Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

Flaxbee

(13,661 posts)

8. Buying store brands is often a good bet

Reply to Proud Liberal Dem (Original post)

Fri May 18, 2012, 11:50 PM

May 2012

Stay away from processed foods - potato chips, cereal, pre-mixed dinners.

For good breakfasts, oatmeal is great. Or granola (though that can be expensive).

During spring/summer/early fall, buy food from farmer's markets if you can - but avoid the fancy ones that are definitely price traps. We have a local mercantile that sells only what they grow, and the prices are pretty reasonable.

Buy household cleaning items from someplace like Big Lots (though they have also gotten much more $$) OR if you have any spare time, make some cleaning items yourself - much cheaper.

Buy grains, seeds, nuts, etc., in bulk online if you can.

Does your wife make a list? Plan meals and buy only what goes into them? Or does she do more of a whole-store shop? Shopping around the perimeter of the store (fresh foods, mostly) rather than the interior aisles where a lot of the crap food is will also help.

But you've got kids, and they tend to eat a lot and want snacks - those can get $$$

Also: cut out sodas and pre-packaged drinks (for health reasons, if nothing else). Water with a spritz of lemon or lime is better for you. Or buy tea and make iced tea in quantity.

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Stretching dollars at the grocery store on household supplies, food [View all] Proud Liberal Dem May 2012 OP

Editing because I apparently can't read. cbayer May 2012 #1

Seems a bit on the high side, but not Sherman A1 May 2012 #2

We're about $450- 500/month for 2 adults and a teenage girl independentpiney May 2012 #3

Sounds about right woodsprite May 2012 #4

I cannot compare my budget with yours, Curmudgeoness May 2012 #5

Curious about the feezer Starboard Tack May 2012 #7

I have a chest freezer Curmudgeoness May 2012 #9

Hooray for non-self defrosting chest freezers! dixiegrrrrl Sep 2012 #21

I didn't realize that they still sold them. Curmudgeoness Sep 2012 #22

You might want to locate one NOW. dixiegrrrrl Sep 2012 #23

No more agitator washers either? Curmudgeoness Sep 2012 #24

I can answer this quakerboy Jun 2012 #10

I try to avoid the local clean friendly sparkling grocery and shop at the far away grungy dimbear May 2012 #6

Buying store brands is often a good bet Flaxbee May 2012 #8

I normally buy the store brands, RebelOne Jun 2012 #15

I'd say your wife is doing a good job. Kaleva Jun 2012 #11

Maybe she is doing as good as she can Proud Liberal Dem Jun 2012 #12

I know from experience that shopping isn't easy. Kaleva Jun 2012 #13

Sounds about right for me. laundry_queen Jun 2012 #14

Since I am a vegetarian, I do not have to spend money on meat. RebelOne Jun 2012 #16

My wife and I have big differences about shopping... hunter Jun 2012 #17

Wal-Mart is where my wife shops Proud Liberal Dem Jun 2012 #18

I used to save a lot on household supplies when we lived near a Dollar Tree eShirl Sep 2012 #19

There is one sure fire way to find out, ya know. dixiegrrrrl Sep 2012 #20

Try shopping at Family Dollar Kaleva Sep 2012 #25

I get much better prices at my local Kroger. RebelOne Sep 2012 #26

i buy all my 'non food' stuff at Dollar General NMDemDist2 Sep 2012 #28

I shop the ads The empressof all Sep 2012 #27

We have 3 families eating together with 9 people in all. 3 children and one teen. I am a diabetic. jwirr Sep 2012 #29