Comments on: Oink

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:38:48 +0000

I haven’t been on here in forever. Sadly.

Okay to the point. I’m just now providing meals. For 2. We spent 80 dollars in groceries, saved 7 in coupons and got oh lets see. NOTHING. I have bread, lunch meat, little hamburger, and cheese. I thought it was just me not knowing how to do the budget thing. (As a kid we had McDonald’s for every meal. I swear every meal!)

We got a lot of fruit. Apples, peaches, bananas but I refuse to cut out produce.

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:18:51 +0000

Sorry I’m very late to this blog but I spent yesterday evening sorting all the stuff for my elder son to go to Cub camp. It’s the first time he’s been away from home ‘on his own’!
My grocery bill has gone up and I’ve tried to get it back under control but it’s the meat and fruit and vegetables that are crippling me. My boys and DH (and I) all eat a lot of fruit and veg nad that is about 1/3 of my total weekly bill. It is a pity that salaries haven’t gone up in line with grocery bills!!
Julia I have a freezer in my garage and it does save some money as I can buy things that we eat that are on ‘buy one get one free’ and also things that are on offer.

By: Julia London

Julia London — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:06:41 +0000

You guys have been incredibly helpful. I think this week is going to be a better week on the old pocketbook!

By: Karen B

Karen B — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:21:33 +0000

I’m a single senior. I use coupons and buy what’s on sale, especially meat and 2-for-1s. Many of the Buffet restaurants now have take out. I always have a piece of aluminum foil in my purse which I put over the main course/salad,vegies etc so my dessert/bread doesn’t get soggy. When I get home I divvie it up and end up with 3-4 meals for $6.40 (used coupon, too!) Can’t cook for that price.

By: Caffey

Caffey — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:11:33 +0000

We’ve noticed that too. We’ve been doing most of our shopping at those stocked stores, Aldi here where their brand is much cheaper! I honestly don’t think coupons will help buying the brand names. They end up still most of the time costing more even using the coupons instead of buying the store brand.

We too been going to the library weekly and getting movies free from there. My hubby watches alot of movies and likes to see some that he missed as well as some favorites. They really have alot there.

Its good to give ideas to each other. Thanks too!

By: Jo Ann Jansing

Jo Ann Jansing — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:15:20 +0000

I have to vote on the side of coupons.. matching them with a sale can save you alot. I always buy extra then. If there are certain items you use regularly sign up at the manuf. site. They usually have regular coupons for their “members” Check sites like eBay. Yeah I know you aren’t suppose to buy coupons, but you can get great high value ones, and if a manuf. gave away coupons for free products alot of them will show up. I have a bunch of pets, so I check them out for coupons that are sent to breeders. Matching a sale with a 8-10.00 off a bag coupon.. you can’t beat it. I keep a broken freezer in the garage for storing pet food. As long as the door seal is good, nothing can get to it. That lets me stock up. The best I’ve done is 235.00 worth of dog & cat food for 56.00 … the check out lady almost fell over.
Most Krogers have started doubling again, but only up to a 50 cent coupon.. Kmart has started doubling every once in awhile, but its up to a 2.00 coupon.. so I watch for when that’s going on for household stuff.. 4.00 off will get alot of your cleaning stuff pretty close to free. Good luck.

By: evlqn

evlqn — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:18:33 +0000

Our kids call leftovers second day food. I personally think somethings are even better second day.

By: evlqn

evlqn — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:16:57 +0000

Julia, Tommy just brings Tommy and sometimes his twin Tabby. As we speak they are shooting hoops in my driveway. I hid the snacks.

By: Julia London

Julia London — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:13:40 +0000

I am a firm believer in leftovers. Unfortunately, I am the only one in this house. You’d think I’d poisoned them when they get leftovers. All the moaning and carrying on!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:38:17 +0000

I can’t really help you on the BIG bill. But, I can say that coupons do help. Buying in bulk and then putting servings in a ziploc freezer bag helps. Mom and I get the BIG family size chicken, ground beef and pork and then seperate them into like three – four servings, which helps to save. Also look for those specials! Alot of times they will have steaks at buy 1 get 1 free!

I get excited when I allot money for food and go under that amount, but mostly I do exceed the allotment.

Those re-useable bags save a bit in money – not much money, but some. The freezer version of those bags really works! My aunt and uncle live 1 1/2 hours away from us. We got ice cream and frozen food that is only local to my aunt and uncle’s area and put it in the freezer bag. It all stayed frozen by the time we got home a little over 2 hours later!

One other thing – use those leftovers! Mom and I made four different meals from a pork roast. Yes, we got sick of pork by the forth meal, but they were all different and just had the pork in them.