Poll: Grocery Budgets

After a hiatus due to the holidays and some family issues, we're bringing back our polls. Check out the latest poll, "What do you think is a reasonable grocery budget for a family of four?"

Reducing our grocery costs has been at the top of my list of financial goals for some time, especially now that food prices are skyrocketing. I do what I can with coupons and shopping sales, but there are certain sacrifices I'm not willing to make when it comes to saving money at the supermarket. Most weeks, a full half of my list consists of fresh produce, and when I look at my receipt, the big ticket items are usually lean cuts of meat or non-processed dairy items. Once I actually calculated what I was spending on diet soda, I confronted my problem with caffeine and cut down our bills.

So when a friend told me she spends over 200 dollars a week feeding her family of four, I was amazed because I spend considerably less than that for MY family of four, and was still worried that I needed to crunch my budget a little more. I also picked up a copy of the new magazine Clean Eating to see if their headline of '5 Dinner For 60 Dollars' was reasonable. Not only was it do-able, but I made some small changes and did it for even less. And found all 5 recipes to be tasty, healthy and easy.

You can read about my experiment here and also take the 60 dollar challenge yourself.

We'd love to know: what do you consider to be a reasonable grocery budget for your family? What are the most expensive items on your list? Do you have plans to cut down the amount you spend? Any tips or tricks?

Saving Time and Money: Convenience Products

When people think of convenience items with respect to cooking and food, the general consensus is that convenient doesn't equal healthy. A lot of prepackaged foods are loaded with sugar, salt, fat, artificial coloring or additives that cancel out the quick and easy part. Lately though, I've been seeing more and more items in my local grocery store that don't live up to that junky reputation, and I've been experimenting with new foods.

As a mom to two small kids, I'm a big fan of anything that makes preparing meals quick while still maintaining a nutritious final product. While many convenience products cost more, sometimes the added cost is worth the time it saves you. If you watch your sales and use coupons, you can purchase groceries that will shave minutes off your food preparation for little to no extra money. The following list is just a sampling of some products that I love for their convenient nature.

• The Laughing Cow Mini Babybel Cheese: I bought these for the first time for a ten hour car trip and was not disappointed. The cheese is not processed and is wrapped in individual waxed portions, making them perfect for lunches or an on-the-go snack. I bought them on sale and used a coupon, and the final price was exactly the same I would have paid for a block of cheese, which would then need to be sliced and wrapped.
• Perdue Perfect Portions Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: There's no doubt about it, this item will cost you more than regularly packaged chicken breast, but again, if you wait for a sale and use a coupon, these individually wrapped chicken breasts can cost the same amount of money as meat that needs to be trimmed or separated. They're perfect for small families or single people, and come plain or seasoned with Italian spices, teriyaki flavor, or tomato and basil. They can be frozen, and baked without thawing them. I buy these every once in awhile when I can get the good price, and they come in handy because they can be cooked with very little effort. Toss a salad together and steam some vegetables while the chicken bakes, and dinner is ready in literally 15 minutes.
• Instant Rice: Nutritionally speaking, instant rice is the same as non-instant rice. We eat brown rice, which takes 45 minutes in the microwave if I use the regular version, so being able to have rice quickly is a huge plus for me. If I precook meat in my crockpot, I can throw a stirfry together in ten minutes if I also use instant rice.
• Canned Tomatoes: The store brand is almost always perfectly adequate, and this item is incredibly versatile. Buy the no-salt-added version to reduce the sodium in your diet, and if you are using canned tomatoes, also eliminate any additional salt a recipe calls for. Canned tomatoes can be used in soups, stews, sauces or chilis, in Spanish rice or in toppings for chicken. Buy them preseasoned or with chopped chilis also in the can.
• Bagged Salad: Money-wise, bagged salad will cost about twice as much as fresh lettuce. I never buy bagged lettuce, but I do occasionally buy bagged spinach because it has been vigorously prewashed and contains no grit. If you are pinched for time, bagged lettuce can help save you precious minutes in getting dinner on the table. Look for buy-one-get-one-free sales.
• Kashi Frozen Meals: Let's face it. Even the best of us have days when we just don't feel like cooking, or not enough time to cook a real dinner before rushing off to soccer practice or PTA meetings. Most frozen dinners are seriously lacking in the nutrition department, but I love Kashi's version. They don't contain enough calories for an entire meal, but are easily paired with salad or sliced fruit or baked potatoes or steamed vegetables. Compared to other brands, they are pricey, but you can get coupons for Kashi products through the website, and stock up when they go on sale.
• Birds Eye SteamFresh Frozen Vegetables: I usually steam my veggies in my Pampered Chef Microwave Steamer, but if I'm in a super hurry, I buy these assortments that steam right in the bag in the microwave. It's not worth the extra money to buy the individual vegetables, but my favorite is the Asian Medley, which is exactly right for that ten minute stirfry.

What about you? What treasures have you found in your grocery store that help make cooking dinner easier?

Spotlight On Produce: Green Onions

As a self-proclaimed picky eater, onions were always something that I didn't care for. As an adult, I experimented with onions and discovered that if properly chopped and cooked, onions provide immeasurable flavor to any number of dishes.

Once I started trying new recipes, I found that a lot of them called for green onions, so I gave those a try too. They have become a staple in my kitchen. I put them in dips, salads, soups and stews. I like that they are mild, but still have a pronounced onion flavor.

Green onions, also called scallions or spring onions, are a variety of onion harvested immature before the bulb has formed. Both the green leaves and white bulbs are used raw or cooked. Onions are high in Vitamin C, fiber, and a trace mineral called chromium, which has been implicated in lowering blood glucose levels. Onions are used in every style cuisine imaginable and are available in most forms year-round.

When purchasing green onion, look for those that have green, fresh-looking tops that appear crisp, yet tender. The base should be whitish in color for two or three inches. Avoid those that have wilted or yellowed tops. Store green onions in the refrigerator, where they will stay fresh for about one week.

What are some of your favorite ways to use green onions?

Saving Time and Money: Navigating The Grocery Store

Grocery shopping can be a huge drain on your time and on your wallet, especially if you have a large family or if you work outside of the home. Here are some tips that have worked for me, intended to get you out of the store as fast as possible, while spending as little as possible.

1) Prepare ahead of time. This means having a basic idea of what you would like/need to cook in the following days, checking kitchen staples, and making a list. I plan my meals for the week in advance, so I make a simple menu. Then I list items I need to buy, plus things for lunches and other items like baby food or anything we may be running low on, such as milk or bread. Then I check my coupons and pull out any I may be able to use, and peruse the grocery store circulars for the best prices. If you don't get the paper, most chains have the circular available online. I also organize my list by department; all produce items together, all dairy items together, etc, so I spend less time crisscrossing the store for something I forgot. It sounds like a lot of work, but it actually takes very little time and it saves precious moments in the store.

2)Once you get to the store, stick to the list. The best way to do this is to not even go down aisles that don't stock things on your list. Be aware of advertising and impulse purchases. This article on MSN Money lists fifteen ways that stores use advertising to get you to spend more money.

3) If you are shopping with your kids, come prepared with diversions. The store I most frequently shop at has the carts with the ride-in truck attached. They are harder to steer, but my toddler loves them and he has so much fun that shopping for food is much easier. Older kids can hold your list and help cross items off as you get them, and if you have a math-minded child, they can help compare prices. A friend gives her toddler a sheet of stickers from the dollar store and lets her decorate items as she puts them in the cart. When I buy produce, involving my son in deciding what kind of fruits or vegetables to buy not only keeps him occupied, but also makes him more likely to eat it.

4) Avoid shopping on the busiest days or at the busiest time of day. Those days and times will vary depending on where you live, but I have found Saturday mornings and right around 5PM during the week to be the times to avoid. Store hours will also vary, but my favorite store is open until midnight seven days a week. I have found that the store is practically empty if I go when the kids are in bed for the night. I leave them home with my husband and get to shop by myself in relative silence.

5) Keep an eye on prices. Just because an item is on sale doesn't make it the best option. Another brand may be cheaper. Many stores list a price per unit, such as ounces or pounds, so that is one way to compare if the larger package really is the better deal.

6) Consider store brands. While there are some items I am absolutely brand loyal to, such as Sunmaid Raisins or Perdue chicken, I'll try just about anything once. A lot of store brands are comparable to the more expensive brand name product and can save you a lot of money. For example, I will buy Safeway brand bread crumbs and frozen vegetables, but not canned soup or tuna fish.

7) Stock up on staples. At certain times of the year, you can buy certain pantry staples for way below normal price. Baking goods are usually on sale around the holidays and soups are cheaper (and more coupons available) in the winter months. If you have the storage space, buying non-perishable staples for next to nothing will save you a lot of money. Be sure, however, that the item is something that you will use. It does you no good to buy canned beans for better than half price if your family doesn't care for beans. A good option for those very cheap items you just can't pass up is to donate the food to your local food pantry.

8) Consider coupons. Many stores will double or triple coupons. Don't forget that if you buy an item on a 'buy one get one free' sale, you can use two coupons. Check out www.couponmom.com or google 'coupon websites' for more options. You can also visit the website for your favorite brands, many offer printable coupons for the products. If you have babies, sign up for savings programs through Gerber, Enfamil, Similac, or whatever brands you use. Gerber offers coupons for jar foods and Enfamil Family Beginnings provides a few cans of free formula, a free diaper bag, and 75 dollars in coupons for formula. There are websites to trade coupons, websites offering couponing advice, and websites telling you which coupons to use at which grocery store. If you are interested, the possibilities are endless. My local paper offers coupons on the weekends, and a cost of 99 cents per week, the coupons more than pay for the paper. Be sure not to fall prey to buying an item just because you have a coupon. It doesn't save money to buy two of something so you can use the coupon if you only needed one of the item.

9) On warm days, shop for nonperishables first, then food that needs to be refrigerated/frozen to minimize spoiling or thawing.

10) When checking out, group like products together on the belt. Be sure to keep meat separate from your produce. When you get home, putting away your purchases will be easier. I make sure all my perishables are bagged together. Then if my kids are fussy when we get home, all I have to do is grab those bags and put them away. I can give my attention to my kids and leave the rest for later.

11) Buy "family size" packages of items you use a lot of. Ground beef, for example, is often several dollars cheaper per pound if the package is more than three pounds. Separate the meat when you get home into labeled freezer bags and store in the freezer.

12) Beware of extras. Grocery store prices on things like cosmetics, OTC medications, diapers and paper goods are often two to three times higher than at another retailer. I have often tossed a pair of pantyhose or a roll of paper towels into my cart if it was the only non-cooking thing I needed, but if you have a long list of things like this, it may be worth it to go to the other store. It depends heavily on what retailers you have available and how close they are.

Have a tip not listed here? Leave a comment!