My Frugal Journey: Small Baby Steps at the Grocery Store

Make Your Own Snacks: Above is a delicious snack bar from this recipe.

I used to spend about $200 per week on groceries (when I am being totally honest, counting the amounts of mini trips I would take in between), I now have it down between 50-65 a week, and we aren't eating garbage and still eat mostly organic. I also do not spend my life in the kitchen, remember babies and children don't keep! A couple easy tips to save money at the grocery store:

Meal Plan- I am really shocked I didn't always do this. I plan down to the snacks. I will post my full menu starting next Monday which will include 3 meals and 2 snacks.

1. When you do this, base it on sales flyer's from your preferred grocery store or co-op. So if there is a huge sale on chicken or tofu, that is what you base your weekly meals around.
2. Stock up when main dish items (meats, tofu, vegetables) hit a really low price and freeze them.
3. Even better batch/freezer cook family favorites with these sale items for other weeks when sales aren't as good. More on this soon.
4. Grow your own vegetables or buy them in season and local farm markets (or join a CSA)
5. You don't need to have an exotic meal every night of the week.  Stick to things your family likes, and once per week make something different.
6. I pick a few vegetable sides per week and make them different ways on different nights.
7. I buy the whole grain side dishes on sale in bulk (brown rice, pastas, quinoa etc)
8. Breakfasts consist of: fruit, protein, whole grain
9. Lunches/Dinners consist of:, vegetable, protein, whole grain (usually leftovers from the night before)
10. Snacks are vegetable and or fruit and protein.

Stop Buying Prepackaged Snacks*: a huge money vacuum for parents is are all those cute snacks they market to kids.  Not sure what I mean? Cheese sticks & shapes, fun shaped crackers, yogurt tubes, fruit snacks, ice pops, mini snack bags,granola bars, etc.

*-there is an exception to this rule, and it is using a combination of coupons and sales where you are getting them for a significant discount. That is the ONLY time I will buy these items.

Snacks don't have to be elaborate! They also don't have to be different each day.

1.  I make double batches of healthy muffins, granola or granola bars and stick them in the freezer
2. I buy thinks like carrots and apples in bulk and that pair them with yogurt or cheese.
3. We make smoothies and freeze the leftovers in popsicle molds.
4. I make popcorn a couple times a week as our snack for fun.
5. I have vegetables/fruits cleaned and cut as soon as we get back from the farmer's market for easy access.
6. I also keep crakers/popcorn in a  jar on the counter for easy access

Both my husband and I have lost weight as a result of this, a great side effect of making your own snacks and sticking to whole foods.

Try Making Your Own

There are so many great recipes out there to make your own, I will be sharing my favorites in the upcoming weeks:

1. Breads (sandwich, rolls, pitas, pizza dough etc)
2. Muffins
3. Cookies and cereal bars
4. Yogurt
5. Salad dressings
6. Dips
7. Crackers
8. Pita chips
9. Pickles
10. Jam and nut butters

Overhwhelmed? Just choose one thing, and make the change and see if there is a difference. I will focus in on this list in the upcoming weeks.....
Do you have any great ideas for saving at the grocery store?