https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 17:43:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1382033 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:11:43 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1382033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tallied everything last night and so far we've spent 2854.32 SEK ($444.40). DH thought it would be closer to 4000 SEK, so he's happy. Recording everything is definitely helping us! But we bought a bunch of groceries right before NYE, so this month probably isn't a good representation. It'll probably be a few months before we know our actual expenses since we're leaving for vacation in Feb. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1380874 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:24:11 +0000 Chillybear 1380874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Count me in on this goal for 2014.... I've been using coupons for the past few years but since coming off maternity leave and Fi starting daycare we've really needed to tighten our budget to $100 a week at the grocery store. Our grocery bill includes dog food, basic tolietries, and paper products. We meal plan and Fi is breastfed and cloth diapered. If we see my parents that week, my mom will often share me what she picks up at produce junction and other buys she finds like laundry detergent or bulk meats. </p> <p>So far for January<br /> Week 1 $121<br /> Week 2 $62<br /> Week 3 $86<br /> Week 4 $112<br /> Total $381 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1380726 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:53:54 +0000 mrs. wagon 1380726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow you guys... you guys are so great! I am TERRIFIED to add up how much we spend monthly. I'm going to estimate about $600/month but I know it's more. </p> <p>But I'm going to follow this thread to get inspired and get ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1380684 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:44:28 +0000 cmomma17 1380684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmate: sounds like you did great! :)</p> <p>@rubycali: $0.83! woot woot! :) good job!</p> <p>@looch: *gulp* I'm about to do the same!</p> <p>Link to February thread for those who are interested: <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-february-2014?replies=1#post-1380659" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-february-2014?replies=1#post-1380659</a></p> <p>Well ladies - my budget is BLOWN! :( We spent $672.78 in January. There are only 4 days left in the month and I told DH we are not allowed to buy anything else - but I wouldn't put a trip to the store past him if we run out of something small like coffee creamer. My goal was $590, so we are $82.78 over budget! YIKES!<br /> We were under budget by $11 the other day, but made the decision to go over by stocking up on some things. Oatmeal, raisins, dish soap at Costco for example and chicken at the grocery store which was on sale for $1.99/pound again. Our thinking was why spend $2 on the tiniest box of raisins this week and just buy them again next week, when we could buy the big box that is more economical over time? </p> <p>Our spending in January was huge due to lot's of this 'stocking up' (and our new Costco membership). I hope this means we will spend significantly less in February!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1380644 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:35:11 +0000 looch 1380644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: I have to calculate our spending, I am afraid to do it, esp. once I include our dining out costs. Gah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1380635 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:33:18 +0000 cmomma17 1380635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: thanks for cheering me on! </p> <p>@tinyperson: never too late! :) welcome!</p> <p>@skipper2010: awesome!</p> <p>@jedeve: don't be embarrassed! at least you're trying! I have WAY blown my budget too</p> <p>@allison: I will make a Feb thread today! :) Welcome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1379610 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 18:19:56 +0000 RubyCali 1379610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just did my final grocery shopping for the month and I made it in, with just 83 cents to spare! My goal was $500 for the month (including groceries, household items, diapers, wipes). We purchase mainly organic meat, dairy, and produce, in addition to subscribing to a weekly CSA delivery of local, organic produce, so I wasn't sure we'd be able to make it under budget. Next month will be more difficult as I had lots of diapers stockpiled this month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1379505 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 17:23:34 +0000 mrsmate 1379505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have $6.14 left for the month. I actually think we did pretty good - a budget of $600 for the month for 3 adults (we have a boarder) and a preschooler. I gave birth to DD2 on 1/1 so things have been a little crazy, too. However we still have a lot of belt tightening to do, as a lot of other things in our budget went way over in the last months of pregnancy. Definitely going to follow the February thread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1379423 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:49:21 +0000 allison 1379423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there a thread for Feb yet? After three months of going WAY over budget, I started a strict budget this past week. I'd love to participate in this thread next month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1379381 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:27:46 +0000 jedeve 1379381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh this is embarrassing. We are at $680 for the month, $130 over budget. Granted, I am eating way more than normal with being pregnant and breastfeeding and LO is just now switching to mainly solids. Plus we only spent $40 on eating out of the house. </p> <p>I think our problem is DH volunteers to go to the store often. He is a good shopper but doesn't stick to my meal plan. Which I failed at mid month. I need to bring him in more. I have been updating him with how much we are spending and he was pretty shocked. </p> <p>I think we can get through the rest of the month without grocery shopping for meals, but we are out of fruit and milk and LO is constipated so I want to pick him up some bran for muffins...</p> <p>Maybe next month!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1377968 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:04:08 +0000 skipper2010 1377968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just stumbled upon this website <a href="http://www.5dollardinners.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.5dollardinners.com/</a> and thought I'd share. It's basically a blog with tons of budget friendly recipes plus printable coupons and money saving tips. I just spent a few minutes browsing the site and already have 3 yummy dinner ideas that I can't wait to try out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1375497 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:37:36 +0000 tinyperson 1375497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone, I'm late to this thread, but we're starting to budget our grocery costs. Our biggest obstacle is that the grocery store is walking distance from our place, and on the way home for me (subway is connected) and DH (he walks home and he cuts through the mall where the store is). We end up there almost every day to pick up bananas, apples, or other things that we end up needing more than once a week, but then buy more than what we went in for! We're focusing on weekly, rather than monthly costs and aiming for $150 a week. That might seem high based on most people's budgets, but we've gotta start somewhere and see where we end up! We don't have a big freezer or a basement to store lots of staples, so we can't get away with stockpiling. We're also in Canada, and I think food costs might be more here? Any Canadian bees who can weigh in on that? We've bought most of our groceries for the week and are left with $17 till next Friday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1375471 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 11:19:22 +0000 jhd 1375471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: you can do it!! we are under budget this month &amp; still have some things like cereal, coffee, trail mix, etc that will probably last all of Feb too :) makes me excited! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1375329 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 09:46:02 +0000 cmomma17 1375329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We still have only $11 left in our January grocery budget ladies and I'm going to try sooo hard to make it this last week!<br /> We need dish soap, raisins, oatmeal, pineapple, kale and spinach! Do you think we can do it?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1372942 Fri, 24 Jan 2014 09:07:06 +0000 cmomma17 1372942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have spent $569.86 of our $590 budget and there are 7 days left in the month! Aaaaaah! So close! </p> <p>A few impulse buys happened in January, and some overeating. We are running out of a few staples so we will probably end up slightly over budget in January, but still did well compared to December, November, etc. Some big stock up trips contributed to our total like @mrs.bird, so I'm hoping we see a bigger savings in February! </p> <p>Also, totally have dropped the ball on my price book! Having so much trouble finding the time to sit down and do it! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1364460 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:55:34 +0000 mrs. bird 1364460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>okay, so i blew the budget. i spent $70 today.... buuuttttttt i stocked up on a bunch of stuff that we'll freeze &amp; use into next month because there were some great sales going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1364409 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:41:45 +0000 jedeve 1364409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, I finally got the courage to look...</p> <p>So far we've spent $504 this month. So I don't think I am going to make my goal of $550! It's been a little hard with me pregnant and breastfeeding and exercising - I'm SO HUNGRY. Also LO is starting to eat solids more. </p> <p>I suppose that number does include diapers and toilet paper, as well as toiletries and cleaning supplies but we don't tend to buy the latter two every month.</p> <p>We have been really good about not eating out though! And I've gotten better about not eating lunch out - we've only spent $43 so far this month on coffee shops/fastfood/restaurants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1363346 Tue, 21 Jan 2014 09:23:01 +0000 looch 1363346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are averaging about $130 per week on groceries, which is way too much considering that we are only eating dinner at home during the week. I've been stocking up my desk with breakfast items, but there are still 2 days at least where I eat both breakfast and lunch out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1359715 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 14:42:29 +0000 mrs. bird 1359715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: i grab quick lunch out occasionally, but nope, the grocery budget should cover it for us. we eat leftovers for lunch frequently, or things i can make in big batches and add to different things- like chili, stew, or baked chicken breasts. we freeze a lot of discounted meat (i look for things that were on sale and then have a markdown sticker for being close to their use by date) &amp; can't always afford to buy organic/free range. this wk we used extracare bucks at CVS to buy milk, i bought 3 bags of turkey meatballs at trader joes, and the following at the regular grocery store (not a super healthy shop this wk)<br /> deli roast beef &amp; cheese<br /> eggs<br /> ice cream<br /> garlic bread<br /> sandwich rolls<br /> frozen steam veggies<br /> mac &amp; cheese (annie's bigger box)<br /> kidney &amp; pinto beans (the big cans)<br /> tomato sauce<br /> pasta sauce<br /> instant mashed potato pouch<br /> ground beef<br /> sirloin tips<br /> 2 whole chickens (they were buy 1, get 1)<br /> bananas<br /> peppers<br /> green beans<br /> onions<br /> mushrooms<br /> clementines </p> <p>breakfast is usually oatmeal, eggs, yogurt, granola bar, or cereal and fruit (we had all of those on hand already). lunch is a sandwich, dinner leftovers, soup, or chicken with some salad mix (we have on hand, it was buy 1, get 2 free last wk). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/3#post-1359659 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 13:46:09 +0000 AmandaB8 1359659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're looking to save money on food too! </p> <p>Our goal is $60/week on food - it's two adults, but I'm breastfeeding. We also each get $20 of fun money a week, which is the only money we can spend if we eat out for lunch. </p> <p>I REALLY need to get into the swing of couponing. I rarely use them, and it could save us a ton I think! I'm hoping the new wireless printer we got for Christmas will help in that department. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1359611 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 13:10:25 +0000 Arden 1359611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok for those of you who are spending less than $100 a week or $400 a month... is this for all of your food? Are you eating lunches out or something?</p> <p>Our budget is $100 a week and it's hard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1359462 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 11:16:47 +0000 autumn865 1359462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone this is my goal this year too! I already do a lot of cooking at home but will try to be more conscious about what I buy (like choosing a less expensive cut of steak and use it in a stir fry instead of splurging on filet mignon every time we eat steak!) also I would like to be more conscious of coupons. I think what might help me is meal planning because it will force me to look at what I have and make a shopping list of what I need (and not deviate from my list!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1359409 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:34:02 +0000 Bao 1359409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@merriment: what is the fresh 20? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1359372 Sun, 19 Jan 2014 09:58:48 +0000 mrs. bird 1359372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>this week i spent $10 on turkey meatballs at TJs (they're the best!) and $65 at the regular grocery store. that brings me to $161 for the month so far. i know i'm gonna go a little over my $200 goal, there have been a bunch of days where our meal plans have been screwed up schedule changes last minute &amp; we've wasted food or not had time to take something out of the freezer (normally i come home during the day &amp; then go back to work, but if i get stuck at work and can't come home, it screws up dinner). $39 and a wk and a half left in january..... we'll see! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1353785 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 14:57:42 +0000 dojo 1353785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we are doing alright so far this month. We are at $266 of $350 and I'm hoping to not do too much more grocery shopping before the end of the month. I will probably just need to pick up fresh vegetables and maybe a few other things this weekend. I did a big costco trip and was proud of myself for not getting pricey frozen prepackaged type foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1353724 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 14:43:38 +0000 cmomma17 1353724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: oh man! that's tough! I ate so much when I was pregnant, and so much now nursing, I can't imagine combining the 2! You're putting all the food to good use though, so you get a break! </p> <p>how's everyone else doing?<br /> I just checked and we have spent $315.86 so far in January. Need to spend less than $274.14 the rest of the month to make our goal. We MIGHT make it. Biggest problem is when DH goes to the store unattended and shops off list, buys treats, etc. We need to get back in the habit of only shopping ONCE a week (and me doing the shopping). We dropped a lot of money on bulk items this month so I think we'll really start to see the savings in February and beyond ...</p> <p>Oh, and I'm slacking on my price book! I have 2 or 3 grocery receipts to go through, hopefully this weekend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1350040 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:01:20 +0000 dagret 1350040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in! I try to spend $90/week for 3 of us (L is a toddler) and the past few weeks I've stayed under - trying to use what we have first. </p> <p>PlumDistricts has a $24 voucher to luckyvitamin.com for $12. I know my husband got protein powder there before. <a href="http://www.plumdistrict.com/moms/discount/everywhere/deals/luckyvitamin-lucky-vitamin-clif-bars-nature-s-path-organic-burt-s-bees-more-famil-HLzcEa" rel="nofollow">http://www.plumdistrict.com/moms/discount/everywhere/deals/luckyvitamin-lucky-vitamin-clif-bars-nature-s-path-organic-burt-s-bees-more-famil-HLzcEa</a></p> <p>(ETA, I don't think that's a referral link - I'm not logged in to my plum district account.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1349960 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:41:19 +0000 jedeve 1349960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm failing. I am pregnant and nursing and feeling like I am eating us out of house and home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1335918 Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:11:21 +0000 mediagirl 1335918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: it's okay. I really have to be choosy there. I have taken home bad produce before and had to take it back. I find some things are better quality than others. Broccoli, loose fruit and bananas are good quality. Bagged items like onions and bagged fruits/packaged veggies aren't always great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/grocery-savings-january-2014/page/2#post-1335901 Fri, 10 Jan 2014 14:08:49 +0000 merriment 1335901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been doing The Fresh 20 for the past 2 months. It has been a bit of a money saver because we only buy things that are on the list and (most importantly) we use absolutely everything. I think part of our issue prior was that we were just terrible at menu planning and using up everything we purchased. </p>