Where Is My Food!

You're not alone! I spend 100 bucks at Aldis and my fridge and cabinets are still empty, or at least it looks like it.

Food has gotten outrageous in price! $100 barely gets what you need for a whole week. I never used to clip coupons or bargain-shop - but I HAVE to now. I watch the sales ads (in the paper on Thursday and Saturday). You would be surprised at the price differences. When one store has something on sale that I know we will use I stock up. Especially meat prices - ridiculous! We have a deep freeze and stocking up when the price is right also helps to feel like your pantry and freezer are full.

My husband is a big eater and I've got a 19-yr-old son at home (moms of teens know about this)... they eat constantly!

We also have a pool and company over pretty much every weekend this time of year - it has gotten financially impossible to offer food & beverages to guests, I now come right out and ask people coming over to please bring something to share. good luck mamas!

HI!
I totally agree. Even when my list seems small it seems to add up to $100! I swear the cost of food has gone up. It used to be like $60/week and now it has really gone up yet I'm not buying any extras!!

L.

Plan your dinners and make a list off of that. You may not have a full frig when you look at it but you don't have to. All you need is the items for the meals that you will prepare each night. You will also have all the "regular" items such as eggs, bread, milk, OJ, fruit, veggies, etc.

Brenda,
You are not alone. I feel like I am always at the grocery store, costco or walgreens for something and constantly my bill is $100, but I have nothing to show for it! I've been told by friends that it helps to plan your week of dinners before going to the store, and taking note of what ingredients you need to purchase. I have not actually followed their advice yet ;)

Hi Brenda,
Not sure how small your children are, but if your family income is under a certain amount you may qualify for WIC. Women, Infants, Children. They provide cereal, peanut butter, formula, juice, eggs and cheese to the children (sometimes Mother's-depends on when you had the baby, if you are breastfeeding, etc.). It really adds up as groceries are expensive. You may even qualify for Food Assistance. The paperwork for that is long and detailed, but if you qualify there is no shame in getting help. That was the hardest thing for me; feeling ashamed that we had a hard time making ends meet yet we did not splurge on anything. Hope this helps you, and if not, maybe someone else. I wish my doctor had told me about WIC and food assistance years ago! Now my one son is almost five and will not qualify. I am pretty sure it is for pregnant women and then until age five. Just google WIC!
Good luck to you!
J.

I truly admire any of you that can plan your menus for a week! what an accomplishment. I am glad that my oldest has returned to college because that really caused a huge jump in my grocery budget all summer. the problem is, I don't have a budget! I try to buy only things on sale(accept for fruit etc). I have a freezer, so I buy my meat when on sale and package it up for the future. I would die without that freezer. same for some shelf stable items. I stock up when on sale and do a lot of cooking. we don't eat out a lot at all. I also shop at Aldi. I find that I can get a lot of things much cheaper than at jewel..milk and eggs, salad, bread, buns etc. I have also been shopping for fresh produce each saturday at our Sugar Grove Farmer's Market. last week, I purchased the biggest musk melon that I have ever seen.. for only$3.50. It will last over a week for us.(husband, me and 13 yo boy) By having a good stock of meats in the freezer, canned tomatoes, staples..my grocery spending varies by the sales!

I feel the same way! What I started doing 3 weeks ago, is making a menu for every day of the week, and putting those items on my list. I also put everyday essentials on my list, such as bread and milk. That way, I only buy what I need. And even though my fridge doesn't look very full, I know I have what I need for the week. My grocery bill stayed the same, so it must be working, for now at least. And I noticed that I am buying a lot less "snack" foods. Which will be good for our waistlines. Good luck.

Hi Brenda -
We are on a super tight budget (hubby lost his job) and just before he did, I started using TimberCreek Organics. You would think that buying organic would cost you more but, we have actually CUT our grocery bill by probably $200 a month and we are eating MUCH better! I get 40 lbs of fresh, organic fruit and veggies every other week, delivered to my house for $30.85 (delivered, taxed and tipped!!). It is incredible!

Each delivery is different and you never know what you will get but, I have never been disappointed! Call Rita at ###-###-#### and tell her A. sent you. Most people start with the same fruit and veggie box that I get and then add on to it through the flyer they put in the box. I have not quite added all of my groceries there but, getting close. Anti-biotic and hormone free milk is $3.79 (they sell organic too) and organic bananas are 89 cents a lb. I have those added to my order. Trust me.. your fridge will be over flowing with food! If you have a baby, they have a box for making baby food : ) BTW: there is no start up cost or membership and they will deliver within a 90 mile radious of Chicago (I believe). HTH! A.
I went back to check and it is 100 mile radius of Chicago and this includes out of state.

I feel the same way. I don't have much time to shop, and with a little one you can't be running to the store all the time - Dominicks is closest, but I know their prices are high. There is a fruit/veggie market we like, but it is a bit farther of a drive and often they don't have a bunch of the extras we need. A friend of mine keeps telling me to Costco (I may be the only mother who doesn't), but again, there is a bit of a drive involved, we don't have the storage space, and furthermore, while their produce is nice, if you buy their size of grapes or whatever, wow, you better get to work because now you've got a TON of that one kind of fruit you have to eat!!

I've become a big fan of easy-meal prep kitchens. For the money, I feel like we're eating really nicely, my freezer is always stocked, I spend much less than if I was buying all those individual ingredients in the store and we spend much less time prepping and cooking. Even though we're just a family of 3, its great for a dinner and then we have enough for leftovers for 1 or 2 more meals. Oh, and its exposed my son to a great variety of food! Now all I need to focus on when I go to the store (or farmers market) is some other basic staples, produce, etc. and I don't feel like I'm being totally gouged at the store.

If you are near the North Shore, I highly recommend Gourmet in a Day - tell Mary I sent you. There's even a special for August right now (place an order & just pick up for the same price as if you went to assemble yourself. Its a great way to try it to see if you like it! www.gourmetinaday.com