Grocery shopping

So Friday is finally the day I get my own place and probably for the first couple of weeks, maybe a month or two, money will be tight. I've already decided to put cable and internet on hold for who knows how long so my next thing to worry about is grocery shopping.

Yes, I've done it before, plenty of times actually, just not with the trouble of having to worry about how much I spend. So, any tips on making your money go further while shopping? How much do you usually spend? Generic over name brand? Etc? Anything will help, thanks.

I buy a gigantic bag of bagels and a 30-pack box of Cheez-Itz. Bagels last me a week and the Cheez-Itz last me about a month.

Yeah, generic over name brand is basically the most effective thing.

Ramen noodles are a staple for the poor shopper. Other good deal meals include frozen pizzas (the store brand is like $3) and chicken nuggets (generic brand resealable bag can be had for about $7, and has enough for about 5 or 6 servings). If you drink soft drinks, buy 2-liter bottles over cans, they'll go a lot futher for the price.

And be on the lookout for buy one get one free deals (Publix has these most often, in my experience). I once got almost a full cart of stuff for around $40 because most of it was BOGO.

Well, I usually don't even look at anything in the grocery store unless it is on sale. Get one of those discount cards, and walk up and down every aisle. There will be little yellow signs for all sale items. If you see something you need, get it. When stuff is on sale stock up on it. There are new specials every week (in my area they change on Sundays) so if some of the stuff you want isn't on sale the first time you go, be patient and it probably will be soon.

Potatoes give you lots of substance for your money. Stay away from the ramen noodle trap, unless you hate yourself. Lunch meat can be pretty expensive also. Try to buy dinner meat (chicken, ground beef, steaks) in bulk as it's a lot cheaper. Also, keep in mind that dinner meat is essential (unless you're a vegetarian) because if you don't prepare filling meals at least once a day (meat and potatoes) you're going to be eating a lot of little stuff throughout the day, and that'll cost you. Also realize that the more steps it takes to prepare something, the cheaper it is (ie, pre-cooked and seasoned shrimp costs more than raw shrimp that you have to cook yourself), so try not to be lazy.

Instant rice goes with a lot of stuff, and is really freakin' cheap. Juice is typically expensive, but if you see it on sale (it goes half price at my grocery store all the time) stock up. And, if you buy bottled water, buy it in the gallon jugs instead of the regular size bottles.


Good luck.

I do hope to stay away from Ramen (while I'm sure I won't avoid it entirely I sure as don't want to have to eat it EVERY day). Last time I was at Publix they did have some good deals going on (box of popcorn bogo, three boxes of the kool aid drinks for $5, etc) but other then the specials they run, everything else seems a little price compared to say Winn Dixie.

Also I think I will have to compile my own recipe book as cooking is much cheaper then going out to eat ($40 that you spend at the Olive Garden could be put toward atleast a couple of days worth of food). I love cooking but I love going out to eat even more >_<

I personally find it fun to look for the best values of the stuff I buy. I tend to always buy the same 10 or 12 items. What I do is get everything I need to start out, then every 4th day or so when I go to the grocery (I walk to it, so it's close and not a hassle for me to get to one), I get the stuff I usually buy if it's on sale or if I need it. What I am saying is, get enough of everything at first to last you a couple weeks, and even before you need to go again, go and see if the stuff you buy is really cheap. That way, you just get a little more of the stuff that you already have and don't have to spend a lot on the stuff that you use but already have. You can just wait until next go around for that stuff, at which time a) there may be a really good deal or b) you'll need it, so no more waiting. Food is on sale all the time.

Hey, it's part 2 of the moving out thread Wasabi started. Sweet. I'm moving out this weekend, so this thread is well timed. ^^

I've learned a few things from my friends.

- Coupons. My best friend's wife once saved $70 by coupons alone. The sunday paper is worth it. The discount card is also necessary to take advantage of these coupons and sales, lets you write checks at your supermarket, and some stores have spend $X dollars, get 10% off your next order.

- Wholesale stores. Swipe someone's membership, and buy in bulk your nonperishables.

- Sales. Try and figure out what stuff regularly goes on sale, and only buy when it does. Example, the local supermarket has Pepsi products on sale once every 5 or 6 weeks. We buy like 3-4 cases, and we're well set until the next sale.

- Avoid going out to eat. Unhealthy and costly.

- Make extra at dinner, take leftovers for lunch. Lunch costs add up fast.

- The generic store brand is as good as the name brand. Take a chance one time, and if it doesn't sit well with you, at least you tried it. I drink distilled water like a fiend, and you're trying to tell me poland spring water is somehow better than store brand because it costs 40 cents more per gallon?

So basically everything that everyone has said already. The first supermarket trip will make you cry, as you buy basically everything that will last a long time, but you need to have (spices, condiments, nonperishables). That week may be a ramen week, but I think you'll be ok for then on.

also go grocery shopping at 24 hour groceries where its past usual busy time, say around 11pm or later - may be a late night chore but the stress free and customer free environment of the store makes shopping alot easier.

Learn to cook. Do not buy those frozen meals. I hate to contradict someone else's advice, but you will feel a lot healthier if you cook your own meals. Start off with easy things to make - marinades for chicken and steak, pasta with jar sauce, canned vegetables, whatnot. Once you get comfortable with those sorts of things you can move into finding recipes and trying them out.

The reason I say this is because those frozen pizzas, nuggets, fried chicken, etc. will add up over time. If you, say, buy a whole chicken for one night you can save the leftover meat for a stir-fry the next night (and marinated meat is great in combo dishes) and then keep the bones for a chicken-flavored stew with some rice and lentils the night after that. That's economy right there: three nights of dinner for ten bucks or less; it depends on the veggies and the marinade and whatnot.

There is no reason to buy bottled water if you have a water filter at home.