ideas to cut your grocery bill down
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Topic: ideas to cut your grocery bill down
Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Subject: ideas to cut your grocery bill down
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 9:28am
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I did the grocery shopping yesterday and basically fruit, veges, bread, toiletries, meat and baby stuff, and frozen veges and it can to a total of $293. This is WAY WAY WAY WAY more than I expected or we normally spend so I just want to know how much you spend on your groceries and if it is under $150 how do you do that and what do you cut out? Any ideas on what I can take off my list..none of the stuff is fancy stuff (well in my mind it isn't). ------------- http://lilyslim.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 9:37am
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Fruit/Veg are usually cheaper at a fruit shed type place and meat is usually cheaper from a butcher so that might help.
I just tend to do a menu planner for the week and only buy what is required to make those meals. I also stock up on stuff when its on special and throw it in the freezer (because I eat loads of chicken or eye fillet which tends to be expensive). Oh and one more thing .. shopping online usually works out cheaper because you ONLY buy what you need and you can usually find a free delivery discount code by googling. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 9:41am
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I used to do online shopping BUT recently woolworths has not had some of the stuff in stock so I have had to go down to our local countdown. We don't have fruit / vege place around us and there is only mad butcher (and their meat is YUCK).
I do meal planning too - we are eating mostly crock pot meals so am only buying stuff for that. I have never found a free discount code for online shopping - what do you google? ------------- http://lilyslim.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 9:48am
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I've been living on my own for the last 6 weeks and have got my fortnightly shop down to $60-70. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 10:02am
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Contact your local butcher and see what he can do if you buy a whole lamb or half a lamb or other meat in bigger bulk. Then you usually can get it cut up the way you want for free. (or usually something silly as a $5 fee or something like that) Come home repack it in the portions you need for the freezer.
Then we are huge huge salad eaters and that cost us a lot. So we are now planting those things from seed. And no you dont need a garden for it or anything. I saw this great idea that I wish I knew about when we were renting. A sock organizer. make holes in the bottom. Fill with sand and put your seedlings in there. (can do this with herbs etc) and hang it up against a fence or somewhere where it will get the most sun. I dont buy the bulk cheap sausuges or any meat like that or meals that are prepared like that. I go to the shop fortnightly and then every few days to the fruit market. (but we buy loads of fresh fruit and veg but our garden should soon provide that and save us loads of money.) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 10:24am
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I've found since buying heaps of fruit and vege and buying very little packaged foods its cut our bill down and making sure that I don't throw fresh produce out. We were shocking for buying something and then forgetting about it, I don't do that anymore. We don't go nuts on toiletries. Usually people use way more than they need.
For meat we have to buy packaged stuff which does cost a fortune but I'm a vego and I refuse to prepare raw meat. But it also means that I'm not eating any meat. So many people seem allergic to meat less meals but they can be very very tasty and filling. |
Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 10:29am
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I wish DH would eat vege meals but he has to have his meat.
I think I will just do the online thing again. ------------- http://lilyslim.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 10:46am
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I've served Dh meatless meals without him knowing about it. You'd be surprised what you can get past them. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 10:59am
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Our shopping is pretty much $140 every week. Don't know why because we get different stuff each time but it always comes out about the same.
I do a meal plan, use small amounts of meat (1 chicken breast for two of us) and a lot of veg. We eat very well, buy splurge items but still come in at less than $150. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 11:09am
| DH is the same with meat, but I've served him up a vego quiche and told him it had chicken in it and he ate it and said it was yum and then I told him the next day I lied. He always tells me he doesn't get filled up if theres no meat but I think thats bollocks or I'd never be full. |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 11:11am
| I do the mad butcher and vege shops and then supermarket for the dry stuff. Our mad butcher has a selection of good and bad. I normally buy mince, pork chops, pork roasts and chicken from them as a chicken drumstick is a chicken drumstick in my opinion. And it is tegal so a reasonable brand, that is in most supermarkets. Its not organic etc but it is comparable to ighams and tegal in the supermarket and at $4.99 as opposed to $8.99 for drumsticks and $10.99 for boneless breasts (don't know supermarket on that but I think it is over $15). Steak and lamb chops you can get for the same price on special at the supermarket and they are generally better looking and thicker. We are a family of 5 (kids 13,9 and 4 and they eat alot compared to my friends kids. DS is 9years eats as much as his father and is still skinny as a rake) so we have had to substitute a bit of quality for quantity now as my son has hollow legs and eats for africa. Once a week we do a pasta dish which is mainly pasta and some bacon and chicken etc. Less meat and filling. Then at least twice a week is spag bog as my son loves it and if I asked him on his birthday what he wanted for his special dinner it would be that. If it is chops or steak or chicken pieces I aim for meat costing $10 for all of us. Mince meals are $5 and sausages in the crockpot are only $3 when I got them on special a while back. We have 10 packets in the freezer. However I have found meat isn't the real killer at the supermarket it is the veges. I spend $10-20 at the vege shop and I get way more for the money than at the supermarket. Basically I hunt for specials and don't buy anything unless I really have to at full price. If I buy all the bells and whistles for our family with three big kids I still only spend around $250 pw and that is with packaged snacks for the kids lunch boxes and heaps of fruit. They also have ham and cheese on their sandwiches as I feel it keeps them going better at school with a little protein. Good luck with your project. We had to cut back a few years ago for a few months to get by and it is amazing what you can do without. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:10pm
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Meal planning, shopping lists (sometimes buying/opting the 'cheaper' items or what's on special), markets like the hutt markets/porirua ones at Cobham Court (if it's still there) for fruit n vege.
Our grocery bill is about $160 a fortnight for TP (we get Savers Toilet Paper or I think it's Kiwi? They do 18 or 36 packs and it lasts us ages!) I try not to spend more than $5 on TP if it has less that 18. Umm... DO not go to Countdown/Woolies, they charge through the nose for everything and you can get it much cheaper at New World sometimes or Pak n Save all the time, the one in Lower Hutt is the cheapest one in Wellington too btw. We get fruit and veges from the markets, occasionally form the supermarket but if we go to the supermarket we usually have meal plans so only get what we need and nothing else! Also don't take kids or other half and avoid temptations like biscuits/chocolates/sweets etc that are on special! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:10pm
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I find I get more for my money @ PNS. I get veg & fruit from the veg shop, meat from the mad butcher (usually a couple of packs) & some from the supermarket when on special.
I do veg shop 1x a week, MB 1x a fortnight (unless they have a real good special on), PNS/ Countdown 1x a week/ or fortnight if lucky. I used to shop on line but often did not get all the things I needed so got out of that habit. I find when I plan meals I spend less & I always have a couple of cheap quick meals in the pantry like Leggos cabonara $3 & pasta $2 & just add cheese & ham if in fridge. I also plan 16 meals a fortnight so I can change them around & don't get temped to go & shop. I get garlic bread on special & freeze & chickens to roast & do soups with. I get a couple packs of fish & a bag of frozen chips so the kids feel like they get takeaways. I spend the most on salad stuff a lettuce was $3 for a few leaves. I over spend if I shop weekly at the supermarket. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:11pm
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Oh and butchers are much cheaper than the super market for meat too! There are a few around other than Mad Butcher, if you're ever out in Petone there is on on Jackson St who isn't too bad! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:13pm
so true  if I take DS3 I get the car trolleys so he can not see what I am getting & he gets a treat on the way out...if I take DH I have to add $20 for crap
eta...as spelling is rubbish |
Lil_Nic9 wrote:Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:14pm
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One week I went to Countdown and then next week week to pNS and PNS was twice the price. We can't get the budget toilet paper as TMI but we have sensitive bottoms in this house. It's a bit hard to go those markets when you have a baby and a 5 yr old Nic but yes all good in theory..
We don't go out to the hutt very often so hence the not many butchers out this way. ------------- http://lilyslim.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:23pm
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Go shopping at night time. If you go after 7pm there are heaps of things reduced. Meat, bread, rolls etc
I prefer PnS meats because they are better, well in Upper Hutt they are anyway. If i need mince i buy a $10 back & we get 4 meals from that for 2 people. I also buy that Leggos cabonara sauce, i buy budget fettuccine, and bacon, add onion sometimes i will chuck some streamed broc in aswell. Thats a realy cheap meal & very tasty. I add 1 cup of milk to the sauce to make it go further. If im buying biscuits or crackers for dd i buy the cheapest ones. I dont buy any sweets or treats i do baking. I also dont buy muesli bars etc i will bake instead for lunchs. But if they have them 2 for $5 i might stock up. -------------  
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:24pm
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We do a few things to save money.
If there is meat we like on sale, we will often buy the bigger pack, and split it up with freezer bags. Ifit is a really good deal we will buy a few packs of it for the weeks to come. We have a couple of cheap meals each week, ie self crusting quiche, home made pizza, bacon and egg pie, bacon hock soup etc. That hobsons bacon is around $5 and if you split it into 2 you have two meals. I make our own hummus. We love it and it costs heaps at the supermarket. We buy things like potatoes/carrots and onions in bulk 10kg bags. We also buy all our fruit and veges from high grade asian supermarkets. I buy things like dried black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils etc there too. Also I buy Tresseme shampoo and conditioner. It lasts for months. ------------- 
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Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:28pm
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thanks everyone - lots to think about.. but I think I will do online shopping and just pick it up..on my way back from town on wednesday. ------------- http://lilyslim.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:35pm
A lot of it is preference and perception. I personally can't bear Pack n Save and wouldn't shop there ever, I also find their meat  but someone else mentioned they like it. I think a lot comes down to the shops in your particular area and what you like to eat and cook as a family.
I also think that a lot of people actually eat far more than they need to. Cutting down on meal sizes and therefore ingredients is also a good way to save money. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:44pm
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Haven't read all the comments but one thing I do is a meal plan for the week including breakfasts and lunches so we don't run out of anything.
When I do the list I put the approximate price at the side of each item then I add it all up so I know how much it will cost before I even go shopping. If it is too much I can cut it back or if I have extra I can spend more or save! :-) |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:51pm
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I usually only buy eye fillet steak...not that often but PNS one is just as nice as Countdown which is were I was buying all my meat before & now get it occasionally...I did buy a leg of lamb (countdown) there last week for $26 down from $36 mmm roll on Sunday night & then there is sammies for Monday.
The consumer mag picked PNS as the cheapest supermarket. I never used to shop there till recently & could not stand it till they did it up...but I find their prices overall better than my regular Foodtown/countdown now....but still shop there for quick things as its closer. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:52pm
oh I do that & usually get a nice surprise at the checkout 
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Posted By: Robyn26
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 12:53pm
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I agree about the meal sizes Clover.
We get our groceries online and it saves us heaps, I also plan what we are going to eat. We go to the Hutt market for fruit and vege, we have a budget and don't spend anymore! |
Posted By: Rovic
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:00pm
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We have shopped fortnightly with meal plans for a few years and spend about $180/ft. If we shop weekly with no plan, as we have done more so since DS arrived, we spend about $150 so have realised we need to do the fortnightly thing. We also rarely buy meat as have friends with cows and get 1/2 beast every year. Is great if you have the freezer space as works out to about $4/kg and that's for all cuts of meat from eye fillet to sausages. We are slack with vege and fruit and it tends to spoli before we eat it. The stuff bought from the supermarket tends to last longer than the stuff from market or fruit shop (prob cos they pick it before its ready), so we do tend to get it at supermarket. Garden is great in summer, but I've been so slack since DS arrived so garden is empty (apart from the weeds that is ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:01pm
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What do you expect in the middle of winter? Salad stuff will always be expensive at this time of year, if you shop for fruit and vege seasonally its not. Pumpkins, broccoli and cauliflower is cheap as atm, so are apples and bananas in winter you can make a decent sized pot of soup for only a few $$. Portions sizes - I allow 250gm of meat per meal for Dh and I. Its enough for 2 adults and I bulk the rest of our meal out with vege.
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:15pm
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LOL - 250 grams of meat would only touch the sides of my DHs tummy .. although I eat 150g per meal and have meat at lunch and dinner.
Anyhoo .. Renee .. google Foodtown delivery discount codes. Also on TNN they have an entire thread of codes. Here is a few you could try for free delivery, I have some for $5 off too (I have a list) FREEOFFER REACHME2010 GROCERY10 PUNKET OC1199 GROCERY20 ML2239 AM2243 RG2328 ENJOY NEWBORN BIG-THANKS Most you need to spend over $100.00 though. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:18pm
well obviously for it to cost more...still does not put me off buying it. |
Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:20pm
Mine too - he is more likely to eat 500grams - I'm sure he was a caveman in a past life with his carnivorous ways. It isn't a meal without meat to him! |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:26pm
We are big salad eaters here too....i tend not to buy the iceberg lettuces and instead buy a bag of mesculian/rocket for about $1.79. It lasts the week and is yummier too imo. -------------
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:40pm
I'll try that...forgot about them, used to eat them all the time 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:47pm
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I do find with the bags of lettuce we eat it before it goes off, iceberg I always end up with the old woody hearts left over, usually end up rotting in the fridge. You can make yummie winter salads with roasted root vege.. nom nom LF - 250-300gms of meat is how much we have between us. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:57pm
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Fair enough ... my DH has a pretty high metabolism and gets hungry OFTEN! ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 1:58pm
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We only buy seasonal freah local fruit and veges- except for 5 bananas a week for DH!
Last yr when I last read a similar thread like this, I couldnt imagine us spending less than the $230- $250 a week that we were spending on groceries, and idnt think we were buying very many luxury items at all. But since our circumstances have changed and we just do not have the money, and we just can not go over budget cos there is no $$ there as back up, we have got our bill down to $130-140/week. We buy 1 pack of $5 homebrand nappies per fortnight (for nights), bf, and dont use any bought baby food or use wipes, so that all save us us a lot! We dont buy any food or drinks out at all, take all our own food to work for lunches, drink only water and buy one bottle of cordial that lasts several weeks. We make a 1kg block of cheese last 3-4 weeks. There are some things we could buy cheaper brands, or not buy but we dont, so it really doesnt feel like we missing out! We just plan really well, and dont think we missing out! I bake bisuicts which are yum, and Isla loves to help too. We buy popping corn kernels from the bulk bins to make popcorn to take for lunch snaks. And buy a big bag of chips for about $1.40, that we seperate into contains for snacks instead of buying multipack chips/snacks. |
Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:01pm
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we kind of tried to change the focus of how we cooked and it usually does work. we try and focus it on having the meat as a side rather than as part of the main. Like with bolognaise the main portion is the pasta with a smaller portion of meat. We basically try to have a large carb portion with every main meal as carbs are heaps cheaper than meat. I love the 5 brothers pasta sauces (summer tomato basil yum!!!) I will add chicken/bacon/sausage to it for an easy and cheap meal.
My other tip is make sure you check out (meaning dig to bottom) of the freezer to work out what you have left and then base your meal plan around using up that stuff first. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:31pm
what veg do you use for your winter salads... I cut our meat down after joining WW...DH does not know the difference
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:33pm
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my best tip - don't go to the supermarket hungry
And I agree with c&j that seasonal veges are cheap, even at the supermarket, and soups are yum! I made an enormous pot of soup from a 99c pumpkin on sunday. Probably cost under $3 for the whole potful, and it will provide 4 meals for us if I add a bit of bread for dipping. DD loves it! Also check out hunnybunny's split pea and leek soup in the recipe's section. Costs nothing to make and is also pretty yum. Lasts a few meals in this house too. We are paying about $150/week atm, but that is a bit higher than usual because we don't sleep in this household, so we are being a bit more forgiving with purchasing *lazy* options. That included meat though, which we'll not be needing for months as of now, because our freezer is groaning happily with the weight of pork and beef inside it now. We tend to buy extra of whats on special. We don't meal plan, because often you get to the supermarket and there are different items on special. I grew up very rurally though, so I'm an expert at making a good meal out of whatever happens to be in the cupboards. This also works for these are the items that are cheap this week - how can I combine them in a tasty manner? And KELLIE - would you be so kind as to share your hummus recipe, pretty please? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:35pm
Oooooo thats one thing I could do ... carbs are on my less is better list. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:38pm
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Pumpkin, kumara (try the different colours), spuds, whole onions, carrots and parsnips if you like them, roasted in the oven and toss thru some baby spinach, feta and your fav dressing at the end before serving.
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:42pm
I use kumara and/or pumpkin, then any of potato, carrot, parsnips, yams, zucchini, capsicum, onions... I season with cumin seeds, rosemary, balsamic vinegar, garlic, curried mayo... (not all at once! different things for different salads depending what I feel like). You can make a nice kumara and orange salad, with curried mayo. Sometimes I add canned whole baby beetroot, button mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, olives and things too. I used to have an awesome vege garden, but it's now retreated under weeds until DD starts sleeping more! I miss it though. I'm going to make an effort to let it be something DD will do with DH and I when she's older. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:44pm
ohhh yum! I am hanging out for the day I can put feta in my salads again! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:49pm
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T_rex, it is just a variation of the food in a minute one :)
300g chickpeas 2 cloves garlic, crushed peeled and chopped 1/2 tsp salt and cayenne pepper 2 tbsps olive oil juice 1 lemon Put it all in the blender and mix til smooth. I usually add a few sun dried tomatoes, or herbs or feta. -------------
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 2:54pm
mmm yum will definitely try those recipes thanks
I try & use everything also...I remember 1 night moaning about not having anything to cook & not wanting to go & buy takeaways so we went through the fridge/ freezer/pantry & ended up making pumpkin soup, chicken veg casserole (chicken breast & veg, tomatoes) & a pumpkin pie, lol
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Posted By: blossombaby
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 3:52pm
man you ladies make me feel so bad i need a budget adviser to take with me to the supermarket. i usally spend $150 - $200 every week and we also spend aporx $60 between us a week on lunches/ drinks etc at work!! but i have no idea to cut back and trust me our trolley never looks fill!!!! with a baby due in a few weeks we usaly spend $20 - $30 a week on a packet of nappies, wipes, creams etc to stock up but even so thats still $120 - $170 for two adults!!!!!
i guess we also waste alot -- eg last ngiht after shoping i threw away an unopened cream, some fruit that wasnt fresh!! and 2 bags on open but not fully eaten chips! grr im going to try the online shoping this week! |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 5:02pm
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Blossombaby, that's not as bad as you might think. I spend $180 per week for DH and me and then we also spend $100 on lunches etc during the week. We budget to that and are totally comfortable with spending that much. We love good food too much to cut back!
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Posted By: _H_
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 5:44pm
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lately we have been spending $120-$140 a week and thats just the two of us! i want to try and get it under $100 per week
we send about $15 on pet food but our main problem is meat! we need to cut down on the size of our portions ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: pumpkino
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 7:38pm
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I try to shop only once a fortnight as for some reason I spend loads more if I shop every week - it's the little things you just pick up which add to the bill!
I meal plan which I think helps a lot. Part of it is planning smart - I try to spread the cost of meals around so that we are having a couple of budget meals per week and a couple of nicer ones (which I make lots of so as to give us lunch the next day as well). eg in our house Thursday night is pasta night which could be anything from spag bol to tuna & pesto (which is a good cheap meal that is also healthy). Sundays we have a big meal (a roast or lamb chops with loads and loads of veges) which we can use the leftovers for lunch for the next few days. re roast vege salads - I love them, and I always make roast veges at least once a week. I will cook twice as many veges as we need so that we can have a roast vege couscous salad the following night, yum!! Couscous is pretty cheap (I just get the cheapo instant stuff) and I just stir through some garlic powder, some chilli powder and the re-heated roast veges - yummy!! Even better with some feta as well. While I only buy to meet my meal plans, like others I do also buy meat on special if I see it and put it in the freezer. C :) |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 12 August 2010 at 9:08pm
I do a supermarket shop once a month and try and keep the bill to $400 although I am not normally successful  . I go to the butchers once a month as well and spend less than $90, and we do fruit, vege, milk, eggs, bread once a week and spend about $50, DH eats HEAPS of fruit. I probably end up spending about $175 a week
Shopping once a month cut my food bill down, less opportunities to "just get" this and that I meal plan so don't end up with too much left in the pantry collecting dust at the end of the month Bake once a week instead of buying biscuits and muesli bars Cut our meal size down to about 300-350g meat for us all which is plenty. We don't have left overs which then grow mould in the fridge. I don't buy a whole chicken anymore as it gets wasted, I buy chicken portions and just roast 3 at a time. ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 12:53am
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We spend around $100pw but only when we shop weekly and have a list. If we get bits and pieces daily, I would imagine it's a lot more than that.
DH does the shopping - he just has a knack for it. But I do know that he sticks to the list, buys the specials, on food that doesn't matter - buys budget, doesn't buy many treats at all, and I don't know what he does with meat but I have a price in my head about what I'm willing to spend for meat/chicken etc. and won't buy it if it's not in that range. It does help, though that DH does eat at work a few nights a week. And as often as I can I buy enough so that dinner will spread out over two nights not just one. We are a family of two adults and one baby. ETA: We have loads of fruit and vege places near us and a Mad Butchers if we want to go there. |
Posted By: lil_lease
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 1:23am
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We normally spend about $70 to $80 a week on groceries.
I always try to make up a meal plan to get us through the week, that way we can buy what we need and not what we think we will need. I always try to go for the large bags of sausages and large packs of mince so we always have some on hand. I can make 500g of mince feed DF and I for 2 or 3 days as a lasagne (dinner then lunch and dinner the next day, or dinner 3 days in a row, or freeze any leftovers) We dont really buy much fruit or veges, veges we mostly use the frozen ones. We have $15 a week to spend in the produce dept at the supermarket. DF and I did our fruit and vege shopping at the local little shop and it came out more expensive, and for worse quality fruit, so we dont really bother with it anymore. I always have a list and I calculate up approximately how much it will cost from knowing what most of our weekly purchases like milk and bread will cost. I also use the mailer that comes out every week to try spot bargains on things we need. We buy the cheapest of nearly everything, just to make the money stretch further. (sorry if this doesnt make a whole lot of sense. I really should be in bed asleep) ------------- Antony, gone but never forgotten 2-4-2010 
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Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 9:10am
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is there anyone on here that has older kids (maybe school aged kids) and you have tried baking but it is always a flop! What do you do about stuff for school then? ------------- http://lilyslim.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 9:27am
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I have a school aged child and a pre schooler and 2x working parents. We spend approx $150 a week, some week are more some are less it doesn't bother us too much at the moment. I shop at countdown (haven't stepped foot in PN PNS since returning to Palmy) and I love it there. For Andrew's lunches we make him a bun/sandwich everyday. He has a piece of fruit, fruit stick, raisens, chippies or mini biscuits and a muslei bar. I try to bake on the weekend but end up doing other things (like my garden) and so he has a lot of brough stuff for his lunch. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 13 August 2010 at 11:33am
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I have a 9yr, 5yr & 4yr old & I make lunch for DH most days.
lunch box everyday consists of a sandwich or a wrap or pita bread apple & fruit muffin or cookie or scones jelly fruit pot or juice box or yoghurt bar or fruit strings or fruit shapes (cars etc) cheese slice or cheese & crackers water bottle (freeze in summer) other things I do now & then slice if pizza sausage roll boiled egg salad stuff in a little container...cucumber, lettuce, cherry tomatoes corn chips/chips (very rarely) I try & pack as much good stuff in to their lunch box as poss. We don't eat white bread & I am bake instead of buying muffins & bickies & they get one of each. They love grapes & melons & mandarins so I will buy a few even if they are more pricey as they will get eaten. They do get to buy their lunch now & then at school, but that is a reward usually. DH buys his lunch sometimes usually when he has an early start (4-5am) otherwise I make it, sandwiches, fruit, bar, sometimes a soup pot or noddles, yoghurt, salad & wrap or pita bread., baking, left overs.... I make a basic muffin & a couple of cookie recipes I use & I add thing to it, like choc chips, cooking m&m etc pretty fail safe. I always stock up on flour & eggs etc. |