Family FinancesHilary saves time and money on groceries by making just one monthly grocery trip, rather than shopping every week. Here’s her system!
By Hilary, Contributing Writer
I have a confession to make: I am absolutely terrible when it comes to meal planning. I know I should do it. Often I want to. I’ve tried it plenty of times. Yet somehow it’s a practice that hasn’t become one of my habits.
Just because I don’t plan out exact meals on exact days doesn’t mean that I don’t have a system for meals in my home. Nourishing my family with real food is my first priority, and sticking to our grocery budget is essential.
I’ve attempted different ways to keep my house stocked with food:
- I gave up couponing the same time I gave up processed foods. (In my newlywed days I regularly filled my grocery cart with boxes and boxes of cheap, double-couponed processed meals. It might have been good for our meager budget, but it was terrible for our health.)
- I tried menu planning and shopping each week for ingredients. This approach ended up being the priciest grocery experience for me. I made stops at a couple stores and was spending the most money and time grocery shopping – especially when I always seemed to accidentally forget one or two key ingredients and needed to make another trip to the store. Two or three trips to the grocery store in one week was just too much.
- Buying in bulk never has been a viable option for my family because of a lack of space. After living in a couple apartments and houses with little storage space, I simply don’t have room to store massive quantities of food – even if I could buy it at a fraction of the typical cost. Plus, I’ve never lived close to wholesale stores and making a special trip never crosses my radar.
A few years ago I noticed I was shopping a particular way – and I liked it. It saved me both time and money.
Image by ronnieb
My stores of choice
First I realized that I had a few favorite discount grocery stores.
One is a scratch-and-dent store that sells a wide variety of food at amazingly low prices. (For example, my family’s pasta dinner last night was made with 30 ounces of fresh ricotta cheese that I bought for $1.69.) Some of the containers may not look so great, and some of the food is close to expiration, so I do have to be careful in my shopping. But most of the food is excellent. I just never know what will be at the store.
The other discount store is a grocery store with a large variety of products and more affordable prices than a typical grocery store. It’s not quite as affordable as Aldi, but close.
I buy all of our fresh fruits and vegetables for a fraction of the typical cost at a local, year-round produce market. Usually I can buy two bulging-full bags of fresh fruit and veggies for $10. It may not be organic, but it’s fresh.
And every few months, my family buys meat from a local butcher. (Yay for reasonable prices on local, grass-fed beef!)
Notes from Erin
I personally shop for the bulk of my food at ALDI and Costco. As well, I recommend the following online stores for once a month orders:
Azure Standard: Azure provides farm-fresh meats, dairy, eggs, and produce as well as bulk dry goods as far as some other popular brands of natural and organic packaged foods. With Azure, you order online, but you pick up at a “drop” location near you. I’ve been an Azure customer for many years, and I love the wide variety they offer. It’s like Whole Foods online–but more affordable!
Butcher Box: They provide organic, high-quality meats–shipped right to your doorstep!
Grove Co. : Grove sells all kinds of household and personal care products, but they also sell supplements, vitamins, and wellness products! If you’re a VIP member (I am!), you can get prices matched with other venues, and you get free shipping! Read my honest review of Grove Co. here.
Misfits Market: After hearing friends rave about this organic produce delivery service forever, I finally gave it a try. I LOVE it! You can get boxes weekly, or you can choose how often you get them. This is a great way to only go grocery shopping once per month but still get fresh produce delivered to your door each week or however often you choose. The premise is that they will send you misshapen or “misfit” produce at a reduced rate because it’s not “pretty.” If you care more about how your food tastes and how healthy it is versus how it looks, then this may be a good service for you. They deliver produce boxes weekly or every other week–right to your doorstep! You can also pause orders at any time. Use coupon code COOKWME-NN4IOY to get $10 off your first order!
Image by kconnors
My shopping method
Once I decided to stick to my four favorite stores, I plan my shopping trips strategically. I always start with a trip to the scratch-and-dent store. The butcher shop is a block away, so I bundle those trips together when needed.
The other discount store and produce market are in a different town, but very close to each other, so I group those trips together, too.
About once a month I make my trip to the scratch-and-dent store and buy all the staples we need, but keep my eyes peeled for good deals. I never know what I may find, and I’ve learned to grab the bargains when I spy them. I may score some amazingly cheap meat or dairy products or who knows what.
Once I’ve filled my cart, I know I’m ready to head to the other discount store – either in the same day, if I’m feeling energetic, or the next day. I buy whatever I couldn’t find at the scratch-and-dent store. And then, finally, I buy fresh produce at the market.
Image by Alvimann
The rest of the month
Typically, what I buy on this kind of a shopping trip lasts my family for a month – maybe even a little longer. When mealtime rolls around, I have a good selection of frozen meats; pantry staples like rice, pasta, and beans; spices; plenty of frozen veggies; and fresh cheeses and eggs for a wide variety of choices. (Even though I don’t have a set menu, a monthly shopping trip would work for meal planners — as long as your menu was planned a month in advance.)
Every couple weeks my husband or I run into the discount store to buy more milk, cheese and fresh produce. But these trips for fresh food are super fast … and pretty cheap. As for regular grocery stores? I might step foot in one every several months.
I’m much happier when I don’t have to set aside time for grocery shopping each and every week – I spend less money than when I made my weekly trips, and my cupboards seem to stay fuller longer.
Image by DodgertonSkillhause
Get more encouragement and tips for saving money on real food in these posts!
Rebecca@TheFamilyFinder
I would love a scratch and dent grocery!!! I had no idea that such a place existed. I am sad, I just googled it and the nearest on is an hour away. Shopping less often is always better for us. The less time in a store the less temptation to buy mores stuff.
Erin
That stinks it’s so far away! Those types of stores are so great!
Janet fuhrmaneck
If you only have to go once a month, an hour may be worth it! My scratch and dent stores are 45 minutes, but I combine with some amish markets and get stocked up for a while.
Kate @ Little Blue Chalet
I am one who absolutely hates grocery shopping. Probably because both my hubs and I worked at the grocery in high school and college. I have 3 techniques for my shopping. I use Amazon Prime Pantry for all of our non-perishable goods. I use ePantry for all of my natural cleaning, body care, and oral care needs. And I use the delivery service through Safeway to deliver our perishables. I literally do not even need to leave the house 😉
I am able to meal plan and start at Amazon, then work my way to Safeway. It has saved me a lot of time, money, and gas!
Erin
Oh I love your system, Kate! I JUST discovered ePantry, and they are working up a deal for my readers right now–it will go live tomorrow!
Hilary Bernstein
I would love to start trying some online shopping options, Kate! Thanks for the suggestions!
Vickie
Meal planning kind of works different for me. I get the weekly deals at the grocery store then I freeze them. I plan my meals from what have stocked up in my freezer. So I might only buy chicken this week on sale and I will be fine. This saves me money by making sure I use everything and I free up time knowing what I’m going to cook the next day.
Erin
That’s a great idea!
Andria
This is actually very close to the method I’ve been using for about 6 months or so. Some months I’m better at it than others, but I like the system. For me it was borne out of being a grad student, and only receiving a stipend once a month. I needed to find a way to make sure my food budget would stretch. I plan out enough meals for the month up front, which for me works out to be 11-12 meals, plus breakfasts. I currently live alone (until I get married in May), so I usually eat leftovers for lunch and often stretch out a big batch of something several days, and I always have things to put together an extra “bowl meal” here and there. I make a master shopping list of all the ingredients I don’t currently have, plus any staples I need to replenish. I make one big shopping trip at the first of the month, where I go to the health food store across town. I’m vegan, so this is the one time a month I can buy any “specialty” items that are bad for my budget and not particularly healthy, but oh so tasty. Putting it into this one big trip makes it feel like a chore, so I’m less tempted to run across town later in the month for indulgences I don’t need. I also stock up on bulk items, and then head to a nearby discount store (which is also normally out of my way). I buy anything and everything on my list that isn’t perishable (at least within a month span), or can be frozen. I usually end up with just a small list of produce left. Each week I pick out a handful of meals to cook, and I go around the corner to the regular grocery store for the produce I need and sometimes almond milk. Our campus has also started a service delivering produce from local farmers to campus, so I’ve been using it for the produce I can. I’m looking forward to the summer, when it’s more than just greens and sweet potatoes!
Andria
I forgot to mention: Next month in planning my first pantry cleaning month. I normally keep my pantry stocked with basics, but also buy things as I need them, and as a result I have at least 10 types of grains/starches (including brown, purple and jasmine rice!), lots of beans and lentils, etc. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I rearranged the kitchen cabinets. So next month, I’m planning my meals around what I already have, in an attempt to whittle down my “collection.” It should help me put a little extra money back, too.
Also, another trick I’ve found to making this work for me is to give myself some leeway, so I usually also get a few “convenience” foods during my big trip. Not the healthiest or the cheapest, but on days when I realize I have nothing for lunch, or I’m too exhausted to cook dinner, I figure a $3 frozen meal is better than going out to spend $8-9. These help me get through the month without throwing my budget and plan out the window. Worth it, I think! I try to strike a nice balance between my ideal world and reality 🙂
Erin
Thank you so much for sharing all of your wonderful tips!
Robin
I shop in the big city 3 hours away 2or3 times a year. I shop fresh produce and such 1 time a month in a town 1 hour away. We raise chickens for eggs and wea raise our own meat and I milk and make my cheese and butter. In the summer I grow my fresh veggies and fruit. I don’t like shopping so if I don’t like to go any more then I have to.
Erin
Wow! It sounds like you have a great set-up. I’m with you…I hate to shop!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
I actually really enjoy grocery shopping! But going to the store less does obviously help to save money!
For me, learning to cook with a lot more flexibility has helped to stretch our food and stretch time in between shopping trips. When I can make what is on hand work, I don’t have to go to the store just for one or two items for a certain recipe. Also, when I do go shopping, the basics are just about always the same so that helps to make shopping easier and less stressful. If that makes sense. I don’t know. It’s late 😉
Erin
Thanks for sharing your tips! I like to stick to the same basics as well, and I agree that is makes it WAY less stressful! I also prefer Aldi, which doesn’t have many choices, so that takes away some decision stress as well!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
Oh, and I would love to buy meat from a local butcher! Maybe one day I can find a good source.
Thanks for sharing all of your tips 🙂
Erin
I would love that too! We did finally buy half a cow this year!
Susan
I shop by the weekly grocery ads. I am wondering if I shop monthly if I would miss out on some great sales. Comments, please!
Karisse
I have discovered that I basically do the same thing. I have my favorite three stores and always keep my eyes open for meat deals to keep our big deep freezer stocked. While it almost causes me physical pain to see that much money go out at once, I can usually relax the rest of the month except for things like yogurt and milk.