https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 09:30:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292841 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:58:54 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2292841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gilmoregirl: this is a great point! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292839 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:53:49 +0000 Bao 2292839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We also only shop every other week, we save the produce that holds up longer until the second week, it works out great. So it averages out to $160 every 2 weeks, give or take. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292838 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:45:28 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2292838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We buy a lot of basics in bulk and then eat variations of the same foods. For rice, I'd say get a rice cooker! It is so quick and easy (I think easier than boxed rice)! We also cut back on amount of meat by filling in with beans. We do it with pastas, enchiladas, tacos, salads, soups - beans are tasty in everything!!<br /> We also meal plan before shopping, being careful to use what's in the house already instead of buying new ingredients (so, if we have pork we always make pork instead of buying chicken instead). We mostly just buy fruit, veggies, BOGO meat deals, &amp; dairy/eggs at the grocery store each week so our total is $60-80. We do Costco for everything else 1-2x a month for about $100-150 total. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292758 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:09:03 +0000 gilmoregirl 2292758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it's all that unusual or interesting but I was able to make the biggest dent in my grocery bill by relying on a few staple recipes every week instead of trying new things as much as I was before. There are certain staple dinners that I know are cheap and easy while still pretty healthy that I make every week. Then I can stick up on those staples when I find a good price and vary a few things based on sales or what's left in the fridge. We have taco Tuesdays, an egg dish weekly, a pasta weekly, etc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292657 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:52:13 +0000 tysonja 2292657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>re: rice ... cooked (flavoured or plain) rice actually freezes really well! you could cook up a bunch of white rice in chicken stock instead of water for extra flavor, add some herbs, oil, and whatever, and freeze in ziplock bags or Tupperware. just microwave to reheat. maybe try a bit with leftovers first to experiment? or I bet there are a bunch of tips online :). </p> <p>also, rice that's been frozen breaks down way faster for quick congee... :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292634 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:26:16 +0000 regberadaisy 2292634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love this! This is a great idea.@Veggiemama: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292631 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:25:27 +0000 MrsSRS 2292631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do shop at Aldi's, but I tried all the ones in my area and tried going on different days. Some are regularly well stocked on certain days. That plus cooking from scratch and a meal plan has our budget down to about 120/week for me, DH, and DS (who eats as much as I do). Including lunches, which I pack. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292624 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 14:16:52 +0000 Veggiemama 2292624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing I recently started is to not shop at all one week of the month, I usually spend a little extra on fruit the week before (it's what we run out of the quickest) but otherwise stick to the weekly budget. It's a great way to use up what you already have and save quite a bit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292531 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:12:46 +0000 Mae 2292531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My biggest thing is trying to plan my meals so that I reuse ingredients. And roaster chickens are my biggest "secret" for a cheap food week. For example I can get a whole chicken for like $8 and usually get 3 meals out of it. I put it in the crock pot in the am and the first night we might eat something like chicken tacos (so just need shells, cheese, seasoning, tomato, and rice or beans or whatever side you want). Then I pull off all the other good meat and leave all the bones/skin/etc in the crockpot and make broth overnight. The next day we could bbq chicken sandwiches or chicken pizza or chicken stir fry with veggies over rice or add it cold to a salad. Then the next night I could either make a chicken noodle soup with the broth and remaining chicken + a few veggies and noodles or pick another of the regular chicken meal options and freeze the broth in 1 cup portions to use in recipes that call for broth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292528 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:11:19 +0000 lamariniere 2292528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not good at meal planning, but I feel like we waste a lot less food when I go to the grocery store a few times per week and just buy enough for a few meals at a time. If I get overzealous and try to stock up and plan ahead, stuff goes bad and we throw it out. I'm lucky though since I have 6 grocery stores within a 10 minute walk from me. But I know that frequency of shopping doesn't work for a lot of people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292498 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:50:06 +0000 brownepiano 2292498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One surprising way we save money is only shopping every two weeks. It takes more planning but you buy less excess. I am super frugal and plan meals meticulously and didn't think it could possibly make a difference, but it does!<br /> We also make our own yogurt. It is really easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292473 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:27:37 +0000 winniebee 2292473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Really!?!? Another thing I find when shopping somewhere like TJs is I am more inclined to buy prepared foods or specialty items that are more expensive than the normal grocery store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292470 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:15:38 +0000 ElbieKay 2292470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Turkey is usually pretty cheap. Do you know how to roast a turkey? That will cover several meals, and it's simple to make healthy sides (e.g., mashed sweet potatoes and string beans). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292469 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:14:42 +0000 Pancakes 2292469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I'm not great at food budgeting, but I'd like to do better. One trick I read on a blog is to replace half of the ground beef or turkey in a meal with mushrooms. So for a recipe that calls for a pound of ground meat, I'll buy an 8 oz container of white mushrooms, process them in the food processor until they're the consistency of the ground meat, and then cook with 1/2 lb of the meat and freeze the other 1/2 lb. I am not generally a mushroom fan but I really cannot tell the difference. This works particularly well for meals like spaghetti and tacos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292467 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:14:19 +0000 JoJoGirl 2292467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: OMG Trader Joe's is the cheapest here!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget/page/2#post-2292403 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 11:09:53 +0000 regberadaisy 2292403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsrain: haha we went this year and it was all gone within the week. My girls are berry-aholics! Last year I bought and froze during the season thinking it'll last me a few months into the winter. Didn't last a month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292400 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 11:08:09 +0000 winniebee 2292400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Whenever I want to cut back I immediately cut out Trader Joes, Whole Foods and any other specialty store. And then just shop at Hannafords or Costco ; ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292398 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 11:07:07 +0000 LuLu Mom 2292398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: here is how I do it: <a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/freezingcorn.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.pickyourown.org/freezingcorn.htm</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292384 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:45:12 +0000 mrsrain 2292384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Same here. I don't buy farm-raised. Sometimes I can get wild salmon in the frozen food section for cheaper than the fresh stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292381 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:43:36 +0000 mrsrain 2292381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another thing we do is to pick our own raspberries (and sometimes peaches, apples, etc) when they are in season at the local orchards. Then we freeze them to have all year round.</p> <p>We also make our own chicken broth by saving chicken bones and scraps in a bag in a freezer, and veggie scraps in another bag in the freezer. Then periodically we boil up some broth and freeze it in bags (2 cups of broth per bag). It tastes SO MUCH better than store-bought broth, and costs us nothing to make. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292378 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:41:35 +0000 regberadaisy 2292378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: we very rare eat wild... :meh: </p> <p>@TemperanceBrennan: so one of our grocery stores started do this. I have maybe paid for the delivery fee a few times. They've been offering promotions left and right for free or discounted delivery or throwing in items that cost $8 for free. Delivery is $4.99. This is a local family owned chain that has top notch quality control. Their produce, meats and fish section are top notch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292377 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:40:23 +0000 mrsrain 2292377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: We use PeaPod (Stop&amp;Shop) and they pride themselves on selecting the best produce for their customers. I have never had a problem. The ONLY complaint I have would be them selecting bananas that are greener than I would choose, but that's definitely a matter of preference! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292375 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:38:27 +0000 regberadaisy 2292375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: haha we eat A LOT of chicken! I can get thighs and legs as low as 69cts/lb. Pork is about 1.69-1.99/lb. we really only eat red meat maybe once every two weeks!</p> <p>@looch: yup! We eat fish at least once a week! Salmon I can get for 6.99/lb at BJs. Whitefish / cod can go as low as $4.99/lb and when it does I stock up. My family also bring me whole fish and salmon when they come visit. So so much Cheaper in NYC! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292374 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:38:19 +0000 simplyfelicity 2292374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: My husband is the same way...if it doesn't have meat, it's not dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292372 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:37:30 +0000 JoJoGirl 2292372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I find the type of fish is more important than the sales cycles. Wild salmon will always run me $11-$12/lb, even at Trader Joe's. Wild Alaskan Cod on the other hand is closer to $7/lb. If you're willing to go farm-raised, it's always cheaper, but that's not negotiable for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292371 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:37:16 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2292371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsrain: That's a good idea. The fee is only $2.00 at our preferred store and it's free if you spend over one hundred.<br /> I do have a question for you - how is the produce that they select for you? Our store is great in almost every respect, but their onions (of all things!) really suck. I wonder if they try to push the less-desirable produce when they select it for pick-ups? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292363 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:25:03 +0000 looch 2292363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about fish? Do you have any insight as to the pricing and sale cycles? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292362 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:24:36 +0000 JoJoGirl 2292362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably heard this already but the difference between a fish + red meat week and a poultry (chicken/turkey/eggs) week is ENORMOUS. Cutting meat isn't an option for us either, so we try to do ONE expensive meat a week (fish/lamb/beef) and then poultry or eggs the rest of the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292359 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:20:58 +0000 regberadaisy 2292359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: so do you freeze squash raw or cooked? I'm curious how that is defrosted because they retain so much liquid? Will it be very mushy when thawed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-some-unusual-ways-you-cut-your-family-food-budget#post-2292353 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:15:14 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2292353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: We started adding beans to our mexican dishes (black beans). Mixed in with the enchiladas (make 2 pans and freeze one). </p> <p>Yes, corn, you would just pull it off the cobb and freeze it kerneled. But honestly, we can get a bag of corn kernels frozen year round for about $1/bag (grocery store brand on sale from normal price of $1.50). So corn may not be a great options. But summer zucchini and squash can be cubed up and frozen too! </p>