Set limit for grocery shopping

[Jaclyn]

I have a set limit for groceries every month I have to say that I sometimes go over but not that much, on the holiday that budget is blown for sure! Do you have a set limit and do you follow that limit every month?

[HeatherFeather]

I have to make a budget each month and try to stick to it, since I have a limited amount of money to work with.

I have 3 people and 1 dog to feed, and my budget is $100/week. However, I often try to reduce that amount by using coupons or using up food in the house whenever I have a month that hits me hard with unexpected expenses. There have been many weeks where I have been able to spend under budget, but it is rare that I go over on my food budget. (The money saved either goes into other bills or to save up for something we need to buy and can't afford right now.)

If there is a major food holiday, I budget for an extra $50-100 that month (depending on which holiday it is and whether or not I am having guests over).

[Denise]

I used to, but I don't any more. I try to shop wisely and not buy a bunch of stuff that is expensive. We don't eat steak or Red Snapper every week. I finally figured we have to eat, just suck it up and spend the money

[Kchurchill5]

I do set a limit. I am fortunate, because I don't need to; but I do set one. I think it is important to have goals and limits.

Sometimes, I just blow the whole thing on new items, or dishes I want to try; but, I try to stay or stick to a budget most weeks.

Every few weeks, I challenge myself to spend just 25-30 for the week. Basically trying to use and create dishes with what is on hand. Now, within that 25-30 dollars, I don't include pet food; soda; eggs, cheese. Obviously, because those I can't make. But it would include basically milk, cheese, and vegetables.
I almost always have rotisserie chicken, shrimp or pork in the freezer from leftovers; so this is what I try to use during these weeks. This is why I always cook up whole hams, turkeys, and chickens when on sale. They are great to cook ahead, cut up and freezer. When they go on sale, they are great to make ahead and freeze. Also works with pork loins when they go on sale. I cut up the loin in 1" pieces for either chops, or diced for other dishes.

I make meals like these ...
- leftover chicken, tossed with beans, onions, cheese, peppers, and taco seasoning
Maybe served with tortilla chips or over rice
- Pantry canned clams in a red sauce over pasta; or make the sauce vegetarian using mushrooms, carrots, peppers, etc. Vegetarian spaghetti
- tuna wraps. But add capers, olives, and fresh spinach to the tuna, Maybe adding cheese or other vegetables like artichokes (pantry). Chips or fries
- Leftover meatloaf (almost always in the freezer) made into open face sandwiches or grilled sandwiches served with spud salad
- Fried rice with chicken, shrimp, beef or pork; vegetables. Pantry items, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, frozen peas, onions, peppers, etc.
- Even using a pkg gravy mix; jazzed up with some herbs and maybe some white wine. Served over freezer chicken and peas; over biscuits made with Bisquick.
- And soup; a great way to use freezer vegetables, leftover pasta, potatoes, meat, spinach, kale, beans, cheese, you name it.

I make a potato soup with just 3 potatoes, 2 carrots, 1 onion and broth. It is fantastic, light and healthy; serve with grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches for a great easy dinner. Well within any budget.

Also, tortillas are always on hand. Great to make quesadillas from any leftovers; which makes for easy lunches or dinners.

These are some of the types of dinners I can usually make out of my pantry/freezer stash. It is a nice way to make sure to use stuff up rather than letting it go to waste.

So yes ... budgets are definitely important to stick with.

[AngelicCook]

I admire people that can stick to a budget, I tryed many times and always ended up buying more at the grocery store and blowing my budget

[ChattyCathy]

I've tryed to do that but there's so many great things at the store I just couldn't keep from adding in extras into my basket, I just have no will power at all

[Felix4067]

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.

[Peppermint_Patty]

Budget here but I'll admit I'm bad for keeping it, some weeks I do and some not

[Peppermint_Patty]

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

[Kchurchill5]

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 should say ... if my list is 50.00 for me (I cook for others, so that is NOT part of my budget); and then the steak or the chicken isn't on sale; I may change and go with something else; but as much as I cook. I can pretty much add everything up at home and come within 10.00 of the total.

I don't use many coupons because it seems that there are not coupons for things I use that much. Sometimes; but yes, I do a running total; and if I know I am going to run over; I may buy the beans or the olive oil or sherry wine next week. I wasn't out of them, but just about it; so I know I could wait another week; they were just on my list as I was almost out. Or rather than yogurt, I will do cottage cheese this week, or simply and just do fruit; or a poached egg and toast. which I already have on hand.

But I may go over if I see a sale - say on a turkey. It may be more expensive; but I can cook it up and get 4-8 dinners out of 1 turkey, or more; same with if chickens are on sale, I may be up two and cook them up.

But, is chicken breasts aren't on sale, I get thighs; and if you want chicken salad, but expensive; just change to a tuna salad; egg salad or even ham salad which can be very affordable. Even canned chicken isn't too bad. And like I said, sometimes roasting a whole chicken is cheaper than getting 4 breasts and you can make lots of things, including soup.