Quote:
Originally Posted by CNYC
I was eating out for a while because I got tired of eating the same things at home and supermarket prices were going up anyway. As a single person I found I didn't save too much money by eating at home for one person.
I just started eating at home again because I was tired of spending so much on food and *still being hungry due to small portions. Now that I've been eating at home again I spend a little less BUT NOT MUCH. The trade off is I have stuff at home vs going somewhere to buy it everyday.
When I sat down and crunched numbers I was shocked. I spend between somewhere between $25/30 a day on food. Some of you will say that's crazy...oatmeal only costs a few pennies and pasta is cheap. Maybe true but when you add meat dairy grains ***fresh fruit and vegetables the cost rises.
What do you spend on food per month ? I average $900 which included snacks seltzer water etc. which is absolutely insane but vital to my existence on this earth  |
My dear you do not need to eat miserly portions simply to remain within a budget.
Am guessing your mother or some other older female didn't teach you much about home economics, that is how to not only shop for groceries, but prepare nutritious meals but still stay within allotted amounts per period.
First and foremost you can knock "snacks" off your list. Such things normally aren't very healthy anyway and are just filling you up with empty calories. If you must however see the next suggestion.
Before grocery shopping each week or period you must plan meals. Even living alone you can cook something that will last for one or two meals that can be filled in with veggies and some sort of starch and or carb. Once you have decided on the rough outlines of what is needed next..
Make a list for grocery shopping. This is a must as numerous studies going back decades have proven persons spend more on groceries when they do not have a list. Ours is kept on the fridge held by a magnet so can jot things down as they run out or think of them. Such as when milk is getting low or need eggs and butter to bake a cake.
Learn about the supermarkets in your area and in particular how they price. Food Emporium tends to have better quality but are more expensive in our area. Meanwhile Associated is good for groceries but their meats and poultry are slipping. Fairway on East 86th has excellent fresh veggies, fruits and many other things but you have to watch the prices.
First thing when you enter a supermarket is to grab the weekly sales circular. I make it a habit of knowing when each come out for local supermarkets and pop in to grab one when passing. Once you have a circular start looking for things that you purchase and or need that are on sale.
Look first for your staples such as coffee, tea, frozen or fresh veggies, rice, pasta, etc... Then move onto meats, poultry and even those snacks you like so well. However it is important to know what the normal price for items are versus the sale. Also in NYC there is a tendency for products make the rounds of being on sale different weeks at different supermarkets but at different prices. For instance Tropicana OJ is on sale at least once a month at Associated Supermarket. Usually something like 2 for $6. However the next week it will be on sale at Food Emporium 2 for $6.50 or even $7.
When possible never purchase single or individual sized portions of anything unless on sale and even then. Such things most always cost more because you are paying for the handling.
If you are going to cook again learn to prepare at least meats or poultry that can go for more than one meal. I mean if you are going to fry chicken doing four or six pieces is no more trouble than two.
Depending upon the size of your freezer look for sales/specials on meats and poultry then stock up.
Learn from our mothers, grandmothers and so forth; that is learn to prepare cheaper cuts of meat into delicious and nutritious meals. Pot roast and or roasts in general, along with stews are easy to make and can often be done cheaply (especially when the ingredients are on sale), and also can stretch for more than one meal. You can always divide portions of stews and other certain dishes up and freeze.
Take a trip to the library and or search online for tips, hints and recipes.
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