Good Morning America...this morning.

[Serendipity]

Did anyone else see the Good Morning America segment where a woman shows how she spends $60, sometimes a bit less, "per week" on groceries? My Dh asked me to watch it and take notes. :) It wasn't very long before I realized that she's feeding just herself and her husband. ::groan:: I did, however, become motivated to purchase winter squash seeds (for our square foot garden) and start learning to make quinoa and couscous.

:)

[LisaK in VA]

I'm sorry, I couldn't get passed the "DH asked me to watch & take notes" -- if my dh said that to me, I probably would have shot back something like -- guess you're cooking and shopping for awhile.:eek:

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for saving money, and doing a better job.

I grew up in a family where the first thing that got cut was the food budget. Dad would still buy what he wanted, but we'd buy stuff because it was cheap (regardless of how it would taste), and we would have to eat it all until it was gone (a little mold never hurt anyone... just scrape it off). Food is a huge battle for me as a result of all of that.

Here are things I do to save money on food:

1. What I have done is become a coupon shopper. I clip coupons for things I *will* use, and watch for sales (especially on meat). I stock up (a reasonable amount) during sale times. If I can't store it, I shouldn't buy it.

2. When creating menu plans, I "shop my stash" first to see what I have on-hand and create the menus to use up what's in the pantry first.

3. Don't let my dh do the shopping, and not going shopping hungry. I stick to the list better that way.

Once we get into our new home... I might do a few more things -- but still won't be able to keep groceries to $60 a week. $150 a week I can do though. (6 people in our family)