If you had to Dramatically Limit your Food Budget,... - Page 7

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@magicmoodz wrote:
@just bee wrote:
@momtochloe wrote:
@just bee wrote:
When I was younger it would drive me nuts that my parents spent so much time pouring over the weekly store ads. When I got older and shopped for my mother, she had me running from store to store: Dairy from Store A; bread from Store B; meat from Store C. Infuriating!

Now that I'm older I find myself doing the same thing. Better-half and I avoid restaurants and we cook at home. Take-out is rare, but we haven't given up the occasional pizza or Chinese. Fast food? No. Processed, packaged, "convenience" foods? Nay. We buy bulk when it's practical and keep a pantry of basics. Careful menu planning is key. Don't buy soda, rarely buy juices. Snack foods? I try to avoid those aisles.

We walk into a grocery store or Costco and suddenly go Amish. Meat and produce and "dry goods." Boring, perhaps, but I'm never embarrassed by what we have in the cart.
Oh goodness @just bee your post so hit home with me . . . my mom would drive me to distraction about what to buy where as she would want me to shop at five different stores and all I could think of was how much gas was costing -vs- saving a few pennies and how bad I wanted to just come home after a more than full day at work . . . oy.

I agree, I have more than become my mother in terms of watching my pennies but goodness I really struggled at times during those days . . .
It is to laugh! I always thought I'd grow up and shop at one grocery store and life would be simple. But I grew up and discovered what my mother already knew: There is no perfect grocery store. I feel like Smokey Robinson -- I shop around.
Oh dear. I won't even say how many groceries, co-ops, farmers markets, etc. in which I shop. Suffice it to say it might be in double digits. I'm not chasing leaders, but rather, I have my favorite items from all different stores.

It never ceases to amaze me when I read that women on this board do all their grocery shopping at Walmart. 😯

**********************************

@magicmoodz

Why does it surprise you? Walmart has fresh food, right?

Drythe · ‎07-09-2011

My list is pretty short as I do not eat meat. So, I'll add that I love growing tomatoes, garlic, and chives and canning my own sauce. Also grow tons of Basil for frozen Pesto. Use as dips with a few additions or over whole grain pasta. I do have to fight the deer for my garden and last year put up an 8' chain link fence for a good sized no poaching garden. Still plenty of room for the deer. I have a huge pear tree and cook pears in wine and freeze individually for quick, pretty desserts, and make wonderful chutney with them. Also have a Walnut tree and use them liberally, and freeze some.

I would also add buy hard cheese in bulk & freeze.

"Animals are not my whole world, but they have made my world whole" ~ Roger Caras

Toppers · ‎01-01-2015

@magicmoodz wrote:
@just bee wrote:
@momtochloe wrote:
@just bee wrote:
When I was younger it would drive me nuts that my parents spent so much time pouring over the weekly store ads. When I got older and shopped for my mother, she had me running from store to store: Dairy from Store A; bread from Store B; meat from Store C. Infuriating!

Now that I'm older I find myself doing the same thing. Better-half and I avoid restaurants and we cook at home. Take-out is rare, but we haven't given up the occasional pizza or Chinese. Fast food? No. Processed, packaged, "convenience" foods? Nay. We buy bulk when it's practical and keep a pantry of basics. Careful menu planning is key. Don't buy soda, rarely buy juices. Snack foods? I try to avoid those aisles.

We walk into a grocery store or Costco and suddenly go Amish. Meat and produce and "dry goods." Boring, perhaps, but I'm never embarrassed by what we have in the cart.
Oh goodness @just bee your post so hit home with me . . . my mom would drive me to distraction about what to buy where as she would want me to shop at five different stores and all I could think of was how much gas was costing -vs- saving a few pennies and how bad I wanted to just come home after a more than full day at work . . . oy.

I agree, I have more than become my mother in terms of watching my pennies but goodness I really struggled at times during those days . . .
It is to laugh! I always thought I'd grow up and shop at one grocery store and life would be simple. But I grew up and discovered what my mother already knew: There is no perfect grocery store. I feel like Smokey Robinson -- I shop around.
Oh dear. I won't even say how many groceries, co-ops, farmers markets, etc. in which I shop. Suffice it to say it might be in double digits. I'm not chasing leaders, but rather, I have my favorite items from all different stores.

It never ceases to amaze me when I read that women on this board do all their grocery shopping at Walmart. 😯

Hi @magicmoodz,

In some parts of the country, people may not have the luxury of being able to shop at many different types of markets.

Wal-Mart may just be one of a few choices where they can shop, especially if someone lives in a more rural area where shopping choices are more limited.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

There are people here living on very tight budgets. They shop where they can find the best prices, I don't fault them for that, it's a wise move to shop where they can save.

proudlyfromNJ · ‎05-01-2010

What is the difference between Walmart and any other grocery store? I don't get it.

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@Toppers wrote:
@magicmoodz wrote:
@just bee wrote:
@momtochloe wrote:
@just bee wrote:
When I was younger it would drive me nuts that my parents spent so much time pouring over the weekly store ads. When I got older and shopped for my mother, she had me running from store to store: Dairy from Store A; bread from Store B; meat from Store C. Infuriating!

Now that I'm older I find myself doing the same thing. Better-half and I avoid restaurants and we cook at home. Take-out is rare, but we haven't given up the occasional pizza or Chinese. Fast food? No. Processed, packaged, "convenience" foods? Nay. We buy bulk when it's practical and keep a pantry of basics. Careful menu planning is key. Don't buy soda, rarely buy juices. Snack foods? I try to avoid those aisles.

We walk into a grocery store or Costco and suddenly go Amish. Meat and produce and "dry goods." Boring, perhaps, but I'm never embarrassed by what we have in the cart.
Oh goodness @just bee your post so hit home with me . . . my mom would drive me to distraction about what to buy where as she would want me to shop at five different stores and all I could think of was how much gas was costing -vs- saving a few pennies and how bad I wanted to just come home after a more than full day at work . . . oy.

I agree, I have more than become my mother in terms of watching my pennies but goodness I really struggled at times during those days . . .
It is to laugh! I always thought I'd grow up and shop at one grocery store and life would be simple. But I grew up and discovered what my mother already knew: There is no perfect grocery store. I feel like Smokey Robinson -- I shop around.
Oh dear. I won't even say how many groceries, co-ops, farmers markets, etc. in which I shop. Suffice it to say it might be in double digits. I'm not chasing leaders, but rather, I have my favorite items from all different stores.

It never ceases to amaze me when I read that women on this board do all their grocery shopping at Walmart. 😯
Hi @magicmoodz,

In some parts of the country, people may not have the luxury of being able to shop at many different types of markets.

Wal-Mart may just be one of a few choices where they can shop, especially if someone lives in a more rural area where shopping choices are more limited.

I think what I love best about these boards is that you learn so much about areas outside of your zone. I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and finding a consistent farmers market can be a challenge as we have pretty much paved over anything that was useful so at times those markets can be slim pickin's (boo on us).

These markets are coming back and I would love to support them but as I am struggling myself right now financially I need to find the most cost effective solution to my nutritional needs (and please know my backyard seems to be ground zero for those looking to feast as I cannot grow anything without it being dessimated by my furball friends) . . . .

Sigh.

bri20 · ‎03-10-2016

@momtochloe, there is a farmer's market set up at Yorktown Mall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

They have a lot of nice produce.

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@bri20 wrote:
@momtochloe, there is a farmer's market set up at Yorktown Mall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

They have a lot of nice produce.

Oh @bri20 thank you so much for this as I visisted them when they first set up the market and didn't have a lot of luck but clearly it has grown . . . is it Friday yet? . . . thank you again my friend, I really appreciate this!

bri20 · ‎03-10-2016

@momtochloe wrote:
@bri20 wrote:
@momtochloe, there is a farmer's market set up at Yorktown Mall on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

They have a lot of nice produce.
Oh @bri20 thank you so much for this as I visisted them when they first set up the market and didn't have a lot of luck but clearly it has grown . . . is it Friday yet? . . . thank you again my friend, I really appreciate this!

I was there this afternoon.

I got some of the biggest blueberries I have ever seen, beautiful zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets - lovely assortment of produce.