This subject is a tough one for me. My husband does the finances and he, every so often comments on our grocery spending. We budget and it seems our grocery bill just increases. I remember when we were first married 8 years ago, things were tight and our grocery budget was $500-$600 a month for 2 adults and 1 child (including cleaning products, personal hygiene).
- We've since added two children (5 people total).
- We now buy organic as much as we can.
- We've also moved to a smaller city, which is more north and basically the end of the road in our province. I may go out on a limb and assume it probably costs more to ship up here. Also no big bargain stores like Costo.
- We are not heavy meat consumers
- In the last 2 years we've been buying expensive dietary supplements
- When I'm running around and in a pinch or just plain lazy, we eat out...bad! On average, 4x month.
- Finally my husband makes more money than before. In saying that, we have probably spent more since making more. Wasting money because we have more to waste.
I can buy in bulk, on sale, no combine couponing in Canada, except for London Drugs.
*A side note on couponing
Couponing is difficult for me. I've tried it. Clipping and checking dates and using them is not a problem. In the end, my issue with coupons are most products with name brand items which you see on commercials and ads I just don't buy. We'll throw convenience foods and packaged items into the manufactured/processed item camp as well.
I don't normally purchase the majority of products featured in flyers and store coupons because we just don't use them.
I would like sales and coupons for dried beans, nuts, grains, organic meats and eggs, fresh produce....etc. You know where I'm going. WHOLE FOODS!
Here's a simple break down of what I try not to purchase.
Products with:
- soy
- wheat
- sugar (processed, corn based)
- nitrates (all preservatives)
- scents
What I can use or make from non-food ingredients, which are cheaper and more friendly, they include:
- laundry/dishwasher soap
- cleaning & hygiene products (vinegar, castille soap, coconut oil, essential oils)
- slow hand-made meals
The 2 things that hit our grocery budget every month, is fresh produce. We are heavy fresh produce consumers.
And when I'm running around and not prepared with snacks and meals.
We are not financially hurting, but we are called to be good managers of what God gives us. Blessing others more and taking/consuming less.
Mrs. Taffy mentioned monthly grocery shopping trips. I don't think I can swing that one. The amount of produce we eat doesn't last that long. She also mentioned not wasting food. We thankfully throw very little food away, only because I don't cook very large meals leaving very little leftovers.
What can I do?
I think I can save money all around by:
- managing my time more efficiently
- not running errands or to the grocery store so often (gas, impulse buy)
- planning and preparing snacks & meals
- not impulse buying
- eating less non-sustaining foods (ie:quick carbs)
- start sprouting again
- start dehydrating again
- Thanking God daily for His abundance
Thanks Mrs.Taffy for talking about this subject. It was good for me to take inventory of our habits and how I can be a better manager of the home.
Good Day Friends,
MO
It would be interesting to me to read a few Canadian food labels. Do you have soy in everything like we do? We can't buy any of that garbage anyway, because of sensitivities, but I am still shocked how it's in EVERYTHING basically. I found freeze dried strawberries at a store and the ingredients were strawberries and soy. HUH? Made me want to say a bad word or two and I am NOT given to that sort of talk! lol
ReplyDeleteWe eat a lot of produce too, thankfully Costco sells so much organic and I'm thinking if we eat the stuff that spoils the fastest first and then work our way down ending with frozen produce, we could do okay for 3 weeks. I was wondering if I can freeze chopped spinach, I like to add it to meatballs and salmon patties and quiche. I have 2 refrigerators/3 freezers, plus the whole garage is basically a freezer or refrigerator right now. Squash, apples, carrots, potatoes, frozen beans and peas and berries.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Yes to your frozen spinach. I do it all the time. If something might be soon to spoil I throw it in the freezer and use it for something else later. I did think of maybe saving frozen and prepared crockpot meals for that third-forth week, thanks for that suggestion. Working your way down the spoil list is exactly what you need to do. Not so many years ago my farming relatives only made trips to the city for the "fancy" food once a month. Having to do just what you said. The convenience of town/city living spoils us for living smarter. How about you tell me how shopping once a month goes and I'll try try try to do the same. I just need more drive and discipline to stick to it. Our almost daily salads for lunch may be missed in that forth week. That's where my sprouting will really come in to play. As for Canadian food labels, hey, we're North AMERICAN. Basically the same as you. Actually most of what we get is American, with some exceptions. Some being still American owned but packaging facilities located here, I assume it's cost affective that way?? So yes... there's always something snuck into those yummy dried strawberries. Have you watched Food Inc.? I almost wish I didn't.
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