons. Not as much anymore since my local Kroger store closed.
I also look at the discontinued/marked-down items, if they are dated long enough I will buy lots.

If any of my stockpile of can/jar items is getting "short-dated" I donate them to the local food bank.

Edited to add: I do not give the food bank (old food) or only short-dated items. We try to make a donation of several cases of food items. Especially complete food ..like canned beef stew, soup, etc.

I think it is a PA thing. I LOVE Chocolate Jrs. and DH love the Krimpets (he can't have chocolate). I'm in Maine now and very few stores carry the Tasty Cakes. Some stores in New Hampshire carries them but the selection is very, very limited. We usually stock up on them when we go home on vacation or my mom sends them up but only twice a year (Christmas and Easter). I agree that they are better the Little Debbies. Now you've got me hungry for these.

Is this the generic of Alavert? Why I ask is this: my hubby has allergies and he says Alavert is the only thing that works for him. At CVS it's $10.99 for a box of 15 and you get $4 in extra care bucks back plus there's a $4 coupon you can print. So, it makes it pretty cheap.
Not sure if this would be cheaper than your generic or not?

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

Amy, it's generic Claritin. It's free this week, so I thought I'd try it. It's been so many years since I've had allergies and now here in VA they're BAD.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I get $300.00 every second Friday for a family of two adults and two children, ages 8 and 4 1/2.
We go through LOADS of fresh fruits and vegetables.

SaraBeth, the monetary mileage you will get from most of the savings methods posted can vary quite a bit. It primarily depends on the resources available to you, where you live (different parts of the country, different prices), and the amount of time you have to devote yourself to serious bargain shopping.

As you mentioned, you have limited freezer space so you're not going to be able to stockpile perishable frozen items, like meat. If at all possible, a stand-alone freezer would be a good investment for you simply because of the distance you have to drive to the grocery store. However, you're fortunate enough to have a huge pantry. Use that to your full advantage. As well as stockpiling canned goods, you can use some of that space for paper goods... paper towels, paper plates, toilet tissue, etc. Goods that don't expire and you know you'll use them until the day you expire. So, when you do find a good sale on them, and especially a sale + coupons, buy as much as you can afford.

As far as where to get coupons... I get more than 1/2 of mine from the Sunday paper. And, I agree, they're not what they use to be. I use to buy name brand stuff all the time. (Snuggle fabric softener comes to mind) But now, even with sales and coupons, it's often cheaper to buy the store brand or generic for a lot of items. And, once you get down to generic, where do you go from there? (LOL) I also print coupons off the internet. (coupon sites & manufacturer sites) And, if I can't find or print the coupons I'm looking for (brands/items I buy on a regular basis), I'll call the manufacturer and ask them if they could send me some. And, at least 65% of them do. Some of them allow you to call and request coupons on a regular basis. (monthly, quartley, etc.) These are ways I get my coupons, but I'm sure you can get a lot more advice on the TOT board. I know a lot of people trade coupons.

Also, if you haven't already, find out which stores in you area double coupons and price match competitors ads. Kroger, IGA and Meijer double coupons valued at .50 & under in my neck of the woods. And, WalMart is the only store in my area that still price matches competitor's ads (for things like grocery items, anyway). Rite-Aid price matches prescription drugs. Price matching saves you time that you'd spend driving from store to store, plus it saves on your gas tank.

Other ways to cut your food budget... as several posters mentioned, gardening. And, no tomato tastes better than home grown! Fishing is another recreational pastime that can cut your food bill and fill your freezer. And, it's something the whole family can do together. Just make sure you get the proper fishing license/permit you need and find out what your local regulations are.

I hope I wasn't too repetitive of the other posters. But, like I said, it all depends on the resources and time you have available to devote to it. HTH!



Keowa -
I know that's somewhat of a difficult situation for you. I'm sure you feel that "no leftover" is just wasteful. Maybe you could just be creative. Do you think you could get away with freezing leftovers, like veggies, to use at a later time for soup, or stew? Or, use leftover spaghetti and leftover brown beans to make chili?....something. Maybe you can get away with freezing your leftovers (or at least some of them) and incorporate them into a new dish without them knowing.

.

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No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

I can easily feed our family of 4 (2 teens) on around $70.00 a week. I don't lately because I haven't had to, but I could very easily go back to my other menu's.

Lately I've been spending about $150 a week. Only because I normally have at least 6 other teens besides my own, sometimes many more. They all know what time we eat and it nevers fails an hour or so before dinner they all start dragging in. I wouldn't change it for the world though! I will miss so much them all not being here in the next year or so.

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We spend less than $75 a week at the grocery store for our family of four.

Our food bill will probably go up when school lets out. I anticipate a $30 or more difference per week? It's actually higher in the summer then during the school year when I pay for school lunches which run about $10 a week for my one son who eats school lunch...

We also usually spend about $50+ per week on eating out.

I think most people are wondering for say $75 for a family of 4 or 5 what are you all eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner on that amount.

I think they think you are eating canned soups, Mac & cheese, grilled cheese on that amount.

We spend about $60 a week. We also ( don't' kill me now) get Milk, OJ, water, Chocolate Milk for FREE, ohh and ice cream also. He brought home a 5 gallon tub of chocolate chip ice cream today! I can't eat ice cream (LI) BUt kids love it. Husband works for his sisters company that supplies the stuff to big stores, little store, schools ect.

Also people have to take in consideration that prices are different everywhere. Some states double to.99 others to $1.00 others don't double at all. So don't beat yourselves up if you spend a little more. every place is different.

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Mrs.B - Ginarewards@gmail.com

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I didn't mean to question you i guess i just didn't realize how someone can do that when i simply can't. I have tried to coupon and find that most the coupons i find are not something i would normally buy. meats here are very expensive unless you buy them on sale. my every week consists of 2 packs of diapers 1 pack of wipes that alone costs 26 bucks right there. Then i buy baby food thats about 15 bucks a week so what we up to 41 dollars now? see where im going lol. I wish i could just spend 75 bucks a week, but i don't see how i could.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

aryia, just keep all those baby receipts and when they graduate from college, hand them over along w/ a due date for repayment, lol.

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"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I think it has a lot to do with lifestyle and time you have to deadicate to finding good deals. I spend at least $100 a week on just two adults, and that really just covers dinners, snacks and a few odd and end items. We both work and eat out for lunch quite a bit, and eat out on the weekends. But, we also entertain a lot. It is not unusual for us to have 6-10 people over for dinner or for cocktails on the weekend, which can get costly. I always have things on hand to cover that. I think the bulk of my spend is on things like quality meat and cheese, produce, and wine.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

LOL sounds like a plan. I may become rich!! LOL

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

Don't feel bad at all for putting out the question - it made for great discussion, and I've picked up some new ideas!!

I used to make my baby wipes - that was a big money saver. And I feel for you - there's no way around the cost of diapers!! I had considered using cloth when we were using diapers, but after researching, I discovered that the costs of running the extremely hot water to effectively sanitize the soiled diapers would make the $$ savings into a "wash"

I always enjoy sharing perspectives on these boards. Like I said, I'm glad the topic came up!

This sounds yummy! :0)
I just picked up some 10 x 15 pans and I was wondering what I could bake on them besides the classic jelly-roll cakes. Is there an all chocolate version ?

I spend about $150-$175 twice monthly on groceries at the commissary but I do end up running to Sam's for milk, bread, bottled water , etc at least once or twice a month. I am 25 minutes from the commissary so I hit Sam's in the interim since it is my cheapest option otherwise. This includes all paper goods/cleaning supplies/pet foods /cat litter. I usually keep the Sam's trips to under $25 a pop unless I come across a great deal.
So, probably with everything included for 3 of us ( plus 2 cats, a fish tank, a frog and 2 Anoles ...oy!) I spent about $350 to $400 per month.

I went grocery shopping today and picked up just a few things and spent $10.35, listed below is what I bought. I did have coupons for everything and our coupons double. Of course I still have $40 left in the budget for the week for plenty of meat and fresh veggies and fruits and whatever else is on sale, new sales start tomorrow.

2- Pilgrims Pride packages of fresh chicken
1- lb Farmland sausage
1- lb. Sargento grated cheese
1- Bounty paper towels
1- 32oz. Powerade
2- boxes of 10 Capri Suns
2- pgks gummi bears
1- Hellman's mayo 32oz
1- Purina kitten chow
1- Purina beggin strips (dog treats)
1- Sure deodorant
1- Purell hand sanitizer
1- Kotex pads
1- Bandaids (box of bandages)
1- Johnsons baby soap
1- Ken's ranch salad dressing
1- half gallon 8th Continent Milk
1- Tidy Cat litter
1- Luzianne family 24 pack tea bags
1- Ensure drink

I forgot to add that I have a bunch more coupons for everything but the chicken, sausage and bacon, I can't fit anymore in my freezer, my freezer (upright) and 2 refrigerator top freezers are packed full of food, so I have no room for more right now. Alot of stuff I don't use, but give away to other people, like the Ensure goes to an elderly woman at my church who can't afford it. Things like the Johnsons soap will go with the Johnsons lotion, shampoo, powder (bought last week for free) along with a couple of outfits for a baby shower gift (have 3 baby showers to go to in the next 2 months). Extras go to DH's clients (he works in the mental health system) when they are low on food and other supplies. Other extras go to my church food drive at Christmas or the 4-H food drive for Thanksgiving. I get anything for free even if we won't use it, because I know someone else can use it.

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

Wow, that is some list Penny! Way to go.

Rarely are there coupons for milk and meat and the $$ spent on those can add up fairly quickly. So, I stockpile both when I can.

I stockpile milk if it is in the half gallon jugs (sometimes they are on sale for $1 each -- the jugs easily can be frozen if you open and take out about 1/2 cup before freezing. Then, I keep 3 at a time in the fridge... for how quickly my family goes through the milk, the third one in the back will thaw by the time that we get to it.

I also stockpile discounted meat and freeze.

Our freezer is small but plenty big enough for our family of four... about 2 feet wide and 4 feet tall with a door on the front. We got it at Sears and it paid for itself a long time ago.

Being that I have kids and DH who like specific things to eat, our weekly menu is built around the same basic items. Rarely will we splurge on something that is *different* and if we do, it is because a it is a special holiday/birthday.

First, I would like to congratulate all of you on saving your family a lot of money.

We spend about $800 a month on groceries. We made a choice last year to change our diet dramatically - we cut out all convenience items, all HFCS, sodium benzoate, msg, trans-fat (check those packages - it is still in the food - just smaller amounts) and various other preservatives.

We have gone organic on beef, chicken, dairy and fruit/veggies that we eat the skin of. We often will eat bison because it is lower in fat and no hormones. We rarely go out. I can tell you that our health has drastically changed for the better.

I make all my own cleaning supplies. I use my coupons on other items - such as clothes and crafts. I also am a huge garage sale queen.

Today, I went out to lunch with the ladies in my neighborhood as a last meal before school was out. We went to Wahoo's and I used my coupons for free tacos and had water (gave up soda). (From one of those $10 school fundraiser cards) I even gave the ladies the extra coupons for free drinks.

I, like many of you, was quite good at the coupon game and would have very low bills. I really am excited that stay-at-home parents can make their money stretch like that. I still use coupons and was very excited around Earth Day because lots of organic coupons came out that don't expire until the end of August!

So I still read this board and all its tips. I also stretch out our meat by doing the mixing in veggie puree thing and making matching bean paste to whatever meat we are eating. Yes, my kids know about it. We also serve it on the side!

Thanks for reading and all of your great tips!

I went to the store again today, not planning too, but DD hurt her foot pitching and had to go the the doctor which is near the store so I went (after DH picked DD up from me). Today I spent $9.64 and got:

2- pkgs hot dogs
1- lb sausage
1- lb Kraft Select cheese slices
4- corn on the cob fresh
1- lb baby carrots fresh
5- Bush's Grillin beans
1- 12 pack Sprite
1- doz eggs
1- Purina Beggin Strips
1- Purina kitten chow
1- Sure deodorant
1- Purell hand sanitizer
1- Bandaids box
1- Kotex package
1- Ensure drink
1- pack 20 plates
1- Johnson baby soap
3- bags cat litter

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

Great Job! How did you manage this. Just the Pilgrims Pride in my area is 6.99ea! What kind of coupons did you have for these and where do you get em. Even the Hellmans being in this list. I am so jealous because I try and do ok but boy I could do much better LOL.

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Without Health you have no Wealth!

I will have to look up the recipe for baby wipes and see if it would be cheaper for me or not. I am sure it would be. When my first child was born i like you researched about the cloth diaper thing and it just didn't seem like it would save me any money in the long run. I can't wait for the diaper thing to be over with i have been changing diapers it seems forever and im sooo tired of it lol. I am defidently going to start trying to coupon more i need to spend less every week as the prices are getting higher. I am glad you didn't get upset by my post i didn't want you to think i didn't believe you, i just didn't realize it was so possible. I envy everyone that can do it.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

Hi Ladies,

DH and I just decided LAST WEEK to have a goal to pay off all of our credit cards. The main way we are going to accomplish this is having a budget. Believe it or not, I never have. I've always just spent whatever I wanted to, but kind of kept in the back of my mind what I had. Sadly, we don't have any savings other than our 401K. That's going to change, too. We've decided to pay ourselves first, then pay off our debt, and get on the right track. Anyway, I used to spend about $1400 per month on groceries and eating out. That's CRAZY!!!!! There are only 2 of us here full time and another 2 here periodically. I've put myself on a grocery budget of $80 per week. I think it's certainly doable, especially after reading all of your stories. The main thing for me is planning our meals and shopping toward those. I used to go to the store every few days and spend over a hundred dollars each visit (then end up eating out anyway!) The amount we threw away was absurd! Anyway, you are all an inspiration. Thanks!

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Kim

2- Pilgrims Pride packages of fresh chicken (.55 coupons doubled, I buy the small packs with just 6 pieces in it)
1- lb Farmland sausage (1.00C doubled = free
1- lb. Sargento grated cheese (.50C doubled = 2.05)
1- Bounty paper towels (.50C doubled = .50)
1- 32oz. Powerade (.30C doubled = .19, item on sale, I traded for these coupons)
2- boxes of 10 Capri Suns (1.00/2C = 1.00 a box, these coupons came from my pediatricians office)
2- pgks gummi bears (1.00/2C doubled = free
1- Hellman's mayo 32oz (1.00C doubled = 1.49)
1- Purina kitten chow (1.00C doubled = free
1- Purina beggin strips (dog treats) (1.00C doubled = .09)
1- Sure deodorant (1.00C doubled = free, item on sale)
1- Purell hand sanitizer (1.00C doubled = free)
1- Kotex pads (1.00C doubled = free, item on sale)
1- Bandaids (box of bandages) (1.00C doubled = free, item on sale)
1- Johnsons baby soap (1.00C doubled = free_
1- Ken's ranch salad dressing (1.00C doubled = free, item on sale)
1- half gallon 8th Continent Milk (1.00C doubled = free, item on sale)
1- Tidy Cat litter (1.00C doubled = .49)
1- Luzianne family 24 pack tea bags (.60C doubled = .05, item on sale)
1- Ensure drink (1.00C doubled= free, I traded for these coupons

I hope this explains it a little better, the C stands for coupon.
All the rest of the coupons come out of Sundays inserts, I get as many coupons as I can for items I know we will use, if they are going to be cheap or free. I knew there were Powerade coupons out there, but we didn't have any in our area, so I traded for them, DD is using them during ball season (either that or Gatorade) so I would have to buy that anyway, but since I waited for a sale (lasts all month) then I can get them for .19 each a 32 oz. bottle. The Capri Sun is not something i buy on a regular basis, but came across at the doctors office, so if I can get them for 1.00 a box, they are so easy to throw in the cooler when we are going somewhere. The Ensure coupons I trade for because we do not get them in our area, these drinks go to an elderly church member who can't afford to buy them. With items like the chicken I try to buy the smallest packages (weight wise) the packages I purchased were $2.35 or so apiece, with the .55 coupon doubled, that brings it down to just over $1.00 a package, one package will make us a meal (3 of us).

I buy alot when things are on sale, like last week potatoes were on sale for $1.89 for 10lb bags so I bought 30lbs. We have had baked potatoes and salad for dinner one night, we will use those potatoes (along with the on sale mayo) to make potato salad for our cookout this weekend. Also use the hot dogs for our cookout, the carrots and ranch dip purchased yesterday, the Bushs Grillin Beans which were .25 a can. I have Coke & Sprite 12-packs that I got free using the Coke Rewards program, the cheap Capri Sun and iced tea. I already have mustard and ketchup purchased free a few weeks ago and lettuce purchased on sale last week. I will need to purchase hamburger and the buns for the hot dogs and hamburgers (which will be most of the expense). Will probably throw that chicken on the grill too. I also have cake mix and frosting that I have bought in the past few weeks for less than $1 for both, so will make some cupcakes.

So for less than $20 I can have a cookout and feed at least 10- 15 people and probably have plenty of leftovers. We will be having hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, potato salad, carrots and ranch dip, baked beans, for desert I will make cupcakes and to drink coke, Sprite, CapriSun lemonade, iced tea and we will all be swimming in the pool. I will let the family members coming know what I am serving and also let them know if there is anything else they need or want they can pick that up on the way since everyone always asks "can they bring anything?"

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

When my kids were in diapers, I washed 2 half loads of diapers each week. I did use hot water, and double rinsed - and I found the cost for that to be quite low. I used the same diapers and diaper covers for 3 kids (and most of them were in good enough condition to pass on to a friend when I was done with them.)

I saved a BUTTload of money! LOL

I also bough a big bundle of really thin cheap washcloths at WalMart, and used those as baby wipes, and washed them along with the diapers. I don't think I ever did buy wipes, though I got a couple of boxes as freebies.

Those babies are pretty much grown up now, and eat a lot, and one of them is a vegan and I buy her a lot of special, expensive food.

We spend about $125/week on groceries, and we eat really well, and there's a huge variety. I could easily cut that down to under $100 if I were careful and needed to do it.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." --Matthew 5:9

When mine were in diapers, I just took washcloths and wet them, and used that to wipe them up. I would throw them in all a small trash can, and wash them as needed, by themselves on hot with some bleach. I didn't put anything special in them at all. We rarely had diaper rash problems, and when we did A&D ointment cleared it up just fine. I would take the throw away wipes if we were going out somewhere, tho.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

would love to get "recipes" for your cleaning supplies.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I just PM'd you!

Could you post the home made cleaning supplies on the AMHG board?? I am sure many of us would like them too (we have a septic tank, and I am careful about what I pour down the drain)

Using washcloths for baby wipes sounds like a great idea!

I used to used a half roll of Bounty paper towels in a rubbermaid pitcher (my DH sawed them in half for me, so that I had 2 short rolls instead of one). Note: It HAD to be Bounty - most other brands would have fallen apart - Bounty really stood up to days/weeks of being moist!

I would place one of the half rolls into a rubbermaid pitcher with a lid - the pitcher was half-filled with water, and a little Johnson's Baby Wash and a teeny bit of Johnson's Baby Oil. I would put the entire roll into the pitcher, and then pull it out and put it back in upside-down. This way the whole roll got moistened. Then the paper towels stayed in the pitcher - I pulled out the wet tube in the middle. Attached to the tube was the inside paper towel - this was the one I pulled through the pitcher spout. I LOVED the smell of these home-made wipes because it was Johnson products I used. Even though their brand is one of the more expensive ones, it didn't matter, because I used such a small amount that it probably took a year to use up the bottles of babywash, and baby oil!

I always cleaned out the pitcher and used fresh water when making a new set of "wipes" - they were always fresh.

Free is better! LOL

Hubby's been pretty bad lately, too. He hasn't had them for a few years and it's really kicking his butt now.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!