How do you stay on top of your groceries?

just_a_mum · 2020-12-10T23:43:48+00:00

I make a menu each week so I know what we need when I go food shopping. I try to make the menu using what we still have in the cupboards/fridge/freezer.

LouiseConnor · 2020-12-10T23:50:40+00:00

I shop once a week for my family of 5.

I do a large shopping trip at the beginning of the month for all shelf stable and freeze foods and any staples I ran out of that usually come in larger packages.

Each week for the rest of the month is a smaller and much easier trip for only fresh fruit, veggies, milk, and odds and ends.

I have a lump sum for the whole month and can spend up to do much, but of course don’t have to spend it all. I can choose to save extra and roll over to following months if I want. Another good thing to do with extra budget is make a few freezer meals bc you never know when you might be in a pinch, or have guests over, or make meals for a friend in need.

thesixthamethyst · 2020-12-11T13:28:46+00:00

I have a whiteboard in the kitchen and when I run out of something, I write it down. That’s pretty much how I keep track of my pantry items.

I shop once a week for groceries, or we order online. Due to a lot of errors with the online shopping I really only use it if I’m in a pinch and really don’t have time. We spend an excessive amount on groceries IMO, about $180 a week. We buy healthy foods, eat a lot of meat (particularly chicken), and it seems we tend to prefer ingredient heavy meals. We also tend to buy lots of extra foods for our kids. They quite young and won’t/can’t eat a lot of the foods we do. I always mean to tone that down but it doesn’t seem to happen.

ScienceWifey · 2020-12-10T23:24:53+00:00

I usually do the shopping once a week after I have planned the meals and check the pantry for ingredients. I like to keep the pantry stocked with the basics just in case things get busy and don't do the shopping. The amount I spend differs usually since every 3 months I usually go to Costco and get certain things in bulk.

blahpunchlineblah · 2020-12-10T23:44:35+00:00

Grocery shopping once a week. We meal prep, so all meals are planned out beforehand. We spend about $110ish give or take a bit. Food is the one aspect we are not strict about because, in the words of my husband "why else am I making money?" We don't go crazy with variety, we have a google doc of recipes we like and alternate between weeks.

BeruitBody49 · 2020-12-11T02:38:33+00:00

An easy thing I’ve started doing is that whenever I use the last of a food item (or notice containers/packaging in the recycling bin/trash that indicate an item has run out), I immediately jot it down on a little notepad that’s stuck to the fridge. Other than that, I just check the pantry and fridge before I leave to see if anything’s running low or obviously missing from its usual spot, and make sure I either have the ingredients I need for cooking meals for the week or that the missing ones end up on my list. I also try to plan meals around leftovers or food that is going to go bad if we don’t use it soon. I know what the kids like for lunch and snacks, so they’re a no-brainer once I’m at the store.

There are definitely staples for our household, but I love to try new things and get bored of the same meals after a while, so I like to get different foods as well. I try to shop at least a little frugally- going to the less expensive stores, trying to get the most bang for your buck, getting store brand stuff or off brand items that taste exactly the same, not buying ridiculously priced items we don’t need, etc- but I don’t really worry about the total at the end of the day. If we eat all the food we buy, it’s a justified expense.

CcyCV · 2020-12-11T12:08:19+00:00

This might not be very helpful but I sort of... know what we have and what I can prepare with that, and while in the grocery store that helps me look at what is available and in season, to get things that complement what we already have. I would recommend for you to do some "reverse recipes" as an exercise a few days before next time you need to shop for groceries, so you can practice fixing dinner with what ingredients you have at the moment. I have found that really helpful, specially when trying to stick to a budget.

Anonymous_fiend · 2020-12-11T02:41:25+00:00

We spend $200 for 2 (& 4 small animals) a month. I go shopping 2x month. That includes cleaning supplies and paper goods. I keep my pantry stocked with the basics which tend to be cheap. I look for deals and relatively keep to a list. I have potential meal ideas for at least a week stocked up. We keep kosher which is more expensive so we don't eat as much meat. Most Americans eat way too much meat.

Pantry basics: bread products, beans, other carbs/grains (bulgur, barley, polenta), lentils, pasta, rice, oats, canned tomato products, flour, yeast, sugar, baking soda/powder, pancake mix, stock, sauces, herbs/seasonings, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cereal, oil, potatoes, onions, tomatoes (sun dried and fresh), olives, and snacks (bars, chips, sweets, etc)

Freezer: fruit, veggies, fro yo, convience items, & meat

Fridge: cheese, tahini, milk, eggs, lunch meat or fresh meat, juice, soda, seasonal fruit/veg, kale, cucumber, carrots, celery, herbs, condiments

If there's extra $ I add some fun items to spice things up.

Carebear1193 · 2020-12-10T23:37:56+00:00

I use instacart...its 9.99 a month to have someone else bring me my groceries, and I hate the grocery store. I shop Aldi and Costco!!! I save a ton that way :)

S-Soda1 · 2020-12-11T00:04:57+00:00

I grocery shop weekly, though with covid I'm trying to shop less. For me what I buy depends on my upcoming week.

When I have time off of school I like to try new recipes. So groceries cost more when I'm not busy with school or work. It's my main hobby and everyone in the house gets to enjoy what I make so I make no apologies for it lol.

On weeks when I have school I buy my regular groceries. Less than $100 a week for three people, as I have all of the staples already in bulk. If something shelf stable is on sale I may buy extra.

Before exam weeks/busy weeks I shop at MnM Meats which sells good quality frozen meals and buy frozen veggies, pies and lasagnas that I can throw in the oven and ignore until done. It's just survival mode those weeks lol. Less than $100 on those weeks as well.

I have a little magnetic locker thing to hold pens on the side of my fridge, and a large magnetized grocery list pad on the front of the fridge. Anyone can add what they want to the list. I'm usually the one to notice if I don't have something though since I cook or bake daily. If I have an upcoming week off I'll plan some new recipes to try and add the ingredients on a separate paper so I know must-haves from fun ingredients.

Every couple of months I go through the fridge and pantry and throw out all expired items. Those get added to my list if they were less than half full. If not I don't buy them again, or I will buy the smallest size possible if I think I'll actually use it this time. I try to buy pasta, rice, salt, sugar etc. In bulk from Costco. I take notice if fruits or veggies are getting a little wilted or bruised and will make smoothies or soup the next day with them. I try and use what I have.

anothergoodbook · 2020-12-11T04:57:20+00:00

I meal plan weekly and order groceries online. We have some of our basics that we tend to fall back on (burgers, breakfast for dinner).

I’m not great at food inventory though.

kendikane88 · 2020-12-24T04:33:25+00:00

I tried the buying in bulk thing but it was too overwhelming for me. I recently started using Mealime app. That has been amazing! I live it because it has recipes in it that are all quite easy and it gives you your grocery list and then you can shop for your groceries within the app and place your order. I use Wal-mart grocery so I just place my order for pick up and boom. Done. I hate shopping and I hate cooking. But Mealime has made the cooking part fun. Now if I can just find someone to do the dishes. 😫

Title	How do you stay on top of your groceries?
Author	s3arching4rmwithin08
Upvotes	17
Comments	17
Date	December 10, 2020 11:16 PM UTC (5 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/RedPillWives
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/RedPillWives/comments/kaq4qc/how_do_you_stay_on_top_of_your_groceries/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/RedPillWives/how-do-you-stay-on-top-of-your-groceries.738103 https://theredarchive.com/post/738103

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