I've started writing lists for my grocery shopping and I've realized how much more efficient I am at spending our resources by doing this.
On June 28th, I went grocery shopping and bought enough food for a family of 6 to eat till next week Wednesday. So for $151, I bought enough food for us to eat for approximtely 11 days. And that was healthy stuff, I bought blueberries (2 pints for 5 dollars), 10 lbs of red potatoes for $5 TOTAL, 2 1/2 lbs of bananas at $0.49/lb, Sweet potatoes, 5 lb bag of oranges, 5 lb bag of apples, peaches.... a pack of diapers (I buy diapers once every 2 months or so because we cloth diaper and use disposables as a "back up")
I bought another cookbook... those seem to be about the only books I am willing to buy from now on because its hard to borrow cookbooks when you may re-use them several times.
But I bought Jessica Seinfeild's "Deceptively Delicious" book. And its given me ideas on how to use more of what we have in our pantry. I've had 2 cans of packed pumpkin in our pantry since October. Today I realized I can use it to make French Toast, then I realized that any vegetables or fruits we may not eat right now...I can puree and freeze for the recipes later, so it doesn't go to waste.
So its weird...our cupboards LOOK bare but we actually have more food than I initially realized - its just not the "prepackaged" commercialized convenience foods. Which in the end is better for our health anyway. After all, I have a TON of all purpose flour and now have a few recipes I can use that in.
I've already written out my list for next week's shopping trip and I'm estimating it will only cost $150 next week even with all these rising food costs. And the odd thing is, my family is actually eating better since we can no longer afford to eat out and the convenience foods that aren't good for us anyway.
Saving money on grocery bills
July 5th, 2008 at 05:17 pm
July 5th, 2008 at 08:32 pm 1215289973
July 6th, 2008 at 03:11 am 1215313890
September 29th, 2008 at 02:39 am 1222655960
http://www.foodnetwork.com/
http://allrecipes.com/
http://www.floras-hideout.com/recipes/og-ALL.html
http://www.menus4moms.com/index.php
http://www.e-mealz.com/index.shtml
Well okay the last two are purchasable menus each week with lists, but I thought you might be interested.
Good luck!