Set limit for grocery shopping

[Denise]

I don't set a budget, because I never know how much money I'm going to be making. Some weeks I can easily spend $200 and not feel it, other weeks I buy only milk and bread. What I do, though, is make a list according to the sale ad, and do not buy anything that is not on the list. Well, with the exception of things I need that aren't on sale, of course. As I fill my cart, I keep a mental running tally of how much I'm spending, and sometimes I'll choose not to buy something if I feel like I'm going over by too much.

It's certainly not scientific, but it works for me.

Great planning Felix, I also make a list according to the sales I try hard not to go over but usually do but not by much

I rarely, if ever, buy meat that isn't on sale. They always have chicken breast here for $2.25 per pound, so I'll buy 5-6 packages of it, enough to last until the next sale. It saves so much money! I am wanting to grill steak tonight, so I'll look and see who has the best deal, Publix or Kroger and will go there.

[Kchurchill5]

I just picked up a ham this am. pre-cooked, but not spiral. I will bake later today with a simple mustard/brown sugar glaze (basic), then slice it up. Some for a sandwich or two, then maybe some during the week, if dinners get held up; and, then most importantly, the rest in the freezer. All cut up in bags and the ham bone too.

I have enough for mac and cheese; pasta with peas and ham in a cheese sauce; fritatta; ham salad; and scalloped potatoes and ham. And each dish will feed at least 4. Plus soup which will feed 8. And the ham was only 14.00. Deal.

Chicken, Only if it is under 1.99 do I buy the breasts. I just got breasts for 99 which was great, bone in, but so much more flavor then boneless. And it only takes a minute to debone them. And the bones are great for soup.

I also got skirt steak this am. 1 large steak; sorry I don't remember $ per lb, but enough for 6-7 people for less than 10.00. Good deal. Serve with a fresh salsa. Some grilled potatoes and corn on the cob; and again ... SHOP THE SALES.

Or I could grill up the steak and top a salad for a light summer meal, and feed even more people. A Caesar salad is so easy to make (the dressing). Just toss with romaine, add some grilled onions and peppers and top with the grilled steak. Add some grilled bread; and dinner for at least 8 for hardly $2 per person for a steak dinner.

[Meggins]

Me too Denise I never buy any beef for that matter unless there is a really good deal, I try to watch for sales on chicken also I really never buy them at full price either.

Ham is something I buy on the holidays I also find it doesn't freeze well.

[Kchurchill5]

Never had a problem with ham. I freeze it all the time. I just double bag it and I wrap it in parchment. I would be lost without my frozen ham.

[Meggins]

Never had a problem with ham. I freeze it all the time. I just double bag it and I wrap it in parchment. I would be lost without my frozen ham.

strange, I find that the texture changes after freezing it

[Chocolatl]

I've never had a problem with frozen ham, either.

[Felix4067]

I honestly don't remember the last time I made ham that wasn't frozen. I find it does excellently in the freezer, whether it's a precooked, a spiral, or a raw one. It's pretty much never on sale when I have time or am interested in making one, so into the freezer they go every single time.

[Meggins]

My problem is that it holds in a large amount of water after freezing, and if I use it to add into salads I have to squeeze out the moisture before I add it to anything for that matter

[TSmiths56]

Yes I find that happens with the deli ham thats sold in slices, sometimes I buy a block when it's on sale and add it into salads, if I freeze any then it does thaw out with a lot of water and I find myself squeezing out the liquid before I add it.

[Felix4067]

Huh. I'll have to pay attention next time. I find ham to contain a lot of water when it's fresh, too. Especially the sliced or cubed packaged kind that's ready-to-use. I always have to press it between paper towel before adding it to salads.