Groceries on the cheap takes a different approach to grocery shopping, Instead of what one might call “panic” grocery shopping , you have a stock of about a four to six week supply and you shop to replentish your stock. You look at the ads to see what’s on a good sale, and buy a bulk rotation meat, fresh prodice and dairy needed, and replentish anything on a good sale that is on your shelf/ freezer stable list.
Yesterday, after showing up at the dentist ( they called trying to fill on a cancellation) we went shopping. I had already looked at the ads ( see earlier posts) and had a list for Safeways, but had a vague idea of what I needed to fill in at Winco. Usually here we find the best “buys” at Fred Meyers and Winco. There are exceptions and this is one week that held true.
We went to Winco first because it was the closest to our route from the dentist. I bought tomatoes that we were out of and looked for a decent price on cottage cheese. Bacon was 3.39 a pound . ( when the package is 12 ounces, multiply the cost of the 12 ounce package by 1.25. You can usually do this on your telephone,)
We then walked the perimeter of the store . Bacon pieces were 1.28 a pound. This works for seasoning beans, soups, and topping a quiche. And, it is 1/3 of the cost of using strips of bacon. It pays to think out of the box.
We went on to Safeways. I filled on what was on sale for a good price and checked the mark down meat bin. Most of the meat was, as usual still higher than the proverbial balls. But, they had a package of cube steaks for 4.00. That’s two dinners for us. I added a salad made with the .79 head if lettuce and a Roma tomato that was a dollar a pound, and a baked potato we got for 1.79 for a ten pound bag. That s steak dinner for 2.45. It took maybe 15 minutes to make.
And so it goes....
My average for this month is 30.00 and change a week for groceries. Part of this is because we are well stocked. We have done this on 4.00 a day budget for almost 2.5 years now. The secret is not paying full price for anything, simplifying your list, and efficient scratch cooking. We don’t eat much asparagus or broccoli, mainly because my husband doesn’t like veggies, and steak is a treat. I buy good hamburger and de fat it and cook bulk when it comes home from the store. We buy pork loins when they Re 1-2.00 a pound and I butcher them myself— roasts, pork chops and stew meat or stir fry. We buy boneless, skinless chicken breast when they are under 1.28 a pound, sometimes split breasts are as cheap as .88 and then I process them and save a lot. ( see earlier post). Occasionally we buy thighs so we can make stock and I use the meat for chicken soup or enchiladas.
Keeping your supply list short makes it easier to shop, and easier to out things away, and you always know what ingredients you can use for recipes. Basics is the key.
Frozen potatoes were 1.99 for two pounds, This included sweet potato fries...yum. We bought the “culls” fries from Winco for little more than a dollar for two pounds. Frozen vegetables were a dollar at Safeways, I bought mixed vegetables, and peas. This is a good fit because we make a quick chicken pot pie and peas can go by themselves, or even on a stew.
I basically bought anything that was a good buy and we could use to make dinners. The notion of...but we have a bag doesn’t cut it here. You buy it when it’s on sale and don’t buy any more than you can realistically use before they go bad, keeping in mind how much storage space you have. We are stuffed in the small freezer and pantry. It just means we can save up for other bill becaise our groceries will be minimal.
It works, it is just a different mindset.
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