Comments on: Cheerful Frugality and the Grocery Budget

By: Kelly L

Kelly L — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:50:26 +0000

I love that you remind us to be joyful. I have been lurking this site for some time. My problems are these:
1) we don’t have the coupons in Vegas that allow you to spend a certain amount and get a coupon for a $ off later very regularly.
2) The coupons that seem to be available here are for processed, artificial and packaged “food”.
3) We feel very led to eat whole grains, all natural, no preservatives or artificial flavors/colors and organic.
4) Living in Las Vegas, the “Farmers Market” is more of an expensive get together than actual local farmers with produce.
My question is this: Does anyone have good tips for those things?
I think I am very cheap, but seeing some people sepend less than $100/week is mind boggling to me.
I really would appreciate any tips.
Thanks,
Kelly

By: Elizabeth-The Whole Family

Elizabeth-The Whole Family — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:31:00 +0000

Great article! I love the scripture that you used as well.

By: Dialectically_Yours

Dialectically_Yours — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:13:59 +0000

I thought our budget was a little on the ‘luxe’ side, but allergies force me to do most cooking at home *and* avoid most processed meats, veggies, canned or boxed mixed foods, and even many of the mixed spices in the store. I thought it was time to work on building a stock of prepped “fast food” instead of ingredients.

Today, the boys (two teens and DH) all wanted me to make yeast-raised waffles. The recipe makes twelve generous waffles, and I planned to double it and as soon as the waffles were cool enough to bag without steam clouding the plastic, they’d go in the freezer for the week’s breakfasts.

Uh. HUH.

I imagine there are porcine aviators orbiting the moon as we speak.

Twenty-four waffles. Two teenagers. One husband. Frankly, by the time they’d snacked down all but the last three waffles, I’d given up, so I ate the ‘last’ one myself. AND they ate lunch as normal.

What happens when “good intentions” and the budget disappear with two VERY growing boys? I’m not enthused.

By: Bargain Quest » Blog Archive » Kroger Showing Some Catalina Love

Bargain Quest » Blog Archive » Kroger Showing Some Catalina Love — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:12:44 +0000

[...] on the subject of groceries, check out Meredith’s “Cheerful Frugality and the Grocery Budget” contribution at Frugal Hacks for “a few ideas for developing a grocery budget that pleases [...]

By: Weekend Roundup - Practical Tips Edition | beingfrugal.net

Weekend Roundup - Practical Tips Edition | beingfrugal.net — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:58:04 +0000

[...] guest post by Merchant Ships at Frugal Hacks provides lots of tips for remaining cheerful while maintaining a frugal grocery [...]

By: Mar

Mar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:25:29 +0000

This is my first day on this site and I’m loving it. I definitely need to be more prepared in my shopping and meal planning. I’m currently in the process of making up cards with meal options on them so that my 12 yo dd and I can plan the menu together, taking into consideration what’s on sale at our favorite stores. It’s also a good way to not forget about something we both like. I am the only person I know who shops at both Wegman’s and Aldi’s. I am so in agreement with the idea that you need to actually prepare the ingredients for snacks if you want to get away from buying the preprocessed snacks. This is what I’m working on now.

hsgbdmama, I don’t like the produce at our Aldi’s either. Right now, I’m buying fruits, veggies, and really fresh, free range eggs at the local farmer’s market on Sunday after church. I’m also busy canning and freezing what I buy there. Spinach, tomatoes, zuchinni, and red peppers (for relish that is wonderful on baked potatoes) were last week’s buys. More apples (we got 60 Galas for $10 two weeks ago) are on tap for this week. We’ll give about 35-40 of them to the homeless shelter when our church prepares dinner for them in a week and still have enough for us for a couple weeks, at which time I’ll buy my last batch for the year. Do you have a farmer’s market where you can stock up and then put away for the winter at least some produce?

Sorry to be so long-winded; I promise to be shorter next time and I’m so glad to have found this site (and the Like Merchant Ships site).

By: Monique

Monique — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:05:16 +0000

Meredith, I really enjoy reading what you write. I love how you really believe in being cheerful and it shows. I need to be better about making cookies and other snacks. My kids love muffins and I can sneak healthy stuff into them like whole grains and shredded zucchini.

By: Tarrant

Tarrant — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:52:35 +0000

“Don’t replace processed snacks with good intentions. Devote the day after grocery shopping to kitchen prep.”

This made all the difference in the world in our grocery/oops we don’t have time to cook budget issues. We shop on Saturday. Sunday after church, I cook/prep food for the work week while I make Sunday dinner.

By: hsgbdmama

hsgbdmama — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:09:35 +0000

What do you do when your Aldi’s isn’t that good (i.e., not very good produce) or that they carry tons of processed foods which are high-fat, high-sodium? I’ve had good luck with the Wal-Mart SuperCenter (and I know that some people have issues with WM; I’m what is considered a “conflicted” shopper myself).

I do need to get back on the stick with planning meals, but right now I am buying basics (milk, bread, fresh veggies & fruit) and using up what I have here.

Good thoughts!

By: Christa

Christa — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:15:27 +0000

I’m glad to have found someone who doesn’t think I’m weird for not spending $500 on groceries every month – or that I’m malnourishing my kids. I love your pointers!

I make out a 5-week menu plan in which I’m able to feed our family of 2 adults and 2 preschoolers on $125 a month. (We get WIC, so we currently don’t have to worry about milk, cheese or juice.) I picked our favorite recipes and included them in the plan, with a new recipe to try every 5 weeks. We also have a “Leftovers” night each week and we eat a breakfast meal on Sundays. If we get tired of a certain meal, I replace it with a new one.

The beauty of this, of course, is that I made this comprehensive shopping list all at once and now I know what things to buy when they’re on sale. I also can print off my shopping list, run through the staples in my cupboards, and then quickly head out to the grocery store. It has saved me lots of time – and money! Now I know which “loss leaders” (especially meat) to be looking for each week.