Haven't looked at the comments yet, but the author already has
and she listed which tips she's going to use.

I have to admit, unless you live in the sticks and/or need to
lose weight anyway, it WOULD be pretty difficult to feed 4
people with $200 a month!

Lenona.


http://www.cafemom.com/group/115189/...s_imp ossible

"On average, we spend about $850 a month at the grocery store
(includes non-food items like diapers, toiletries, and cleaning
products...but honestly, most of that IS food).

"We do not go to restaurants more than 1-2 times a month (and
that's usually only a $30-$50 bill at a place like Stevie B's),
we always eat our leftovers the following day, and we make 98%
of our food from scratch (the best we can...we don't have an
oven or a stove--just the microwave, a grill, and an electric
skillet).

"If I'm going to be a responsible budgeter...I need to get that
number down to $200 a month. I've seen other posts and perused
blogs that boast they made this happen, but I'm struggling to
believe it. Unless you get food stamps and don't count those,
or you spent $1200 the month before...I just don't think it's
really possible to spend so little on food every month. So just
tell me...if you're not a big fat liar...do you really spend
$2400 or less on food a year?? And if so...HOW?! Do you skip
meals? Go days at a time without eating? Mooch off others? Hang
out at food pantries in your shabbiest clothes?"

It isn't cost conscious to buy non-food items at a grocery store, unless it is a place like WalMart, Costco or Super
Target, because those items are higher priced at a supermarket than they are at places like KMart or the
like. I buy food at the supermarket and non-food items at KMart (hate the huge WalMart stores...too large
for my cane use, and disabled parking spots are too far away and usually full).

N.

"Nancy2" > wrote in message
...
> It isn't cost conscious to buy non-food items at a grocery store, unless
> it is a place like WalMart, Costco or Super
> Target, because those items are higher priced at a supermarket than they
> are at places like KMart or the
> like. I buy food at the supermarket and non-food items at KMart (hate the
> huge WalMart stores...too large
> for my cane use, and disabled parking spots are too far away and usually
> full).
>
> N.

Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever shop
at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there are a
lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.

Cheri

On 7/11/2014 10:48 AM, Nancy2 wrote:
> It isn't cost conscious to buy non-food items at a grocery store, unless it is a place like WalMart, Costco or Super
> Target, because those items are higher priced at a supermarket than they are at places like KMart or the
> like. I buy food at the supermarket and non-food items at KMart (hate the huge WalMart stores...too large
> for my cane use, and disabled parking spots are too far away and usually full).
>
> N.
>


It all depends on the situation.
There are some people that do not drive and find it difficult to get to
other stores. Paying an extra 25¢ for detergent at the supermarket may
be much cheaper that going a couple of miles to another store. In the
city, it is common for people to take a cab home with the groceries.

We have a supermarket not far from us that has a big walk-in trade from
locals at the senior housing and generally older population nearby. It
is a 2 mile walk to WalMart, 3 miles to K Mart, 20 miles to BJs..

On Friday, July 11, 2014 7:12:30 AM UTC-7, wrote:

> we make 98%
> of our food from scratch (the best we can...we don't have an
> oven or a stove--just the microwave, a grill, and an electric
> skillet).
>

> "If I'm going to be a responsible budgeter...I need to get that
> number down to $200 a month. I've seen other posts and perused
> blogs that boast they made this happen, but I'm struggling to
> believe it. Unless you get food stamps and don't count those,
> or you spent $1200 the month before...I just don't think it's
> really possible to spend so little on food every month. So just
> tell me...if you're not a big fat liar...do you really spend
> $2400 or less on food a year?? And if so...HOW?! Do you skip
> meals? Go days at a time without eating? Mooch off others? Hang
> out at food pantries in your shabbiest clothes?"

If I was going to prune our grocery bill:

No coffee, except on weekends, and then only one of the industrial
brands, on sale.

No quadruped meat, except for the occasional pork shoulder. Buy whole
chickens on sale, as many as they will let you.

Substitute eggs for main dish protein.

Canned tuna once a week.

Beans once a week.

Oatmeal for breakfast every day, with raisins for flavor and interest.

PB and J or egg salad for lunch. Once in a while, cook a roast beef or
turkey breast, slice thin and freeze, for lunches.

Carrots by the bag, for lunches and dinner vegetables.

Buy vegetables at an Asian or Latino grocery store. They usually are
cheap, but need to be used right away.

Frozen vegetables from Target.

On Friday, July 11, 2014 8:09:18 AM UTC-7, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

>
> It all depends on the situation.
>
> There are some people that do not drive and find it difficult to get to
> other stores. Paying an extra 25� for detergent at the supermarket may
> be much cheaper that going a couple of miles to another store. In the
> city, it is common for people to take a cab home with the groceries.

My county has paratransit that older people can use, for the price of
a bus ride. It goes door-to-door.

> We have a supermarket not far from us that has a big walk-in trade from
> locals at the senior housing and generally older population nearby. It
> is a 2 mile walk to WalMart, 3 miles to K Mart, 20 miles to BJs..

Where my MIL lives, she can take a shuttle to either Walmart or Meijer's.
My wife's sister will take her to the local non-chain supermarket, but
she likes her independence.

On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:54:02 -0700, "Cheri" >
wrote:

> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever shop
> at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there are a
> lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.

Around here, Super Target is the default store for non-food items.
Their food selection has improved too, but old habits die hard and
it's a lot further away than the supermarket I usually shop in so I
don't shop there more than once or twice a year.

--
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:16:53 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> On Friday, July 11, 2014 8:09:18 AM UTC-7, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
> >
> > It all depends on the situation.
> >
> > There are some people that do not drive and find it difficult to get to
> > other stores. Paying an extra 25? for detergent at the supermarket may
> > be much cheaper that going a couple of miles to another store. In the
> > city, it is common for people to take a cab home with the groceries.
>
> My county has paratransit that older people can use, for the price of
> a bus ride. It goes door-to-door.

Paratransit is just for people with disabilities where I live. Age
gets you a discount on the fare but not door to door service.

--
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:10:49 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

>
> If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>
> Beans once a week.
>

I'd be eating beans more than that because there's so much you can do
with them. Variety is the spice of life!

--
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

> wrote in message
...
> On Friday, July 11, 2014 7:12:30 AM UTC-7, wrote:
>
>> we make 98%
>> of our food from scratch (the best we can...we don't have an
>> oven or a stove--just the microwave, a grill, and an electric
>> skillet).
>>
>
>> "If I'm going to be a responsible budgeter...I need to get that
>> number down to $200 a month. I've seen other posts and perused
>> blogs that boast they made this happen, but I'm struggling to
>> believe it. Unless you get food stamps and don't count those,
>> or you spent $1200 the month before...I just don't think it's
>> really possible to spend so little on food every month. So just
>> tell me...if you're not a big fat liar...do you really spend
>> $2400 or less on food a year?? And if so...HOW?! Do you skip
>> meals? Go days at a time without eating? Mooch off others? Hang
>> out at food pantries in your shabbiest clothes?"
>
> If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>
> No coffee, except on weekends, and then only one of the industrial
> brands, on sale.
>
> No quadruped meat, except for the occasional pork shoulder. Buy whole
> chickens on sale, as many as they will let you.
>
> Substitute eggs for main dish protein.
>
> Canned tuna once a week.
>
> Beans once a week.
>
> Oatmeal for breakfast every day, with raisins for flavor and interest.
>
> PB and J or egg salad for lunch. Once in a while, cook a roast beef or
> turkey breast, slice thin and freeze, for lunches.
>
> Carrots by the bag, for lunches and dinner vegetables.
>
> Buy vegetables at an Asian or Latino grocery store. They usually are
> cheap, but need to be used right away.
>
> Frozen vegetables from Target.

That sounds ok! Looks pretty good to me and I wouldn't complaine.

--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On 7/11/2014 12:07 PM, sf wrote:
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:10:49 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
>>
>> If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>>
>> Beans once a week.
>>
>
> I'd be eating beans more than that because there's so much you can do
> with them. Variety is the spice of life!

Definitely, the whole vegetarian thing would be the way to
go if you really need to eat cheap. I'd figure out the
bean/soaking routine, for sure.

I liked that list, spam.

nancy

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:54:02 -0700, "Cheri" >
> wrote:
>
>> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever
>> shop
>> at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there are a
>> lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.
>
> Around here, Super Target is the default store for non-food items.
> Their food selection has improved too, but old habits die hard and
> it's a lot further away than the supermarket I usually shop in so I
> don't shop there more than once or twice a year.

I don't shop at Target. I've never had a good experience there, so don't go
back anymore.

Cheri

On Friday, July 11, 2014 7:12:30 AM UTC-7, wrote:

Ranee is one person who could tell her how save on your food budget.

On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:25:40 -0500, Mark Storkamp
> wrote:

> In her followup, she mentions the baby getting 7 pouches a day at about
> $1.50 each. Pouches of what? She doesn't say, but if it's juice, I sure
> hope she cuts that sugar out of the poor kids diet. That alone is $315 a
> month!

Those pouches are a great way to transition babies from bottle to
solids. The first thing she could do is buy reusable baby food
pouches, the second thing she could do is make her own baby food to
fill them with.

reusable pouch
http://cdn1.moneysavingmom.com/wp-co...od-pouches.jpg
type of baby food grinder that I think is preferable to using a FP
http://img1.targetimg1.com/wcsstore/...1/14014884.jpg
I've never seen a mini model, but it seems like a good idea
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/16-o...phfgod ZbAAag


--
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

In article >, sitara8060
@gmail.com says...
>
> On Friday, July 11, 2014 7:12:30 AM UTC-7, wrote:
>
> Ranee is one person who could tell her how save on your food budget.

She certainly could!

Which reminds me, she w2as also homeschooling their children.Seven , iirc

Janet UK

On 7/11/2014 11:10 AM, wrote:

>
> If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>
> No coffee, except on weekends, and then only one of the industrial
> brands, on sale.
>
> No quadruped meat, except for the occasional pork shoulder. Buy whole
> chickens on sale, as many as they will let you.
>
> Substitute eggs for main dish protein.
>
> Canned tuna once a week.
>
> Beans once a week.
>
> Oatmeal for breakfast every day, with raisins for flavor and interest.
>
> PB and J or egg salad for lunch. Once in a while, cook a roast beef or
> turkey breast, slice thin and freeze, for lunches.
>
> Carrots by the bag, for lunches and dinner vegetables.
>
> Buy vegetables at an Asian or Latino grocery store. They usually are
> cheap, but need to be used right away.
>
> Frozen vegetables from Target.
>

Not only cheap, but sounds fairly healthy too. Follow that closely and
you'll have enough left over to buy beer and lottery tickets too.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>Nancy2 wrote:
>>
>> It isn't cost conscious to buy non-food items at a grocery store, unless it is a place like WalMart, Costco or Super
>> Target, because those items are higher priced at a supermarket than they are at places like KMart or the
>> like. I buy food at the supermarket and non-food items at KMart (hate the huge WalMart stores...too large
>> for my cane use, and disabled parking spots are too far away and usually full).
>
>It all depends on the situation.
>There are some people that do not drive and find it difficult to get to
>other stores. Paying an extra 25¢ for detergent at the supermarket may
>be much cheaper that going a couple of miles to another store. In the
>city, it is common for people to take a cab home with the groceries.
>
>We have a supermarket not far from us that has a big walk-in trade from
>locals at the senior housing and generally older population nearby. It
>is a 2 mile walk to WalMart, 3 miles to K Mart, 20 miles to BJs..

I like Walmart and BJ's for most major food shopping. I buy most non
food items on line... Amazon has great prices for many non food
groceries, and I don't need to schlep those heavy/bulky items home,
they deliver for free right to my door. Most fresh meats I buy at the
small Tops market in town, they have great meat at low prices and real
butchers. For perishables like milk and eggs I prefer Stewart's
Shops, their ice cream is good too. I do major grocery shopping about
once a month, I abhor driving to stores on a regular basis and
nowadays it's expensive to drive any distance, it's about 40 miles
round trip to Walmart or BJ's, only 7 miles round trip into town, and
that's a multi task trip; PO Box, bank, gas/diesel, etc.
I don't believe it's possible to feed a family of four for a month on
$200, it's not possible to feed one... costs more than $200/month to
feed my cats. I spend $50/month on bird seed.

spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
>If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>
>No coffee, except on weekends, and then only one of the industrial
>brands, on sale.
>
>No quadruped meat, except for the occasional pork shoulder. Buy whole
>chickens on sale, as many as they will let you.
>
>Substitute eggs for main dish protein.
>
>Canned tuna once a week.
>
>Beans once a week.
>
>Oatmeal for breakfast every day, with raisins for flavor and interest.
>
>PB and J or egg salad for lunch. Once in a while, cook a roast beef or
>turkey breast, slice thin and freeze, for lunches.
>
>Carrots by the bag, for lunches and dinner vegetables.
>
>Buy vegetables at an Asian or Latino grocery store. They usually are
>cheap, but need to be used right away.
>
>Frozen vegetables from Target.

You'd be very content as a WWll Jap POW

"ImStillMags" > wrote in message
...
> On Friday, July 11, 2014 7:12:30 AM UTC-7, wrote:
>
> Ranee is one person who could tell her how save on your food budget.

Oh yes. I haven't seen her for a very long time I used to enjoy her
posts.



--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

> wrote in message
...
> Haven't looked at the comments yet, but the author already has
> and she listed which tips she's going to use.
>
> I have to admit, unless you live in the sticks and/or need to
> lose weight anyway, it WOULD be pretty difficult to feed 4
> people with $200 a month!
>
> Lenona.
>
>
> http://www.cafemom.com/group/115189/...s_imp ossible
>
> "On average, we spend about $850 a month at the grocery store
> (includes non-food items like diapers, toiletries, and cleaning
> products...but honestly, most of that IS food).
>
> "We do not go to restaurants more than 1-2 times a month (and
> that's usually only a $30-$50 bill at a place like Stevie B's),
> we always eat our leftovers the following day, and we make 98%
> of our food from scratch (the best we can...we don't have an
> oven or a stove--just the microwave, a grill, and an electric
> skillet).
>
> "If I'm going to be a responsible budgeter...I need to get that
> number down to $200 a month. I've seen other posts and perused
> blogs that boast they made this happen, but I'm struggling to
> believe it. Unless you get food stamps and don't count those,
> or you spent $1200 the month before...I just don't think it's
> really possible to spend so little on food every month. So just
> tell me...if you're not a big fat liar...do you really spend
> $2400 or less on food a year?? And if so...HOW?! Do you skip
> meals? Go days at a time without eating? Mooch off others? Hang
> out at food pantries in your shabbiest clothes?"

It can be done depending on where you live and what you are willing to eat.
If you live in an area where stores double coupons and you're willing to eat
crap food, much can be had for free or next to nothing.

If you have a large garden and can raise crops most to all of the year, it
can be easily done.

If you eat beans and rice for the bulk of your meals, again, it can be done.

Perhaps you live in an area where you can catch a lot of fish or can hunt.
Or do like Honey Boo Boo's family does. Arrange with the authorities to
call when there is roadkill like deer. Got get it, butcher it and freeze
the meat.

Most people are not going to take the time to jump through all the hoops
necessary to save that kind of money but some certainly do!

"Cheri" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
> ...
>> It isn't cost conscious to buy non-food items at a grocery store, unless
>> it is a place like WalMart, Costco or Super
>> Target, because those items are higher priced at a supermarket than they
>> are at places like KMart or the
>> like. I buy food at the supermarket and non-food items at KMart (hate
>> the huge WalMart stores...too large
>> for my cane use, and disabled parking spots are too far away and usually
>> full).
>>
>> N.
>
> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever
> shop at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there
> are a lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.

Our last K Mart just closed. There may still be some in this state but not
near here. Heading out to Walmart now. Not looking forward to it. My
friend who used to live near it said it that the parking lot was riddled
with drug dealers. We haven't seen that but the inside of the store is
pretty bad. At least the mad "Turban Broomer" wasn't there the last couple
of times we were in.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:54:02 -0700, "Cheri" >
> wrote:
>
>> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever
>> shop
>> at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there are a
>> lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.
>
> Around here, Super Target is the default store for non-food items.
> Their food selection has improved too, but old habits die hard and
> it's a lot further away than the supermarket I usually shop in so I
> don't shop there more than once or twice a year.

I buy some at Target, some at Walmart (mostly online) and some at Amazon.
Sometimes I buy at Winco. They have good prices but not all of the brands
that I buy. I am picky about my cleaning products and prefer Watkins, Mrs.
Meyer and Method.

"Cheri" > wrote in message
...
>
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:54:02 -0700, "Cheri" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever
>>> shop
>>> at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there are
>>> a
>>> lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.
>>
>> Around here, Super Target is the default store for non-food items.
>> Their food selection has improved too, but old habits die hard and
>> it's a lot further away than the supermarket I usually shop in so I
>> don't shop there more than once or twice a year.
>
> I don't shop at Target. I've never had a good experience there, so don't
> go back anymore.

Ours is great! We normally go to the Woodinville one. The Lynnwood and
Everett ones are not so pleasant.

I should add too... Many of those frugal types make their own stuff such as
laundry soap, window cleaner, shampoo, soap, etc.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:10:49 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
>>
>> If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>>
>> Beans once a week.
>>
>
> I'd be eating beans more than that because there's so much you can do
> with them. Variety is the spice of life!

Yes. Alas when I was on my poverty diet, I didn't think of beans. I ate a
Carnation Breakfast Bar or boiled eggs for breakfast every morning. I
bought the bars when I had coupons. I liked them because they contained
vitamins.

Lunch at work was spaghetti with red sauce. No cheese. I did not have a
microwave at home so I made a huge pot and reheated at work.

At home I had peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Rounded out by
canned peas, carrots (no baby carrots in those days) and apples. I did grow
some of my own things including lettuce and onions so I always had salad.

I also ate air popped popcorn for snacks.

About once a week, I went out to eat. My parents paid. We usually ate at
Sizzler and I took the all you can eat aspect of the salad bar seriously. I
only ate the vegetables, trying to get my fill of things I couldn't afford
to have at home.

Thankfully I only had to do that diet for a month. But it was pretty well
balanced and cheap.

"Mark Storkamp" > wrote in message
...

> In her followup, she mentions the baby getting 7 pouches a day at about
> $1.50 each. Pouches of what? She doesn't say, but if it's juice, I sure
> hope she cuts that sugar out of the poor kids diet. That alone is $315 a
> month!

A lot of baby food comes in sort of drinkable pouches these days. Akin to
applesauce but it is different fruits and veggies.

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:25:40 -0500, Mark Storkamp wrote:
>
>> In her followup, she mentions the baby getting 7 pouches a day at about
>> $1.50 each. Pouches of what? She doesn't say, but if it's juice, I sure
>> hope she cuts that sugar out of the poor kids diet. That alone is $315 a
>> month!
>
> Baby food now comes in pouches resembling small colostomy bags full of
> all sorts of predigested fruits, vegetables, and meats. Plum organics
> is one brand that I recall. Applesauce is also now being sold this
> way too (for adults).

I love the applesauce. I get it at Costco or Target for cheap. It's highly
portable and you can drink it while driving!

sf wrote:
>
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:16:53 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
> > On Friday, July 11, 2014 8:09:18 AM UTC-7, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > It all depends on the situation.
> > >
> > > There are some people that do not drive and find it difficult to get to
> > > other stores. Paying an extra 25? for detergent at the supermarket may
> > > be much cheaper that going a couple of miles to another store. In the
> > > city, it is common for people to take a cab home with the groceries.
> >
> > My county has paratransit that older people can use, for the price of
> > a bus ride. It goes door-to-door.
>
> Paratransit is just for people with disabilities where I live. Age
> gets you a discount on the fare but not door to door service.

Around here we have a rather good transit system ( http://tapsbus.com ).
You can get door to door service over a very wide area for a couple
bucks, and they also have a great airport shuttle service that will get
me from my door to either of the major airports here (DFW or DAL) for
$40 each way (it's about 75 miles), and they have WiFi on the bus too.

We don't have a Super Target, but our regular Target is the most expensive "discount" store around.

I like KMart, we still have one, and their (and other participants') Rewards program adds up pretty quickly,
and amounts to cash off your bill.

N.

On Friday, July 11, 2014 11:48:23 AM UTC-10, Julie Bove wrote:
> "Cheri" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> >
>
> > "sf" > wrote in message
>
> > ...
>
> >> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:54:02 -0700, "Cheri" >
>
> >> wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever
>
> >>> shop
>
> >>> at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there are
>
> >>> a
>
> >>> lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.
>
> >>
>
> >> Around here, Super Target is the default store for non-food items.
>
> >> Their food selection has improved too, but old habits die hard and
>
> >> it's a lot further away than the supermarket I usually shop in so I
>
> >> don't shop there more than once or twice a year.
>
> >
>
> > I don't shop at Target. I've never had a good experience there, so don't
>
> > go back anymore.
>
>
>
> Ours is great! We normally go to the Woodinville one. The Lynnwood and
>
> Everett ones are not so pleasant.
>

I have been to the Lynnwood K-mart. I couldn't believe how big the parking lot was! I could buy ignition points and spark plugs for my VW right off the pegboard rack. Simply amazing. I thought "is this a great country or what!"

I also went to a hardware store nearby and saw a guy trying to shoplift what looked like an industrial orbital sander. His two buddies tried to distract the clerk while the dude tried to hide it under his short denim jacket. That was a fail. I saw the two guys in a panic when their pal got collared.

"Ah! What a bunch of dopes" thought I. I guess they didn't space their entrance enough or they all had a certain stupid look to them so you could tell they were together. ;-)


>
>
> I should add too... Many of those frugal types make their own stuff such as
>
> laundry soap, window cleaner, shampoo, soap, etc.

wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> Haven't looked at the comments yet, but the author already has
> and she listed which tips she's going to use.
>
> I have to admit, unless you live in the sticks and/or need to
> lose weight anyway, it WOULD be pretty difficult to feed 4
> people with $200 a month!
>
> Lenona.
>
>
> http://www.cafemom.com/group/115189/.../_200_a_month_
> on_groceries_for_a_family_of_4_is_impossible
>
> "On average, we spend about $850 a month at the grocery store
> (includes non-food items like diapers, toiletries, and cleaning
> products...but honestly, most of that IS food).
>
> "We do not go to restaurants more than 1-2 times a month (and
> that's usually only a $30-$50 bill at a place like Stevie B's),
> we always eat our leftovers the following day, and we make 98%
> of our food from scratch (the best we can...we don't have an
> oven or a stove--just the microwave, a grill, and an electric
> skillet).
>
> "If I'm going to be a responsible budgeter...I need to get that
> number down to $200 a month. I've seen other posts and perused
> blogs that boast they made this happen, but I'm struggling to
> believe it. Unless you get food stamps and don't count those,
> or you spent $1200 the month before...I just don't think it's
> really possible to spend so little on food every month. So just
> tell me...if you're not a big fat liar...do you really spend
> $2400 or less on food a year?? And if so...HOW?! Do you skip
> meals? Go days at a time without eating? Mooch off others? Hang
> out at food pantries in your shabbiest clothes?"

Grin, most of us will never go that level but though prices have
changed, I did that in early 2000 levels.

Today, it's pretty close to 400$ for us 3 on average and that includes
toilet paper and such side items.

I use coupons and such and stock up when there is a sale. Having an
ancillary chest freezer is a major aspect of this. A vacumn sealer for
meats is also a critical aspect.

I probably save a clean 75$ a month just by using a bread machine and
roughly 6 minutes of my time in 3 minutes to load, 3 minutes later to
shape then bake. Because I am not spending 2.50-3.50 for a loaf of
bread (It costs 75cents for a standard white and the quality is
better), I can use that money for other things.



--

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Cheri" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> It isn't cost conscious to buy non-food items at a grocery store, unless
>>> it is a place like WalMart, Costco or Super
>>> Target, because those items are higher priced at a supermarket than they
>>> are at places like KMart or the
>>> like. I buy food at the supermarket and non-food items at KMart (hate
>>> the huge WalMart stores...too large
>>> for my cane use, and disabled parking spots are too far away and usually
>>> full).
>>>
>>> N.
>>
>> Fortunately, that's not true of the WalMarts where I am. I hardly ever
>> shop at KMart simply because it's in a really bad area of town and there
>> are a lot of purse thefts, etc., going on there.
>
> Our last K Mart just closed. There may still be some in this state but
> not near here. Heading out to Walmart now. Not looking forward to it.
> My friend who used to live near it said it that the parking lot was
> riddled with drug dealers. We haven't seen that but the inside of the
> store is pretty bad. At least the mad "Turban Broomer" wasn't there the
> last couple of times we were in.

They actually cleaned up the KMart Store here with a nice remodel,
unfortunately the location is in the worst part of town, high crime etc., so
who needs it. Sounds like your WalMart is like out KMart.

Cheri
>

In article >, ost says...
>
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:25:40 -0500, Mark Storkamp wrote:
>
> > In her followup, she mentions the baby getting 7 pouches a day at about
> > $1.50 each. Pouches of what? She doesn't say, but if it's juice, I sure
> > hope she cuts that sugar out of the poor kids diet. That alone is $315 a
> > month!
>
> Baby food now comes in pouches resembling small colostomy bags full of
> all sorts of predigested fruits, vegetables, and meats. Plum organics
> is one brand that I recall. Applesauce is also now being sold this
> way too (for adults).
>
> -sw

predigested is for wimps.. the latest thing is "baby-led weaning" where you just
leave chunks of food/meat/veg crusts etc from the adult menu within reach of the
tiny toothless baby and let it pick them up and gum away at it (or discard it).. on
no account does the parent mash, seive, pulp or (BIG NO NO) spoonfeed.

I was aghast when my DIL announced this crazed innovation,amazed when it worked
and the weans thrived instead of being starved nor choked to death.

http://www.babyledweaning.com/

Janet UK

swertz says...
> Mark Storkamp wrote:
>
> In her followup, she mentions the baby getting 7 pouches a day
>
>> Baby food now comes in pouches resembling small colostomy bags.

Yoose gotta find a lady friend with nicer titties.

Julie Bove wrote in rec.food.cooking:

>
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:10:49 -0700 (PDT),
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
> > >
> > > Beans once a week.
> > >
> >
> > I'd be eating beans more than that because there's so much you can
> > do with them. Variety is the spice of life!
>
> Yes. Alas when I was on my poverty diet, I didn't think of beans. I
> ate a Carnation Breakfast Bar or boiled eggs for breakfast every
> morning. I bought the bars when I had coupons. I liked them because
> they contained vitamins.
>
> Lunch at work was spaghetti with red sauce. No cheese. I did not
> have a microwave at home so I made a huge pot and reheated at work.
>
> At home I had peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Rounded
> out by canned peas, carrots (no baby carrots in those days) and
> apples. I did grow some of my own things including lettuce and
> onions so I always had salad.
>
> I also ate air popped popcorn for snacks.
>
> About once a week, I went out to eat. My parents paid. We usually
> ate at Sizzler and I took the all you can eat aspect of the salad bar
> seriously. I only ate the vegetables, trying to get my fill of
> things I couldn't afford to have at home.
>
> Thankfully I only had to do that diet for a month. But it was pretty
> well balanced and cheap.

And costs more than a regular scratch cooked diet would. That was all
'fast food' sorts.

I just tossed 57cents of pasta in a pot and boiled it. I added in a
separate pot 2 large (28 oz) cans of crushed tomatoes, chopped garlic,
basil, oregano and black pepper. The cans were 50 cents each. I added
1 lb of Johnsonville sausage which was 4.99 for 1.5 lbs but I had a
1.50 coupon and they were doubling up to 2$ coupons so I paid 1.99 for
1.5 lbs and used 1$ worth.

Spagetti cost: .57+1.00+1.00= 2.57

How much is the result? I have 8 1cup servings. Thats 32cents a
serving and much more filing than a 75 cent carnation bar.

--

In article >, ost says...
>
> On Sat, 12 Jul 2014 09:28:40 +0100, janet wrote:
>
> > predigested is for wimps.. the latest thing is "baby-led weaning" where you just
> > leave chunks of food/meat/veg crusts etc from the adult menu within reach of the
> > tiny toothless baby and let it pick them up and gum away at it (or discard it).. on
> > no account does the parent mash, seive, pulp or (BIG NO NO) spoonfeed.
> >
> > I was aghast when my DIL announced this crazed innovation,amazed when it worked
> > and the weans thrived instead of being starved nor choked to death.
> >
> > http://www.babyledweaning.com/
>
> Nothing like leaving chunks of food around, giving babies even more
> reason to pick up everything they see and try and eat it.
>
> There's a time and place for food. And it's not while crawling around
> on the floor.

Didn't you have children? or did you feed the4m on the floor?

Try," within reach as the baby sits in its high chair at the family dining table".

Janet UK

In article >, ost says...
>

> Putting food "within reach" encourages them to pick up and eat
> everything they see when they're crawling around NOT at the dinner
> table.

They are going to do that anyway, just like every normal spoonfed and breastfed
baby does when crawling round the floor.

Janet UK

"cshenk" > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>>
>> "sf" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 08:10:49 -0700 (PDT),
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > >
>> > > If I was going to prune our grocery bill:
>> > >
>> > > Beans once a week.
>> > >
>> >
>> > I'd be eating beans more than that because there's so much you can
>> > do with them. Variety is the spice of life!
>>
>> Yes. Alas when I was on my poverty diet, I didn't think of beans. I
>> ate a Carnation Breakfast Bar or boiled eggs for breakfast every
>> morning. I bought the bars when I had coupons. I liked them because
>> they contained vitamins.
>>
>> Lunch at work was spaghetti with red sauce. No cheese. I did not
>> have a microwave at home so I made a huge pot and reheated at work.
>>
>> At home I had peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Rounded
>> out by canned peas, carrots (no baby carrots in those days) and
>> apples. I did grow some of my own things including lettuce and
>> onions so I always had salad.
>>
>> I also ate air popped popcorn for snacks.
>>
>> About once a week, I went out to eat. My parents paid. We usually
>> ate at Sizzler and I took the all you can eat aspect of the salad bar
>> seriously. I only ate the vegetables, trying to get my fill of
>> things I couldn't afford to have at home.
>>
>> Thankfully I only had to do that diet for a month. But it was pretty
>> well balanced and cheap.
>
> And costs more than a regular scratch cooked diet would. That was all
> 'fast food' sorts.

What? How is spaghetti made sauce made from scratch considered fast food?
Or hard boiled eggs?
>
> I just tossed 57cents of pasta in a pot and boiled it. I added in a
> separate pot 2 large (28 oz) cans of crushed tomatoes, chopped garlic,
> basil, oregano and black pepper. The cans were 50 cents each. I added
> 1 lb of Johnsonville sausage which was 4.99 for 1.5 lbs but I had a
> 1.50 coupon and they were doubling up to 2$ coupons so I paid 1.99 for
> 1.5 lbs and used 1$ worth.
>
> Spagetti cost: .57+1.00+1.00= 2.57

Well great. I was a vegetarian and didn't eat meat of any kind. How is
yours any better?
>
> How much is the result? I have 8 1cup servings. Thats 32cents a
> serving and much more filing than a 75 cent carnation bar.

Those bars most assuredly were not 75 cents back in the 70's and they aren't
being made now so I haven't a clue what you think they are.

I guess it's possible if one wants to live on beans, bananas and other basic cheap-per-pound food.

In article >,
Sqwertz > wrote:

> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:25:40 -0500, Mark Storkamp wrote:
>
> > In her followup, she mentions the baby getting 7 pouches a day at about
> > $1.50 each. Pouches of what? She doesn't say, but if it's juice, I sure
> > hope she cuts that sugar out of the poor kids diet. That alone is $315 a
> > month!
>
> Baby food now comes in pouches resembling small colostomy bags full of
> all sorts of predigested fruits, vegetables, and meats. Plum organics
> is one brand that I recall. Applesauce is also now being sold this
> way too (for adults).
>
> -sw

I guess I'm showing my age. Baby food either came (preferably) out of a
food mill or glass jar. Colostomy bag is a pretty vivid visual.

On Saturday, July 12, 2014 5:08:12 PM UTC-6, Kalmia wrote:
> I guess it's possible if one wants to live on beans, bananas and other basic cheap-per-pound food.

Cripes, I spend $400 a month on groceries and sundries and I live alone.
Groceries have really gone up in the past two years especially meat.