On Aug 7, 10:07*am, Kajikit > wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Aug 2010 21:09:52 -0700 (PDT), Ken
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> >On Aug 6, 8:06*am, Kajikit > wrote:
>
> >> Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
> >> only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
> >> cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
> >> going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
> >> a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!
>
> >> Last night we had basic spaghetti - wholewheat spaghetti $1.50 ($1
> >> worth); 1 Italian sausage $2/lb (50c); 3/4lb nice lean ground beef
> >> $2/50lb ($2), and a jar of barilla sauce $2 Also a cup of frozen mixed
> >> vegetables for me $1.50/bag so say 50c. There's enough left over for
> >> lunch today, so that's a $5 dinner.
>
> >If you find the cheapest little store around and shop the sale items,
> >you can eat very well, very cheaply. *I shop at a local, little chain,
> >(eight stores total) and the food is good quality and about two-thirds
> >the price of big chains. *I am one of the few people in there not
> >using food stamps (Okay, EBT), but the food's good. *They buy direct
> >from local farmers, even harvesting some things themselves just to
> >save costs.
>
> >Here are the meat items on sale for the week: *Pork steak 99cents/lb,
> >Boneless skinless chicken breast $1.69, T-bone $4.89, Country style
> >pork ribs, $1.29, Foster Farms chicken thighs or legs 99cents/lb.,
> >Chicken nuggets $1.99/lb (Great, twice the price for breading.)
> >Boneless BBQ steak $2.49. *Bar S Kielbasa, Hot or Smoked Sausage $2.99/
> >three pounds and probably not worth it at that price. *I'm guessing
> >the second ingredient is water.
>
> >Except for the T-bone, that's a lot of protein for not much money.
> >The market has an old fashioned meat case. *So if you know how to pick
> >a good steak, the BBQ steaks can be very good. *And if you don't like
> >the ones you can see, you ask the butcher to show you the next tray
> >down. *So six ounces will be about 90 cents. *The pork ribs have fat
> >and a bone. *But at 50% meat, that's still only about $2/lb.
>
> >Skip the middle two pages of the ad which are mostly processed junk.
> >The back page is the veggies: *Tomatoes .68/lb, Cantaloupe .25/lb,
> >Celery .48/bunch, Nectarines, .68/lb, Leaf lettuce .57/head, Red &
> >Green Seedless Grapes .98/lb, Cauliflower .98/each, Green Bell
> >peppers .78/lb.
> >Eggs are $1.19 - 1.49 per dozen depending on the week (even down to 99
> >cents). *Time for an omelet.
>
> >I look at the weekly flier before I go into the store, and I get those
> >items, and more. *Last week, I got pineapples $1.49 each. *By the
> >pound, that's cheap, good fruit.
>
> >Of course, YMMV, and it certainly doesn't look like you're going crazy
> >with your sample menu. *But that's how I do it. *I don't go to the
> >store knowing what's for dinner. *I go and see what's cheap and good
> >quality, and that's what's for dinner.
>
> Wow, I wish I had access to those prices! The best meat bargain in our
> Albertsons flier this week is whole chickens for 69c/lb (limit three).
> Needless to say, I know what meat I'll be buying today! I usually
> stick them in the roaster and cook them up all together, then I shred
> the meat and freeze it in meal-sized portions. The bones and wings go
> straight into the crockpot to make broth.
>
> I found a new dish to use my cooked chicken and broth for this week -
> I baked up some nice biscuits and I made chicken gravy to pour over
> the top of them... it tasted just like pot pie without all the extra
> work, and thanks to my bargain chicken and homemade broth the price
> tag came in well under $5. John loved it too, so we'll definitely be
> having it again.
>
> I always check the fliers before I shop. For awhile we were getting
> Publix AND Albertsons fliers and that was great, but Publix quit
> mailing them out. Shame, because it made the shopping much more
> efficient to know what I was going to get before I went there. I go to
> Publix and buy my cat supplies and yoghurt and bacon, plus anything
> else that's on sale but I never EVER buy meat there. It costs three
> times as much as Albertsons.

you can go online and read the Publix fliers before you shop.
I think more importantly than retraining yourself how to shop, you
need to retrain your husband how to eat more economically.

Part of it is in fact shopping smart, but it seems like you are. The
other part of the equation is eating smart. It's not my place to
judge, and of course, I only know the few bits you've posted about
him, but from what you've shared, I'm glad he's your husband and not
mine!

My dad was a "fussy eater" when I was growing up and my mom catered to
him hand and foot, often making two meat dishes b/c he didn't eat
chicken. After Mom died and I took over cooking for him, I told him
"I'm making chicken once or twice a week. And if you don't eat it,
that's your decision." Guess what? He ate it. I hid it in sauce for
him. I came up with a roasted chicken that was very flavorful.It was
the blandness he disliked, nothing more. I didn't make it bland, so he
ate it. He didn't like leftovers. Well, he learned that he either ate
leftovers (sometimes in different forms. For example, london broil on
one night, "stir fry" over rice the second.) or he went hungry.

By shopping smarter and retraining him to eat smarter, I was able to
keep our grocery bills for 3 adults (and we all brought lunches from
home) under $75. This was in the early 1990's, that would be about
$130 now, probably.

I spend about $70 a week for one person and one cat. And I am eating
healthy these days. Smaller portions of meat, heartier portions of
fresh veggies, limited quantities of bread, pasta and rice. I eat a
lot of salads and fresh fruit. It's not cheap, and if I can spend less
by shopping sales and discount veggie markets, I do. But I'm losing
about half a pound to a pound a week, which is exactly what my plan
is.

Sounds like you are shopping as smart as you can. I don't know if you
will be able to spend less without changing your lifestyle.

On Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:07:41 -0400, Kajikit >
wrote:

>I always check the fliers before I shop. For awhile we were getting
>Publix AND Albertsons fliers and that was great, but Publix quit
>mailing them out. Shame, because it made the shopping much more
>efficient to know what I was going to get before I went there. I go to
>Publix and buy my cat supplies and yoghurt and bacon, plus anything
>else that's on sale but I never EVER buy meat there. It costs three
>times as much as Albertsons.

Publix, as most markets these days, has their flyer online, too.

http://publix.shoplocal.com/publix/d...on=entryflash&

Put in your zipcode to customize it to the stores in your immediate
area.

Boron

In article >,
Kajikit > wrote:

> My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.

$70 per month? $70 per week? $70 every two weeks?

Ask Ranee. I believe she calculates costs for her meals and posts her
menus to her blog.


--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Holy Order of the Sacred Sisters of
St. Pectina of Jella
"Always in a jam, never in a stew;
sometimes in a pickle."
Where are my pearls, Honey?

In article >,
Kajikit > wrote:

> I always check the fliers before I shop. For awhile we were getting
> Publix AND Albertsons fliers and that was great, but Publix quit
> mailing them out. Shame, because it made the shopping much more
> efficient to know what I was going to get before I went there. I go to

http://publix.shoplocal.com/publix/d...on=entryflash&

Get the weekly ad online.

--
Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Holy Order of the Sacred Sisters of
St. Pectina of Jella
"Always in a jam, never in a stew;
sometimes in a pickle."
Where are my pearls, Honey?

On Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:07:41 -0400, Kajikit >
wrote:

>I always check the fliers before I shop. For awhile we were getting
>Publix AND Albertsons fliers and that was great, but Publix quit
>mailing them out. Shame, because it made the shopping much more
>efficient to know what I was going to get before I went there. I go to
>Publix and buy my cat supplies and yoghurt and bacon, plus anything
>else that's on sale but I never EVER buy meat there. It costs three
>times as much as Albertsons.

Check online. I read all the fliers there. Most everyone has them
online now.

Go to Publix website and you can probably find it.

Christine

On Aug 7, 6:07*am, Kajikit > wrote:

>
> >Skip the middle two pages of the ad which are mostly processed junk.
> >The back page is the veggies: *Tomatoes .68/lb, Cantaloupe .25/lb,
> >Celery .48/bunch, Nectarines, .68/lb, Leaf lettuce .57/head, Red &
> >Green Seedless Grapes .98/lb, Cauliflower .98/each, Green Bell
> >peppers .78/lb.
> >Eggs are $1.19 - 1.49 per dozen depending on the week (even down to 99
> >cents). *Time for an omelet.
>
> >I look at the weekly flier before I go into the store, and I get those
> >items, and more. *Last week, I got pineapples $1.49 each. *By the
> >pound, that's cheap, good fruit.

>
> Wow, I wish I had access to those prices! The best meat bargain in our
> Albertsons flier this week is whole chickens for 69c/lb (limit three).
> Needless to say, I know what meat I'll be buying today!

Yah, the place is much cheaper than the Vons or Save Mart or
Albertsons. But a lot of people won't shop there because it's not
brand new and shiny inside. Going in is a bit of a time warp and the
language you usually hear isn't English. But I don't mind and it
works fine for me.

Food is very inexpensive in this area. When I use to travel to L.A.
frequently, I was amazed at the price differences. Lemons here were
4/$1.00, there 2/$1.00. Lettuce here was .69/head, there $1.59-
$1.99. The difference adds up fast.

But if I shopped in my little town, I'd go broke. A couple months
ago, I went into the one local market, and steaks were close to $10/
lb. Now that's amazing.

Ken

On Sat, 7 Aug 2010 08:04:07 -0400, "jmcquown" >
wrote:

>"brooklyn1" > wrote in message
.. .
>> On Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:30:09 -0500, "Pete C." >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Kajikit wrote:
>>>>
>>>> My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.
>>>> That would break down something like this:
>>>> - $10 cat supplies (we have three cats and that's the bare minimum...
>>>> no way to cut it down any more without starving them!)
>>>>
>>>> Am I being grossly unrealistic here?
>>
>> Yes, that and an asshole. Two adults and three can't can't get by on
>> $70/wk... and I love how folks use that term "groceries"... how they
>> scoot around saying FOOD! Yoose probably spend $20 a week just on
>> deodorant.
>>
>> A very realistic cost for three cats for a week is $30... that's $10
>> each per week. less than $2/day.
>>
>(much abusive accusations snipped)
>
>What about cats that have to eat prescription food? Eating cheap cat food
>is what landed my cat in the hospital in the first place back in 2004, with
>crystalline oxolate formations in her bladder. Taking her to the vet cost
>more than saving money on cheap cat food. I just bought some of her R/x
>food on Thursday. A 10 lb. bag cost me $31. So if you count that as part
>of your food budget... well, there goes the store! Kitty litter doesn't
>have to be expensive, but the cats have to like it. I don't factor cat
>stuff into my food budget. It's a whole nuther thing
>
>I don't budget by the week for anything other than fresh vegetables I look
>at the sales flyers and shop when things are on sale. I really only shop
>once a month. I spend about $80 (for the entire month). Having a freezer
>helps. What I get could easily feed two people. Of course, I do eat things
>like rice and beans, lentils, pasta and so on. Doesn't have to have meat,
>but I'm a carnivore too. I don't balk at leftovers. In fact, I look at
>leftovers as a way to not have to cook every day If you like your own
>cooking, what's wrong with leftovers?
>
>Jill

I never budget food. There are so many other catagories where
budgeting can save some meaningful money like entertainment (including
restaurants), vacations, hobbies, leasing pricy wheels, clothes,
etc... but not kishka gelt (money saved by depriving ones stomach,
that ultimately costs a hundred times over in medical bills). Anytime
I hear where someone is looking for ways to lower their food bill I
know it's so they can afford tobacco, booze, illegal drugs, gambling,
gamboling/whoring. etc. Everyone who shops knows that they can cut
the food bill in half just by choosing chicken legs and generics, but
those few dollars will never support ones heroine/whoring habit...
kajikit's spouse obviously needs money for something unsavory.

>
>> On Aug 6, 8:06 am, Kajikit > wrote:
>>
>>> Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
>>> only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
>>> cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
>>> going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
>>> a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!


A lot depends on your family's taste and expectations. They won't eat
filet mignon or halibut on your budget, but you usually find some kind
of chicken/beef/pork on sale. Stock up when you find it.

Also, I find it helps to cook enough for a second meal of leftovers BUT
put away the second portions before you serve the first. Otherwise
someone will nibble it to death and you'll just have enough left for a
meager lunch for one instead of a full dinner for two or more.

If your family will eat casseroles/soups/stew/chili (some won't) you can
get more than one meal easily. When I worked I'd prepare a couple of
those type meals on Sunday and alternate them for a few days.

Dimitri's quiche is a good occasional meal as is mac and cheese with a
little ham cut up in it. Open-faced grilled cheese with tomato and
bacon is a Sunday night summer meal for us occasionally. Homemade pizza,
or scrambled eggs or French toast, too.

It's do-able if your family's expectations aren't a feast every night.

gloria p

On 8/6/2010 7:03 PM, Kajikit wrote:
> On Sat, 07 Aug 2010 08:41:07 +1200, > wrote:
>
>> In >,
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> One week's cat supplies:
>>> - 1 bag Publix natural pine litter $3 (exactly the same as Feline Pine
>>> but half the price)
>>> - 1 bag Publix store-brand kibble $2.50
>>> - 7 cans Fancy Feast 50c can
>>> = $10
>>>
>>> They have free access to their kibble 24/7, and they share a can of
>>> Fancy Feast for a dinnertime treat. They like Fancy Feast better than
>>> the more expensive stuff they used to get from the pet store! Plus
>>> they cadge yoghurt, chicken, and milk from us whenever they see us
>>> eating it. I'd hardly call that 'starved' or neglected!
>>
>> Fancy Feast is candy bars for cats. Personally I'd leave it out until
>> the budget eases up.
>>
>> Miche
>
> They get 1/3 of a can each. That's about 1 tbs. It's not going to
> break the budget, or spoil them. It's just enough to make them feel
> like they're getting their special treat.

This may be elementary stuff to you, but just in case it isn't:

For openers, read all the fliers and note what's on sale.

Then, ask yourself if you're buying grades that are more luxurious than
you need. For one example, the benefits of organic food are debatable,
the cost premium is not.

Make yourself a list of stuff you buy regularly and take it with you
every time you go shopping--go through the store and write down the
prices for everything on it--eventually you'll have a cost comparison
for the stuff you buy most often and you may be surprised how much
difference there is. In some cases the sale price in one store's flier
is still more than another's regular price.

Pay attention to the quantity prices on the shelves. There's often a
discount if you buy several of an item. While such discounts aren't
huge there's no real downside to using them if it's an item you use
regularly and that will keep long enough for you to use it up and every
little bit helps.

Try the store brands--sometimes they're good, sometimes they suck,
sometimes there's a little bit of difference but not enough to worry
about.

If you don't have a freezer you might want to consider one--you don't
get a good sale on meat every week, but when you do then with a freezer
you can buy enough to last until the next sale.

On Aug 6, 2:32*pm, "Cheryl" > wrote:
> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> > On Aug 6, 11:32 am, Chemo the Clown > wrote:
> >> On Aug 6, 9:06 am, Kajikit > wrote:
>
> >> > My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.
> >> > That would break down something like this:
> >> > - $10 cat supplies (we have three cats and that's the bare minimum....
> >> > no way to cut it down any more without starving them!)
>
> >> $10/week for cat supplies? Buy a 20lb bag of dry food (good quality)
> >> for around $20 and that should last a month. If you're buying cat
> >> litter...train them to go outside.
>
> > Not all cats are outside cats, and training or no training, many
> > neighborhoods don't appreciate ourdoor cats. *Leashes on cats are not
> > practical. *Get serious.
>
> To Clown: Plus, cats do much better on wet food than dry, thus leading to
> fewer vet bills over the long run.

Can you give me factual data on that?

On Aug 6, 9:06*am, Kajikit > wrote:
> My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.

The Mexican family of four that live next door feed themselves on
about $50/week. I've eaten with them and I can tell you, they know how
to cook great food.

On Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:25:45 -0600, "gloria.p" >
wrote:

>If your family will eat casseroles/soups/stew/chili (some won't) you can
>get more than one meal easily.

And you can freeze leftovers and pull them out another night if you
don't like having the same dish several nights in a row.

Tara

On Aug 6, 12:06*pm, Kajikit > wrote:
> My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.
> That would break down something like this:
> - $10 cat supplies (we have three cats and that's the bare minimum...
> no way to cut it down any more without starving them!)
> - $20 fresh fruit and vegetables (we really need to eat more of
> these... a lot of weeks we never even make it to the farmer's market
> and that money is spent on processed/frozen junk instead!)
> - $10 meat (? I try to buy the cheapest meat I can and we eat a ton of
> chicken breast... but I don't really know how cheap I can go and still
> keep us adequately proteined.)
> - $30 other groceries
>
> Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
> only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
> cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
> going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
> a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!
>
> Last night we had basic spaghetti - wholewheat spaghetti $1.50 ($1
> worth); 1 Italian sausage $2/lb (50c); 3/4lb nice lean ground beef
> $2/50lb ($2), and a jar of barilla sauce $2 Also a cup of frozen mixed
> vegetables for me $1.50/bag so say 50c. There's enough left over for
> lunch today, so that's a $5 dinner.

Forgot to say - a bread machine is a huge savings vehicle. I also
make my own yogurt, tomato sauce, salad dressings, Needless to say,
skip snacks, cookies, soda....

Do you ever eat out? Have you factored that in?

It's pretty hard to keep it at 5 dollars, but with chicken. potatoes,
a salad - I think it's doable.

A small game license can go a long way. In WI that's all you need to shoot feral pigs. I'm praying to see one in October. 300lbs. of meat for the $20 license. Git out! Pheasant and squirrel are excellent as are duck and raccon. Raccoon pay for themselves,as their pelts will, at select times of the year, go up to $10/$15 per pelt. My neighbor saves them in the freezer all year until the price goes nuts.

In the store, or market, you can find great deals. Yesterday, I made braised chicken thighs (8 of them) with celery, potatos, and carrots. Chicken=$2.75, Potatos,=$.50, Carrots= $.50, Celery=$.50, Salt & Pepper=$.10. Easy to make and great. You can find great deals on pork, as well. Beef is where the money is right now. Stick with chicken and pork and you make bank. Especially with the bone in. Pork: use the bone to flavor beans and chicken: to make soup. When pork shoulder are $.70/lb, you get a lot; especially if you save the fat. Potatos cooked in chicken fat are divine ( I like rosemary in mine). I'm feeding a family of four, here, plus a dog.

If you can make two or three meals from one batch of meat; it goes a long way. Today, I'm boiling down a whole chicken. I'll rip the meat of the bones when it cools, use the stock to make a great rice dish that includes: some of the chicken meat, garlic, cilantro, a bit of chick bullion for salt and turmeric for color. 5+ cups of delicious chicken rice will last me a week of lunches at work. It's good enough to eat every day. Make soup with the rest of the stock and meat, or chicken& biscuits (shut up Paula Dean!!!).

Beef stew is easy as is any roast. The fattier roasts are easy to braise with veggies or grill with grilled veggies.

I roll on about $60/week and I have a small family. I just do without steaks but for special occasions. Catch my own fish. Bluegill here are better than anything you can buy in the store. Fun for the kiddies, too. $25 license to catch 100 lbs of fish. No sweat!!

On Aug 7, 4:44*am, (Steve Pope) wrote:
> Giusi > wrote:
> >But doesn't something have to give? *Carnivore shmarnivore... does he have
> >to have meat at every meal or does he have to cut spending to $70 per week?
>
> This is where you start shooting squirrels.
>
> May not be legal everywhere.
>
> Steve

Train cats to hunt; split proceeds.

Reduces $10/wk cat food bill and increases humans' protein intake.

Farley Mowat has a decent recipe for mice if needed until the cats are
up to squirrels and rabbits.

Personally I've been considering scragging a few ducks and Canada
Geese from down at the lake front.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

On Aug 7, 1:59*pm, Kalmia > wrote:
> On Aug 6, 12:06*pm, Kajikit > wrote:
>
>
>
> > My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.
> > That would break down something like this:
> > - $10 cat supplies (we have three cats and that's the bare minimum...
> > no way to cut it down any more without starving them!)
> > - $20 fresh fruit and vegetables (we really need to eat more of
> > these... a lot of weeks we never even make it to the farmer's market
> > and that money is spent on processed/frozen junk instead!)
> > - $10 meat (? I try to buy the cheapest meat I can and we eat a ton of
> > chicken breast... but I don't really know how cheap I can go and still
> > keep us adequately proteined.)
> > - $30 other groceries
>
> > Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
> > only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
> > cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
> > going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
> > a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!
>
> > Last night we had basic spaghetti - wholewheat spaghetti $1.50 ($1
> > worth); 1 Italian sausage $2/lb (50c); 3/4lb nice lean ground beef
> > $2/50lb ($2), and a jar of barilla sauce $2 Also a cup of frozen mixed
> > vegetables for me $1.50/bag so say 50c. There's enough left over for
> > lunch today, so that's a $5 dinner.
>
> Forgot to say - a bread machine is a huge savings vehicle.


I was going to suggest making one's own bread but what's with the
bread-machine?

I figure if I'm going to be around home--or not away for long periods--
it takes me about 15 minutes to make 2-4 loave of bread by hand[1].
Last time I costed it, raw material (NOT including electricity) made a
loaf of bread cost about CDN$ 0.45. Equivalent quality is about CDN$
3.50 at a local bakery.

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

1. Working time--Elapsed time is usually about 2 1/2 hours.

"Kajikit" > wrote in message
...
> My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.
> That would break down something like this:
> - $10 cat supplies (we have three cats and that's the bare minimum...
> no way to cut it down any more without starving them!)
> - $20 fresh fruit and vegetables (we really need to eat more of
> these... a lot of weeks we never even make it to the farmer's market
> and that money is spent on processed/frozen junk instead!)
> - $10 meat (? I try to buy the cheapest meat I can and we eat a ton of
> chicken breast... but I don't really know how cheap I can go and still
> keep us adequately proteined.)
> - $30 other groceries
>
> Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
> only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
> cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
> going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
> a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!
>
> Last night we had basic spaghetti - wholewheat spaghetti $1.50 ($1
> worth); 1 Italian sausage $2/lb (50c); 3/4lb nice lean ground beef
> $2/50lb ($2), and a jar of barilla sauce $2 Also a cup of frozen mixed
> vegetables for me $1.50/bag so say 50c. There's enough left over for
> lunch today, so that's a $5 dinner.

One time when my hubby was unemployed I managed to feed the two of us for a
week on $20 bucks. Mostly it takes careful planning.

You could have cut the hamburger in that meal to half a pound and had half a
pound for another meal.

I spent years and years feeding myself and two kids on a very small budget.
I lived with a guy for a couple of years that also had two kids and I fed
the 6 of us on a fairly limited budget.

One of the biggest budget savers is only shopping once a month and just
milk, fruit and veggies when you need it. A shopping trip where you have
$200 to spend all at once will help you buy in bulk. Then you budget the
other 80 over the next three weeks for milk and fresh fruit and veggies here
and there.

You can probably get a better price on cat food and cat litter at Walmart.

If you want some super cheap meal ideas, email me.

Ms P

"Chemo the Clown" > wrote in message
...
> On Aug 6, 2:32 pm, "Cheryl" > wrote:

>> To Clown: Plus, cats do much better on wet food than dry, thus leading to
>> fewer vet bills over the long run.
>
> Can you give me factual data on that?

Try this link. Plenty of references at the end, too.
http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm

On Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:06:05 -0400, Kajikit >
wrote:

>My husband asked me if I could get our grocery budget down to $70.
>That would break down something like this:
>- $10 cat supplies (we have three cats and that's the bare minimum...
>no way to cut it down any more without starving them!)
>- $20 fresh fruit and vegetables (we really need to eat more of
>these... a lot of weeks we never even make it to the farmer's market
>and that money is spent on processed/frozen junk instead!)
>- $10 meat (? I try to buy the cheapest meat I can and we eat a ton of
>chicken breast... but I don't really know how cheap I can go and still
>keep us adequately proteined.)
>- $30 other groceries
>
>Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
>only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
>cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
>going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
>a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!

I've dragged my food blog out of retirement and I'm going to keep
track there for a few weeks so I can get a more realistic idea of what
we're spending and what we're getting for our money... if anyone's
interested it's he http://kajikit.wordpress.com/ Off the top of my
head I don't think that my figures are doable... we spent $80 today
WITHOUT getting the cat supplies because they come from a different
grocery store. But we'll see.

"Roy" wrote

> If the husband is cutting the household budget it usually means that
> he is having an extramarital affair, or is on drugs or is saving money
> for a Ferrari so that he can afford an extramarital affair or he is
> just a cheapskate.

Cut the crap Roy. In today's economy, this is a working man's need when
hours cut back. He's asking is she can fit to 70$ a week.

There is no indication she has a job, no any indication she has skills for
one (may be disabled which makes it harder). She may live in a small town
with almost no work and have applications in at all of them.

Kajikit wrote:

> I always check the fliers before I shop. For awhile we were getting
> Publix AND Albertsons fliers and that was great, but Publix quit
> mailing them out. Shame, because it made the shopping much more
> efficient to know what I was going to get before I went there. I go to
> Publix and buy my cat supplies and yoghurt and bacon, plus anything
> else that's on sale but I never EVER buy meat there. It costs three
> times as much as Albertsons.

You can see their sale fliers online.

"Kajikit" wrote

>>> Am I being grossly unrealistic here? Or is this doable? Last week the
>>> only groceries I bought were bread, milk, eggs and cat stuff and it
>>> cost $40. I've warned DH that if he really wants us to do this he's
>>> going to have to start eating stuff that he doesn't really like, like
>>> a lot more beans and rice, and leftovers!

You arent unrealistic except what you want to get may be.

If you go mostly raw produce seasonally bought when cheap and dont get
premade meal stuff often (spagetti sauce with spices from a can of crushed
tomatoes is dead easy to make) it is hard to spend more than 70$ a week for
2. For 276$ last week I got most of what we need for a family of 3 for a
month.

Hamberger helper for example is 50cents crushed tomatoes, 15 cents of
spices, 35 cents of pasta and some beef. They charge 2.50 a box or more.

I dont know where your cooking skills fall but it's not anything unsusual
today to be unsure of some basics. I's feeding 3 on 70$ a week with no
stress and plenty of shrimp/lobster and nice stuff in there.

"Kajikit" wrote

> I've dragged my food blog out of retirement and I'm going to keep
> track there for a few weeks so I can get a more realistic idea of what
> we're spending and what we're getting for our money... if anyone's
> interested it's he http://kajikit.wordpress.com/ Off the top of my
> head I don't think that my figures are doable... we spent $80 today
> WITHOUT getting the cat supplies because they come from a different
> grocery store. But we'll see.

Kajit, if you want to learn, get real. That blogged diet had 6 eggs on one
meal, TV dinners at others and so on.

You may just not know better, but the diet you are used to will not fit in
35$ each a week. A *healthier* diet will even with today's prices.

"cshenk" > wrote in message
...
> "Kajikit" wrote
>
>> I've dragged my food blog out of retirement and I'm going to keep
>> track there for a few weeks so I can get a more realistic idea of what
>> we're spending and what we're getting for our money... if anyone's
>> interested it's he http://kajikit.wordpress.com/ Off the top of my
>> head I don't think that my figures are doable... we spent $80 today
>> WITHOUT getting the cat supplies because they come from a different
>> grocery store. But we'll see.
>
> Kajit, if you want to learn, get real. That blogged diet had 6 eggs on
> one meal, TV dinners at others and so on.
>
> You may just not know better, but the diet you are used to will not fit in
> 35$ each a week. A *healthier* diet will even with today's prices.
>

I agree. On a budget of $60 bucks a week there's just no room for expensive
stuff like Lean Cuisine.

Ms P

jmcquown wrote:

> That's cheaper per pound than most packages of chicken breasts.

I think that you can get pretty great prices on chicken parts if you
buy them in bulk from the freezer section. I've read about that
here, I've only seen them in Costco. But I think the supermarket
should carry them, too.

nancy

"Larry" > ha scritto nel messaggio

> Still cooking for yourself? That's sad...

And that would be because?

"Kajikit" > ha scritto nel messaggio

Off the top of my> head I don't think that my figures are doable... we spent
$80 today
> WITHOUT getting the cat supplies because they come from a different>
> grocery store. But we'll see.

If you want to do it, that can't happen. You have to walk into the store
with just $60 to spend, period. Anything that doesn't fit in there, goes
back on the shelves.

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
news:cel7o.113042$Ds3.73239@hurricane...
> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> That's cheaper per pound than most packages of chicken breasts.
>
> I think that you can get pretty great prices on chicken parts if you
> buy them in bulk from the freezer section. I've read about that here,
> I've only seen them in Costco. But I think the supermarket
> should carry them, too.
> nancy



I generally buy chicken leg quarters (drumstick/thigh) as they're the least
expensive. It's easy enough to chop them into individual parts if that's
what you want. They do come in a large "family size" package so I divide
them and freeze into smaller portions. They're great for making a large pot
of chicken stew, chicken soup (with noodles or rice), chicken & dumplings...
etc. Good way to stretch a food dollar, IMHO.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:
> "Nancy Young" > wrote

>> jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> That's cheaper per pound than most packages of chicken breasts.
>>
>> I think that you can get pretty great prices on chicken parts if you
>> buy them in bulk from the freezer section. I've read about that
>> here, I've only seen them in Costco. But I think the supermarket
>> should carry them, too.

> I generally buy chicken leg quarters (drumstick/thigh) as they're the
> least expensive. It's easy enough to chop them into individual parts
> if that's what you want. They do come in a large "family size"
> package so I divide them and freeze into smaller portions. They're
> great for making a large pot of chicken stew, chicken soup (with
> noodles or rice), chicken & dumplings... etc. Good way to stretch a
> food dollar, IMHO.

Sometimes I get large packages of drumsticks or thighs for
some insanely low price and package them for 3 or four meals
for a total of $5 or something. I only get them if they're very
meaty, sometimes it's like a package of bones. You can make
a pot of chicken with some thighs, some sauce and a green pepper,
though I like to add some italian sausage links. You can get a
couple of meals for $5 with that dish.

The drumsticks can be as many as 15 per package, 5 is a good
dinner for the two of us. Again, meat for a meal for just a couple
of dollars.

But what I was thinking of are packages of chicken breasts
(perhaps other parts) that are individually frozen and in the
freezer section. I understand they are very reasonable.

nancy

On Sun, 8 Aug 2010 07:59:15 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>jmcquown wrote:
>> "Nancy Young" > wrote
>
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>
>>>> That's cheaper per pound than most packages of chicken breasts.
>>>
>>> I think that you can get pretty great prices on chicken parts if you
>>> buy them in bulk from the freezer section. I've read about that
>>> here, I've only seen them in Costco. But I think the supermarket
>>> should carry them, too.
>
>> I generally buy chicken leg quarters (drumstick/thigh) as they're the
>> least expensive. It's easy enough to chop them into individual parts
>> if that's what you want. They do come in a large "family size"
>> package so I divide them and freeze into smaller portions. They're
>> great for making a large pot of chicken stew, chicken soup (with
>> noodles or rice), chicken & dumplings... etc. Good way to stretch a
>> food dollar, IMHO.
>
>Sometimes I get large packages of drumsticks or thighs for
>some insanely low price and package them for 3 or four meals
>for a total of $5 or something. I only get them if they're very
>meaty, sometimes it's like a package of bones. You can make
>a pot of chicken with some thighs, some sauce and a green pepper,
>though I like to add some italian sausage links. You can get a
>couple of meals for $5 with that dish.
>
>The drumsticks can be as many as 15 per package, 5 is a good
>dinner for the two of us. Again, meat for a meal for just a couple
>of dollars.
>
>But what I was thinking of are packages of chicken breasts
>(perhaps other parts) that are individually frozen and in the
>freezer section. I understand they are very reasonable.
>
>nancy

The least expensive way I've found to buy chicken is to buy whole
birds and if you want parts cut it up yourself. I buy 6 pound
roasters for less than $5, I get all the parts, not just the least
meaty legs that are mostly fat and bone, especially from scrawny
fryers... and I get to examine the entire bird... I never buy parts,
they are never from the same bird... chicken producers started
packaging parts as a way to salvage portions of cancerous/diseased
birds. Why do you think chicken breasts are always split, poultry
gets breast cancer too.

brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Sun, 8 Aug 2010 07:59:15 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:

>> Sometimes I get large packages of drumsticks or thighs for
>> some insanely low price and package them for 3 or four meals
>> for a total of $5 or something.

>> The drumsticks can be as many as 15 per package, 5 is a good
>> dinner for the two of us. Again, meat for a meal for just a couple
>> of dollars.

> The least expensive way I've found to buy chicken is to buy whole
> birds and if you want parts cut it up yourself.

That doesn't really work out for me as I can get the parts for
as cheaply and often cheaper than the whole bird, and when
I roast a whole bird, there are parts I don't eat. Start with
that bag of guts and go the chicken back and gagool, I don't
eat that.

> I buy 6 pound
> roasters for less than $5, I get all the parts, not just the least
> meaty legs that are mostly fat and bone, especially from scrawny
> fryers... and I get to examine the entire bird... I never buy parts,
> they are never from the same bird...

I know! I was confused for a really long time, how are they
growing chickens with 15 legs?! Those must be some weird
looking birds. (laugh)

nancy

"Nancy Young" > wrote in message
news:YPx7o.39481$7Z3.24505@hurricane...
> brooklyn1 wrote:
>> On Sun, 8 Aug 2010 07:59:15 -0400, "Nancy Young"
>> > wrote:
>
>>> Sometimes I get large packages of drumsticks or thighs for
>>> some insanely low price and package them for 3 or four meals
>>> for a total of $5 or something.
>
>>> The drumsticks can be as many as 15 per package, 5 is a good
>>> dinner for the two of us. Again, meat for a meal for just a couple
>>> of dollars.
>
>> The least expensive way I've found to buy chicken is to buy whole
>> birds and if you want parts cut it up yourself.
>
> That doesn't really work out for me as I can get the parts for
> as cheaply and often cheaper than the whole bird, and when I roast a whole
> bird, there are parts I don't eat. Start with that bag of guts and go the
> chicken back and gagool, I don't
> eat that.
>> I buy 6 pound
>> roasters for less than $5, I get all the parts, not just the least
>> meaty legs that are mostly fat and bone, especially from scrawny
>> fryers... and I get to examine the entire bird... I never buy parts,
>> they are never from the same bird...
>
> I know! I was confused for a really long time, how are they
> growing chickens with 15 legs?! Those must be some weird
> looking birds. (laugh)

lol Oh Nancy!!!!!!!!!!!! )))))
--
--
https://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Giusi wrote:
> > ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>
>> Still cooking for yourself? That's sad...
>>
> And that would be because?
>
>
>
No one is interested in her?

Omelet > wrote:
>
> If you pee, toss the toilet paper in the trashcan.
> Only flush if you poop. Saves a ton of water!

How come you're not sharing the cat's litter pan?

>Take a good look at on line jobs (e-mail me about that privately, I
>seriously investigated that when I was unemployed earlier this year and
>learned a LOT.)

1-800-SEX-TALK

Omelet > wrote:

> (Steve Pope) wrote:

>> Maybe the "cost per serving", but "serving" is ill-defined. Whereas
>> "cost per calorie" is well-defined. It is not urban legend that
>> vegetables cost more per calorie than cooking oil, grains, or
>> minimally-processed grain products.

>> Not that calories are the end-all of nutrition, but they are
>> the most important single number.

>Obviously, you've never checked out grains.
>Rice, beans and tortillas are a staple diet around here for the poor...

I think we are saying the same thing... low cost-per-calorie
foods include grains, low-cost products made from grains (e.g. pasta
and tortillas), and a few other categories, like oil and beans. They
do not include fresh or even canned/frozen vegetables... while those are
healthy to eat, they do not provide a lot of energy in the diet per dollar.

Steve

(Steve Pope) wrote in news:i3nj25$m7n$1
@blue.rahul.net:

> Omelet > wrote:
>
>> (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
>>> Maybe the "cost per serving", but "serving" is ill-defined. Whereas
>>> "cost per calorie" is well-defined. It is not urban legend that
>>> vegetables cost more per calorie than cooking oil, grains, or
>>> minimally-processed grain products.
>
>>> Not that calories are the end-all of nutrition, but they are
>>> the most important single number.
>
>>Obviously, you've never checked out grains.
>>Rice, beans and tortillas are a staple diet around here for the poor...
>
> I think we are saying the same thing... low cost-per-calorie
> foods include grains, low-cost products made from grains (e.g. pasta
> and tortillas), and a few other categories, like oil and beans. They
> do not include fresh or even canned/frozen vegetables... while those are
> healthy to eat, they do not provide a lot of energy in the diet per
dollar.
>
> Steve
>



Look at some of these............


http://www.5dollardinners.com/recipes/recipe-index




--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Fact of Life:

After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says... W T F ?

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
>
> I can easily feed myself, dad, 3 dogs and the feline gang (plus the emu,
> doves and cockatoo) for $70.00 per week. :-)

I went big shopping today and spent $150 but I haven't shopped in a month
other than milk and juice and maybe bread. That included cat food but I
don't include that in my food budget. I shop for one human. My cats eat
better than I do.

In article >,
Omelet > wrote:

> In article >,
> Miche > wrote:
>
> > In article . com>,
> > "Pete C." > wrote:
> >
> > > One thing you need to do is not call frozen vegetables "junk". Frozen
> > > processed dinners typically qualify as "junk", but basic frozen non
> > > processed (beyond blanching) frozen vegetables are definitely not
> > > "junk".
> >
> > Indeed. Frozen vegetables often have a better nutritional profile than
> > fresh vegetables, because they are frozen so soon after picking.

> Why do so many people overlook the "no salt added" canned veggies? Many
> of those are cheaper than frozen and taste even better! Truly.

Not in this country.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article >,
> Miche > wrote:
>
>>
>> Indeed. Frozen vegetables often have a better nutritional profile than
>> fresh vegetables, because they are frozen so soon after picking.
>>
>> Miche
>
> Why do so many people overlook the "no salt added" canned veggies? Many
> of those are cheaper than frozen and taste even better! Truly.
> --
> Peace! Om
>

Sorry, but they taste like crap. Most canned vegetables (salted or not) do.
If a vegetable is in season, I buy it fresh. Otherwise, it's frozen.
Canned is...hmmm, hurricane supplies

Jill

True dat, Om! I think my wife, kids and I survived off of those for about 3 years. Mix with carrots, celery, peppers,(whatever you have) you can live well off of these.

More about a prioritized attitude than anything. I learned amore about cooking when I had to use similar ingredients than, perhaps, otherwise