https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:14:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416866 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 12:11:28 +0000 gingerbebe 2416866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make a lot of our sauces. Tomato paste is especially cheap and useful. I like it thinned with water and a bit of spices, sugar, and oil to become a fantastic pizza sauce. Tomato paste with water is just tomato sauce and tomato paste with bouillon, chili powder, cumin, and some cayenne makes great enchilada sauce. You can also thin out tomato paste and add milk for creamy tomato soup with whatever spices you want. You can also make your own ketchup but I don't bother with that. The trick to thinning out the paste is to use hot water and let it sit for a few minutes - it will thicken up and you may need more water. I usually use 1.5-2 cups of water per can of paste depending on the sauce I'm making.</p> <p>I can also make easy cream of something soups with a little flour, oil, milk and a spoonful of bouillion and spices to in sauces and casseroles. We buy big tubs of Better than Bouillion at Costco - total lifesaver and healthier than the powdered stuff. We also buy a lot of everyday spices at Costco.</p> <p>I used to cook a lot of dry beans from scratch in my crockpot but stopped doing it because we weren't eating beans as often but I can definitely always go back to that. I always just used water, salt, an onion, and some bay leaves. If it was pintos, I'd also always throw in a chipotle pepper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416864 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 12:09:30 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2416864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only buy on sale, unless it's something we desperately need. We price match, use coupons when we can, and buy store brand. We also have a Costco membership.<br /> In the summer we buy all produce at the farmers market, and in winter we have an organic produce delivery box...which surprisingly also saves money! Our organic produce box ends up being cheaper than regular produce from the grocery store! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416861 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 12:08:48 +0000 Meowkers 2416861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: @regberadaisy: I agree the produce at TJ is a bit tasteless so I buy that elsewhere. However, when I spend $100 at TJ I leave feeling like I have so much more food and possible meals than when I"m leaving the supermarket having spent the same amount of money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416848 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 12:00:13 +0000 MrsBrewer 2416848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: yep on some things they are a bit cheaper. I guess if you are comparing it to Whole Foods, then yea that would be cheaper. </p> <p>I shop at Meijer, and normally only buy on sale items. I used to coupon, but really don't any more. I also buy most of our produce at Costco </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416480 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:22:50 +0000 mrsrain 2416480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We meal plan every meal (including things like leftovers or frozen meals) and do it for two weeks at a time. I try to make meals using the same ingredients, so nothing gets wasted. We buy mostly items that are on sale. </p> <p>I use a grocery pickup/delivery service. Not going to the store saves me a lot (no impulse purchases!), and the deals they have are often better than those in store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416477 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 09:22:20 +0000 regberadaisy 2416477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Perimeter shopping, knowing good sale pricing and stocking up when that happens. Knowing which store to go to for what. </p> <p>@MrsBrewer: agree! We only go to Trader Joes once every 3 months or so for the specialty TJ items I can't get elsewhere. Their flaxseed and coconut oil is cheap, but again, specialty items. I also find their produce section to be horrible in terms of quality. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416424 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 08:23:50 +0000 MrsBrewer 2416424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How does everyone save money when shopping g at Trader Joes? To me they always seem expensive?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416414 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 08:08:23 +0000 KayKay 2416414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The three biggest changes I have made for us in the past year are:</p> <p>1 - doing 95% of our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. It's one of the cheaper grocery stores around, and it also ONLY has groceries. SuperTarget is probably comparable, BUT...it's Target. And we all know how budgets explode at Target! </p> <p>2- buy minimal junk food. I won't claim to buy none, but reducing what we spend on extras like sweets/ice cream, etc can make a big difference. i'll try to buy it every other or every 3rd week.</p> <p>3 - meal plan in 2 week increments. a lot of times i can avoid going to the grocery at all in the week inbetween. and if not, it's just a quick trip to pick up some fresh fruit and milk. </p> <p>that being said, i'm not a coupon person. and i hate cooking/meal planning enough that i don't base our menu around sale items -- it's hard enough for me to plan without restrictions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416392 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 07:39:00 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2416392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: We don't do 100% of our shopping there. I probably go there every other week and to a bigger grocery store every other week. There are weird things Aldi doesn't have (enchilada sauce is the one that comes to mind right now). There are also a few brand-specific things we like that they don't carry, although they do have quite a few brand name things in addition to their store brand.</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: Yes, they're a full grocery store in my area. Although like I said above, there are a few weird things they don't have. A lot of things, they only carry their store brand, but their store brand is good! My husband even likes their coffee and he hates every other generic coffee I've tried to buy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416327 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 00:02:26 +0000 Mrs. Pink 2416327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh! I also watch the prices in terms of "per ounce/per unit" whatever that's listed on the price tag at most of the stores we shop at-- so we see where say, a larger size isn't actually cheaper/the store brand is listed cheaper but has less/whatever </p> <p>that helps a lot too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416321 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:55:08 +0000 Mrs. Pink 2416321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we switched from boneless skinless chicken breasts to thighs and leg quarters-- which I buy at about $1.20 a pound-- though if I see them below that I usually stock up so we don't have to buy meat much. We don't eat Pork other than bacon and the occasional ham... and we don't eat a ton of beef to save money! We buy beef when it's on sale only!</p> <p>having a picky toddler who doesn't eat a lot of veggies saves us on produce-- we are able to get buy on just doing a bi-weekly bountiful basket and supplementing with random "approved" fruits if they aren't in our basket already! We split with a friend who also has a small family so that cuts our cost to about $10 every other week (or $20 if we don't split). </p> <p>I manage to keep our budget between $50 and $80 a week not counting our basket-- the $80 weeks are usually restocking staples or buying extra meet :)</p> <p>(we're 2 adults and 1 picky toddler so not a lot of food needs to be bought! we also don't really eat organic-- unless we're getting a good deal or using coupons) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416319 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:48:35 +0000 fussygal 2416319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meal planning and super detailed lists. I used to just fly by the seat of my pants, but in the past five years I've become such a creature of habit and I can't go grocery shopping for more than one day without having a list based on that week's meal plan. Even snacks are planned out. We still buy things that aren't on the list, but not much!</p> <p>@looch: Same! We cook pretty simple meals in general, but if something calls for fancy ingredients we sub for simpler ones, or just leave them out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416311 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:39:41 +0000 Meowkers 2416311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Simple. We don't eat meat! Also, shopping at Trader Joe's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416309 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 23:31:34 +0000 Greentea 2416309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not purchasing meat! I also used coupons (first time ever!) on top of a store organic brand sale. Groceries are crazy expensive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416273 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 22:35:49 +0000 lovehoneybee 2416273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meal planning and organizing/tailoring my shopping list to the store I'm in. I'm way less likely to buy junk food (or things I don't need) if it's not on my list if I have a well-planned route through the store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2416251 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 22:12:27 +0000 sapphire 2416251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meal planning and going shopping only every 2 weeks except for a quick stop for things that run out like milk and eggs. Less shopping, less impulse. Also we don't buy snack foods except fruit, cheese sticks, and trail mix. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415904 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 16:24:14 +0000 brownepiano 2415904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second Aldi. They are almost a full grocery store. They help me shop seasonally too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415891 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 16:06:02 +0000 hellobeeboston 2415891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@My Only Sunshine: is Aldi a full grocery store? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415883 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:57:33 +0000 Bao 2415883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: yes! Our freezer has been the best investment ever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415874 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:46:29 +0000 gingerbebe 2415874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The biggest way I save money is having a deep freezer in the garage. I can buy things on sale or in bulk and I can freeze bulk cooked meals and leftovers for another day. If I'm sick or unable to get out I can almost always pull something from the freezer and make a pot of rice and keep my family fed.</p> <p>I used to do a lot more couponing but after my son was born it got harder. I limit my couponing now just to Target for diapering and household goods and shop for my groceries at Costco and a low cost warehouse style grocery store near my house. Between those two places I can get a good variety of organic produce and good quality meat with cheap pantry staples. </p> <p>I try to meal plan regularly using weekly menu templates. I try to cook double what I need, and then individually package and freeze half to thaw and reheat for easy meals later on. I did this for the second half of my first pregnancy and it kept DH fed (he has multiple dietary restrictions) for months after the baby was born. Again the freezer capacity helps!</p> <p>Also about twice a year I do a pantry challenge to cook down all my freezer meats and pantry staples to make room and rotate my stock. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415867 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:41:21 +0000 youboots 2415867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We buy a 1/4 beef ever year. A couple years ago M butchered a pig with a friend- I won't do that again since we prefer beef. I get bulk frozen veggies like broccoli from Costco- then I can defrost some beef, make potatoes or rice and already have veggies on hand so I don't even need to go to the store. We also do a huge batch of spaghetti sauce and freeze it- corn pasta is on hand so again no trip to the store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415865 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:35:34 +0000 CakeLady 2415865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We eat very little meat - 1-2x/week and try to buy in season produce. We don't buy juice or soda, and limit snack foods and frozen meals. Also, when I notice that the pantry or freezer is getting full, I plan meals around those things which usually allows me at least a week of a tiny grocery bill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415856 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:29:33 +0000 Bao 2415856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@My Only Sunshine: I need to remember to go there more often...I always forget about it. Do you do 100% of your shopping there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415854 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:28:44 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2415854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My number one is doing most of our shopping at Trader Joe's. The cost of food at local markets is seriously out of control. The other is limiting purchase of convenience food and snacks like granola bars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415844 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:17:56 +0000 Modern Daisy 2415844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always mix cheaper meets into the mix like a pork loin and sausage. It helps balance out the steak and organic chicken. Plus I think mixing things up every week helps because I notice the grapes won't get eaten one week if we just had them last week. I don't have time to do multiple grocery stores for meats, produce, dry goods, etc. plus I've heard you don't really save much by doing that anyway after paying membership fees and factoring in waste from things you end up throwing out because you never got to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415791 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 14:19:47 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2415791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Shopping at Aldi! Our budget is 60-75% of what it was before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415766 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:57:39 +0000 Winterbee15 2415766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With the exception of frozen vegetables, pretty much skipping the frozen food section altogether. I rack up the most with frozen junk like soft pretzels, frozen pizza, garlic bread, ice cream and other frozen snack stuff. I try to do a meatless pasta dish every two weeks, that helps a bit since we usually spend $5 on ground beef/turkey.</p> <p>I will save a fortune when DS transitions from formula to milk. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415765 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:57:01 +0000 sera_87 2415765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Price matching, simple meals, very little to no prepackaged, frozen stuff. </p> <p>I also don't buy 'junk' like chips, muffins, cookies, juice etc. I prefer to bake my own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415761 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:48:05 +0000 babypugs 2415761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I buy almost exclusively buy one, get one products and stock up except for fresh produce and meat. We also tend to eat very simple meals except on special occasions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cutting-grocery-costs#post-2415755 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:42:47 +0000 looch 2415755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not buying specialty ingredients and basically cooking simple foods. I tend to get random inspirational moments and will want to learn to cook a new cuisine, which usually involves special ingredients or tools. I have learned to just go and eat those meals out at a restaurant and cook simply at home so we actually cycle through our stock. </p>