$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!? ~ What the Heck Did I Buy?

Now that's I've told you what all I do to prepare before I shop, I'm now going to answer the question "WHAT THE HECK DID I BUY?"  

I can answer that with one word: INGREDIENTS.  Prepackaged food costs more and you aren't quite sure what you are getting.  While I know it is more convenient, the cost savings is well worth it if you are sticking to a tight budget.  I do always buy a few prepackaged snacks as extra treats, but when they are gone, I put the ingredients to work and see what I can make.

I've found that the more ingredients I have, the more meals I'm able to throw together.  Here are some examples of INGREDIENTS commonly found in my home:

• Baking: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, milk, butter, oil, cornstarch, etc.
• Fruits and Veggies: fresh, frozen, and canned
• Meat: ground turkey, ground turkey sausage, chicken, tuna, canned chicken, fish, and shrimp
• Dairy: different cheeses, yogurt
• Grains: crackers and tortilla shells
• Spices: salt, pepper, garlic, cinnamon are staples and every now and then I'll add another one when the budget allows.

Here are some of the ways I make the INGREDIENTS work on a daily basis:

• Instead of buying cookies and bread, make them.  With a bread machine, bread is super simple to make and makes your house smell so yummy!  Cookie dough can be made in bulk and frozen for future use.
• Make a homemade pizza crust for a lot less than buying one in the store.  Add your favorite toppings and you've got a yummy dinner for your family.  
• Keep pasta, sauce, and meat on hand and you've always got a great dinner.  We add cheese and call it a pasta bake.
• Make refried beans in the crockpot.  Not only are they absolutely delicious, but one batch makes a large amount that you can use for months.  
• Keep sides simple.  Put a piece of fresh fruit on the plate or heat up some frozen veggies.
• Use up a bunch of random veggies by making veggie pot pie.  Put all veggies in the bottom of the dish and just top with one crust.  It saves money and calories.
• Tortilla Shells are a life saver.  Make homemade burritos (which can be made in bulk and frozen) or individual pizzas in a snap.  Make wraps or cheese roll ups for an easy lunch.

Next Up...Tools of the Trade

What ingredients do you buy?

Check out the other posts in this series: Say What!?!?!, Exceptions, Plan Before You Go, Where To Shop, How Often I Shop. The Two Cs, The Other C

Frugal Family Fun ~ Safe Halloween Coupon Books

Gavin goes to the local Easter Seals for PT and OT every week.  They do a fundraiser every year where they sell coupon books for kids.  They are $1 each and have all kids of free treats in them.  One day after church, we went to Azzip to get free kids' meals.  They are $5 each so we were doing great after that coupon alone!  On Macie's birthday, we decided to cash in a few more coupons.

 We went to Rally's for free fries:

 At Wesselmans, we got free rice krispy treats:

 At Donut Bank, we got three free donut holes:

And not pictured, the kids got mini cupcakes at Gigi's.  There are still some coupons we hope to use before they expire in November.  The $1 is well worth it and the proceeds go to a worth cause.  A win win in my book!

How does your family have frugal fun?

Frugal Family Fun ~ Fall Fest Rides

Rides are typically very expensive at festivals and socials.  During the Fall Festival, we only ride them if we are lucky enough to get some free tickets.  Nut Clubbers (the group that runs the fall festival) get free ride tickets and pass them on to family and friends.  My dad often gets free tickets and Brian gets them sometimes as well.  We reap the benefit and have some extra fun!  This year, we were able to do a few rides on Sunday and Wednesday because of free tickets (and a few extra bought by Grandpa).  Thanks Grandpa for providing my family with some frugal fun this week!

How does your family have frugal fun?

Frugal Family Fun: Wesselman's Park

Parks are a great way to enjoy some Frugal Family Fun.  Wesselman's park is free to get into.  We had 30 minutes to kill in between appointments.  It was fun to burn off some energy and here some giggles while they were spinning around on the swings.  Today's fun was the best kind of frugal...FREE!

How does your Family have Frugal Fun?

$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!? ~ The Two C's

Once you decide How Often To Shop, you need to make sure you bring with you THE TWO C'S: CASH and a CALCULATOR.  

Bringing CASH is a great way to make sure you stick with your budget.  If you only have a certain amount of money with you, than that is all you can spend.  Dave Ramsey speaks about a cash envelope system and we do a version of that.  We relish the fact that we can't overspend and are living within (actually below) our means. 

One concern with cash is that it will disappear.  Either it will get piddled or lost.  If that is a concern of yours, go to the ATM on the way to the store.  This way, you will have less time to spend or lose the money.  

Another thing to consider is how much of your budget to take with you.  If you have a $125 budget, but you plan to shop twice that month, you should only bring with you half of the money.  Earmark the rest of the budgeted amount and put it away where you know it won't be spent.

A CALCULATOR is a great way to be sure you are only going to spend what you brought.  Making sure that you take the time to enter every single purchase.  When adding up, do not forget to account for tax on taxable items.  Also, try to get as close to the amount on weighed items as you possibly can.  For example, if bananas are 50 cents a pound, and you buy 2 and a half pounds, you would add $1.25 to your total.

Leave yourself a little wiggle room at the end.  You'd much rather get up there and have a total of $123.86 with a budget of $125 than get to the end and have to put items back because you do not have enough money with you.

If you are unwilling or unable to bring cash, a calculator can still be a way to ensure you stay within budget.  At the very least, you will be able to see how items add up as you fill up your cart and won't be shocked by the total at the register.

Next Up...The Other C 

Do you bring cash and a calculator when you shop?

Check out the other posts in this series: Say What!?!?!, Exceptions, Plan Before You Go, Where To Shop, How Often I Shop

Frugal Family Fun: Indianapolis Children's Museum

Because we were foster parents for a period of time (and actually still have our foster parent's license), we got a FREE membership to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.  We originally thought we would just get free one time passes and were shocked to find out it was a whole year's membership.

Indianapolis has an amazing children's museum, but it is three hours from our house.  However, we are in Indy all of the time because that is where Riley Children's Hospital is. We have been able to visit several times this year and actually went there a few times this week.

Memberships are a great way to enjoy frugal fun with your family all year long.  There is typically an initial investment, but we often make that back after a few trips.  I always figure out how much one trip would cost our family and then figure out how many trips to the place we would have to take in order to recoup our costs.  In this case, we didn't have any cost at all!

Brian was able to go with us the very first time and Grandpa even joined us once.  Gavin and I spent 5 1/2 hours there earlier this week.  The kids and I love our time there and I'll relish the memories made.

How does your family have frugal fun? 

$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!? ~ How Often I Shop

Once you've figured out where to shop, the next step is figuring out HOW OFTEN TO SHOP.

In the past, I've shopped weekly, every other week, and monthly.  When sticking to the $125 grocery budget, I shopped once a month.  I've found the less I shop, the less I spend, and the more likely I am to use up what I've got at home.

This may be difficult for some to imagine.  However, if you've followed the previous step of Plan Before You Go, going once a month is totally doable.  Go with a plan and knock it all out at once.  Besides saving money, you will be surprised how much time you save.  With three little ones, I know that the less time I spend in the grocery store, the better!

You may be thinking, how do your items last all month?  Here is how we made accommodations for those items that have a shorter shelf life:

• Milk: I would buy 2 gallons of milk at the beginning of the month and find the latest expiration date possible.  Aldi is good about having later dates.  We don't go through a ton of milk and are mostly water drinkers.  When the milk was gone, we'd wait until next month.  When my kiddos were younger, I'd save a few dollars out to get a gallon of milk later in the month.  Milk is also freezable and my kids say it still tastes good.
• Bread: We made almost all bread from scratch.  This means that bread going bad or running out wasn't a problem.
• Fresh Fruits and Veggies: We would buy as many fresh fruits and veggies as the budget would allow.  Aldi typically runs great produce deals each week.  We used up the fresh stuff first.   Once fresh stuff was used up, I'd have a few cans of fruit and some frozen veggies that could be used at the end of the month.  For the fruit, I make sure it is in it's own juice or water so it's a bit healthier.  
• Other Dairy Products: Once we used up what was bought for the month, we'd do without until the following month. 

Next Up...Cash and Calculator

How often do you shop?

Check out the other posts in this series: Say What!?!?!, Exceptions, Plan Before You Go, Where To Shop

Frugal Family Fun: Animal Fun at the Library

Last Saturday, we went to an animal program at the library.  It was put on by the zoo.  Three docents came and brought four animals: a guinea pig named Keto, a Jacabon pigeon named Romeo, a prehensile tail skink named Oscar, and a Kenyan Sand Boa named Nya.  They kids learned about them all, were able to pet a few, and also got to explore some other animals artifacts.  They had an ostrich egg, snake eggs, animal pelts, and some skulls to look at and feel.  

Our whole family was able to go, learn, and enjoy time as a family.  The best part is that it was totally free!  We are always looking for frugal ways to have some family fun and the library is a great place for that!

How does your family have frugal fun?

$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!? ~ Where to Shop

After planning your trip, the next thing to think about is WHERE TO SHOP.

We do most of our shopping at Aldi and Walmart.  I would do all of my shopping at Aldi, but they simply do not have everything.  Aldi is a store that I used to avoid because of the fact that I didn’t want to shop at two places when I had three kids three and under.  However, Aldi has greatly grown on me.  Not only are the prices great, but there are so many things I love about that store.  I love that there are limited choices, great produce, and I can get in and out of there in no time.  Aldi has also recently added a baby section which would have come in handy a few years ago.  If you do shop at Aldi, some things to remember are a quarter for your cart and bags for your food.  

Walmart is the other main store we shop at and where we get a lot of personal care and a few food items that Aldi doesn’t carry.  We aren't stuck to these stores, but they are fairly convenient and fit into our budget.

If these stores do not work for or are aren't available to you, you can still make a tight grocery budget work. Find other stores that will provide you quality food at a cheaper price.  Spend time in the store when you are not rushed so you can really look at the prices and see what they have to offer.  It may take a while to get into a groove and find the right fit for you, but don't give up.  It's worth the effort! 

Next up...How often I shop

Where do you grocery shop?

Check out the other posts in this series: Say What!?!?!, Exceptions, Plan Before You Go, 

$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!? ~ Plan Before You Go

Now that you know our exceptions, this next step is to PLAN BEFORE YOU GO.  

There are several ways to do this. The simplest way is to look at what you already have.  Often times, you can find meals or parts of meals in your cabinets, fridge and freezer. It is a waste of money to buy something that you already have at home.  After months of doing this, I was really good about knowing what was in the cabinets, etc, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t make a mistake.  If you aren’t great at remembering what you have, you can make lists or an inventory of what you have.  I’ve done this as well, especially with freezers.  I am constantly cleaning out and rearranging my cabinets, fridge, and freezers to ensure no food is wasted and that I have a good grasp on what we have.

Meal planning is another way to plan before you go.  There are lots of meal planner templates and printables out there.  I’ve done this a variety of ways.  I’ve taken a blank calendar and written specific meals for each night of the month.  That method doesn’t work as well for my family because we have a crazy schedule.  I’ve also just made a list of 30 or however many meals I will need and then crossed them off as I’ve used them.  More recently, I have a base of meals we eat each month and shop according to that and get creative the rest of the month.  Whatever works for you is fine as long as you think about making meals.  The worst thing you can do when it comes to meal planning is buy a bunch of pieces that do not go together or make a meal for your family.



Making a list is the next important step before heading to the store.  After you’ve looked around your kitchen and thought about what meals you plan to make that month, you can make your list.  My list is a mix of very specific items, ie milk, flour, sugar, and general items, ie snacks, cereal, cheese.  By having general items, it allows you to get the cheese that is the best price vs a specific kind and type of cheese. 

Next Up...Where to Shop

How do you plan before you grocery shop?

Check out the other posts in this series: Say What!?!?!, Exceptions

$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!? ~ Exceptions

There are EXCEPTIONS to almost every rule.  While we had a strict grocery and personal care budget of $125 a month, we did pay for a few other things throughout the year. 

For the past three years, we have been shareholders of a local CSA called Seton Harvest.  Twenty-six or twenty-seven weeks out of the year, we pick up a bag full of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs on Tuesday evenings. For the CSA, we pay up front typically with our tax return.  We get a discount for volunteering and an extra pick up (making it 27 weeks) when we make a deposit for the next year.  Being a CSA shareholder adds $30-$45 extra a month depending on if we purchase a partial or full share.  Even on the weeks we do not pick up, we still benefit from the CSA because we’ve frozen or canned the excess vegetables over the summer and fall.  We feel like that amount is well worth the fresh produce.  The CSA also provides us entertainment throughout the year, so it is an even better deal!

We enjoy eating out when our budget allows.  Sometimes, it is a few meals a month.  This comes from a different part of the budget.  It is important to note that often times when we eat out, we have left overs that will feed all or part of our family for another meal.  This often happens when we pick up a few pizzas or get Chinese or Mexican take out. 

Once a year, we find a local sale on ground turkey and turkey sausage for $1 a pound.  One year, it was even 79 cents a pound.  We speak to the store manager and they order extra for us.  We end up buying 100 pounds and this stays in our freezer throughout the year and is always used before the sale runs again.  This ensures that we almost always have something if our typical monthly budgeted food is running low.  We pay for this out of our miscellaneous budget or from an extra paycheck.

Occasionally, we will go deal hunting as a form of entertainment.  We will go to Big Lots, Walmart, Rural King, or another store and see what food deals we can find.  If we’ve already used up our allotted grocery money for the month, we will use miscellaneous money to cover this.  This is actually a form of entertainment for us.  We love finding a great deal and get the added bonus of getting extra food.  This also allows us to try new things we wouldn’t normally buy.

The last exception to our $125 budget is eggs.  We have our own chickens, so we do not buy eggs from the grocery store.  The chickens and their feed do have a cost, but that money comes from a different budget

Next up...Plan Before You Go!

Do you have any exceptions to your grocery budget?

Check out the other posts in this series: Say What!?!?!

$125 Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 5...Say What!?!?

People are often shocked to find out that for a long time, we lived on a grocery AND personal care budget of $125 a month.  With very few exceptions, we would eat all meals and snacks for the month on that budget. In case you are wondering, none of us are starving and we did manage to sneak in healthy items, too!

Our situation is different right now, but there is a huge part of me that still feels most comfortable in that budget amount.  As I've shared our budget, people keep asking me "How did you do it?" and "What did you eat?"

This series of posts will answer that question.  While I know living on such a tight grocery and personal care budget isn't for everyone, I also hope to challenge and inspire others to make changes in their grocery budget.  It is one of the easiest ways to free up money that can be applied to other things.  Stay tuned for ideas on how we survived and even thrived on a small grocery budget for a long period of time.

What about you? What grocery budget works best for your family? Leave me a comment below!

More Free Schoola and a Beauty!

I was able to get two more shirts for free from Schoola.  While white is NOT my favorite color, they were free!!

 Look how grown up and beautiful my Macie is!  Love this cute new to us dress!

New Helmets!

Friday night, Aunt Allie and Grandpa took the kids to the Otter's game.  They had a great time and got free helmets!  Each child not only got a helmet, but they had people there fitting them to each child's head.  We didn't have helmets for each kid and it was something we'd actually talked about.  I am really wanting to get each kiddo a new (or at least fully working bike) soon and these helmets will really come in handy!  When it was time to snap a few pictures, lots of personality came out as usual!

Schoola Score

I've heard about a site called Schoola for a while now, but hadn't signed up or looked into it much.  I saw that I could get a $20 credit simply for signing up, so I thought I would give it a try.  All of the clothes are gently used and a portion of the profits are donated back to schools.  The shipping was free so I was actually able to get five articles of clothing for Lilah for $1 out of pocket!  I got the items in the mail today and I'm so happy with everything.  I definitely will check out the site again in the future!