We’ve already established that I’m a huge foodie. Which means that I might, just might spend a slightly unhealthy amount of time thinking about food. I used to spend a ton at the grocery store.. But, in the past 4 1/2 years since I began this blog I’ve cut my grocery expenses by at least 40% a month. Currently I average a little under $250 a month-including eating out. Let’s be clear, I don’t eat fast food, and I eat consistently high quality food. I tend to eat: primarily organic, slightly fou-fou food (let’s be honest).
Examples include:
- Fair trade chocolate
- Good coffee roasted in Colorado
- the occasional lamb chop
- and cage-free eggs.
Fortunately, we’re moving into the summer season and I have a number of ways that I kill my grocery bill.
Grow a Garden
For the past 2 (?) years I’ve participated in the Community Garden program here in Denver. It’s wildly popular to point where there is a FOUR YEAR waiting list for my neighborhood. As a result of that I participate in a garden one neighborhood over. And, that’s ok.
This year I will be planting:
- basil
- a TON of arugula and other lettuces
- lemon cucumber
- regular cucumber
- carrots
- kale
- green onion
- cauliflower
- tomatillos
- zucchini
- cilantro
- parsley
- tomatoes
And some other items that I don’t feel like listing right now. As I start to harvest my garden throughout the course of the summer my grocery bill will go down.
Grocery Apps-Ibotta and Berry Cart
I’m still really in love with Ibotta. In case you didn’t get a chance to read my post about it here is the LINK. Basically, it’s a pretty easy to use grocery app The best thing about Berry Cart is that it’s better for woo-woo foods. Using both in tandem will increase my savings!
Related Post: Ibotta Rocks!
Meal Plan
I am not a rigid meal planner. I like to have a loose framework that I work with for the week. I purchase the items that are missing to make the meals I’d like to cook and then I cook those meals through out the week.
During the summer I tend to eat a lot of salads and a lot less meat. Makes meal planning super easy. I just eat variations of delicious salads.
Once a Week
If you’re popping into the store several times a week you’re eating up a lot of time and spending a lot more of your money than you intend. Set the intention to go to the grocery store just once a week and eat what’s in your house until the next time you pop into the store.
Eat Through Your Pantry
I like to stock up my pantry in preparation for the winter. But, at the end of every winter I find myself looking at boxes of items purchased…just in case LOL! Look at the expiration dates for the different items in your pantry and create a list of meals that you can make with those items.
Have left-over quinoa? Make a green goddess salad with quinoa. Have brown rice? Make a rice bowl with black beans/avocado/onion/and cilantro (yummy!). If you have frozen chicken, steaks, or other types of meat, use your crockpot to make some easy meals. It doesn’t have to be complicated but it’s important to eat through your pantry so that you don’t end up throwing away boxes of expired food.
Killing Your Grocery Bill
Is totally possible but takes some time and thought as you go through the process. Don’t be too hard on yourself as it will take some time to get used to these money saving habits. I have to admit that I love my garden and each year I’m left wondering what will actually grow each time. I’ve had amazing success with tomatillos which seem to be similar to mint in its ability to grow prolifically.
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My tips to save money on grocery bill is: buy local and seasonal plus see what there is in my pantry and buy y ONLY what is necessary, plus I love cook and I find inspiration from web, magazines, cookbooks that helps for meal planner
I try to do this as much as possible. It’s easiest during the summer because the farmer’s markets are open. Pinterest is great for inspiration too!
I’m in the process of eating through the pantry right now. I love summer for gardening! We usually have tomatoes, kale, beans and herbs throughout the summer. Huge money saver! In the fall, I usually blanch any kale left in the garden and it lasts all winter.
I’m the same as you with food – mostly high quality and organic when not too expensive.
I am so excited about my garden. I would like to grow tomatoes so I’m looking for some at the store that I can plant because the growing season is kind of short here.
Nice strategy, Michelle. I think I would need to have a small garden to plant my own veggies and herbs!!!
You could use pots Jamie if you don’t have a garden available.
The only thing we have edible growing in our garden right now is mint, which is leftover from the previous owner. The only thing we’ve used it for is for mojitos. Haha. One of these days, I’ll have to look into planting herbs. I don’t like tomatoes so they’re definitely out. A friend of mine from school who lives in the city also has a community garden near where she lives and apparently it’s also really popular.
My hubby has converted me from ground coffee in a can to freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee. Just out of curiosity, would you happen to know any of your local brands that sell beans online?
I laughed out loud when I read the mojito comment. I love local coffee but I normal buy it in the shop. But these are the best ones: Kaladi, Boxcar Coffee, Corvus, Ink Coffee, and Middlestate (one of my favorites got to watch the owner roast the beans)