This week is an expensive one for us as we are helping SO's dearest friend throw their last son's graduation party. They said no gift, but SO already said no to that.

We are doing rigatoni with meat sauce/mozzarella, a group favorite, and a couple smaller items-veggie tray and fruit tray. Cost will be a total of about $80 when all is done. Already have everything except veggie and fruit trays. cooked off the meat yesterday and its in the freezer. Will assemble it before work on Friday morning so the sauce can simmer all day, then do the final assembly before work Sat.

On the home front, eating light. My favorite low carb yougurt has been going for 10 for $4(8oz each) and I have one every morning for my break. Making sandwiches for SO and I daily is keeping his spending down too. Dinners have even been light with the 100 plus temps we have been having. Lots of fresh veggies(the sale ones!) with a big scoop of cottage cheese for protein and a splash of lo-cal raspberry vinegarette(11 for $10-16 oz bottles which I stocked up on last month....our latest fav flavor)

SO's son was with us this weekend with no friends so that helped too. Dinner Fri and Sat(his choice) was tortellini alfredo, all the ingredients shopped from the pantry. Planning this week to do pantry shopping, and lots of salads. Only thing I will need from the store will be a loaf of bread. Best friend has a small farm so SO and I are buying fresh eggs from her, the big splurge, at $2/dozen, not cheap but good stuff!

As if grocery prices aren't high enough already, I heard on the news this morning that the recent heat wave is affecting the crops in the fields and we should expect a price increase at the grocery stores for everything from fresh produce to dairy and meat.

The challenge for us will be to continue to provide nutritious meals and still keep to a reasonable budget. How do we do that?

Few of us can continue to increase the budget because costs are going up (especially when our salaries are staying the same or decreasing). Many of us are already taking steps to keep the grocery costs low by shopping sales, and so forth.

So, how do we organize our grocery shopping and meal planning to meet this new challenge of rising grocery costs? Please share your ideas.

Hi, the transition to a 2 person household and a completely different lifestyle has thrown the food budget for a loop but we have resolved that now that we have made a complete pantry and freezer stock-up that our food costs will get back in check.

Bless, I too read about the impact a poor corn crop will have on a myriad of foods. I was in-line at the supermarket and genuinely distressed by the items in the cart in front of me. I instinctively knew the lady would be using a food card as she had chosen nothing nutritious. I wished I could take her home and help her cook with real food. What happens to people who are near retirement without pension or savings who only buy high priced, boxed, convenience foods full of corn filler, fructose and a long list of unpronounceable chemicals?

I know you will continue to astound us with your ability to meet your budget substituting or adjusting for higher costs.

Cyd, thank you for the vote of confidence!

It's not only the corn - other fresh fruits and vegetables, too, are not doing well due to the heat, drought, etc.

I think the occasional boxed convenience food is OK. I've been known to buy frozen dinners and boxed mac & cheese, at times, usually when they are on "loss leader" sales. Convenience foods are, after all, convenient.

Unfortunately, some people consider preparing convenience food as cooking. Some of them have never cooked from scratch and might not even know how to. Others might not have access to a kitchen, or a working stove/oven. For some, especially if they are living alone, cooking from scratch is too much work. I don't think too many people actually read the list of ingredients when they buy them, though.

It's funny that you bring this up. Some of the "kids" I work with are amazed at how much cooking I do, as they see the leftovers I bring for lunch when they are going to name brand restaurants to get their food.

So I have been talking through the things I do. Bless, there is no way that I could achieve the success you do in the grocery budget. When I was by myself, I was very frugal. I wish I could get SO there, so we end up spending a bit more than I would like....but I do try to keep him in check!

I think you hit the nail on the head. It's about knowing what you will and what you like to eat. It's also about knowing that store brands these days are every bit as good as the name brands, sometimes better. It's about watching the sales and being flexible enough to change a meal plan based on the bargains. And knowing where to get the best deals in your specific areas and on what.

Some people unfortunately will never do anything but the convenience foods and for them that is a sad way to eat. And the food card people, that's another story. For those who use it the right way and really need it fine, but so many these days are abusing it at all of our expense.

BL: I see something similar with my office mates, too. I think, for them, cooking is a rather daunting task. Plus, they don't have time to shop for bargains and cook and clean up afterwards, etc.

I didn't receive my grocery ads this week, for some reason. One of the stores, however, posts their weekly ads on-line, so I am able to see what is on sale, there.

I can keep the grocery budget under control in the short term by incorporating items I have in the pantry. But, eventually, I'll have to restock the pantry (it's part of my emergency supplies, as well) and, if grocery prices are going up, then, it'll cost more to restock.

I need more meat/fish, fruits and vegetables (including lettuce for salads). Also, DD has requested a box of her favorite cereal. It hasn't been on sale, lately, so I haven't bought any. But she's happy with the store brand equivalent, too, which I can get for $2/box, so, I will buy a box of that for her.

I think cooking is really intimidating for alot of people (finding a recipe, buying ingredients, learning techniques, having the right equipment, time, etc). Especially nowadays where time is a real issue and picky-eaters, allergies and other food issues have further complicated our lives. People often go with the simplest and often cheaper options.


I think people need to realize meal planning and cooking can be as simple or complicated as you make them. Start simple and try a new recipe, and if you and your family really like a recipe reuse it again.

Tina, I'm sure you are right about many people finding cooking to be intimidating. Especially if they don't know how to. When I went to school, even though it was in a relatively poor, developing country, cooking was a subject taught at school (although, looking back, I am rather amused by the fact that they taught us western style cooking - things like omelettes and cheese pastry - instead of our own cuisine; I think they expected us to learn traditional cooking at home. )

I remember, back in middle school (grades 7,8,9) we had to take cooking class for a 1/4 of the school year. We learned stuff like omelettes, french toast, and other baked goods.

I taught grade 8 for the last two years and the girls had home ec class once a week (they did traditional arts and crafts such as bead work and baking).

I think people need to realize that cooking is not quite as intimidating as they think it is. Start simple. The biggest piece of advice is to be organized. Prep everything before you start cooking. Read over the recipe carefully. Gather all ingredients before you start. Clean as you cook. Get help in the kitchen if you can.