@@annguglielmino8989 That’s true too. I make a monthly plan and then grocery shop every couple days but I’m trying to do more of once a week soon. Our place/rental is small.
I have also found that buying veggies frozen (spinach, broccoli, peas, onions, etc) vs fresh helps us save money. That way, we can use part of it and it won't go bad before we use all of it. I've heard several times that often frozen veggies are more "fresh" than fresh veggies given travel time from picking to being stocked on store shelves. Plus, it allows me freedom to throw extra veggies into a recipe without having to plan ahead.
Yes, this!! And also the frozen veggies are cheaper per kg, and you actually do get the same quantity. For example, I could buy 1kg frozen broccoli for R36 or I can get a couple of broccoli heads for like R15 each, but then I have to process and wash them, and I'd need at least 3 to get a kg, etc. So frozen is the way to go.
FYI--I learned through working in stores that offer food, the store brand is often times a name brand. The store will pay a manufacturer to place the store label on the product. This reduces the cost, bc the store does not pay for national advertising campaigns and coupons (stores are reimbursed for the discounts they give on manufacturers coupon by the manufacturers). Also, the stores sell space to the manufacturers so that the name brands have a location on the shelves. The store does not have to pay for space for their own products. This saves the store money thus offering their name brand at a lower price. I can say that at one time I knew that Walmart’s chicken was from Tyson and Great Value peanut butter was Peter Pan peanut butter, through shop talk.
Yes! I live in Michigan and in Northern Michigan where the canneries are at workers will tell you that they will label the ordered number is say a DelMonte Vegetable then once it's full the EXACT same vegetable will be placed in a can with an Aldi or Meijer or Kroger label. Same thing with canned fruits. So don't be surprised if you can't tell the difference because truth is more than likely it's the same thing!
Tip for buttermilk recipes that may not use a whole carton of buttermilk. Instead of buying it, make it. If you drink regular milk, 1 cup of milk and one tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar, and let sit for 5 minutes. The acid will curdle the milk long enough to make it "buttermilk".
@@sheliawatkins2229 you're welcome. I discovered after wasting money on buttermilk for baking recipes that only called for about a cup and then I had no use for it later and it would go bad.
Omg r u serious?! Tell me more! My always goes bad before I could use them. In fact I just threw away a bunch of rotten cilantro. Wash and freeze the whole bunch or cut them up? More info please on how to store it!
A few more tips in case they haven't been mentioned yet: 1. Go by the "dirty dozen" or updated "dirty 15" when it comes to organic vs. inorganic if you aren't able to buy all organic, 2. shop clearance racks, if your store has them. They are often in the back of the store but not always... 3. online coupon clipping, if your store offers it, especially look for the customized deals based on your previous shopping history. 4. Look at the price per unit on items (could be price by ounce, for example)- often times larger quantity items have a lower until price - I buy those if it is items that have longer shelf lives/I can use the larger quantity in time.
I used to work for a grocery cooperative...almost ALL generic brands are made at the same place the brand names are made and taste similar. There are a few exceptions to this (Kraft mac and cheese comes to mind), so you'd have to see to taste.
For me it’s Jif creamy and for my husband it’s Heinz ketchup, but most definitely other things are just fine----- or at least good enough if the prices difference is significant enough.
@@peggypieters661 I too am a Creamy Jif aficionado. Have you tried Aldi "Peanut Delight Creamy" brand? It's packaged in the exact same jar as Jif (different label of course) and it's half the price of Jif. Give it a try and see what you think. If it's NOT really Jif, only with a different label, I'll eat my hat (with peanut butter on it, naturally). :) Can't wait to hear what you think!
@@juliemarshall7458 Thank you for the recommendation; I will give it a try. I just don’t like dry peanut butter even though I grew up with Skippy which seems dry to me, and do they even make Peter Pan anymore? I was a young child in the ‘50s and for awhile all I remember is Skippy, Peter Pan after that and Jif maybe when I was a teenager, but I’m not sure. In fact considering Kallie is so young I may be the only grandma following her, but that’s okay.😊
@@psymompa Yes, tried to get him to try Walmart’s but no go, and that’s okay. I think when a person finds something they like they attach to that product, and really the consistency of Heinz does seem to be thicker over other brands so it’s fine.😊
I think that there will be plenty of business opportunities coming up in the next few months or so. Depending how long this pandemic is going to last for😔
Picking up groceries is the greatest gift. You have so much control over your budget with online shopping. I am meal planning and saving money by shopping for the week only. My family is eating the same 5-6 meals each week. No one is upset about it. It’s definitely a way to save money. Been on envelope budget for 7 weeks.
I'm so glad you actually acknowledged how places change what you spend!! This wasn't about how much money, but on actually cutting back whatever it is you do spend and it was so nice!!
Yes, yes, yes on all those wonderful tips especially meal planning and organization. I shop Walmart and Aldi and will try generic first to see if I can live with it (some things I have to have name brand) and even our 99 cents store has perfect fresh bread and produce. No one can spend less than me LOL and I live in Southern California ❤
I actually follow and use all these tips. I also absolutely love grocery pick up. This way my kiddos and I are not walking through the store grabbing extra things. On that note, a good tip is to never grocery shop when hungry 😝
Excellent list. Covid quarantine taught me how to save money. I plan a month's worth of meals by first shopping my pantry and deep freezer. While we're having those meals, I only purchase things that are on sale for the next month. This method doesn't only save me a ton of money but it's nice knowing I have that much food in storage.
When my children were small, I played a game with my frugal budget. I think the most successful was setting a time and saying, "dinner has to be ready by 10:00AM or were are ordering out", then I did not have to think about it. I had a meal ready to go by noon (or the night before, it is great to cook when the kitchen is not pristine, so I chop and mess up then). Of course, I meal planned and followed a budget. With the crock pot, themed meals and a bit of prep with soup making, it became less of a chore.
I have SUCH a hard time making and the sticking to a meal plan! Occasionally, I plan. When I do, I ROCK it! It's the best meal plan ever made! lol I just Cannot stick to it! That's what I'll work on!
I organize my fridge and pantry/throw out old food and meal plan the day before I go to the store, so I already know what I have and what I'll need. Works great!
I have done lists of what is in pantries, what EOS I have, what herbs I have, whatever, for years. But I've NEVER thought about putting a sheet of paper in a plastic sleeve and using a wipe off marker! That's the best tip I've heard in a year
I know I waste vegetables. I've heard in every cookbook to toss all the leftovers and the tops of things like celery, into a pot and make stock (you tube will have recipes). And the stock can be frozen to use in sauces and caseroles. I need to do this.
I do this. Keep a ziplock in the freezer and toss any tops, peels or limp veggies into it. When the bag is full make stock in your instapot. Freeze in one cup portions (I use a souper tray). I also save rotisserie chicken carcasses this way.
Great tips here! I always make a meal plan for the week and if I don't I just feel so off. I have 2 upright freezers and I had gotten to the point of not really knowing what I truly had in there. I took a cheap spiral notebook and wrote everything down, but separated it on paper by like things to make it easier for meal planning. For instance, chicken on one page, beef on the other etc. I also finally looked over my downstairs pantry and did the same thing. I had canned food last year and I wanted to know exactly how much of things I really still had so that I can just look through the notebook and make meal plan. My refrigerator has always been my issue. I put a pad of paper with a magnet and use it now to write any leftovers on it and also produce that I have so that it can be used before going bad. Like you said, if I see I have some lettuce and tomatoes that I want to make sure doesn't go bad, make tacos or something to use it up.
Wow, thanks! I’m going to look up some of the principles. I got really excited because I am following the menu planning ideas already. This week I decided to make sure that I have easy recipes for the week. I’m getting rid of some of the really complicated ones that I thought I’d make some day. That’s my fantasy self, not my real self for example, we’re really not crazy about recipes with lime juice! And we also block grocery pick up. It gets rid of impulsive buying. I only buy what I need for the recipes for the week I’m excited to see your. Printable’s. I just realized I have a whiteboard sitting in the cupboard that would be really great for my outdoor freezer list. Thanks!
I will say i dont do this enough, BUT one of best tips for things like fresh herbs, freeze rest in olive oil so it doesnt go bad! I use leftover baby food silicon molds to do this...dollar store ice cube trays work nicely too
I too have been guilty of most of these. 😬 I do see a big difference in prices between your store and our stores. We are in northern Ohio. We have adapted some of these already, but definitely some good new info in this video! Thank you for sharing! ☺️
We don't have my husband's kids this weekend so a freezer and pantry list is a great chore for me to do! We're the "variety" buyers and don't stick to anything. That needs to change! Thank you for all the wonderful tips
Kallie, you are right about Connecticut, my daughter-in-law is from CT, and my son said everything costs more there. They live in MA and I live in NY and they are not as expensive😀. I already use your pantry inventory sheet, it has helped some, I need to work harder!
Oh wow 👏 some really great tips! Especially the big freezer list. I have an extra freezer and I always forget what's in there because it's in my detached garage. So I'm going to make my freezer list & put it on my fridge right next to my grocery list. Can I ask you for the recipe for the Brussel sprout & bean salad 🥗 you made it looks delicious 😋. Thanks 😊
I've been meal planning for the last year , it really does save a lot of money! Baseball season is coming for my boys, were at the field 4 nights a week so if I don't meal plan it's a train wreck! Very easy to just hit up a drive through quick. Even though the boys end up eating a way early dinner and still need a good healthy snack when we get home it still saves a bunch of money!
Another thing to add is decide what importance is food in your family. We spend more on quality, because we eat less in restaurants, and go on vacay every 4 years. I think prioritizing how strongly the family feels about food helps. For instance, my family does well on most generic stuff, but my son and husband like very specific snack foods and ice cream, so we splurge on those.
One thing to keep me from wasting money also is pay attention when I cook and use a timer because I can spend money on food and then I overcook it it tastes bad and we don't eat it. Very helpful Kallie thank you. It sounds like there's no way around planning your meals and getting your pantry freezer and fridge in order, all of them. Just doing the work!
Great points. Thank you for pointing out that from area to area your grocery's bill charges. That in some places it's impossible to be as fugle as in other places. I know that where I live now groceries are abit less expensive than were we used to live. When, I first moved to that area, my groceries went up 25%. In the area that I now live with the C-19 factor Groceries went up 35% and have started to regulate but, have not gone down to the previous price staying at about 20% more than prepandemic pricing.
Shifting away from "one time meals" was huge both saving money and decluttering. It's really easy to buy spices for one special dish and then you never use it again!
We actually plan without specific days so we have more flexibility!!! When I plan specific numbers of meals rather than specific days, we can then eat leftovers if we have a surplus of them. Which then means typically 1-2 weeks worth of menus actually last longer and we spend less!!
I do a list as we run out of things. If money gets tight by end of month I see what we have in & just buy extras such as onions peppers pasta to make dishes. Also freezer food can be good…yes there may be left over curry/stew but just bulk up with some nice rice or dumplings.
I've definitely done all 7 listed. Then hard times came and we started being very frugal and doing many of the things on your list. We even took 1 day a month and made all the meals (dinner) we had planned for it and froze them. I read a book about it and we did it for several months and we saved a lot of money. Of course we had to add fresh items to the planned meal that couldn't be frozen, but it was a big time saver for 2 working parents with young school aged kids. It took 10 minutes to complete making dinner, and got us out of the habit of eating fast food because it was easier and we were too tired to cook.
I make it a rule to plan 3 meals each day per week but to keep it spontaneous I then pick whatever dinner I want during the week like eat mondays meal on friday and vice versa then cross them off as I go along .
Yes, I am or have been guilty of all of them. I only by staples or fruit with removable skins as I always worry about contamination. I just can’t forget about the issues they’ve had in the past. Very informative! Thank you!
This is a valid point....so I found I've kept my grocery bill within budget by doing my shop online. I use a list and because I'm at home I can check my cupboards at the same time, which is much easier and I'm not distracted by other items on sale that I don't need 🥰
I live in Westchester ny I save money food shopping stop and shop and bjs and target and shoprite and use coupons. you have a toddler just wait till he get older when your food bill goes up.
Brooklyn New York HAS NO Walmart but, I do order a few things online that Walmart can deliver so this way I can save some money. They are here next day delivery. I also do buy no name brand foods and do save money. GREAT ADVICES THANK YOU
I make a meal plan every week for 5 nights, leaving one night for clean out the fridge of left overs and one night either take out or everyone makes their go to easy meal, ie cereal, eggs, sandwich, or kids gone n we eat pb&j. Also I don't make day specific meal plans because life changes so fast. So after dinner b4 bed I look at what's going on for next day then pick meal off my list. I find that makes it easier to successfully make meals I planned for. Gosh knows that it never fails day I planned to make meal with 30 minutes of prep is day every thing is late, etc. So that way if I'm flexible all my planned meals get used. And I ALWAYS have fall back meal for disaster days when all heck breaks loose n I'm barely alive enough to stand, that day is grilled cheese n tater tot night every time!! Thanks Callie! 🥰❤️❤️❤️ Your videos!
THANK YOU!!!!! Its a pet peeve of mine when watching these kinds of videos is one of the first things said is "you budget should be this. If it's not, you are doing it wrong." That doesn't work for everyone! If you have medical reasons, certain food lifestyles (I don't call them diets), do you include other consumables like toilet paper or diapers, where you live, and even the season of the year all affects it. A popular one I hear is "$100 per person per month". I have to do it at $150 per person per month. I live in Alaska, one of the most expensive, and I have a child in diapers while another is in school. That $100 just doesn't work for us.
I usually keep unused cooked vegetables and meat separately in the freezer for soups and stews. Even stripping the meat off a chicken or offcuts from a joint. Also freeze stock.
I follow all of these, I spend $100 a week for a family of five including a teenager. I do add another $100 to my budget for household items also. We lost a lot of money in the pandemic and this has made it so we can survive.
Great video! Love that you emphasize how some people do not live near a variety of stores. I am in that situation and it's frustrating because the only store nearby is a 20 minute drive and things are so overpriced. So I need to drive for 45 to an hour to get to either a Walmart or Picknsave - the only options. It is super hard if you also have dietary restrictions and that can add a lot of costs.
I have been guilty of all. My worse one is planning to cook something & then when supper time rolls around, I'm like I do not want that- let's order out!! Need to start trying harder to stick to a meal plan!! Thanks for the great tips & info 👍📋😊
Hello Actually I’m on my way to buy groceries. Brooklyn New York is very expensive as well. So I have to be careful what I buy. Thank You for the advice on grocery shopping.
Absolutely! Sadly I grew up in The Hamptons and everything is 10x more expensive. Places out here simply know the job locals Silk list any price do the working class like myself are stuck paying do much. But as you said, everything in north east is expensive 😣😫
its is expensive but if you know how to save money on food you are good. I wouldn't leave ny that just me . I am the type of person no matter I will be ok.
@@melissa5844 🤦🏻♀️ autocorrect completely messed up most of my words lol I meant Hamptons. I wouldn’t leave NY either bc I love it, it’s just so expensive 😩
One way to figure out what a ball park food budget should be is to look at what your local SNAP benefits would be for a family your size. It is usually specific to your area and can help you know what a reasonable goal is for your grocery budget. For example, I live in Texas and my family of 4 would qualify for $680 a month, but in Connecticut a family of 4 would qualify for $782. Snap has done the math for you! :)
I think to save money in the long run, a portion of your food budget and planning time needs to go to buying what is on sale and stocking up on that so you can pantry and freezer shop. So if ground beef or chicken are on a really good sale one week, first, plan meals using these two meats, then purchase an extra few packages to freeze for later. With my Food Saver, I will even split larger packages of chicken or beef or pork into the size I need for one meal, and end up with an extra meal or two from what I might have just used for one meal with too many leftovers. So basically have your meal planning list and a stock up on what is on a great sale list. This way, your meal planning list should be much shorter.
Hi Kallie! This comes at the perfect time. My toddlers are eating EVERYTHING in our house & I constantly feel like we are out of food & snacks. Any advice on toddler foods/snacks that are inexpensive, quality & last longer than a week?
This isn't from my experience but a tip from my mom... every time we had a packaged snack as a child we had to pair it with fruit or veggies. For example, if you wanted a serving of goldfish crackers my mom would serve the crackers and a small cut up apple to go with them. If you ate your crackers and apple and wanted another snack often my mom would have you help her start preparing the next meal by gathering or measuring ingredients. It was never explicit that you couldn't eat another snack but it was implied that we weren't allowed to subsist on snack foods. Also, food was only eaten in the open kitchen/dining/living area of our family home so crumbs and packaging wouldn't be found buried in a toybox in the playroom, but, I suspect we also had this house rule so my mom could keep tabs on our eating habits. For reference: I have seven siblings so I know our grocery budget must have been a factor in these practices as well as our health as we grew. A tip from my sister and her three kids that applies if you have a picky fruit/veggie non-eater: take them to the grocery store with you or show them the pickup/delivery website as you're shopping and ask them to pick out the fruit and veggie snacks. You don't need to give them free reign just ask if they would like one item over another. For example, ask: would you like red apples or green apples to eat with your yogurt? or would you prefer carrots or celery when you eat crackers? When you get the items home ask them to help you wash and prep the fruit and veggie snacks. There is pride and accomplishment a child receives when they feel like they have made the decision and it helps to prevent hungry meltdowns. I hope this helps :) Cheers! Also, I know these are only tips that apply if you aren't already struggling to purchase food for your family. If you are struggling please check your local area for their family food support options. We have a large food bank in my area that supplies many charities with free food pickup for people who need the help as we are all struggling. See if there is a food bank in your area that may have a program you can join. Boys and Girls clubs are charities that may have more information about similar food pickups in your area. Also, if there is a large church or other non-profit near you it is only a short phone call to ask if they have a program you can join... they may have answers on some other resources that can help as well. Again, I hope this helps!
I buy fresh red green yellow bell peppers. I wash and chop them and place in plastic freezer bags. Onions, zucchini, cherries. Leftover roasted broccoli and cauliflower in freezer bags. Couscous, polenta also in freezer bags. All this works well in freezer and can be heated in minutes. I also buy roasted and grilled chicken already cooked. Trim and chop and goes in portioned freezer bags. Keep everything flat to save room. Can even suck out extra air with a straw.
If a household has a deep freezer, the person can always cook an extra plate and freeze the meal (if possible). Another way is if a person have time is to meal prep ahead of time then put it away in a freezer, it helps too. Anyway, thank you for sharing. Have a fantastic day!
I live in Portland ,OR and it’s expensive here. I shop at Winco which is a west coast discount chain. I meal prep every day so it’s easy to throw meals together. Great tips!
I try using generic when possible, taking in consideration for what I am going to use each ingredient... for example generic butter for making a cake, but fancy butter for my bread :) I also try to compare the ingredient list to make sure the generic counterpart is not filled with nasty stuff. I do the same with pharmacy items, I don’t know why they charge so much more for “migraine” excedrin for example, when is the same as the strong, extra strong, and generic... is all marketing!
We also always a lot at least one or two “pantry” nights a week. This allows a little flexibility from cooking every night, helps use up overstock in the pantry, and allows everyone a chance to have a night they can just have that one simple comfort food they want like grilled cheese, a can of soup, frozen burrito etc..
Being single and in my sixties, I don't have any rules for shopping but I think I need to rethink that and add it to my quest for more purposeful living. Where were you when I was younger and raising 4 kids????? Feeding the family was always my downfall. I recently moved to New Mexico. housing was inexpensive but food is not I think.
Aldi is cheaper on produce, milk, butter, shredded cheese, sliced sandwich meat, crackers, canned goods and their flavored water is good and 50 cents a liter! And baking goods and oil! I’ve tried meal planning and then something always happens! Usually it’s, I don’t feel like eating That-I just want a sandwich and a salad, or I’m too lazy to cook that night! I’m retired so I have all the time in the world!! What seems to work for me is batch cooking. I’ll make a lot of 3 or 4 main meal things and then separate them in freezer bags and put in the freezer. Then I bring them out and microwave what I feel like at the time!
Your videos rock and I live in Oklahoma. Prices are crazy here. We may be one of the cheapest but gosh, things have gone up. I loved this video. Thank you for the budgeting help sources.
Also, double the recipe, eat one, freeze one. I did this while my son was growing up. It's great for those nights you really don't fancy what's on the menu, are really busy or just don't have the energy to cook. This is great for me now too, since my son is at college.
Guilty of not shopping my pantry, and then things get old and have to be tossed. 🤦♀️ One additional mistake I make, which you are too young to be experiencing, is that I still shop like I have a family of four, even tho both kids are now married and living in their own homes! It's hard to change a habit of 25 years! To complicate things even more, I now have one or two meals a week with an adult child and their spouse joining us, sometimes there are six of us, and that really messes with you! Also, can I just say that CA (especially LA County) has high taxes, and that adds to the grocery bill too, because many non-food items that I purchase at the grocery store (cleaning items, toiletries, soda, juices, cat litter) are taxed.
I have a Chest Freezer in our finished garage and I bulk buy at Warehouse Stores, divvy everything up into portion sizes and use my Food Saver. I keep an inexpensive Dry Erase board on the side of the freezer with it's inventory. I keep Dry Goods out there too, in a large cabinet that my DH built for me, that too has an inventory list attached to it. I have a Meal List on the side of the `fridge that we loosely follow through the week. I can "go grocery shopping" in my own little store that I've created and we RARELY get take-out. DH says that my dishes are better than any restaurant around us ... AAWWWWW!
Planning what we eat every day is my goal. I've been better and planat least three meals a week. Sooo much easier when you have it planned and prepped! Happy Sunday Funday!❤
Well done video. My pantry had gotten messy. I think it was you who suggested the DT dish bins. Reorganized that mess. I found 3, THREE! containers of coconut sugar! 🤦♀️
Specific meals for specific days doesn't work for everyone. For a lot of us (especially helpful if you're not neurotypical and executive function can be a challenge) it works to manage like in a well-run restaurant where you buy ingredients that can be used for a bunch of different meals each week. I'm thinking of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare's where part of his restaurant transformation is getting the cook to streamline and simply ingredients and the number of dishes to match. It saves money. It saves time and bother. That way, you can have a list (menu) of meals that you can pick from - so planning (choice of overlapping ingredients and recipes) but also spontaneity. If we don't want Thai chicken (we're vegan so that specific one won't come up) one night then we can just switch up the flavors but use many of the same core ingredients for something else we are in the mood to eat. No need to force a meal no one is digging that night. The nadir is outlier ingredients that you buy for just one meal. I try to avoid that. That chipotle sauce has got to be good for a number of different dishes, otherwise it's not worth buying. Doing meal prep also helps. What I mean by that isn't prepping for individual meals, it's prepping ahead components or ingredients such as onions, cooked rice or cooked noodles, grated cheese. Some stuff is fresher prepped on the spot -- for those things I do as much as I can ahead. So onions I'll peel and maybe halve but not cut up because they lose flavor and crispness sitting cut up in a storage container. So half-way prep for some things. That way when it comes to actually making the meals it is pretty easy to just reach for those ready to go ingredients/components in the fridge.
Another thing I have started to do is use up leftovers more. I have started making breakfast burritos with extra breakfast items, soups with veggies ect. Trying to not waste anything. Thanks for the great video this morning.
I just made a change to make menu planning easier. I seem to make lots of changes to the menu over the week. So I’m using a lot of white out. Or crossing things out. I just cut some post it notes in half, and stick them on the date. That way, I can move things around. I’m looking forward to your menu planning video and printable.
I am the WORST about saying "we were going to have pork chops for dinner, but I would really like to not have to cook. Can't we just order salads from Bibo's? We can have pork chops tomorrow." I also do NOT plan meals on Saturday or Sunday because that way if we have leftovers, we eat them, and if we want to go out, then the weekend ends up being a better time. I'm trying to get better...🙄😳
I don't plan meals for specific days but I have a spot in my planner for the meals we have to eat that week. I check them off as we make them. Idk why, but it feels more freeing to me. But we don't go back to the store until we made those meals.
Often, if you are looking for the healthiest items, you can't go generic and definitely not non-organic. Since I have worked in the natural foods industry for 20 years I have learned so much about food and things I do and do not want to put in my body. Any cheapest is usually not the best health choice. Love your channel............but I think we eat very differently :)
Left out the part of never go shopping while hungry. I always try to eat something before I go shopping. It helps cut down on the impulse buys.
I have found, though, if I am full, I lose interest in shopping for food. 😄
So true!
@@annguglielmino8989 That’s true too. I make a monthly plan and then grocery shop every couple days but I’m trying to do more of once a week soon. Our place/rental is small.
@@momentsformoms9467
We are in a caravan so can’t store very much.
@@vanessamay3689 oh okay. Yeah we can’t either it’s a pain.
I have also found that buying veggies frozen (spinach, broccoli, peas, onions, etc) vs fresh helps us save money. That way, we can use part of it and it won't go bad before we use all of it. I've heard several times that often frozen veggies are more "fresh" than fresh veggies given travel time from picking to being stocked on store shelves. Plus, it allows me freedom to throw extra veggies into a recipe without having to plan ahead.
This also works with frozen fruit to put in smoothies and juices. They’re just as tasty as fresh.
Yes, this!! And also the frozen veggies are cheaper per kg, and you actually do get the same quantity. For example, I could buy 1kg frozen broccoli for R36 or I can get a couple of broccoli heads for like R15 each, but then I have to process and wash them, and I'd need at least 3 to get a kg, etc. So frozen is the way to go.
True!!
Yes I do that too and it’s less time consuming & messy to cut. All around win. 😁 usually though not always given sales and size.
As a single person I find this to be true. I can't eat an entire Cauliflower for eg before it goes off.
FYI--I learned through working in stores that offer food, the store brand is often times a name brand. The store will pay a manufacturer to place the store label on the product. This reduces the cost, bc the store does not pay for national advertising campaigns and coupons (stores are reimbursed for the discounts they give on manufacturers coupon by the manufacturers). Also, the stores sell space to the manufacturers so that the name brands have a location on the shelves. The store does not have to pay for space for their own products. This saves the store money thus offering their name brand at a lower price.
I can say that at one time I knew that Walmart’s chicken was from Tyson and Great Value peanut butter was Peter Pan peanut butter, through shop talk.
😮 very interesting, thanks!
Right! I've always said: how many different manufacturing plants are making anchovie paste? Prob just one
Yes! I live in Michigan and in Northern Michigan where the canneries are at workers will tell you that they will label the ordered number is say a DelMonte Vegetable then once it's full the EXACT same vegetable will be placed in a can with an Aldi or Meijer or Kroger label. Same thing with canned fruits. So don't be surprised if you can't tell the difference because truth is more than likely it's the same thing!
Thanks for sharing!
@@jenniferkwapisz4694 So glad to hear it’s verified, always thought it was urban legend. 😃
Tip for buttermilk recipes that may not use a whole carton of buttermilk. Instead of buying it, make it. If you drink regular milk, 1 cup of milk and one tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar, and let sit for 5 minutes. The acid will curdle the milk long enough to make it "buttermilk".
Thanks for the buttermilk tip!!
@@sheliawatkins2229 you're welcome. I discovered after wasting money on buttermilk for baking recipes that only called for about a cup and then I had no use for it later and it would go bad.
Your tip will help a lot of people that cook tha tree s for sure!!
I also freeze extra buttermilk in ice trays. Keep the cubes in a zip lock bag. Pull out and thaw what you need for recipes.
Great tip.
I freeze my herbs like parsley.They freeze beautifully and can be used for future meals. No waste. Love your channel:)❤😁
I came here to say this
If you chop and add oil/butter to ice cube tray it makes great dinner starter. Just pop in a hot pan and get cooking
instantly grabbed the week old thyme in my fridge and shoved it in the freezer
Thank you I spend so much in them.
Omg r u serious?! Tell me more! My always goes bad before I could use them. In fact I just threw away a bunch of rotten cilantro. Wash and freeze the whole bunch or cut them up? More info please on how to store it!
A few more tips in case they haven't been mentioned yet: 1. Go by the "dirty dozen" or updated "dirty 15" when it comes to organic vs. inorganic if you aren't able to buy all organic, 2. shop clearance racks, if your store has them. They are often in the back of the store but not always... 3. online coupon clipping, if your store offers it, especially look for the customized deals based on your previous shopping history. 4. Look at the price per unit on items (could be price by ounce, for example)- often times larger quantity items have a lower until price - I buy those if it is items that have longer shelf lives/I can use the larger quantity in time.
Finally someone acknowledged that not everyone can have the same budget. ❤️❤️❤️
Exactly! For me, a non-American, it was useless to constantly hear about budgets in dollars 😂
I would think that not everyone having the same grocery budget would be pretty common knowledge? There are so many factors that effect that.
Yes! Cost of living varies so much from place to place!
The overarching idea is to have a budget and find ways to save or stick to your budget.
@@inspiteofbecauseof4745 obviously
my moms biggest tip as always been do NOT go grocery shopping when you're hungry lol
Agree on this one.
I learned this the hard way.
Never again!
I used to work for a grocery cooperative...almost ALL generic brands are made at the same place the brand names are made and taste similar. There are a few exceptions to this (Kraft mac and cheese comes to mind), so you'd have to see to taste.
For me it’s Jif creamy and for my husband it’s Heinz ketchup, but most definitely other things are just fine----- or at least good enough if the prices difference is significant enough.
@@peggypieters661 I too am a Creamy Jif aficionado. Have you tried Aldi "Peanut Delight Creamy" brand? It's packaged in the exact same jar as Jif (different label of course) and it's half the price of Jif. Give it a try and see what you think. If it's NOT really Jif, only with a different label, I'll eat my hat (with peanut butter on it, naturally). :) Can't wait to hear what you think!
@@peggypieters661 My husband is all about Heinz. He fights the store brand.
@@juliemarshall7458 Thank you for the recommendation; I will give it a try. I just don’t like dry peanut butter even though I grew up with Skippy which seems dry to me, and do they even make Peter Pan anymore? I was a young child in the ‘50s and for awhile all I remember is Skippy, Peter Pan after that and Jif maybe when I was a teenager, but I’m not sure. In fact considering Kallie is so young I may be the only grandma following her, but that’s okay.😊
@@psymompa Yes, tried to get him to try Walmart’s but no go, and that’s okay. I think when a person finds something they like they attach to that product, and really the consistency of Heinz does seem to be thicker over other brands so it’s fine.😊
I love your videos... keep up the good work !! The world needs more people like you 🙂
Absolutely Right!!
You're videos are so good and fasinating ✨💯 keep it up bravo
@Amoli Mavra Actually, same to me too! I wanna know her more better cause she sounds spellbinding😊.
I think that there will be plenty of business opportunities coming up in the next few months or so. Depending how long this pandemic is going to last for😔
Is it not kind of sad that people need multiple streams of income?
I've personally learned alot about people this pandemic both for better and for worse
The plastic pocket for the inventory list is genius!!
Picking up groceries is the greatest gift. You have so much control over your budget with online shopping. I am meal planning and saving money by shopping for the week only. My family is eating the same 5-6 meals each week. No one is upset about it. It’s definitely a way to save money. Been on envelope budget for 7 weeks.
I'm so glad you actually acknowledged how places change what you spend!! This wasn't about how much money, but on actually cutting back whatever it is you do spend and it was so nice!!
Yes, yes, yes on all those wonderful tips especially meal planning and organization. I shop Walmart and Aldi and will try generic first to see if I can live with it (some things I have to have name brand) and even our 99 cents store has perfect fresh bread and produce. No one can spend less than me LOL and I live in Southern California ❤
I love Aldi!!
I actually follow and use all these tips. I also absolutely love grocery pick up. This way my kiddos and I are not walking through the store grabbing extra things. On that note, a good tip is to never grocery shop when hungry 😝
Or with the children who have learned to walk/read and reach!!!
Excellent list. Covid quarantine taught me how to save money. I plan a month's worth of meals by first shopping my pantry and deep freezer. While we're having those meals, I only purchase things that are on sale for the next month. This method doesn't only save me a ton of money but it's nice knowing I have that much food in storage.
When my children were small, I played a game with my frugal budget. I think the most successful was setting a time and saying, "dinner has to be ready by 10:00AM or were are ordering out", then I did not have to think about it. I had a meal ready to go by noon (or the night before, it is great to cook when the kitchen is not pristine, so I chop and mess up then). Of course, I meal planned and followed a budget. With the crock pot, themed meals and a bit of prep with soup making, it became less of a chore.
I have SUCH a hard time making and the sticking to a meal plan! Occasionally, I plan. When I do, I ROCK it! It's the best meal plan ever made! lol I just Cannot stick to it! That's what I'll work on!
I organize my fridge and pantry/throw out old food and meal plan the day before I go to the store, so I already know what I have and what I'll need. Works great!
I have done lists of what is in pantries, what EOS I have, what herbs I have, whatever, for years. But I've NEVER thought about putting a sheet of paper in a plastic sleeve and using a wipe off marker! That's the best tip I've heard in a year
I also started writing down a freezer inventory recently, and it has really helped to prevent waste and save on groceries:)
I will never stop watching your videos
ha ha ha....I know ..me neither
☺️☺️☺️☺️😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉
I know I waste vegetables. I've heard in every cookbook to toss all the leftovers and the tops of things like celery, into a pot and make stock (you tube will have recipes). And the stock can be frozen to use in sauces and caseroles. I need to do this.
I do this. Keep a ziplock in the freezer and toss any tops, peels or limp veggies into it. When the bag is full make stock in your instapot. Freeze in one cup portions (I use a souper tray). I also save rotisserie chicken carcasses this way.
Great tips here! I always make a meal plan for the week and if I don't I just feel so off. I have 2 upright freezers and I had gotten to the point of not really knowing what I truly had in there. I took a cheap spiral notebook and wrote everything down, but separated it on paper by like things to make it easier for meal planning. For instance, chicken on one page, beef on the other etc. I also finally looked over my downstairs pantry and did the same thing. I had canned food last year and I wanted to know exactly how much of things I really still had so that I can just look through the notebook and make meal plan. My refrigerator has always been my issue. I put a pad of paper with a magnet and use it now to write any leftovers on it and also produce that I have so that it can be used before going bad. Like you said, if I see I have some lettuce and tomatoes that I want to make sure doesn't go bad, make tacos or something to use it up.
Wow, thanks! I’m going to look up some of the principles.
I got really excited because I am following the menu planning ideas already. This week I decided to make sure that I have easy recipes for the week. I’m getting rid of some of the really complicated ones that I thought I’d make some day. That’s my fantasy self, not my real self for example, we’re really not crazy about recipes with lime juice!
And we also block grocery pick up. It gets rid of impulsive buying. I only buy what I need for the recipes for the week
I’m excited to see your. Printable’s. I just realized I have a whiteboard sitting in the cupboard that would be really great for my outdoor freezer list. Thanks!
I will say i dont do this enough, BUT one of best tips for things like fresh herbs, freeze rest in olive oil so it doesnt go bad! I use leftover baby food silicon molds to do this...dollar store ice cube trays work nicely too
I too have been guilty of most of these. 😬 I do see a big difference in prices between your store and our stores. We are in northern Ohio. We have adapted some of these already, but definitely some good new info in this video! Thank you for sharing! ☺️
We don't have my husband's kids this weekend so a freezer and pantry list is a great chore for me to do! We're the "variety" buyers and don't stick to anything. That needs to change! Thank you for all the wonderful tips
Kallie, you are right about Connecticut, my daughter-in-law is from CT, and my son said everything costs more there. They live in MA and I live in NY and they are not as expensive😀. I already use your pantry inventory sheet, it has helped some, I need to work harder!
Oh wow 👏 some really great tips! Especially the big freezer list. I have an extra freezer and I always forget what's in there because it's in my detached garage. So I'm going to make my freezer list & put it on my fridge right next to my grocery list. Can I ask you for the recipe for the Brussel sprout & bean salad 🥗 you made it looks delicious 😋. Thanks 😊
I've been meal planning for the last year , it really does save a lot of money! Baseball season is coming for my boys, were at the field 4 nights a week so if I don't meal plan it's a train wreck! Very easy to just hit up a drive through quick. Even though the boys end up eating a way early dinner and still need a good healthy snack when we get home it still saves a bunch of money!
Another thing to add is decide what importance is food in your family. We spend more on quality, because we eat less in restaurants, and go on vacay every 4 years. I think prioritizing how strongly the family feels about food helps. For instance, my family does well on most generic stuff, but my son and husband like very specific snack foods and ice cream, so we splurge on those.
I have a whiteboard in the kitchen for listing our meals for the week & writing down what I need to buy the following week.
I live in the U.K. and this is one of the best iv found on the topic we only have supermarkets unless own business and go to a cash and carry
One thing to keep me from wasting money also is pay attention when I cook and use a timer because I can spend money on food and then I overcook it it tastes bad and we don't eat it. Very helpful Kallie thank you. It sounds like there's no way around planning your meals and getting your pantry freezer and fridge in order, all of them. Just doing the work!
Great points. Thank you for pointing out that from area to area your grocery's bill charges. That in some places it's impossible to be as fugle as in other places. I know that where I live now groceries are abit less expensive than were we used to live. When, I first moved to that area, my groceries went up 25%. In the area that I now live with the C-19 factor Groceries went up 35% and have started to regulate but, have not gone down to the previous price staying at about 20% more than prepandemic pricing.
I, from CT too! I love when I find youtubers from ct!!! 💕
Shifting away from "one time meals" was huge both saving money and decluttering. It's really easy to buy spices for one special dish and then you never use it again!
We actually plan without specific days so we have more flexibility!!! When I plan specific numbers of meals rather than specific days, we can then eat leftovers if we have a surplus of them. Which then means typically 1-2 weeks worth of menus actually last longer and we spend less!!
I do a list as we run out of things. If money gets tight by end of month I see what we have in & just buy extras such as onions peppers pasta to make dishes. Also freezer food can be good…yes there may be left over curry/stew but just bulk up with some nice rice or dumplings.
I've definitely done all 7 listed. Then hard times came and we started being very frugal and doing many of the things on your list. We even took 1 day a month and made all the meals (dinner) we had planned for it and froze them. I read a book about it and we did it for several months and we saved a lot of money. Of course we had to add fresh items to the planned meal that couldn't be frozen, but it was a big time saver for 2 working parents with young school aged kids. It took 10 minutes to complete making dinner, and got us out of the habit of eating fast food because it was easier and we were too tired to cook.
We did that too when we were running a family-owned business and homeschooling our kids!! What a time saver. We used the book "Once a Month Cooking."
I make it a rule to plan 3 meals each day per week but to keep it spontaneous I then pick whatever dinner I want during the week like eat mondays meal on friday and vice versa then cross them off as I go along .
Also freeze any fruit for pies or crumbles, or jam/ chutney.
Lemons get cut into chunks and put into ice cube tray for drinks.
Yes, I am or have been guilty of all of them. I only by staples or fruit with removable skins as I always worry about contamination. I just can’t forget about the issues they’ve had in the past. Very informative! Thank you!
Very good point about they different budget needs.
This is a valid point....so I found I've kept my grocery bill within budget by doing my shop online. I use a list and because I'm at home I can check my cupboards at the same time, which is much easier and I'm not distracted by other items on sale that I don't need 🥰
Omg #2... I keep buying olive oil without realizing I already have a backup bottle. I have 4 bottles now!
And l bet that you thought that only happened at your house!! NOT!! LOL
I live in Westchester ny I save money food shopping stop and shop and bjs and target and shoprite and use coupons. you have a toddler just wait till he get older when your food bill goes up.
Brooklyn New York HAS NO Walmart but, I do order a few things online that Walmart can deliver so this way I can save some money. They are here next day delivery. I also do buy no name brand foods and do save money. GREAT ADVICES THANK YOU
We keep an inventory of our deep freezer and it has completely eliminated waste and made it so much easier to buy in bulk and meal plan!
This was super helpful! Thank you!
I make a meal plan every week for 5 nights, leaving one night for clean out the fridge of left overs and one night either take out or everyone makes their go to easy meal, ie cereal, eggs, sandwich, or kids gone n we eat pb&j. Also I don't make day specific meal plans because life changes so fast. So after dinner b4 bed I look at what's going on for next day then pick meal off my list. I find that makes it easier to successfully make meals I planned for. Gosh knows that it never fails day I planned to make meal with 30 minutes of prep is day every thing is late, etc. So that way if I'm flexible all my planned meals get used. And I ALWAYS have fall back meal for disaster days when all heck breaks loose n I'm barely alive enough to stand, that day is grilled cheese n tater tot night every time!! Thanks Callie! 🥰❤️❤️❤️ Your videos!
THANK YOU!!!!! Its a pet peeve of mine when watching these kinds of videos is one of the first things said is "you budget should be this. If it's not, you are doing it wrong." That doesn't work for everyone! If you have medical reasons, certain food lifestyles (I don't call them diets), do you include other consumables like toilet paper or diapers, where you live, and even the season of the year all affects it. A popular one I hear is "$100 per person per month". I have to do it at $150 per person per month. I live in Alaska, one of the most expensive, and I have a child in diapers while another is in school. That $100 just doesn't work for us.
I usually keep unused cooked vegetables and meat separately in the freezer for soups and stews. Even stripping the meat off a chicken or offcuts from a joint. Also freeze stock.
Absolutely!! I make a special trip to Aldi for prosciutto and goat cheese! Why pay $6 for goat cheese if I can grab the same amount for $1.99??
I follow all of these, I spend $100 a week for a family of five including a teenager. I do add another $100 to my budget for household items also. We lost a lot of money in the pandemic and this has made it so we can survive.
Much strength and love to you and your family...you are not alone in this....
Great video! Love that you emphasize how some people do not live near a variety of stores. I am in that situation and it's frustrating because the only store nearby is a 20 minute drive and things are so overpriced. So I need to drive for 45 to an hour to get to either a Walmart or Picknsave - the only options. It is super hard if you also have dietary restrictions and that can add a lot of costs.
I have been guilty of all. My worse one is planning to cook something & then when supper time rolls around, I'm like I do not want that- let's order out!! Need to start trying harder to stick to a meal plan!! Thanks for the great tips & info 👍📋😊
Hello
Actually I’m on my way to buy groceries. Brooklyn New York is very expensive as well. So I have to be careful what I buy. Thank You for the advice on grocery shopping.
I live in NY and.groceries and everything else is expensive lol. In general the northeast is just plain ole expensive!
Absolutely! Sadly I grew up in The Hamptons and everything is 10x more expensive. Places out here simply know the job locals Silk list any price do the working class like myself are stuck paying do much. But as you said, everything in north east is expensive 😣😫
Same in Socal!
its is expensive but if you know how to save money on food you are good. I wouldn't leave ny that just me . I am the type of person no matter I will be ok.
@@melissa5844 🤦🏻♀️ autocorrect completely messed up most of my words lol I meant Hamptons. I wouldn’t leave NY either bc I love it, it’s just so expensive 😩
Every week, I pick up a couple of meat specials when they are at least 40 percent off. Then the next week, I plan meals around them.
You are very personable and give excellent advice.
One way to figure out what a ball park food budget should be is to look at what your local SNAP benefits would be for a family your size. It is usually specific to your area and can help you know what a reasonable goal is for your grocery budget. For example, I live in Texas and my family of 4 would qualify for $680 a month, but in Connecticut a family of 4 would qualify for $782. Snap has done the math for you! :)
I think to save money in the long run, a portion of your food budget and planning time needs to go to buying what is on sale and stocking up on that so you can pantry and freezer shop. So if ground beef or chicken are on a really good sale one week, first, plan meals using these two meats, then purchase an extra few packages to freeze for later. With my Food Saver, I will even split larger packages of chicken or beef or pork into the size I need for one meal, and end up with an extra meal or two from what I might have just used for one meal with too many leftovers. So basically have your meal planning list and a stock up on what is on a great sale list. This way, your meal planning list should be much shorter.
Depending on how big your freezer is :-)
I really enjoy your Sunday videos, but these last few weeks you are talking so fast that I seriously have a hard time keeping up! 😊
To help with disorganization I use the Cooklist app. It will tell you when stuff expires and also give you recipes you can make with the food you have
Hi Kallie! This comes at the perfect time. My toddlers are eating EVERYTHING in our house & I constantly feel like we are out of food & snacks. Any advice on toddler foods/snacks that are inexpensive, quality & last longer than a week?
I agree Caley Rouse! We can use a video on tips for Kids snacks/foods! Most of my groceries consist on snacks for my two kids, preteen and a toddler.
Or more filling foods.
This isn't from my experience but a tip from my mom... every time we had a packaged snack as a child we had to pair it with fruit or veggies. For example, if you wanted a serving of goldfish crackers my mom would serve the crackers and a small cut up apple to go with them. If you ate your crackers and apple and wanted another snack often my mom would have you help her start preparing the next meal by gathering or measuring ingredients. It was never explicit that you couldn't eat another snack but it was implied that we weren't allowed to subsist on snack foods. Also, food was only eaten in the open kitchen/dining/living area of our family home so crumbs and packaging wouldn't be found buried in a toybox in the playroom, but, I suspect we also had this house rule so my mom could keep tabs on our eating habits. For reference: I have seven siblings so I know our grocery budget must have been a factor in these practices as well as our health as we grew. A tip from my sister and her three kids that applies if you have a picky fruit/veggie non-eater: take them to the grocery store with you or show them the pickup/delivery website as you're shopping and ask them to pick out the fruit and veggie snacks. You don't need to give them free reign just ask if they would like one item over another. For example, ask: would you like red apples or green apples to eat with your yogurt? or would you prefer carrots or celery when you eat crackers? When you get the items home ask them to help you wash and prep the fruit and veggie snacks. There is pride and accomplishment a child receives when they feel like they have made the decision and it helps to prevent hungry meltdowns. I hope this helps :) Cheers!
Also, I know these are only tips that apply if you aren't already struggling to purchase food for your family. If you are struggling please check your local area for their family food support options. We have a large food bank in my area that supplies many charities with free food pickup for people who need the help as we are all struggling. See if there is a food bank in your area that may have a program you can join. Boys and Girls clubs are charities that may have more information about similar food pickups in your area. Also, if there is a large church or other non-profit near you it is only a short phone call to ask if they have a program you can join... they may have answers on some other resources that can help as well. Again, I hope this helps!
I buy fresh red green yellow bell peppers. I wash and chop them and place in plastic freezer bags. Onions, zucchini, cherries. Leftover roasted broccoli and cauliflower in freezer bags. Couscous, polenta also in freezer bags. All this works well in freezer and can be heated in minutes. I also buy roasted and grilled chicken already cooked. Trim and chop and goes in portioned freezer bags. Keep everything flat to save room. Can even suck out extra air with a straw.
If a household has a deep freezer, the person can always cook an extra plate and freeze the meal (if possible). Another way is if a person have time is to meal prep ahead of time then put it away in a freezer, it helps too. Anyway, thank you for sharing. Have a fantastic day!
I live in Portland ,OR and it’s expensive here. I shop at Winco which is a west coast discount chain. I meal prep every day so it’s easy to throw meals together. Great tips!
I try using generic when possible, taking in consideration for what I am going to use each ingredient... for example generic butter for making a cake, but fancy butter for my bread :) I also try to compare the ingredient list to make sure the generic counterpart is not filled with nasty stuff. I do the same with pharmacy items, I don’t know why they charge so much more for “migraine” excedrin for example, when is the same as the strong, extra strong, and generic... is all marketing!
We also always a lot at least one or two “pantry” nights a week. This allows a little flexibility from cooking every night, helps use up overstock in the pantry, and allows everyone a chance to have a night they can just have that one simple comfort food they want like grilled cheese, a can of soup, frozen burrito etc..
Love love love your videos Kallie. Great info, fun energy. Keep em coming 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 thank you
Thank you! I need this information. Take care
Most generic brands are made in the same factory as name brands.
And packed there as well with differing labels as they come down the line!! Worked at a cannery...
Another way that people can save is by watching portion sizes. Look at the labels, and wait 20 minutes before having seconds.
Being single and in my sixties, I don't have any rules for shopping but I think I need to rethink that and add it to my quest for more purposeful living. Where were you when I was younger and raising 4 kids????? Feeding the family was always my downfall. I recently moved to New Mexico. housing was inexpensive but food is not I think.
I like when you say: spendin, eatin, plannin, shoppin, buyin 😉
Aldi is cheaper on produce, milk, butter, shredded cheese, sliced sandwich meat, crackers, canned goods and their flavored water is good and 50 cents a liter! And baking goods and oil!
I’ve tried meal planning and then something always happens! Usually it’s, I don’t feel like eating That-I just want a sandwich and a salad, or I’m too lazy to cook that night! I’m retired so I have all the time in the world!! What seems to work for me is batch cooking. I’ll make a lot of 3 or 4 main meal things and then separate them in freezer bags and put in the freezer. Then I bring them out and microwave what I feel like at the time!
Your videos rock and I live in Oklahoma. Prices are crazy here. We may be one of the cheapest but gosh, things have gone up. I loved this video. Thank you for the budgeting help sources.
Also, double the recipe, eat one, freeze one. I did this while my son was growing up. It's great for those nights you really don't fancy what's on the menu, are really busy or just don't have the energy to cook. This is great for me now too, since my son is at college.
Guilty of not shopping my pantry, and then things get old and have to be tossed. 🤦♀️ One additional mistake I make, which you are too young to be experiencing, is that I still shop like I have a family of four, even tho both kids are now married and living in their own homes! It's hard to change a habit of 25 years! To complicate things even more, I now have one or two meals a week with an adult child and their spouse joining us, sometimes there are six of us, and that really messes with you! Also, can I just say that CA (especially LA County) has high taxes, and that adds to the grocery bill too, because many non-food items that I purchase at the grocery store (cleaning items, toiletries, soda, juices, cat litter) are taxed.
I have a Chest Freezer in our finished garage and I bulk buy at Warehouse Stores, divvy everything up into portion sizes and use my Food Saver. I keep an inexpensive Dry Erase board on the side of the freezer with it's inventory.
I keep Dry Goods out there too, in a large cabinet that my DH built for me, that too has an inventory list attached to it.
I have a Meal List on the side of the `fridge that we loosely follow through the week.
I can "go grocery shopping" in my own little store that I've created and we RARELY get take-out. DH says that my dishes are better than any restaurant around us ... AAWWWWW!
Planning what we eat every day is my goal. I've been better and planat least three meals a week. Sooo much easier when you have it planned and prepped! Happy Sunday Funday!❤
Great video on tips for savings at the grocery store 😀 If the store has digital coupons plus using shopping apps like Ibotta help with savings.
Well done video. My pantry had gotten messy. I think it was you who suggested the DT dish bins. Reorganized that mess. I found 3, THREE! containers of coconut sugar! 🤦♀️
Won't have to buy that for a while!!!
Specific meals for specific days doesn't work for everyone. For a lot of us (especially helpful if you're not neurotypical and executive function can be a challenge) it works to manage like in a well-run restaurant where you buy ingredients that can be used for a bunch of different meals each week. I'm thinking of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare's where part of his restaurant transformation is getting the cook to streamline and simply ingredients and the number of dishes to match. It saves money. It saves time and bother. That way, you can have a list (menu) of meals that you can pick from - so planning (choice of overlapping ingredients and recipes) but also spontaneity. If we don't want Thai chicken (we're vegan so that specific one won't come up) one night then we can just switch up the flavors but use many of the same core ingredients for something else we are in the mood to eat. No need to force a meal no one is digging that night. The nadir is outlier ingredients that you buy for just one meal. I try to avoid that. That chipotle sauce has got to be good for a number of different dishes, otherwise it's not worth buying. Doing meal prep also helps. What I mean by that isn't prepping for individual meals, it's prepping ahead components or ingredients such as onions, cooked rice or cooked noodles, grated cheese. Some stuff is fresher prepped on the spot -- for those things I do as much as I can ahead. So onions I'll peel and maybe halve but not cut up because they lose flavor and crispness sitting cut up in a storage container. So half-way prep for some things. That way when it comes to actually making the meals it is pretty easy to just reach for those ready to go ingredients/components in the fridge.
I’d love to have your garbanzo bean salad recipe! You should do some of your favorite healthy dinner recipes and sides!
Another thing I have started to do is use up leftovers more. I have started making breakfast burritos with extra breakfast items, soups with veggies ect. Trying to not waste anything. Thanks for the great video this morning.
Me too.
I try to use EVERY SINGLE food is left and be creative to make a meal. Otherwise I don't go to the supermarket.
I have to be COMPLETELY empty
You can freeze parsley and use it in smoothies. I have heard them called parsley cigars.
I just made a change to make menu planning easier. I seem to make lots of changes to the menu over the week. So I’m using a lot of white out. Or crossing things out. I just cut some post it notes in half, and stick them on the date. That way, I can move things around.
I’m looking forward to your menu planning video and printable.
I am the WORST about saying "we were going to have pork chops for dinner, but I would really like to not have to cook. Can't we just order salads from Bibo's? We can have pork chops tomorrow." I also do NOT plan meals on Saturday or Sunday because that way if we have leftovers, we eat them, and if we want to go out, then the weekend ends up being a better time. I'm trying to get better...🙄😳
But..we must make time..and the occasional exception to enjoy the day!! That is why we budget in the first place!😊
Your videos are so practical and resourceful. Thank you
Anybody else notice the dollar tree velvet scrunchy on her wrist? I love them!
So true!
In Australia it’s like $5 for ONE avocado if it’s out of season. Youch!
Thank u, great tips.
God bless u. 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️
Such good tips for saving money on groceries. Like many other people groceries are one of my highest expenditures. Thanks!💖
I don't plan meals for specific days but I have a spot in my planner for the meals we have to eat that week. I check them off as we make them. Idk why, but it feels more freeing to me. But we don't go back to the store until we made those meals.
Often, if you are looking for the healthiest items, you can't go generic and definitely not non-organic. Since I have worked in the natural foods industry for 20 years I have learned so much about food and things I do and do not want to put in my body. Any cheapest is usually not the best health choice. Love your channel............but I think we eat very differently :)
Keep up the awesome videos 😊