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Farm Kitchen: How much did your grocery bill go up... |
mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 09:38:05 AM
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Mine stayed the same but I did cut back just to the basics. No more fancy cheeses or special breads, so I would say about $17-$25.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 10:08:30 AM
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I'm really feeling it as far as butter. In spring I could get it for under $2.00/lb. now it's about 3.50/lb. I wish I would have frozen more of it. I am a coupon clipper. I have found that I can save on organics if I visit product websites. I buy baby Stoneyfield yogurt, and they give coupons for $1.00 off. No forms to fill out.
Trish Farmgirl Sister #91 Make cupcakes not war! http://adventuresofowenmaxwell.blogspot.com/ |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 11:00:17 AM
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We're down to just the two of us and our grocery bill went UP by half! Tomatoes were $2.45/lb. I thought it would go down some after dd left for school, but the price increases more than made up for that. Not to mention the price of gas just to get to the store. We keep hearing the price per barrel is going down quite a bit, but we're only seeing a penny difference here and there.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/ My Website: http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
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mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 11:12:14 AM
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I know - it's really shocking to the budget! When we are at the cabin, the closest grocery store of any size (Albertsons) is about 75 miles away, so I'm going to have to be SUPER organized when I go to town to cut down on trips. There is a little IGA about 60 miles away, but they don't carry any organics. Really going to make me think before I head to the store.
Farmgirl Sister #98 Check out my new online store http://www.shopthefrontier.com/VFstore/index.php?manufacturers_id=79&osCsid=6be4b25bf9555031c6e2e86bbde23dba |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 12:12:47 PM
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I would say my grocery bills have gone up by about $20 as well (for two adults). But I've also been buying more organic stuff, and more garden burgers and tofurkey deli meat, which aren't cheap. My husband has some weird digestion/blood sugar issues, so I'm kind of at the mercy of what he feels like he can eat at any given time. We've had to give up eggs, and I'm so sad. No more quick and easy omelet suppers. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 12:52:21 PM
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We used to be able to shop for about $150 a month for all three of us, and it is now more than $300 a month. Ugh! Winco which is a grocery store in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California has amazing prices. We sure are missing that store now! It is hard to pay double for the same product!
Costco saves us a lot of money though. They have a lot of Organics.
Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4737 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4737 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 1:39:04 PM
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I had to change my shopping habits. I only get a few essentials at Whole Foods now, the rest I get from Nature's Best (a small Mexican grocery store) and my own garden. I've been able to keep the bill down this way. It takes me 2.5 hours to shop though. Both stores are about a half hours drive, one way, from my house. They are worth the trip though.
Dawn in IL |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2008 : 2:00:22 PM
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I have noticed a huge difference, but I think it will be even worse once my garden quits producing for the year! Our fruit trees didnt' do much this year since we had late freezes so I am still buying fruit each week...and my kids eat like hogs when it comes to the good stuff. AND since Mona will be calving so late we have been buying milk all summer...which is alot. We got through 7-10 gallons a week @ $3.00 each. I gave up my Basmati rice...it has doubled in price...so I am back to regular long grain rice...I am thankful I have lot of that in food storage but I do LOVE good rice now and then. I think it has proabably effected us by about $50 each trip to the store (every 2 weeks I do my BIG shopping) with 6 of us at home.
Jenny in Utah Proud Farmgirl sister #24 Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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82kygal
True Blue Farmgirl
548 Posts
Laura
Somerset
Kentucky
USA
548 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 06:43:23 AM
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I pay more now for groceries than when I had three teenage boys living at home. that was only four years ago. That is sad and scary. I agee with Alee I miss the Winco in Idaho
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27) What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 08:25:31 AM
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This time of year our grocery bill is very low because of the garden and our freezer full of meat. I dread winter when I buy veggies when they are at their highest prices.
We've saved a mint since I've been making homemade laundry soap and softener and lotion, soap, etc. I even make my own body wash now and used to spend quite a lot on it. Toothpaste is another...baking soda and salt is nice and cheap. Guess those things offset the higher price of milk products which we do purchase...don't plan on getting a cow anytime soon. With just DH and I, not enough consumption to justify the cost of keeping a cow and the time commitment too.
I am glad I'm not feeding a family right now with the current prices. Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266 http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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elphie0503
True Blue Farmgirl
500 Posts
Samantha
Gilmer
Texas
USA
500 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 1:37:19 PM
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I don't even want to break out my calculator...I'm too afraid to see. I do know that we are starting to change some of our spending habits when it comes to food...we'll see how that goes.
Samantha
www.elphie0503.blogspot.com
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort~~Albright
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 1:44:04 PM
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I can't tell except for just seeing the price on the shelf. I buy only what is on sale and I buy a ton of it. The only thing I buy on a regular basis is milk, half and half and butter milk. I bought butter today is was on sale for $2.39. The last time it was on sale it was 2 @ $3.00. Have you seen the price of veg oil, canola and corn oil? It is right at $5.00 here. Makes you cut down on the deep frier use. I have switch to store brands on some things. Today I bought a couple of cans of the really cheap brand hominy and saurkraut. They were on sale for $.39. We'll see if they are fit to eat. Anyway, our weekly groc run from $10 to $100. |
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frolicnfibers
True Blue Farmgirl
668 Posts
Diana
White City
Oregon
USA
668 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 9:56:55 PM
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It's just my husband and myself, and we never used to hit $100 but the last three weeks it has been $110 :(
Diana
Please come visit my animals and my Etsy store on my new blog! http://www.frolicnfibers.blogspot.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2008 : 05:36:16 AM
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Well we never really had a grocery budget per se but I do notice that when I expect the cart to be about $50.00 it is closer to $70.00. WE have altered our spending habits just slightly and are trying better to use our leftovers. Neither of us are big leftovers eaters. I'm trying better to remember that there are only two of us and we probably don't need 4 cans of beans every time I shop. I used to be bad about "stocking" up everytime I went to the store. We decided to fill a whole pantry shelf with "emergency" type food that could be eaten right from the can if needed and then we started jsut buying what we need. We always shop together and we found if we eat BEFORE we shop we tend to buy less. We have made shopping night kind of a date night. We go out to eat and tehn do the shopping. That has really helped.
Farmgirl Sister #17 Blog www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com Felt and Fabric Crafts www.willowartist.etsy.com www.willowtreecreek.com
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luvnlife
True Blue Farmgirl
82 Posts
Michele
Quincy
WA
USA
82 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2008 : 4:50:14 PM
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I started keeping a food diary/price list lately and it is amazing to see in my own handwriting exactly how much things have gone up month to month. My grocery bill has gone up and I'm trying to feed our crew of four (includes two teenagers) on less than $400/mo. This is including all cleaners/paper goods, feminine products etc... $400 a month may seem like a lot to some but it's nearly half what I used to spend. I'm shopping with a menu planned, a list in hand, no kids around to toss in extras into the cart, a full tummy beforehand and buying generic whenever I can and it's still not easy.
Family life is the source of the greatest human happiness. This happiness is the simplest and least costly kind, and it cannot be purchased with money~Havighurst Farmgirl Sister #306 :) |
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Rebekka Mae
True Blue Farmgirl
965 Posts
Rebekka
Moscow
ID
USA
965 Posts |
Posted - Sep 08 2008 : 5:06:13 PM
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I decided this spring to start cutting WAY back on packaged foods...we spend more on food compared than some people here, ours does include baby wipes, seventh generation diapers for when we travel, toilet paper and all the other stuff I don't remember to separate out- all organic or local and worth every penny to me but I was so proud to cut our bill by 25-30%. Then prices started to rise and I am still buying as much in bulk as possible, cooking from scratch, going to Costco for some things and Winco as well- now we are back up to the same bill without any of the old, more expensive stuff. I do keep some of Mary Jane's Northwest Couscous and task bars around for those days when I have been canning and I am too tired to cook, that helps avoid a call for pizza or take out food. The budget mix is also super helpful when it comes to making pizza, pancakes, muffins, etc. I am taking full advantage of the farmers market and local farms and my garden will be much bigger next year to help offset the bill even further. So far I have over 70 jars of food canned, mainly fruit, and I haven't even started on my apple and pear sauce- this is only my second year canning so I am having fun learning the ropes.
Rebekka
www.bebebella.etsy.com
As a woman I have no country. As a woman, my country is the whole world.
Virginia Woolf |
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keeperofthehome
True Blue Farmgirl
154 Posts
Suzanne
Atlanta
Georgia
USA
154 Posts |
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kissmekate
True Blue Farmgirl
890 Posts
Kate
Delano
Minnesota
890 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 5:31:35 PM
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I would say ours had gone up between 20-30 dollars per week. I am definitely down to just basics some weeks.
We have an Aldi's sort of near by, perhaps I will try there.
I have also been living on some of our excess too.
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
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Hanalu
True Blue Farmgirl
123 Posts
Hana
Redwood City
California
USA
123 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 11:02:30 PM
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Does anybody go to Trader Joe's???....tons of organic food and the prices are really reasonable! I can't do all of my shopping there but I get what I can there first for a great price! Unfortunately most stores are on the West coast and a few on the East coast... |
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KansasConnie
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
Connie
Atchison County
Kansas
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Sep 13 2008 : 2:36:21 PM
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I really like Aldi! Their products are all good quality and much cheaper. Milk is just a little over $3 while it is nearly $4 at the conventional grocery!
Wish there was a Trader Joe's closer--I've heard great things about it!
Kansas Connie |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 08:40:20 AM
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Organic food has gone through the roof. I just spent 6.59$ for a gallon of Horizon milk! I always buy the organic milk because the boys drink/eat it every day. A bag of small gala apples is over $6. We had a few at home still, so that would wait. Raspberries were on sale, so I got 6oz as a treat for my little guy for $2.50 but I was pretty disappointed to find several already molding in the middle. Organic grape tomatoes were $4.00 for a pint. Butter is always around $6 a pound and cheese is similar. When things are on sale, I buy 2 (or 3) if I can afford it. Two pounds of Full Circle organic white rice was $4. My canned black soy beans and red beans were Eden Organics at $1.69 each. I couldn't afford the organic chocolate chips ($6 a package) but an organic cookie mix was on sale for $2.99, so I got that. Same with a brownie mix. So I basically got 2 sweet treats for the price of the chips.
My nearest Whole Foods is about an hour away, so I rarely go there. The same with Trader Joes. I have a health foods store about 1/2 hour away and I stop in for some things that I can't get at my local grocery when I'm in that city. WalMart has started getting some organic things in as well but there's not a big selection.
I am cutting back on some things as well. |
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MaryP
True Blue Farmgirl
58 Posts
Mary
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 10:09:12 AM
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I buy everything in bulk, on sale, or if it is too expensive..not at all! So my grocery bill has remained almost the same the last EIGHT years.
I buy butter and milk on sale and freeze them if I have to, or I buy powdered milk and leave butter out of recipes when possible.
I buy 100 pound bags of flour, rice, and beans and make my own bread, noodles, refried beans, tortillas, and pancakes.
I bought chicks instead of chicken from the store, and did the dirty work myself. (and now we have a freezer full of chicken that cost approx $1.50 each accounting for costs)
When the hens lay eggs, if we have too many I freeze them for later.
And we grew a huge garden so we could freeze as much as possible.
I used to buy things like tv dinners or pizza rolls, lots of premade food. So really my lifestyle has changed more than anything. I believe the giant bags of flour have gone up a few dollars, but putting that in perspective that's like 1 loaf of bread going up $.002 cents given how many loaves I get out of that giant bag.
If prices went up really high I would stop buying butter and start making applesauce every fall and canning it (applesauce is a great low fat sub in baking). I'd stop buying milk and start drinking more water, and I'd plant an even bigger garden and really work it (you can get 2 harvests out of a lot of veggies), and possibly even build a green house. I would also pay very close attention to where all the fruit trees are on public land so that when the fruit is ripe I could harvest it free of charge. Last but not least, I'd start hunting and fishing more. |
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MaryP
True Blue Farmgirl
58 Posts
Mary
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - Sep 14 2008 : 10:10:49 AM
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Oh yeah, and I live in town. I don't know what I'd do if I lived on a farm! I'm pretty sure I'd never go to the grocery store again! |
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Farm Kitchen: How much did your grocery bill go up... |
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