Anyone Have Tips for Saving Money on Grocery Shopping?

[familyfirst4us]

We are a family of 3 (2 adults and  a 2 year old boy) and spend approx $80-$100 per week on groceries (food only, not including toiletries). I clip and use coupons, and we don't eat extravagant meals. We buys lots of generics. I always thought we were doing ok, until I talked to a cousin who is a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids-2 in diapers) who says she spends only $40 per week. What am I missing? We shop at the cheapest grocery store in town and comparison shop as well (our store price matches if you bring in the ad)

Anyone with any tips on how I can cut back on the grocery bill would be much appreciated. We need to cut back spending ALOT right now as my husband's job cut his salary by about $200 per week.

THANKS

[rayne2007]

One thing we do is get a Kroger Card.  THis helps because once you spend a 100$ on grocery items from kroger you get 10 cents off of each gallon of gas which does help save money each month.  Also check around different stores.  Some tend to have better prices on meats while others have better prices on cans ect.  Kroger tends to have get 10 for 10 on dry goods and cans.  another grocery store has get 5 meats for 20 dollars no matter the price.   Also I always try to go to kroger on saturday when the specials are the best.

[familyfirst4us]

We don't have a Kroger in our area. Any other stores you know of that are like this?

[rayne2007]

 I heard Aldie's has great prices on their canned goods.  Also Food Lion has those cards that you can save money on certain items.   Also for gas buy a walmart card every pay day and it saves you money per gallon as well.  If I think of others Ill let you know.

[BingsMommy]

I spend about $80-$100 sometimes more per week, just by using my VONS/Safeway Club Card.

About a week ago, I started to use coupons.  I order coupons from couponmaster.com.  couponmom.com and coupons.com.

Couponmaster.com site lets you order as many coupons as you like for a very little fee; 0.07, 0.10, etc.  The other coupon sites only let you print out around 3 coupons each.

There's also Couponchains that you can join on CafeMom.



My goal is to cut it down to $40 per week.  Probably unlikely for the San Francisco Area, but anything is possible.

I started using grocerygame.com.  So far, its not that useful for me because 2 of the stores that are near my house are not registed with the webiste.

[KRISTAL_WILDER]

buy big packs of meat and divied it up and put enough for each  meal in freezer bags u save when u buy bigger packs and u wont have waisted meat.

[Kidzrajoy]

Sometimes it's cost effective to buy in bulk,depending on the unit price.Also consider the meals themselves.For example,buying the ingredients to make potpies~chicken,carrots,potatos,flour,broth,meat etc is more costly upfront than frozen,premade ones.But in the long run $$ is saved because you then have the ingredients on hand for another meal like a hearty soup or whatever.I stock up on multi purpose ingredients that can be used for different dishes:
rice(side,casserole etc)
cream soup(base,side,solo)
noodles(casserole,side,mixed with sauce and meat or veg and meat for main meal)
french bread(pizza,garlic bread,stuffing~freezes well)
You get the idea.I also depend on our farmers market in season for freezable tomatoes for sauce,cheaper veggies and fruits.Even strawberries can be frozen for later use on a cookie sheet 1st.

[kellilvn]

      What helps me is to make a menu up and make my shopping list from the menu.  That way I get what I need and don't have to run to the store inbetween shopping trips(well except for milk and bread) because I don't have anything to make dinner.  Also here are some other tips that I have heard: 1. Don't go to the store hungry! You'll buy more.  2. Don't be brand specific. (I am brand specific on very few things)  3. Check out any local dollar stores. The Family Dollar store usually has lower prices and will take coupons.

    I also like the couponmom.com  website.  You can pull up your state and grocery store from there and has coupons matched to sales and tells you how much you save.  

  There are 6 people in my family (2 adults, 4 kids) and my grocery bill for one week is usually between $60-$70. 

HTH

Kelli

[bowling_mom]

youll all think im crazy or that we dont eat but for myself my husband a 1 yr old i spend maybe 20 a week total 80-90  a month of food..not including eating out. but we all get plenty to eat and usually have food left over moslty canned and boxed goods. but we always need milk eggs juice and bread oh and cheese my daughter loves cheese..my biggest tip is to look at ur portions ..like i gave my daughter a piece of bologna and a piece of cheese and she had 1 bite of bologna and all the cheese and she was happy she eats 2 handfuls of cereal for breakfast and usually a full plate for dinner and snacks.... my husband and i dont usually eat breakfast so that saves a little we dont make huge meals just a main item and a side or 2 and if here are leftovers theres the next days lunch. we dont buy junk  only cheetos of the lil one

[stephiworld]

Any more Moms? Let keep this going, I think this is a great topic!!!!!

[ann22]

BELIEVE IT OR NOT I USE COUPONS ..IN GA THEY SELL PAPER ON SAT AND SUN FOR $1. THE PUBLIC PENNY COUPON GIVES ME THAT BACK IF U USE ON SUN/MON..U GET AN ITEM FOR 1 PENNY...LAST WEEK WAS THE REUSABLE BAG WHICH COST A LOT MORE THAN A DOLLAR. ALSO MY OTHER COUPONS WHICH USUALLY HAVE ITEMS IN CVS IF NOT THIS WEEK THE NEXT WHICK REDUCES MY BAL...SALES SALES..I LOOK FOR THE AND PACK UP..HAVE A SHELF IN GARAGE FOR XTRA N A DEEP FREZ.  I FREEZE ITEMS LIKE BELL PEPPER AND ONION AND OTHER THINGS AND BUY IN BULK..

BUT MY BIG SECRET IS A STORE CALL THE DOLLAR TREE, NOT DLR GEN OR FAM DLR...EVERTHING IN THIS SORE IS A DOLLAR THEY ALSO AT TIMES CARRY NAME BRAND OVER STOCK..T SHIRST, SHOES, SOCKS, U CAN FIND GREAT BUYS EVERYTIME AND FOOD IS ALSO THERE...