MomAdvice Friday: Are You Staying On Track With Groceries?
Thank you for all of your heartfelt replies and emails about my question last week regarding my
son's "mirror writing." I am taking all of your advice into consideration and want to know how comforting it is to know that many children get through this with absolutely no problems at all. We will continue to keep practicing and communicating with his teacher.
This week, I wondered how everyone has been doing with their grocery budgets. I know that I am a very disciplined grocery shopper and I have been finding myself going fifty-sixty dollars over my usual grocery amount. I am more in tune with this amount now that I am attempting to only grocery shop once a month (except for milk runs in between).
I am not sure if I am the only one struggling in this department or if different areas are having more difficulties than me. We have a family of four and our monthly grocery amount has been $200 per month. This month, I have went sixty dollars over and we are still eating the same stuff as we always do.
Maybe my grocery dollars aren't going as far because my son is going through a growth spurt? Maybe it is because my husband has been coming home for lunch more and I feel like we should have a more elaborate lunch with him? Maybe it is just because groceries are too darn expensive?
So..what are your grocery budgets and family size? Have you seen an increase in your grocery budget these past few months? Do you have grocery tips to share for those of us who aren't doing as well?
Labels: MomAdvice Fridays
17Comments:
Nico
"I am also struggling in the grocery budgeting department. I'm usually about $30-$50 over per week :( All of the usual items (milk, bread, meat, fruit and veggies)keep going up.
I'm feeding a family of 4, with one in diapers, and one almost out of Pull-Ups. I try to keep the grocery budget at $400 for the month, but that seems to be impossible."
CP
"We do one big sweep of Sam's (soon to be BJ's) and get all the smaller things at Super Wal-mart. The first month of doing it this way was way over budget, but the next month not so bad. I think we're just getting use to having a big expense once every other month as we get all the cleaning stuff, paper goods, etc. at that time. This past month was the best so far with being way under budget (which help towards the end of the month with company two weekends in a row). It seems though all the little milk runs or we ran out runs see to get us each month!"
all4him
"Our grocery budget is $70 per week for a family of 4, we try to eat healthy, organic when possible. When grocery prices began to rise I kept going over budget. I have to stay within my budget though so, now I'm buying less and trying to make even more things from scratch. We also have been looking at ways to make extra money online so that we can raise our grocery budget.
Joyce"
Avlor
"We've been consistently over what I want to spend by about $50 each month too (but we have bit more budgeted). Diapers don't help the budget, but we're working on the potty training so that will be gone someday. For us this month it was more than that, I think shelling out to stock up on the good deals on top of buying what we needed otherwise was the toughie. Think I need to try to use what's in the deals and what I have more. Will be trying this next month. I've been freezing things like crazy (especially when I make a large batch of something). This saved me the other day from ordering out."
"I'm so glad you brought this up, Amy. As a long time reader, I struggle to keep within our grocery budget - it's good to hear the "expert" struggles too! =) We are a family of six, with 2 in diapers, I make most food from scratch and we rarely eat out. The budget is $300 a month, and it is hard to stay under. We just had guests for a week, and of course you can't just feed them sandwiches for every meal, so it gets a bit expensive! We try to eat very simply when it's "just us" so we can make more elaborate (read: expensive) meals when we have company. Simple means, pasta, lots of veggies and grains, homemade bread, not much meat. With four growing kids it is hard to keep up with milk. I don't know what I'll do when they get to be teenagers!"
Maggie
"Our budget is $400 including pop, some treats and paper products for a family of 6. It has been much harder lately. I am going to be cutting back a lot and eating out of the pantry so the holiday meals and price increases don't end up putting me behind."
Lisa
"Prices are going up here in NC. The bread outlet prices just went up last week. 3 loaves of Nature's Own light wheat was $2.19 now it is 2.32. Not a huge markup, but up nonetheless."
Amy
"Kris- I most DEFINITELY struggle, but might have a harder time sharing that more than most people. I feel like it is my "job" to keep us on track and I really hate that I am not able to be more resourceful than what I already have been.
I guess this issue brings more challenges for me to be more creative than I have been with our money. Of course, I love having this platform to share and compare since I am still trying to figure things out too!!!
Thank you all so much for sharing- this is really insightful!"
Amy
"Lisa- Our bread outlet prices went up so much that it was no longer worth it for me to make the trip there. They had marked up so considerably that I almost left when I figured it out without buying anything.
I think Aldi has went up too. It is more of a nickel and dime effect, but it is effective towards pulling me out of my budget.
Thank you all so much for sharing!"
Wendy
"Amy,
What I wanted to say was too long for a comment. Thanks for the great blog! I love it.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/delightfuldays/415902/"
Rachel
"We, too, are struggling with our grocery budget, usually ending up at least $50 over per month lately. It is discouraging when that is the one area where I feel I should have some good control in our budget, but I take heart in knowing I'm still doing the best I can. It is just that things are getting more expensive. Milk and other diary going up are really hurting the cause. For the coming month I hope to use things from the freezer and pantry in hopes that will help us out a bit. Oh, and thank you for posting Freebie Fridays each week. Sometimes getting those samples in the mail is such a bonus to my day!"
baseballmom
"I am always over on the grocery budget. I have 3 boys, 2 are teenagers. I can't keep enough food in the house. I think Aldi's is great, but I still spend about $125 every 2 wks. plus te regular grocery store and of course Walmart."
mama k
"I am not doing so hot with this lately. We were on a cash only budget for groceries and it worked great until I had a big vitamin purchase and used up all my reserve. Gotta get back on the horse!
PS I linked back to you today.
http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2007/10/deceptively-delicious-aftermath.html"
Cocoa
"I have a family of nine with a weekly allotted grocery budget of $100. I do go over once in a while but it's usually because of the cost of milk. We buy about 8-10 gallons a week. I have six girls so I will not skimp on the amount of calcium they need! We make everything from scratch, including 16 loaves of bread a week (8 white, 8 whole wheat). We also plan our menus according to what's on sale. The weeks my two oldest (ages 12 and 10) are in charge of cooking I make them do all the planning and figuring, and by golly if they don't do better than I do!
I also roll-over my budget. Meaning any money we don't spend on groceries one week, rolls over to the next week and so on. So if I only spend $85 dollars one week the next week I'll have $115 for groceries."
Tanya
"We have a family of five with three of us recently diagnosed with Celiac disease and one still in diapers. The gluten free food that we need to purchase is very expensive and it is hard to stick to the $100.00 a week budget."
thehomespunheart
"Amy - Interesting you brought this up, because I have been struggling to stay within our budget as well. I have probably gone over $30 a month."
"After reading some of the comments regarding grocery budgets, I thought I should point out that your tax dollars and mine have paid for the construction of a food plan that is both -extremely- thrifty and nutritious.
Look at the Low Cost Basket on eighth page of this document:
USDA Food Plans"
I'm feeding a family of 4, with one in diapers, and one almost out of Pull-Ups. I try to keep the grocery budget at $400 for the month, but that seems to be impossible."