Managers specials at Kroger. I always scan the shelves for them.

 

Saw some 4 packs of the Activia Greek yogurt with a manager special markdown, $1.89! The date was July 4th, but with my daughter home for the summer we go through it.

 

Another time I saw the same kind of 4 packs marked down to $1.89. The date code was over a month away. I asked the dairy dude why they were marked down? He said it was because some other yogurts spilled on them and made the cardboard sleeve damp. Well I don't eat the cardboard sleeve so I grabbed them.

This is not the political forum. Lay off the politics or feel free to start a thread in the correct forum. This original poster wants ideas on how to reduce his food budget, not political back and forth.

Kroger brand popcorn is excellent. Talking about the kind you pop yourself in a pot. I prefer the white over the yellow. About $2 a bag. Should last at least a month. Eschew the more expensive designer brands. I pop mine with Kroger brand corn oil in an old garage sale aluminum pot. Eating fresh popcorn is far cheaper and healthier than consuming potato chips or Fritos.

For an Amazon Prime member, there is a new program called Amazon Prime Pantry. There is a growing selection of grocery items available for the program that do not require purchasing in large quantities or container sizes. For $5.99 shipping, you can purchase up to 45 pounds of products. I have not used the service yet, but some of the prices are very competitive. I suspect that this is the framework for what will become a big push into the grocery business for Amazon.

I just learned about a really neat app today, called Checkout 51. Each week, they have a list of foods that if you buy them and scan in your receipt, you earn money back. Once you've earned at least $20, you can "cash out" and they will send you a check. From there, you can start logging new buys.

 

I received a $1.00 credit just for signing up and earned 0.50 on strawberries that I had already purchased today.

I encourage people to check this out. I've been earning money on fresh produce. There seldom is a coupon for it, so it's nice to get cash back. So far, I've earned money back on Halls Cough Drops, strawberries and cucumbers. The list updates weekly. For this week, I could also get cash back on apples, salad mix, Carmex lip balm, Ruffles chips, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Pledge, Glade products, and Tropicana Orange Juice.

I think you painted yourself in a corner.

 

What ideas have you and the boss come up with?

 

And off the top of my head, drink more water.

 

So far, we are really price checking some of the other items we buy alongside groceries....toilet paper, paper towels. Also, I am trying to cut back on using paper towels and have more dish rags for example that are re-usable. I am ok with more ground beef and chicken and cheaper meats, but I can't quantify the savings yet.

So far, we are really price checking some of the other items we buy alongside groceries....toilet paper, paper towels. Also, I am trying to cut back on using paper towels and have more dish rags for example that are re-usable. I am ok with more ground beef and chicken and cheaper meats, but I can't quantify the savings yet.

 

I think you have pretty much nailed it. Either you eat less or eat cheaper.

 

And I hear on you paper towels, I think everyone at my house has a paper towel fetish and they don't like cheap ones...

 

Don't forget drinking a little more water each day.

What do you all budget for food per month? We have 5 in my house and spend around 400 a month or so?

 

We spend over $200 per week, and we don't throw any out. My wife has to eaten gluten-free though, and that's not easy.

Thanks for all the great ideas!! I hope others benefit as well. I did download the Kroger app also this weekend. My wife is also working with some other food budget apps, and if she hits gold, I will be sure to share it.

 

One last realization: This is our first garden in many years...we planted a lot of cabbage for some reason. We only kept 1 head for coleslaw, and the rest I gave away....about 20 heads...we won't plant vegetables we don't like any more unless we can work out a trade pact with someone. :clap:

Splurged on those delicious but expensive Busken cookies for my daughter's birthday.

But with a Manager Special 50% markdown, it's not such a splurge. :thumb:

You could also save money by getting all your condiments and sugars at fast food restaurants. Just stop in and pick up a couple hundred packets

 

Ah....college days!

 

Though I will admit to usually getting a few extra Tabasco packets from Panera now-a-days.