Newly retired hubbie got "sticker shock" when he saw we spent $625 on groceries

M

marilynfl

Moderator
last month. So now we're going on a food budget.

This should be interesting because one of the little "things" I do for myself after years and years of low income is to NOT limit myself when shopping for food. If I want an $8 jar of "Fru-Fru Sauce with Kumquats" I buy it. On the other hand, I'll buy a whole chicken and have Lar cut it up to avoid price gouging for boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You never lose that "somewhat poor" gene.

My cooking/baking has changed radically over the past 15 years (thanks to all the great recipes at epicurious, Gail's Swap and Finer Kitchens). I try new things almost every day, which means I buy a lot more food items and rarely make the same recipe. That will have to change.

One other twist is Larry likes meat protein. It's not really a meal if it doesn't have meat in it. This is the result of being the only son of a butcher man. So that will take a sizable $ chunk out of the budget. He'd also like to eat more fish...which is actually more expensive than red meat here. Go figure..we have an OCEAN 3 miles away.

I haven't a clue where to start. Guess make up a weekly menu?

 
I find that buying lots when it's on sale and freezing works perfectly for me. Chicken thighs, lamb

shoulder, steaks, pork back ribs, all when they are 1/2 to 2/3 of the regular price. If I buy lots, the butcher will cut for me and I get what I want at the sale price. $2.49 for lamb shoulder forced me to discover new ways of preparing it and it's been fun.

I went to a Chinese supermarket to get some odd things that are not available otherwise and finally saw some pork shoulder that I have been wanting for less than $15, when a year ago I was paying $5. I've been very nervous about buying meat at this store but I got brave and got 2 shoulders at $4.50 each. We'll see. Flank steak there is 1/4 of the price elsewhere.

I always feel grateful that there is so much food available, both grown locally and imported, in this city, and the prices are amazing. I know it is just not so in other areas.

I used to keep a list of what was in the freezer. That helped with menu planning. And like you, I like to make something new almost every night.

 
Do a search on those "bought once for a special recipe" items so you can use them before they go bad

(and I am really talking to MYSELF here. I am sailing on that same boat....

 
I have also limited my fru-fru sauce purchases... but occasionally I get the urge

to buy something exotic and new. Maybe just limit "extravagant" items to one a week? Yes, freezing large amounts of items you can find on sale helps too. Another really good tip - chuck eye steaks are as good (if not better!) than rib-eye steaks, and are about half the price.

 
`Oh, i don't know--why don't you just let him do the food shopping for a couple of months.

 
tried that before, aajay. He comes home with his olives and his marinated garlic and

peanut butter, omega spread, veggie patties and the Kashi frozen meals he likes and that's it. These are all items he's "researched" and know are good for him. So he'll "shop" but he hasn't a clue what pantry items need to be replaced to make a meal from scratch. Plus he's quite content eating the same meal over and over and over and over and over again. All microwaved. I can't go that route.

 
A spin on Aajays suggestion is working for us. Dh approached me about this recently. Even though

we both have siblings, it seems to be our responsibility to host Sunday dinner, which often includes Friday pm...I completely understand... The food bill is on our radar screen.

SO, dh has had fun for the last month or so, not just reading the NY POST on Sundays, but perusing the local coupon sections on what is on sale. He pulls together a list; looks like excel, but only freehand that details by "our favorite meats/regular food purchases" a cost comparison by local supermarkets....((I have to say, it is quite adorable!)

Tough times for all, have to try to make it fun. My cousin and her dh are trying to keep a positive attitude by trying to come up with creative recipes to use the pantry. Goal is - Reduce Freezer/Pantry food that hasn't been used; have fun looking up recipes for "exotic" condiments, reduce costs and enjoy spending time in the kitchen together.

Best,
Barb

 
That also happened to me. Better Half about fainted when he realized what our

food budget were, and demanded a cut.

And cut it I did.

Put a man on vegetables - slightly over cooked and flavour less for a few days, and he will be soft as butter. I also cut out the soda, the weekend cake and the salad dressing.
Mine lasted less than 48 hours, and he finally admitted that he liked food the way I cooked it.
And if I am cooking, I'm doing it with the ingredients I like.

So we are back on track and I haven't heard a word about our food budget since smileys/bigsmile.gif.

 
Years ago I learnt that "buying a roast is more expensive" is a falicy/phylicy (Geez......)....

spelling.........as my DH loves cottage pie...well by the time one buys a bag of onions, a box of gravy (yes, must have bisto in it) etc...etc.... it cost more than a large hunk of beef (Oh, how times have changed)....
But I still use the same reasoning.....ALL the shopping for one dish with perhaps a seconds serving next day only (perhaps as we finish the entire dish in one sitting these days...a few extra mouths to feed, of course)...when the hunk of roast/whole chicken could be cut up / used about 4 times, all the way down to soup.

Well, we dont eat much beef these days and fish is darn expensive and so is lamb as is everything that gets shipped in here, so fru-fru or no, if I feel the urge and I cant actually make it ..then "oh, man" I will buy it......or just go with-out.....going with-out rather a lot these days, that's fer'sure.

 
Laugh but that's what I'm doing smileys/smile.gif Three couples are going in on one.

We know the farmer, too. Also thinking about a pig in fall.

 
get him a fishin' pole and net. send him out early every mornin' to the beach. ocean fishing

is still "free", isn't it?

 
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