How to keep food costs down?

[vacationhopeful]

..I will respond to Linda's "concern" on health. ... No need to be judgmental.

...The answer is yes but I do not want to. I want to spend only IRA savings and Social Security income. My desire to ensure my son, who has his own challenges, is taken care of for the rest of his life, plus some to charities that we want to support. ....

Glad you have decent health ... that is one thing you can't buy.

I hope you have thoroughly consulted with expert financial experts as to NOT disqualify your son from assistance if he is left with "wealth" after one or both of you are gone due to his challenges ... several of my parents' acquaintances with a disabled child living in a GOOD group home setting found it to be a major legal process to "provide" a decent standard of living after they were gone ... resulting in setting up a certain type of trust for that child. And I believe their charities got the "remainder funds" after that child passed on.

 

[ace2000]

I have not heard of Hello Fresh and will check it out.

That advantage of Hello Fresh is having all of your main ingredients in one box. Another plus is potentially trying new recipes. However, the meal prep takes just about as long as making meals at home.

 

[WinniWoman]

Maybe it's me but even if you want to cut down, I cannot wrap my head around even spending $3000 per month on food and toiletries. That would be more than my entire take home pay! I love good food as much as anyone, but still.....

You could be putting all this money aside for your son and other important things. After all, after your body utilizes the food for energy, which you say you are lacking anyway, the rest goes down the toilet. Think of all those dollars getting flushed away. Crazy is you ask me.

I always think of things I spend money on as how long I had to work to acquire them. Since I hate working, this really puts things in perspective. No way do I want to work "x" amount of hours just to eat a meal out and spend like $500 for an hour and a half and be done with it and have nothing to show but an expanded waist line. Hell, I have an expanded waist line for a lot less than that! LOL!

 

[moonstone]

You say you have foot issues so cant stand for long, so find a way to sit to prepare meals. When I injured my knee & couldn't stand at all DH bought me a comfy 'bar stool/chair (it had a back). I found sitting at the kitchen table I was not at the right height & cutting vegies & preparing meals was too awkward.

The bar stool enabled me to sit at a comfortable height at the counter. I opened the lower cupboard doors to put my knees in the opening. I started to 'simmer' my home made spaghetti sauce in the microwave instead of on the stove so I wouldn't need to stand & stir it. I even had the bar stool at the stove (had to sit kind of sideways) to stir gravy since DH doesn't get the concept of stirring continuously! I also used my crockpot a lot more often (even in the summertime, sitting on a table outside the kitchen door).

As others have said there are probably quite a few ways of reducing your grocery/eating out costs. Years ago, when money was tight, our oldest son & (now) ex-gf started keeping an accurate log (type of food, cost & where purchased) of every penny spent on food whether it was from a store or eating out. It didn't take them long to realize where the money was going & adjust their spending.

Good luck!

~Diane

 

[WinniWoman]

Our groceries, food and restaurant bills run at $5K per month for 2.5 persons.... .5 is because when we cook at home and my son is in we cover his food cost too. I am struggling to reduce this amount for my retirement planning. Our breakfast is cheap and simple, restaurant one weekend a week and the rest of the time peanut butter on toast. Lunches are typically out as we are working. Cook 2 dinners at home per week, leftovers a couple of nights and eat out the rest of the time. We don't do cold meals - no deli meat sandwiches for us. 5K per month includes household items - toiletries etc. My health is not good and I cannot be on my feet for extended period and I am constantly exhausted, hence I don't cook as much as I would like to. But cooking at home is not cheap too.

I am trying to get the number down to 3K a per month and I thinking that I am not being realistic. Suggestions?

Upon re-reading you initial post here, it just seems to me you are spending way too much on your individual lunches out- you might want to brown bag it or bring soups or frozen entrees since you don't like cold foods. Maybe just have one or two lunches out to start and the rest take with you. And you also might consider reversing how you handle dinners out. Maybe just eat out twice per week to start at inexpensive restaurants. Cook in the rest- maybe use some convenience foods. Eat less and eat simply and more plainly. Stir fry's work well with rice and fish or poultry or meat. Use seasonings more than sauces.

You can definitely do this with some tweaking. Think of the gas you will save not having to drive to the restaurants. No tips. Once you establish a system you will probably even have more time for other things.

You will certainly have more money- that's for sure!

 

[DeniseM]

The places where you can prepare your own fresh "oven ready" meals, will also assemble them for you. I have a friend who is a busy principal, and a single mom, and once a week she picks up 5 meals and just adds salad/veggie/bread at home.

It's not at cheap as making it yourself, but it's far less expensive than eating out all the time and the prep time is minimal.

I believe she goes to Dream Dinners, but that's just one brand-

https://dreamdinners.com/

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[klpca]

I'll just go with a few suggestions on how to keep costs down.

1. Costco chicken. Meal one - chicken, Meal two - add to salad (I love the lemon kale bagged salad from Costco, but the kale/broccoli slaw one is pretty good too), Meal three - soup - stock is homemade from the carcass. Cost is $5

2. Bagged salads - already prepared with a nice selection of ingredients. I buy them at Sprouts and sometimes Vons (Safeway). Cost is about $4 and should feed two as a side dish.

3. Split pea soup - use a ham shank for the flavor and the meat. A one lb. bag of peas will make enough soup for two or three meals for two. Can be frozen. Easy prep. Cost about $5 (if that much).

4. Eggs. Miracle food. Easy to prep, relatively cheap, and be changed up pretty easily. I like them scrambled with fresh herbs, made into crustless quiche, stirred into stir fry.

5. Already prepared foods from Costco or Trader Joe's. Not the cheapest way to go but much less expensive than restaurant foods.

I agree with the others to use some of your leftovers from meals out (if you like leftovers. I'm not a big fan but my husband eats them).

 

[rapmarks]

what a fascinating thread
I am frugal, in fact we have several Ruth Chris gift cards we haven't used, because it bugs me to pay so much for a meal, even with a gift card.
but Mimi's sends me two for one coupons constantly. lots of other restaurants do too.
we are retired, and there are great lunch offerings for 6 to 10 dollars, and they are big enough that we have leftovers for dinner or a salad for dinner.
I don't cook very often, but i shop for sales, and bogos. we eat out a lot, but we don't drink much alcohol, and i much prefer water to sodas or teas. my guess is we spend about two hundred or so a week, eating out and cooking at home.
we also play golf, and many times a week, they are not private courses, but I would guess we spend five thousand on golf a year, and sometimes play 4 or 5 times a week.
everyone has their own priorities. We have friends that will not join the group for dinner, because they don't want to spend the money, even though we are going to a place which costs only ten each for an entree. they wouldn't join the group for a golf outing, to save money. they have three homes, numerous rental properties, a business, and several rental properties, and are on social security too. She spent four thousand on plastic surgery on her arms for sagging skin.
so everyone has their idea of what is important. I could save a lot of money by not going out to eat so much, but i like going out to eat and their will come a time when it won't be so easy to do.

 

[dioxide45]

...but Mimi's sends me two for one coupons constantly. lots of other restaurants do too..

We get Mimi's BOGO coupons all the time too, probably because we live around the corner from one. We hardly ever use them. My issue with them as well as Bob Evan's BOGOs is that they require the purchase of two drinks also. In most cases we won't order beverages, just water. Adding the beverages wipes out most of the savings.

 

[rapmarks]

We get Mimi's BOGO coupons all the time too, probably because we live around the corner from one. We hardly ever use them. My issue with them as well as Bob Evan's BOGOs is that they require the purchase of two drinks also. In most cases we won't order beverages, just water. Adding the beverages wipes out most of the savings.

yes, we try to avoid those forced beverages, but op mentioned eating there.

 

[VacationForever]

Yes we use BOGO at Mimi's extensively. We joined the Mimi's club and the coupon is delivered directly to my email.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes we use BOGO at Mimi's extensively. We joined the Mimi's club and the coupon is delivered directly to my email.

I think though that you are the ideal customer that they are wanting to tarhet with these coupons. They offer the coupon in hopes people will come in and buy more than just the two entrees and two beverages. Adding alcohol, which is a huge markup for restaurants, wipes out more than the savings of the BOGO. Coupons are meant to get you to buy something that you wouldn't ordinarily buy. It is effectively another form of advertising. Eating at home and letting the Mimi's offers go to the junk folder will still save lots of money.

ETA: I just looked to see the last time we ate out at Mimi's and it was back in September 2011. Wow. Didn't realize it was that long ago. We get the coupons all the time and apparently never use them.

 

[Passepartout]

Boy, Denise, those choices make me want to order a couple weeks' supply to have on hand for those times I just don't want to cook and need a little inspiration. Not giveaway prices, but compared to restaurant bills, these could help the OP meet her goal.

As I mentioned early on in this thread, trimming 40% off a meal bill would take a change of lifestyle.- but that needn't be lunchmeat on dry Wonder Bread, or beans. There are viable exceptions to Ruth's Chris, and $100 Costco rib roasts.

Jim

 

[Elan]

As I mentioned early on in this thread, trimming 40% off a meal bill would take a change of lifestyle.- but that needn't be lunchmeat on dry Wonder Bread, or beans. There are viable exceptions to Ruth's Chris, and $100 Costco rib roasts.

Jim

That's my thought as well. There's a lot of savings to be had that falls between brunch at Ruth's Chris and making stock from leftover Costco chicken. If the op wants to eat out, it seems like she has the means to do so. But a little more focus on restaurant caliber would seemingly go a long way toward significant savings. I'd start with a target of $15 per person per meal. That saves 1/3 right there. All that really means is that for every Ruth's Chris there needs to be a few In-N-Out's. Problem solved.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[pittle]

We retired earlier than most folks, but have thoroughly enjoyed our retirement. Our food budget is extremely low - less than $160-$200 per week. First of all, we eat to live, not live to eat. We do not mind eating left-overs, and I make hearty soups or chili regularly. Sometimes I make both and and we alternate days so that we are not eating the same thing each day. We do grill chicken breasts or fish fillets often with steamed veggies to go with the grilled protein. A Costco or Sam's Rotisserie chicken makes meals for 2-3 days with side dishes. We also have changed our eating habits in that we prefer to eat our main meal around 3:00 in the afternoon. When we choose to go out to eat, we find that lunch is less expensive than dinner and the portions suit us better. We often choose to share a meal with an extra salad when we eat later in the day. Too much food late in the day makes it harder to sleep well at night for us.

It boils down to how you choose to spend your retirement $$$. One famous chef made the comment a few years ago that "Even my best creation turns to poop the next day!" So we choose not to intentionally flush our $$$ down the toilet. We prefer to spend ours on vacations.

 

[VacationForever]

We don't eat at Ruth's Chris regularly, you might notice that it was on Christmas Day that we were there. We avoid cooking on day of Thanksgiving (although we did this year - heating up Mimi's turkey and fixings) or Christmas Day as I don't want to deal with the stress of cooking on the day of. Cooking has become stressful for me more so than most of you would realize. I can work on the computer for 12-14 hours a day and enjoy every bit of it, and putting the stress of work/decision making at the back of my mind. Part of my issue is that I am a perfectionist and put more stress on myself than necessary in wanting to put out a great meal every time. So between being physically exhausted and mentally stressed over cooking, I don't cook as much as I should. Many of you may find it amusing when I say I don't care for Rachael Ray's cooking. I like the suggestion of picking less expensive places to eat. I will tell you that Mimi's is one of the cheapest places to eat with the BOGO. For lunch the bill is under $30 for the 2 of us after BOGO. The cheapest place that we enjoy is In N Out Burger.

We tried many of the ready to eat heat up items at Trader Joe's for a while and then we got tired of the food.

 

[DeniseM]

sptung - Cutting your budget $2,000 a month is going to require a major life-style change.

Clearly - you will have to eat out less, and cook at home a lot more, and you seem to be saying that it is just too stressful for you to do that.

Maybe with your health and schedule, it's not worth what you will have to give up?

 

[VacationForever]

sptung - Cutting your budget $2,000 a month is going to require a major life-style change.

Clearly - you will have to eat out less, and cook at home a lot more, and you seem to be saying that it is just too stressful for you to do that.

Maybe with your health and schedule, it's not worth what you will have to give up?

I am thinking when I am retired, then maybe I will have more motivation, time and energy to cook. I can envision cooking 5 to 6 times a week instead of twice a week now.

 

[dioxide45]

I am still amazed that one can eat that many meals out every week and still stay relatively healthy and fit. No amount of exercise, that someone can reasonably do, will beat a bad diet. I find it very easy to "out eat" a good exercise regiment. I need to always watch portion sizes and restaurants are not known for small portion sizes.

 

[billymach4]

FYI and FWIW My loving and Doting wife is a great cook. We do eat out about 1 to 2 x per week. When I go on a business road trip she prepares meals for me to pack and reheat. Luckily most of my trips are driveable so I just get the Costco rolling cooler and pack the meals the fridge when I arrive.

She does this not because we need to save costs, but so that she knows I am eating a healthy home cooked meal.

Again this is my lifestyle, and our lifestyle choice. It also helps to reduce our food costs.

 

[Jason245]

I am thinking when I am retired, then maybe I will have more motivation, time and energy to cook. I can envision cooking 5 to 6 times a week instead of twice a week now.

Statistically that is unlikely. . In fact the older you get the less motivated to cook you will be.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[DeniseM]

sptung - A bit off topic, but with your stress, work load, and health problems, I bet you could benefit from some counseling. This is bigger than just finding time and energy to cook.

 

[VacationForever]

I am still amazed that one can eat two to three meals out every day and still stay relatively healthy and fit. No amount of exercise, that someone can reasonably do, will beat a bad diet. I find it very easy to "out eat" a good exercise regiment. I need to always watch portion sizes and restaurants are not known for small portion sizes.

It is called food choices. Breakfast at home = 300 calories. Lunch = under 600 calories. I don't eat bread (gluten) and dessert, usually a lean meat with salad / vegetables with a little rice / hummus / potatoes. I may snack on nuts or a fruit at around 3pm. Dinner = 500-700 calories, no bread or dessert. I work out burning between 200-500 calories depending on whether I am on an exercise bike or in the pool. I usually get hungry if I get a good work out and then I snack on a small apple, a mandarin orange or 5 grapes before going to bed.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't think anyone here is berating you, or your choices. In fact I think many (most) of us envy your ability to spend $60,000 a year on food and toiletries!

You are the one who said you wanted to reduce your food outlay by 40%. Well, write down a budget and figure out how to do it. What to cut out or reduce use of to get there? It really isn't all that difficult. Of the replies to the OP, NO ONE has posted that your food expenditure was in line with their own. Every post was from someone who spends less. And not just a little less. Orders of magnitude less. We eat well, do not scrimp. Whatever we want, we can have. I've never tasted eel. When I looked at rib roasts at Costco, I saw that $115 price tag and nearly fainted. A take-out whole turkey dinner for a family at Thanksgiving would feed us for a week- not 2 days.

I know that these examples you chose were for special holiday meals and not 'normal' day-to-day menu items. I also take into account that you live in an expensive living-cost area.

Reducing your food bill will force some changes, but really, they don't have to be drastic. Dining out is fine. Chili's, Applebees, Dennies, Outback, Johnnie Carrino's (and others) all have 2-for-$20/$25 meal deals. Try them. When you buy groceries, it doesn't have to be Whole Foods. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. That's where the fresh veggies, dairy, and meats are. The pre-prepared stuff and packaged foods and frozen in he middle of the store are the expensive, high profit places to shop.

Good luck with your quest. Being successful can mean you simply don't have to work as many years. Living in a low cost area, eating frugally, driving a car a year or two longer can help you live well and achieve the goal of passing a tidy nest egg on to those charities and family members you seem anxious to help.

Jim

 

[VacationForever]

sptung - A bit off topic, but with your stress, work load, and health problems, I bet you could benefit from some counseling. This is bigger than just finding time and energy to cook.

I wish it is that simple. But I agree with you that it is not about just cooking vs. eating out. I have more health issues (autoimmune) than an average Joe and it's not about feeling sorry for myself. I am trying to get other health issues under control, besides my foot.