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Today, we went grocery shopping.
As I paid the cashier, I began to wonder what had happened lately such that my grocery budget has been truly, well, sucking. I’m still couponing, I’m still writing everything I spend down, and I still try to get the best deals possible. Heck, I’ve even been glued to Money Saving Mom’s 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget.
But, week after week, my numbers have been creeping up. Is this just me, forgetting that the holidays were nearly three months ago and that my grace period is over? How can I feel so conscious about saving money when my grocery budget numbers don’t demonstrate this?
When I got home today, I wanted to sit down and think about the top five reasons for this grocery budget “creepage” so that I could best identify how to get back on track.
Here are the five reasons (I think) that my grocery budget has lately been sucking!
- We’ve been trying to eat more chicken.
- I’ve started drinking Sparkling Water again.
- My tomato plants are not giving me tomatoes. [Thanks for all your comments on "Why is My Tomato Plant Dead?"]
- We have been shopping twice a week at least.
- We’re eating better bread these days (partly because my new bread machine plug is broken).
Now, none of these are excuses. And none of these are even particularly good reasons. But writing such lists helps me – and should help you – to clarify your thinking about what is actually happening in your budget and what you should be thinking about.
So what about you: Does Your Grocery Budget Suck?
Uh, yes. In a big way.
We are meat eaters, and that is just the way it is. And meat is pricey!
I never buy it unless it is $2.99/lb or less (best price for red meat in this area) but that is still expensive.
And we drink organic milk. And we eat ‘good’eggs. I’m not brand specific except for dairy items, but good golly those are expensive!
You are not alone.
-Lauren
Heck, I just need to set a grocery budget! We don’t buy beef,my family and my in laws went in together and got a half cow so we have that in a few freezers.my husband and his dad hunt in the winter so we have deer, including breakfast sausage. Also my hubby and I have 9 chicken houses so the only “meat” we buy is pork. We also raise cattle but split the 1 cow a year meat and price btwn other families. If you have friends or family that want to do that it saves TONS of $! We save so much a year that way. Just a thought
I’m just glad that a seasoned couponer like yourself has these problems! I’m new to it, and am feeling very frustrated that I can’t get the awesome savings that y’all have managed to get! Thanks for admitting your difficulty; it’s encouraging! Personally, I happen to think fresh produce is where my budget fails, every time! Hope you feel better about it tomorrow!
I have been consistantly saving between 50-70% off my grocery bills for a year and a half now. The trick is to shop and several different stores and really hone in on the deals. I went shopping at 2 different grocery stores yesterday. The first one I bought pretty much only meat. They had angus beef roasts on special for $1.99 a pound and 24 ounce Hormel pork roats (reg $6.48) for $2.99 and I had several dollar off coupons. The second store I bought a cart full of dairy and other products for $25. The deals are out there. They just take more time to get.
It does take a lot of time but is worth the extra effort. I buy meat that is marked down because of its expiration date. I look for cuts that are just expiring and have been marked down. There is nothing wrong with the meat but government standards require that it be sold by a certain date. Once I get the meat home I either cook it up right away or put it in the freezer. I’ve bought meats this way for years and years; no one in my family has ever gotten ill. Can you make your own sparkling water by purchasing seltzer, flavorings, etc.? And just a thought…my grandmother made homemade bread every week without the benefit of a bread machine. She was a diabetic and it was a very healthy and delicious wheat bread.
Wait – how would you make your own sparkling water?
Tell me more!!
Hi,
I’m not sure. I just thought of the seltzer and flavorings. I guess you could do a search on the ‘net. By the way, in last month’s All You magazine there was a good article on eating organic with hints of what is most important to eat organically and what you can get away with eating other wise, plus websites that offer organic coupons and lots of other information. I don’t purchase or prepare organic foods, but it seemed like a well written and informative article. The lady who maintains “The Centisible Sawyer” also has articles on eating organic. Deb
I REALLY want to find more organic coupons and integrate them. I find the big problem is just their expense – and I do love gardening. But it is SO worth it!
I have been having a hard time with our grocery budget also. I coupon and hit all the sales at the different grocery stores. I really try to stick to my list for each store. But it seems like every week when I grocery shop the stores have raised there prices more and more. Even at the military commissary the prices have gone way up. Meat is so costly. I just can’t seem to get ahead on the prices of food. And produce is way out of control..
Shirley – How much are you spending a week? (You don’t have to say, but does it compare with what some of the coupon bloggers spend?) I’m just curious because sometimes we “think” it’s out of control when we’re really doing okay;)
Yep, my budget sucks too:) It’s mainly because of all the organic foods I’ve been buying. But, I’m much happier buying organic and natural foods that cost more, because I know they are healthier for us. I’m going to have to figure out the budget thing. The coupons do come in handy with all the other non-food items. This week Harris Teeter is tripling coupons, so I plan on getting lots of cheap or free goodies:)
Elena – Where do you try to buy your organic foods for less? Are there good stores you have found?
I noticed my bill seemed to be creeping from $75 a week to $100 and wondered why. We have 4 kids with 1 in diapers and one in pull-ups at night. The baby started eating solids and so I have been purchasing more jarred foods and baby ‘puff’s’. Also the two older ones seem to be in a growth spurt and are requesting seconds. My pantry seems to be dwindling quickly and I don’t have as much time to run around for all the good deals.
Amy – do you keep a stocked pantry? Do you have room for one? The only thing to help with all those prepared foods is a stocked pantry I’ve found!
I too have been fighting with my grocery bill climbing these last couple of weeks. We have been eating healthier and it seems the healthier we eat the more i pay. I am just hoping that this summer comes quick so i can grow my own vegtables that will save so much money…
I think part of the reason everyone’s food budget has been sucking lately is because the prices are rising again. Our milk was $2.78 for quite some time, then gas prices have started to rise, and then food prices follow suit. Milk is now up to $3.39 or more. That’s $0.60 in less than two months. And you know milk isn’t the only place prices have increased. That’s my thought on why grocery budges suck lately. I could be wrong, but I think this is as good a reason as any.
.-= Mara´s last blog ..I think life is settling down, maybe =-.