Comments on: 10 Strategies to Lower My Grocery Bill – Part 1 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/ Lessons and Recipes for the Gluten Free Cook Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:41:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kim http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-14156 Kim Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:40:44 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-14156 Loved all your tips!! Very helpful! I'm new to gluten free eating and am also facing a huge list of allergies BUT my family and I have been eating healthy, organic, whole grain foods for a long time now and have learned tricks that help us trim our food budget. I am subscribing to the same tricks for helping me with these new eating challenges. #1 Homemade is always the cheapest way - we gave up processed, premade items like cold cereals, breakfast/granola bars, protein bars, popsicles, ice cream, most store bought fruit juices, breads, and other such convenience foods from the store. We've learned to make it all ourselves. #2 Buy in the most basic form available - for example: grind your own grains. (We were grinding our own wheat but will now grind the other alternative grains when I can find them because I can't see spending the prices they are asking at Whole Foods for all these alternative flours and meals. Crazy!!) Also, if you do dairy (which I'll no longer be able to do) buy pasture raised, organic, raw milk then make the cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, ice cream, etc. Additionally, get a whole box of fruit at your farmer's market or local farm in season and dry, freeze, or can it yourself. #3 Learn to eat more veggies and beans. #4 Grow your own!(or make friends with someone who will grow your food for you and barter with them). Take heart this is a great education for ourselves and our children....learning how their ancestors did things and learning to not take food and farmers for granted! Loved all your tips!! Very helpful!
I’m new to gluten free eating and am also facing a huge list of allergies BUT my family and I have been eating healthy, organic, whole grain foods for a long time now and have learned tricks that help us trim our food budget. I am subscribing to the same tricks for helping me with these new eating challenges.
#1 Homemade is always the cheapest way – we gave up processed, premade items like cold cereals, breakfast/granola bars, protein bars, popsicles, ice cream, most store bought fruit juices, breads, and other such convenience foods from the store. We’ve learned to make it all ourselves.

#2 Buy in the most basic form available – for example: grind your own grains. (We were grinding our own wheat but will now grind the other alternative grains when I can find them because I can’t see spending the prices they are asking at Whole Foods for all these alternative flours and meals. Crazy!!) Also, if you do dairy (which I’ll no longer be able to do) buy pasture raised, organic, raw milk then make the cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, ice cream, etc. Additionally, get a whole box of fruit at your farmer’s market or local farm in season and dry, freeze, or can it yourself.

#3 Learn to eat more veggies and beans.

#4 Grow your own!(or make friends with someone who will grow your food for you and barter with them).

Take heart this is a great education for ourselves and our children….learning how their ancestors did things and learning to not take food and farmers for granted!

]]> By: Sharon Cooper http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-12905 Sharon Cooper Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:11:47 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-12905 I am a newbie so this site is very helpful. My dr told me it would be expensive but I am not prepared for this. I have been sick with other issues for 2 years and have been unable to work so my budget is 150.00 a month. I realize that is going to be unreasonable, especially at first. The tips are valuable. For me right now I have checked out publix which is cheaper and some items like GF Rice Check, milk ect I can find at Wal-mart. I have not visited WF yet for pricing but I like the fact that at Earth Fare I can take something back if I do not like it instead of throwing it out. This is a major plus in the experimental stage. Thanks for all the info and tips I am a newbie so this site is very helpful. My dr told me it would be expensive but I am not prepared for this. I have been sick with other issues for 2 years and have been unable to work so my budget is 150.00 a month. I realize that is going to be unreasonable, especially at first. The tips are valuable. For me right now I have checked out publix which is cheaper and some items like GF Rice Check, milk ect I can find at Wal-mart. I have not visited WF yet for pricing but I like the fact that at Earth Fare I can take something back if I do not like it instead of throwing it out. This is a major plus in the experimental stage. Thanks for all the info and tips

]]> By: Tammy Walker http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-12396 Tammy Walker Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:00:08 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-12396 We r a family of six & 2 of us have newly discovered food allergies including corn & wheat. Our grocery budget is currently $400/month, and we are starting to blow it. With all the medical bills accumulating in this discovery, and my hours being cut at work b/c my boss thinks I'm not "healthy enough to be dependable" anymore, I don't know what we'll do. Finding another job would be difficult for me since we also homeschool. Have any advice? We r a family of six & 2 of us have newly discovered food allergies including corn & wheat. Our grocery budget is currently $400/month, and we are starting to blow it. With all the medical bills accumulating in this discovery, and my hours being cut at work b/c my boss thinks I’m not “healthy enough to be dependable” anymore, I don’t know what we’ll do. Finding another job would be difficult for me since we also homeschool. Have any advice?

]]> By: How to Feed a Family of 6 for $9.16 a Day | Gluten Free [Cooking School] http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-7492 How to Feed a Family of 6 for $9.16 a Day | Gluten Free [Cooking School] Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:29:51 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-7492 [...] February I wrote a 2 part article called “10 Strategies to Lower My Grocery Bill“. At the end of the first part I asked my readers to share their tips on frugal shopping and, [...] [...] February I wrote a 2 part article called “10 Strategies to Lower My Grocery Bill“. At the end of the first part I asked my readers to share their tips on frugal shopping and, [...]

]]> By: Shara http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-7054 Shara Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:10:48 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-7054 Ok I manage to spend $50.00 a week and that is including a bottle of wine. I don't know if any of you have a chain called Trader Joes near you, but man I have saved so much money shopping with them. I think I have been buying from them since college. I gave up on regular Grocery Stores a long time ago. I go to Wholefoods once in a while, but not often. I did a price comparison last year with what i usually buy on a weekly basis with Safeway and Wholefoods and Trader Joes. Trader Joes was about $50.00, Wholefoods was about $75.00 and Safeway was about $95.00. Now that is a huge difference. Happy Shopping:) Ok I manage to spend $50.00 a week and that is including a bottle of wine. I don’t know if any of you have a chain called Trader Joes near you, but man I have saved so much money shopping with them. I think I have been buying from them since college. I gave up on regular Grocery Stores a long time ago. I go to Wholefoods once in a while, but not often. I did a price comparison last year with what i usually buy on a weekly basis with Safeway and Wholefoods and Trader Joes. Trader Joes was about $50.00, Wholefoods was about $75.00 and Safeway was about $95.00. Now that is a huge difference. Happy Shopping:)

]]> By: Mary Frances http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-6657 Mary Frances Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:23:11 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-6657 @Colleen: It's tough isn't it! I like to shop at Whole Foods too, but I find it nearly impossible to stay on budget if I do. It's great that you're already eating all your meals at home. I need to work on that more. We've reduced the snacks that we eat, and moved to fresh fruit, vegetables, and homemade dips for most of our snacking. But that took some time since our palates were accustomed to more junky food =) @Colleen: It’s tough isn’t it! I like to shop at Whole Foods too, but I find it nearly impossible to stay on budget if I do. It’s great that you’re already eating all your meals at home. I need to work on that more. We’ve reduced the snacks that we eat, and moved to fresh fruit, vegetables, and homemade dips for most of our snacking. But that took some time since our palates were accustomed to more junky food =)

]]> By: Colleen http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-6517 Colleen Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:46:10 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-6517 Hello! I have just found your website. I am mortified at how much I spend on groceries after seeing all of your small bills! I live in the near DC and spend about $1200 a (good) month on food! This includes vitamins, any herbs and toiletries. I shop 99% of my food at Whole Foods but I do buy their 365 brand mostly and try to just buy snacks that are on sale, although that's few and far between for gluten free items. I have 2 sons-1 pre-teen and 1 teen plus my husband and myself. They can eat! We eat just about all of our meals/snacks at home-7 days a week. I realize I can cut down on the snack foods but I compromised on this one since my oldest son was diagnosed with celiac last year. By the way, 3 of us are gluten free. I'm glad I ran across this site. I have been talking to my family about over consumption now I'll spill this on over to food. Hello! I have just found your website. I am mortified at how much I spend on groceries after seeing all of your small bills! I live in the near DC and spend about $1200 a (good) month on food! This includes vitamins, any herbs and toiletries. I shop 99% of my food at Whole Foods but I do buy their 365 brand mostly and try to just buy snacks that are on sale, although that’s few and far between for gluten free items. I have 2 sons-1 pre-teen and 1 teen plus my husband and myself. They can eat! We eat just about all of our meals/snacks at home-7 days a week. I realize I can cut down on the snack foods but I compromised on this one since my oldest son was diagnosed with celiac last year. By the way, 3 of us are gluten free. I’m glad I ran across this site. I have been talking to my family about over consumption now I’ll spill this on over to food.

]]> By: Henry http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-6293 Henry Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:46:09 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-6293 Here's a handy little tip too... if you see a price that looks "special" and you don't have your list handy - take a pic with your cell phone (most of us have that these days) and even if you don't remember to do it as soon as you get home, you will eventually run past that pic again....(handy way to remember "stray info too"). I did this with shopping for a new stove too... took pics in several dif stores (of the same stove) and then figured the best deal. Here’s a handy little tip too… if you see a price that looks “special” and you don’t have your list handy – take a pic with your cell phone (most of us have that these days) and even if you don’t remember to do it as soon as you get home, you will eventually run past that pic again….(handy way to remember “stray info too”).
I did this with shopping for a new stove too… took pics in several dif stores (of the same stove) and then figured the best deal.

]]> By: Angel http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-6034 Angel Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:02:12 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-6034 Your strategy is a step in the right direction. I ahve been trying to do this for a long time , but had some resistence, but being as we have had to tighten our belts. We are a bit tighter. Also between food allergies and intolerance cooking from scratch is essential. Friday nights are pizza nights and my kids make the Spelt flour pizza (i do not partake any longer-I am still recovering from that one) with toppings of their choosing. they also look in our food storage room for items they need and I try to make sure they have them on hand. I have found that I do better foloowing a more stringent diet not based so much on grain, but more on meat and vegies. I can celiac and have dermatitis herpetiformis, corn and potato alleriges also. This makes for a great combo with my so who can not have eggs, milk whey, or Garlic(yes the spice). I am now in the process oftrying to make things that meet all of these specs to feed all of us the conversion the rice pasta was easy. Our food bill averages around $350-$650 month depending the lower months are months we are using food storage and buying only fresh stuff. the higher is when we are stocking up. but then again I still have canned fruit from 05 we are eating our eating patterns go in spurts. Keep chugging along and all will come along Angel Your strategy is a step in the right direction. I ahve been trying to do this for a long time , but had some resistence, but being as we have had to tighten our belts. We are a bit tighter. Also between food allergies and intolerance cooking from scratch is essential. Friday nights are pizza nights and my kids make the Spelt flour pizza (i do not partake any longer-I am still recovering from that one) with toppings of their choosing. they also look in our food storage room for items they need and I try to make sure they have them on hand. I have found that I do better foloowing a more stringent diet not based so much on grain, but more on meat and vegies. I can celiac and have dermatitis herpetiformis, corn and potato alleriges also. This makes for a great combo with my so who can not have eggs, milk whey, or Garlic(yes the spice). I am now in the process oftrying to make things that meet all of these specs to feed all of us the conversion the rice pasta was easy.
Our food bill averages around $350-$650 month depending the lower months are months we are using food storage and buying only fresh stuff. the higher is when we are stocking up. but then again I still have canned fruit from 05 we are eating our eating patterns go in spurts. Keep chugging along and all will come along
Angel

]]> By: Mary Frances http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-4787 Mary Frances Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:03:45 +0000 http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/lower-grocery-bill/#comment-4787 @Bethany: I hope the tips are helpful. We've recently gone an extra step and are buying dried beans instead of can for our protein, and we will be ordering a soymilk maker this week. @Bethany: I hope the tips are helpful. We’ve recently gone an extra step and are buying dried beans instead of can for our protein, and we will be ordering a soymilk maker this week.

]]>