So...since I seem to have to have something to say about money and the spending of it (I just can't help myself, so bear with me...) I've been trying to cut back on our grocery spending yet again.
The government guidelines for a family of our size -- food only -- are as follows:
Liberal plan --
$344.50 / wk ($17,914/yr)Moderate cost plan --
$286.20 / wk ($14,882/yr)Low cost plan --
$234.45 / wk ($12,191/yr)Thrifty plan --
$184.40 / wk ($9,589/yr)(Mamma's plan -- $100/wk ($5,200/yr)How does that make you feel? It kinda makes me laugh.
Especially when I personally know families the size of ours who spend less than half of the government's "thrifty" plan on groceries every week -- and feed their families well.
If you are a homemaker, and able to spend some time in food preparation, you can save at least $4300 - $12,700 a year based on those government guidelines. Of course, some areas of the country have higher grocery prices. That's where the thinking work comes in -- almost no place has all the same high prices across the board. If I lived in California, I might buy different items than I do here in Ohio. But I'd still work very hard to feed my family well and frugally.
Anyway, the menu for this week looks like this:
Tuesday:
Breakfast: cereal or
homemade fruit breadLunch: hotdogs in buns, relish, apple slices, carrot sticks.
Dinner:
tuna (w/vegetable) casserole w/ cheese topping, boiled cabbage;
dump cake (I only use 1 stick of butter!) & Cool Whip
Wednesday:
Breakfast:
apple oatmeal (I make it without the apple juice)
Lunch: leftover tuna casserole, oranges
Dinner:
beef with broccoli and basmati rice, cooked carrots
Thursday:
Breakfast: eggs, toast,
yogurt, OJ
Lunch:
pumpkin soup, garlic toast
Dinner:
bean, cheese and rice squares, baked potato wedges (baked w/olive oil and salt), homemade
coleslawFriday:
Breakfast: Panera bagels, bananas, milk (we get the bagels free)
Lunch: Grilled bologna & cheese sandwiches, pickles, applesauce
Dinner:
Beef and vegetable stew (I add more vegetables), homemade
wheat breadSaturday:
Breakfast:
pancakes, sausage, eggs, OJ
Lunch: leftover beef stew & wholewheat toast
Dinner: homemade pizza,
beet & apple salad (use mayonnaise)
Sunday:
Breakfast: cereal or bagels, milk
Lunch: tuna melts, pickles, carrot sticks
Dinner: chicken and noodle stew, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert (tbd)
Monday:
Breakfast: muffins (
banana, blueberry or
pumpkin depending on ingredients left), milk
Lunch: p b & j sandwiches, carrot sticks, oranges
Dinner:
baked macaroni & cheese, green salad, brussels sprouts
Tuesday:
Breakfast: yogurt with
homemade granola, OJ
Lunch: leftovers or grilled cheese with leftover salads
Dinner: chili and corn bread, green salad, dessert (tbd)
snacks:
fruit, pb toast, cinnamon toast, granola w/yogurt,
oatmeal cookies,
peanut butter cookiesbeverages:
milk, OJ, water,
iced tea, hot tea, occasional kool-aid or pop.
So, I'm trying to keep our grocery budget to $100 or less. Unlike the gov't guidelines, my grocery list includes paper products, diapers, wipes, cleaners, cosmetics, etc. So the actual food expenditure is closer to $80/week.
As an added incentive, I'm going to note when I've spent less than the $100, and save that money to send to a good cause. That's exciting for all of us.
Here are the grocery lists for today.
Aldi: pepperoni, bologna, 5 gal milk, sour cream, 2 doz eggs, 2 cans beets, cake mix, vegetable oil, egg noodles, cherry pie filling, 10lbs flour, 2 jars applesauce, 3lbs onions, 2lbs carrots, apple juice, napkins, dishwasher detergent, furniture spray
BUDGET: $40
Kroger: bacon, 4lbs chuck roast, small pack Angus steak, 2lbs butter, 2 gall OJ, 4lbs bananas, apples, 2 fresh broccoli, 4lbs oranges, bag salad greens, tomato, ww bread, pepper grinder, 4 cans tomato sauce, 4 jars baby food, mayonnaise, Lipton tea bags, 8 bags frozen vegetables, swiss hand lotion, AA batteries, purell w/aloe
BUDGET: $60
Some of the groceries are stock-up items, and some of the recipes use ingredients I have already stocked. I have coupons for some items, and I estimated high on costs. I think I will come in under my $100 budget this week.
Last week I spent $101 (but had to buy diapers and wipes for 2 children), and the week before I only spent $75. So we are on track so far.
Anyway: the important thing is that we have a goal (to raise money for a worthy cause) and a plan of action. :-)
