tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5174564569646972747.post3858359399198324618..comments2023-11-02T10:46:18.083-04:00Comments on Mindfully Simple: Food Bill Reducing Tip Day!Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06154985248882497123noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5174564569646972747.post-28035654789136378962009-06-05T14:34:13.844-04:002009-06-05T14:34:13.844-04:00I was just talking about this with my family last ...I was just talking about this with my family last week. Our food bills varied dramatically.<br /><br />Not counting wine or going out (or bulk paper items and drugstore items), my husband and I spend $80 a week on groceries.<br /><br />Some people do that even with a family, but I'm happy with that amount and I don't spend time clipping coupons (although maybe I should- just can't get myself to do it).<br /><br />Here's what I do: <br />1. make sure we don't waste food. That has pushed me from $100 a week to $80 a week.<br />2. Plan meals, but loosely. I usually plan 3, then we have leftovers at least once from something like soup or chili, and we go out to a restaurant or a friend's house at least once, and then we have a sort of snack or grazing night about once a week.<br />3. sometimes I skip shopping entirely and eat out of the fridge and freezer and pantry.<br />4. I started looking for just 5 minutes at the "circular" that comes in the mail from the market I go to and that way have found a few things (it's mostly soda and stuff we don't use) like 2 packages of ground turkey for the price of one. That's great when I was already going to buy one, then I put the other "free" package in the freezer to use later. <br />5. buy items like spaghetti sauce, canned tuna and salmon in bulk.<br />6. make my own granola (from your recipe!)<br /><br />The way to waste less food: label leftovers, make an "Eat me" shelf in the refrigerator, and regularly keep an eye on the pantry.<br /><br />The teenagers make the $80 a week impossible, but with small changes you might keep it down to $200, a reasonable goal. <br /><br />Oh, and definitely use a list- and don't buy the "extras." Packaged foods and snacks are what cost the most.Angelahttp://myyearwithoutspending.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com