tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post3003365823696924603..comments2023-09-28T03:40:46.056-07:00Comments on Frugal and Thankful: A few ways to save some money on grocery shopping.Lenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-87266878705418087852014-02-27T03:00:10.118-08:002014-02-27T03:00:10.118-08:00Before I go to the grocery store, I make a list an...Before I go to the grocery store, I make a list and come up with an estimated amount that I will spend by browsing prices at a local online grocery delivery service. Then my mind is primed with a an amount I am going to spend on each item. I'll be more reluctant to spend more on an item than what I have written on the list. I'll pay in cash because when you have the money sitting in your purse, you'll be more reluctant to part with it. It's very effective in controlling grocery costs but it takes extra effort and willpower.Chicago Bankruptcy Law Office of Lorraine Greenberghttp://www.wipeoutbills.com/areas-served.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-27178092375021587642013-12-15T16:31:16.477-08:002013-12-15T16:31:16.477-08:00Hi Lena!!! What a great list!! Great tips too:) Wh...Hi Lena!!! What a great list!! Great tips too:) When my kids were younger and my food bill was tight, I always made a menu and a list and stuck to it! I never did coupons but I did shop store ads/sales. Now that I live an hour (one way) from a large grocery store I shop once a week. We recently got an Aldi store in my area, http://www.aldi.com, and I find some great deals and many of the items there are much better than "name brands" Plus I buy all my cleaning supplies etc at the Dollar Store:) Happy Holidays to you and your family Lena~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 TangerinesTurnips 2 Tangerineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17077358746766194129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-43615264572305919262013-12-15T07:24:22.110-08:002013-12-15T07:24:22.110-08:00I need to make a shopping list and menu for our Ch...I need to make a shopping list and menu for our Christmas shopping or I know I'll go way over budget and I do not want to do that!mail4roseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17850985344834209198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-82757536552280559682013-12-15T04:58:09.604-08:002013-12-15T04:58:09.604-08:00I usually make a list once a month of everything I...I usually make a list once a month of everything I have in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. I try and mark the items that have been lurking around to attempt to use those first. I found that it keeps me on track and uses up a few things before I go to the store again.In really hard times, this would work out to make a list, and if there was not any money for shopping, make a menu with what was been written down, and make as many meals and you can. I would do this in harder times, and when we have a month or two in a row that seems to be finally harder than the previous. It does work and keeps everyone fed. Try and put off grocery shopping as long as possible, unless the family revolts, and sit them all down and explain it to them. I've did this and it seems to help keep everyone on the same page. Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01605655205350411078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-22749134635231286512013-12-15T04:53:13.126-08:002013-12-15T04:53:13.126-08:00I used to use coupons, but found that it took up a...I used to use coupons, but found that it took up a lot of my time and wasn't worth the savings. We don't eat to much of the processed stuff (at times we do, but not on a regular basis). I shop at Aldi, It saves me time, cash, and seems to work for my family. Once in a while I go to CVS when they have shampoo (either VO5 or Suave) on sale. Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01605655205350411078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-43717747559805531242013-12-14T10:15:34.805-08:002013-12-14T10:15:34.805-08:00I do this too! I'm blessed to have a nice size...I do this too! I'm blessed to have a nice size pantry for stocking up.Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-19038065480534274592013-12-14T10:14:49.333-08:002013-12-14T10:14:49.333-08:00Thank you!Thank you!Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-6483770092932415882013-12-14T10:14:36.751-08:002013-12-14T10:14:36.751-08:00Sure :)Sure :)Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-45386587421539171012013-12-14T10:14:22.481-08:002013-12-14T10:14:22.481-08:00I'm so envious to all of you, people, with Ald...I'm so envious to all of you, people, with Aldi there :) I constantly hear about their great prices. <br /><br />And I'm glad you found some ideas here useful!Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-24530763120576673532013-12-14T10:12:36.636-08:002013-12-14T10:12:36.636-08:00I'm brand-loyal to dawn dish detergent too! Lu...I'm brand-loyal to dawn dish detergent too! Luckily, I can always get it the cheapest with the coupon at Walgreens or Rite-Aid :) Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16064081200654561079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-55547013515815097722013-12-14T10:11:31.260-08:002013-12-14T10:11:31.260-08:00This is an excellent list, Lena! Thank you for th...This is an excellent list, Lena! Thank you for the time you took to put it together. Most of the ways to save listed are exactly what I do. I always use cash- it keeps me in check to not buy things that aren't on the list and budgeted for. We travel every few months to a bakery/bread outlet that is about 45 minutes away and stock up on bread, rolls, English muffins, cakes, etc. Items that expires on that same day you can get for $1. Everything freezes well and it is worth it to us to take a drive a few times a year. I also do my initial grocery shopping at a grocery outlet- it is similar to Aldi's. Some of the items may be expiring or close to expiring (things like cereal, etc.- I still consider that ok to buy since the package hasn't been opened it is still fresh when you do open it up.) I get whatever I can off of my list there and if there is anything else I cant find I go to the regular grocery store that has the best prices/sales. I also like to stock up on things (meat, veggies, bread) and fill up my small chest freezer when I can get a great deal on them (if it was up to me we would probably have a line of freezers in our home for me to fill up when things go on sale- haha!) I, too, am very flexible with the meal plans I make and I also plan meals around what I already have in the house. When I buy pieces or packages of meat I try to make sure I can get a few meals out of it. I also try to disguise leftovers for my family- for example when I make beef stew one night I will wait a couple of days and then take the leftovers and pour it in pie crusts and serve beef pot pies for dinner. I try to make soup or stew at least once or twice a week. I also try to make pancakes with fruit one night a week for dinner- then we can have the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. When I find there are enough leftovers from a few night's meals we have "buffet night" at our house- the kids think this is great. I lay everything out in a line and we go through the line with a plate and serve ourselves a little of this and a little of that and then each pop our plate in the microwave to heat up what we want. We very rarely go out to eat so this gives us a feeling of the restaurant experience. And I get the best "tip" afterwards- kisses from everyone!! :)Dawn B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-72669819545807573802013-12-14T08:04:23.704-08:002013-12-14T08:04:23.704-08:00Great tips, Lena! :) I find shopping with cash hel...Great tips, Lena! :) I find shopping with cash helps & stocking up on dirt cheap sale items! The pasta & sauce we buy here is usually $2.50'ish a pkg here (for the "cheaper" stuff) so when it goes on for $1.00 a pkg/can, I try to buy about 8 of each! We use it a lot and save a lot of $$. ~Carla~https://www.blogger.com/profile/02341057469246030024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-65858151930507216772013-12-14T06:07:17.455-08:002013-12-14T06:07:17.455-08:00Lots of good tips. I'm sure you helped your fr...Lots of good tips. I'm sure you helped your friend a lot.Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-3852655372344775012013-12-14T05:58:26.100-08:002013-12-14T05:58:26.100-08:00This is an awesome list. I don't want to copy...This is an awesome list. I don't want to copy it, but could I just make a generic list and link to it? <br />The domestic Groovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13828197030016621257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-91682754740585888872013-12-14T01:30:52.209-08:002013-12-14T01:30:52.209-08:00Great tips! I am working on getting better with m...Great tips! I am working on getting better with my grocery spending. I tried coupons but it just wasn't worth the time I was putting into it and we have a serious lack of grocery stores with great sales, so it's way easier to shop at Aldi. Also, I never thought of diluting milk! We get 2% for the toddlers in the house and it never occurred to me that I could dilute a glass to taste just like Skim. Thanks for all the fantastic Tips - pinning so I can refer to them again in the future!Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831026393262937422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4519986092114737286.post-21091557808778101322013-12-14T00:30:55.121-08:002013-12-14T00:30:55.121-08:00I never take my debit card with me. I figure out ...I never take my debit card with me. I figure out what I have to spend and that is what I have. I do allow a little extra if I run into a good mark down or sale but the debit card just gives me to much extra wiggle room.<br />Most items have to give us at least two meals preferably three<br />I have no brand loyalty except Hellmans, peter pan pb and dawn dish detergent.<br />Dollar stores, cvs, rite aid as you mentioned are big money savers<br />I also shop at the Korean market, it saves me money on spices, rice and a few other things. Plus they often have great sales on other things but do not have a paper ad<br />Aldis, save a lot are great stores for some things. But I will not travel out of my way for groceries :)<br /><br />I love all your idea:)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com