Grocery Shopping 101

An actual DuBose shopping cart!

First things first. Before you can eat healthy you need the right ingredients.

In my last post I mentioned that we stick to a very tight grocery budget. For the two of us, we spend about $120 a month on groceries.

Yep. $120 a month. For two people. That means we eat for about $30 a week. Or $4 per day. For me to eat on $2 a day makes my wallet happy!

You might be thinking, "They are starving themselves!! Poor souls!" But we aren't! Our fridge is full and so are our stomachs! My husband is 6' 3" and he eats seconds pretty much every night at dinner.

YES. IT CAN BE DONE, PEOPLE. But how?

1. Big Brands = Big Bucks

We grocery shop at Aldi. It's a small grocery store, but the prices are great. After shopping at various grocery stores in our area, I've found that Aldi consistently has the lowest prices on the things we buy most. As odd as it may sound, a lot of people like the grocery shopping experience. It's just like eating out at a fancy restaurant. You eat out somewhere nice and you feel luxurious! You shop at a premium grocery store and you feel high class! Well, while you're saving your pennies, don't worry too much about feeling fancy. Relish in feeling frugal!

2. Plan Ahead

Set a budget. What can you afford to spend on groceries each month? $100? $120? For a larger family $200?
Once you've made it to your big-savings store, make sure you have a LIST. Getting up to the register and finding you've gone over budget is a bad feeling. Get your phone out and keep tabs on your total as you put things into the cart. If you're getting close to budget at the end, it helps you decide, "Do I really need these crackers?"

3. Wants and Needs

Speaking of crackers, we need to discuss what exactly goes on the list. If you want to eat healthy, choices have to be made. The biggest part of your budget should be devoted to produce. BUY PLANTS.
This is an example of what we buy monthly:

Fruit
Grapes
Apples
Oranges
Bananas
Something extra (like melon or berries)

Veggies
Carrots
Cabbage
Lettuce (Spring Mix)
Peppers
Cucumbers
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Onion
Sweet Potato
Something extra (like avocado or squash)

Bread and Grain
Tortillas
Rice Cakes
(We get free bread from school)

Dairy
2% Milk
Coffee Creamer
Fage (Greek yogurt)
Cheese sticks
Vanilla Yogurt

Meat
Whole chicken
1 lb. ground turkey
Eggs

Snacks
Hummus
Raisins
Popcorn
Pickles

Canned Food
Various types of beans
Canned fruit
Canned corn
Canned green beans
Spaghetti sauce

Dry Ingredients
Whole Wheat Pasta
Rice

Olive Oil

This is our staple list. I've found I can come up with countless combinations to make these ingredients work for us. (and have plenty of variety!) And yes, it really only costs $120.00

4. Make It Work

This is the BIG KEY to budget shopping. We only grocery shop once a month. Once, people.
Before, I would run to the store several times a month to get this or that and it really added up! If I was craving a certain something, I would get it. Or, if we were having guests I would go buy special ingredients. Nope. Can't do it on a budget. But, we're all human. And occasionally I'll run out of coffee creamer or eggs before the end of the month. In order to keep to the budget, we usually try to only spend $100 on that first trip so that we have $20 to spend later when things run out. Seriously, try it.
Also, only going shopping once a month makes your brain work! You have to get really creative after a couple weeks. Just because the fridge isn't as full doesn't mean there's "nothing to eat." You'll be surprised at the great recipes you can create with limited options. It's like being on "Chopped" from Food Network! :)

5.  The Little Things Count

There are some things in life that you shouldn't cut corners on. Duke's mayonnaise, for example. (Come on, people; you know the off-brand can never measure up!) However, there are some other small things you can do to save (on money AND on calories) here or there.
Check for coupons
Bring your own reusable bags from home (they cost 5 cent each at Aldi)
Try store-brand products
Say "no" to snack foods (they add up!)
Say "no" to drinks like sodas and fruit juices
Cut back on cheese and meat (probably the most expensive items in your cart)

Even after all that, you may still be thinking, "No way can I feed myself (or myself + a husband) on $120 a month." Well, I'm here to say that it can indeed be done, people!
I have shopping receipts to prove it! This is literally what that list above costs at Aldi.

Shop smart. Make a list and buy mostly plants. Done.