Went grocery shopping today. Spent $24.59 and bought:
1 gal. milk ($2.29)
1 coffee creamer ($3.50)
2 indiv. size frozen pizzas ($1.00@)
1 36 oz. bottle ketchup ($2.50)
1 loaf sandwich bread ($1.49)
2 cans tuna ($.89@)
1 32. oz bottle miracle whip ($3.89)
2 bottles apple juice ($.99@)
8 oranges ($3.86lbs; $.49/lb. = $1.89(
1 lettuce ($.77)
1 pkt. cold cuts ($2.50)

In addition, I bought the following food items at the dollar store, which came to $4.55

1 watermelon ($.99)
2 1-lb. pkts. spaghetti ($.79@)
2 pkts. cookies ($.99)

So, spent a total of $29.14

My total grocery budget for this month is $150. I try to keep the weekly spending to $37.50, although, if I go over it in a given week, I make adjustments the following week.

I will probably go to the ethnic store tomorrow for more fruits and vegetables and some chicken.

Blessmymess, I am SO impressed with how frugal you are. In a few cases, it could be that the food you can buy is cheaper. Around here, I couldn't find even one can of tuna for under $1.00, much less two for $0.89. But it seems that as usual, you are super-organized, and because (I gather) you do mostly home cooking, are able to stretch what you buy.

Being willing to fix our own food can save us a lot of money, no question.

I've heard people comment that they can't "afford" fruit, which we like to eat. But these same people fill up on a lot of packaged snacks, which per ounce are more expensive.

Simplicity, the cans of tuna cost $.89 per can. There was another brand which cost more ($1.09 per can), but I usually buy whatever is on sale or is cheaper.

Fresh fruit and vegetables tend to be more expensive at the regular supermarket, so, I buy produce from them only when they are on sale or the convenience is worth the price. I find better prices and more variety at the ethnic stores.

************
Yesterday, I did the rest of this week's grocery shopping (at one of the ethnic stores where produce is cheaper) and bought:

white champagne grapes, 1.58 lb @ $.79/lb = $1.25
green beans, .93 lbs. @ $.79/lb = $.73
bananas, 2.29 lbs. @ $.49/lb = $1.12 (bananas usually cost $.65 at the regular supermarket)
chicken drumsticks, approx 2 lbs (5 pieces) @ $.99/lb = $1.88
small "pink lady" apples, 1.62 lbs (8 small apples) @ $.69/lb = $1.12
1 can (17.5 oz) vegeta seasonings/soup mix = $3.99

The total came to $10.09; so my total spent on food this week comes to $29.14 + $10.09 = 39.23; I have $110.77 left in this month's grocery budget.

I also bought 2 lbs. cocktail sausages for $4.99, but that is for the prayer meeting dinner and comes from a separate budget, not included in the grocery budget.

Last night, I cooked the chicken (curry), green beans, potatoes and rice for dinner. There are enough leftovers for tonight's dinner.

Lunch today was a cold cuts sandwich for DD; leftover mac&cheese with ground beef for me. Grapes and bananas and cake for snacks.

***********

DD's having a relapse of her cold and cough (not that it went away completely). So, instead of our usual afternoon coffee, she asked for ramen noodle soup and I had some too.

Then, I made a sauce with some of the strawberries that were getting a bit old and shriveled up in the fridge. That served over a slice of the cake was yummy.

I most definately need to join in here. First off, I need to save money. I already shop alot of sales but there are a few ways I know I can safe some money.

#1: I need to cook more at home, therefore, eating out less.

But coming with this.....I need lots of make ahead meals/double cooking/ and items that can be made and frozen for later meals.
Any suggestions....

Tinytina, a few ground beef dishes lend themselves well to cooking in bulk: spaghetti, barbecue (sloppy joes), chili, meat loaf, anything with ground beef such as Hamburger Helper (you could use 2 packages for more quantity, and do the work just once), and so on.

When I was a Girl Scout, we used to make "campfire stew," which was brown ground beef mixed with UNDILUTED soup, usually vegetable, but could be anything. Tasty, easy, and cheap.

Other foods can also be cooked "for any army." Two packages of chicken parts usually produced 12-14 pieces of drumsticks or thighs. I mix cream of mushroom and cream of chicken and pour over the chicken, and cook in the oven for about an hour at 325. You could add rice or other vegetables to the soup. What you don't eat today, you can eat later in the week, or freeze and eat next month. I'm a great believer in cooking for more than one meal at a time.

I'm sure you'll find many great recipes and other ideas on the Recipe threads.

Tina what do you like to eat?

Sometimes with freezing sauces, especially cream sauces they need to seperate and become grainy. So I don't freeze those.

If you eat casseroles, many freeze and reheat beautifully.

I like to make a big pot of soup or stew and freeze into family sized meals. At the beginning of the week, I can make a big lettuce salad and have different "accessories" with the basic salad. It's easy, healthy and rounds out almost any meal.

I find it hard to recommend different meals because everyone has different tastes.

I think once you start batch cooking, you will enjoy it. I know I love the benefits.

Tina, in addition to what these ladies wrote, you can also cook rice (I use basmati) in large quantities and freeze them in freezer bags. I don't think you could use instant, it would probably go soggy, but the basmati rice holds its texture really well.

Rice, chicken curry, green beans for lunch yesterday, since both DD and I stayed home (she from school; I from the office)

Beef/vegetable soup and buttered toast for dinner.

Today:
Lunch: cold cuts sandwiches for DD; the last of the mac & cheese with ground beef for me.
Dinner: rice, green beans, with chicken curry or spaghetti & sauce

i had a 250 coupon for kitty litter which i needed mike to carry so while we were at bj's i bought just the other heavy things. i spent 4307 on:

2 36 packs of pepsi 929 ea
1 32 pack dcf coke 919
fresh step 1189 reg 1439

i didn't buy anything else as i wanted to enjoy my time w mike

mary

DD wanted soup, again, for dinner, so, that's what we had.