rosebud30
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Posts: 42
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Post by rosebud30 on Jun 10, 2011 13:23:39 GMT -5
Wow! I'm impressed by the diligent and efficient efforts by the ladies here with their grocery shopping! I've been on these boards for a few years, but haven't checked out the Grocery Challenge, maybe I should!
pbmom - I shop for one, and this year I'm sending on average $180/month on groceries, and that does not include cleaning supplies, etc. The best I've done since I started tracking 4 years ago was an average of $130/month. I live in the San Francisco area, so prices are above average for me. I eat out for lunch quite a bit, so my grocery shopping is mainly for breakfast, dinner, and snacks. I started planning my meals a few months ago, and that has lowered my grocery bills (and relieves a certain amount of stress from trying to decide what to eat every night).
wvugurl26 - I can relate! I had issues with my fridge for awhile. The freezer would freeze over and then defrost itself and food would go bad. I stopped buying freezer items. It got to the point where I was actually taking a hair dryer to the freezer to try and defrost it before it did it itself. When I finally did go to management, unlike your situation, they were responsive and got me a new fridge, which has made all the difference in the world! I can actually put things in the freezer now and not worry they'll go bad. I'm sorry to hear your management is being so stubborn and unresponsive! And with all the other problems - definitely move! Your life will improve tremendously without having all of that to worry about.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
Joined: Jan 2, 2011 13:12:46 GMT -5
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Post by mizbear on Jun 10, 2011 18:40:46 GMT -5
I am looking at everyone else's grocery budgets! OUCH! It's a really good thing I like pasta. And in case anyone is curious, I measure the servings unless I have company over- so I only get 2 oz uncooked at a time.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jun 11, 2011 11:14:52 GMT -5
mzbear I also measure out my pasta but I do cook 2 servings at a time. one to eat immediatly and one for later in the week. Saves cooking a second time. I'll only have to boil up the water 1x vs. 2 saves time & electric. IF I do not eat the past in a couple days I just pop the extra serving in the freezer for when I do eat it again.
Right now I am thinking about some whole wheat pasta frozen 10 days ago w/sauted tomato, mushrooms and spinach for lunch. OR a frozen pizza.
I also (like MANY things) batch cook my rice and freeze the extra. I have found that rice is like bread and can be defrosted and refrozen MANY times.
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Elderkind
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Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty....
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:33:49 GMT -5
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Post by Elderkind on Jun 11, 2011 11:59:59 GMT -5
Iggy: Thank you! ;D You made my day with your kind words!
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mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Jun 11, 2011 14:48:12 GMT -5
I went over budget this month- but I want to try some new things. For starters, my DM got me all new Rubbermaid containers that I want to start using for bulk cooking. I am going to experiment with this for the summer and let everyone know how this turns out.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jun 11, 2011 17:07:11 GMT -5
mizbear I do enjoy cooking but HATE it on busy, shopping and/or visit my Dad days. As a result of knowing my limitations I do batch cook regularly. Those containers are really quite good. You may find yoy want more. I believe Dollar Tree has them too.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Jun 13, 2011 14:29:41 GMT -5
I thought of a nice advantage to cooking for one- DM is likely going to be moving in with me. She has many food allergies and is somewhat of a picky eater. I have no food allergies and do not eat nearly as picky as I used to (good thing since I'm broke). I can cook for each of us in bulk and package it in individual servings. I never thought of it on this level, but my DGM did this for years when I lived at home (her house will always e home) because I didn't eat what everyone else did.
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constanz22
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Post by constanz22 on Jun 13, 2011 19:46:16 GMT -5
I've never frozen pasta before (other than lasagna)...thanks for the tip! I'll definitely have to try it! I eat a lot of leftovers. I really don't mind eating the same thing for 2 or 3 meals in a row. I don't freeze a lot of already cooked food because, honestly, once it goes into the freezer, I tend to forget about it and end up throwing it out cuz it's freezer burnt.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jun 14, 2011 8:08:27 GMT -5
I cook up & freeze 4-6 servings of rice. Rice is like bread. It can be frozen & defrosted numerous times.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Jun 14, 2011 19:14:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip on the rice Holly. Last time I needed rice I bought the actual package of rice since it was cheap and I have a rice/veggie steamer. I used up the last of the packages of Birds Eye frozen rice I got for free with doubled coupons.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Jun 14, 2011 20:09:17 GMT -5
I have found that for frozen soups- rice sometimes holds up better than pasta.
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jun 15, 2011 6:34:52 GMT -5
mizbear I don't usually put the carb like rice or pasta into into a soup I am going to freeze. I add it after defrosting when I am ready to eat. Only exception is my beef, veg, mushrrom & barley soup.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Jun 15, 2011 10:24:36 GMT -5
holly- That sounds beary delicious!
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marvholly
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Post by marvholly on Jun 16, 2011 6:02:34 GMT -5
It is delicous and it is a full balanced meal in a bowl starting w/CHEAP chuck.
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mizbear
Senior Member
Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Jun 16, 2011 11:50:19 GMT -5
My parents always fed us takeout. So there was never any money. I actually ended up sick because of the way we ate. So eating real food and eating on the cheap are really important to me. But yes, if you can't afford it- it's too much.
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