Everyone is here to help, I think that perhaps $300.00 may be a little ambious for your 1st month, HOWEVER it's up to you & Jon, I think that if you calculate what you both spent on groceries last month and maybe knock off $75.00 to start because of price-matching & using coupons for the month that would be a realistic first step and then the following month knock off another $50.00 - $75.00 and see how things go.
Are you on a reserve? And what province are you in - that is a big factor as well.
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by jasperandchar http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/images/...post-right.png
winbly11,
Groceries are so hard to budget for - here are a few questions you need to answer (to yourself or on here whichever you choose) and then we can help out or make suggestions.
1. How old is your step-daughter and are you purchasing stuff like pizza pockets or is she a "GOOD eater" not picky, will eat whatever is cooked? I think your answer will make a huge difference on your budget. Also if you are providing lunch snacks such as granola bars, etc. that makes a difference as well. She's 11 and is fairly picky. We have her twice during the week and every second weekend. We don't have to provide anything for lunches because the band pays for that. But she is somewhat picky, however, we try and get her to try new things.
2. Do you cook from scratch or pre-packaged foods? If pre-packaged foods how often do you cook them i.e. only on weekends, etc? A little bit of both really.
3. Are you brand specific (will only buy Heinz ketchup, name brand bread/buns), etc. Or do you buy whatever is cheapest at the time? Not brand specific at all.
4. Do you have a good stockpile on can food or frozen meats? do you have a deep freezer? Do you contribute a certain amount of your grocery budget to your stockpile (I know some people do this, I don't)?I try to stockpile as much as I can. Space is limited, but we are hoping to move in May. No deep freeze right now due to space restrictions.
5. Do you make a grocery list before you go shopping or as supplies run out? Always
6. Do you stray from your list? that's a hard one in my opinion, I personally don't anymore but still struggle at times. I try not to but it happens. Especially if Jon is with me lol
7. Make sure you have a bite to eat and a beverage handy in your car so that you don't buy a drink or a snack while out shopping, I find that if you shop hungry you spend more $ than you should have (lol). Agreed!
8. Do you only purchase certain cuts of meat (rib steak, porc loins, etc) or purchase whatever meats are on sale. We try to have a pasta dinner once a week, it's cheap & easy. We also have a leftover night which is normally on Thrusdays as Friday is our meatless day.I will purchase whatever is on sale. We don't eat a huge amount of meat. We tend to do lots of pasta as well.
9. Do you use coupons (lol) and price match at the same time? I find this makes a huge difference regardless of what you are purchasing. I wasn't but I'm getting back into this now. Sales and coupons all the way!
10. What can you afford to actually pay vs. what are you spending/budgeting? I find this is difficult to admit!Last month I budgeted 200 for myself to spend on food/eating out. I alone spent about 350 not counting what Jon spent. I want to try and cut it to both of us spending maybe 300 a month between us?
11. Who does the shopping you or your husband or both of you at different times, and is he willing to use coupons & price match. It all adds up. He's never used coupons before but he probably would.
FOR ME: We are a family of 2 adult and two boys (12 & 10) and 2 dogs and 1 stray cat we feed. I do stockups when items are on sale and not before, so we may not have juiceboxes until there is a good sale or coupons that I can use & pricematch, my kids of course end up brining a water bottle & a koolaid single to add so they are not deprived.
I must admit that the prices of groceries is ridiculous, they have gone up over time and are absolutely ridiculous, I stock up on milk when it's on sale, fresh fruits I generally purchase for a 2 week period if it's a great price (apples, oranges, nectarines - I keep them in the fridge). Lately because of the lack of coupons and great sales my grocery bill is $100.00 or so a week, however, when more coupons will become available I will probably be at $50-75.00 a week. Keep in mind that my 14 year old Golden Retriever now eats 2 big cans of Pedigree wet food which is not cheap and that in itself is 14 cans a week so there is $20+ of my grocery bill every week.
I personally am stocked up on laundry detergents, body washes, hand soaps, cleaners, deoderants, toilet paper, paper towels so I don't have to worry about those items for atleast 6 months or so.
Hope this helps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wimbly11
