Feeding a family is not easy. Grocery prices continue to rise and kids continue to grow. And if you’re like me, your family also continues to grow. We’re currently a family of 5 but I’m due to give birth in just a few weeks. Our grocery bill has never slowed down, but I have always found ways to simplify and save money .
I want to share with you some of ways that I minimize what we spend, instead of giving you a complete shopping list with a budgeted number. Grocery prices vary and are different everywhere. I might spend $200 on a weeks shopping trip, and then $130 on the next. A gallon of milk that is 2.89 for me, might be 3.89 for you, so that’s why I don’t want to give exact numbers.
So, let me give you some of the ways that I save money on our grocery bill, and the staple items that I keep around the kitchen.
My biggest grocery shopping tip
Rule number one, stop buying snacks. I’m talking about the snacks from the chip and snack aisles. Those inner aisle snacks are budget killers. When I first started getting serious about what we spent, I took a look at our previous receipts. The majority of my bill was nothing but snack foods. I could seriously knock off $100 of just junk.
I think I found myself so caught up with trying to fulfil my kids every snack craving, that I lost control of what we spent on them. The truth is, kids don’t need a snack every time they think they do. You don’t need a snack every time you think you do. Two filled snack drawers that only lasts a few days at most, is pretty much a waste.
In my experience, my kids would be bored sitting in front of the tv, grab a bag of chips and then end up eating the entire thing. Now their favorite snack is gone in a day and they’re wondering when the next bag is going to show up.
Cutting the majority of those snacks out of our kitchen changed my bill dramatically. Don’t get me wrong, I still buy snacks. But I set a limit on them. Chips & cereals are a treat that rarely get thrown in the buggy, vs 3 bags at a time. Granola bars now come over fruit snacks. Fruits like apples and oranges stayed stocked to fulfil their hunger in between meals.
I’d much rather spend my snack budget on oranges – that my kids can also finish in a day lol – than bags of processed air.
Shop for most of your products at Aldi
I know not everyone has an Aldi close by, but I’m sure you have a “cheaper” store around. We’re in Dallas so we’re around quite a few of them, and I happen to live right around the corner from one.
I buy a lot, if not all, of our produce at Aldi, especially if it’s on sale. The 10lb bags of russet potatoes are usually $4 or less for me and a bag will last all week. I cook fried breakfast potatoes almost every morning with scrambled eggs. I prefer to buy and eat organic eggs but honestly they’re not always in the budget. One day I’ll have chickens in my backyard, but for now I’ll the few dollars a dozen at Aldi.
Eggs and potatoes may seem like a boring breakfast to have every morning, but you can change it up daily by adding different flavors. Add some pico de gallo and hot sauce. Eat with corn tortillas as tacos or flour tortillas to wrap like a burrito. Add some jelly toast or cinnamon rolls for something sweet. There are a lot of ways to mix it up and have something healthier and more fulfilling than cereal and milk.
Aldi is also a really good place for buying your condiments and pantry staples. I grab all the things like cooking oils, ketchup, sugar, pasta noodles, etc. Things like butter and sour cream are always cheaper for me here too.
In my opinion the Aldi meat selection isn’t always so great, but don’t skimp out here. I’ve never had a bad experience buying meat with them. Everything is usually a great price, and probably the reason the selection is always so low lol. Especially with organic/grass fed meats. I always find way better prices on them than other grocery stores.
I also love their frozen section. They have great priced frozen pizzas for those quick lunch days. I like to keep at least 2 pizzas in the freezer for those days that I’m in a pinch or have nothing else to make.
Cheap, staple meals
I love cooking good food. I like making big meals with all the fixings and extras, but in reality that’s not always in the budget either. I’ve learned that it’s ok to eat cheap meals every now and then. Not every meal time has to be a fancy full course.
I try to keep specific ingredients in stock so I always have something to make in a pinch.
Things I like to keep around are:
- Bread
- Turkey
- Peanut butter, Jelly, Nutella
- Rice
- Beans
- Tortillas
- Pancake mix & syrup
- Canned tuna
- Potatoes
- Hot dogs or sausage
With those ingredients on hand (and maybe a few extras) I can make things like:
- Breakfast (always a cheap good meal any time of day)
- Turkey or Tuna Sandwiches
- Potatoes & sausage (fried & served with ketchup)
- Chili dogs
- PB&J or nutella sandwiches
- Jelly toast, Pancakes, or French Toast (again, breakfast)
These are meals I like to keep around for when I’m broke, lazy, or ‘hungry but not quite starving.’ It’s good to keep things like this in the budget and always on hand. Remember, you don’t have to cook a fancy meal every time.
Shop the sale ads
I like to check the weekly ads before making a big shopping trip. I do buy the majority of my items at Aldi, but if I notice another one of my favorite stores running a sale with a lot of the items I’ll need, I’ll shop there instead – if the prices are worth it of course. It also might be worth the savings to shop at two different stores.
It honestly just depends on the weekly ad and what’s on your list.
Planning a little ahead of time, instead of freeballing it at the grocery store, will make your wallet happy. Most grocery stores have a free app you can download to your phone so you can easily check the current weeks ad.
Buy your meat in bulk
Buying your meat in bulk can save a few dollars, especially if there’s a good sale. I can usually get 5lbs of ground beef at Aldi for in the $10-$12 range. I don’t use ground beef often, but when I do buy it, I separate it at home and freeze some for later.
I also go into our local latin markets to buy marinated taco meats. I can buy a little over two pounds and make dinner for the night, plus have leftovers for lunch the next day. I love their meat selections and like to shop what’s on sale.
Being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to eat the same cheap meat all the time. If you shop around on those weekly ads, you’ll be able to have a mix of steaks, fish, and chicken. Just check the sales!
Are toiletries included in your grocery list?
On my weekly shopping list I include things like toilet paper, diapers, shampoos, and cleaning supplies into my budget….especially because I’ll already be at the store. Whether they are or aren’t on yours, you should still take a look at what you spend each month on things like that.
It’s easy to grab the exact product you want without looking at or comparing prices. Doing this can take a huge chunk of your spending budget. If I shop for toilet paper at Walmart, I’ll easily spend $4-$5 more than if I buy it at Aldi or my cornerstore Walgreens.
I also buy my diapers, and the majority of everything else at Aldi. The prices are great and the products work great too. There are a few exceptions I have, but I only spend the extra few dollars if I have the budget to spare.
Meaning I like to use the more expensive Pampers Sensitive baby wipes, but if we had a slow week income wise, I’ll drop down my boujee and buy the Aldi pack of 3 for $4
Let’s get an overview
Shopping on a budget can be as hard or as simple as you make it. I find that shopping weekly, or twice weekly, works best for me.
If you start by making a list of meal ideas for the week, you can shop accordingly and stay on track. After you make your list of ideas, check the weekly ads. Start with your meats, since they’re the most expensive things on your list most likely.
Buy your meat according to what you plan to make (and what’s on sale), and then look at the extras you’ll need for those meals. Do you need veggies, rice, condiments? Or are you stocked on those for the week?
Buy your produce next. Stock up on fruits, especially the ones on sale for the week. Choose fruits and veggie snacks over those inner aisle snacks.
My advice is to always shop the inner aisles last. That way you stay on target and you’re less tempted to fill your cart with ‘wants’.
Another tip is to check the prices of different brands. Shop the shelf. Is another brand a better buy? Do you get more ounce for your buck?
Use these ideas to save to money on your grocery bill and still eat healthy, fulfilling meals.
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