FRIDAY CONFAB! $25 A WEEK FOR FOOD - HOW DID I DO?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- We’re going to talk about another week with just $20 a week for food and $5 a week for pantry/freezer restock. We did very well. I feel blessed. It was a great week! “Little is much when God is in it.” Onward and upward to a whole new week. #frugallife #simplefood
I like you am retired & 74 yo...my grocery budget is $125/month...meats, pantry, household items, medicine cabinet essentials. I shop sales locally & adjust my buying accordingly...if I see GOOD deal on meat I try to stockup & adjust buying more pantry, etc, then the next month I won't be buying any meat & vice versa with pantry, etc....last week our locally owned store had canned corn, green beans, peas, Mac/cheese, ramen noodles, 3/$.99, so I've stocked up & I've got enough for at least 6 months
I love your videos. 68 year old woman, living alone and living on Social Security. Renting a room and using a small refrigerator. I'm learning to not eat out as much. Every penny saved is important.
God Bless and keep you Judi. Thank you for sharing with us.
I budget $280.00 for a month for everything from the grocery store (soap,paper goods, cat food, shampoo)for 2 adults and the cat. This month i had to borrow from next month money to buy cat food because it was on a great special so i stocked up. But i have deducted the amount from next month's money to keep it real.
Well done, Karen!
You're funny. Never lose your inner child. Keeps you young, too!!
Well done!
Had a $5.00 off $15.00.
Got 3 lbs thick bacon.
Going in the freezer.
I love this channel I’m a 55 yo female disabled on a tight fixed income
Thanks so much!
Pennies, nickles, and dimes matter in a budget!!!!!
Hi Robin, I love your videos! I think you would make a AWESOME Home Economics teacher. I just love your silliness. Have a Blessed weekend!!!
I was thinking that too! Need to teach life skills in school!!!
Thank you! You too!
I keep at least 6 cartons of Dollar Tree Whole Milk on my shelf.
👍
Well I spent 35.at Krogers on coffee this week, Folgers limit 5 for 6.99, I have a drinking problem 😂. Love your channel ❤
😂 no worries coffee is good for you❤❤❤
Love it!!
I am also retired and 74! From Ohio! Love your channel! Used your freezer method today for blueberries! So many great doable tips! 👍🏻
Glad to be of help. Thank you!
Good afternoon sunshine 🌞 I love your joyful attitude 😊
Thank you so much 🤗
We don’t use a lot of milk either, if I have milk that we won’t be using before it goes bad, I’ll freeze it and add to cooking when needed. (Mac and cheese, pancakes etc)
That’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
Hi, I have been following for a month. 40 a week for two people for a month for food and everything else. My husband is complaining. He is a big guy and has lost some weight but I balanced the budget and paid debt this month. In 3 days all the debt is paid. And I will be able to add five dollars for household supplies each week.
I feel so proud of you right now. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Tell your husband to hang in. He has a gem in you.
Love all your tips...still trying to get used to this shopping and cooking for one! I'm anxious for soup season to make up batches and freeze meal size portion! Have a great week-end...hugs!
Great way I make soup is with veggies that are on sale. Either fresh,canned or frozen. I use whatever base I have. Add my vegetables & cook until soft. I then cool & blend smooth or chunky. However you like. I add more bouillon if needed plus a little more water to stretch. If I want a hearty soup;I add meat if I have any. Definitely away to save money. I freeze into containers or freezer ziploc bags. Remember to double bag the bags in case they leak. Healthy plus saves me money.
You can do it!
Thank you so much for your positive inspirational videos 😊
You are so welcome!
I’m like you it’s just hubby and I and we don’t drink milk either sometimes I’ll eat a bowl of cereal but I don’t do that much so I buy and stock up on the dollar tree shelf stable milk for cooking!! Otherwise I’d be dumping milk down the drain.
Didn’t know there was such a thing! On my way to dollar tree! 😜
For me it is convenient and I don’t waste.
Kudos for staying on track with the budget. I stopped in at Kroger's on my way home from the doctor's office. They often have 10 pound bags of chicken leg quarters at this Kroger 79 cents a pound, I bought 20 pounds which I boiled and deboned.. this is mostly for my dogs ( 5) of them they get about 2 tbsp per meal with their dry dog food. The broth usually gets canned or frozen to use for later meals. I am always stocking my freezers or pantry after Easter they had hams for a crazy low price less than $5 a ham so I bought several cut them up and put in small freezer trays which I am now enjoying for lunches. I also make a batch of chili, vegetable soup or beans with ham and put in small freezer trays and that has been my dinner the last few days. I do eat 3 meals a day, breakfast is always 2 boiled eggs daily nothing else for breakfast. Anna In Ohio
A penny saved os a penny Earned. 😊😊
Robin! 😂 You crack me up when you talk in your different crazy accents! Your videos are WONDERFUL, AND, you are the best teacher I've ever had!
😊 thank you Jane!
Hello. I'm retired also and 67, with an adult child living with me. I buy the food though, and do set a budget each month, but I'm afraid it is more than yours. I need to do better. Part of the issue is health, so I have to eat low carb, no sugar and things also seem to cost more in this area than many areas I have seen do grocery hauls. I AM one to stock the freezer with meat and frozen veggies and then not buy them for a month or two (unless there is a good deal). Anyway, I'm enjoying your videos. Thanks for the ideas.
I think you do very well Deb! We all have different needs and are in different seasons of life. Thank you for being here and for your input.
I like these end of week confabs. Your other videos give me ideas on what I can make last also. Very helpful for most of us out here. Thank you.❤❤❤
Awesome! Thank you!
Just a heads up if you have not seen it that 1 pound 80/20 hamburger is $2.99 at Hy vee this weekend at least here.
You are doing a fantastic job! 🎉🎉🎉
Thank you so much!
I think you are doing incredible! Have a great weekend 😊
Thank you! You too!
I’m out here in California retired senior I spend about 120 a month
Love your channel ❤️ I just got 80/20 hamburger for 8.97 @kroger and had a coupon for $1.25 = $7.72 for 3 pounds ! 2.25 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts for $3.40 on mark down. I'm set for meat for the month and more as I stretch protein with beans or vegetables. I like the shelf stable milk also as I don't drink milk either. 😊 some months, I am at the $25 a week or slightly more if I see good buys. I do need to do a pantry burn down and not go to the store for a good month . Maybe after the 4th, I will do that. Keep the ideas coming 😊😊
Thank you for sharing your tips with us. Very helpful and encouraging.
Good morning or night whatever it is for you.
Morning!
I shop at grocery store call Meijer I live in Michigan they sell a qt of dairy milk that will stay fresh for at lease 3 week in the regular milk isle it cost $1.45 but never throw milk out now so that seems a winner for me I don't drink milk neither.
You do great Robin❤ I like your hair longer😊 it looks good have a wonderful day now I'm going to finish the video❤😊❤
It is time for her haircut. I just don’t know when I will be able to do it…She really doesnt like it that long. I am surprised she is not yelling for me….lol….
Thank you! You too!
Love to see what you do! I try to shop once a month with Walmart free home delivery (it comes out to $5 a month since it's discounted for ENT and I was lucky to qualify this time). So I try to keep my food spending to those EBT $64. I also got $10 farmers' market vouchers for being a senior (I'm 79, live by myself) so those go for veggies. My market does not have much fruit, although I'm hoping I'll find peaches tomorrow. I eat one meal a day, which works for me. I have lost weight, I'm not hungry, I stabilized my blood sugar, I don't snack and I don't drink wine any more. I buy the 10 lb. bag of leg quarters from WM for less than $7 which gives me and the dog at least 10 meals. I can't say those quarters are the best quality chicken, but it's enough to put in chili, make tacos, do Thai green curry, chicken stock, plus thighs in the air fryer.
Last night I made corn bread (boxed plus an egg) and put left over corn in the batter. Enough for several meals. Cooked 1 lb.of lentils, made chili with part of it , with 1/4 lb. of ground turkey, canned tomatoes and the rest of a bottle of ketchup (ahd to have been in the fridge for a few years), and saved half for hummus to use with cukes and zucchini from farmers' market. Made Chinese hot oil with red pepper flakes and oil (cost a few cents while the store bought is $3 or so). Made an onion and tomato salad from the last of my tomatoes and onion) with a vinaigrette. I still have those 10 lbs. of chicken and a roll of ground turkey in the freezer plus frozen broccoli. Half an onion, garlic cloves and a couple of small sweet potatoes my daughter gave me are still good. I have sour cream, two sticks of buttter, a little bit of oil, and plenty of dried beans and some canned goods in the pantry.
Making a grocery list for the middle of the month when EBT kicks in. I need coffee, so those $64 left $50 for food. I included $5 for pantry stock up. Yes, I drink a lot of coffee and I do get the Kcups which is the only luxury I allow myself. I'm out of half and half, but only use that for sauce and soups. Need more oil. Farmers' market is for tomatoes,j alapenos, onions, potatoes and squash/cukes. And maybe some peaches. With EBT you can pay $5 out of your allowance and get $15 worth of tokens to use. I don't count that for my food allowance though. I don't eat bread or any kind of sugar.
that lentil chili cost me about $3 but enough is enough for 3 meals. I figure 1/4 lb of meat is all anyone really needs, so that chicken will make many meals! I have used this budget for a few months and think for my age, I'm pretty healthy. I don't drive any more, so I'm stuck with Walmart which of course never has any good specials -- their rollbacks are pretty pathetic!
This turned out to be a much longer post than I intended. But with creative cooking, you can make even a tiny budget stretch further than you think. I'm going to try black bean burgers next. Have half ahead of cabbage to make slaw to go with it. Maybe some air fried sweet potato wedges. So you can make a very limited budget go pretty far and still get your essential protein, fat and vitamins. If I want a snack, I pop some corn and play with seasonings (from kernels on the stove, not in a bag since I threw out my microwave).
Keep cooking and sharing! It's very encouraging!
Thank you Birgitta!. I read every word. I so appreciate your taking the time to share your methods for low budget eating and meal prep. You have lots of good information. I agree, you can make a tine budget stretch further than you think. Well done.
Have a great weekend everyone! Nice video Robin.
Thanks, you too!
I buy dollar tree milk too! I lasts a lot longer even after opening. Don’t use much milk either. Less waste & always have it on hand.😊
Thanks, I got some last week.
I hope you are in a safe area away from all the flooding. My Cousins live in Iowa.
I am, than you.
I am starting my budget challenge soon
Good luck in your new challenge!
Do you always buy eggs? When the price of eggs is high, I stop buying them and try to substitute other items in place of the eggs.
If the price is too high I will hold off until they come down. Or I will buy a dozen and use less or make them last.
Intend to start all of this! Need to find out which grocery stores to use? Who has the cheapest prices? A lot of research before I can get started!
@AlaineNamink my I suggest you look at all your local stores' catalogues or look online at what you would normally get each week and work out from that ,what items each shop has the cheapest. As normally I have to go to two or three stores to get the best prices. I shop when I have to go in the direction of each shop, so as not to waste fule. For us, fruit and vegetable shops are so much cheaper than getting them from the supermarket. Good luck, we all do what we can with what we have.
It’s just my Husband, myself and the dogs. We spend $500 a month on food and household items. May need to challenge myself to cut that down. It does incl pantry and freezer stock though…. Is this too much?
That sounds reasonable to me with today's prices. We all need to save what we can at every turn. My rule is no meal should ever be more than $3/serving. Ideally way less!
@Arizonagirl1981 I spent $280.00 a month for two adults and a cat. Like you, that is everything that comes into the household . We live in Australia, and I do grow some fruit and vegetables. I cook everything from scratch. Make our own yoghurt, cottage cheese, and ricotta cheese, but buy hard cheese. We don't have coupons at our grocery stores. We are retired, so I have time to cook, dehydrated, and preserve foods that are on good special. Food is very expensive in Australia.
It’s not for me to say. You spend whatever you need to. Whatever is right for your family.
According to the usda the thrifty plan is $546.00 per month for 2 adults the low cost is $600.00 per month. I spend about $500.00 per month for 3 adults ( In Massachusetts). I do have time to go to different stores and only buy the loss leader items. We eat pretty healthy and I can usually get some organic items from Aldi and Trader Joe’s with that budget.
But according to the usda, you are doing well!
@bridge7528 we all have such different needs and live in different areas or like me a different country . I live in a sub tropical area, Queensland, in Australia, so I have a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables at low cost all year round, and that is a great help for me.
This isn't a sign but it's my husband's and my selves favorite saying when people look at us like we have to heads😂. One of us will say to the other one.... well we didn't get to this age by being stupid 😂😂🎉🎉❤. True saying right lol❤.
Indeed!
You have 2 meals a day.. Which 2? Breakfast/Dinner... Lunch/Dinner.. Do you switch day to day? Love Ya. God Bless ❤
Usually lunch and supper.
What does Confab mean?
An informal private conversation or discussion. Hope this helps.
@@simplefoodsimplelife9632 Well, yes, it sure does. I have never heard of this! Thank you very kindly! :)
You seem to have some local grocery stores who have really good deals. I would like to see you try shopping at Kroger Walmart dollar tree Dollar General and see what you come up with because those are the most commonly grocery stores in most of the United States.
Closest Kroger to me is around 800 miles from here.
I would have to travel 30 miles to Kroger and Walmart makes me breakout in hives.
No Kroger near me either