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Laura Rowley Money & Happiness

Laura Rowley, Money & Happiness

How to Save $400 a Month on Groceries

by Laura Rowley

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Good (1511 Ratings)
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Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, 12:00AM

Grocery shopping is like playing the slots in Vegas.

Last week I won, saving $25 by planning ahead and using coupons. Other weeks, the house wins -- I forget my list, miss the store circular, find out my coupons have expired -- and the register drawer devours my cash with a malevolent snap. Gotcha!

Saving Takes Time

Herb Sorensen, head of the Oregon-based consulting firm Sorensen Associates, has spent four decades tracking the grocery business. He says that there are two approaches to pricing: Everyday low prices à la Wal-Mart, and high-low prices featuring capricious weekly specials.

"High-low is a hellish way to run a store -- it's very inefficient," Sorensen says. "But a consumer who wants to invest the time and effort can make out like a bandit by buying on the low side."

The trick is to be a sophisticate -- catch the product at its cheapest price, buy it with a coupon, and stock up. Problem is, few people have the time to track when toilet paper hits bottom (no pun intended) or spend hours snipping coupons. The solution: Two fast-growing websites that do some of the legwork for you, and another that offers low prices and free shipping.

Playing the Grocery Game

I asked Californian Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game, if you can feed a family of four on $100 a week. "Absolutely," she replies, "when you know how to play the game."

Her site tracks pricing on 10,000 items in 126 supermarkets and drug chains nationwide. Subscribers pay $10 every eight weeks for a list of local deals and unadvertised specials from one store ($5 for each additional store). The site has 100,000 members.

"Teri's List" matches manufacturer's coupons with weekly specials and unadvertised deals, and is color-coded: green for items that are free when purchased with a coupon; blue for goods that have hit bottom and should be stocked; and black for products that represent a good deal but haven't quite hit bottom.

The Grocery Game provides printable coupons and tells you where to find others in your Sunday newspaper circulars. The key is to save the inserts and label them with the date -- then pull out the ones you need (provided in Teri's List).

A Gamer's Tale

Grocery Game subscriber Wendy Burger, a Maryland freelance writer and mother of three, cut her grocery bill by 40 to 50 percent, and now spends roughly $500 a month. She pays about $98 a year for the weekly list on her grocery store and drug chain, but partly offset the cost by dropping her warehouse club membership.

"When I first started, I spent a lot more time planning because I had to figure out the coupon thing," says Burger, who surfs myClipper.com to get multiple copies of a single coupon. For instance, she paid a 50-cent "handling fee" to buy 30 coupons for $1 off organic milk, saving $30 over the course of three months.

"It's not for everyone," Burger says, adding that it's somewhat counterintuitive to buy cheap, stock up, and plan meals based on what's in the cupboard. "You have to be willing to get the coupons, and be careful to stockpile things you use a lot but that don't go bad," she adds. Burger keeps her stash in a bookcase and a separate freezer. (See my blog for a dietician's advice on products that freeze best.)

The Mother of All Coupon Clippers

Stephanie Nelson, an Atlanta mother of two, started The Coupon Mom seven years ago to teach people how to get cheap grocery items to donate to charity. The site has grown threefold since last December, and now has 450,000 members.

Nelson's goal is to show families how to create well-balanced meals for $100 or less a week with an hour of planning -- something she does successfully for her spouse and two teenage sons. The Coupon Mom tracks the top 41 supermarkets as well as drug and discount stores.

Like the Grocery Game, the Coupon Mom offers a database that matches store deals to relevant coupons, but doesn't pinpoint when an item has hit its lowest price. "If it's buy-one-get-one-free, or over 50 percent off and you use a coupon, that's a good deal," Nelson says. "If you go for rock-bottom, you may end up with a cart full of air freshener, frozen waffles, and cat food. I don't think that's practical."

Plan Ahead

Nelson recently went head-to-head with a television reporter, shopping in the same store with the same list. At checkout, the reporter spent $232.60 for a week's worth of meals for a family of four. Nelson's bill was $73.35.

Planning ahead and being brand-flexible saves the most money, Nelson insists. "The average shopper is doing what the reporter did -- 'here's the brand I always get -- it's only 50 cents more.' But if you're the average family buying a hundred items a week, that adds up quickly," she notes. Excluding coupons and the use of a store loyalty card, Nelson's bill was still about $100 less than the reporter's.

When you seize the deal, buy the smaller package rather than the jumbo size, advises Gary Foreman, founder of The Dollar Stretcher website. "Retailers have trained consumers to buy big, but people are starting to find that the larger package is more expensive per unit," he says. And with a coupon, the smaller size offers better savings per unit ($1 off a four-pack of yogurt saves 25 cents per container, versus 8 to 9 cents each for the 12-pack).

Nelson's site is solely funded by advertising, which means the registration path can be a bit annoying, but she insists it's necessary to keep the service free and growing (and, to be fair, The Grocery Game has plenty of banner ads). "We found 48 percent of users are donating food to charity because of the program when they hadn't in the past," Nelson says. "That's really exciting." The Coupon Mom provides a free e-book explaining the system -- see my blog for a quick how-to.

Virtual Food Shopping

If you frequent warehouse stores, check out Amazon.com's grocery service, which ships 22,000 nonperishable items in bulk -- free, if your bill surpasses $25. A recent promotion featured $20 off a purchase of $49 in products from a combination of Keebler, Kellogg's, Carr's, and other brands. A subscriber program -- in which you choose items you regularly buy and how often you want them delivered -- provides additional savings.

"The grocery service went into beta about a year ago, and they haven't heavily promoted it," says Alicia Rockmore, a former packaged goods brand manager and founder of Buttoned Up, an organizational products firm. "They run great deals. If you're an Amazon prime member, you get free shipping and it ships two-day. You can also shop by sale pages -- items that are 90 percent off, 80 percent off, et cetera."

Once you've exploited online resources, don't overlook other ways to save -- targeting stores that double coupons or using your tax rebate to get an additional 10 percent off grocery purchases, for instance.

Burger says using an online grocery list has turned her into a shopping diva. "I'll find deodorant for 25 cents, but I want it for free, and I know if I wait I can get it," she says. "I'm still stunned at how much stuff you don't have to buy. I love it."

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  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, July 7, 2008, 1:56PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    Fairly decent article. I appreciate the use of Wal-Mart, though they are very hated, they are a smart buy. Most people loathe them in lieu of the Mom and Pop joints, however, anyone with a basic understanding of economics understands the value brought to the consumer when a megastore, like Wal-Mart, offers low prices due to their economies of scale. Mom and Pop joints cost the consumer more and they are right to be concerned with that. Being self-righteous on buying outside of Wal-Mart may make one feel important and a champion of the failed competition to Wal-Mart, but to a family of four; that sentiment doesn't put food on the table. So, the premise behind this article is of sound worth. If you are truly concerned about your grocery bill, than you need to pull your head out of the ground and do something about it. Be proactive, not reactive. And those who complain, and yet do nothing, really have nothing to complain about and are merely just b***hing for b***hings sake.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, July 7, 2008, 1:51PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Sure you can probably feed a family of four for even less than $100 per week. But it won't be quality, healthy food. There are plenty of cheap processed foods that are available and those are the ones that have coupons. I look at coupons every week and there is rarely even one coupon that is of any use to me.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, July 7, 2008, 11:30AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    I personally found this article fairly useless, too. I have a monthly budget of about $140/mo for one person and I'd love to save $400 on my grocery bill (LOL) Its a shame the Wal-F*****g-Mart has driven out the competition in other areas. I live in an area where the local grocery stores give Wal-Mart a run for their money and while they still struggle some, they do ok. I might save $.25 a week shopping at Hel-Mart, but that savings is quickly ate up in the extra 6 miles round-trip. Wal-Mart around here is just like many other grocery stores, low prices on some items, way too high on others. I've found they are not the "low price leader" like many others. Also their employees are rude (although I might be too if I was uneducated, worked to death and paid below $10.00/hr.), their managers are rude to the employees and even customers at time and it seems most things other than groceries were made in sweatshops in East Asia. Its a shame that this company has made themselves into a virtual monopoly in many areas, particularly rural areas. If you have to shop at the "smiley face store" because you have even less discretionary money than I do (which isn't much), I understand, but try to find it in your heart to move away from them as much as possible. This is what super-huge corporate AmeriKKKa wants, consumers that can't afford independents that must be dependent on them, they want a monopoly that is illegal. They know if they line the Federal Trade Commission's and Congress' pockets with enough money, they won't say ****!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, July 6, 2008, 11:04PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    This gal doesn't get it. We cannot save $400 per month on groceries because our grocery budgets are already way less than that amount. Online shopping in a high-priced oil market? This gal knows nothing about the economics of shipping goods around the country. Put her back in her penthouse and get someone with more real-world experience to do the writing.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, July 6, 2008, 10:24PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    I agree with the majority of the readers on this article. It was useless, and as long as the price is right and the food is fresh who cares whether it's coming from Wal-Mart. I'm a stay at home mom, and through all of my years of cooking for my family, not once has any of my children nor my husband for that matter, have turned their noses up to a meal because the steaks came from a local chain store or because I didn't use a coupon website to buy them. Let's get some websites out there on where I can find gas cheaper than $4.03 per gallon. That'd be useful!!!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, July 6, 2008, 8:53PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    i shop at walmart and a small store near my house that has a great deal on meat if you buy the family packs there is only me and my husband but buying the big packs of meat and repackaging it saves a lot money in the long run and it also saves on gas when you don't have to run to the store everyday to get something for dinner. we also buy in bulk when ever we can on toilet paper and papertowels because it saves time and money so to all those people out there that run to the store everyday because they don't know what to fix for dinner keep on if you like to waste money but most of us don't have money to waste.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, July 6, 2008, 12:53AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    This is a useless article with nothing but obvious statements. I live close to the largest Super Wal-Mart in California. Household income is well over 100K and Wal-Mart is where we shop because they offer the best prices- so why not save your hard earned money? I could care less about small business over-priced stores. The comment "I'd rather let my children starve" than shop at wal-mart is ridiculous.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, July 5, 2008, 9:20AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    I feed a family of 5 on about $350/mo and I have one still in diapers. I shop at BJ's and Walmart. Yes, I shop at Walmart. It's a game of survival for me, so sorry if they are driving out poor small business owners. I'm not fortunate enough to own a business. I work hard for my money and so I'm going to shop where I don't have to spend so much of it.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, July 4, 2008, 10:51PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    Why pay for information you can get like this for free? I use a free website called ConsumerQueen.com This is a great group of ladies who just want to help each other save money and live frugally, esp now with the ecoomy and all. The lady that ownes this treats this as a ministry and does not charge for this information.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, July 4, 2008, 8:47PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Most of these comments are kind of unfair. I thought this article was wonderful, I had heard of the grocery game before, but I never really understood it until I read this. And I got a lot of other websites to try. I think eating organically and fresh is great, just don't pass judgement on other people that don't.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, July 4, 2008, 12:38PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    Ummmm....why hasn't anyone one mention the evil giant that is Wal-Mart? I wouldn't shop at that store if I had five starving children. This corporate giant constantly under cuts the family/small owned business. They are unable to compete so they are forced to shut down.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 7:17PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    WOW! This article is waste of time. You can feed a family of 3 on $40 - $50 per week. I'm part of a family of three and we cut coupons, use competitor coupons, and Sometimes you will find the store owes you money if you combine their coupons with competitor coupons. I once got 10 boxes of cereal for free by combining coupons. So, this article is merely fluff to advertise.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 3:45PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    As others have said, never pay for what you can get for free! I spend less than $100 per week to feed a family of five, including two men over 6 feet tall. One thing very few of these articles mention: eat less meat. Your pocketbook will benefit, as will your health and the planet.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 12:03PM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    This article is nothing more then an advertisement for these services. You don't need them to save money. I'm a married mother of 2 teens and a full time student myself. So my life is very hectic like many others. We go through about $100 dollars per week of food, and I DON'T use coupons or buy bulk. Yes, we eat very good.. I plan my meals a week ahead of time and buy accordingly with a few snacks, but the difference is...I buy mostly fresh items with very little processed foods. So I can go to a farmers market and a local meat market where I can save quite a bit instead of buying from a supermarket chain. The only supermarket I'll go to is Wal-mart as I do save as much as 20% every week by going there instead of Kroger or Meijer. I use to cut coupons until they started requiring two or three items to be bought in order to save less then a dollar. My grocery bill the other day was 193.48 and that is for two weeks..meat included. I don't buy into these grocery sites as you do have to pay money out..so really these people have to add this cost to their bill as well. The real way for people to save is go back to doing things for yourself. Grow your own vegetables if you can and then freeze or can them. I don't have to buy alot of veggies until spring when we usually run out of the ones we do ourselves. Go fishing and hunting for your meat...we do alot of fishing here in MI so I have to never buy fish as we catch salmon, perch, and walleye, then hunt deer, duck, and turkey. So our meat bill is cut in half through out the year. Get your eggs from a local farmer, they will usually charge you less. I can get a dozen of fresh eggs for about 60 cents. Then cleaners for your house...I only have five main ones that I buy...furniture polish for a dollar, big bottle of Mr.Clean (which I dilute to make an all around cleaner and it last me over three months), soft scrub (for the bathroom) dish soap for $0.79 and window cleaner for a dollar. I use baking soda to freshen my carpet once a week. Use cheap wash clothes for cleaning rags instead of paper towels. You don't need to buy Tide, Wisk, or any big name laundry det. I use Gain or Purex which I can get for under 3.00 when they are on sale. I buy a big box of the cheapest dryer sheets and it usually last me about 4 months and my clothes smell just as good as using Bounce or Downy. It's amazing what you can save if you use your head....you don't need to pay someone to tell you where to go, or what to do to save money, just get off your butt and do the work yourself, plus you'll save money on not needing those memberships.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:52AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    Okay, let me address a couple of comments here. For all you organic lovers, I cant speak for the other sites, but the grocery game offers organic coupons on their list. In addition to this the Sunday paper also has organic coupons. For all you growers of food, that is great, I WISH I COULD DO THAT. My grandfather was a farmer, and I truly respect anyone who grows their own food or raises live stock. But honestly if I tried to do that, my apartment's landlord would be a little angry about live chickens or cattle running around the complex. (For all that think I am mocking....get a sense of humor.). Now as for the time issue, my wife and I spend at most 3 hours TOTAL clipping, sorting 4 lists (FYI, you dont have to get EVERYTHING on the list, sometimes we get 25 things sometimes we get 5 its all depends on how good a deal it is and if we NEED it...i know a time thing...stop being lazy) shopping and putting away. We have 3 little kids all with very active lives of little league and summer camp. They are not fat from all the processed foods we buy (we dont usually buy the processed items.) THEY GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY. I havent even touched on the cost vs savings aspects of this. Our cost is around 25 bucks or so between a Sunday paper and my well worth it subscription. WE save around 400 bucks a month total lets see....400 gross savings - 25 bucks cost = 375 a month savings net. I would say its worth the time. As far as name brand vs generic yesterday I spent .25 cents on Cattlemen BBQ sauce (gasp...a name brand) because the grocer had it on sale and I had a coupons for it. That is just ONE EXAMPLE, we can repeat that scenario for a few more items. I challenge anyone here to find a cheaper GENERIC price in Houston (where I am) thats not rotting on the shelf. Its all time management, teamwork and effort. A lot of you seem ignorant about how these sites work. You guys assume that since it cost money....then its all conspiracy. Come on, they are a business hense .COM....which stands for commerical....ie commerical business. Guess what you are on a .com site RIGHT NOW. Better close this browser quick before the "man" swings his mighty coporate iron fist! They are trying to make a few dollars just like most of us are. Like I said earlier. Even after factoring cost.....I still save around 375 a month. and for what its worth I found some items on the list yesterday that had the stores generic items.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:50AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    One MAJOR thing left out. "discount days." Places such as Kroger and Meijer discount on certain days, to keep stock moving. Kroger does this on Mondays, deep discounting meats and dairy, that had not moved as fast. Meijer is the same day also, but less of a discount. Stores that combine gas credits for shopping is also a saver. Shopper's cards also make things slightly cheaper. Hwever, I recommend that you not use your own address on the application, if you do not have to mail in the app. Some "closeout" stores still have some supplies that are decent enough to use, if in date. Big Lots and "Dollar Tree" are 2 good ones. Due to these being left out, I had to rate only 2 stars out of 5

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:44AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    I have to agree with snowmeow_2000, this is not the way. Lesson 1. Never pay for what you can do for free. Yes it might take a bit of time searching but the savings will be greater.,

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:27AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    As a retired chemical plant worker (yes Big Oil), We have been doing these things for a few years with great success. Flexibility and stockpiling and not being brand loyal can be quite useful.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:24AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    You don't have to pay a website to get coupons -check out Centsible.net They have a listing of most online grocers in the US and Canada at www.centsible.net/groceries.shtml and are building a page on FREE printable coupon sources (manufacturer sites themselves) at www.centsible.net/printable_coupons.shtml I cook most things from scratch, buy in season veggies, limit meat purchases, stick to a weekly meal plan that uses the same types of ingredients to minimize waste. I also make use of things like crock pots and dried legumes to really save. Planning ahead for your particalur schedule is the best way to save on groceries. If you know you won't have time to cook - buy quick-to-prepare foods for home, that way you won't end up ordering pizza or going out for fast food at the last minute. Look at not-obvious solutions like throwing together your ingredients in a crock pot at the start of the day to have dinner ready when you get home. Get to know which stores have the best prices on what and do you shopping accordingly. Be sure to check out Centsible.net's free grocery page though, you don't even need to sign up for anything and their list of stores is pretty extensive.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:19AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    I'm all for saving money, as we are a family of seven and only have one income right now. But I feel like it is such a waste of our time, money, and natural resources to even have this "coupon" system. Companies know that we are all having to tighten up our budgets, so why don't they just forego the stupid coupon scam and just give us the low price to begin with? I stopped using coupons years ago because of how much time it takes. I don't have acess to an Aldi (shucks!) so I have to use the store that I TRUST the most, which is Publix. Yes, they are higher, but they are on the ball with the weekly offers, buy-one-get-ones, and even discounts on meat (We stocked up on boneless skinless chicken last week for $1.99/lb. Not the cheapest ever, but still a bargain). Also, we grow a lot of our our produce and we have a cow slaughtered one time per year to fill the freezer. That way, all our beef is natural and runs about $3.00 per pound no matter what the cut. I love throwing 6 organic T-bones on the grill for the family for less than $15!! If you can, get to know a local farm and get what you can from them. Buy from the outer isles of the grocery store where the foods are fresh or frozen, not the boxed foods on the inner isles. Bake your own breads once per week. Trust me, it''s easy! Teach your kids how to do it to if they are old enough. Batch cook and freeze food in bulk, it only takes acouple hours per week to make a week's worth of dinners! Good luck to all :o)

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:17AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    I am laughing all the way to the bank! Those with all the negative comments regarding coupon cutting and paying $5 a month for a list that tells me when I will get the lowest price obviously do not have a clue as to what they are talking about. Having done Grocery Game for years - I can assure you it works. I do not eat a lot of processed foods. In case you weren't aware, the paper is loaded with healthy coupons and - gasp - even organic coupons! You all keep spending full price for your almost rotten Aldi produce and tasteless generic foods - that just means more organic products almost free for those of us who know how to shop smart!

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:14AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    These are all shortcuts and fixes still playing along the big corporate games. You buy what they tell you but now you have a coupon for it - yeah! How about actually ditching the five or six big corporations that control your food intake and start buying real food - the way our great-grandparents ate. Buy real unpolished rice in bulk - buy or grow fresh veggies. In general, buy ingredients and not processed junk that makes you fat. You'll be healthier and independent and you will do the environment a huge favor! For more ideas check out my blog http://vegetarianonthecheap.blogspot.com/

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:10AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    My gawd people, my family and I subscribe to the grocery game, we spend about at most 1 hour a week clipping coupons, going through 4 lists, and eliminating items that we dont need ie pet food. My wife and I split up and we get all of it done in about 2 hours a week tops. And we eat WELL. We have 3 kids, 2 are playing little league baseball, and still have time to do this weekly. The key to this is time management and effort. Bottom line, do what works for your situation and you can save a few bucks. WE Regularly save 150 dollars a week doing this system. Yesterday we save around 85 alone. I really dont understand all the bitterness towards these sites. They are businesses trying to make a few bucks just like EVERYONE that runs a business or works just like you. We pay around 25 bucks or so monthly and like I said we save around 150 a week or 400 or so a month. Well worth the time and effort in my opinion.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:04AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 5/5

    I love ALDI... I shop there as often as possible, and go to Bi-Lo or Food Lion only when I have to have certain brands. Bi-Lo is now doing the double-manufacturer's coupon deal, so that helps too.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 11:00AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 3/5

    I disagree with the previous statement. If the person did their homework they would discover that Grocery & Oil company's make less than a 10% profit. Most companies work on a 20% profit goal (does that make those companies bad too). It just seems huge because the company itself is huge, but the percentage is rather small. If you want to make a difference, start a garden, ride a bike, take car pool and if possible, hop on a bus. Our family is still on our same food budget and we've adjusted our driving to compensate for the higher price in fuel. You just need sometime to plan and you can still get everything you need. We are a family of 5, on an average single income, politically conservative and enviromentally aware. If everyone would start focusing on the problem and stop the blame game, we would get through this quicker... Reduce your fuel consumption, lower demand=higher supply=lower prices. Encourage government to allow a few new refineries, new drilling sites and fund search for alternative energy. I am tired of hearing all the blame by someone that doesn't want to do anything about it but complain. It doesn't matter which administration is in power, it would be screwed up. Use this time to VOTE THIRD Party this year and show Washington that this 2 party system is broke and we need true change.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 10:59AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    are you kidding me?! How much are you getting for advertising sites that COST YOU MONEY!!!! How about an artical that shows you how to save without spending!!! Who is this P. Trunk? LOL I thought we got her out of here. This is info is a Rag! Don't pay any money when you can seach and find it for free or get it out of the Sunday paper!!!! WEAK Yahoo Weak..

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 10:46AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 2/5

    I stopped clipping coupons when I started shopping at ALDI, a no-nonsense grocery chain. I cut my food budget by over 30%.

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 10:22AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    I eat one time a day. Its horrible that grocery stores and Oil Companies raising prices just to make a huge profit. Consumers are the one who's paying the price . I glad I don't have a huge family to feed this day and age , food bill would be high. Citizens of USA should Boycott Oil Companies on Fridays/Saturdays , you can make a differences. Limit on everything , if you don't it's going to be harder for you to save money. None of this has to go up in price , Companies are on a bandwagon raising prices , laying off ,whatever else come to there mind. You hear this daily or read it in the newspaper / internet . Again I limit everything including my driving . Our Power bill in Illinois went up another 15% each month ,I'm paying 45.00 more a month . That's not including anything else I have to pay. It will get to a point you will only have one car per family or no car at all . My husband driving 100 miles a day to work costing him $60.00 ( every 4th day ,that's how often he has to fill the car up ) . As of this Thursday July 3, 08 he will be laid off , along with the other 7.3 million people , adding more weekly , I figure there will be 10 million people out of a job in the next year or less , where are they going to get a job??? If none is available. It doesn't matter what Profession you're in , You will get laid off , matter of time . I hate to think negitive , but it's the truth. If you get coupons or help buying food , I'm happy for you .

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 10:14AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 1/5

    is an advertisement for websites that you PAY to use

  • Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, June 30, 2008, 10:12AM ET  Report Abuse

    • Overall: 4/5

    I gave this a 4 star rating, even though I don't think that it is necessary to use coupons to spend 75-100 a week on groceries. Alot of people seem to think that one can not eat healthfully within this budget, and all I can say is YOU ARE WRONG! The key is to make a meal plan that best utilizes your fresh ingredients. For example, try to find meals that will use the same fresh herb for a couple of meals a week. Also, we buy all sorts of fruit, at varying degrees of ripeness. We buy some that is "ready to eat" and some that will take a few days to ripen up. We plan accordingly, and never end up with wasted fruit. We eat a combination of fresh and frozen veggies every meal, and about eat meat about 5 out of 7. We rarely use "fillers" such as pasta, rice, and potatoes in place of vegetables, and use them only as compliments to the main meal. Our biggest "secret" is that I cook EVERY single meal. We figure out our cost per meal and stay under $5.00 per dinner for the entire family. (We're a family of 4, but I think most of my recipies could feed at least 1 or 2 more children) My advice is to find some healthy recipes that you like and try to find others that compliment them without being too boring. We don't buy packaged snacks or desserts, but I promise we are never hungry and we don't eat junk. Oh, one more last minute tip- Buy a big package of individual tea bags and brew iced tea. It is *nearly* as cheap as drinking water, and gives you some antioxidents and flavor. We add a bit of lemon juice to the tea, and it's wonderful. We also have a pitcher style water filter that saves us tons of money on bottled water and is better for the environment. My point is that with a little planning, you can eat well and cheaply, but you can't expect to do so just by walking into the grocery store unprepared.

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