How much do you spend on food, etc?

[TX Bluebonnet]

#6 You will go crazy if you create a budget that's too strict. I allow myself some luxuries. It's like a diet. If you allow yourself a controlled cheat once a week, you're less likely to binge. I cut out my husband's ice cream allowance of 1 pint of ben and Jerry's a day (I kid you not - the man was eating like $35 of ice cream a week). He now gets 1 pint a week and if he eats it all in one sitting - tough cookies. The dogs get a treat once a week and not daily.

I have the same issue with ice cream with my husband. Also, if I buy a bag of Oreo cookies it only lasts 2 or 3 days. I've gotten to the point where I don't buy certain items like these anymore. So now the only time he gets Oreo cookies is on the rare occassion when he goes to the grocery store. Unfortunately, he does occassionally buy a pint of ice cream at a convenience store, which of course is about the most expensive place to buy anything.

#7 My husband has NO portion control. If I make chicken cutlets, he'll eat 3 or 4 pieces. If cut up the same amount of chicken into cubes or strips and mix with noodles, rice and veggies, I can get 2 meals outta the same dish. You can "fill" a plate with a lot of healthy and cheaper options.

Oh my gosh, I sure know what that is like and it's sooooo frustrating. I make a big pot of something thinking we'll get 2 full meals out it, if not more, and my husband just keeps eating and eating until he's beyond full and actually uncomfortable, at which point he says he can't eat anymore.

#4 Don't take the family with you when you go shopping. Everyone has something they throw in the cart that's not on your list... Also, don't go to the supermarket when you are starving - you start tossing all sorts of stuff into the cart.

I couldn't agree with this more. I make a point of going without my husband for the reason above, where he'd just wander off and come back with an impulse item to throw in the cart, and then repeat numerous times. For example he'll go over to the meat aisle and look at the steaks (while I'm in another aisle comparing different brands to see which is cheaper per ounce) and grab up a package of 2 huge expensive steaks to cook on the grill. I'm not that much of a steak person (personally, I'd just as soon have a hamburger over a steak) and try to convince him to get a cheaper cut for my serving. Well, that's insulting to him and he retaliates with, well it's cheaper than eating out. I don't know what that has to do with us going over our food budget, but just let it go at this point because I'm tired of fighting this all the time. Oh, and what do you do with an expensive cut of nicely grilled steak? Well, if your my husband you drown it in steak sauce. Honestly, what's the point?

Another reason I don't like my husband going with me is because he does not like me buying in bulk, even when it's cheaper. All he can see is that if we buy that smaller package the bill will be cheaper at the register. Usually I just do it anyway, but I hate having to explain/justify why I just put a 10-pack roll of paper towels in the cart instead of a 3-pack that "doesn't cost as much."

That way of thinking is probably why it doesn't bother him at all to buy a 6-pack of beer at the convenience store for $7.50 when he could buy a 12-pack for $11.00 at Walmart. When a 6-pack (or more) is being consumed weekly, and money's tight, it makes a difference. Of course, picking up that expensive ice cream at the same time doesn't help any. I guess I'm stuck with this one, though, since I have reached the point where I refuse to buy beer when I'm shopping at Walmart because I feel he's on the verge of becoming an alcoholic.

On the plus side, at least he's not brand loyal and is fine with store brand!!

Meal planning has been the biggest savings for me. I used to just go shopping haphazardly, without a list or any ideas on what we were going to eat for the next week. We ended up wasting a lot of food due to such poor planning, and also not being able to make a meal that appealed to us out of what was left. Oftentimes we'd end up going out to eat just because neither one of us felt like cooking.

I used to gripe because our fridge is so small with a tiny freezer on top. Now I actually like that it's small because I'm doing everything I can to cut back on wasting food. Our fridge used to be so packed all the time that we'd end up throwing food out that we'd forgot about or just kept overlooking. We'd also throw out frozen food after it'd been up there for way too long, or we weren't sure when we froze it, or sometimes didn't even know what it was anymore. Now that I'm planning our meals and making better use of any leftovers, our fridge is not packed full of useless junk anymore and we can actually see everything that's in there much more easily now.

Our food budget is a work in progress. Right now we're budgeting $150/week for the both of us and 2 dogs. That includes food, paper products, tolietries, cleaning products, dog food, those convenience store pitstops, and occasional meals out. This would be a lot easier if my spouse would get on board with this. I think he feels like this is just short term and we'll be going back to the way it used to be once I eventually get a job again. I'm trying to get it in his head that this is a lifestyle change and when I get back to work we'll need to really start saving our money for emergencies and short term goals and retirement, which we don't have any now to speak of and which is only 25 years away.

Sorry for such a long, complaining post. Any thoughts or ideas or true stories about how someone turned their partner around to the idea of staying within a budget would be greatly appreciated.

[Becca]

It's me, hubby and three kids - 17 (b), 13(g), 8(b) and dog. I spend at least $200 a week on food and still run out. I can NOT keep enough food in the house, its maddening. And thats *with* clipping coupons and looking for deals. I don't know what to do anymore.

And with summer coming and them home all the time (friends over more etc) its only going to get worse!

Becca

[One Half Full]

I am just one, I spend from 25-30 dollars per week.

I am not sure about "buying a freezer," as mentioned above. You may be able to get meat on sale, but you end up paying for it through your additional electricity bills. I always thought the "half cow" purchase was a good idea until I figured it needed to pay rent.

[whatamess]

Hmm maybe I will pour my Dr pepper down the toilet then!!! If it does indeed do to rust what said i will not be drinking much soda anymore. ICK! I already have an ulcer!!!!
Ive never heard of that "jelly", but it sounds scary.....then again, Lime away isnt exactly good for you either.
Thanks!!
WAM

[Minnymouth]

I've heard of the "navel jelly", but never used it.....

Also Dr. Pepper/coke/pepsi can be used to clean battery cables of corosion.

Wonder if it's that hard on the stomach too???????????

[Granny]

Nasty stuff if you're referring to the naval jelly rust dissolver.........http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov...ds&id=13010007

Yep, but it works, especially well in bathtubs and sinks...just keep it away from kids and wear gloves. Definitely not a product I'd use every day but for those really tough stains, I won't bother with anything else.

[BassBoy]

Have you tried naval jelly for the rust. It's a pink jell, available in hardware stores and not very expensive. But read the warning label.

Nasty stuff if you're referring to the naval jelly rust dissolver.........http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov...ds&id=13010007

[nazstar]

For rust on clothes and other fabrics, lemons are supposed to work really well but I haven't tried it. I had some screws that rusted on an outside lock once. I soaked them in Dr. Pepper and it ate right through it - makes me think twice about drinking it now!

[Granny]

Minny & nazstar
I use baking soda, vinegar and bleach for almost all cleaning. the only issue Ive had is we have well water and nothing gets rid of rust/iron stains except iron out...any suggestions??

WAM

Have you tried naval jelly for the rust. It's a pink jell, available in hardware stores and not very expensive. But read the warning label.

[Minnymouth]

Don't know a cure for the rust problem...... thats a hard one. Maybe somebody else has some thoughts on it.....

[whatamess]

[QUOTE=Minnymouth;124720]Nazstar - great suggestions........
Bleach, vinegar, baking soda, salt, are many of the cleaning supplies that old generations used. A lot healthier too, then the scented - spray can - chemical cleaners......


Minny & nazstar
I use baking soda, vinegar and bleach for almost all cleaning. the only issue Ive had is we have well water and nothing gets rid of rust/iron stains except iron out...any suggestions??
The best deoderizer with dogs is to put arm & hammer dryer sheets in your vaccum bag. That way when you vaccum up 'dog stank' you neutralize it. Before I did this my vaccum smelled like wet dog. Even hepa bags did not work. Sometimes I throw a tablespoon of baking soda in the bag as well.
The only downside, is your house will smell like a pickle factory from the vinegar!!
Also, Fels Naptha soap is the BEST stain remover, and only around 99 cents a bar. Shout doesnt work for me at all.
WAM

[nazstar]

Good point on the salt. When I have a tough pan to clean, I fill it up with hot water, throw in a handful of table salt and let it sit for a few hours. It washes out like a breeze. I started looking for natural ways to clean - not for money reasons but for health reasons. I have 3 small dogs and a baby. I was worried about chemicals and sprays, etc in the house. The fact that it's cheaper is just an added bonus.

[Minnymouth]

Nazstar - great suggestions........

Many ways to cut the cost of cleaning supplies, groceries, and pet items....

Bleach, vinegar, baking soda, salt, are many of the cleaning supplies that old generations used. A lot healthier too, then the scented - spray can - chemical cleaners......

Name brand items are just that - Name brands!!! You pay for the name!!!
Example - Liquid detergents are ALL made from the SAME SOAP BASE. They just add their own scent and softeners to them. (my brother hauled the same soap base to all the different companies - his wife used just the soap base drained out of the left over barrels to do her laundry - I did too for years.)

Store brands are MADE by the name brand companies and sold as cheap labels also.
Example - bread...... name brand makes store brand!!!

Lots of ways to cut corners, just eat good BEFORE you go to the store, lol......

[nazstar]

I just can't help myself. Here are few more tricks to keep your grocery bill down...

#1 Juice is expensive and I drink alot of it. To cut down on cost, buy club soda. I pour 1/2 juice and fill the rest with club soda - it's like a fizzy grape juice. Plus, it's healthier because juice has ALOT of sugar in it.

#2 Instead of buying fancy ready made marinades, salad dressings can double as a marinade. Believe it or not, marinating a ham in Coca-Cola works too and it's yummy.

#3 Cookies and chips seem to disappear in my house. When I buy snacks, I open up the box and divide them into ziplock bags. Hubby can grab a bag and sit on the couch to watch his tv program and not eat everything in one sitting. I saw this on the Today show recently as a dieting trick too.

#4 Don't take the family with you when you go shopping. Everyone has something they throw in the cart that's not on your list... Also, don't go to the supermarket when you are starving - you start tossing all sorts of stuff into the cart.

#5 As a general rule, the more expensive items are at eye level. When staring at a shelf, look at the items in the less attractive areas - up high and down low. They are often cheaper and would work just as well in some cases. Don't get sucked into those bright red and yellow "SALE" tags. Target is notorious for these. They stick a big sale sign under an item, which prompts you to pick it up and thorw 1 or 2 in your cart. Sometimes, "sale" or "temporary price cut" means it's 3 -10 cents cheaper. Not much of a deal for something you didn't plan on buying in the first place.

[nazstar]

Whew. This got long.. Sorry..

We are a family of 3 but our daughter is only 6 months old. We budget about $500 a month for groceries, $150 for pampers/formula and another $50 for pets (I have 3 dogs and a cat), but I recently started examining the receipt and these are some interesting things I've found:

#1 I thought I was saving money by buying things at the Super Target and then buying bulk things at BJs/Sam's Club and then running to the Winn Dixie to stock up on buy-1-get-1-free days. Turns out I am spending MORE. You inevitably pick up things you didn't plan on because "it's on sale", etc. Plus, places like Super Target are full of temptations for extras. Maybe you guys are more disciplined, but this is a pitfall for me and it's best to avoid going in at all.

#2 Those bulk places aren't always cheaper. Yes, for paper goods, I can get a deal. But some of the stuff is MORE expensive than buying it at the local supermarket. Check the price per unit and compare. I buy certain thing there, like diapers and formula. I breastfed in the beginning but my milk supply kinda disappeared 4 months into it when I got a cold - it just never recovered so now I need to buy formula. She uses Similac, which is about $30 a case at BJs (that's almost a 1 week supply). But if you sign up with Similac, you get $5 coupons in the mail. I signed up and had my mother, sister, and mother-in-law also sign up. They mail me the coupons.

#3 Since we both work flex time and take care of our daughter (plus I am expecting again), we tend to buy convenience items like prepared meals, etc. I cut that out last month. My sister-in-law bought us one of those food saver things and I buy meat, separate it into the bags, throw in marinade and freeze. When I get home from work, I cut it open and just throw it in a pan with veggies. Saved a lot that way. Also, frozen veggies keep a LOT longer than fresh and are just as healthy and sometimes cheaper (at least when I account for how many times I throw out spoiled produce).

#4 Making baby food isn't that hard. I get things like sweet potatoes and butternut squash, bake them and throw them in the blender. Use clean ice cube trays for "baby size" portions. Just pop out 1-2 "cubes" and nuke it for 10 sec. Also, after about 1 month of buying baby food, I realized that if I just stick a small portion of whatever we are eating in the mini food processor, she can eat the same thing we have every night. If it's something spicy, I take out her portion prior to seasoning.

#5 Clipping coupons drives me bonkers but I started to do it. A good tip is: DO NOT clip coupons for stuff you don't normally use. If it's not something I usually buy, I trash the coupon. I was winding up with tons of crap in my pantry that I wouldn't really cook, but "hey, we had a coupon".

#6 You will go crazy if you create a budget that's too strict. I allow myself some luxuries. It's like a diet. If you allow yourself a controlled cheat once a week, you're less likely to binge. I cut out my husband's ice cream allowance of 1 pint of ben and Jerry's a day (I kid you not - the man was eating like $35 of ice cream a week). He now gets 1 pint a week and if he eats it all in one sitting - tough cookies. The dogs get a treat once a week and not daily.

#7 My husband has NO portion control. If I make chicken cutlets, he'll eat 3 or 4 pieces. If cut up the same amount of chicken into cubes or strips and mix with noodles, rice and veggies, I can get 2 meals outta the same dish. You can "fill" a plate with a lot of healthy and cheaper options.

#8 Cleaning supplies are the biggest rip off EVER! Our moms didn't have 20 different bottles of stuff to clean the house. Hot water and vinigar work well as a degreaser for the kitchen and it cuts through grime on the floors (add some lemon juice). Bleach is the best disinfectant for toilets - does the same as all that antibacterial toilet wands, scrubs, etc. Instead of Tilex, wet a fabric softener sheet - it removes soap scum from shower doors. Fabric softner sheets are also ideal as deodorizers for shoes - stick a half sheet in each shoe when you put them in the closet. For pet accidents, scrub the floor with baking soda and hot water. When it's all good and soaked, throw vinigar on it - then mop up. For windows, vinigar and water and use newspaper for no streaks.

I was able to shave off about $100-150 from our grocery bill using the above.

I'm gonna stop now. Sorry. I get carried away since I made this lifestyle change….