Really....

Fact:  we eat on less than four dollars a day.   Four dollars a day is some  magic number for the lowest price you are supposed to get buy with.  We didn’t start out with that number in mind.   I have always been economical, but I set out to teach people without a lot of money how to stretch what they have.   I kept adding ideas and trying new things until IT happened.   I was writing a class on cutting  your grocery bill in half and did some math.   I surprised  myself.

We eat on less than four dollars a day.   Our BMI is within healthy perimeters.   We have food in the house before payday.   We don’t eat tahini topped broiled eggplant for dinner.   We have eaten on four dollars a day budget for almost a year and a half.   We have grown a stock on that, so actually we eat on less.  Now, caviat time, we do not include any drinks beyond coffee and tea and snacks in our food budget.   Extra drinks and snacks can be eliminated in hard times and they aren't a necessary part of a good balanced diet.   If you have a separate budget, you are well aware of the cost of your garbage eating.   LOL  We don’t feed a 17 yo linebacker.

I am thirty or so dollars over for the year.  But, I bought bulk meat.   I suspect that by the end of the month, we will be back on track and have meat in the freezer.  

The key concepts are :

• Simplify your grocery list.   Identify the foods you use on a regular basis to cook your meals.  We all have  a list of ten or so meals we prep on a regular basis.   List seven to  ten that use inexpensive sources of protein.  Inexpensive sources here are average two dollars a pound.,   Yes, there is good food for two dollars a pound average.    Find the lowest possible price for those foods.   The average family has 10-15 foods they buy on a regular basis.   NEVER pay full price.   Buy enough bulk - usually 4-6 weeks worth of that food— and wait for another sale.   
• Meal plan .   The old adage : make  a plan, or plan to fail works here.   Doesn’t have to be fancy, just jot down a list of main dishes.   
• Buy fruits and veggies that are a dollar or less in season.    Buy dairy on sale.  Most dairy has a two week to four week life.   Buy a months worth of eggs and other dairy when its on sale with a coupon if possible.   
• Efficient scratch cook. Avoid most ‘boxes’ .  
• Buy things in bulk when they make sense.   When you buy something that has a enormous shelf life and you buy it in bulk, you don't have to buy it again.  You’re done.   Soda, salt come to mind.   I bought a five pound bag of salt.   I’m done.   I have enough for the rest of my life, my daughters life and probably well into my granddaughters life......LOL.  Flour, rice and oatmeal are our go to’s.   They are cheap and they save a lot of money. 
• Try new things.   It helps to mix things up.   
• The key is to know how much of something you use on a regular basis and do not over buy.  No food is going to do your family any good if you are feeding it to the garbage disposal.  

 Simplify, never pay full price, always have food in the house.