What's Cooking? - Part 1

What's In Your Grocery Cart?

"How do you do it?"  As a stay-at-home mom with nine children, people often ask me how we make ends meet financially.  Yes, it is difficult.  However the place in which I have learned to save the most money is the grocery store.  We regularly feed our family of 11 for under $250 per month.  (originally written in the Fall of 2000)

When Jim and I got married in 1982, neither of us had been taught anything about budgeting or cooking.  It didn't take us long to realize that walking to the grocery store every afternoon to choose between Hamburger Helper or Tuna Helper for dinner was ot a wise choice for either our wallets or our taste buds.  I soon was on a quest to find out how to cook inexpensive meals that tasted good.  I asked the Lord for guidance and then sought the advice of older women.  I began to read books on budgeting and cooking, borrowed from friends and the library.

Today, let's look at three of the things I have learned:

1.  P.P.P.?  

Have you ever noticed the little words on the shelf la el that read:  "Price Per Pound"?  Years ago, I think the C.E.O.'s of all the major companies got together and agreed upon a plan to fool the trusting consumers (that's you and me).  They began packaging items in larger quantities and labeled them "Family" and "Economy" size.  And all of us innocent moms believed that they were doing us a favor.  We were wrong.

Comparing Price-Per-Pound is the quickest way to cut your grocery budget dramatically.  People often wonder why our cupboard shelves are stacked with little 8 oz. cans of tomato sauce.  The answer:  ten 8 oz. cans are usually less expensive than one 80 oz. can.  Check out the cereal aisle, too.  I have never seen a large size Cheerios box that was less P.P.P. tan the medium box.

2.  Coupons or Costco?  

When some hear how little we spend at the grocery store, they usually assume two things: we spend hours clipping coupons, and we only shop at Costco.  Both assumptions couldn't be further from the truth.  Now, don't get me wrong.  Coupons can save you a little money sometimes, and Costco can have some great deals sometimes.  However, how many 50 cent coupons would you need to save $200 per month?  Instead of focusing on the little savings from a few coupons, the first thing I do is check out the difference in price between brand names.

2013 Update:  While I know that couponing has changed dramatically (just watch Extreme Couponing on tv if you aren't aware of the craziness that couponing can bring), I still have my concerns.  People are "saving" money, but they may be buying a LOT of things that they wouldn't ordinarily buy, thus spending more money in the long run.  People are also hoarding a LOT of products, just for the sake of "saving money" . . . which can bring about more problems than just saving money.

Don't automatically assume though that the generic brand is less expensive; maybe the well-known brand is on special this week.  You will be unable to tell the difference between most brands once they are out of the can.  And what are you going to do with 25 pounds of pickles from Costco?  Okay, you have invited 200 people over for a barbecue this weekend and you all love pickles, but is it really less expensive than buying 25 little jars at the local grocery store?

3.  Where are the best prices?

Sorry, you are on your own to find the best grocery store in your community.  However, once you get to the store, I have a few tips.  Head to the back of the store first.  Grocery designers purposefully put the more expensive items up near the checkout counter.  They want you to walk past the candy and chips on your way to buy your milk.  They also arrange the most expensive items at eye level and the least expensive down by the floor.  Who wants to crawl down the aisle looking for a good buy?

Next time you head to the grocery store, take your calculator and maybe some knee pads or a small child.  Spend a few minutes comparing the innocent little P.P.P. labels, the generic brands, and the cans on the bottom shelf.  If you have never done it before, I guarantee you will be amazed.

Originally published in the Fall 2000 

issue of the T.E.A.C.H. Magazine.

2013 Update:

Last year, we had 6 kids at home (feeding 8 people).  One of the 6 was an adult son, and 2 were teenagers.  We regularly spent right about $550 per month on groceries.

This year, we only have 4 kids at home (feeding 6 people).  We spend $450-500 per month on groceries, and we aren't even trying to "save money".  We are actually buying more "treats" (ice cream, coffee beans, etc . . .) and things than we've ever bought.  Additionally, my diet definitely adds to our food costs, as I am making separate meals from the family.  I am also buying more expensive foods than usual (expensive Greek Yogurt, more fresh produce, etc . . .)  Yet, we are still paying much less than any typical large family that I've heard of.

Stay tuned for more details about how we shop and what we eat.