Grocery Buying Tips
It’s important to look at the steps someone takes when you are trying to save money at the grocery store. For example, if you look at Steps to Success Step #7 Review Purchases, you’ll see where I determined that my purchase of lunch meat was not in alignment with the goals I set in step #1. Although I’m glad I made the purchase, I don’t want to get into the habit of using lunch meat as ”meal”. Your goals will probably be different than mine. If you are a single momma trying to spend more time with your kids, then buying lunch meat might be the best thing for you at this point in your life.
BRILLIANT
Last week I entered all of my purchases into my excel spreadsheet and found I had about $20 to spare. I knew I had more items to buy, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to have enough money for everything on my list.
Instead of writing down all of the items I had left to buy and then adding them up with the calculator, I put them in my excel spreadsheet and let the spreadsheet add up my totals for me.
I not-so-humbly said to myself “That is brilliant!”
However, is it really brilliant if I’ve been working on ways to save money on groceries for the past 11 years and I just now figured this out!?!
Check out more Frugal Friday tips at LifeAsMom.
Results of my Grocery Trip
My daughter is letting you know the items cost about $50. Goofy and Cute Girl!
You’ll see on my spreadsheet some items we purchased for the Food Bank. At the food bank, we give out 1 jar of peanut butter to each family and I heard prices will be going up soon.
You’ll also see almond butter and kipper snacks that didn’t come out of my grocery money. I’ve been using some of my gold money to stock up our pantry. Gold Money = money I received for some “junk” jewelry that I had laying around – GOLD is VALUABLE right now!!!
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What a strange looking week! The 15 packs of sausages will last us about a month, but we buy it in bulk because it’s out of our way to go there.
8 comments
Mary
October 28, 2011 at 11:48 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I read lunch meat is one of the most expensive meats you can buy so I started making egg salad once a week (egg and olive is a big hit here), tuna occasionally, and then filling in with grilled cheese and peanut butter.
Roxie
November 3, 2011 at 6:40 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I do not buy lunch meat very often. I do however make an extra chicken, roast, etc. and slice it for lunch meat. (I keep extra in the freezer) My family likes to eat a sandwich for lunch. Sometimes egg salad, tuna, and peanut butter etc. just do not fit the bill for my guys. They want MEAT. I refuse to buy that salty compressed meat. I can slice a chicken or turkey or even a roast beef and make a lot of sandwiches for the money. If I can get the meat for $2.00 a pound it is a cost effective meal. I often get chicken breast for $1.00 a pound. One chicken breast can make several sandwiches.
Johnlyn
November 4, 2011 at 9:32 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
We want meat around here too.
How do you keep it from being so dry? Mine ends up dry and then we use mayo which is not healthy.
Roxie
November 9, 2011 at 6:06 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Sorry, I just saw this question to my reply. I cook a roast with extra ‘juice’ so it will not be dry. I cook it in the crock pot with a cup of water. I also cook the chicken in a crockpot and it is moist. I can freeze it in a freezer bag with the juice it cooked in and it remains moist.
Johnlyn
November 10, 2011 at 7:43 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Thanks for the tip!!!
Johnlyn
October 31, 2011 at 8:23 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I agree with it being expensive, but it’s sure convenient!
Janet
November 3, 2011 at 8:41 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Try Avacodo and sprouts or Avacodo and Tomato we did that for months this past spring with egg salad and tuna salad and loaded baking potatoes.
Johnlyn
November 4, 2011 at 9:33 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
My family would revolt, but I would love avo and sprouts! Yum!