ideas to cut your grocery bill down

I did the grocery shopping yesterday and basically fruit, veges, bread, toiletries, meat and baby stuff, and frozen veges and it can to a total of $293. This is WAY WAY WAY WAY more than I expected or we normally spend so I just want to know how much you spend on your groceries and if it is under $150 how do you do that and what do you cut out? Any ideas on what I can take off my list..none of the stuff is fancy stuff (well in my mind it isn't).

I used to do online shopping BUT recently woolworths has not had some of the stuff in stock so I have had to go down to our local countdown. We don't have fruit / vege place around us and there is only mad butcher (and their meat is YUCK).

I do meal planning too - we are eating mostly crock pot meals so am only buying stuff for that.

I have never found a free discount code for online shopping - what do you google?

Contact your local butcher and see what he can do if you buy a whole lamb or half a lamb or other meat in bigger bulk. Then you usually can get it cut up the way you want for free. (or usually something silly as a $5 fee or something like that) Come home repack it in the portions you need for the freezer.

Then we are huge huge salad eaters and that cost us a lot. So we are now planting those things from seed. And no you dont need a garden for it or anything. I saw this great idea that I wish I knew about when we were renting. A sock organizer. make holes in the bottom. Fill with sand and put your seedlings in there. (can do this with herbs etc) and hang it up against a fence or somewhere where it will get the most sun.

I dont buy the bulk cheap sausuges or any meat like that or meals that are prepared like that. I go to the shop fortnightly and then every few days to the fruit market. (but we buy loads of fresh fruit and veg but our garden should soon provide that and save us loads of money.)

I wish DH would eat vege meals but he has to have his meat.

I think I will just do the online thing again.

Our shopping is pretty much $140 every week. Don't know why because we get different stuff each time but it always comes out about the same.

I do a meal plan, use small amounts of meat (1 chicken breast for two of us) and a lot of veg. We eat very well, buy splurge items but still come in at less than $150.

I do the mad butcher and vege shops and then supermarket for the dry stuff. Our mad butcher has a selection of good and bad. I normally buy mince, pork chops, pork roasts and chicken from them as a chicken drumstick is a chicken drumstick in my opinion. And it is tegal so a reasonable brand, that is in most supermarkets. Its not organic etc but it is comparable to ighams and tegal in the supermarket and at $4.99 as opposed to $8.99 for drumsticks and $10.99 for boneless breasts (don't know supermarket on that but I think it is over $15).   Steak and lamb chops you can get for the same price on special at the supermarket and they are generally better looking and thicker. We are a family of 5 (kids 13,9 and 4 and they eat alot compared to my friends kids. DS is 9years eats as much as his father and is still skinny as a rake) so we have had to substitute a bit of quality for quantity now as my son has hollow legs and eats for africa. Once a week we do a pasta dish which is mainly pasta and some bacon and chicken etc. Less meat and filling. Then at least twice a week is spag bog as my son loves it and if I asked him on his birthday what he wanted for his special dinner it would be that. If it is chops or steak or chicken pieces I aim for meat costing $10 for all of us. Mince meals are $5 and sausages in the crockpot are only $3 when I got them on special a while back. We have 10 packets in the freezer.    However I have found meat isn't the real killer at the supermarket it is the veges. I spend $10-20 at the vege shop and I get way more for the money than at the supermarket.   Basically I hunt for specials and don't buy anything unless I really have to at full price. If I buy all the bells and whistles for our family with three big kids I still only spend around $250 pw and that is with packaged snacks for the kids lunch boxes and heaps of fruit. They also have ham and cheese on their sandwiches as I feel it keeps them going better at school with a little protein. Good luck with your project. We had to cut back a few years ago for a few months to get by and it is amazing what you can do without.

I find I get more for my money @ PNS. I get veg & fruit from the veg shop, meat from the mad butcher (usually a couple of packs) & some from the supermarket when on special.

I do veg shop 1x a week, MB 1x a fortnight (unless they have a real good special on), PNS/ Countdown 1x a week/ or fortnight if lucky. I used to shop on line but often did not get all the things I needed so got out of that habit.

I find when I plan meals I spend less & I always have a couple of cheap quick meals in the pantry like Leggos cabonara $3 & pasta $2 & just add cheese & ham if in fridge. I also plan 16 meals a fortnight so I can change them around & don't get temped to go & shop. I get garlic bread on special & freeze & chickens to roast & do soups with. I get a couple packs of fish & a bag of frozen chips so the kids feel like they get takeaways.

I spend the most on salad stuff a lettuce was $3 for a few leaves.

I over spend if I shop weekly at the supermarket.

Lil_Nic9 wrote: Also don't take kids or other half and avoid temptations like biscuits/chocolates/sweets etc that are on special!

so true if I take DS3 I get the car trolleys so he can not see what I am getting & he gets a treat on the way out...if I take DH I have to add $20 for crap

eta...as spelling is rubbish

Edited by jazzy

Go shopping at night time. If you go after 7pm there are heaps of things reduced. Meat, bread, rolls etc

I prefer PnS meats because they are better, well in Upper Hutt they are anyway. If i need mince i buy a $10 back & we get 4 meals from that for 2 people.

I also buy that Leggos cabonara sauce, i buy budget fettuccine, and bacon, add onion sometimes i will chuck some streamed broc in aswell. Thats a realy cheap meal & very tasty. I add 1 cup of milk to the sauce to make it go further.

If im buying biscuits or crackers for dd i buy the cheapest ones. I dont buy any sweets or treats i do baking. I also dont buy muesli bars etc i will bake instead for lunchs. But if they have them 2 for $5 i might stock up.

thanks everyone - lots to think about.. but I think I will do online shopping and just pick it up..on my way back from town on wednesday.