Food shopping, when I have time, is kind of meditative for me. I make my list based on my menu. I go through my coupons. I check this weeks sales at no less than five stores. Then, one all of this is done, I decide where to go. Sometimes I wind up at all five places. Sometimes I do great at just one.
I could spend a couple of hours leisurely wandering the aisles at a well laid out food store checking prices and getting the most for my money. I get kind of panicky when I am in a rush and always wind up forgetting this or that or spending way too much.
This week we tried the new Winn-Dixie, which is just outside of my town (quite literally, on the other side of the road that is the division) and we heard great things about. We signed up for the tracking card that “gives you great deals!” and got going.
This weeks list include things like romaine, iceberg, jalapenos, Parmesan cheese (something I never skimp on), feta, re potatoes, red onions, parsley, cilantro, dill, carrots, cream cheese, cheese singles, gumbo veggies, crackers, flank steak, chicken breast, ribs, shrimp and a handful of other things.
I did not coupon shop this week because a) most of what I needed were not typical coupon items and b) I wanted to see how much of a deal Winn-Dixie was on it’s own. I did go armed with the Penn Dutch ad so I could comparison shop against known prices of things I needed this week. I wound up spending just shy of 110$ there and making a trip around the corner (one street down and across the street) to Penn Dutch (where I spent just under 70$). I also spent 75$ a week on mostly local organic produce from Annie’s (which is less than I would spend on the same amount of food at say, Whole Foods). On any given week I spend between 200 – 250$ on food, not bad for a family of 8 eating mostly local/organic food.
Winn-Dixie didn’t really impress me. They had a great produce section, but a smallish organic section. The rest of their naturals & organics were kind of squished in where ever they found room throughout the rest of the store and not where I’d expect them to be (cereal with cereal, pasta with pasta, etc..). Their prices were comparable to Publix/Doris’/Penn Dutch/Broward Meat & Fish. I think I’ll stick with Publix for my weekly shopping, it’s closer.
Point of this blog? Most of my money is saved by making a menu, having that menu revolve around either what I already have or what is on sale (I got pork spare ribs for 1.59$/lb so I grabbed three racks for about 21$, enough for two dinners if everyone eats a normal portion) and sticking to it.
This weeks menu includes jambalaya, pot pie, brisket (I got London broil instead, but for what it’s for I can sub it out), flank steak, vegetarian gumbo, vegetarian chili, a party (BBQ) and leftovers. I’ll also get lunches out of five of those.
shopping on a planned menu is a budget saver! it also keeps you from going nuts at the store (especially when you shop with little ones). though we mainly stick to whole foods, we eat for avg $70 a week (2 adults, 1 toddler). i completly to do the same thing where I base my menus on what i have (from annie's) and whats on sale. and stocking up on meats when on sale is a great budget saver too! (especially at whole foods!) i've been known to buy 9 whole chickens at once when they go for $.99 p/lb, and have my husband break them down at home and freeze in portions we use. great blog